Guernsey surrenders to Parliamentary forces

Historical Context Note

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.04: English Writing and Culture of the Seventeenth Century, 1625-1688.
Vol. editors: Jennifer Brady (Rhodes College), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Neil Forsyth (Université de Lausanne), Claire Preston (Queen Mary, University of London), J A Roe (University of York), Virginia Mason Vaughan (Clark University)

Domains

Battle

Dates

Date of occurrence 1651-12-19

Places

United Kingdom, Channel Islands (Location)
England (Involved)

Resources

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Throughout the civil wars, although Jersey was a Royalist stronghold, its neighbouring Channel Island of Guernsey was largely Parliamentarian in sympathy. Its governor, Sir Peter Osborne, was Royalist, but he was forced to stay holed up in Castle Cornet throughout the fighting. During the course of 1651, with control over England relatively secure, but facing opposition in Scotland, Ireland and the colonies, the Commonwealth navy focused on quashing isolated remaining Royalist strongholds. After the Scilly Isles were captured in June, Jersey remained as the last Royalist outpost on the approach to England by sea from the south west. Commonwealth naval commander Robert Blake took charge of a fleet of twelve ships that set sail for the Channel Islands on 17th October. The bailiff of Jersey,…

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