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From Illustrations of Chaucer's England, edited by Dorothy Hughes, M.A.; Longmans, Green and Co.; 1919.
[With reference to a previous order that beacons should be prepared —] . . . We have now understood that a great many galleys and ships of war are newly gathered on the sea, to invade our realm in hostile manner, and to inflict what other evils and injuries they can as well upon merchants and other our faithful lieges as upon our adherents, or persons coming to our realm. And being desirous of preventing this wickedness, and of providing, as we are bound, for the defence and salvation of our realm and of our faithful lieges, we do command you that immediately upon receipt of these letters you shall cause beacons to be made, as well upon hills distant from the sea as in other 112 places near the sea-coast, in such places, and as often, and in such manner as shall seem to you expedient, and as was formerly wont to be done; and to be sufficiently guarded by men of the district, and lighted as often as danger shall threaten.
To the mayor, aldermen, and sheriffs of London.
Because our enemies gathered together in galleys, in no small numbers, have entered our realm in divers parts in hostile manner, and do propose shortly to attack our said city, to perpetrate therein what evils and wickedness they can; we, being desirous of providing for the salvation and defence of the city, do strictly enjoin you to cause the city with all possible speed to be enclosed and fortified towards the water with stone or boards, against such hostile attacks; and to cause piles to be fixed across the Thames, in defence of the city as shall best seem expedient. And you shall cause all persons having rents in the city, as well religious as others, of whatever estate, to aid in the said defence, sparing none in this matter, so that it may be hastened in the speediest possible manner.
Because we have understood for certain that our enemies from abroad are daily preparing to invade our realm, in order to commit therein what evil and wickedness they can — for this reason we have ordained by the advice of our council, for the more speedy warning of our people of the approaching attacks of the enemy, and for the better avoiding of their malice, that one bell only shall be rung in all churches within a distance of seven leagues from the sea; and that if peril shall threaten from such hostile attacks, all the bells shall be rung in each of these churches, for 113 the defence of our people, and to give warning for the repulse of our enemies.
Because we understand that there are within our realm of England many persons spying upon our secret business, and others who send letters into France and elsewhere, for the purpose of giving information to our enemies, to their great comfort, and to our own manifest prejudice, we, wishing to avoid the perils which hereby may befall, do command you to cause all persons approaching the port in order to have passage, or entering our realm there, of whom suspicion may be had, to be searched; to seize all letters of credence and others which you may find to be suspicious, as a result of this search, and to cause these to be sent into the Chancery with all speed, and the persons who brought them to be kept in safe custody.
(a) MURIMUTH A.D. 1338. — In the fourth year of Pope Benedict XII, the twelfth year of the reign of King Edward III, and the sixty-fourth year of the present writer’s age, the galleys of the King of France seized five large ships of the King of England lying in the harbour of Sluys (which were, however, almost empty), while the sailors were in the town, and carried them off to the parts of Normandy. And on the Monday after Michaelmas, fifty galleys full of armed men came suddenly to Southampton about the ninth hour, and all that day they pillaged the town, carrying off whatever they could to their ships. They stayed in the town all night, all the inhabitants being driven away or slain. And on the morrow, perceiving that 114 the men of the country were gathering together, they fired the town in five places, and went back to their ships.
1339. — In this year, on the Eve of the Annunciation,1 there came eleven galleys to Harwich, and they attacked the town, and fired it in three places; but the fire did little damage, on account of the wind, that was unfavourable. And the levy of the district quickly came out against them, resisting them valiantly, and so they withdrew, but small destruction having been done. . . .
Also in this year just before Pentecost the King of France’s pirates came in galleys and pinnaces, to the neighbourhood of Southampton, and because they saw that the country was well prepared to resist them, they immediately withdrew. And because they dared not land there, nor in the Isle of Wight, which was well fortified, they betook themselves to other open places, and thieves as they were, did a great deal of damage. Afterwards, on the feast of Corpus Christi, they burned some fishermen’s cottages at Hastings, and killed several men. They made their appearance many times off the Isle of Thanet, Dover, and Folkestone, but did little damage in those places, unless it were to poor fisher folk, because the country was always ready to resist them.
