Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 1).djvu/701



mayors and bailiff of seventeen seaports, to unload merchant ships and send them to join the fleet.

1354, 8 July.—The king informs the captain and council of Genoa, that he has assigned the duty on 1000 sacks of wool for the redress of injuries to Genoa ships.

1355, 27 April.—Richard de Cortenhall and Robert de Baildon are appointed to arrest ships of twenty tons and upwards from the Thames to Lynn, and bring them to Southampton by June 11 for the conveyance of Edward, Prince of Wales, to Gascony.

1360, 24 March.—John Beech, master of the sloop La Cogg Johan, of Sandwich, is ordered to unload his ship and prepare it for war. Similar orders to six other masters.

1362, 22 Feb.—Commission to Hugh de Courtenaye, earl of Devon, and two others, to inquire into the plunder of a ship called Tarrit (Tarida ?), and other ships wrecked at Plymouth.

1406, 6 April.—The king orders the mayor and sheriffs of London, and the mayors and bailiffs of Necastle-upon-Tyne, and nineteen other towns, to arrange for the fulfilment of the covenant made in parliament for committing the custody of the sea to merchants.

" 20 Oct.—The king forbids the collectors of subsidies and customs in London, and fourteen other towns to pay the sums assigned to the merchants for the custody of the sea, as they have failed in their engagement.

1410, 18 Nov.—The king orders Henry prince of Wales, constable of Dover Castle, and warden of the Cinque Ports, to make restitution to John Dirdolf and others of Berflet in Flanders, whose ships have been taken by Sir John Prendergest.

1411, 26 June.—Licence to John Ferkyn to send the two small guns which he made for a ship, in the ship of Spain in which the king is sending his great guns to Spain.

" 9 Sept.—The king informs the council of North