[MR] Wikipedia: French Attach Isle of Wight, 1545

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

On this date in 1545, French troops overran much of the Isle of Wight
during an attempted invasion of England.

The battle for Wight is not well recorded by either side, and the intent to
take the island has been described as a diversion to provoke the English
fleet into battle, or an attempt to gain a foothold for further operations
against the English mainland. Portsmouth was the real French objective. The
Wight invasion also may have been a foolish mistake.

The French attempt to invade England and put Henry VIII out of business was
a serious undertaking. Alexander McKee's book KING HENRY VIII'S MARY ROSE
contains a good description of the fleets and the naval campaign. The
French attacked with 235 ships (considerably larger than the 136 ships of
the later Spanish Armada, but carrying about the same number of troops and
sailors). Many were galleys which needed no wind to maneuver. The French
fleet carried some 30,000 men. England could muster only 100 ships, but if
the wind rose, they would have been a formidable force due to their
excellent guns and experienced sailors. The English fleet had to be
destroyed for the invasion to go forward. Henry's ships were in defensive
position guarding Portsmouth harbor, but with the wind against them.

The French sent 25 of their galleys to Wight, and made three landings
against light opposition. As they moved inland, burning farms and towns,
the small English regular forces and militia were forced to retreat and
employ guerrilla tactics. The French were extremely discomforted by English
archers (said by some to have included women) who sent volleys of arrows at
the invaders, then disappeared into the woods. Nothing scares a Frenchman
out of his codpiece faster than the whizzing sound of an English arrow.
Gradually it dawned on the French commanders that they could not hold Wight
without endangering their fleet.

Henry was content to keep the French off balance on Wight, and slipped
reinforcements onto the island's far end. He was waiting for the right
moment to counter-attack by sea.

Then on 25 July the wind shifted to favor the English.

The French were forced to hastily abandon their attack on Wight. Instead,
their fleet reassembled and sensibly headed for English-held Boulogne,
which other French forces had under siege

You can read more about the Isle of Wight invasion at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_invasion_of_the_Isle_of_Wight . If you
can find a copy of McKee's book, it gives a better description of the
fighting including a surprise English cavalry attack with plow and cart
horses that chewed up a French infantry force.

We cannot close without mentioning the Mary Rose, which sank during a foray
to repel some French galleys on 19 July. The Mary Rose and her crew were
the chief English casualties in this action:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Rose .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