Five ports on the south coast of England: Hastings, Sandwich, Dover, Romney, Hythe; to these Rye and Winchelsea were later added. They provided the early English navy. This was most likely initiated by Edward the Confessor some time before 1066. Some 50 or more ships were maintained for the king in the 11c. The ports were granted *charters of privileges in late 1270s. The towns became particularly important as a first line of defence once possession of Normandy by the English crown had been lost. By the 13c, a part of the ports' ancient service due to the king was still the supply of ships, each with two dozen crew, for the customary 40 days each year. For Edward I this was the basis of his navy, under the command of an *admiral. As with many such dues and services, when they were commuted to cash payments the system fell apart. By the mid-14c, the king was paying the wages of the crews, not the ports. -
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.