Royal charters applying to the Channel Islands

Last updated October 26, 2024

This is a list of charters promulgated by monarchs of England that specifically relate to the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney or Sark which together form the Channel Islands, also known as the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

The charters are given in the form of letters patent being a form of open or public proclamation and generally conclude with: In cujus rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes. (in witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent.)^[1]^: 42–44 The charters being confirmed by the Council in Parliament, or by the Parliament of England.^[2]

List

The legal materials are as follows:

Year	Monarch	J	G	A	S	Subject	Notes
1279	Edward I	Y	Y	Y	Y	Charter granting Seal to the Bailiff.	^[3]
1341	Edward III	Y	Y	Y	Y	For continued faithfulness, grant continuation of privileges, liberties, immunities, exemptions and customs, including heirs and successors. Granted by us and our heirs.	^[1]^: 1–4
1378	Richard II	Y	Y	Y	Y	Confirm for continued faithfulness and because of the great dangers and costs, grant continuation of privileges, liberties, immunities, exemptions and customs as regards persons, goods and monies, including heirs and successors. Granted by us and our heirs.	^[4]^[1]^: 5–10
1394	Richard II	Y	Y	Y	Y	In consideration of good behavior and great loyalty, granted the peoples and communities to be free of all tolls, duties and customs in England, provided the loyalty continues, including heirs and successors. Granted by us and our heirs.	GG ^[1]^: 5–10
1400	Henry IV	Y	Y	Y	Y	Confirm for continued faithfulness and because of the great dangers and costs, grant continuation of privileges, liberties, immunities, exemptions and customs as regards persons, goods and monies, including heirs and successors. Granted by us and our heirs.	^[1]^: 11–14
1414	Henry V	Y	Y	Y	Y	Confirm for continued faithfulness and because of the great dangers and costs, grant continuation of privileges, liberties, immunities, exemptions and customs as regards persons, goods and monies, including heirs and successors. Granted by us and our heirs.	^[1]^: 15–19
1442	Henry VI	Y	Y	Y	Y	Confirm for continued faithfulness and because of the great dangers and costs, grant continuation of privileges, liberties, immunities, exemptions and customs as regards persons, goods and monies, including heirs and successors. Granted by us and our heirs.	GG ^[1]^: 20–7
1465	Edward IV	Y	Y	Y	Y	Confirm for continued faithfulness and because of the great dangers and costs, grant continuation of privileges, liberties, immunities, exemptions and customs as regards persons, goods and monies, and to be free of all tolls, duties and customs in Kingdom of England, provided the loyalty continues, including heirs and successors. Granted by us and our heirs.	GG ^[1]^: 28–38
1469	Edward IV	N	Y	Y	Y	Confirm for continued faithfulness and because of the great dangers and costs, and in addition, for the recapture of Mont Orgueil castle, grant its peoples and communities to be free of all tolls, duties, customs, subsidies, pontages, panages, murages, tallages, fossages and other dues in the Kingdom of England and all our lands and islands, provided the loyalty continues, and to have all their rights, liberties and franchises free without fine or fee, including heirs and successors. Granted by us and our heirs.	^[1]^: 28–38
1470	Edward IV	Y	Y	N	N	Edward IV accepts £2,833.6s.8d from Guernsey and Jersey as recompense for recapturing Jersey and Mont Orgueil.	^[5]^[1]^: 28–38
1483	Richard III	Y	Y	Y	Y	Confirm for continued faithfulness and because of the great dangers and costs, grant continuation of privileges, liberties, immunities, exemptions and customs as regards persons, goods and monies, and to be free of all tolls, duties and customs in Kingdom of England, provided the loyalty continues, including heirs and successors. Granted by us and our heirs.	GG ^[1]^: 39–44
1485	Henry VII	N	Y	Y	Y	Confirm for continued faithfulness and because of the great dangers and costs, and for the recapture of Mont Orgueil castle, grant its peoples and communities to be free of all tolls, duties, customs and expand to include subsidies, pontages, panages, murages, tallages, fossages and other dues in the Kingdom of England and all our lands and islands, provided the loyalty continues, and to have all their rights, liberties and franchises free without fine or fee, including heirs and successors. Granted by us and our heirs.	GG ^[1]^: 45–50
1494	Henry VII	Y	N	N	N	Charter to reconcile division between Governor and peoples of Jersey and suppress oppression of population, confirming only Jurats could confine a prisoner, except for treason and the governor had no jurisdiction in Jersey, secular or ecclesiastical.	^[6]^[7]
1510	Henry VIII	N	Y	Y	Y	Confirm for continued faithfulness and because of the great dangers and costs, and for the recapture of Mont Orgueil castle, grant its peoples and communities to be free of all tolls, duties, customs, subsidies, pontages, panages, murages, tallages, fossages and other dues in the Kingdom of England and all our lands and islands, provided the loyalty continues, and to have all their rights, liberties and franchises free without fine or fee, including heirs and successors. Granted by us and our heirs.	GG ^[1]^: 51–6
