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 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