76 ENGLISH GARRISON OF GUERNSEY. 



rest English. The Commissioners found this number too 

 small for safety, and ordered that at least 30 men should 

 be kept there in time of peace. This small garrison of 20 

 men rather agrees with Dicey 's Hgiires for Castle Cornet, so it 

 is probable that he refers to about the same period. In 1626 

 however we find the garrison of Castle Cornet increased to 

 70 men,* but even this number was declared by Lord Danby, 

 the Governor, to be insufficient to work the 47 guns with 

 w^hich the castle was defended.! 



From the autumn of 1625 to the spring of 1629 was 

 a period of great peril and anxiety in our islands. First came 

 war with- Spain, and rumours of a projected expedition against 

 our islands. On the 15tli August, 1626, Captain Darrell, the 

 Lieutenant-Governor, wrote to the Lord Secretary Conway 

 that he was informed by a Mr. Legge, a merchant of Saint 

 Malo that, " about 60 sayle of Biskayners are ready to put to 

 sea, and into the channell, of burden of about 60 to 70 tunns, 

 provided to all purposes for an attempt uppon these parts, 

 the isles of Guernesey and Jersey or for Englande, but 

 the number of land soldiers being but 6,000 I conclude in 

 probabilitye it is rather for these isles .... allso theire 

 hath been two Spaniards at St. Malloes imploy'd to get 

 Pilotts for theire purpose."! Then came war Avith France 

 and rumours of a force of 5,000 men at Gr.inville, and another 

 of 7,000 men at Havre de Grase preparing for a descent on 

 the Isles.§ Tlie States of Guernsey petitioned the Council, 

 pointing out the weakness of the defences of the island, and 

 the smallness of the garrison, and begged for reinforcements. 

 The Council, on the 17th December, 1626, promised to imme- 

 diately send 700 men.|| Months passed but none came, 

 and after further representations from the States, it was 

 decided by an Act • of Council of the 13th June, 1627, 

 that 200 men for each island would be sufficient, and at the 

 request of Lord Danby those for (luernsey Avere specially for 

 the defence of the castle, and the larger number w^ere to 

 consist of artisans from London, it being imderstood that 

 such men more unobtainable in the Island.lf Even then this 

 force did not reach Portsmouth for embarkation until the end 

 of July, and being detained there by contrary wind, and other 

 causes, only arrived in Guernsey at the beginning of the 

 month of October. The ill-luck of contrary winds still 

 pursued them, and in consequence no money came from 

 England for their pay. On the 12th December, the States** 



* Actes des Etats, p. 74. t Do., p. 102. 



t Actes des Etats, p. 75. 



§ Actes des Etats, p. 90. || Do., p. 81. 1 Do., p. 103. ** Do., p. 105. 



