17th century

June 1654: a new minister for the Catel

Guille manuscript No. 465, transcribed in Handbook of Guernsey Churches (MSS in the Library.) The petition of the parishioners of the Castel to have Mr Nicolas Nicols as resident Minister, 1654. This demonstrates the continuance of the Colloque as Church leadership, although the minutes for that period no longer exist.

Fiefs and hunting

The Chief Pleas of 1680.

January 1816: Order-in-Council of February 1660

From the Gazette de Guernesey, January 6, 1816, respecting 'strangers' abusing their position by selling goods retail rather than wholesale and thus undermining the local economy. The 1660 letter from the Privy Council is in its original English: the Gazette provided a translation into French for the benefit of the malefactors, perhaps!

Philippe Le Boutillier, 1605

From Philippe Le Geyt's Manuscripts on the law, constitution, and customs of this island, (that is, Jersey); how you could legitimately be convicted on your reputation.

Shock and awe: Thomas Phillips and the Hellburner Infernal, 1693

Thomas Phillips illustrated the famous Legge Report, a survey of the Channel islands completed in 1680. His return to the island he had so carefully studied was to prove fatal to him.

Oliver Dobree and Catherine Stephens, 1693

Or was he a Dupré—and a Jerseyman?

September 1649: the Prince of Wales descends on Jersey

From Edith Carey's Channel Islands, 1904. Her book may be dated but it remains a great read, full of information, and with lovely watercolour illustrations.

September 1649: Colonel Popham hunts a Prince

Colonel Edward Popham reports on his search for Prince Charles, who was suspected of attempting to take refuge in Jersey, which he had already visited in 1646. Popham must have missed him, because Charles did find his way to Jersey in that month, and stayed until February of 1650.

September 1658: A petition to Richard Cromwell

Epitomie of tyranny, pamphlet, 1659, Priaulx Library collection

Oliver Cromwell died on September 3, 1658. The States sought to send an address of condolence and loyalty to his son, 'his highness' Richard Cromwell, but were prevented from doing so by the Lieutenant-Governor, Captain Charles Waterhouse, who found their petition 'too submissive.' The leader of the republican party, Pierre De Beauvoir des Granges (1599-1678) and William De Beauvoir du Hoummet, potentially a less committed republican, wrote a defiant letter to Waterhouse, pointing out the Guernsey public's many grievances against him, and proceeded to sneak out of Guernsey and present their petition to Cromwell anyway, taking the opportunity to plead for the unpopular Des Granges to remain as Bailiff. Their actions prompted the publication of a pamphlet, An epitomie of tyranny in the island of Guernsey, which can be found in the Library. It was published anonymously at the beginning of 1659, and accuses the De Beauvoirs of all kinds of misdemeanors.

Pierre Carey is under pressure at a States meeting, 1649

Pierre Carey in 1644, Priaulx Library Collection

A report from The Guernsey and Jersey Magazine of 1837. Historical Notices of the Channel Islands, 8, taken from Pierre Carey's private papers. This Pierre [Peter] Carey is the Parliamentary Commissioner who later made a daring escape from imprisonment in Castle Cornet. A transcription of his letter book is in the Library.

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