CHAP. III. Military Government THE Chief Officer in this Island He that more immediately represents the King's Person and that hath the Precedency of all others is the Governor While this Island was subject to the Kings of France of the First and Second Race the Governors were styled Comites and Duces i. e. Counts and Dukes Thus LOYESCON who commanded here in the time of Clothaire and Charibert an 560 is called Comes a Count as we learn from the Compilers of the Life of St. Magloire the Apostle of this Island And AMWARITH who had the same Command about 200 Years after viz. in the time of Charlemagne is called Dux a Duke as appears from that ancient Fragment mentioned before where 't is said concerning Geroaldus Abbot of Fontenelles that is quadam Legatione fungebatur in Insulam cui nomen est AVGIA JERSEY cui tempore illo praefuit Dux nomine AMWARITH Under the Dukes of Normandy and the first English Kings after the Conquest the Government of all these Islands was generally given to one Man who was called sometimes Dominus sometimes Ballivus sometimes Custos Insularum i. e. Lord Bailly or Warden of the Islands But K. Henry VI. gave them together with the Isle of Wight to Henry de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick with a very extraordinary Title viz. with that of KING as is seen from an ancient MS. Chronicle of the Abby of Tewkesbury mentioned by Mr. Selden where this Passage is found Obiit Dominus Henricus Nobilis Dux Warichiae Primus Comes Angliae Dominus le Dispenser de Abergevenny REX de Insulis Wight Gardsey JARDSEY Dominus quoque Castri Bristoliae cum suis annexis 3 Id. Junii A. D. 1446. Anno Aetatis suae XXII apud Castrum de Hanleyâ et sepultus est in medio Chori Theokesburiae When these Islands were separated and particular Governors assigned to each of them they were styled Captains and at last Governors which Title was fixed by a special Ordinance of Council June 15. 1618. This Office has been anciently held by Persons of very great Note and Eminency and we can reckon among our Governors the Sons and Brothers of some of our Kings As 1 John Earl of Mortain afterwards King who had these Islands given him in the Nature of an Appanage by K. Richard I his Brother 2 Prince Edward afterwards K. Edward I. Son and Successor of Henry III who held them in the same Right in the time of his Father 3. John Duke of Bedford and 4. Humphrey Duke of Glocester Brothers of Henry V. I shall only give an Account of the Governors of JERSEY from the time of Edward IV ever since which time this Island has always been a separate Government Sir RICHARD HARLISTON Vice-Admiral of England who assisted Philip de Carteret in the Reduction of Mont Orgueil Castle which had been seized by the French and had thereupon the Government given him for his good Service He died in Flanders MATTHEW BAKER Esq Groom of the Bed-Chamber to K. Henry VII ejected afterwards for Misdemeanors THOMAS OVERAY lyeth buried in St. George's Chappel in Mont-Orgueil Castle then the Residence of the Governors Sir HUGH VAUGHAN who was also at the same time Lieutenant of the Tower of London Captain of the King's Life-guard c. Resigned the Government to Sir ANTHONY UGHTRED whose Wife was nearly related to Q. Anne Bolein He came in by that interest and lies interred in St. George's Chappel in Mont Orgueil Sr. ARTHVRD ARCY who sold the Government to THOMAS Lord VAVX of Harrowdon and he soon after to Sir EDWARD SEYMOVR Viscount Beauchamp afterwards Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector Sir HVGH PAWLET Treasurer to K. Henry the 8th's Army at the Siege of Bologne Governor of Havre de Grace an 1563. that Town being then in the hands of the English Reputed one of the best and most experienced Captains of his Time A zealous Promoter of the