(b) KNIGHTON. 1339. — About the feast of St. James the French came with a very great force to the port of Sandwich, namely, with 32 galleys, 20 great ships and 15 small ones, but they dared not land, because the English were prepared for them, but turned off to the port of Rye, where they did much mischief. Then the English came up from the sea, and they sought refuge in flight. The English pursued them to Boulogne, setting fire to a great part of that town, and hanged twelve of the ships’ captains, returning to England with the ships they had captured at Boulogne.
115(Later.) Robert de Morley, admiral, went to Normandy with his fleet and the fleet of the Cinque Ports, and they burnt five towns . . . and they burnt there 80 ships belonging to the fleet of the Normans.
(c) MURIMUTH. 1339. — In the ports of Devon and Cornwall, and towards Bristol, the French seized several ships which they found alone, burning them and killing the sailors and others whom they found on board. And on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in Whitsun week these same pirates or others landed at Plymouth in Devon, and burnt the greater part of the town. They were turned back by Hugh de Courtenay, Earl of Devon, a man almost eighty years of age; and other knights of the country, with the men of the country, fought with them, at first losing some of their own men. But at last, having rallied their forces, they slew all the pirates whom they found on land, driving them into the sea so that 500 were drowned, as it was estimated by persons who were present.
(d) FROISSART. 1338. — [Philip of France] caused his great fleet that he kept at sea to be much strengthened, whereof Sir Hugh Quiéret, Behucet, and Barbevaire2 were captains and leaders. These three master rovers kept great store of hired fighters, Genoese, Normans, Picards, and Bretons, and that winter they did much mischief to the English. . . . They pillaged them sorely, capturing the beautiful large ship called the “Christopher,” laden with goods and wools that the English were taking to Flanders, which ship had cost the King of England a great sum of money to build. But these people lost it to the Normans, and were all thrown overboard.
1 24 March
2 Egidio Bocanegra.
116I. When one is made admiral, he must first ordain and substitute for his lieutenants deputies, and other officers under him some of the most loyal, wise and discreet persons in the maritime law and ancient customs of the seas which he can anywhere find, to the end that, by the help of God and their good and just government, the office may be executed to the honour and good of the realm.
II. Item, the admiral ought afterwards, with all the haste that he can conveniently, to write to all his lieutenants, deputies and other officers whatsoever throughout all the sea-coasts through the whole realm, to know how many ships, barges, balingers, and other vessels of war the King may have in his realm, when he pleaseth or need shall requires, and of what burthen they are, and also the names of the owners and possessors thereof.
III. Item, to know likewise by good and lawful inquests, taken before the same lieutenants, deputies, or other officers of the admiral, how many fighting mariners there are in the realm. And the reason is because that in case the King or his Council ask his admiral concerning the same, he may then truly and justly represent to them the number, as well of the ships, barges, balingers, and other vessels of war, and the names of the owners and possessors thereof, as the number of all fighting mariners throughout 117 the Kingdom; and so the King and his Council shall always certainly know his strength by sea.
IV. Item, it is to be taken notice that when the admiral rides on horseback to get any men of war together, or about any other business of the King or the realm, if he be a knight batchelor he shall have 4s. sterling a day for his wages, and if he be an earl or a baron, he shall have for wages according to his estate and degree. . . .
VII. And besides (if the admiral be a knight batchelor) he shall have every day at sea 4s. for himself; and for each knight going in his company, 2s., and for every squire armed 12d. a day; and shall have in consideration of 30 men-at-arms at the end of each quarter of a year, 100 marks, and so he shall have for every one; and shall also have for each archer 6d. a day, and so every one of his captains shall have their wages of him. And if the admiral is a baron, he shall have 6s. 8d. a day, and if he is an earl, he shall have 13s. 4d. a day.
VIII. After that a ship or fleet is come and arrived in one or several ports of the Kingdom, to go and stay at sea by command of the King and order of the realm for the defence thereof, with a certain number of soldiers or archers in the company of the King or his Lieutenant, the admiral ought by his office to elect and order for the king’s person, if he is present, otherwise for his Lieutenant, the best and most able ship of the Kingdom, which shall be called the chamber of the King or his Lieutenant; and if the King be present, then the controller of his household is to make choice of some of the best ships of the whole fleet, that is to say one ship for the Hall, another for the Wardrobe, a third for the Larder, and the fourth for the Kitchen, and more if it be necessary. And if the king hath son or sons, brother or brothers, uncle or uncles with him, then good, able and sufficient ships shall be ordered, assigned and delivered for 118 their persons before the admiral elect, take, or make choice of any ship for himself. The admiral ought to assign and deliver to each of the lords and captains, according to their quality, sufficient shipping as well for their persons as for their victuals, if he have shipping to do it. . . .
