The Wardens of the Coast,[1] originally called the Keepers of the Coast[2] or Keepers of the Sea,[3] were officials appointed in the Kingdom of England and placed under the jurisdiction of one of the regional admiralties of England, those of the North, South and West. On behalf of the King of England they were responsible for the direction and co-ordination of the King's fleet, the equipping of boats and processing payments to sailors and the superintendence of the Sea Guard Militia assigned to each coastal maritime county during the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries.[4] The most notable of these were the Warden of the Cinque Ports (1226–1267), later called Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle (1267–present), and the Wardens of the Marches (1297–1603). By the beginning of the 16th century they were replaced by the vice-admiralties of the coast.[5]
Sources edit
- ^ Rodger, N.A.M. (1997). "Captains and Admirals: Social History 1204 to 1455". The safeguard of the sea: a naval history of Britain. Vol 1., 660-1649. London: Penguin. pp. 131–142. ISBN 9780140297249.
- ^ Galloway, Andrew (2011). The Cambridge Companion to Medieval English Culture. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. p. 35. ISBN 9780521856898.
- ^ Given-Wilson, Chris (2005). The Parliament rolls of medieval England 1275–1504. Woodbridge, United Kingdom: Boydell Press. p. 268. ISBN 9781843831617.
- ^ Rodger, N.A.M. pp.131-142.
- ^ Rodger, N.A.M. pp.131-142.