Add Ch 77733

Guernsey, 3 May 1507. Signed by the notaries Johannes Nicolle and Philippus Asselme.

Le Précepte d'Assise is one of the most important documents for the medieval history of Guernsey. It acts as a “constitution”, designed to end disputes between the English monarchy and the local population, setting out the liberties, customs and usages of the inhabitants.

The document was drawn up in 1441, but the original is lost; this copy dates from 1507, and is reportedly better preserved than the version used by its editor, Havilland de Sausmarez.

The Samuel Gedge catalogue (lot 52) states: "An important document in the history of the medieval governance of the island of Guernsey, the Précepte d’Assise is thought to have been compiled in 1441 in order to set out the ancient liberties, customs and usages enjoyed by the inhabitants. Drawn up in the Royal Court in the presence of official notaries, the creation of a “constitution” was intended to bring to an end ongoing disputes between the English monarchy and the populace. The document, written in medieval French rather than Latin, sets out the offices and duties of the legislative, administrative and judicial hierachy including the Bailiff, the Jurats, the Governor, Greffier and Sergeant. Among other details it includes the rule that an inhabitant of Guernsey could not face trial outside the island on matters of a local nature. There appear to be some orthographic differences between this copy, made in 1507, and the transcription printed in: Havilland de Sausmarez. The Extentes of Guernsey, 1248 and 1331: and other documents relating to ancient usages and customs in that island (1934). The version printed in that work was drawn from two sources: a copy dated 1489 and another made in 1693, both housed in the Royal Court House, Guernsey. De Sausmarez notes with regret the loss of the original copy from 1441. From his description of the difficulty in transcribing “passages which have become illegible” it seems likely that the present copy, entirely legible and made only eighteen years later than that which he was consulting, is in a somewhat better state of preservation. A rare and early copy of the Précepte d’Assise, this document is of primary importance in the history of the Channel Islands, recording the medieval evolution of a unique model of administration related to but distinct from both French and English systems."