possessed special qualities distinguishing it from some pre-existent small craft. As for the "skiff." it may h,ve been a fresh type, but small, light, swift vesse]s were u.scd by English seamen in all ages. Carrocks and dromons figure as bel'orc in thc chronicles of maritime ocmtrrences; but these vessels wcrc never characteristic English

XLVTII CI.iNTUI,Yo ( Frvm liftrich,. .1I,',,'., 4380,.tblio 1490 types, and though they occasionally fought for England, they generally appeared either as mercenaries, or as prizes which had been won from a continenta. l enemy. oxne of the carracks of the time were large. In the reign of HemT V. one, building at Barcelona, was o[ 1300 "botts" or tons, and another of 1000.

Nicvas, ii. , 442.