that the Narrow Seas became the scene of all sorts of piratical irregularities. The English Govermnent did its best to stop these proceedings, and to protect the merchants, whose interests were seriously prejudiced. A squadron of six ships with four pinnaces and a hrigantine was sent on a preventive cruise in July, 1551; and the brig,ntine in question, or'another craft of the same type, was dispatched to I)ieppe to warn the French agaiust the Flareands in the Channel. It is noteworthy as showing the respect with which the English navM power was then treated, that when this brigantine in her course encountered some Flamand vessels, they lowered their topsails to her. Yet the Flareands were not in- variM)ly so subservient. Iu Febru,%ry, 1552, a Flareand ship had the temerity to tempt to search the Falco,--probably the English pinnace of that name--for Frenchmen, whereupon the Falcon hoarded and took her. In 1551 there occurred the earliest recorded English voyage to Guinea. It was made by Thomas Windham, who, iu the following year, repeated it, and opened a remunerative trade. In 1553 he made a third voy,ge, with three ships, but perished on the coast. � _ On March 1st, of 1552, four harks and two pinnaces were sent to reinforce the cruisers policiug the Channels, and on M,rch 26th Sir Heury I)udley, with four ships and two harks, was sent to sea with directions to protect the trade. He captured two pirates and carried them into I)over; but he appears upon the whole to hve performed his task hut indifferently, for the lawless proceedings continued, and those of the Freuch, which in , space of twenty months cost English merchants a loss of ,000, became so in- sufferM)le th,t very sh,rp remonstrances were addressed to the court of France. �- These led to strained relations, nd a rupture appeared to be imminent when, on July 6th, 1553, Edw,rd VI. died. Mry, who in spite of the opposition of the partisans of the unfortuuate Lady Jane Grey, succeeded her brother, owed her elevation, in a btrge measure, to the attitude of the navy. The' Duke of Northmnberland, on hehMf of Lady Jane, sent a sqn,dron of six ships, immedi,tely after the king's deth, to blockade Yarmouth with a view to preventing 5I,ry, who w,s in the eastern counties, frmn leaviug the country. But it happened tln;t forces for Mary's support were at that moment being levied in the town,

Edwal's Journal, Mar. 2�, 1552; ,trype, ii. b. ii. c. x. 

Ib., ;2-,;; Strypc ii. 332.