Letter from Sir Walter Raleigh

Letter from Sir Walter Raleigh

A letter written by Jersey's Governor, Sir Walter Raleigh to the Royal Court on 15 December 1601

"To my verie loving friends the Bailiffe and Justices of Jersey.

After my verie harty commendacons Whereas the Lords of Her Majestie's Privie Counsel have referred the ending of controversies between Mr John de Carteret and John Dumaresq at my comming to Jersey which I purpose to determine at my next arrival and that Dumaresq as I ascertain hath ....... my private contrary to their directions obtained under hand some commandement that the said John de Carteret and Philip de Carteret his son with Mr Phillip Journeaux a man verie aged and unable to travell and to passe the seas shall appeare here to answer Dumaresq's allegacions for as much as Phillip de Carteret is now here and likewise an attorney of Dumaresq' who gave authrotie and power for have to answer the causes here which can be better decided in Jersey where the particularities and circumstancees are better understood and known. I pray you to give order for theirlaye in Jersey until their ....... otherwise informed the truth of the information or until my repaire to that Island. And soe I commit you to God from the Court at Whitehall the 15th of December 1601.

Your verie loving friend

W Ralegh

In respect that John Dumaresq

is here and Philip de Carteret

both, I think it fit that the other

justices be spared and not troubled

and charged with their repaire in

these dangerous times both for

storms and Dunkerks

The dispute which Raleigh refers to between Jean Dumaresq and Jean de Carteret, the Seigneur of his neighbouring fief, Vinchelez de Haut, arose from the latter holding his Seigneurial Court at the Jonetz. Dumaresq raised the Clameur de Haro during the proceedings, but was found by the Privy Council to have done so wrongly, and the dispute lingered on. It appears from Raleigh's letter that the Council was keen for the matter to be settled in Jersey, where it was better understood.