A HISTORY OF SUSSEX 



324 men to Rye, and 2O vessels with 168 men to Hastings, but even that is a retrogression from 

 the standard of 1582. As is mentioned on a later page Shoreham gradually developed an industry 

 in the construction of ships of moderate size, and there are some signs of the commencement of this 

 business during Elizabeth's reign. The bounty of five shillings a ton was discharged by orders for 

 payment in .money or allowance on the customs due on the first voyage, technically known as 

 ' Exchequer Warrants for Issues.' There is no doubt that many, if not most, of these warrants are 

 lost, nor is the date of the warrant a safe guide to the actual year of construction, which may have 

 been some time earlier ; but two for ships built at Shoreham are still to be found, and they probably 

 denote the former existence of others. In 1571 Thomas Fenner of Everingham was paid the 

 bounty for the Bark Fenner of 150 tons, and in 1576 the Margaret Speedwell, I2O tons, also 

 obtained it. 



We see from the foregoing analysis that Sussex was not particularly well equipped in the 

 matter of ships to assist in the impending struggle with Spain. Portsmouth and Rye were the 

 places of embarkation for the troops sent over to Havre during the war with France which ended 

 in 1564, but there was little need of local shipping except for transport. The Cinque Ports were 

 forgotten until the autumn of 1587, when, in view of the threatening political outlook and the 

 plague of privateering in the eastern Channel, they were asked to send 12 ships to sea. They did 

 not make excuses, but they made conditions, all bearing on their right to the sole profit from 

 captures, assurance that all prize cases should be tried in their own admiralty court, non-interference 

 by the Lord Admiral, and permission to take any ships 'that do show hostility against any of the 

 queen's Majesty's subjects.' * It may be that it was this attempted negotiation which provoked the 

 outbreak from Elizabeth noticed above, 2 but in September Rye, at any rate, volunteered, with the 

 assistance of Tenterden, to provide one 8o-ton ship towards the twelve. It was possibly the expense 

 thus caused that decided the Rye people, in January, 1588, to sell their 'town ship' for the best 

 price that could be obtained. 3 



The expectation of invasion from Spain caused attention to be paid to the coast defences. 

 Notwithstanding the dilapidated and deserted condition of Camber Castle in 1549 some improve- 

 ments must have been effected later, for in 1568 it was armed with 20 heavy guns, although these 

 then wanted new carriages, and the wooden platforms on which they stood were so rotten that it 

 was supposed that they would go to pieces if the guns were fired. 4 For a long period the coast 

 fortifications were neglected; something may have been done in 1583, and in 1584 ,171 was 

 allotted for Camber Castle. 6 Then, towards the end of 1587, when the arrival of the Armada 

 was believed to be imminent, serious efforts were made to arrange for the protection of the coast in 

 case the fleet failed to conquer or repulse. We have a survey of Sussex at that date by Sir Thomas 

 Palmer and Walter Covert, who recommended, on the western side of the county, three-gun 

 batteries at West Wittering, East Norton, and Pagham. It is to be presumed they supposed that 

 if the Spaniards appeared in force three-gun batteries would prevent a landing. From their 

 description it appears that Pagham harbour was still available for something more than the smallest 

 craft, and that 4O-ton vessels could go up to Sidlesham. They thought that fleet anchorage and 

 a landing was possible all the way along from inside Chichester Harbour to Pagham beacons, 

 halfway between Pagham and Bognor, but it is evident that they were guided by the character of 

 the shore and had not the advantage of instruction by the local fishermen. Spanish seamanship 

 was a nearly negligible quantity but even Philip's barrack-yard sailors knew better than that. In 

 view of the commissioners' opinions it is not surprising to find that they advocated the construction 

 of entrenchments all along this part of the coast. At Felpham, Bognor, and Middleton 'stades' 

 they also desired to see entrenchments, and a four-gun battery at Littlehampton. They applied to 

 the whole length of coast the same principle of entrenchments and batteries, the latter being required at 

 Shoreham, Newhaven, Cuckmere, Bulverhythe, and Winchelsea. There were already three guns at 

 Seaford, one at Blatchington, and ten at Hastings ; Birling Gap, they said, should be defended or 

 'rammed up,' the district behind Pevensey Bay was sufficiently defended by marsh and hills, but 

 Pevensey Castle they considered should be rebuilt and re-armed or pulled down. Brighton they did 

 not dwell upon, for a blockhouse already existed there built upon a plot of ground granted by the 

 lords of the manor at a court-baron held 29 September, 1558 ; the blockhouse does not appear to 

 have been armed, but there was a four-gun battery in front of it. 6 Camber Castle they reported to 

 be in good repair, with nine guns in it; and there were 23 at Rye, some belonging to the town and 

 some to the queen. Twenty of these were held under an agreement of 1569 by which the 



1 S.P. Dom. Eliz. cciii, 51, i, ii ; Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. xiii, App. iv, 85. * Ante, p. 149. 



* Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. xiii, App. iv, 87. In the middle ages many ports possessed a ' town ship,' an 

 early example of municipal trading for the common benefit, but the custom seems to have continued longer in 

 the Cinque Ports than elsewhere. In 1590 Rye possessed another such ship, and it, or a successor, was sold 

 again in 1595. 



' S.P. Dom. Eliz. xlvi, 77. * Ibid, clxx, 91. ' Erredge, Hist, of Brightelmston, 63. 



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