MARITIME HISTORY 



restiveness in several parts of the kingdom. Edward met the difficulty by, 

 in appearance at least, taking his subjects into his confidence, and in Decem- 

 ber, 1336, sent a representative round the coast to explain ' certain things 

 near the king's heart.' " Also, he summoned delegates from the ports to 

 meet him at Westminster and discuss matters when, we may be sure, social 

 and other influences were brought to bear on them ; Weymouth, Melcombe, 

 Poole, Wareham, and Lyme, were all invited to send their burgesses. ^- 



France declared war formally in 1337, and expectation of invasion grew 

 acute in Dorset and Hampshire, where beacons were held ready and keepers of 

 the coast appointed. The anticipated blow fell upon Portsmouth in i 337, and 

 on Southampton in 1338 ; but nothing is known to have happened in Dorset 

 in either year. The statement in the Inquisitiones Nonarian of 1340" that 

 Portland had been burnt and devastated probably relates to 1339, because 

 there is a writ of that year discharging the men of Studland, Swanage, 

 WhiteclifF, and Herston of certain liabilities in consideration of the injuries 

 suffered in a recent maritime raid." The landing here and at Portland is 

 likely to have been the work of the same squadron. Edward went to 

 Flanders with an army in 1338, and the usual demands for shipping were 

 made, Wareham sending one vessel, Melcombe three, Weymouth and Poole 

 six each, and Lyme five.*" The French fought chiefly with hired Italian 

 vessels, and although they were unable to win any striking success they were 

 in superiority at sea until the great victory of Sluys, in 1340, restored our 

 supremacy for many years. By that time the strain of a period of more or 

 less unsuccessful maritime war, and of commercial losses, was telling upon the 

 English reserve of shipping therefore the sheriffs of the coast shires were 

 ordered to prevent any sale of ships to foreigners.'* In consequence of the 

 losses suffered by the ports it was necessary for the crown to come to their 

 assistance, so that when those of the south and west promised, in 1340, to 

 equip seventy ships of 100 tons and upwards as far as possible at their own 

 cost, the Council undertook to help them with money ' as an especial grace.'" 

 No doubt some of the Dorset ports obtained a share of the royal favour. To 

 deal with the difficulties of the situation another advisory council of ship- 

 owners and shipmen was summoned to meet at Westminster in 1341 ; '** to 

 this Weymouth and Poole each sent a single representative, whereas the 

 great ports sent two each. The plan of holding what was a subsidiary 

 maritime Parliament must have been found to have its advantages, for it was 

 repeated in 1342, 1344, and 1347. In 1342 and 1344 Poole, Lyme, 

 Weymouth, and Melcombe sent delegates; in 1347 Weymouth was omitted. 



Complications arose in Brittany in 1342 through the death of the duke 

 without direct heirs, leading to the dispatch of a large fleet and army under 

 Sir Walter de Mauny, in March, while Edward himself crossed later in the 

 year. In one fleet alone there were 357 vessels, of which Poole sent four, 

 Weymouth and Melcombe four, and Lyme one."" An undated list, probably 



" Close, 10 Edw. Ill, in. 4 </. " Rot. Scot. 10 Edw. Ill, m. 3 d. 



■" Op. cit. (Rec. Com.) 50. " Close, 13 Edw. Ill, pt. i, m. 7. 



^■' Misc. Bks. of Exch. Tr. of Rec. 203, fol. 2881^. We h.ive here an opportunity of testing the accuracy 

 of the chroniclers. Stow (Chnn. [ed. 161 5], p. 235) sa}S that Edward crossed with 500 ships; the pay sheets 

 show that, altogether, 338 were in commission from July to November, I 3 38. 



^ Rymer, Foed. v, 210. " Rot. Pari. (Rec. Com.) ii, 108. " Rymcr, Focd v, 231. 



"' Chan. Misc. •^. The Inq. Nonarum of 1340 notes that a great part of L)'me was then destroyed by 

 the sea. 



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