An Epitome of TYRANNY IN The Island of Guernzey.  
Sent in a LETTER TO A Person of Quality in London, Concerning The late Irregular Transactions there, in relation to a certain Deputation and Address made to Richard late Protector; With the said Address itself, Lately presented to him by Peter and William de Beauvoir the pretended Deputy; discovering their evil and dangerous Designs against the Government of a Commonwealth.  
Now Seasonably published by a Lover of this Commonwealth, and of his Native Country, for a warning to the faithful now in Authority, and at the Helm of the Government of this Commonwealth, to the end to prevent, That in future the said Deputies may not be entrusted of any Office or Place in the said Island.  
Printed in the Year, 1659.   

A Letter sent from the Island of Guernzey, to a Person of quality in London, concerning the late Irregular Transactions there, etc.  
SIR,  
SInce my arrival in this Island, I could not, till this present time, have an opportunity to answer your desires and expectations in reference to the transactions of Affairs here, which now I have effected by way of some small Vessels, which will be ready within few hours to set sail for England; by whom I would not omit the opportunity to give you a short Narrative thereof, which is briefly, as followeth. Assoon as the well-affected and honest People of this Isle had notice that a Parliament was called, they resolved to use what diligence they could, that the Assembly called Estates of this Islle might be summoned to meet in Order, to make choice of honest and faithful Deputyes to go for England to the said Parliament, there to represent the several grievances of the People, and endeavour to obtain redress therein; as likewise the Confirmation, Corroboration, and Augmentation of their ancient Charters and Privileges. But the People were circumvented by the surreptitious practices of their present pretended Bailiff or Judge, Mr. Peter de Beauvoirs alias de Granges, who could not but expect that his fall would be near at hand, unless he could hinder and prevent the good and honest intentions of the People, from taking effect in their intended choice of Deputies; especially knowing what a firebrand he had been amongst them for divers years passed, and what fuel of discord and divisions he had kindled amongst them, and how, during the famous long-Parliament in the year 1649. he was for the same, and for several misdemeanours and malversations in the Execution of the said place of Bailiff or Judge there, complained against by several Articles exhibited; whereupon the said Parliament in the said year, appointed (by a certain Act) several Comers to go to the said Isle to examine the Complaints and grievances of the People: Two of which Comers (viz. Moses Wall and Roger Frith Gen.) being returned, made their Repo●t of the State and Condition of Affairs there, which report together with the said Articles of Charge being (upon the 3d of November 1650. by order of the then Council of State) heard and considered by a select Committee appointed by them for that purpose, before whom the said Bailiff appeared, and was heard what he could say or produce in his own defence; after which, the said Committee made their report to the Council, certifying that after a full hearing of the whole business of Guernzey they found the said Bailiff to be a person not fit to execute the said Office and Place, and that for the better Government and future peace of the said Isle, the said Mr. Peter de Beauvoir should be no more Bailiff, and that a new one should be chosen in his room, to be continued only for three years at the most; which Report was the same day confirmed by the Council, who ordered Cornelius Holland Esq to present it to the Parliament: But the many other weighty affairs of the Commonwealth hindered the said Report from being presented to the said Parliament before their interruption; nothing being done therein till the 29th of August 1653. that then it was ordered by the little Parliament, that the Jurates of Guernzey should execute the said place and office of Bailiff of that Island by turns, each of them a Month; which order was very well resented by the People, and very much to their satisfaction, peace, and tranquillity; it having been observed, that during above two years' time that the said Order was executed, all former fuel of discord and divisions in that Island w●re quenched, during which time, the said Bailiff was observed to set all his Engines at work, by vilifying the way practised by virtue of the said Order, leaving no way unassaied to watch his opportunity to overthrow the same, and bring the old form again; which afterwards he easily effected, making use of the change of Government, came to England, and surreptitiously represented to the late Protector, how that the said Order and Monthly way of officiating the said place of Bailiff in that Isle was not consistent with his Government: and thereupon he played his game so cunningly, by indirect and surreptitious practices, as by bribing of Clerks with very considerable sums of money, and also by his Hypocritical carriage, as if he had been a very pious and religious man, when as he was then, and is still known to be a very great Persecutor of God's People, having banished several godly Ministers, and others, out of the said Isle, for only differing in Judgement from him; and likewise a very covetous, ambitious, envious, factious, and turbulent person, who was, by the long Parliament, to have been outed for the same: Notwithstanding all which, he, the said Peter de Beauvoir, got the said Order of Parliament to be vacated, and obtained of the said late Protector, a Patent under the great Seal, to have and execute the said Office and place of Bailiff during his life, to the great grief and dislike of the People. The said Peter de Beauvoir, to prevent such assembly and choice, and that those foul and enormous Actions of his should not be made manifest, not come to light, and be again complained of, and charged against him, before those in authority in England; made use in Court of a fair pretence, (viz.) That one William Beauvoir alias du Hommet his near Kinsman, (and whom very lately he had caused to be chosen and put in the Seat of Judicature) was going for England, and to spare the People's purses, he the said William Beauvoir would at his proper costs and charges, undertake the care of getting the ancient Charters and Privileges of this Island confirmed, and moreover would get an augmentation of Licences for