A HISTORY OF SUSSEX 



Arundel is twice mentioned by Froissart as a centre of revolt ' ; and in 

 East Sussex the rising was assisted by the Duke of Lancaster's private 

 enemies. Sir Edward Dalingrugge, Sir Thomas Sackville, and Sir Philip 

 Medstede being concerned in burning a feodary and other muniments in 

 the hands of the Duke's steward at Ringmer, and enforcing an oath that 

 he would not hold any more courts.^ Sir Edward pleaded that he only 

 interfered to save the life of the steward, who would otherwise have 

 been killed, but the jury found against him on this count and for hunt- 

 ing in the Duke's forest of Ashdown.' 



As a result of the failure of the rising the county gaol at Guildford 

 castle became dangerously full and the Earl of Arundel was ordered to 

 keep a number of prisoners in his castles of Arundel and Lewes,* at the 

 latter of which a felons' gaol was next year set up for two years/ Some 

 of the insurgents from Kent having sought refuge in Sussex, a com- 

 mission for their punishment was issued in October 1381 to the Earl of 

 Arundel, Richard Poynings, Thomas Camoys, Edward St. John, Edward 

 Dalingrugge and others." Two Sussex men, John atte Hoth of Mares- 

 field and John Mournour of Ferring were executed,^ and when the act 

 of general pardon was published eight others were excepted from its 

 benefit, namely, Thomas Willot of Burwash, John Harry of Northicam, 

 Stephen Holstock, Robert Hodge, John Jamyn of Warbleton, John 

 Hunt, weaver, of Waldron, Thomas Cutbeard of Wadhurst, and 

 Nicholas Basset of Hartfield." 



The danger of invasion continued to threaten Sussex throughout 

 this reign ; in 1385 Rye was ordered to be fortified and a tax was put 

 on all fish landed on the neighbouring coasts to supply funds for this 

 purpose.* Next year the county petitioned that the castle of Bramber 

 should be garrisoned and further steps taken for the protection of the 

 coast.*" Possibly a result of this appeal was the licence granted in 1386 

 to Sir Edward Dalingrugge, who had made his fortune by serving in 

 France under the celebrated Sir Robert Knolles, to crenellate his manor 

 of Bodiam and make a castle for the defence of the adjacent country 

 against the King's enemies," Sir Edward is found serving on a commission 

 of array with other local magnates in 1388," and the commission for 

 1389 contains the name of Sir John Fallesley, who had been captured at 

 Rottingdean in 1377." 



When Henry of Lancaster laid claim to the throne, Sussex did not 

 come within the sphere of action of the contesting parties, but it is 

 known that Lady Joan Pelham defended the castle of Pevensey on behalf 

 of Henry against the local forces of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, though 

 the letter which she wrote on that occasion to her husband does not 



> Froissart, Chron. (ed. Johnes), ii. 466, 475. 2 Pat. 7 Ric. II. p. 2, m. 6d. 



3 Assize R. 947, No. 4. < Pat. 5 Ric. II. p. i, m. 32d. 



s Ibid. p. 2, m. 12. 8 Ibid. p. I, m. 23d. 



' Reville, Le Soulevement des Travailleurs, pp. 233-4. ° ^"^^ ^'^^^- ^<^<^- Com.), iii. 113. 



8 Pat. 8 Ric. II. p. 2, m. 539, 32d. "> Rot. Pari. (Rec. Com.), iii. 255. 



" Pat. 9 Ric. II. p. I, m. 23. " Pat. II Ric. II. p. I, m. 28d. 

 " Pat. 12 Ric. II. p. I, m. 24d. 



512 



