332

HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

lime : water being poured into these a moment only, before the commencementof the encounter, and the English cautiously keeping the windward side, thereek or smoke was driven so forcibly into the faces of their enemies, that theywere in great measure deprived of all power of defence. The English, takingevery advantage in their power, of this singular, but beneficial stratagem, pliedtheir cross-bows and missile weapons with so much vigour, that the enemy was■compelled to bear away for the English shore, which w as to leeward of them.Lewis who, notwithstanding his discomfiture, still possessed a force so superiorto his antagonists, that they were compelled to be content with the advantagethey had gained, and ventured not to commence a pursuit, effected his landingat Sandwich, which, in mean vengeance for his defeat, he burnt to theground.

This attack, notwithstanding the apparent success which attended it, com-pletely ruined his affairs : having proceeded to London, of which city he madehimself master, and in consequence thereof vainly considered his success com-plete ; he was very soon Besieged by a numerous army on the land side, whilethe English fleet so completely blocked up the Thames, that he could notreceive any succour whatever. In this dilemma, Lewis had recourse to the onlyexisting means which could possibly effect his deliverance, he entered into atreaty with the earl of Pembroke, by which he engaged to renounce, for ever,all claim to the realm or crown of England, on condition of being permitted toretire to France, with the remains of his army, unmolested. This, amongmany others, remains, as is wisely remarked by the chronicle writers, andethers, an incontestible proof, that, as nothing but intestine disputes can everencourage a foreign foe to attempt an invasion of England, so while Britonsretain their sovereignty at sea, every attempt of that nature must in the endprove fatal to. those who are rash enough to attempt it.

The navy of Henry the Third, meaning that which it was in his power toemploy in case of any national emergency,, was extremely unconsequential, andthere was at that time no marine in existence over which the sovereign hadan exclusive power or jurisdiction. The reliance on the executive arm wasplaced in the exertions of certain towns or corporations, who, in return forvarious privileges and immunities granted to them by royal charter, werebound to furnish a specified quota of shipping and seamen, in proportion to thewants of the country, and their own means, whenever the royal demand wasmade on them. The requisitions were sometimes sparingly complied with,

nor.