XII. And the admiral is governor of the mariners, and ought to govern and maintain them in their laws; and the admiral is bound by his office, if the King be present in his own person, every day before nightfall to sail after the King, and to know his pleasure, what course they shall steer that night and the day following, and in that manner in the King’s absence he ought to do to his Lieutenant. And afterwards all the ships and other vessels are to come together about the admiral, and to know what course he will steer, and he shall acquaint them therewith as well as he can; and afterwards those that know it shall communicate it to the others. And because that every one shall follow the admiral, the admiral ought always to carry a light, unless it be for certain necessary causes otherwise ordained by the King, his Lieutenant, or by the admiral.
XIII. Item, if the King is in his own person in the fleet, then there ought to be in his ship three great lanthorns, one whereof ought to be higher than the other two, and these two others shall be hanged even. And the King may have more lanthorns if he pleaseth, if the master of the ship thinks it fit, to the end that all those in the fleet may know the ship wherein the King is; the King’s Lieutenant shall carry three lanthorns as is above said, but no more.
XIV. Item, the admiral ought every night that the fleet is at sea to carry two great lanthorns at the two parts of the masthead of the ship wherein he is, to the end that he may be known to be admiral. And if he 119 hath under admirals, he may let each of them carry one lanthorn and no more at the top of his mast, for seeing and knowing the fleet, and to the end that the ships of the fleet may not be separated for want of light. . . .
XVIII. Item, it is to be noted that at what convenient time the admiral pleaseth to call the captains and the masters of the fleet together, he shall hang up in the middle of the mast of the ship a flag of counsel, so that it may be known and perceived in all parts of the fleet, either in port or at sea; and then immediately the captains and masters of ships are bound without delay to come with their boats well manned on board the admiral’s ship, there to hear and do what the King’s counsel shall have ordained. And if the King or his Lieutenant is there, they ought to do to them as it is ordained they are to do to the admiral; and if any one of the fleet doth refuse so to do, he shall be punished as a rebel, and according to the maritime law.
This was on Midsummer eve, 1340, all the English fleet was departed out of the river of Thames and took the way to Sluys. And the same time between Blankenberghe and Sluys, on the sea was Sir Hugh Quiéret, Sir Peter Bahuchet, and Barbenoire, and more than seven score great vessels, besides others. And there were of Normans, Genoese and Pickards about the number of 40,000. There they were laid by the French King to defend the King of England’s passage. The King of England and his came sailing till he came before Sluys; and when he saw so great a number of ships that their masts seemed to be like a great wood, he demanded of the master of the ship what people he thought they were. He answered and 120 said “Sir, I think they be Normans laid here by the French King, and hath done great displeasure in England, burnt your town of Hampton, and taken your great ship the ‘Christopher.’.” “Ah,” quoth the King, “I have long desired to fight with the Frenchmen, and now shall I fight with some of them, by the Grace of God and St. George, for truly they have done me so many displeasures, that I shall be revenged and I may.” Then the King set all his ships in order, the greatest before, well furnished with archers; and ever between two ships of archers he had one ship with men-at-arms; and then he made another battle to lie aloof with archers, to comfort ever them that were most weary, if need were. And there were a great number of countesses, ladies, knight’s wives,1 and other damosels that were going to see the Queen at Ghent. These ladies the King caused to be well kept with 300 men-at-arms and 500 archers.
When the King and his marshals had ordered his battles, he drew up the sails, and came with a quarter wind, to have the vantage of the sun (which as they came up had been in their faces). And when the Normans saw them turn back, they marvelled why they did so, and some said, “They think themselves not meet to meddle with us, wherefore they will go back”. They saw well how the King of England was there personally, by reason of his banners. Then they did apparel their fleet in order, for they were sage and good men of war on the sea, and did set the “Christopher,” the which they had won the year before, to be foremost, with great plenty of Genoese crossbowmen on board; and with many trumpets and instruments, so set on their enemies. There began a sore battle on both sides; archers and crossbowmen began to shoot, and men-at-arms approached and fought hand-to-hand; and the better to come together, they had great 121 hooks and grapers of iron, to cast out of one ship and into another, and so tied them fast together. There were many deeds of arms done, taking and rescuing again; and the great ship “Christopher” was at the first won back by the Englishmen, and all that were within it taken or slain. Then there was great noise and cry, and the Englishmen approached and fortified the “Christopher” with archers, and made him to pass on before to fight with the Genoese. This battle was right fierce and terrible2; for battles on the sea are more dangerous and fiercer than the battles by land; for on the sea there is no reculying nor fleeing; there is no remedy but to fight and to abide fortune and every man to show his prowess.
