They were further directed to cause three good cables to be made for that ship, together with four dozen "theldorum," and to procure two hundred yards of cloth to repair her sail.[1] In September, 1242, a messenger from the Cinque Ports was ordered to receive six hundred yards of canvas which was at Portsmouth, and which had been taken from the enemy, to make sails for the three galleys which the king had ordered to be built; and if there were not that quantity at Portsmouth, whatever was there was to be delivered, and the king was to be informed of the deficit.[2] A sum of £4 was paid for building a boat for the great ship,[3] and a sum of 8s. 7d. was repaid to the Sheriff of York for a boat and an iron chain belonging to her.[4] In 1229 £40 was paid to the king's clerk for the repairs of the king's galleys and great ship at Portsmouth.[5]
In July, 1242, one hundred marks was paid to Bertram de Criol for making four swift barges for the king's service, and he was ordered to place them in the Cinque Ports when he deemed it expedient. At the same time the Bailiffs of Bristol were ordered to send to Winchelsea, to be delivered to De Criol, the larger of the king's two galleys in their charge.[6]
Nicolas is of opinion that in this reign occurs the first notice of cabins in English ships.[7] In June, 1228, a vessel was ordered to be sent to Gascony with the king's effects, and a sum of 4s. 6d. was paid "for the making of some sort of chamber in the said ship to put our said effects in."[8] In 1242, when the king, accompanied by the queen, went to Gascony, "decent chambers" were ordered to be built in the vessel in which their majesties were to embark, and these were to be panelled.[9] There may be no earlier mention of cabins in English ships, but it is certain that foreign vessels had them long before, and it is probable, owing to the fact that English ships of the time were very little different from foreign ones[10] in other respects, that English ships had them also.
The ordinary rate of pay under Henry III. was sixpence a day to
- ↑ Close Rolls, 10 Hen. III., ii. 50.
- ↑ Ib., 26 Hen. III., m. 5.
- ↑ Rotuli de Liberate, 11 Hen. III., 2.
- ↑ Ib., 12 Hen. III., m. 6.
- ↑ Ib., 12 Hen. III., m. 4.
- ↑ Rotuli de Liberate, 26 Hen. III., m. 5.
- ↑ Nicolas, i. 223.
- ↑ Rotuli de Liberate.
- ↑ Close Rolls, 26 Hen. III., 1.
- ↑ The Roccafortis, the largest of a number of ships furnished to the King of France in 1268 by the Republic of Venice, was 110 feet long over all; 70 feet in length of
