THE ENGLISH GARRISON OF GUERNSEY 

 FROM EARLY TIMES. 



BY LIEUT.-COLOXEL T. W. M. DE GUERIN. 



The basis of the feudal system was national defence. In 

 return for the lands granted to them by their Suzerain, the 

 feudal barons and their vassals owed service in his array, or 

 watch and ward of his castles, for a period of forty days, at 

 their own cost. This system, which may have been admirable 

 in theory, soon proved unworkable in practice and became, 

 under the immediate successors of the Conqueror, a menace to 

 the Crown itself. Henry II., by the institution of the scntage 

 or payment by the barons of a sum equivalent to their 

 respective services to the Crown, in lieu of personal service, 

 modified in great measure these feudal levies, and thu- pro- 

 vided funds for the pay of mercenaries for his foreign Avars, 

 whilst, about the same time, by the Assize of Arms he 

 revived the old Saxon " fryd," the origin of the Militia 

 system, for the maintenance of order at home. 



Bishop Stubbs, in his " Select Charters," writing on the 

 subject, says : — 



" The effect of the scutage in commutation of personal 

 service, was to diminish the military force under the influence 

 of the barons, providing the king with mercenaries for his 

 foreign wars : the Assize of Anns Avas intended to create a 

 force for national defence, safer and more trustworthy than the 

 feudal levies."* 



As the scutage Avas applied by Henry II. to Normandy, as 

 well as to England, it was no doubt equally extended to our 

 islands, but of this Ave have no record as the accounts of the 

 fermors of the Isles in the Great Rolls of the Norman 



In compiling this paper the chief authorities I have consulted are Tupper's 

 History of Guernsey, and Chronicles of Castle Cornet. Duncan. Berry, and other 

 historians who have written on our i^and. Besides^ these I am indebted to Col. J. H. C. 

 Carey and to Miss E. F. Carey for many valuable notes, and T have also added such 

 further information as I have been able to gather from the publications of the 

 Soci6t6 Jersiaise, the Calendars of State Papers in the Record (Jffice and other 

 sources. 



This paper by no means exhausts the subject, as further research would un- 

 doubtedly bring to light many valuable and interesting details, as well as clear up 

 many points which are at present rather obscure. 



* Stubbs, Select Charters, p. 15i. 



