178 CHARLES II. IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS. 



failed to reach the King then at Oxford negotiating with his 

 " mungrel Parliament," contented himself with interviewing the 

 Prince of Wales, then at Launceston, to whom he delivered his 

 despatches. The Prince charged him with two letters one to the 

 Governor and the other to the States and with thirteen superb 

 war horses as a present for his trusty Governor of Jersey. 

 Orders were then given in Jersey for the Militia to be got in 

 readiness, and a squadron of Dragoons was specially organised, 

 who were much improved under the guidance of British officers, 

 whilst the defences of the island were strengthened.* 



On ist January the battle of Torrington was fought and lost ; 

 and on i2th February Prince Charles again left Launceston for 

 Truro and proceeded to Pendennis Castle, whence, on the 

 2nd March, on the closer approach of the rebels, he left for the 

 Scilly Islands (St. Mary's). Here it was that, on the nth April, 

 the Prince received an invitation from the Parliament for him 

 to come into their quarters. He, however, not unnaturally 

 preferred going to Jersey, and, taking advantage of a temporary 

 dispersion by bad weather of the enemy's fleet which had 

 appeared off the islands, sailed for Jersey on the i6th inst. 

 and, attended by a certain number of his Council and others, 

 reached Elizabeth Castle on the following day in the frigate 

 "The Proud Black Eagle" without pomp or circumstance, and 

 was received with silent but sympathetic respect and loyalty. 

 The Prince immediately established his quarters at Elizabeth 

 Castle, where he continued to reside during the whole period 

 of his stay in Jersey. Dr. Hoskins gives an interesting account 

 of the Prince dining in state and a description of the dinner at 

 Elizabeth Castle, also an account of the Prince going over to 

 the mainland and attending Divine service at St. Helier's soon 

 after his arrival on Sunday, 26th April. 



* It is interesting to compare the readiness of the Jersey Militia at this time to 

 render itself an effective body with the apparent unwillingness now shewn to 

 comply with the requisitions of the English Army Council a debate as to which 

 was proceeding in the States whilst I was in the Island. 