Of a truth, Sir Hugh Quiéret and Sir Peter Béhuchet and Barbenoir were right good and expert men of war. This battle endured from the morning till it was noon, and the Englishmen endured much pain, for their enemies were four against one, and all good men on the sea. There the King of England was a noble knight of his own hand for he was in the flower of his youth; in likewise so was the Earl of Derby, Pembroke, Hereford, Huntingdon, Northampton and Gloucester, Sir Reynold Cobham, Sir Richard Stafford, the Lord Percy, Sir Walter Manny . . . and divers other lords and knights, who bore themselves so valiantly, with some socours that they had of Bruges, and of the country thereabout, that they obtained the victory. So that the Frenchmen, Normans, and others were discomfited, slain, and drowned.
1 “And merchants’ wives of London” (Froissart).
2 For these Normans and Genoese were all sea-rovers . . . and had spent their whole lives in seeking adventures of arms on the sea. Also, to say the truth, the English are good seafaring people, for they are bred to it (MS. de Rome).
122Right dear son, We well believe that you are desirous of having good news of us, and how it has fared with us since our leaving England, and so we have you to know that on the Thursday after we left the port of Orwell we sailed all that day and the night following; and on the Friday about the hour of “noune” we came off the coast of Flanders, off Blankenberghe, where we had sight of the fleet of our enemies, which were all gathered together in the port of Zwyn: and because the tide did not then suit to meet them, we remained there all that night. And on the Saturday, St. John’s day, soon after the hour of ‘noune,’ with the tide, in the name of God, and in the confidence of our just quarrel, we entered into the said port against our enemies, who had placed their ships in very strong array, and made a right noble defence all that day, and the night after. But God, by his power and miracle granted us the victory over our enemies, for which we thank him as devoutly as we can. And we have you to know that the number of our enemies’ ships, galleys, and great barges, amounted to nine score, which were all taken, save 24 in all, which made their escape; and of that some are since taken at sea. And the number of men-at-arms and other armed people amounted to 35,000, of which number it is estimated some 5000 escaped; and the rest, as we are given to understand by some persons who are taken alive, lie dead in many places on the coast of Flanders.1 On the other hand, all our own 123 ships, that is to say, the “Christopher” and the others which were lost at Middleburgh, are now retaken, and there are captured in this fleet 3 or 4 ships as large as the “Christopher”. The Flemings were of good will to come to us at the battle, from the beginning to the end. So that God our Lord has shown abundant grace, for which we and all our friends are ever bound to render grace and thanks to him. Our intent is to remain quiet in the river, until we have made certain agreements with our allies and our other friends of Flanders as to what is to be done. Right dear son, may God keep you. Given under our secret seal in our ship, the “Cog Thomas,” on Wednesday2 the eve of St. Peter and St. Paul.
1 “In this battle there were dead . . . full 30,000 men slain and drowned, as it was said; great part of whom the tide washed up on the shores of Sluys and Cadsand, and some were found fully armed just as they had fought.” (Le Bel.)
2 28 June.
We think it is not unknown to you how that the Spaniards with whom we had purposed to renew the alliance made in former times between their Kings and our ancestors, by the marriage of our offspring, have now . . . with their confederates many times attacked our people, merchants and others, travelling by sea with wines, wool, and other goods, murdering and putting them to death most cruelly; and they have destroyed no small part of our shipping, and perpetrated other innumerable mischiefs, and do not cease daily to do so. And now they are so puffed up with arrogance that, having gathered together an immense fleet, fortified with armed men, in the parts of Flanders, not only are they presuming to boast that they will completely destroy our shipping and dominate the English sea, but 124 they expressly threaten to invade our realm, and utterly to subdue the people subject to us; [the accustomed prayers and processions are to be ordered throughout the diocese[ . . . since we, trusting in the Divine mercy, upon whose bidding, and not on human might, victory depends, do purpose to set out against these our enemies, for the defence of Holy Church and the succour of our realm.
