History of Brighthelmston; or, Brighton as I View it and Others Knew It: With a Chronological Table of Local EventsErredge, John Ackerson
History
History of Brighthelmston; or, Brighton as I View it and Others Knew It: With a Chronological Table of Local Events
Erredge, John Ackerson
Brighton (England) -- History
A curious Picture Map of this attack is engraved in the 24th vol. of the
“Archæologia” of 1832, from the original in the Cottonian Library. A
copy of this map is in the possession of the compiler of this history.
It bears date, “1545, July, 37 Henry VIII.” The number of ships
attacking the town is twenty-two; and the largest, probably the
Admiral’s, lying nearest the shore, has four masts; seven have three
masts, three two masts, and eleven are galleys with one mast and numerous
oars. Eight of the latter are on shore, and the armed men from them have
disembarked on the beach, the place where they landed being
inscribed,—“here landed the galleys.” On the shore also, high and dry,
are six large boats of the inhabitants, and several smaller ones. On the
beach, likewise, at Hove, are five small boats. On the sea, towards the
west side, is inscribed,—“Shippes may ride all somer tem in a myle the
town in V fathome water;” and on the east,—“Thesse grete shippes rydeng
hard abode shore by shoting into the hille and wallies on the towne, so
sore oppresse the towne that the countrey dare not adventure to rescue
it.” The ships are pierced for guns, and the prows and sterns are raised
three or four stages. Numerous pennons and streamers adorn each ship,
some bearing a _fleur-de-lys_, and others a cross. On shore the houses
under the cliffe are on fire; from the upper town also flames are issuing
from almost every house. There are five rows of houses running from
north to south; and at the extreme north a row of houses runs from east
to west. A square space in the centre is marked,—“A felde in the middle
of the town.” A road to the east of the town, about the spot now
occupied by the Old Steine, and going in the north-east direction is
inscribed,—“the valey comyng from Lewes town to Brighthampston.” On this
road and on the hill adjacent bodies of armed men are marching towards
the town. On the cliffe, eastward of this road, is an erection from
which is suspended a frame containing some burning substance, and is
inscribed,—“the towne fyre cage.” This is at about the spot where the
offices and auction room of Messrs. Parsons and Son now are. From
thence, eastward, is inscribed,—“The East pte of brighthampston riseng
onelye on cleves high.” North of the town is the church, about which
persons, some armed, appear in the attitude of prayer. Beyond the church
are two mills, marked,—the “wynde mylles;” and still farther a blazing
construction on a pole, marked,—“the bekon of the towne.” A road from
this spot is continued to the sea, about midway between the church and
Hove Church, marked,—“hoove Churche.” This road, along which armed men
are coming towards the town, is inscribed,—“the valey comyng from pouynge
(Poynings) betwixt brighthampston and the vilage, hove.” As this road
approaches the beach it is inscribed,—“Upon this west pt may lond CM
psones (100,000 persons) unletted by any pvision there.” At the back of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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