for wine.[1] In October, as well as in February following, there were arrests of shipping.
From the spring to the autumn of 1388 an English fleet was at sea under the Earl of Arundel, and was contributing, by the general character of its operations, to the restoration of public confidence in the navy. It captured and pillaged Marans, attacked La Rochelle, fought an insignificant running action at long gun shot with some French galleys, and plundered several places in Normandy, taking or sinking, while on the cruise, eight vessels.[2] No great amount of glory was won; but the English coasts were relieved for the first time for many years from the fear of the enemy. In the next spring a private merchant of Dartmouth hired some Portuguese vessels, which captured for him thirty-two craft laden with wine.[3]
The year 1389 saw the temporary termination of official hostilities with France, and the supersession of Arundel as sole Admiral. The changes in the command of the fleet were so numerous that the successive appointments may best be given together:—
May 18th: John, Earl of Huntingdon, Admiral of the Western fleet.[4]
May 20th: John, Lord Beaumont, Admiral of the Northern fleet.[4]
May 31st: Sir John Roche, sole Admiral.[4]
June 22nd: John, Lord Beaumont, Admiral of the Northern fleet.[5]
June 22nd: John, Earl of Huntingdon, Admiral of the Western fleet.[5]
No expectation was cherished of the permanence of the truce, and both countries remained in readiness to recommence hostilities at short notice; yet the state of tension did not prevent the formation in 1390 of a composite force of Englishmen, Frenchmen, Bretons and others to act against the pirates and infidels of Tunis. In the attack on that place the English archers are said to have fought boldly, and to have been first on shore.[6]
On March 22nd, 1391, Edward, Earl of Rutland, grandson of Edward III., was appointed Admiral of the Northern fleet,[7] and on
