History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 120

The relations between England and the Low Countries were peculiarly close in the first
period of the Hundred Years War, when for seven years there was constant bickering
in Flanders between the English and French. The first clash came in 1337, when the
English, under the Earl of Derby, forced their way ashore at Cadzand Haven, their
archers completely beating the Flemish crossbowmen. Through the many alliances
with Low Country princes the English armies were swelled to enormous proportions.
There were huge contingents of Flemish and Brabanter foot at the sieges of Cambrai
and Tournay.
Even after the first period of the war military intercourse was frequent enough. When
in 1348 the Count of Flanders invaded his own land with French help, his rebellious
subjects were aided in their resistance by an English force. In 1359 Lancaster had
many Low Country mercenaries in his army before St. Omer. Many of Edward III's
well-known captains, who contracted with him to bring a free company into the field,
were Low Dutch, e.g. Sir Walter Manny and Wolfhard of Ghistelles. The Black Prince
used them too; companies under Daniel Pasele and Denis of Morbeke fought at
Poitiers.
In 1382 there was proclaimed in England an infamous crusade against Flanders, just
because the Flemings held allegiance to a Clementine Count. It was headed by
Bishop Despenser of Norwich. Every servant and apprentice who could give his
master the slip took the Cross, for free passage was provided for every one. Ultimately
the French came to the aid of the Count and the English were beaten out of Flanders.
In 1390 the Earl of Derby made a famous crusading expedition to the Baltic to assist
the Teutonic Knights against the heathen Letts. He landed at Danzig with 50 lances
and 60 archers, and was present at the storming of Vilna.
There was a strong English contingent of many knights and squires and over 200
archers under the Lords Cornwall and Colville in the expedition which the Count of
Ostrevant, son of the Duke of Holland, made against the Frisians.
Very few Low Country mercenaries were hired for the Wars of the Roses. Lambert
Simnel had 2,000 ‘Almaines’ under Martin Swart, and there were a few with Perkin
Warbeck. On the other hand, English contingents took part in several Low Country
wars. The Duke of Gloucester sent 1,000 men to help his wife, Jacqueline of Holland,
against the Duke of Burgundy. Sir John Paston tells us that there were 3,000 English
present at the siege of Neuss by Charles the Bold. Henry VIII sent 1,500 archers to
help Margaret of Savoy, the Regent of Flanders, against the Duke of Guelders.
2. 3.
The period of closest military intercourse was the reigns of Elizabeth and James I,
when England was the ally of the Netherlands in their struggle for independence
against Spain. Throughout this time English contingents were serving in the
Netherlands, as troops supplied by Elizabeth, as mercenaries in the employ of the
States, and as volunteers serving for religion or glory.
Elizabeth was cold or vacillating in her support of the Dutch. However, in 1578 she so
far answered the appeals of the States as to send them, after long delays, 4,000
Scottish troops. Sir Peter Norris became Field-Marshal of the States in 1580, defeated

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