The main French army, commanded by King Philip II of France, was nearby besieging Ghent and it promptly marched on Damme.

The success of the English raid yielded immense booty and ended the immediate threat of a French invasion of England.

To secure the co-operation of all of his vassals in his plans for the invasion, Philip denounced John as an enemy of the Church, thereby justifying his attack as motivated by religious scruples.

[2][3] Verraccio, however, was also holding secret discussions with John, who agreed to accept the legate's decision in ecclesiastical disputes.

Once the treaty confirming this had been ratified in May 1213 Verraccio announced to Philip that he would have to abandon his expedition against John, since to attack a faithful vassal of the Holy See would constitute a mortal sin.

He suggested that as Ferdinand had denied Philip's right to declare war on England while John was still excommunicated, his disobedience needed to be punished.

Galleys could penetrate shallow harbours and were highly manoeuvrable, making them effective for raiding and ship-to-ship combat in meeting engagements.

Cogs had a deep draught, a round hull and were propelled by a single large sail set on a mast amidships.

Their high freeboard made them superior to the oared vessels in close combat, particularly when they were fitted with the castles, from which missiles could be fired or stones dropped on to enemy craft alongside.

[15] The French fleet, originally assembled to carry troops to invade England, instead operated in a supporting role.

It assembled at Boulogne, where Savari de Mauléon, a French minor noble who had served John for the previous eight years, was appointed its commander.

Determined to make the Flemish pay for his retreat, Phillip ordered that all towns be razed in every district he passed through, and that the peasantry be either killed or taken prisoner and sold as slaves.

[22] The success at Damme dashed any French hopes of invading England that year and severely strained their resources, but did little to affect their army or its operations.

John retook the county of Anjou, but was forced back after losing the Siege of Roche-au-Moine to Philip's son, Louis, on 2 July.

[23] Shortly after, Philip decisively defeated Otto and Ferdinand's army, which had assembled in the Low Countries, at the Battle of Bouvines.

[4][20] De Mauléon returned to English service and in 1216 was appointed by John to the council of regency which governed England in the name of the new nine-year-old king, Henry III.