And
after those fiue dayes ended, the King shall defray the charges.
The other is a Latine Custumall of the towne of Hyde, the which although it
pretend not so great antiquity as the first, yet seemeth it to me to import
as much or more likelihood and credit: It standeth thus.
These be the Fiue Ports of our soueraigne Lord the King hauing liberties,
which other Ports haue not: Hasting, Romenal, Heth, Douer, Sandwich, the
chiefe Townes. The seruices due by the same.
Hasting shall finde 21. ships, in euery ship 21. men, and a Garcion, or
Boy, which is called a Gromet. To it perteine (as the members of one towne)
the Seashore in Seford, Peuenshey, Hodeney, Winchelsey, Rie, Ihame,
Bekesbourne, Grenge, Northie, Bulwerheth.
Romenal 5. ships, in euery ship 21. men, and a Garcion: To it perteine, as
members thereof, Promhell, Lede, Eastwestone, Dengemareys, olde Rumney.
Hethe 5. ships, as Romenal before. To it perteineth the Westhethe.
Douer 21, ships, as Hasting before. To it pertaine, Folkstane, Feuersham,
and S. Margarets, not concerning the land, but for the goods and cartels.
Sandwich 5. ships, as Romenal and hethe. To it perteine Fordwich, Reculuer,
Serre, and Dele, not for the soile, but for the goods.
Summe of ships 57.
Summe of the men 1187. and 57. Garcions.
This seruice, the Barons of the Fiue Ports doe acknowledge to owe to the
King, vpon summons yerely (if it happen) by the space of 15. dayes
together, at their owne costs and changes, accounting that for the first
day of the 15. in which they shall spread their sailes to goe towards those
parts that the King intendeth: and to serue so long after 15. dayes, as the
King will, at his owne pay and wages.
Thus much out of these ancient notes, whereby your selfe may easily
discerne the difference: but whether the one or the other, or (by reason of
some latter dispensation) neither of these, haue place at this day, I must
referre it to them that be priuie, and of counsell with the Ports: and so
leauing this also vndecided, holde on the way, wherein I am entred.
This duetie of attendance therefore (being deuised for the honourable
transportation, and safe conduct of the Kings owne person or his armie ouer
the narrow Seas) the Ports haue not onely most diligently euer since that
time performed, but furthermore also valiantly behaued themselues against
the enemie from time to time, in sundrie exploits by water, as occasion
hath bene proferred, or the necessitie of the Realme required.
[Sidenote: The good seruice of the fiue ports. 1217] And amongst other
feats not vnwoorthy perpetuall remembrance, after such time as Lewes (the
eldest sonne of the French King) had entred the Realme to aide Stephan
Langton the Archbishop, and the Nobilitie, in the life of King Iohn, and
had sent into France for new supply of Souldiers after his death, Hubert of
Borough (then captaine of Douer) following the opinion of Themistocles in
the exposition of the oracle of the wooden walles, by the aide of the Port
townes, armed fortie tall ships, and meeting with eightie saile of
Frenchmen vpon the high seas, gaue them a most couragious encounter, in
which he tooke some, sunke others, and discomfited the rest.
King Henrie the third also, after that he came to riper age, had great
benefit by the seruice of the Cinque Ports: [Sidenote: 1278.] And king
Edward the first in his Chartre, maketh their continuall faithfull seruice
(and especially their good endeuour, then lately shewed against the
Welshmen) the principall cause, and motiue of that his liberall grant.
[Sidenote: 1293.] Furthermore, about the midst of the reigne of the same
king, an hundreth saile of the Nauie of the Ports fought at the Sea with a
fleet of 200. French men, all which (notwithstanding the great oddes of the
number) they tooke, and slew, and sunke so many of the Mariners, that
France was thereby (for a long season after) in maner destitute, both of
Seamen, and shipping.
[Sidenote: 1406.] Finally, and to conclude this part, in the dayes of king
Henrie the the fourth, the name of the Fiue Ports, vnder the conduct of one
Henrie Paye, surprised one hundreth and twentie French ships, all laden
with Salt, Iron, Oile, and no worse merchandize.
[Sidenote: Priuiledges of the fiue ports.] The priuiledges of these Ports
being first granted by Edward the Confessour, and William the Conquerour,
and then confirmed and increased by William Rufus, Henrie the second,
Richard the first, Henrie the third, and king Edward the first be very
great, considering either the honour and ease, or the freedome and
exemption, that the inhabitants haue by reason of the same.
Part of the great Charter granted by king Edward the first to the Barons of
the Cinque portes, in the sixt yeere of his reigne 1278. for their good
seruices done vnto him by sea, wherein is mention of their former ancient
Charters from Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror, William Rufus,
Henry the second, king Richard the first, king Iohn, and Henry the third
continued vnto them.
Edward by the grace of God king of England, lord of Ireland, & duke of
Gastcoigne, to all Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earles, Barons,
Iustices, Shirifs, Prouosts, Officers, & to all Bayliffes and true subiects
greeting. You shall knowe that for the faithfull seruice that our Barons of
the fiue Ports hitherto to our predecessors kings of England, & vnto vs
lately in our armie of Wales haue done, and for their good seruice to vs
and our heires kings of England, truly to be continued in time to come, we
haue granted & by this our Charter confirmed for vs and our heires, to the
same our Barons and to their heires, all their liberties and freedomes.
