The city of Dartmouth has been a flourishing seaport since the 12th century. It has witnessed some of the great events of British history including: the assembly of English, French, German and Flemish ships bound for the Second Crusade in 1147 and the rendezvous of nine ships that joined Drake against the Spanish Armada in 1588. The Pilgrims also departed from Dartmouth in the Mayflower for the New World in 1620. When the Hundred Years War with France made legitimate trading difficult; Dartmouth's inhabitants turned to piracy. In response to French retaliation, a fortification arose in 1388 to protect the city and harbor...