Wool, and that thenceforward the People should farm their several Tithes; and, to the end the said Bailiff might the better carry on his design in hand, he made an additional proposition to the Court, (viz.) That in Imitation of several places in England, he thought it very fit and requisite, that an Address of the Magistrates and others of this Island should be made and sent unto the Protector, to condole the death of his late Father, and congratulate him in his present Government: to which several propositions, the Court being demanded their Opinion, the major part of them knowing as well whereto the ends of the said Bailiff did tend, as of what ill consequence such a deputation would prove, especially considering the person proposed to be entrusted as Deputy, (viz.) the said William de Beauvoir alias du Hommet, who is known to be a profane, ambitious, and debauched man; and one who, during the late War, was a notorious enemy against the Parliament of England, having been in Arms against them at Oxford, with his Master the Lord Downs, who raised a Troop of Horse there for the late King, for which afterwards he compounded, and then went for Italy, and the said William Beauvoir with him, who at this very instant receivs an Annuity of the said Lord Downs, his said Master: Upon this and other weighty considerations the major part of the said Court answered, That seeing the things proposed by the said Bailiff were of general concernment to the whole Island, that therefore in their opinions it was fit and requisite that the State of this Island should be summoned to assemble, advise, and deliberate concerning the said proposition (as time out mind had been practised in cases of the like nature). But the said Bailiff opposed the same, by desiring and sending to the Deputy Governor not to acquiesce that the said Assembly should be summoned, for several weighty reasons that he would impart unto him; And in the interim the said Bailiff got a kind of begging Address to be drawn, and privately sent (with a Deputation for himself and the said William Beauvoir) to the several Parishes of this Island to get hands, which some of the People did not refuse by reason of the fair pretences therein contained; and afterwards he, the said Bailiff, caused the said Deputation, contrary to Law, to be passed under the public Seal of the Island, which he keeps in his Custody. All which illegal actings of the said Bailiff were effected by him against the express Order of the Deputy-Governour, or knowledge of the States of the said Island; which Irregular proceed were like to have caused a tumult in the said Island. And now he is going for Jersey and so for England in the Frigate that went thither to fetch Major General Overton: and his Colleague William de Beauvoir aliás du hommet is now going in these Vessels after him. I do not doubt but you have seen them: they are resolved to make use of all their Engines and Hypocrisies in seeming pious and Religious rather than miss of compassing their ends; and if that fails, than they are resolved to make use of money, which they have plenty to bribe and corrupt those that will serve them in answering their base ends. They have boasted here openly of their friends at Court, and what they will do for them, and for those that join with them; and that when all other things and means fail, that money is the only way to do business; which I do not wonder at, seeing they are so well versed in receiving and giving: Cost what it will, they must effect something, or otherwise, their return hither will be Odious to those to whom they have made such large promises. I send you here enclosed a Copy of their flattering, profane, and begging Address. I wish that those in Authority may not be enchanted and deluded by them either by their feigned piety, Religious Language, not their pretended affection to the Commonwealth, to which they are great Adversaries: no government pleasing them but absolute Monarchy, (as they themselves exercise over the Poor and honest People of this Island, whom they can crush at pleasure, by great alliance they have in the seat of Judicature.) Pray communicate these lines to some of those of your friends, that yet remain faithful to the Interest of God's People, and to the Commonwealth, that so they may not be surprised by them; and you will do a work of merit to this poor spot of ground consisting of above Twenty thousand souls, and engage all the well-affected and honest amongst them to pray for you; and myself, who am,  
Honourable Sir, Your most Humble and Obedient Servant. Guernzey Island 2●. Martii 1658.   

To his most Serene Highness, Richard Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto appertaining.  
The humble Request of the Bailiff, Jurates, and Common Council, and other well-affected Inhabitants of the Island of Guernzey.  
SHOWETHS,  
THat having had a deep feeling in the general Consternation, which all well-affected persons have received by the death of his late most renowned Highness, They have also great share in the great Exultation, which doth possess the Hearts of all such who make profession of Piety, and who do see your Highness' Act for God and his People in his Government; and as your most humble Suppliants have nothing more precious than their fidelity towards your Highness, being that which doth embolden them to prostrate themselves in all Humility before your Highness, Humbly supplicating, That you will please to confirm the Privileges, Franchises, and Immunities, which they do enjoy by their Ancient Charters; and seeing the Inhabitants of the said Isle are become very Numerous, and of above 6000 persons who get their living by knitting of Stockings, and other Manufactures of Wool, and that One Thousand Todds of it is the least quantity which is necessary for them to keep them at work; which quantity being equally distributed amongst the said persons, will not amount to more than four pounds and an half for each for one whole year: We do with all Humility supplicate your Highness, That it may please your Grace to grant to the Poor Inhabitants of the said Isle the same favour and grace, (having already been granted to the Inhabitants of Jersey, by your Highness most renowned Father of happy memory) and according to the cordial affection which they bear to your Highness, and their duty to address themselves with fervour to the Throne of Grace,  
They pray God, that he may be pleased to continue his blessing upon your Highness' Person, Posterity, and Government, etc.  
Signed in the Original.  
FINIS.