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Aug. 28.
Guernsey. |
25. John Aster, Dean of Guernsey, to Sec. Sir Wm. Cecil. I
would give my experience of Guernsey and the adjacent isles,
which, being fertile and of reasonable temperature, have long been
preserved from invasion by privileges from England, patents from
France, and bulls from Rome, so that they have had no thought of
danger; but Guernsey is now left to the favour of England, with no
added force except some pieces of ordnance, which, unless looked to,
would rather profit the enemy. This castle, the key and centre of
the isles, could resist no powerful attempt. Alderney, being nearest
to England and Normandy, could do good service, and if possessed
by the enemy, much annoyance. Sark is naturally the strongest,
and has been much amended by the Sieur de St. Ouen, in housing
tillage, &c.; but he must be vigilant, or the enemy surprising it
again, as they have recently done, will bring danger to the isles.
The Rosyer, between Arme and Gettan, is the best harbour in these
parts, and as a few rovers there do so much mischief, a powerful
prince would do much more. |
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The people of Guernsey, of whom many are strangers, are 800
able men, and as bad or worse than ever; for murderers, thieves, &c.
daily fly thither from Normandy, and lead horribly loose lives. The
people like English privileges, but no laws can restrain them from
Rome; they are unarmed, and unwilling to resist any foreign
attempt, except a few who fear God and would obey their prince. |
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The government, committed by ancient usage to the inhabitants,
has been greatly abused, so that no good laws passed in England
are esteemed here, and they elect no jurats but such as will cover
vice; but as by your means the chief of the wicked sort have
been discovered, the present justiciars may better regard their trust. |
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I have long been in service, and tasted bitter smart in places where
the people and government were in better order than in these isles,
so I speak now, because princes being at peace, and yet the French
armed by sea, they may do some outrage here, in revenge of those
which rovers commit daily about these coasts. [3 pages.] |
Aug. 31.
St. Peter's Port,
Guernsey. |
26. Francis Chamberlain, captain of Guernsey, John Aster, dean,
and two others, to Council. On receipt of the Queen's commission,
we have examined the pirates; the principal, Capt. Heidon, Rich.
Deigle, Corbet and others are fled; those in Alderney remaining in
custody have submitted themselves to the Queen's mercy, confessing
their faults, but pleading that they were abused by Heidon and
Deigle, who made them pirates under colour of a merchant voyage
to Rochelle, for which they have been a year and a half in prison,
with no suit against them; they think they have done nothing hurtful to these isles. Having power to correct some and absolve others,
we yet refer them to your pleasure, but recommend them for release,
unless, on sight of their confessions, which we send, or by your
better intelligence, you think otherwise. [4 page] Annexing, |
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26. I. Confession before Fras. Chamberlain, captain and
governor of Guernsey, and the other Commissioners,
of Rich. Hitchins, born at Shackford, co. Devon, aged 50.
Phil. Readhead, at Blackmore, co. Dorset, aged 24; Roger
Shaster, at Newcastle, apprentice to Thos. Bowes, goldsmith of London, aged 20; Rob. Highgate, of Oxfordshire, aged 30; and Thos. Morris, of Wells, aged 22.
Being examined by the bailiff and jurats, 19 April 1565,
they confessed, submitted, and protested they were deceived
by Heidon and Deigle, under colour of a merchant
voyage to Rochelle, into being pirates. Details of their
proceedings from their embarkation, June 1564. Landing
to Falmouth, Heidon their captain was imprisoned;
they took a Flemish hulk, in which 13 or 14 Scots in their
company sailed away, as they did not agree with the
others. Went to Ireland, where their captain joined
them. Committed divers robberies on the coast of Spain.
Having taken a wine vessel, went to Beerhaven and com
pounded with Lord Sullivan for his help, by which
Heidon's and two other vessels under Capts. Corbet and
Lusingham, which agreed to go with him, were freed
from the Queen's ships sent to take them as rovers. A
trumpeter was sent ashore from the Queen's ship, but
they know not what he said. Lusingham, captain of one
of the rovers, waving his cap towards the Queen's ships,
was slain by a piece of ordnance. Heidon and Corbet
agreed to go jointly in the John of Sandwich, giving her
all the ordnance, in hope of taking some good ship to
furnish Corbet. Were forced by storm into Alderney, where
the vessel perished, and Heridon, Corbet, Deigle, and 14
others fled in a small pinnace. [3½ pages.] 11 July 1566. |
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26. II. Like confession of John Hawker of Ilminster, co. Somerset, aged 25; Jenkyn Lawrence of Wales, aged 27,
and Cornell Langton, born at Kilkenny, aged 28. Embarked in Ireland on the John of Sandwich, and confess the piracies on the coast of Spain. When at Beerhaven, a messenger from Bowes came to confer with
Heidon, but to what end they know not. [¾ page.] |
Aug. 31.
Castle Cornet. |
27. Francis Chamberlain to Sec. Sir Wm. Cecil. The Council
moved by you for a new commission have desired to know what
has been done by the last. The isles of Alderney and Arme have
been let in fee-farm; the first to my brother George Chamberlain,
the other to John Aster, dean of Guernsey. Provision of corn has
been made for the schools at St. Martin's and St. Peter du Bois;
but we could not proceed further through hindrances of the deprived jurats. There is better hope from the last placed jurats, who
are labouring, on receipt of the Queen's letters, to reduce the rents
to certainty. |
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We have examined the pirates remaining here at my insupportable
charge, and they have made free confession, but profess to be
deceived. The preparations making on the French coast and at
Bordeaux continue, probaby to revenge the cruel murder committed
by the Spaniards on the French at Florida. Still being jealous of
French practices, I stand upon my guard. I wish some of the
Queen's ships would visit the islands, for their protection, and to
suppress piracies. [12/3 pages.] |
| Aug. ? |
28. Articles concerning the state and reinforcement of the isle of
Alderney:— |
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The island should be kept to retain the 700 or 800 inhabitants
in Her Majesty's obedience; for the comfort of travellers in the
Narrow Seas, and the fishing of congers, mackerel, &c.10:11 PM 6/23/2007 ; for the
annoyance that may be done to our enemy, the injury to their
fishing, and the assistance of any invasion on the coast of
France. |
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Also, to avoid discommodities that would otherwise come to
travellers and to traders between the realm and Guernsey and
Jersey. It is now a way to the other isles, but if possessed by
the enemy, would be a scourge, enabling a sudden attempt on
Guernsey or Jersey. In the second year of the late Queen, when
Sir Hugh Paulet, captain of Jersey, dissolved the garrison of
Alderney, Rob. Troblefield, then captain there, offered to hold it
for the Queen, and maintain the garrison, if allowed 500l. for
fortifications, and 100l. yearly, with the profits of the isle;—viz.,
corn, 40l.; the Queen's ground, 100l; the salt-house of congers,
20l.; a windmill, 10l.; with wines and other commodities,- —not
injuring the inhabitants, who could make 80 men, so that 100
men would be maintained at an expense of 100l. yearly. |
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It should be considered whether any petty ports and blockhouses and garrisons in the realm might be spared, and the men,
munition, and materials be employed in the islands. |
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If it be resolved to abandon Alderney, the fort begun and
Lougie's tower should be blown up, and the harbours choked up,
to prevent the enemy's using them. If it be resolved that if they
land, the Queen's navy shall remove them, this might be a great
expense. If the enemy held Alderney, the increase of charge
needed for the other islands would be great; so that fortifying
and garrisoning it may be the less charge. The enemy's holding
it would be a great discouragement to the inhabitants of Guernsey
and Jersey. [3¼ pages.] |
