Second Baron’s War
During the Second Baron’s War against Henry III, in April 1267, the baronial forces under Gilbert de Clare entered London, which rose to their support. The king’s army abandoned the siege of Ely, marched south, and laid siege to London for seven weeks. With provision running low, the Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire, Richard de Southchurch, commandeered forty cockerels from the locals, which it was claimed he proposed to use as incendiary bombs by tying fire to their feet and sending them flying into London to burn it down in an attempt to end the siege. Fortunately for the birds, the plan never came to fruition, and the villagers claimed the Sheriff kept the cockerels for himself!
Source:
https://highsheriffofessex.com
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