160 CORNWALL AND THE SPANISH ARMADA, 



Tons. Men. 



The John Trelawney, of Saltash 150 70 



Thos. Meeke (captain). 

 The Frances, of Loos and Fowey 140 GO 



John Eashleigh (captain). 



With respect to the latter ship, it appears that Fowey and 

 Looe were very backward in subscribing to the cost, as on the 

 13th July, 1588, the council write from Richmond to Sir 

 Frances Godolphin and Rich''- Carew stating that John Eash- 

 leigh having disbursed £600 for the fitting out of a ship and a 

 pinace, was £500 unsatisfied, having received £100 only, and 

 they were required to lay an equal tax on these towns, and the 

 hundreds adjoining. In addition to the ships above mentioned 

 there was a transport called the Elizabeth, of Looe, manned by 

 40 sailors, and a victualling ship called the Minion, of Fowey, 

 which was sunk within the Pier of Dover by a tempest, and was 

 laden with bisket, beer, (for beer was taken to sea then) beef, 

 dry bacon, corfish, herrings, butter, and cheese, to the value of 

 £486. 5s. 4d. There was also a bark with 40 men, called the John 

 Grenfeld. Two other ships appear to have been commanded 

 by Cornishmen. The Virgin Grod save her, by John Grenfeld, 

 and the Galleon, by James Erizey. It will be interesting to note 

 what the cost of these vessels was, and in Sir John Hawkin's 

 account of disbursements for the Navy appears the following 

 entries : — 



Amongst the coasters that served westwards 



The John Trelawney, of Ashe and Tavistocke begun \ 



the 9th of June 1588, and ended the 13th August V £98 

 next, the wages of 70 men amounteth J 



For the tonnage of the said ship, being 150 ton. £30 



For the victuals of 70 men for the like time. £98 



Amongst the voluntary ship is 

 The Frances, of Foye, for wages of 60 men for 6 weekes. £63 

 For one months victual for the said men. £42 



Thetonnageof the said ship for like time, being 140 tons. £21 Q 

 This then was the Cornish complement to the navy that 

 lay in Plymouth Sound in June 1588 waiting the advent of the 

 Armada. The summer was wild and wintry, storm after storm 

 from the south west swept up the channel, past the Cornish 

 headlands and burst on the fleet in the Sound ; on June 4th 

 Howard writes to Walsingham that they have had three days 

 extreme continual storm, and the ships have '* daunced as lustilye 



I 



