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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

the preceding, serves in no slight degree to mark the state of Marine Archi-tecture at this time. The king having made an excursion into Brittany,accompanied by his son Henry, the ships on board which himself and suite hadembarked were overtaken by a violent tempest, and one of them foundered, onboard which there were three hundred persons, all of whom unfortunatelyperished. This unhappy circumstance is an additional convincing proof, thatthe vessels in use during this king’s reign, were by gradual steps constantlyaugmenting in size, and by no means so contemptible as some persons are aptto imagine. The invasion of Normandy, the attack of Wales, and of Ireland,are reiterated proofs of the naval exertions made under the guidance of thesame prince ; and the Pere Daniel himself, the celebrated French historian,notwithstanding his avowed partiality towards his countrymen, feels himselfcompelled to confess, that Henry the Second most justly claimed, and mostundeniably maintained, the sovereignty of the sea, which he very properly con-sidered as the most valuable gem in his crown.

Richard, on account of his daring and noble spirit, surnamed Coeur deLyon, being the eldest son of Henry then living, succeeded him as a matter ofcourse. Being endued with the most enterprising and martial disposition, hehad entered, even pending his father’s life, into the views of the crusaders, andhad resolved to venture his person, as well as his interest, in support of theeause they had undertaken. This intention he did not forego after he came tothe crown ; but having immediately on his accession used those means in aug-mentation of his former preparations, which the influence, power, and wealthof a monarch enabled him to do, he proceeded in the following year (1190)with a fleet, consisting, as is reported, of nine ships of extraordinary size andburthen, one hundred and fifty others, which, though of inferior dimensions,were all fitted for war, thirty-eight gallies, and a considerable number of smallervessels serving as victuallers and tenders.

There is one anecdote relative to this expedition, which is too singular to beomitted. Philip, king of France, conceived so high a jealousy on seeing theforce of Richard’s armament, when he arrived at Messina, that he ever after-wards bore him a fixed and unconquerable hatred.

A dispute taking place between Richard and Tancred, who then governedSicily, the former laid siege to the city of Messina, and having compelled it tosurrender, reduced Tancred to the sad necessity of purchasing peace at theexpence of sixty thousand ounces of gold, (certainly an immense sum in those

days)