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| April 11. |
7. Account of Sir John Peyton, governor of Jersey, on oath of
Richard Amy, clerk of the works, of all monies expended for materials and reparations of Mount Orgueil and Elizabeth Castles, from
Michaelmas 1617 to 17 Jan. 1620; total, 94l. 17s. 5¼d. Signed by
Sir John Peyton, lieutenant, Hugh Lemprière, lieutenant-bailiff,
A. Messervy, Edw. Pavy, and Rich. Amy. [Book of 15 written and
11 blank pages.] |
| April 15. |
8. Account by Elias de Carteret and Philip Lemprière, of the
proceedings of the governor and bailiff of Jersey, and others, in
the Assembly of the States, upon the establishment of a dean of
Jersey. |
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1. The bailiff said he wondered that the governor either dared
or would take upon himself to assemble the States, seeing the
Lords had given himself all the temporal power, and left only the
martial to the governor. The latter answered that he had assembled them to siginify His Majesty's pleasure, and that he had
sufficient authority so to do. The bailiff replied that the governor's authority in the States had been granted in his absence,
and protested against such ordinance. The governor answered
that it was not now time or place to dispute such matters, and
that the assembly was to take notice of His Majesty's pleasure
concerning the dean. |
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2. The governor having shown His Majesty's favour towards
this island in the ecclesiastical government, long desired by the
ministers and people, the bailiff said that there had always been
a dean in the island, and that whoever moderated the colloquy or
proposition day had the office of dean. |
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3. The King's patent being delivered by the dean to the governor, the bailiff said it should have been given to him, and took
it out of the governor's hands. The dean said it was first directed
to the governor; the bailiff answered that he represented the
King in that chair. |
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4. The patent being delivered to His Majesty's procurer to read,
he desired that the door of the Sessions House might be opened,
as His Majesty's patent signifying his pleasure to his people
should not be read with closed doors; this was opposed by some
justices, who said that since they were assembled in form of State,
it should be read in private. The bailiff took the opinion of the
jurats, when it was ordained the door should be opened. |
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5. The patent read, the oath taken by Mr. Bandinell, and he
received as dean, he desired place according to his dignity, when
the governor and bailiff appointed him next to them; afterwards
the bailiff would have gathered the jurats' voices for his place,
and Nicholas Foundain and others being examined as to what
place the dean anciently had, they said that he anciently sat
at the governor's feet. The dean said he hoped the bailiff would
not put him to a lower place than formerly he had appointed
him. |
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6. The dean having taken his oath and place, speaking to the
bailiff, and at first uncovering himself, the bailiff said he was too
unmannerly, and that when he would speak to him, he should be
bareheaded. The dean answered he had already put off his hat,
and others of the ministers said that the ministers at the States
might speak to him with their hats on, after their first entrance
into their speech, as well as the jurats who never move their
hats to him at all, which was very ill taken by the bailiff and
Mr. Trinity. |
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7. After this, the bailiff demanded of the dean whether he
would challenge his place before any jurats, and said that the
other dean, Mr. John Powlett, was inferior to them in place, to
which the dean answered, sera temps assez de la disputer quand
je la demanderay. |
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8. The bailiff having demanded and taken the dean's instructions, signed and sealed by His Majesty, would not deliver them
back; and when the dean required them, said he would keep
them himself, to which the dean replied he hoped he would not use
him so, and he should be loath to depart without his directions for
discharge of his office. |
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9. During these disputes, Samuel De la Place, minister of
St. Mary's parish, and Daniel Brevin, minister of St. John's
parish, rose and protested against the oath that Mr. Bandinell was
to take; and said they would not acknowledge him to be their
dean, nor their superior in anything; that the word dean was
not found in Holy Scripture, and that they had signed and sworn
another discipline; and being reprehended for it by the dean, the
bailiff said he was to hear all men; whereupon the constable of
St. Ouen, using some words of distaste, desired to be discharged of
his place, being countenanced by Mons. de la Trinity, which was
strongly resisted by the governor and his son. |
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The two before-mentioned ministers being reproved by some
