There is a small piece of land, just off the road which passes the Monnaie, and leads from the Bailiff’s Cross Road to the Ecluse Corbin, which is known as “Le Friquet du Gibet.”
Editor’s Note.
In the Record Office exists (Assize Roll No. 1165, 17 Edward II., 1323), a petition of “Cecilia, who was wife of Walter de la Sale,” for restitution of lands and rentes bought in their name and in that of their children, in the parishes of St. Peter Port and St. Andrew’s; “and that these tenements,—on account of the death of the said Walter, who was judicially executed last criminal assizes, now three years past, before Peter Le Marchant, then Bailiff of the Island,—had been seized by the King.… Upon the inquisition of 12 men of the parish of St. Peter Port, and 12 men of the parish of St. Andrew’s, who depose upon their oath, that the aforesaid Walter was condemned before Peter Le Marchant, Bailiff of the aforesaid Island, for the murder of Ranulph Vautier[126], three years ago. An inquisition was made, and on account of the said murder, the said lands were seized into the King’s hands, and for this cause, and no other, are still detained.… A day given to the said Cecilia for the hearing of her case at Jersey, on which day the aforesaid Cecilia came, and it is determined that the King removes his hand (i.e., restores the land), and that from henceforth she has possession.”
The British Museum contains a document, (Add: Ch: 19809) which gives further particulars of “la peticion Cecile qui fut fame Gaultier de la Salle,” she claiming the lands, etc., as having been bought with her money “et disante que l’avant dit son mari vint en lylle desus dicte sans nul bien fors son corps.” From this document it appears that Cecilia and her husband built the house, presumably that now known as “La Ville-au-Roi,” for she claims “une meson séante en la ville de Saint Pierre Port, de laquelle la place fut fiefeye de Jourdan et de Johan des Maons … et que du mariage de la dicte Cecile ovecques autres biens pourchaciez par yceluy mariage, fistent la dicte meson.” … Signed at St. Peter Port, 10th of October, 1323, before Geoffrey de la [Hou]gue Guillaume Karupel, Richart Toullay, Guion Nicolle, Renouf de Vic, Henri de la [Mule][127], Guillaume le Genne, Johan Fale, Ranulph leMoigne, de Saint Pierre Port, and Radulph de Beaucamp, Jurats of the King’s Court.
The Assize Roll of 32 Edward I (1304), mentions the murder of Brother John del Espin, of the Priory of Lyhou, by Ranulph Vautier and Guillaume Lenginour, who, after having taken refuge in the Church of St. Sampson, and abjured the Islands, were pardoned by the King. Guillaume L’Enginour seems to have been subsequently Gaultier de la Salle’s accomplice in the murder of Ranulph Gautier, for the “Lettres Closes” of 1321, mention the restoration of lands to “Guillaume L’Enginour demeurant accusé de la mort de Ranulphe Gautier, tué dit on criminellement, et du vol d’un anneau d’argent au même Ranulphe, et d’un florin d’or à John de Souslemont, Chapelain”; he being willing to stand his trial when called upon.
Among the “Ancient Petitions” No. 4345 contains a request from John du Vivier, Thomas d’Estefeld, and Philip de Vincheles of Guernsey and Jersey, “for protection from the friends of Gaultier de la Salle, his wife, his son, and his relations, who threaten them because he was hanged for the murder of Renouf Gautier, murdered in the Castle of Guernsey, by his acquaintances and others who abjured (the Islands), for this deed, such as Master William le Enginour, John Justice, and Christian Hert”.…
The Calendars of Patent Rolls for the years 1313-14, contain mentions of “Protections” for “Walter de la Salle, clerk” to “the islands of Gerneseye and Jereseye,” and in the Assize Roll of 1319, he is described as “Minister” of Otho de Grandison, then Governor of the Islands.
A Ranulph Gautier was one time bailiff to Otho de Grandison, so the feud between the two may have been of long standing. Gaultier de la Salle was probably a member of one of the many Anglo-Norman families then connected with the Channel Islands. His wife Cecilia was evidently a Guernseywoman, and part of their land in St. Andrew’s parish was inherited from Havise, his wife’s mother. There is reason to believe that he was the son of a Robert de la Salle, and Agnes his wife, who were landowners in England in the early part of the 14th Century; his son, Nicholas, was King’s Receiver to Edward III., in 1372-3.
It is not possible to absolutely locate the lands held by Gaultier de la Salle, but in a British Museum MS. (Clarence Hopper) is quoted a document, then in the Chapter House, Westminster, shewing that part of the “Eschaet” of “Galter de Sale” was the “Clos au Botiller,” which particular “Clos” has been identified as part of the territory now known as Le Vauquiédor, and in the petition of Cecilia, widow of Gaultier, she mentions lands bought from “Guillaume et Richard le Hubie.” Both the Hubits Lanes and the Vauquiédor estate adjoin that of the Ville-au-Roi, the traditionary seat of Gaultier de la Salle.
From documents kindly lent me by Lord de Saumarez, Colonel J. H. C. Carey and Colonel de Guérin.