frequent occurrence. Charles of France never ceased to resent the fate of his son-in-law, Richard of England; Henry of England never shut his eyes to the fact that Charles of France steadily encouraged domestic attempts to dethrone him. An atmosphere thus over-charged could not fail to produce sparks and even lurid flashes, truce or no truce.
On November 15th, 1399, Thomas, Earl of Worcester,[1] was appointed sole admiral, with jurisdiction over the Irish as well as over the northern and western fleets; and early in the following year measures were debated for the defence of the kingdom, of Calais, and of the sea. As taxation was unpopular, and Henry's position was not very secure, the spiritual lords agreed to submit to the levy of a tenth upon their property, and numerous temporal peers undertook to raise and support soldiers and seamen. Lords Lovell, Berkeley, Calnoys, Powys, St. John, Burnell, Willoughby, and further consented each to find a ship with twenty men-at-arms and forty archers,[2] besides a crew, and Lords Fitzwalter, St. Iaur, and D'Arcy each to defray the expense of hag a ship, and of ten men-at-arms and twenty archers. Such navy as there was was ordered to assemble at Sandwich, and a small craft, the Katherine, of Guernsey, was sent to bring in the king's ships and the other vessels.[3]
The activity of the French gave rise to alarms of invasion, and in consequence soldiers were collected at various points;[4] but Henry, anxious not to provoke any breach of the truce, directed his vessels to commit no acts of war against any people save the Scots, who had begun to make aggressions,[5] and who were rendering the Narrow Seas so unsafe that a Venetian galley, which had been detained at Plymouth pending the settlement of a commercial dispute, dared not come on to London until ships were dispatched thence for her convoy.[6] In the meantime, Henry proceeded against the Scots, and charged Richard Clyderow[7] with the organisation and conduct of a squadron of armed storeships destined to co-operate with him.[8]
- ↑ Previously Sir Thomas Percy. See note, ante, p. 291
- ↑ Pro. and Ord. of Privy Council, i. 103, 104.
- ↑ Her master was paid 60s. for the service. Issue Roll, Michaelmas, 1 Hen. IV.
- ↑ ’Fœdera,' viii. 123, 138.
- ↑ Ib., viii. 142, 147.
- ↑ Pro. and Ord. of Privy Council, i. 120.
- ↑ Clyderow was made Admiral of the Western fleet in 1406, when the merchants undertook the defence of the Narrow Seas.
- ↑ Scots Rolls, ii. 153.
