sr. PETER-i'oirr ix mc^oNio times. o-l 1 



contagion, the Colloquies or Assemblies of the Ministers and 

 Elders of the island churches met at St. Andrew's instead of at 

 St. Peter-Port as usual. Again, in 1629, the Michaelmas Chief 

 Pleas had to be postponed for the same cause, and at this time 

 the terrible scourge hung over the Town for more than a year. 



Ten years after the re-founding of the Hospital, the 

 Guernseymen were called to struggle once more with a visible 

 foe. It was in 1372 that the invasion took place which is 

 "renowned in Guernsey prose and rhyme " under the name of 

 ''La Descente des Aragousais," of which we have at least three 

 more or less reliable contemporary accounts, as well as a long 

 ballad embodying the island tradition. I shall give you a 

 hodge-podge of them all. It was in the spring of 1372 that the 

 invading host furnished by Charles V., of France, and led by 

 one Evan of Wales, landed by night at Vazon. Being 

 discovered early in the morning by the islanders, a first scuffle 

 took place near the landing-place. The Guernseymen then 

 retiring towards the Town, the fight was renewed as the ballad 

 says : "Sur le Mont de St. Pierre-Port," that is upon the plateau 

 now covered l)y New Town, a locality which eighty years ago 

 was still known by no other name than "La Bataille." Four 

 hundred of the home-force, or one half of the whole, were left 

 dead upon the field, and one hundred and one of the enemy — 

 " Sad was the sound of the weeping of the dames of Saint 

 Peter-Port," we are told. However, towards evening, a 

 reinforcement of eighty Englishmen came to the help of the 

 islanders, and the enemy began to waver. Drawing off towards 

 the sea-shore, they seem to have marched along the beach 

 under the east w'all of St. Peter-Port, and then to have 

 attempted to force an entrance into the town at the south end, 

 but this attempt was frustrated by the newly-arrived English- 

 men and many more of the assailants were slain. Meanwhile 

 the Governor, Edmund Rose, had retired to Castle Cornet with 

 the remnants of his little army, and Evan of Wales now laid 

 siege to that fortress ; but being unable to gain any advantage, 

 he gave up the siege, and went off with his pack of wolves in 

 search of fresh prey. Thus ended the third attack made upon 

 Guernsey in this one reign of Edward III., and the last invasion 

 of the island of which we have any certain account. That it 

 may long remain without a successor is no doubt the fervent 

 prayer of all Guernseymen. 



After this, there is nothing on record worthy of notice in 

 the annals of St. Peter-Port until the end of the reign of Kiog 

 Edward lY. It was then that the grant was made to the 

 Channel Islands of their celebrated Privilege of Neutrality, by 

 w^hich the islands themselves and the seas around them as long 

 as they wxre in sight, were declared neutral in time of war. 

 To this privilege Guernsey was no doubt chiefly indebted, 