1548	Edward VI	Y	Y	Y	Y	Confirm for continued faithfulness and because of the great dangers and costs, and for the recapture of Mont Orgueil castle, grant its peoples and communities to be free of all tolls, duties, customs, subsidies, pontages, panages, murages, tallages, fossages and other dues in the Kingdom of England and all our lands and islands, provided the loyalty continues, and to have all their rights, liberties and franchises free without fine or fee, including heirs and successors. Additions: As regards exporting wheat a limit of 12d per quarter duty and for wool 3s 6d per 150 pounds. As regards use of Islands by foreign shipping during time of war, without condemnation or interference (making Islands neutral). Granted by us and our heirs.	^[8]^[1]^: 57–67
1553	Mary I	N	Y	Y	Y	Confirm for continued faithfulness and because of the great dangers and costs, and for the recapture of Mont Orgueil castle, grant its peoples and communities to be free of all tolls, duties, customs, subsidies, pontages, panages, murages, tallages, fossages and other dues in the Kingdom of England and all our lands and islands, provided the loyalty continues, and to have all their rights, liberties and franchises free without fine or fee, including heirs and successors. Granted by us and our heirs.	GG ^[1]^: 68–73
1559	Elizabeth I	N	Y	Y	Y	Confirm for continued faithfulness and because of the great dangers and costs, and for the recapture of Mont Orgueil castle, grant its peoples and communities to be free of all theolonian taxes, customs, subsidies, pontages, panages, murages, tallages, fossages in the Kingdom of England and all our lands and islands, provided the loyalty continues, and to have all their rights, liberties and franchises free without fine or fee, including heirs and successors. Granted by us and our heirs.	GG ^[1]^: 74–94
1560	Elizabeth I	N	Y	Y	Y	In recognition of the faithfulness, obedience and service and regarding the various rights granted by previous Monarchs, grant the following rights: Its peoples and communities to be free of all tributes, tolls, customs, subsidies, hidage, taylage, pontage, panage, murage, fossage, works, and warlike expeditions (except in the event of the Monarch is held in prison) and of all other contributions whether given by charter, grant or other method in the Kingdom of England and all our provinces, dominions and territories. In time of war, merchant ships from all nations may shelter and trade in the Islands without danger in remaining or departing to their ships, persons or goods, within sight of the Islands. The bailiffs, jurats and magistrates rights to uphold the laws and hear pleadings, except for the ancient right of royal appeal. The bailiff, jurats and peoples of the Islands shall not be forced to appear before any court in the Kingdom of England for any reason other than by Royal determination. Confirmation of rights, jurisdictions, immunities, impunities, indemnities, exemptions, liberties, franchises and privileges given to bailiff, jurats, people and merchants, irrespective of place of birth. Saving the allegiance, subjection and obedience of all Islanders irrespective of length of time in the islands and the regalities, privileges, incomes, revenues, tributes and other rights due to the Monarch. The right to seek further letters patent without payment to the hanaper. Granted by us and our heirs.	GG ^[1]^: 74–94
1562	Elizabeth I	Y	N	N	N	Confirmation of previous charters and additions: Exemption of all taxes and duties unless the Sovereign is in prison. Confirmation of jurisdiction of Jersey Royal Court on civil and criminal matters. That the peoples of the Island shall not be forced to appear before any court in the Kingdom of England for any reason other than by Royal determination.	^[9]
1565	Elizabeth I	N	N	N	Y	Charter granting Fief of Sark to Hellier de Carteret on payment of 50 shillings a year provided supplying at least 40 men armed with muskets to defend the island.	^[10] GG ^[1]^: 74–94
1604 (Apr)	James I	Y	N	N	N	Confirms previous rights including the rights to local justice, not allowing English writs to apply to islanders, non local inhabitants and merchants are also protected, levy of 12 pence on a quarter of grain and 3/6d per pound of wool. Free commerce in time of war and exemption from duties and tolls.	^[11]
1604 (Dec)	James I	N	Y	Y	Y	Confirms Charter of 1560. Granted by us and our heirs.	GG ^[1]^: 95–115
1605	James I	N	Y	Y	Y	Adds to Charter of 1560: Free of any custom, subsidy, tonnage or poundage on goods growing, coming from, made or produced in islands and taken to realm of England. To continue to charge a pettie Custume on imports to Guernsey to pay for the harbour development and public works. The continuing right to weigh and measure merchandise and to charge fees, for an annual rent of twenty shillings.	GG ^[1]^: 95–115
1627	Charles I	N	Y	Y	Y	Adds to Charter of 1605: Inclusion of "incorporations" regarding customs. Giving all lands and incomes previously given to churches, schools and hospitals to the bailiff, jurats and people of Guernsey, to be used solely for the benefit of the churches, schools and hospitals. To continue providing Castle Cornet in Guernsey with victuals, including 100 tuns (1 tun holds 252 gallons) of beer, 600 flitches of bacon, 1,200 pounds of butter etc. in exchange for the rights to import 500 tuns of beer, 50 dickers (a dicker is 10 hides) of leather, 25 dozen calueskinnes (parchment) and 500 toddes of wool (a tod is 28lbs). To import items needed for Castle Cornet from England without taxes, but needing written requisition from the castle. To import other goods, except munitions up to a value of £150 of duty, duty free and limiting ports.	GG ^[1]^{: 116–143}
1668	Charles II	N	Y	Y	Y	Reconfirms Charter of 1627.	GG ^[1]^{: 144–170}
1687	James II	Y	N	N	N	Confirms privileges granted to Jersey by James I and granting further liberties.	^[12]

