338

HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

orders were obeyed with so much alacrity, that in a very short time no lessthan one hundred and twenty vessels were brought into the English ports.After the deposition of this ill-fated monarch, Edward, his son, who succeededto him, and who lived to threaten almost the annihilation of France, as anindependent kingdom, continued far three or four years, on account of hisyouth, entirely under the dominion of his mother; but the instant he becameemancipated from the trammels of his preceptress, he began, in imitationof his grandfather, to pay the utmost attention to the marine of his king-dom, intending thereby, as is remarked by historians, to secure to himself thepossession, as well as title, ot lord of the seas. In 1328, in maintenance ofthe claim made by him to the crown of France, Edward became first involvedin war. His adversary was before hand with him in preparations, having,under the pretext of sending an expedition to the Holy land, equipped a con-siderable force. Its course was directed to the coast of England : the town ofSouthampton was attacked, as has been shewn in the Preface ; and though theimmediate repulse of the invaders, with infinite loss, proves the spirit withwhich they were assailed when landed, yet the ease with which the descentitself was effected, sufficiently proves the very low state into which the Britishmarine had then fallen. Towards the middle of July in the same year, Edwardhaving: collected a fleet consisting; of five hundred vessels on the coast of Suffolk,proceeded thither attended by a numerous army, and embarking at Dunwichfor Flanders, proceeded to Antwerp, where he was received with the utmostcordiality, and, by the advice of his allies, assumed the arms as well as title ofking of France. The monarch, however, who retained possession, not inti-midated by the empty assumption just noticed, entered into a league withthe Scots, and made various very successful attacks on different parts of thecoast. Hastings was demolished, Plymouth burnt, and Bristol ruined ; advan-tages the French were enabled to gain, in consequence of the absence of theroval Edward with his fleet. Even under this disadvantage, however, Englandwas neither dispirited, nor constantly pursued by misfortune. As a proof ofthe first, five English ships being met at sea by thirteen belonging to France,a very unequal contest took place, in which the former defended themselves withthe utmost gallantry, and though two of them were captured, the remainderbravely effected their escape. As an instance of the latter, the seamen of the CinquePorts, taking advantage of a thick fog, put to sea with an immense number ofsmall vessels, in which they ran over to Boulogne, which they not only de-stroyed,