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Oct. 10.
Jersey. |
59. Sir Philip Carteret to Sir Edward Conway. I crave pardon
of you and your lady, that having received her commission for
canvas, I have not sent it with such speed as she might expect.
My brother neglects to send an account, as you commanded; pray
write to your lieutenant about it. Thanks for your mare, which
was shipped with great difficulty, but she has come safe and sound
to me. I thought to have been in London shortly after Michaelmas,
but my wife being brought to bed with a boy, winter has encroached
so fast on that I defer my journey until March. |
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There has been a messenger with letters to the governor, to understand how the orders established by you are observed, concerning
the number of soldiers to be in the castles; how the people stand
provided with arms and munitions, and what fortifications are
necessary. The number of soldiers is complete; the people have
been mustered often, but are altogether unprovided of arms, as you
well know, and the governor has sent a project for making a base
guard in the new castle. The next summer is like to be troublesome
about us; the ports near us in Normandy are guarded, so that at
the Rodes, a paltry port by us, there are 48 men that watch day and
night. Our commerce with the French and theirs with us decrease
daily. The governor has written to have one of the King's pinnaces
to lie next summer about the island. I hope the State consider
these poor places, as we are looked on from France with an ill eye. |
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The siege is still before Montauban; it may hold out yet four
months. The King has lost 1,000 men of note, besides a great
number of soldiers; he is 40,000 strong, but half are weak and
sickly; there is great speech of a third party. The Duke of Guise
is gone from the army, malcontent; the Prince of Condé is likewise gone to his government, and has had his wife and son from
Paris. Soissons and Trimouille have retired; Paris and some other
towns are in a fair way to mutiny; the Constable and M. Rohan
met at Villemeur, four leagues from Montauban, to treat of peace,
but could not agree. The King's fleet has received loss at sea by
the Rochellers. [2 pages.] |
Oct. 13.
Montorgueil Castle, Jersey. |
60. Sir John Peyton, Governor of Jersey to the Council. In
acknowledging your care of this remote frontier, I must give a
faithful account of my endeavours for its security, both in observing
prescribed instructions, and employing the best of my judgment to
add what strength the country can afford. |
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Upon my first arrival after His Majesty's ordinances of 15 June
1618, I supplied the garrisons to the full number therein specified,
the men being all serviceable, lodging, and performing their duties
of watch and ward in the castles respectively. Musters and training
have been carefully observed, so that for four or five months, every
company has been weekly exercised. My directions to my son in
my absence for defence of the isle, and how he discharged himself
to the general liking of the inhabitants, I send herewith. |
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The night watch dispersed round the isle consists of 186 persons,
the day ward but of 24, placed upon high promontories for discovery, as a store of fishing and other boats of the island are continually abroad when the sea is navigable. The greatest defect is
the evil arming of the people, who, though grown through a long
peace careless, become now apprehensive of their danger, and seem
willing to furnish themselves; so that if 200 muskets, 400 pikes,
and a last of powder might be sent hither, they would soon be
distributed, and the money returned. |
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The sou per pot of wine, intended for arming the poorer sort
was never levied, for want of authority under the Great Seal; but
having received the draft of a patent, I will send it you that it may
be sued out under the Great Seal. If His Majesty would command
one or two pinnaces to be sent hither, for safeguard of the harbour
and coast, the very report would discourage any rash incursion. To
give you further information of the state of His Majesty's castles.
I herewith enclose my opinion of their defects, and the works
necessary to be added, with a plan of the same for Elizabeth Castle.
[1 page, copy.] |
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60. i. Statement of the condition of Jersey. The island is
within five leagues of the main of Normandy, having
many places where a potent enemy may make his
descent, notwithstanding the best resistance that can be
made by the inhabitants. These advantages are best
prevented by strongly fortifying the castles. The fortifications of Montorgueil Castle are defective, because a
bulwark over the iron gate of most consequence was left
unfinished by Paul Ivy, an engineer sent hither in the
time of the league against Henry IV. of France, and
through the decay of a round tower in the base guard
which commands the pier and harbour there; the charge
of these works will be 100 marks. |
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The parchment plan of the islet sent herewith, and
upon which Elizabeth Castle is seated, declares the present
state of the castle, and the paper plan the necessary additions; in which, besides the scouring of the well (the only
fresh water we have, and an old ruinous church, dangerous to the castle as it now stands, but of great use,
being enclosed in the fortifications), much ground for a
strong base guard will be obtained. |
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The charge for a stone wall, 24 feet high, and 9 feet thick
at the foundation, and four at the top, for preventing
the fretting away of the earth by the sea at high springs,
will amount for 100 poles to 1,500l. The earthwork of
terrapienating and parapets above the stonework, for
safeguard of the soldiers, as also the partition ditch of
the base guard of new work from the rest of the islet, and
the raising the bulwark there may be performed by the
labour or contribution of the country, and these works
perfected will tire the cannon of any enemy. |
The rest of the islet may serve for the inhabitants to
build upon, for the safeguard of themselves and their
goods. The finishing of the buildings most necessary for
soldiers' lodgings within the castle will cost 140l. The
paving of the high mount, being round and 40 feet in
diameter, with Purbeck stone, will amount to 90l., a work
most requisite for managing the ordnance lying upon
it, saving charge of timber platforms, and preventing
the mischief of the soak of rain water falling thereon,
which now continually decays the buildings below it, and
rots their beams and joists. [1¼ pages, copy.]
Jersey, 13 Oct. 1621. |
| Oct. ? |
61. Account of defects in the execution of the ordinances for Jersey
delivered to Sir John Peyton at the Council board, 15 June 1618,
with express command to put them in execution. Giving in parallel
columns the orders (see Vol. XLI., No. 78, supra), and the defects
therein. With note of defects ordered or promised to be remedied,
but which continued as they were; and suggestions thereupon, for
sending a pinnace to the islands, and some soldiers from the Western
counties; also some powder, and money for repair of the castles. The
execution of these orders to be looked after by the bailiff and
jurats, and lodgings to be built for soldiers at Castle Elizabeth, cost
140l. [2 sheets.] |
Oct. 27.
Cornbury Park. |
62. Henry Lord Danvers to Lord [Zouch ?]. You will see, by my
answer to letters from Council, the present state of Guernsey
Castle, and the reasons why I conceive it were requisite for His
Majesty to allow 100 men in garrison there; whereto might be
added many more if those did not seem sufficient. For peradventure
this young French King will have the same ambition to recover
these rags of Normandy that his predecessors showed in the repossessing of Calais; and if their carriage towards Queen Elizabeth
in the matter of Newhaven be remembered, we may doubt them
most when their subjects of the religion seem reconciled. His
Majesty will judge whether a large fortress, with 50 pieces of
artillery, is fit to be guarded with 13 warders and one gunner,
which may very well provoke any lawless monsieur to invade
the King of Great Britain, or tempt some arch pirate to surprise
such a place of retreat in that trade of the Narrow Seas. [1 page.] |
