ADDENDA. RAVENSPURNE. From the following papers, and others, which have been inserted in the preceding pages, it will be seen, that the navy of England was, in the fourteenth century, in a very low state, compared with our navies in modern times; and that small merchant vessels, such as would not now be hired for transports, were pressed into the service of our kings, as ships of war, at the expence of the several sea-ports of the kingdom from which they were demanded. "REX fidelibus sibi Balliuis et pbis hominibusvillæ de Rauensrode," &c. TRANSLATION. The king to his faithful bailiffs, and the good men of the town of Rauensrode, Greeting: Whereas for assistance in our warlike expedition against Scotland, ye have willingly consented to furnish us with one ship, competently provided with thirty armed men, victuals and other necessaries, and to send it to us for our service at your expence, to remain six weeks, for which we return you thanks: We command you that you cause the aforesaid ship to be made ready, and men to be chosen for manning the same, of the stoutest and strongest men of the town, and that it be otherwise furnished, and that armour for the same men and their expenses in coming and remaining in our service as is aforesaid, be raised by the corporation of the said town, and that ye cause the said ship so furnished, and made ready, to come to us at Tynmuthe, so that it be there on the eve of St. James the Apostle, next coming &c. and this ye shall in no wise omit. Witness, &c.-Rot. Claus. Anno 15. Edward II, (A. D. 1322.) Dorss. nr. 7.* "Decimo Maii. Rex quibusdam de Causis" &c. TRANSLATION. The tenth of May. The KING for certain causes, has commanded the bailiffs of Anglesey, that they cause all and singular the ships of their port, and of the members of the same, carrying 40 wine tuns, and more, to be prepared and made ready without delay, so that the said ships prepared, and sufficiently furnished with men and other necessaries, be ready at three days warning, to * Cotton MSS. Julius, C. IV. fol. 119, b. départ on the king's service. He hath also willed, that from this time, ships of this kind be in no wise permitted to pass from the port aforesaid, to parts beyond seas; but that such ships then being without the port, when they shall return to the same, be retained there, and prepared and made ready, &c. And that the bailiffs inform the king, under their common seal, of the number of such ships belonging to that port, which are now in the port, and of the others, which are without the port.-Rot. Dors. Claus. Anno 17, Edward II. (A. D. 1324.) A similar letter was sent to the bailiffs of the following places on the Humber, viz. Ball. de Kingstone-super-Hull. Ball. de Rauenesere.* The Order of king Edward III. An. Dom. 1333, to the men of Ravenserodd, to prepare a ship for his service, which they had omitted to send. Rex ballis & pbis hõib. ville de Ravenserodd, &c. TRANSLATION. The King, to the bailiffs and good men of the town of Ravenserodd, Greeting: Whereas we lately commanded you that you should cause to be * Cotton MSS. Julius. C. IV. fol. 114. M provided a ship of war, in the port of the town aforesaid, of the largest and strongest ships of the town, and that the ship should be furnished as well with strong and powerful men, well and sufficiently armed, as with other necessaries which may be required; so that the ship so furnished, be ready on wednesday in Easter week last past, at the latest, then to depart thence at our charges to Scotland, for our warlike expedition there : And you afterwards, in consideration that we excused you from finding one horseman and six archers, to which you had been assessed by the Commissioners, appointed by us for the array of men in the East Riding of the County of York, granted to us one ship of war, to wit, of the best of the same town, to go on our service aforesaid, and we commanded William de Ferby, of Ravenserodd, that he would for the purpose aforesaid, cause to come to the said port of Ravenserodd, his ship called La Saynte Marie Cogge, of Ravenserodd, which is reputed the best ship of the said town, and the same William has now come to us, and declared that his ship had previously been sent to foreign parts, and that he was wholly ignorant when it would return : We therefore strictly command you, that you cause a ship of war of the best of the said town to be provided, and that it be furnished with mariners, and other strong and powerful men, well and sufficiently armed, and with other necessaries, to depart with all possible dispatch on our service, at our charge, towards the parts of Scotland aforesaid: And this ye shall in no wise omit, as ye regard us and our honour, and wish to save yourselves harmless. By the King Himself. Witness the king at Durham, the 11th day of April.* Anno, 1333. 7. Edward III. Anno, 1334-5. 9. Edward III. An Order of king Edward III, to the people of Hull, Ravenspurne, &c. to provide three ships for his service. R. vicecomitib. majorib. ballivis, &c. TRANSLATION. The King, to his sheriffs, mayors, bailiffs, masters of ships, mariners, and other his officers and faithful subjects, as well within his liberties as without, to whom &c. Greeting: Know ye that we have appointed our beloved and faithful subjects Master John de Hyldesle, chancellor of our * Rotuli Scotiæ, p. 228. |