HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

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COTTON MSS. Otho. E. ix. p. 170.

The Manner how the River of Thames shall be kept assured against anyAttempts of the Galleys, by the Care and good Regard of Sir HenryPalmer, who is appointed to the Charge of that Service.

[The Swynn.] First, a pinnace to lie at Tilbury Hope, or in the best placethereabout. This pinnace, upon discovery of any galley, shall weigh, and shoother ordnance, to give the alarm to the forts, and Victory.

[The lord Cobham, lord lieut. of Kent.] The Victory to lie between the twoforts of Gravesend and Tilbury; and that order be taken, that certain of theinhabitants of the town of Gravesend, and thereabouts, may be selected, andappointed, upon the alarm, to go with their furniture, in all possible speed,aboard the Victory ; and that the barges and boats of the said town may set themon board the ship, albeit it be in the night. Upon which alarm, and certain viewof the gallies, die said ships and forts are to shoot off, and give the alarm to theLyon.

The Lyon to ride about Greenhithe, there to receive the alarm from theVictory, and forts; and thereupon to send away up to the court the row-barge,■with some discreet person to advertise, and also to give the alarm to those shipsthat ride at Blackwall, that they may prepare.

[The lord lieut. of Essex.] That order be taken, that the beacons of theKent and Essex sides be well watched, and that upon sight of any galley, orcertain alarm from the pinnace, or ships, they presently make their f re.

That two small ketches be continually plying up and down the sands, andeach of them to have one piece, as a minion, or falcon, in them, to shoot off, andgive alarm upon sight of any galley, that both the navy, and also the beacons, maytake notice. N. B. These two ketches to go from Chatham.

That a beacon may be set upon some of the uppermost turrets of the castle ofQueenborough, and that every night some one or two may be appointed to watchthe same.

That notice may be given to the fishermen of Lee, and other places there-abouts, that upon the discovery of any galley by night, they do immediately,with all expedition, hasten to give warning to the ketches, or pinnace, that theymay give alarm to the rest.

That a very careful and diligent watch be heedfully kept, when the tydes fallout in the night.

The galley to ride beneath, at the chain, where she now doth.

Vol. II. S

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