French Raid on Lewes 1377

Text Box: The French Naval Campaign 1377 In the summer of 1377 a combined fleet of 120 French ships and 8 Castilian galleys and 4-5000 troops under the overall command of Jean de Vienne, the French admiral, sailed along the south coast of England, sacking the English ports and surrounding countryside and carrying off booty and prisoners. On 29 June Rye was sacked and burnt, followed by attacks on Southampton, the Isle of Wight, Lyme Regis, Dartmouth, Plymouth and Weymouth, according to Froissart. In August the fleet sailed eastwards along the south coast where local forces under the Abbot of Battle repulsed the raiders at Winchelsea, but Hastings was burnt. As the fleet sailed along the Sussex coast French forces mounted a series of raids on the surrounding countryside, including Rottingdean, where the stone of the church tower still shows the characteristic pink discolouration caused by burning. Rottingdean was an appropriated Lewes Priory rectory, worth £13 6s 8d to the monks in 1291, and the prior, John of Charlieu, led a force there from Lewes to defend it. Meanwhile, following Froissart’s account, the bulk of the French fleet sailed up the Ouse valley, sacking Seaford on the way, and anchored just south of the Priory’s walls, probably on 27th August. There they were met by determined resistance on a field just to the east of the

Text Box: surviving Priory defences and in fierce fighting over 200 of the defenders were killed and Lewes was sacked and burnt, although the Priory was successfully defended. The Prior of Lewes and 2 knights, Sir John Falvesley and Sir Thomas Cheyne, were amongst those captured and taken back to the French ships, which had to await the incoming tide before they could sail away. From their captives they learnt of the death of Edward III and the coronation of Richard II on 16th July. The prior was held in captivity for over a year by the French Admiral until payment of a ransom of 7,000 nobles, equivalent to over 2 years’ income for the Priory. None of the English sources mention the attack on Lewes, only on Rottingdean, but Froissart’s account is clearly an eyewitness description with its detailed topographical information and the effects of the tides in the Ouse valley and so can be relied upon.

Far Left: Wall on line of Priory defences Top: Ouse valley showing 14C high tide levels Left: 15th C seal showing Priory lapped by sea

Text Box: Froissart: Chroniques As they sailed along the English coast, Jean de Vienne and Jean de Ray and the Spanish admiral harried the country intent upon causing great loss wherever they landed to their own great advantage. And while they were proceeding in this way they came to a prosperous small town on the sea, where there is a good rich priory, called Lewes. There had gathered the people of surrounding countryside with the prior of Lewes and two knights, under whose command they were ready to fight, if the French came. The knights were called Sir Thomas Cheyne and Sir John Falvesley. The Earl of Salisbury and his brothers were unable to come in time because of the poor roads and bad country which lies between Lewes and the marsh where they were. The French came to the port and anchored as close to land as possible and came ashore despite the English defenders. There at the entrance to the town there was considerable fighting and many French were wounded by arrows. But their greater numbers drove back their enemies , who gathered in a convenient open space in front of the monastery to await their enemies in close ranks for hand-to-hand fighting. There many great feats of arms were performed on both sides, and the English defended themselves very well considering their numbers, for they were few compared to the French, but determined to give a good account of themselves, whilst the French were eager to cause great damage. Eventually the French took the field and displaced the English, leaving over 200 of them dead and took captive a large number of the most notable men of the marsh who had come there to risk their bodies, including the said knights and the prior. The whole town of Lewes was ransacked, burnt and destroyed together with several marshland villages nearby. Then, when the tide had returned (they were already back on board their ships), they weighed anchor, and sailed from Lewes with their booty and prisoners, from whom they learnt of the death of King Edward of England and the coronation of King Richard.