258 JBBBOURG AND ITS FORTIFICATIONS. 



and goods, as speedily as possible by the view of the men 

 of those parts." 



Two petitions to the King dated 1328-1329 (which 

 I take from Ancient Petitions, &c, published by the Societe 

 Jersiaise) give the reasons of the inhabitants for having this 

 castle constructed, although Castle Cornet was built. They 

 say that the islands are very important because they are 

 the only refuge between England and Gascony, wherefore 

 the people of France covet them very much ; and they 

 especially request that the fortress of Gyrbourg may be 

 completed because : " Your people of this island cannot 

 take their goods into the ancient Castle (Cornet) enclosed by 

 the sea ; that the latter was suitable and ordained to defend 

 and guard the port from the enemies," and that what was 

 done at Gyrbourg was " at the costs and great grievance of 

 your people." 



The works carried out at this date constitute the Castle 

 of Jerbourg : it is necessary therefore carefully to consider 

 the meaning of the documents. 



A petition, No. 12,098, to our Lord the King, shows 

 that " You have by your writ commanded Sir John des 



Roches, keeper of your isles, to enquire fully 



Whether a place which is called the Castle of Gerbourkes 

 is the right and inheritance of Macie De Saumarez, the 

 which place .... at the request of your common people 

 for fear of war, was enclosed for the safety of your isle 



and your people to find out if this be to the 



prejudice and damage of you and of your people " 



He petitions that he shall have deliverance of the said writ. 



The next document is supplied to me by Miss Carey ; 

 it is from the Exchequer Accounts, 4th Edward III. 

 (1331): 



" Matthew De Saumarez, par le conge de Seigneur 

 Edouard, notre pere, eust nagueres fortifie une certaine 

 place appartenant au dit Matthew appelee le Chateau de 



Gerbourk pour la protection de la dite communite 



et de leurs biens en temps de guerre, avec les fosses et murs a 



la maniere d'un chateau Voulons permettre au dit 



Matthew et a ses hoirs .... de la tenir a perpetuite pour 

 les mesmes services qui iceluy Matthieu et ses predecessures 

 ont jadis tenus la dite mesme place, avec les libertes, &c, de 

 nous par le serment des tous hommes de la dite isle, 12me 

 Juillet, 4me de notre regne, avant Jean des Roches par 

 breve du roy pour Matthew De Saumarez du Chateau de 

 Gerbourk avant Nicholas Blondel, John Le Marchant, &c." 