At this time there was much ill-will between the King of England and the Spaniards, on account of some mischiefs and pillages that the Spaniards had committed at sea against the English. Whereby it happened that in this year the Spaniards who had been in Flanders for their merchandise were informed that they would not be able to return home without meeting the English fleet: They took counsel upon this, but did not take much account of it; and they amply provided their ships at Sluys with arms and good artillery, and hired all manner of men, soldiers, archers, and crossbowmen, who would take their pay. They waited for each other, and did their business.
When the King of England, who hated the Spaniards greatly, heard that they were making great preparations, he said openly “We have for a long time spared these people, for which they have done us much harm, without amending their conduct; on the contrary, they grow more arrogant, for which reason they must be chastised as they pass our coasts”. His people readily agreed to this proposal, and were eager to engage the Spaniards. The King therefore issued a special summons to all gentlemen who were then in England, and went to the county of Sussex, which lies on the sea between Southampton and Dover, 125 opposite to Ponthieu and Dieppe; and kept his court in a monastery on the coast, whither the Queen also came. . . .
When the Spaniards had completed their cargoes, and laden their vessels with cloth, linen, and whatever they thought would be profitable to take back to their own country, they went on board their ships at Sluys. They knew that they should meet the English, but took little account of it, for they had marvellously provided themselves with all sorts of artillery, and with great bars of forged iron, made to throw on ships and sink them, together with great stones. When they saw that the wind was favourable to them, they weighed anchor; there were 40 great ships, of such a size and so beautiful that it was a fine sight to see them. High upon their masts they had battled platforms, full of flints and stones, with soldiers to guard them; and from the masts their streamers, emblazoned with their arms, fluttered in the wind so that they were beautiful to look upon. And it seems that if the English had a great desire to meet them, the Spaniards were still more eager for it, as I will tell you afterwards. The Spaniards were full 10,000 men, altogether, with the soldiers whom they had hired in Flanders; so they felt confident and strong enough to meet the King of England and all his power at sea. And with this intent they came sailing on before a fresh and favourable wind, past Calais.
The King of England, who was at sea with his fleet had already made his plans, and given orders as to how they were to fight, and what was to be done. He had appointed the Lord Robert of Namur master of a ship called the “King’s Hall,” on board of which was all his household. The King took his stand in the prow of his ship, dressed in a black velvet jacket, and on his head he wore a black beaver hat, which became him well. And he was that day, as I was told by those who were with him then, as joyous as ever he was in his life. And he made his minstrels play 126 on their horns a German dance, that Sir John Chandos, who was there, had lately brought back; and for entertainment he made the same knight sing with his minstrels, taking great delight in it. And from time to time he looked up to the turret at his masthead, for he had set a watch there, to tell him when the Spaniards were in sight. Whilst the King was thus amusing himself with the knights, who were all glad to see him so gay, the watchman, who had caught sight of the Spanish ships, said, “Ho, I see a ship coming, and it seems to me a Spaniard”. The minstrels were silent, and he was asked if he saw more than one; a little after he said “Yes, I see two, now three and four;” and then, when he saw the whole fleet, “I see so many that, God help me, I cannot count them”. Then when the King and his knights knew that they were the Spaniards, he caused the trumpets to sound, and all the ships came together, and ranged themselves in good order for the fight, for they knew that they would have battle, since the Spaniards had such a great fleet. It was then late, about the hour of vespers. The King had wine brought, and he and all his knights drank, and then put their basinets on their heads. The Spaniards soon drew near, and they might easily have passed without fighting, if they wished, for they were in large ships, and had the wind in their favour; . . . but through pride and presumption they disdained to sail by, but bore down upon them and began the battle.
When the King of England saw from his ships their order of battle, he said to the helmsman of his vessel, “Lay me alongside that Spaniard who is coming towards us, for I will have a tilt with him”. The mariner dared not disobey the King’s order, but laid the ship as he was ordered against the Spaniard, who was coming swiftly before the wind at full sail; and if the King’s ship had not been large and stout, she would have been sunk, for 127 she met the great Spanish ship with such force that it was like the crash of a tempest. And with the shock, the turret on the mast of the King’s ship caught that of the Spaniard, so that it broke his mast, and all in his turret fell into the sea and were drowned. The King’s ship received such a shock that she let in water; the knights saw this, and bestirred themselves to bale it out, saying nothing to the King of the matter. Then said the King, looking at the ship that he had attacked, “Grapple my ship to that one, for I will take her”; but his knights replied, “Sire, let this one go, you will have a better”. So that ship sailed on, and another great ship came up, whereto the King’s knights grappled theirs with chains and iron hooks. Then began a fierce and cruel battle, the archers shooting, and the Spaniards fighting and defending themselves valiantly.
