*

THE ROYAL NAVY-ANCIENT AND MODERN.*
(Continued from page 175, Vol. XXI.)

HOUGH there could have been no doubt that the French
would renew their preparations for the invasion as soon as
the season became favourable for their fleet to assemble,
this country was drained of ships and soldiers in 1386 for
the Duke of Lancaster's expedition to Spain to obtain posses-
sion of that kingdom, his right to which he had long publicly

asserted; and a fruitless effort was again made to obtain peace with France as well as with Scotland.

The Duke was detained at Plymouth so long a time for a fair wind that great part of the provisions of his ships were consumed; but on the 8th of July, towards evening, while Lancaster was at supper with his son, the Earl of Derby (afterwards Duke of Hereford, and King Henry IV.), a favourable breeze sprang up, and the fleet, consisting of 200 vessels, under the admiralty of Sir Thomas Percy, with 20,000 select troops on board, put to sea. The Duke's galley. is stated to have been very handsome and well armed; and he had, besides, a large ship for his consort, who expected to become Queen of Castile before her return, and for his daughters and their ladies. Seven Portuguese galleys and eighteen large ships, commanded by Don Alphonso Vretat,

* Abridged from an unfinished History of the Royal Navy, by Sir N. H. Nicholas, and other sources.

B

Admiral of the Portuguese Navy, who had been sent to England to induce the Duke of Lancaster to assist his sovereign, accompanied the fleet. This fleet, which consisted altogether of more than 200 sail, came in sight of the Channel Islands, and the galleys which contained the men-at-arms occasionally ran along the coast of Normandy in search of the enemy's vessels, but the French had put into Havre on hearing that the English were at sea. After various plans had been discussed, for the knights and esquires were as impatient to perform some deed of arms "as peregrine falcons which have long been kept without food are anxious to fly in search of prey," it was determined to land at Brest and besiege the castle; and Vretat, who was well acquainted with the coast, piloted the ships into the harbour. The siege was conducted with great skill. On the sea-side a line was formed of the ships, which were moored with anchors and strongly fastened to each other, having on board them beams or platforms covered with earth, on which wooden towers and other engines were erected, and these vessels effectually blockaded the town. On shore, two wooden castles or stages were constructed of the ships' masts, containing machines for throwing missiles into the place. The French, however, made so resolute a defence that, at the end of three days, the Duke found it would require too much time to reduce the castle; and, proceeding to Spain with all his ships and troops, he arrived at Corunna on the 9th of August. "It was a fine sight." says Froissart, "to see all the ships and galleys enter the port laden with men-at-arms and stores, and their trumpets sounding, which were answered by the trumpets of the town and castle, showing that they were well garrisoned, and that the French were in the possession of both." When the troops and stores were disembarked, Lancaster was asked what was to be done with the ships, and he replied: "I wish all the sailors to be well paid for their trouble, and I shall dismiss them, for I desire every one to know that I will never recross the sea to England unless I am master of Castile, or die in the attempt." These orders were obeyed, and the sailors having been satisfied, made sail for their own ports.

France had never witnessed military preparations of such extent and variety as were made in the summer of this year for the invasion of England. The spirit of William the Conqueror seemed to have revived in Charles VI., and every other object appeared to be forgotten in the desire to subdue this country. There was not, says Froissart, a large vessel from Seville to Prussia which the French could lay their hands on, that was not

impressed for the expedition; but when the Hollanders and Flemings were required to furnish their ships for the conveyance of the army, they insisted upon being paid in hand. "Never since God created the world," were there seen so many large ships as filled the harbour of Sluys or were on the coast between Sluys and Blankenberg, amounting to 1,887 sail. The Monk of St. Denys describes the ships, which he says exceeded 900 sail, as being mostly long vessels with prows, and having two sails. He adds, that there were others much larger for the conveyance of horses, which were embarked through a door in the stern; and that the largest ships, called "dromons," carried the stores and military engines.

The ship of Sir Oliver de Clisson, commonly called "the butcher," Constable of France, was built at Treguier, in Brittany; and he also ordered a remarkable large wooden house to be made, which was to be conveyed in pieces and put together on landing in England, for the lords to retire to and lodge in, so that they might sleep securely at night. Heavy taxes were imposed upon all classes for the expenses of the armament; and Froissart, who was an eye-witness, feeling that his description of the bustle and activity caused by loading the fleet with the various stores at Damme, Sluys, and Bruges was inadequate to convey an idea of the scene, adds, "that such were the interest and pleasure of the sight that, if anyone had a fever or tooth-ache, he would have got rid of the pain in going from one place to another. The ruin of England formed the general topic of conversation in the French army. It is said that all the men were to be put to death, and the women and children carried in slavery to France; and the clergy, in full sacerdotal habits, went from church to church imploring the Almighty to bless the enterprise. Money was no more thought of than if it had rained gold and silver from the clouds, or if it were pumped up from the sea; and the impatience of the knights to embark was even exceeded by that of their young King. All the great lords vied with each other in the equipment and ornaments of their ships, which were gaily painted and gilt, having their arms depicted upon them and upon their banners. The masts were painted from top to bottom, some being even covered with sheets of gold-leaf, and were surmounted with the arms of the owner of the vessel. One knight, Sir Guy de Trémouille, expended no less than ten thousand francs in adorning his ship. Rich banners, pennons, and standards floated everywhere; and it is only from Froissart's own words that a notion can be formed of the profusion and splendour of the French monarch and his nobility, or of the magnitude of the arrangements for the expedition.