GG – Charter held in Guernsey Greffe

Related Research Articles

The Channel Islands are an archipelago in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They are divided into two Crown Dependencies: the Bailiwick of Jersey, which is the largest of the islands; and the Bailiwick of Guernsey, consisting of Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm and some smaller islands. Historically, they are the remnants of the Duchy of Normandy. Although they are not part of the United Kingdom, the UK is responsible for the defence and international relations of the islands as it is for the other Crown Dependency, the Isle of Man, and the British Overseas Territories. The Crown Dependencies are neither members of the Commonwealth of Nations, nor part of the European Union. They have a total population of about 171,916, and the bailiwicks' capitals, Saint Helier and Saint Peter Port, have populations of 33,500 and 18,207 respectively.

Guernsey is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located 27 miles (43 km) west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited islands and many small islets and rocks. The Bailiwick has a population of 63,950, the vast majority of whom live on Guernsey, and the island has a land area of 24 square miles (62 km²).

The history of Guernsey stretches back with evidence of Neolithic occupation, followed by Roman occupation. Christianity was brought to Guernsey by St Sampson.

Politics of the Bailiwick of Guernsey take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic British Crown dependency.

Normandy is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy.

Sark is an island, part of the Channel Islands in the southwestern English Channel, off the coast of Normandy, France. It is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, with its own set of laws based on Norman law and its own parliament. It was a royal fief until 2008. It has a population of about 500. Sark has an area of 2.10 square miles (5.44 km²). Little Sark is a peninsula joined by a natural but high and very narrow isthmus to the rest of Sark Island.

The Crown Dependencies are three offshore island territories in the British Islands that are self-governing possessions of the British Crown: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey, both located in the English Channel and together known as the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland.

The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a self-governing British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France, comprising several of the Channel Islands. It has a total land area of 78 square kilometres (30 sq mi) and an estimated total population of 67,334.

A bailiwick is usually the area of jurisdiction of a bailiff, and once also applied to territories in which a privately appointed bailiff exercised the sheriff's functions under a royal or imperial writ.

Castle Cornet is a large island castle in Guernsey, and former tidal island, also known as Cornet Rock or Castle Rock. Its importance was as a defence not only of the island, but of the roadstead. In 1859 it became part of one of the breakwaters of Guernsey's main harbour, St Peter Port harbour.

The linguistic situation of the Bailiwick of Guernsey is quite similar to that of Jersey, the other Bailiwick in the Channel Islands. English is the official language, French is used for administration, there are several varieties of Norman language used by a minority of the population, and Portuguese is spoken by some immigrants in the workforce.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Guernsey:

This is a list of books in the English language which deal with Guernsey and its geography, history, inhabitants, culture, biota, etc.

