Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 1).djvu/455

 to seventy-eight vessels, of which Hastings had to supply eighteen; Bekesbourne, in Kent, seven; Rye, five; Winchelsea, ten; Dover, nineteen; Folkestone, seven; Faversham, a similar number; and Sandwich with Deal and other minor places, five: the whole to be ready and properly "armed and arrayed," each to carry twenty men besides the master and mariners, who were to serve five days at the expense of the ports and afterwards at that of the king's.

The nucleus of a national navy was thus established. In cases of emergency, other vessels were obtainable from London or built for the occasion by the government; and to make certain of a still further supply, the whole merchant service were required to be ready within forty days from the time of the summons. The "Cinque Ports," for their five days' service, paid the masters sixpence, and the sailors threepence per day.

Although the reign of Edward, like that of his predecessor, was unfortunately marked by many contentions at home and abroad, the interests of commerce were not neglected, and foreigners obtained privileges far beyond any they had previously enjoyed. Those, for instance, who repaired to England were not merely granted full quiet and security, but they were exempted from all differential duties and special restrictions, and from the payment of either "murage, pontage, or pavage," although in cities they were only allowed to sell their goods by wholesale, except