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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

. 1 V

CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH.

Description of the Gallies or Vessels built for the Service of the Emperor of theVast during the Ninth and Tenth Centuries—the Disposition of the Crew andOfficers in the Time of Engagement—the Arms and different military Enginesused on board Vessels of War, with a brief Account of the simple State in whichMaritime Manoeuvres and Tactics then were—Method used by the Ancients inmaking Signals—the Manner then practised of conveying Intelligence speedilythrough a Country by Means of Beacons or Eight-houses—Expence attendingthe Armament fitted out at Constantinople for the Reduction of the Island ofCrete—summary Account of the Naval History of England, from the Death ofEgbert to the Norman Conquest—uninteresting Reigns of Ethelwolf and hisSons—Accession of Alfred to the Throne—his peculiar Attachment to MaritimePursuits—various Improvements introduced by him, as well in the Art of build-ing, as manoeuvring Vessels of War—Description of his Gallies, and Accountof his Victories over the Danes—Description of his great Ships, as they wereby way of Distinction termed—his Death and Character—Accession of Edwardhis _ Son—his insignificant Reign—is succeeded by Athelstan—singular Lawpassed by that Sovereign relative to Commerce—the Reigns of Edmund andEdred—turbulent Spirit of the Monks—Accession of Edwy—his Virtues—theReign of Edgar—the Number and Disposition of his Fleets—he is succeededby Ethelred—his various Wars with the Danes—Enquiry into the Expence ofShip-building at this Time—general Levy of Ships and Men throughout Eng-land—Account of the Numbers of both produced on that Occasion—Origin ofthe Danegeld — Edmund, surnamed Ironside, succeeds his Father Ethelred—ismurdered at Oxford—Canute the Dane seizes the English Crown—his politicConduct—Account of the Maritime Force maintained by him—Canute dies, andbequeaths his English Crown to Harold Harefoot—he dies, and is succeededby Hardicanute, his next Brother—Description of the sumptuous Galley pre-sented by Earl Godwin to the King—the Reign of Edward the Confessor —the Turbulence of Earl Godwin—his Death, and very different Character ofhis Son, who, on the Demise of Edward, ascended the English Throne by theTitle of Harold the Second—he is immediately attacked by a powerful Fleet,

collected