The fight was not in one place, but in ten or twelve at a time; whenever they found themselves equal to the enemy or superior, they grappled them and performed wonderful feats of arms. But the English had no advantage, for the Spanish ships were much higher and larger, so that they had great advantage in shooting, and casting down bars of iron, which caused the English to suffer greatly.
The knights on board the King’s ship, which let in water, and was in danger of sinking, strove hard to overcome the Spanish ship to which they were grappled, and did many great deeds of arms; until at last it was won, and all on board put to death. Then the King was told of the peril they were in, and how his ship was fast letting in water, and he was advised to go on board the ship they had just taken. He took this advice, and went on board the Spanish ship, and the knights and all who were with him, and left their own empty; and then they meant to sail on and attack the enemy, who was still fighting gallantly, his 128 crossbowmen shooting iron bolts from great bows, which harassed the English greatly.
This battle on the sea between the Spanish and English was well and fiercely fought; but it began late, so that the English made great efforts to finish the business well, and discomfit their enemies. Also the Spaniards, who are used to the sea, and were in great and strong ships, acquitted themselves to the utmost of their power. On the other part there fought the young Prince of Wales, and those of his charge, their ship being grappled to a great Spanish vessel, and he and his people suffered much, for their ship was pierced in many places, and the water rushed in so that for all their efforts to bale it out, she filled up more and more. The people with the Prince were in sore fear of this, so they fought fiercely to win the Spanish ship, but they could not have her, for she was strongly held and defended.
Upon this peril wherein the Prince and his people stood, there came the Duke of Lancaster sailing by the Prince’s ship; he saw at once that they had the worst of the engagement, and that their ship was in sore straits, for they were throwing out the water on all sides. So he fell upon the other side of the Spanish vessel, crying “Derby to the rescue,” and attacking the Spaniards fiercely, so that they did not endure for long; but their ship was won, and they were all thrown overboard, not one being spared. Then the Prince and his people at once went on board her, and scarcely had they done so before their own ship sank, so that they knew the great peril they had been in.
The English knights and barons fought well in other directions, each according as had been agreed upon, and there was full need of their valour, for they found a tough adversary; so that late in the evening, the ship the “King’s Hall,” whereof Sir Robert of Namur was captain, was grappled by a great Spaniard, and there was a sharp 129 fight. And because the Spaniards wanted to master this ship at their ease, and to secure her with all who were within, they strove to carry her off with them; and setting all their sails, and taking advantage of the wind, they went off with her, in spite of all that Sir Robert and his men could do. For the Spanish ship was much larger and heavier than theirs, so that she had great advantage. Thus they passed by the King’s ship, crying “ ‘Rescue the King’s Hall’ ”; but they were not heard, for it was already late, and if they had been seen, they could not have been succoured. And I believe that the Spaniards would have carried them off easily, but for the right valiant feat of one of Sir Robert’s servants, called Hankin. For with his drawn sword in his hand, he leapt on to the Spanish ship, ran to the mast, and cut the rope which bore the sail, so that it became useless; and then with great agility he cut the four main ropes that directed the mast and the sails, so that the sails fell to the deck, and the ship stayed, and could not go forward. Then Sir Robert of Namur and his people came up with drawn swords, attacking those within so vigorously that they were all slain and thrown overboard, and the ship was won.
I cannot tell of all these men, nor say “This one did well,” or “This one did better”; but while it lasted the battle was sharp and bitter, and the Spaniards gave the King of England and his men enough to do. Nevertheless, at last the victory remained for the English. The Spaniards lost 14 ships,2 and the rest saved themselves by flight. When they had all disappeared, and the King saw he had none left to fight with, he caused his trumpets to sound the retreat, and set out for England, where he landed at Rye and Winchelsea soon after nightfall.
1 A translation is also given in “A Mediæval Garner,” G. G. Coulton.
2 English chroniclers increase the number to 24 or 26.