.

** Walsing. p. 58. Heming. vol. i. p. 39.

*** Walsing. p. 59.

The Normans, who had been more regular than usual in applying to the
crown, needed but this hint to proceed to immediate violence. They
seized an English ship in the channel; and hanging, along with some
dogs, several of the crew on the yard-arm, in presence of their
companions, dismissed the vessel; [*] and bade the mariners inform their
countrymen that vengeance was now taken for the blood of the Norman
killed at Bayonne. This injury, accompanied with so general and
deliberate an insult, was resented by the mariners of the cinque ports,
who, without carrying any complaint to the king, or waiting for redress,
retaliated by committing like barbarities on all French vessels without
distinction. The French, provoked by their losses, preyed on the ships
of all Edward's subjects, whether English or Gascon: the sea became
a scene of piracy between the nations: the sovereigns, without either
seconding or repressing the violence of their subjects, seemed to remain
indifferent spectators: the English made private associations with the
Irish and Dutch seamen; the French with the Flemish and Genoese;[**]
and the animosities of the people on both sides became every day more
violent and barbarous. A fleet of two hundred Norman vessels set sail
to the south for wine and other commodities; and in their passage seized
all the English ships which they met with, hanged the seamen, and seized
the goods. The inhabitants of the English seaports, informed of this
incident, fitted out a fleet of sixty sail, stronger and better manned
than the others, and awaited the enemy on their return. After an
obstinate battle, they put them to rout, and sunk, destroyed, or took
the greater part of them.[***] No quarter was given; and it is pretended
that the loss of the French amounted to fifteen thousand men; which is
accounted for by this circumstance, that the Norman fleet was employed
in transporting a considerable body of soldiers from the south.

The affair was now become too important to be any longer overlooked by
the sovereigns. On Philip's sending an envoy to demand reparation and
restitution, the king despatched the bishop of London to the French
court, in order to accommodate the quarrel. He first said, that the
English courts of justice were open to all men; and if any Frenchman
were injured, he might seek reparation by course of law.[****]

* Heming. vol