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1304.]

THE DOMINION OF THE SEAS.

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able possession of the said sovereign guard, with power of jurisdiction.... And whereas the masters of the ships of the said kingdom of England, in the absence of the said admiral, have been in peaceable possession of taking cognisance and judging between all manner of people, according to the laws, statutes, prohibitions and customs ... (and whereas the Kings of England and France have lately, in the first article of a league of treaty,[1] guaranteed one another in the defence of their rights and privileges) ... Monsieur Reyner Grimbald,[2] master of the navy of the said King of France, who calls himself admiral of he said sea, being deputed by his aforesaid lord in his war against the Flemings, did, after the said league made and confirmed, against the tenour and obligations of the said league, and the intent of them that made it, wrongfully assume and exercise the office of admiralty in the said sea of England above the space of a year by commission of the said King of France, taking the people and merchants of the kingdom of England, and of other places, passing through the said sea with their goods, and committed them so taken to the prisons of his said lord the King of France, and delivered their goods and merchandises to the receivers of the said King of France, by him deputed in the ports of his said kingdom, as forfeited and due unto him, to remain at his judgment and award.... (Therefore it is prayed) that you would cause due and speedy deliverance of the said people with their goods and merchandises, so taken and detained, to be made to the admiral of the said King of England, to whom the cognisance of the same of right appertaineth, as is before expressed; so that without disturbance from you or any other, he may take cognisance thereof, and do what belongs to his office aforesaid; and the said Monsieur Reyner be condemned and constrained to make satisfaction for all the said damages, so far forth as he shall be able, and, in his default, his said lord the King of France, by whom he was deputed to the said office; and that, after satisfaction given for the said damages, the said Monsieur Reyner may be so duly punished for the violation of the said league, that his punishment may be an example to others in time to come."

Granting that the claim, as set forth above, was made, there is still no evidence that it was then admitted; but many years were not to elapse without a very similar claim being both made and admitted.

In the navy of Edward I. the flags used seem to have been the same as those flown under his immediate predecessors, viz., the Royal banner, and the banner of St. George. The former was not confined to vessels actually having the sovereign or a prince of his house on board. Streamers, known otherwise as pencils, and later as whips and pennants, had come into use; but there is nothing to show that they were in anyway confined to king's ships or that they were always worn by king's ships in commission. In Edward's army, on the other hand, in addition to the banners used in the navy, the banner of St. Edmund—blue, with three gold crowns—and the banner of Edward the Confessor—blue, with a gold cross between five martlets—were employed.

Edward II., fourth but eldest surviving son of Edward I., who

  1. ↑ Dated at Paris, May 20th, 1303. The text is in Rymer's 'Fœdera.'
  2. ↑ Grimaldi, Prince of Monaco, the celebrated seaman who died in 1314.
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