Reformation in this Island of which he was Governor about 24 Years was succeeded by his Eldest Son Sir AMIAS PAWLET Privy Councellor to Q. Elizabeth Ambassador in France an 1576 who had also for Successor Sir ANTHONY PAWLET his Son and he Sir WALTER RALEIGH whose very Name is an honour to this Island But the unfortunate Gentleman held the Government not long it being forfeited together with all his other Great Offices and Preferments by his Attainder in the First year of K. James I. Sir JOHN PEYTON Lieutenant of the Tower c. Sir THOMAS JERMYN who in his Life-time did also obtain the Reversion of the Government after him for his younger Son HENRY JERMYN created first Lord Jermyn then Earl of St. Alban's Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter c. To whom was afterward joyned in the same Patent and with equal Authority Sir GEORGE DE CARTERET who with so great Valour held the Island for the King against the whole force of the Parliament in the late Civil Wars After the Restoration in 1660 made Vice-Chamberlain and one of the Lords of the Privy-Council and lastly created Baron Carteret of Hains in Bedfordshire After the said Restoration the Earl of St. Alban's remained sole Governor but a War ensuing with France an 1665 the Earl was allowed 1000 l. per annum out of the Exchequer And Sir THOMAS MORGAN that renowned and valiant Commander was sent into this Island and made Governor by special Commission After whose Decease the like Commission was directed to Sir JOHN LANIER recalled upon the Earl of St. Alban's Death to make way for The Right Honourable THOMAS Lord JERMYN Baron of St. Edmund's Bury who claimed the Government by virtue of a Grant to him formerly made by Letters Patent under the Great Seal in case he survived his Uncle the said Earl of St. Alban's He holds it as the Earl did for Life This Office has been held sometimes Quamdiù Domino Regi placuerit sometimes Quamdiù se benè gesserit sometimes for a certain and determinate number of Years sometimes during Life sometimes during Life and five years beyond it and at other times again without Condition or Limitation of time For the support of this Dignity the King allows the Governor his whole Revenue in the Island a small part thereof only deducted for Fees and Salaries to the Officers of the Court. In ancient times this Revenue consisted of seven Mannors which were the Patrimony of the Dukes of Normandy These Mannors were by K. Henry II. let out in Fee-farm to several Tenants at the rate of about 460 Livres Tournois yearly which with many other old Money-Rents expressed in the Extent or Register of the King's Revenue made an 1331. amounted to more than 1000 Livres Tournois per annum A Livre Tournois Libra Turonensis being then worth as much as an English l. Sterling is now This together
sed ibidem omnino terminari IX Insuper constituit quod nullus de libero Tenemento suo quod per Annum diem pacificè Tenuerit sine Brevi Domini Regis de Cancellariâ de Tenente Tenemento faciente mentionem respondere debeat neque Teneatur This was added to protect the Islanders against the Oppressions and Vexations of the then Governors This Article is now grown out of Use X. Item Quod nullus pro Feloniâ Damnatus extrà Insulas praedictas haereditates suas infrà Insulas forisfacere potest quin haeredes sui eas habeant XI Item Si quis forisfecerit abjuraverit Insulam posteà Dominus Rex pacem suam ei concesserit infrà Annum diem abjurationis revertatur ad Insulam de haereditate suâ plenariè debet restitui XII Item Quod nullus debet imprisonari in Castro nisi in casu Criminali vitam vel membrum tangente hoc per Judicium Duodecim Coronatorum Juratorum sed in aliis liberis Prisonis ad hoc Deputatis XIII Item Quod Dominus Rex nullum Praepositum ibidem prohibere debeat nisi per