340 CASTLE CORNET. 



Grandison was the son of a Baron of Savoy ; he was a famous 

 warrior, Senechal of Gascony, and Minister of the King, and 

 was constantly employed on services of State, or in the wars of 

 Edward I. in Wales and Scotland. Consequently he was too 

 much occupied with other matters to take much heed of the 

 doings of his Lieutenants in the islands, which he visited 

 personally but twice or three times during his long wardenship 

 of 52 years. 



These Lieutenants and his other ministers, for the most 

 part foreign adventurers, such as Gerard d'Oroms, Pierre de 

 Garis, Pierre des Balmes, Walter de la Salle, &c, only 

 thought of enriching themselves at the expense of the 

 unfortunate people of the islands whom they oppressed in 

 every imaginable way. The smaller seigneurs were deprived 

 of their privileges. Bailiffs were appointed at one time 

 annually, some of whom refused to take oath to the Jurats to 

 uphold the privileges of the island. Our customs were 

 ignored and the small tenants oppressed, imprisoned and even 

 tortured, until they paid the illegal dues and fines imposed on 

 them. 



The castle at this period was the scene of many tragedies. 

 Within its walls was murdered Ranulph Gaultier by Walter 

 de la Salle and his accomplices. We learn from the petition 

 of Ranulph's nephew, Gerard Philippe, to the King, about 

 the year 1318,* that "the ministers of Sir Otes de Grandison, 

 by their great malice, falsely against the Peace of the King, 

 took Renouf Gautier, uncle of the said Gerard, and in the 

 castle of Guernsey imprisoned him by great hatred, and there, 

 by divers manners of torments, killed and feloniously nmrdered 

 him," and further "nine years have passed without justice 

 being done." For this murder Walter de la Salle was 

 eventually tried before Bailiff Pierre Le Marchant, and 

 executed in the year 1320. His accomplices, William 

 FEnginour and John Justice fled the island, but were 

 afterwards pardoned by the king.f 



Otho de Grandison's long reign of misrule came to an end 

 on his death in 1328, and the king appointed in his place 

 John de Roches as Warden of the Isles, who had previously 

 earned the confidence of the people during the short time he 



* Societe Jersiaise, -Ancient Petitions, p. 28. 



t Societe Jersiaise, Ancient Petitions, p. 29. 



Note. — There is no proof of the tradition that Walter de la Salle was Bailiff of 

 Guernsey, but as the list of Bailiffs at this period is still very incomplete, there is a 

 possibility that he may have been. He is styled "Minister of Lord Otho," and 

 "formerly Constable of the Castle," in the many complaints brought against him 

 which figure on the Assize Roll of 1319. His crime and execution are without 

 doubt the origin of the old legend, which, much corrupted with some other 

 tradition, has been handed down to us. 