of their fellow ministers for their rashness and presumption, the
bailiff said that it belonged to him, and not to any of the assembly,
to censure those that spoke anything amiss. [1¾ pages.] |
| April 16. |
9. David Bandinell to Sec. Calvert. Pray accept my gratitude
for past favours. I hope to serve His Majesty to the good of this
country. Soon after my arrival, the governor summoned the Assembly to read my patent establishing the office of dean. When he
took his place in Court, the bailiff sharply attacked him, saying
that he had the right to convoke the States, and that the governor
transgressed the King's commandments, though it was replied that
ordinances signed by the King determined the contrary. Then the
bailiff loaded that amiable personage with contemptuous words, saying that the governor had no authority but in martial affairs. The
governor calmly replied that he only desired obedience to the King's
commands, though vexed to be so interrupted, and begged the
Assembly to hear His Majesty's pleasure, given in my patent. I declared the King's care for the Republic, and gave the governor my
patent, but the bailiff kept saying that I should have spoken and
given my patent to him. Only one jurat and two ministers were
refractory. I was required to take an oath of fidelity to the King,
to maintain the privileges of the country, and to do justice to the
inhabitants. Then I asked for the place fitting to my office; the
governor and bailiff assigned it, but the bailiff wished to discuss
whether such a place should be granted me, and he forbade me
taking precedence of any of the jurats. Although I had long
spoken uncovered, he blamed me as unmannerly for having spoken
covered, although the jurats do not uncover in the Assembly. He
pressed much the reading of the King's instructions, and tried to
take them from me by force. He had exhorted me privately, before
the Assembly, to remit to them the jurisdiction and the instructions
of the King for peace sake, as he said, and should there be any difference from their jurisdiction, to decide it by the rolls of the temporal
Court. In fact he will recognize no power but his own, and will resist
all order incompatible therewith. It is necessary to declare the power
of the governor, and show more clearly the character of the monarchy.
The people are very tractable, and many have congratulated me;
all the ministers but two are on our side. I hope success, but it
will not be without anxiety. My entertainment will be arranged
by the governor, who favours me much. [12/3 pages, French.] |
April 21.
Wallop. |
10. Sir Philip Carteret to Sir Edw. Conway, Luddington. Mr.
Bandinell passed for Jersey eight days since, loaded with three
patents, one for the deanery, the second from the Bishop, and the
other containing his instructions. I heard from London how these
things were managed, whereby I judged that it would prove fruitless
labour for me to insist upon that establishment past, and to have
consented to anything derogating from it, I thought I should have
done you wrong. I choose to lay aloof and not to meddle. |
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I hear Sir Wm. Bird has been much employed, and would have
conferred all authority upon the dean, excluding the ministers,
which my Lord of Winchester and others insisted upon much; but
Mr. Bandinell opposed it, wherein he did wisely, else he had overthrown himself; and he has obtained a letter to be paid his charges
upon the country, as having done them great service. I know not
how to avoid in this business either the ill-will of my country, or
the distaste of the State here. |
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Through your favour, I obtained a patent for transportation of
commodities to the island, which was drawn by Mr. Solicitor, upon
the model of former patents, wherein it was specified that the captain shall grant licences. Sir John Peyton has complained of this,
as contrary to the Lords' order, by which he was to be known by
the name of governor, and not of captain. Sec. Calvert caused a
letter to be written to Mr. Solicitor, to know how this came to pass;
he answered that he had drawn it according to former patents;
the books were searched to see if I had not falsified them, and a
warrant signed by the Lords to fetch me up, but stayed by means of
Sir Clement Edmondes, with whom it yet remains. I wrote a letter
which, having been shown to Mr. Secretary, has appeased him. I
protest it was unwittingly done, the patent being drawn in one
day and in haste, which being according to former precedents, was
excusable. By this I learn what I must trust to, if I should commit
any error. |
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The governor and the bailiff stand upon ill terms; I have endeavoured to pacify them, but to no purpose, and if at my coming
over, I can effect nothing, there must follow some alteration. |
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Remember my service to your lady, to whom I have sent
herein two of the best receipts in this country to make mead, as
also a letter from Jersey how to make hypocras; also a copy of a
letter lately come over concerning the Bohemia affairs. It has
pleased God to give me a son, and his mother remembers her service
to you. [2 pages.] |
