D’Annibault sailed from Havre on July 14. On the 16th he was off the coast of Sussex, where he wasted time in pillaging fishing-villages. He then moved on to the Isle of Wight, and anchored off St. Helens. Next day the galleys engaged the English fleet at long range without result. On the 18th the French threatened an attack in three divisions of ships, with the galleys as an advance guard. There was a dead calm, and for a while the long 60-pounders of the galleys made good practice. But before long a breeze sprang up, and Lisle weighed so smartly that the galleys were nearly caught before they could put about. They succeeded in doing so, however, and retired slowly, with the object of drawing on the English great-ships. Lisle, however, would not be enticed, and sent the row-barges in pursuit. They chased with great daring, and before the long galleys could turn on their nimble tormentors they had been well peppered. Had the French made a serious attack, Lisle had formed an able plan for their discomfiture. He designed to fall with his whole force on their right wing and drive them upon the dangerous shoals of the ‘Owers’ which stretch eastward from the Isle of Wight. The wind, however, was unfavourable, and without it he would not abandon his strong position.
BREECH-LOADING WROUGHT-IRON GUN RECOVERED FROM THE ‘MARIE ROSE.’
The Marie Rose was built in 1509. The iron pin may have been used for manipulating the clumsy, wooden breech-block shown in place. The rings or dolphins were used for slinging the gun.
(In the Royal United Service Museum, Whitehall.)
As it was obvious that Lisle was not to be drawn out, the French landed raiding parties in the Isle of Wight. They were roughly handled by the garrison, and then D’Annibault gave up and retired. Disease was already breaking out in the crowded and dirty ships. The English lost the great-ship Marie Rose, which capsized owing to her bad construction and over-armament, carrying with her Captain Grenville, (father of the hero of Elizabeth’s reign), Sir George Carew, and 500 men.
A BRASS CANNON ROYAL OF THE TIME OF HENRY VIII., RECOVERED FROM THE WRECK OF THE ‘MARIE ROSE.’
Length, 8 feet 6 inches; calibre, 8·54 inches; weight of shot, about 60 pounds.
(In the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich.)