Once, the townesmen vaunt, that for reskuing certaine
ships of Rye from the Normans in Henrie the thirds time, they beare
the armes, and enioy part of the priuiledges appertaining to the
Cinque ports, whereof there is some memorie in their Chauncell window,
with the name of Fisart Bagga, their principall Commaunder in
that seruice. Moreouer, the prowesse of one Nicholas, sonne to
a widdow, neere Foy, is deskanted vpon, in an old three mans songs,
namely, how he fought brauely at sea, with Iohn Dory (a Genowey, as I
coniecture) set forth by Iohn the French king, and (after much
bloudshed on both sides) tooke, and slew him, in reuenge of the
great rauine, and crueltie, which hee had forecommitted, vpon the
English mens goods and bodies. Yet their so often good successe,
sometimes tasted the sawce of crosser speeding; for Tho. Walsingham
telleth vs, that Sir Hugh Calueley, and Sir Th. Percy, deputed to
gard the sea, by R. the 2. Anno. 1379. chanced there to meete a
Cornish barge, belonging to Foy harbour, which hauing worne out his
victuals, and [136] time, limited for the like seruice, was then
sayling homewards, neither would be entreated by those knights,
to ioyne companie with them: howbeit they bought this refusall
verie deare.
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