In 1345 Sir John Tuchet, serving in Gascony under Henry, Earl of Derby, sent with the Laurence, Earl of Pembroke and 40 other knights and squires, and 300 men-at-arms and archers, to defend Aiguillon from an invading French force. At the castle they joined about 120 soldiers already there. The duke of Normandy, son of the king of France, arrived with a large French force and began a siege. The French attempted to build a bridge over the adjoining rever Garonne, but the English delayed construction by repeated attacks on the workmen. The completion of the bridge did not give the French the advantage they sought, so the Duke sent for battering engines which were used to cast stones into the fortress. The next attempt by the French was to use siege towers, higher than the walls, to be brought to the castle from the river. The English were able to destroy them with “martinets” which cast large stones. 2
In 1346-7, John represented his father in France, serving as a knight in the retinue of William de Bohun, Earl of Northampton. 2
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28 Jan 1348, Westminster
John Tochet, knight, and Walter de Folevill acknowledge that they owe to Master Henry de Caumpeden £40; to be levied etc. in co. Derby.
Calendar of the Close Rolls, 22 Edw. III, Pt. 1.
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John was given seisin of his father's lands on 24 Feb. 1350/1. 2
In 1355 John served in Gascony with Thomas de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, constable of the army of Gascony. 2
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15 Dec 1357, Westminster
... [In] the place of Henry de Braylesford, John Tuchet is appointed to keep the peace and the said statutes in the county of Derby.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Edw. III, vol. 10, p. 553
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28 Apr 1358, Westminster
Commission of the Peace, pursuant to the statutes of Winchester and Northampton to Henry Grene, John Tuchet, William Grey of Sandiacre, William de Skipwith, Robert Fraunceys, Roger Michel and Henry de la Pole, in the county of Derby.
Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Edw. III, vol. 11, p. 69
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