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.

    54/402 (page 42)
    short time offered by the governor within the • strong fortress, Elizabeth Castle, but at length : it also capitulated. During the period when \ Castle Cornet was in a state of siege, the cannon did frequent damage to the town of St. Peter Port, and a singular anecdote is re- lated which seems to show that the artillery- men were excellent marksmen. A gentleman was seen walking in front of the court-house, and became an object for the marksmen at the castle, of which they speedily availed themselves. A cannon was fired, and in a few seconds this unhappy gentleman was struck by the ball and killed. Unfortunately, he is said to have been a zealous royalist, and was consequently mur- dered by the very persons whose cause he espoused for his own. During the whole period of this painful con- j test between the royalists and republicans, the ; j islanders suffered greatly. Commerce was en- • j tirely at an end, the towns were deserted, andlj the country was uncultivated. Perhaps this is 11 best set forth in a declaration drawn up by the; j inhabitants themselves, and submitted to Oliver •] Cromwell:—“ The inhabitants during the heat :i and danger of war were in continual fears,,' services, and watchings, twice a-week, some-- times thrice. They had frequent alarms fromr Jersey, from Castle Cornet, from Normandy,,