288 



AN EMINENT GUERNSEYMAN. 



labour was a necessity and want an ever-present dread, a type 

 of character was evolved somewhat like that of wild animals — 

 jealous and savage, suspicious and passionate, and yet blending 

 with an animal's qualities, a touch of the refinement of old 

 civilisations, and an intense pride in their national traditions. 



Henry de Vic, born in 1597, was the son of John de Vic, 

 who had been successively Greffier, Procureur and Jurat of 

 the Royal Court — and of his second wife Elizabeth Pageot, 

 daughter of Nicholas Pageot and Elizabeth Fouaschin. 



As far back as 1252 we find a Thomas de Vic living in 

 Guernsey, and married to the daughter and co-heiress of Sir 

 Henry de Canelly, Seigneur of Canelly. Branches of the 

 de Vies were large landowners in the town, St. Martin's, St. 

 Sampson's and the Vale Parishes, and at this time the elder 

 branch of the family were Seigneurs of Surville in Jersey, 

 while William de Vic, the head of the family, owned land and 

 houses in London as well as in Guernsey. He married in 

 England and seems to have lived there most of his life. 

 Henry's father, John de Vic, had had a somewhat chequered 

 career. Whilst he was Greffier he had ventured to oppose the 

 autocratic Governor, Sir Thomas Leighton, and nervous of 

 the consequences of his rashness, was so afraid to meet him 

 that he went into hi ling and stayed away from a political 

 meeting to which he Avas summoned. A hue and cry was 

 raised, and on the 18th of October, 1589, an old document 

 tells us that: — 44 Before daie, certain souldiers were sent by 

 the Governour to his house. But finding the doores shut, did 

 forceably, Avith iron barres breake in the same, and enter into 

 the house, his Avife and children therein crying out for helpe 

 4 A l'ayde de la Royne !' " As he could not be found, 44 that 

 same day being a market day, the Governour caused a pro- 

 clamation to be made in the market place and also affixed to 

 the Church porch declaring the said J ohn de Vic to be a rebel 

 to Her Majesty, and forbidding anyone to lodge or assist him, 

 and commanding upon pain of death that no man should 

 transport him out of the island," and that anyone Avho knew 

 Avhere he Avas should 44 runne at him, apprehend him, or folloAv 

 him Avith the cry of Haro," that by force he might be brought 

 to the Governor dead or alive.* On this, John de Vic, being- 

 afraid of bringing further trouble upon his friends gave him- 

 self up, but prayed that he might have the benefit of the law. 

 But the Governor sent him straight to prison in Castle Cornet 

 Avithout any sort of trial. An appeal Avas laid before the 

 Lords of the Council Avho decided that in future the Governor 



* British Museum Add. MSS. No. 11405 ff. 49 et seq. 



