Admiral of the Western, and Sir Thomas Beaufort,[1] Admiral of the Northern fleet, and at about the same time, an embargo was laid upon shipping in all the ports,[2] and troops were levied to resist an apprehended attack by the Count de la Marche upon Southampton.[3] That winter, when the usual convoy went to Bordeaux for wine, it was directed to return to England at the earliest possible moment, and the best ships and barges were not permitted to form part of it.[4]
Soon after Christmas, the French landed in the Isle of Wight; but while carrying off booty, they were attacked by a superior force, and driven back, with the loss of some of their spoil.[5]
In view of all this, it is astonishing that Parliament, in 1404, instead of taking notice of the illegalities of the French, turned its attention rather to English breaches of the law, and complained of unjust prosecutions in the Admiralty and other courts.[6]
The French renewed their attempt upon the Isle of Wight in February, and lying off with a large fleet, sent ashore to demand tribute in the names of King Richard and Queen Isabella. The inhabitants replied that Richard was dead, that Isabella had been sent home in peace without stipulations for the payment of any tribute, and that they would pay nothing, but that if the French cared to fight the matter out, they might land and first refresh themselves for six hours without molestation. This curious offer, similar to one which, it may be remembered, had been made on a previous occasion, was not accepted; and the enemy, probably because he had news of an English fleet in his neighbourhood, departed without doing anything further.[7]
In the spring, the English again laid waste part of the coasts of Brittany and Picardy, behaving, according to the French account, with detestable cruelty. As a counterstroke, the French resolved upon a regular siege of Calais, by sea as well as by land; and not having sufficient ships for that purpose and for other necessary objects, they obtained a promise of a contingent of vessels and crossbow-men from Spain.[8]
- ↑ A natural son of John of Gaunt by Katherine Swinford, and so half-brother to the king. He was Admiral of England from 1408 until his death in 1426. In 1410-1412 he was also Chancellor. Created Earl of Dorset, 1411, and Duke of Exeter, 1416. He died in 1426.
- ↑ Patent Rolls, 5 Hen. IV.
- ↑ 'Fœdera,' viii. 342, 343.
- ↑ Pro. and Ord. of Privy Council, ii. 81.
- ↑ Walsingham, 412.
- ↑ Parl. Rolls, iii. 539.
- ↑ Otterbourne, 247; Walsingham, 412.
- ↑ Des Ursins, 161; Chron. of St. Denis, iii. 160.
