Roger of Howden's sailing directions for the English coast

Abstract

The route which Roger of Howden took toward the third crusade has long been known via a scant itinerary. He also wrote sailing directions for the whole European coast. Patrick Gautier Dalché brought these to light in 2005, with the major part on the English coast set in a Latin text. This article provides an English translation of that part from York down to Dartmouth. Howden's intense description increases our knowledge of medieval geographical lore and this article sets that knowledge into context, eking out the sailing method and coastal description involved.