Appendix II - Royal Ships Used by Edward III

Summary

A large number of vessels were designated ‘king’s ships’ between 1327 and 1377. This is not a complete guide, as the records were not comprehensive. Ships’ sizes are made clear in some sources, but elsewhere are estimated from crew sizes using Rodger’s ratio of one crewman to four tuns for sailing ships. Town barges are not included as they were not ‘king’s ships’.

1. La Alice of Ipswich

La Alice was listed as belonging to Marie, Countess Marshall in 1340 and was inherited by Simon Marshall. La Alice was around ninety tuns in size and was most often used to travel to Flanders or Normandy for the wool trade. It was used on the 1355 expedition, but was a vessel of secondary importance. The usual master in the 1350s was John Ram. TNA E101/24/14, E101/29/39, E101/378/3.

2. La Allderhallbencog

La Allderhallbencog was probably the largest king’s ship to be used in the reign of Edward III except La Christofre, and the first to carry guns. The ship belonged to the important merchant family, the Draytons. La Allderhallbencog was Walter Manny’s flagship during the crossing to Brabant in 1338, the master being Thomas Money. TNA E101/20/12. Friel, ‘Oars, Sails and Guns: The English and War at Sea 1200–1500’, in Hattendorf and Unger, War at Sea in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, 72. Friel, The Good Ship, 55.

3. La Anne

La Anne was a barge used in 1372, possibly a town barge. Presumably she was lost at La Rochelle.

4. L’Aungelot de la Tour

L’Aungelot de la Tour was a sailing ship in royal service in 1352.