Editing History of Guernsey (section)

=== Late Middle Ages ===
The loss of Normandy by [[John, King of England|King John]] in 1204 isolated the Channel Islands from mainland Europe. Each time England and France went to war over the coming centuries, trade to and from the Channel Islands was restricted or banned and even when not officially at war, the island was repeatedly attacked by continental pirates and naval forces.<ref name=PotS/>{{rp|22}}

[[File:Battle of Guernsey.jpg|thumb|left|Battle 1342]]
Fortifications were improved in the Channel Islands, manned by professional soldiers and the [[Royal Guernsey Militia|Guernsey militia]] who would help to defend the Island for the next 600 years. Service was compulsory in the militia for every man in the Island. Raids on Guernsey in 1336 and 1337 by exiled [[David II of Scotland|David Bruce]],<ref name="Charters">{{cite book |last=Thornton |first=Tim |title=The Charters of Guernsey |publisher=Woodfield Publishing |date=2004 |isbn=978-1903953655}}</ref>{{rp|2}} came at the start of the [[Hundred Years War]], they were followed by [[Sark]] being captured and using this as a base, the next year when, [[English Channel naval campaign, 1338-1339|starting in 1339]], Guernsey was occupied by the [[Capetian dynasty|Capetians]], holding the Island for two years and [[Castle Cornet]] for seven.<ref name=PotS/>{{rp|20}} The attacks would recur on several occasions.<ref name=HoG/>

It was 1348 when the [[Black Death]] reached the Island, ravaging the population. In 1372, the island was invaded by [[Aragon]]ese mercenaries under the command of [[Owain Lawgoch]] (remembered as ''Yvon de Galles''), who was in the pay of the French king. Lawgoch and his dark-haired mercenaries were later absorbed into Guernsey legend as an invasion by [[Fairy|fairies]] from across the sea.<ref>{{cite book |title=Folklore of Guernsey |last=de Garis |first=Marie| year=1986 |oclc=19840362}}</ref>

In 1394 [[Richard II of England]] granted a new [[Royal charters applying to the Channel Islands|Charter]] to the islands. Because of great loyalty shown to the Crown, they were exempted for ever from English tolls, customs and duties.<ref name=Charters/>{{rp|5–10}}

Shipbuilding skills improved and trade to and from Guernsey increased with a growing number of ports, sometimes using trading treaties and sometimes avoiding paying duties. Guernsey ships in the 14th century were small. 12-80 tons with crews of 8-20 men.<ref name=PotS/>{{rp|35}} In times of war, ships could be seized as prizes, the practice continuing in times of peace, against all nationalities, as piracy.

In 1441, Guernsey's liberties, customs and usages were set out in {{Lang|fr|Le Précepte d'Assise}}.<ref name="RL" />{{Rp|page=37}}