JBRBOURG AND ITS FORTIFICATIONS. 255 



The occurrence of such terms justifies us in acknow- 

 ledging a considerable Saxon, Scandinavian or Norse 

 element in our population ; the physical appearance of the 

 inhabitants at the present day, as has frequently been 

 observed, strengthens the belief ; it would be a natural 

 result of their frequent forays on the island during six 

 centuries, and of their ultimate settlement here ; but there 

 is nothing to induce us to think that they found any 

 necessity for throwing up entrenchments at Jerbourg or 

 anywhere else, to protect themselves from the feeble Celtic 

 natives. 



It is singular that these islands, though containing a 

 considerable population should have remained for many 

 centuries quite independent of the surrounding states. The 

 Church was the first to bring them into connection and 

 bind them with other communities, and the connection was 

 with Brittany rather than with Cotentin or Normandy. 

 Guernsey is first introduced into authentic history in the 

 sixth century when Childebert gave St. Samson, recently 

 returned from christianising them, " certain islands in the 

 sea on the coast of Normandy," among others Guernsey 

 and Jersey. Politically they remained independent until 

 William Longsword (931 to 942), under whom we find 

 half of Guernsey, viz. : St. Sampson's, St. Peter-Port, St. 

 Andrew's, the Forest and Torteval belonging to the Count of 

 St. Sauveur (in Normandy) ; while the Vale, Catel, St. 

 Saviour's and St. Peter-in-the-Wood belonged to the Lords 

 of Briquebec* The Norsemen now settled in the island, 

 acknowledged the authority of these continental over-lords, 

 and Norman customs, laws and language became established, 

 but the islands were not taken under the direct management 

 of any of the Dukes of Normandy until King John on 

 January 12th, 1200, named Pierre de Preaux, who belonged 

 to one of the most distinguished families of Haute Nor- 

 mandie (their castle is a short distance fromPouen), Seigneur 

 Dominus de Jersey, Guernesey, Alderney and their depen- 

 dencies, t 



As long as the Channel Islands formed part of the same 

 principality as the adjacent parts of France, they were of no 

 special importance, and needed no fortifications : but when 

 John lost possession of Normandy in 1204, but retained the 

 islands, steps were taken from time to time to secure them 



* Dupont, page 174 ; but Tupper says (page 37) these formed part of the fief of 

 Ansquetil, vicomte de Bessin (or Bayeux). 



t Dupont, Vol. I., page 425. 



