who did remove, expel, and evil entreat the bishop's priest, there formerly placed, etc." wt This is the earliest account we have of the quarrels and jealousies that ever after existed between the men of the Ports and the men of Yarmouth, at times arising to a fearful height, as in 1296, when Edward I. passing into Flanders to aid the Earl against the French, was no sooner at land, but that through an old grudge betwixt the Portsmen and Yarmouth, they fell together and fought on the water in such earnest (notwithstanding the King commanded the contrary) that twenty-five ships of Yarmouth, and their partakers, were burned by the men of the Ports." Manship says that they killed 171 men, and destroyed goods to the value of £45,360.' " The number of bailiffs sent to Yarmouth in 1285, was ten (Laurence de Winfongers represented Hastings) which number was continued until 1347. In 1361 four only were commissioned by all the Ports, from Hastings., Winchelsea, Rye, and Romney.
The number continued to vary until 1555, when four were returned, and the year following three ; after which period the return was two bailiffs only, one to represent the West or Sussex Ports, Hastings, Winchelsea, Rye, the other, the East or Kent Ports, which number continued up to 1662, when the Ports ceased to send bailiffs to Yarmouth. The ceremony of their appointment is described in the old record called the Black Book, kept at New Romney.Jeake gives a very full description of this ancient privilege in the work, but sufficient has been recorded here to prove the importance of the powers granted to the five Cinque Ports and gives us an insight into the position held by Hastings of Bygone Days.
TYPES OF ANCIENT SHIPS.
Jeake says, " Of the sort of ships, their build, their rig or tonnage little or no information is given to guide us, but the impress of the Seals of the Cinque Ports may afford some idea. For centuries their services were called into action for guarding the narrow seas from pirates infesting the coasts. King John (1215) in his retirement in the Isle of Wight was almost forsaken of all his kingdom after the Magna Charta was signed), save by the ships and mariners of the Cinque Ports which assisted him to recover all he had lost."
In Henry III. (1217), the ports armed forty ships under the command of Sir Hubert de Burgh, then Warden of the Ports, against Louis the French King's son, and utterly defeated the French Commander.
In Edward I. (1293-4) one hundred sail of the Ports Navy fought at sea a great French fleet, and although the enemy outnumbered them, they slew, took, and sunk so many that for a long time after the French ceased troubling.
In Edward III. (1336) the Navy of the Ports, together with other vessels under Geffery de Say, hindered the bringing of succour from foreign parts to the King's enemies in Scotland.
