252 THE ENGLISH FISHERMEN 



fighting, they landed their troops at Boulogne, 

 and again proceeded to sea, and made an attack 

 on Seaford, one of the Cinque Ports, and, as 

 you must know, about ten miles from Lewes. 

 Here a landing was effected, and the village 

 was pillaged and set on fire a wanton act of 

 destruction. At this place the French, thinking 

 the country was unguarded, remained too long, 

 and thus gave the hardy and brave Sussex 

 Volunteers time to assemble. They came down 

 upon the French in swarms. Every wall and 

 every hedge became alive with armed men. 

 They destroyed the boats of the enemy, defeated 

 them, and only a very small portion of the 

 invaders got back to their fleet, which, however, 

 hovered about the Sussex coast. The English 

 admiral, Lord Lisle, although his ships were 

 fewer in number than those of the French, tried 

 to bring on a general action, but he was obliged 

 to hang along the shore, in order that boats 

 might bring off provisions, of which his fleet 

 were sadly in want. After a fortnight of in- 

 effectual cruising, the two fleets were in sight of 

 each other off Shoreham. A light breeze which 

 was stirring came in from the sea. The French 

 were outside, and stretched for five miles along 



