338 CASTLE CORNET. 



strongholds wherein their tenants could take refuge in time 

 of invasion. But neither were strong enough to withstand a 

 prolonged siege. 



After the loss of Normandy the position of our islands 

 lying close to the shores of that province, now occupied by the 

 French, was one of great danger. We learn from the Inquest 

 held before Freshingfield and his fellow Justices, in 1309, that 

 twice during the reign of John, Guernsey had been overrun by 

 the King's enemies, who were expelled therefrom by force. 

 The desire of the French to wrest this last portion of the old 

 duchy out of the possession of England rendered the erection 

 of strong castles a matter of necessity ; hence to this period 

 may be ascribed the origin of Castle Cornet. 



Of the date of its erection there is no record. In the 

 Close and Patent Rolls of the early years of the reign of 

 Henry III. frequent reference is made to the castles and 

 fortresses in the islands generally, their garrisons, repairs and 

 munitions ; but the first mention of the " Castle of Guernsey " 

 is on the 29th October, 1232, when John de Lambersard, the 

 Constable of the castle, is ordered to deliver it up to Philip 

 d'Albigny on his appointment as Warden of the Isles.* 

 Again, on the 8th June, 1238, Henry de Trubleville, Lord of 

 the LJes, dates a letter from the Castle " de Hornet," 

 Guernsey ;f but it is not until the reign of Edward III. that 

 we find it called Castle Cornet. 



The origin of the name Cornet has given rise to much 

 speculation. Opposite to the castle lie the Bordage Cornet 

 and Cornet Street ; the former undoubtedly deriving its name 

 from an old Guernsey family, its owners in the 13th century. 

 A recent examination of the Assize Roll of the 32, Edward I., 

 1304, by Colonel Carey, at the Record Office, London, has 

 brought to light the name of Perrota de Cornet among those 

 of the Bordiers attending these Assizes, held before the 

 Justices, Henry de Guldeford, Reginald de Carteret and John 

 de Ditton. These " Bordages " in the 13th century were 

 hereditary in certain families, whose names in many instances 

 still cling to their ancient possessions. Their owners, styled 

 " Bordiers," held them by certain minor services, of attendance 

 at the three annual Chief Pleas, at Court and at the Assizes, 

 to execute orders of the Bailiffs and Justices, take charge of 

 prisoners to the place of execution, &c. Hence it seems most 

 probable that the small islet on which Castle Cornet stands 

 once formed part of the bordage of the de Cornets, and thus 

 their name became given to the castle. 



* Bulletin X., Societe Jersiaise, p. 32. 

 t Dupont, Hist, du Cotentin et ses lies, vol. II., p. 95. 



