Rambles among the Channel Islands / by a Naturalist.

Date:
[1855?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Rambles among the Channel Islands / by a Naturalist. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    38/402 (page 26)
    pretended Welsh prince, of the name of Yvans, or Evans, a refugee in France, under orders from Charles, set forth from Harfleur with four thousand fighting men, and landed in Guernsey. This invasion is still commemorated in popular tradition under the title of “ La descente des Saragousais.” The first encounter took place at Vazon Bay, situated on the north- western coast of this island. The invaders far outnumbered the opposing force, and after a sanguinary resistance the Guernseymen re- treated, leaving four hundred of their number, nearly half of the resisting force, dead upon the shores. On the ground on which the new town is now erected, the retreaters made a stand, and the spot is still known as La Bataille. The governor of the island fortified himself in Castle Cornet, and repulsed all the attacks of the enemy to dislodge him. Charles V. despairing of success, and having perhaps little calculated on so obstinate a resistance, commanded Yvans to withdraw, and the island was once more in the peaceful occupation of its inhabitants. The Constable of France is related to have made a somewhat similar attack upon Jersey. He came suddenly to the island at the head of an army of ten thousand men ; among his staff were the Duke de Bourbon and the flower of the French chivalry. The invaders encamped