Electionem Patriotarum This Article regards Guernezey only where they have a Provost In JERSEY we have a Viscount but these two Officers are much the same XIV Item Constitutum est quod Insulani non debeant coram Justiciariis ad Assisas capiendas assignatis seu alia Placita tenenda respondere antequà m Transcripta Commissionum eorundem sub Sigillis suis eis liberentur XV. Item Quod Justiciarii per Commissionem Domini Regis ad Assisas capiendas ibidem assignati non debent tenere Placita in quâlibet dictarum Insularum ultrà spatium trium Septimanarum XVI Item Quod ipsi Insulani coram dictis Justiciariis post Tempus praedictum venire non tenentur XVII Item Quod ipsi non tenentur Domino Regi Homagium facere donec ipse Dominus Rex ad partes illas seu infrà Ducatum Normanniae venerit aut aliquem alium per Literas suas assignare voluerit in iisdem partibus ad praedictum Homagium nomine suo ibidem recipiendum XVIII Item Statutum est pro Tuitione Salvatione Insularum Castrorum maximè quia Insulae propè sunt juxtà Potestatem Regis Franciae aliorum inimicorum suorum quod omnes Portus Insularum benè custodirentur Custodes Portuum Dominus Rex constituere praecipit nè Damna sibi suis eveniant There are some other Articles which being also grown out of Use I purposely omit These Constitutions of K. John were afterwards renewed by his Son Henry III in a Letter to Philip de Aubigny Lord or Governor of these Islands Anno Regni 33 â— By these Constitutions We have a Jurisdiction established among our selves and our Properties secured against vexatious Suits and Evocations into England We have next the Charter of Edward III which is only General and Confirmative of former Grants We have Two Charters of Richard II The First General and the same with that of Edward III both contained in an Inspeximus of Henry IV. The Second more Particular exempting Us for ever from all manner of Taxes Imposts and Customs in all Cities Market-Towns and Ports of England Quodque ipsi viz. Insulani Successores sui in perpetuùm sint liberi quieti in omnibus Civitatibus Villis Mercatoriis Portubus infrà Regnum nostrum Angliae de Omnimodis Theloniis Exactionibus Custumis talitèr eodem modo quo fideles Ligei nostri in nostro Regno praedicto extiterunt The Charter of Edward IV extends this Priviledge to all Places within the King's Dominions beyond the Seas Concessimus eidem Genti Communitati quod ipsi Haeredes Successores sui sint liberi quieti in omnibus Civitatibus Burgis Villis Mercatoriis aliis Villis Portubus Locis infrà Regnum nostrum Angliae infrà omnes Terras Insulas nostras citrà vel ultrà Mare sit as vel situatas de omnibus Theloniis Custumis Subsidiis c. There is also a Clause in this Charter that confirms all Our Ancient Rights Liberties and Franchises infrà Insulam i. e. within the Island whereby is meant among other Things an Exemption and Immunity from all Taxes and Subsidies within the same which Exemption is the Ancient Priviledge of this Island and has been peaceably enjoyed by Us to this Day Et etiam quod dicta Gens Communitas ejusdem Insulae de JERESEY Haeredes Successores sui habeant gaudeant omnia Jura Libertates Franchisias sua infrà eandem Insulam c. It were too long to mention the following Charters and Grants of Henry VII Henry VIII Edward VI Q. Mary Q. Elizabeth and so down to our Time In general by them all the foregoing Priviledges are ratified explained and enlarged with ample Additions and We are made equal in point of Commerce with the rest of Their Majesties English Subjects I shall insist somewhat longer on a very singular Priviledge belonging to Us in common with the other Islands of this Tract which is a Freedom and Liberty of Trade in these Islands and the Seas adjacent for Merchants of all Nations in Time of War as well as in