CASTLE CORNET. 350 



If the Chronicle of Flanders is tu be trusted, the final 

 assault and capture of Castle Cornet took place on the third 

 day after the arrival of Godfray d'Harcourt, or about the 

 16th or 17th August, 1345. 



The castle remained in the possession of the Captains of 

 Bayonne, who, on the 28th August, were ordered by the king- 

 to deliver it up to Thomas de Ferrers and return home.* 

 From de Ferrers' Accounts, it would seem that it had been 

 handed over to him three days previous to the said letter, for 

 he paid the garrison from the 25th of the month.! 



Godfrey d'Harcourt remained in Guernsey until the 19th 

 November following, but in what capacity we cannot tell. It 

 is a curious coincidence that this famous Norman exile should 

 have been instrumental in depriving his own bitterest enemy, 

 the Marshal Bertran, of the last vestige of his possession of 

 Guernsey. 



Falle, in his history of Jersey, dwells largely on the 

 important part played by the people of that island in the 

 recapture of Castle Cornet. It is therefore of interest to note 

 from the Accounts of Thomas de Ferrers the true version of 

 the matter. Among the archers employed in the siege, from 

 the 26th June to the date of the capture of the castle, are the 

 following Jersey names : William Lempriere, Nicholas Botiler 

 (Le Boutellier), Philip de la Hougue, William Arthur, Collas 

 Mallet, Richard Petit, and possibly William Katherine. 

 These are very few compared with the numbers of Jerseymen 

 who figure on the Bolls of men employed earlier in the siege of 

 the castle, in 1342. Further, it is very doubtful whether any 

 beyond these took part in the capture of the castle, as serving 

 out of their own island they would also have received payment, 

 and consequently have appeared in these Accounts. 



Very few Guernseymen are mentioned as taking part in 

 the final siege of the castle, for as they were bound to serve 

 for the defence of their island at their own cost, only the 

 names of those receiving payment for special service, or who 

 were serving in the garrison of the island, would appear in 

 these Accounts. These were John du Gaillard, one of the 

 men-at-arms, and among the archers Philip de la Marche, 

 Richard atte Wiche (de Vic), John Port (du Port) and 

 Adam Guille. The 30 seamen and archers watching round 

 the castle were nearly all Guernseymen, viz. : — John Austyn, 

 John Lapostoil, John Russell, Oliver Bonard, John Dere, 

 Stephen Columbye, Ralph Choffyn, Jordon Choffyn, Collas 



* Tupper Chronicle, Castle Cornet, p. 317. 

 t Bulletin, Societe Jersiaise, XVI., p. 49. 



