346 CASTLE CORNET. 



provided with men-at-arms, archers and other infantry, armour 

 and victuals, because the king has learned that they are 

 in great danger for lack of such provision." Further on the 

 same day he orders, " the tower called ' la Mangonel ' in Cornet 

 Castle Gernereye, to be repaired as it is in great danger " ; 

 also that " a constable, gatekeeper and munitions be placed in 

 Cherburgh Castle, as the people of Gernereye are in danger 

 of invasion." 



On the 21st August, 1337, Parliament was assembled and 

 voted a subsidy for the war — " which Philip de Yalois unjustly 

 had declared in sending ships and galleys of war against 

 the kingdom and the isles."* Great preparations were made 

 for the invasion of France in the following Spring, which 

 saw the beginning of the 100 years war. 



Early in the spring of 1338 the French commenced 

 hostilities. Nicholas Behuchet invaded Jersey on the 26th 

 March, burning houses and corn and ravaging the island,! 

 which, however, he did not attempt to occupy. He probably 

 invaded Guernsey at the same time, and this is no doubt 

 the invasion referred to by Edward III. in his letter to the 

 King of France, July, 13381, wherein he states, that his 

 island of Guernsey had been invaded, the houses and churches 

 burnt, and many of the inhabitants, without respect to sex, 

 killed. The Continuator of Guillaume Nangis writes probably 

 referring to the same occrurence, "the island of Guernsey, 

 with the exception of a castle, was totally destroyed,"§ In 

 September Behuchet again invaded the islands and on the 8th 

 of that month both Castle Cornet and the fort of Jerbourg 

 fell into the hands of the French. || 



The Constable of Castle Cornet at this time was Sir 

 Simon de Goldingham, who had held that post since the 

 20th June, 1337. Its garrison consisted of 11 men-at-arms 

 and 50 archers. That of Jerbourg was Thomas de Lynedon, 

 who had been appointed Constable by virtue of the King's 

 Writ of the 18th August, 1337, already referred to. Its 

 garrison consisted of only 12 archers.1T The fate of these 

 garrisons is uncertain. Some escaped to Jersey, including 

 Simon de Goldingham, Thomas de Lynedon, John de la 

 Launde and Henry Power.** 



On the 25th October, 1338, Walter de Weston was 

 appointed Lieutenant of the Isles, during the absence of 



* Dupont, Vol. II., p. 265. Rymer, II., 3rd part, p. 173. 



t Accounts Thos. de Ferrers, Bull. XVI., Societe Jersiaise, p. 31. 



I Dupont, Vol. II., p. 269. Rymer, II , part 4, p. 66. 



§ Dupont, Vol. n., p. 268. Con. de G. Nangis, p. 158. 



II Bull. XVI., Societe Jersiaise, p. 27. 



IF Bull. XVI., Societe Jersiaise, pp. 29, 30. ** Do., pp. 19, 36. 53. 