Time of Peace I shall first set down this Priviledge in the Words of our Charters and then shall proceed to shew what has been said of it by Writers and what appears thereof upon Practice Cùmque nonnulla alia Privilegia Jurisdictiones Immunitates Libertates Franchisâ—ae per praedictos Progenitores Precedessores nostros quondam Reges Angliae Duces Normanniae ac alios praefatae Insulae indulta donata concessa confirmata fuerunt ac à tempore cujus contrarii Memoria hominum non existit infrà Insulam Loca Maritima praenominata inviolabiliter Vsitata Observata fuerunt de quibus unum est quod tempore Belli omnium Nationum Mercatores alii tà m alienigeni quam indigeni tà m hostes quam amici liberè licitè impunè queant possint dictam Insulam Loca Maritima cum Navibus Mercibus Bonis suis tà m pro evitandis Tempestatibus quà m pro aliis licitis suis Negotiis inibi peragendis adire accedere commeare frequentare libera Commercia Negotiationes ac rem Mercatoriam ibidem exercere ac tutò securè commorari inde recommeare ac redire toties quoties absque damno molestiâ seu hostilitate quácunque in rebus mercibus bonis aut Corporibus suis idque non solùm infrà Insulam Loca maritima praedicta ac praecinctum eorundem verùm etiam infrà Spatia undique ab eisdem distantia usque ad visum Hominis id est quatenùs visus oculi posset assequi Nos eandem Immunitatem Impunitatem Libertatem ac Privilegium ac caetera omnia praemissa ultimò recitata rata grataque habentes
existentibus in eisdem Insulis quod eidem Richardo tanquam BALLIVO Domini Regis in omnibus ad praedictas Insulaâ— pertinentibus intendentes sint respondentes In cujus c. T. ut sup Eodem an Dominus Rex Commisit Hugoni de S. Phileberto Insulam de JERESEY cum Castro ibidem Custodiend c. Et mandatum est Militibus c. quod ei tanquam BALLIVO Domini Regis c. T. R. apud Westm 12 die Febr. An. 11. H. 3. Dominus Rex commisit Wilhelmo de S. Johanne Insulas de JERESEYE Gerneseye cùm aliis Insulis Castris suis ibidem Custodiend c. T. R. apud Westm c. Et mandatum est Militibus c. quod eidem Wilhelmo tanquam BALLIVO Domini Regis c. T. ut sup Vid. Spelman Glossar in voce Baillivus pag. 68. Elizabeth Castle * Q. d. Insaletta Mont-Orgueil Castle St. Aubin's Fort. Grosnéz Cast Batteries c. about the Coast Garrison Militia Bailly and Jurats a Baillivus apud Gallos Splendidus Magistratus est Spelman Glossar pag. 68. b Constitutiones Johannis Regis Art 1. Vid. insrà Cap. VII c Glossar in voce pag. 192. d IV Part of the Institutes Cap. LIX pag. 271. Election of the Jurats Officers of the Court. Power of the Court. e Constit Johannis Regis Art V. Vid. infrà Cap. VII f Mich. 6. E. 3. Appeals Commissioners Royal. g Constit Johan Regis Art V. VII Vid. infrà Cap. VII h IV. Part of the Institut Cap. LXX pag. 286. Laws Custom of Normandy Local Usages Orders of Council Precedents i Lord Coke IV. Part of the Institut Cap. LXX pag. 287. Court of Inheritance Court of Catel Criminal Causes The Court Extraordinary or Billet The Saturday Court Terms Cohue Royale Pagan Altars Plantation of Christianity k Girald Cambr. Itinerar Lib. II. Cap I. de Sede Menevens Dargentré Hist de Bretagne Lib. I. Cap. XV. pag. 65. Andreae Saussayi Martyrolog Gallican Mens Octob. Pars Poster sol 774. Usserii Primord f. 531. Capgrave in S. Sampson †Some say he brought the Pall from Menevia or St. David's with him into Bretagne l Dargentré Lib. I. Ch. XXVIII pag. 132. †There is a Church in Guernesey dedicated to his Memory and that bears his Name to this day St. Sampson m Petrus de Natalibus Lib. IX Cap CIII Benedict Gonon vitae Patrum Occident Lib. III. fol. 145. Nova Leg. Angl. Lond. 1516. De St. Maglorio Episcopo Confessore MSS Mr. Poingdestro n Dargentré Hist de Bretag Lib. II. Ch. XLIV pag. 166. o Hugo Floriac in Chronic apud Du Chesne Tom. 