THE COATS OF ARMS OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS.
Since the coats of arms for the islands of Guernsey and Jersey appear on the coins minted for these islands in England in the nineteenth century, the following notes may be of interest:—
In 1279 King Edward I. granted a Public Seal, with arms (as for England), to the islands of Jersey and Guernsey. The arms for Guernsey now differ only from those of Jersey in being surmounted by a sprig of laurel, or another plant. It is not, however, stated why or when this sprig was conferred. The arms read—
Gu—three lions or leopards passant gardant—or.
From the impressions of the Bailiewick seals, at different periods, it appears that slight differences occur. The inscription on the seal for Jersey runs—"S. Ballivic Insule de Jerseye."
Alderney and Sark, being dependencies of Guernsey, have on legal or authoritative documents either the seal as granted for that island or else local seals, as will be specified.
The Rev. G. E. Lee, Rector of St. Peter's, Port Guernsey, communicates the following interesting and very full note on the above-named matter:—
"Edward I., in the 7th year of his reign, November 15th, 1279, granted a seal for the use of both Bailiewicks. The seal used in both islands was the same in all respects, except that one had, as legend, S. Ballivic Insule de Gerseye, and the other, S. Ballivic Insule de Gernseye. Both seals are appended to a document formerly belonging to the abbey of Mont St. Michel. The seals bore the three lions of England crowned, and were both surmounted by a branch, of which more below. The document is of the year 1315. The Guernsey side has the counterseal of Macey de la Court Bailiff. The Jersey counterseal has no name, but bears three lions passant, with some sort of bird as a crest. The Bailiff of Guernsey still uses a facsimile of the original seal. In Jersey the seal has been modernized, and the surmounting branch omitted, perhaps by the carelessness of the engraver. The said branch is usually styled a laurel branch, but why I know not. It has stiff sprays, and I am convinced was intended for the Plantagenista, the well-known badge used by King Edward I."
It cannot, however, but be observed that if the sprig be intended to represent the slight, insignificant foliage of the Plantagenista [called "Broom" in the south of England], the design is very unlike and misleading.
As regards the official seals used locally for Alderney and Sark, under date, Alderney, 22nd February, 1895, the Procureur of Alderney informs me:—
"The Guernsey seal is not ours, nor is it ever used by us. A facsimile of our seal and coat of arms is enclosed, but I know not when granted, nor by whom."
This seal is a lion rampant, with a sprig in right paw, and above the legend JUGE D'AUREGNY. The heraldic tinctures are not indicated on the seal.
With reference to the seal used locally for Sark, W. F. Collings, Esquire, informs me, under date, Sark, 8th March, 1895:—
"The seal of the Seigneurs was authorized to be used by act of the Royal Court, Guernsey, bearing date the 12th day of August, 1661, by virtue of a clause in Letters Patent of James I.—of date, August 12th, 1611. The seal was lost in the wreck of the steamer Gosforth, November 26th, 1872."
The Rev. G. E. Lee supplements the above as follows:—
"I find that the Alderney seal was granted by the Lords of the Privy Council, on May 23rd, 1745. It bears the legend Sigillum Curiæ Insulæ Origny, 1745.
"Origny is an older form than Auregny; the mediæval Latin was Alrenorium.
"The seal you have got with Juge d'Auregny is not the official seal I have described, but an adaptation of it doubtless.
"I can gather no record of any minting having ever taken place in Guernsey. There is, however, an estate in the parish of St. Andrew called La Monnoye or Monnaie, which may mean 'The Mint.'"
The extract furnished by Mr. Le Brun, vicar of Alderney, with the impression of the seal of that island, is:—
"Sceau ou cachet accordé à La Cour, 1745, Mai 23e. Les Seigneurs du Conseil Privé de Sa Majesté, par leur ordre ou Conseil de ce Jour authorisent (sic) la Cour d'Auregny d'avoir un cachet pour certifier tous et tels ecrits qui leur pourront être présentés pour y opposer le sceau."
Under date 27th March, 1895, the Rev. G. E. Lee supplements his previous information:—
"I have seen Sir Edgar MacCulloch, and he agrees with me that the Alderney seal is a creation. I have now seen two documents of Sark. The first, of 1818, is sealed with a large seal, two inches in diameter, in green wax, bearing the de Carteret arms and supporters. The seal is called "Le sceau de la Seigneurie de l'île de Serk." On the reverse is a counterseal, with the arms of the then seigneur, P. Le Pelley.
"The other deed is of 1852, and sealed with the Le Pelley arms, which, on that occasion, are called 'Le sceaux de la Seigneurie de cette île'—the seigneur being P. C. Le Pelley.
"The late Mr. Collings, I suspect, used the de Carteret seal, which seems to have been lost in the wreck of the Gosforth. The de Carterets, no doubt, used the seal with their own arms, and some of their successors certainly used this same seal as the official seal for the island."
The arms of the ancient family of de Carteret are, with supporters,
Gu—four Fusils in Fess conjoined arg.,
and crest, a squirrel sejant holding a sprig—ppr., and their historic motto—"LOYALL DEVOIR."