A history of the Royal navy, from the earliest times to the wars of the French revolution, Volume 1

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Page 12 - WestSaxons, chiefly on the south coast, by predatory bands; most of all by their " esks," 3 which they had built many years before. Then king Alfred commanded long ships to be built to oppose the "esks;" they were full-nigh twice as long as the others; some had sixty oars, and some had more; they were both swifter and steadier, and also higher than the others. They were shapen neither like the Frisian nor the Danish, but so as it seemed to him they would be most efficient.
Page 3 - Venetian ships were built and fitted out in this manner: Their bottoms were somewhat flatter than ours, the better to adapt themselves to the shallows, and sustain without danger the regress of the tides. Their prows were very high and erect, as likewise their sterns, to bear the hugeness of the billows, and the violence of tempests. The body of the vessel was entirely of oak, to stand the shocks and assaults of that tempestuous ocean.
Page 34 - And the same year King Athelstan and Elchere the ealdorman fought on shipboard, and slew a great number of the enemy at Sandwich in Kent, and took nine ships, and put the others to flight ; and the heathen men, for the first time, remained over winter in Thanet.
Page 154 - Hastings, made by King John in the second year of his reign, ordered all ships laden or empty, * to strike their sails at the command of the King's governor or admiral, or his lieutenant.
Page 309 - ... used to be, and of taking surety, and affording safeguard in all cases where need shall require, and of ordering all other things necessary for the maintaining of peace, right, and equity among all manner of people as well of other dominions as their own, passing through the said seas, and the sovereign guard thereof...
Page 121 - The suggestion was adopted ; and, the moment the galley came alongside of the ship, the Saracens threw arrows and Greek fire into her. Richard instantly ordered the enemy to be attacked, saying, ' Follow and take them, for, if they escape, ye lose my love for ever; and if ye capture them, all their goods shall be yours.
Page 178 - and was answered by another, " Here am I ; " when the first speaker observed, " Take with thee an axe, and when thou seest us engaging the tyrant's ship, climb up the mast and cut down the banner, that the other vessels may be dispersed for the want of a leader.
Page 309 - That whereas the Kings of England, by right of the said kingdom from time to time, whereof there is no memorial to the contrary, have been in peaceable possession of the sovereign lordship of the...
Page 81 - When they had advanced on both sides, our ships were disposed in a curved, and not a straight line ; so that if the enemy attempted to break through, they might be enclosed and defeated. The ends of the line being drawn out in a sort of crescent, the stronger were placed in front, so that a sharper onset might be made by us, and that of the enemy be checked. In the upper tiers, the shields interlaced were placed circularly ; and the rowers sat close together, that those above might have freer scope....
Page 120 - The vessel, which was the largest the English had ever seen, excited their wonder and admiration. Some chroniclers •' call her a dromon, and others a buss, while one of them exclaims, " A marvellous ship ! a ship than which, except Noah's ark, none greater was ever read of!

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