3. pag. 343. p Paris Ancien Nouveau par Monsieur le Maire Tom. I. pag. 356. q Gregor Turon Hist Franc. Lib. I. Cap. XVIII Aymon Monach de Gest Franc. Lib III. Cap. XXVI pag. 99. Papyr Masson Annal. Lib. I. pag. 52. Abregè de L'Historie de Normandie Ch. II. pag. 33. Pretextat privé de son Archeveschê fut releguâ— en l'Isle de GERSEY dans le Territoire de Constances r Hist Eccles pag. 560. Foundation of Churches c. Chapelle des Pas. La Hougue s MSS. Philippi de Carteret Baronet c. Reformation t Fox Acts and Monuments ad Annum 1556. pag. 1763. c. u Police Discipline Ecclesiastique des Eglises Reformées és Isles de JERSEY de Guernezey Serk Oriny arrestées conclues d'un commun accord par Messieurs les Gouverneurs des dites Isles les Ministres Anciens Assemblês au Synode tenu a Guernezey au nom de toutes les dites Eglises le 28 jour du mois de Juin L'An 1576. MSS. †Grandfather to David Bandinel Seigneur of Bagot now living one of the Jurats of the Royal Court A Magistrate of great Ability and Reputation w MSS. Phil. de Carteret Baronet c. †Exceptions * Here followeth a Table of Fees not thought necessary to be Englished * George Abbot Arch-Bishop of Canterbury †John Williams Bishop of Lincoln and Lord Keeper of the â—eat Sâ—â—l ‖ Lancelot Andrews Bishop of Winchester Diocese x Vid. Suprà pag. 115 116 c. y Rotul Insular in Scaccar Dean z Clous 23. E. I. m. 6. Cedul Edwardus c. Dilecto Fideli suo Henrico de Cobham Custodi Insular de Gerneseye GERESSEY Salutem Quia accepimus quod Decanus Insulae nostrae de Genereye praedictae super aliquibus quae spectant ad Jurisdictionem suam in eâdem Insulâ per vos hactenus extitit impeditus quo minùs eaâ—â— exercere possit â—t debet Nolentes eidem Decano injuriari in hac parte vobis Mandamus quod ipsum Decanum Jurisdictâ—nâ— suà pâ—â—ifiâ—â— uti pâ—rmittatis prout eâ— uti debet hactenus uti consuâ—vit Itâ— tamen quoâ— nihil exerceat in praejudicium nostrae Regia Dignitatis Nosque super Causâ Impedimenti praedicti per vâ—s eidem Dâ—cano siâ— illati in proximo Parliamento sub Sigillo vestro distiâ—â—â—â— apertâ— râ—ddâ—tis certiâ—res Teste Meipso apud Westm 26. diâ— Augusti Anno Regni â—ostri 23. Vid. Ryley's Placita Parliamentaria in Appendicâ— pag. 468. Want of Confirmation Patronage of the Churches Impropriations Black-Book of Coûtance ‖ Supp â—x MSS. Gall. †Villers Canivet Diaces Sagiens †MSS. Gall. Curvatâ ‖ Id. Nobretey †The Bishop of Avranches †Suppl ex MSS. Gall. †Avranches †Vauvect †De l'Essay Ord. Bened. in Diaces Constant †Suppl ex MSS. Gall. Exemption from First-fruits Church-Treasuries Free-Schools Fellowships c. in Oxford a Aristot Polit l. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Members of the States Rules for their sitting Governor's Negative Voice Raising of Mony Constables Motives for our Priviledges K. John's Constitutions * Rot. II. 3. * Commissioners Royal. Charter of Edward III. â—â—of Rich. II. â—â—of Edw. IV. â—â—of Hen. VII Hen. VIII Edw. VI. Q. Mary Q. Eliz. c. Notable Priviledge †See the Charters of Ed. IV. Henry VII Henry VIII Edward VI. Q. Elizabeth K. James I. K. Charles I. K. Ch. II. and K. James II. ‖ Viz. de JERSEY b IIIme Partie Art XXI §. 6. pag. 357. Dabondant si la Prise a esté faite en Lieu d'Azyle ou de Refuge comme sont les Isles mers de GERZAY Grenezay en la Coste de Normandie auquelles les Francois Anglois pour quelque Guerre qu'il y ait entre les Deux Couronnes ne doivent insulter ou courre l'un sur l'autre tant si loin que s'estend l'Aspect ou la Veûe desdites Isles c De Insul Brit. pag. 855. d Lib. II. Cap. XIX pag. 376. Et iterùm Lib. II. Cap. XXII pag. 412 c. †JERSEY ‖ Guernezey e Survey Ch. 1. pag. 300. †MSS. 〈◊〉 mâ— * Vid. Acts of the States ‖ Chronique MSS. de l'Isle de GERSEY Chap XXV * This Plea is in Print †Vid. Acts of the Court.