The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy. As a bailiwick, Guernsey embraces not only all ten parishes on the island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Alderney and Sark – each with their own parliament – and the smaller islands of Herm, Jethou and Lihou. Although its defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom, the Bailiwick is not part of the United Kingdom, but, as its description suggests, a possession of the Crown. Consequently, though it lies within the Common Travel Area, it was never part of the European Union.

A seigneur or lord is an originally feudal title in France before the Revolution, in New France and British North America until 1854, and in the Channel Islands to this day. The seigneur owned a seigneurie, seigneury, or lordship—a form of title or land tenure—as a fief, with its associated obligations and rights over person and property. In this sense, a seigneur could be an individual—male or female, high or low-born—or a collective entity, typically a religious community such as a monastery, seminary, college, or parish. In the wake of the French Revolution, seigneurialism was repealed in France on 4 August 1789 and in the Province of Canada on 18 December 1854. Since then, the feudal title has only been applicable in the Channel Islands and for sovereign princes by their families.

The history of the Jews in Guernsey dates back to well before the events of 1940–5. A London Jew named Abraham was described in 1277 as being from "La Gelnseye" (Guernsey). A converted Portuguese Jew, Edward Brampton, was appointed Governor of Guernsey in 1482.

The Courts of Guernsey are responsible for the administration of justice in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands. They apply the law of the Island, which is a mixture of customary law dating back as far as the 10th century and legislation passed by the legislature, the States of Deliberation.

The Law of Guernsey originates in Norman customary law, overlaid with principles taken from English common law and French law, as well as from statute law enacted by the competent legislature(s) – usually, but not always, the States of Guernsey.

The Competition (Jersey) Law 2005 is Jersey's statutory law governing competition in the markets. On 23 June 2005, the States Assembly approved the Act.

From the Middle Ages, the Channel Islands were administered according to a feudal system. Alongside the parishes of Jersey and Guernsey, the fief provided a basic framework for rural life; the system began with the Norman system and largely remained similar to it. Feudalism has retained a more prominent role in the Channel Islands than in the UK. The Channel Islands are remnants of the Duchy of Normandy and are held directly by the crown on a feudal basis as they are self-governing possessions of the British Crown. This peculiarity underscores the deep-seated influence of feudalism in the Channel Islands; their allegiance is not so much to England but rather directly to the monarch.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Thornton, Tim (2004). The Charters of Guernsey. Woodfield Publishing. ISBN 978-1-903953-65-5.
↑ The Guernsey and Jersey Magazine Volumes 1–2. p. 364.
↑ "Seals XXXIX". Jersey Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
↑ "D/AP/Z/1". Jersey Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
↑ "L/F/386". Jersey Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
↑ "L/F/99/A/2". Jersey Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
↑ Shebbeare, John (1771). An Authentic Narrative of the Oppressions of the Islanders of Jersey: Volume 1.
↑ "BL Royal MS13 B1, IVI, no.6". Jersey Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
↑ Staff Of The Attorney‐General's Cha (13 August 2010). "Jersey constitutional status". Commonwealth Law Bulletin. 12 (2): 556–560. doi:10.1080/03050718.1986.9985860.
↑ "Sark marks 450 years of Royal Charter". BBC News. BBC. 6 August 2015.
↑ Thornton, Tim. The Channel Islands, 1370–1640: Between England and Normandy^: 133.
↑ "D/AP/Z/9". Jersey Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.

External links

Side by side translations of the charters from Latin or Anglo-Norman French into English

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[TT2004-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Thornton, Tim (2004). The Charters of Guernsey. Woodfield Publishing. ISBN 978-1-903953-65-5.

[2] The Guernsey and Jersey Magazine Volumes 1–2. p. 364.

[3] "Seals XXXIX". Jersey Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.

[4] "D/AP/Z/1". Jersey Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.

[5] "L/F/386". Jersey Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.

[6] "L/F/99/A/2". Jersey Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.

[7] Shebbeare, John (1771). An Authentic Narrative of the Oppressions of the Islanders of Jersey: Volume 1.

[8] "BL Royal MS13 B1, IVI, no.6". Jersey Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.

[9] Staff Of The Attorney‐General's Cha (13 August 2010). "Jersey constitutional status". Commonwealth Law Bulletin. 12 (2): 556–560. doi:10.1080/03050718.1986.9985860.

[10] "Sark marks 450 years of Royal Charter". BBC News. BBC. 6 August 2015.

[11] Thornton, Tim. The Channel Islands, 1370–1640: Between England and Normandy^: 133.

[12] "D/AP/Z/9". Jersey Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.

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Royal charters applying to the Channel Islands

Contents

List

See also

Further reading

Related Research Articles

References

External links