ENGLAND and the WARS in FLANDERS, 1542–1543 Edward Hall Later Commented of the Year 1542 That

CHAPTER THREE

ENGLAND AND THE WARS IN FLANDERS, 1542–1543

Edward Hall later commented of the year 1542 that ‘there was neither perfite peace, nor open warre betwene Englande and Fraunce,’ relations plagued by taking of ships and robbing of merchants.1 Henry VIII embarked on the maelstrom of European war with painful cau- tion in 1542–1543; he had, after all, received a shock in 1538–1539 and had enough on his plate in Scotland. Added to this was the glaring fact that the English had been out of the game effectively since 1523 and had still to measure themselves against the rapid developments of fortifications, battle tactics and armament since then. In 1542, on the Scottish border, Norfolk had lamented the ‘small experience the nobilitie of this armye hath,’ while the troops, he thought ‘know little or no thing of the war.’2 Not for nothing did John Wallop sum up his experiences in Flanders at the end of 1543: In all the warres I have ben in, I have not sene suche another tyme for youghe to lerne, first for our being before Landersey, and especyally sithen thEmperours commyng, who brought wyth Hym horssemen and footemen of all nations, as as Your Majesties men here might lerne and choose what faschyon they lyeked best.3 Landrecies was indeed a baptism of fire and lessons had to be learned fast. While campaigns were planned in Scotland, preparations for war for England on the Continent took the form at first of observing of fighting around the Calais Pale. Relations between France and the Emperor worsened steadily in the early months of 1542 and formed the essential context of Anglo-French relations on the continent. Local English commanders and diplomats reported on the beginnings of war in detail, knowing Henry’s intense interest in the conflict. As has been seen, English positions around Calais had been notably strengthened and reinforced with troops during the war scare of 1541. In July 1542,

1 Hall, ed. Whibley, II, p. 341. 2 Norfolk to Council, 13 Oct. 1542, Hamilton Papers, I, nos. 209, 210, p. 267. 3 Wallop to Henry VIII, 14 Nov. 1543, St.P., IX, pp. 550–552 (L&P, XVIII, ii, 384). england and the wars in flanders, 1542–1543 121 another thousand foot were sent into garrison at Calais, Hammes and Guînes and another 500 promised for the latter.4

Border Tensions

French positions had also been reinforced in and around Ardres since 1540 and there had been many minor disputes between England and France in the early 1540s, including extradition matters, decades-old cases of merchants, the Statute of Strangers and above all the border between English and French territory at Calais. Most of these were invoked in the ordinary course of relations in order to annoy or offset claims by the other side. Of all these, the border disputes around the Calais Pale proved to be the most vexatious and replete with opportunity. Henry had strengthened Calais in the late 1530s.5 The French had begun a programme of rebuilding fortresses early in 1540, including in the north Boulogne, Montreuil and Ardres. Those at Ardres were not entirely new (works had been planned as early as 1521 and begun around 1530) proved to be the most controver- sial. The English, a generation earlier, had objected to them on the grounds that Ardres was a ‘full unmete place to defende the borders of Pycardye,’ the implication being that it was directed only against the English.6 By the Autumn of 1540, serious disturbances were also taking place between Ardres and Guînes over a roughly triangular tract of meadow called the Coswade in English and la Cauchoire in France. It was claimed for pasture by the people of Ardres, who had a simple wooden bridge onto it, but the English asserted it was part of the Pale and broke down the bridge twice.7 Marillac reported that the Calais authorities were seeking a quarrel and that Wallop was deliberately reporting it as evidence of English coolness.8 Late in October, Wallop had a long talk with Francis; there was already a willingness on both

4 Council to Wallop, 31 July 1542, L&P, XVII, 552; 3 Aug. 1542, ibid., 564. 5 See D. Grummitt, The Calais Garrison: War and Military Service in England, 1436–1558 (Woodbridge, 2008). 6 Thomas Ruthal to Wolsey, 1 Aug. 1521, BL Cotton, Calig. E III, fos. 51–52. L&P, XV, 373, 408, 529, 795–796; Potter, Renaissance France at War; M. Cabal and N. Faucherre, Ardres Place Forte (Ardres, ACHA, 1990); M. Cabal, Ardres au XVIe siècle (Ardres, ACHA, 1995). 7 Francis to Marillac, 7 Oct. 1541, Kaulek, 228 (L&P, XVI, 130); Wallop to Henry VIII, 11 Oct. 1541, St.P., VIII, p. 443 (L&P, XVI, 144). 8 Maillac, 21 Oct. 1541, Kaulek 235 (L&P, XVI, 183).