Show British Ships Blessed in Fourteenth Century So far tar as we can cnn be certain the blessing of British ships was In vogue In the Fourteenth century and according to the monk of St. St Denys this was done when the duke dule of Bourbon dispatched an expedition expedition ex ex- to Genoa under the earl of ot of Derby in 1390 1300 II n. G. G relates relates relates re re- lates In Grace Log shipping maga maga- zine The procedure was in keepIng keep keep- Ing with an ancient custom and Intended Intended intended In- In tended to Insure success and to that end the ships were blessed by priests In July of 1418 the bishop of Bangor or ang-or went to Southampton to toIve give Ive a n benediction to the Grace one one of or the kings king's ships completed completed com com- In that port a n. n short while before herme The worthy bishop was I paid 1011 five pounds for his Ids trouble and the he n added to that occa occa- Ion sion No vessel of the ro royal rojal al navy was baptized ed with wine during I the Fifteenth century century century-at at least that Is the declaration of n a widely known n naval al historian |