In November 1404 the French decided to launch a series of raids along the English coast. A fleet had been prepared in anticipation of aborted seaborne campaigns. Unused, the crews were becoming restless. So, the order was given for the fleet to engage in a series of attacks upon communities along the English Coast.
Why did the French raid the English Coast in 1404?
In 1402 the peace agreed at Leulinghem began to unravel. Henry IV married Joan of Navarre, creating himself Duke of Brittany by right of his wife. It was seen as a provocative act, and soon the peace turned sour.
The first breach of the peace of Leulinghem was Scottish. An army crossed the English border in coordination with a revolt in Wales. 1403 saw French intervention in Wales and, in 1404, 3 armies were arrayed, two for campaigns against Aquitaine, one, arrayed in August of 1404, intended for Wales.
The French fleet and army remained in port throughout September. Men became disillusioned. They were unpaid, and the prospect of a winter campaign was far from attractive. The situation couldn’t be resolved easily.
Solving a problem of unpaid and disgruntled crews
The solution was to deploy the fleet in raids along the English coast, seizing goods, capturing men for ransom and earning enough to cover the wages of the men, with a profit. On 11th November, the fleet set sail from various ports in Brittany and Normandy. The vessels formed one large fleet at sea and headed for Dartmouth.
Raiders faced by a prepared defence
The French faced a significant problem though. The changed plans were known to the English. Militias were at the ready. And so, when the French made landfall at Falmouth, they found that after three days pillaging with limited reward, they were faced by an army of thousands of militiamen.
The captains now faced the risk of being overwhelmed on land or cut off from their ships. Instead of fighting the militia, the French were ordered to retreat to the safety of their vessels, in which they promptly set sail.
An embarrassing retreat
Earlier concerns over the safety of a campaign to Wales in the rough seas that could be experienced at this time of year now came back to haunt the French fleet. Having been beaten off the coast of Devon by the militia, they now found themselves battered by a violent storm. At least 13 ships sank. Others were badly damaged. Over the next few days, ships limped into the ports of Normandy and Brittany.
The venture was humiliating, and the commander, the Count of la Marche, was ridiculed in court. This embarrassment was increased by the apparent ease at which English retaliatory raids seized goods, burnt villages, and made good their escape.
Further Reading:
Torre Abbey, Locality, Community and Society, this Oxford Thesis discusses the events.