to particular members of the Board; this is explicable in some cases on the 
ground that such members were governors of Jersey or Guernsey. 186 But also 
the Lord President, the Lord Keeper, the Lord Privy Seal, the Comptroller, 
and others were designated in references. 187 Although in most instances the 
Board members acted alone, in others they were to call lawyers to their 
assistance. 188 The use of judges as referees became unusual. 189 
At this period there is discernible an embryonic committee system, which 
operated concurrently with the older reference system to cope with Channel 
Islands matters. 190 Early in 1632 a reference was made to certain Board members 
to hear complaints about the administration of justice in Jersey and to 
consider and report corrective measures. 191 The same group was further empowered 
to hear and to certify its opinions to the Board in all appeals from 
that island then pending. 192 Committee references were also made in other 
(PC 2/41/145); once with the High Court of 
Admiralty judge (PC 2/36/297); in another 
the Lord Privy Seal and the Earl of Danby 
were to call in the Solicitor General or the 
King's Advocate, if they wished (PC 
2/49/399)- 
186 The Earl of Danby, governor of Guernsey, 
was nominated in fifteen instances. He might 
be the sole nominee (PC 2/41/41); be joined 
with the Attorney General (PC 2/40/188); or 
be joined with another Board member (PC 
2/40/484). In one instance Danby applied for 
the Attorney General's aid in hearing a cause 
(PC 2/42/412). In three cases Lord Jermyn, 
the Jersey governor, was named; acting solely 
(PC 2/41/261); with Lord Wimbledon (PC 
2/44/116); with the Lord Privy Seal (PC 
2/44/421). 
187 The Lord Privy Seal was named five times; 
members named at least once were the Lord 
Keeper (PC 2/40/484); the Lord President 
(PC 2/39/629); Lord Dorchester (ibid.); the 
Comptroller (PC 2/51/406); Secretary Coke 
(PC 2/40/201); the Earl of Totnes (PC 
2/38/397); Lord Wimbledon (PC 2/44/116). 
The Lord Privy Seal acted alone (PC 
2/4t/255) or jointly (see supra, n. 185, 186). 
The others, except for the Comptroller, acted 
jointly with other Board members. 
i BB PC 2/41/145; cf. PC 2/49/399- 
189 Several references were made to the judge 
of the High Court of Admiralty, joined with 
the Attorney General or the King's Advocate 
(see inter alia PC 2/36/297; PC 2/40/247). 
Littleton, Chief Justice of Common Pleas, was 
named with the King's Advocate in one 
reference (PC 2/51/277). 
190 In 1617 several committees were appointed, 
but none for Jersey or Guernsey. However, 
matters from these islands would probably go 
to the King's learned counsel as a committee 
for grievances in general (APC, Dom., 1616- 
17, 215). The first references were in nonappellate 
matters. The 1627 hearing of Sir 
Philip de Carteret's report concerning the state 
and safety of Jersey was referred to the Earl 
of Totnes, Viscount Conway and Viscount 
Grandison (PC 2/36/210). In 1629-30 the 
hearing of a Jersey fee precedency quarrel 
was referred to the Lord President, the Earl 
of Danby, and Viscount Dorchester (PC 
2/39/629). Cf. supra, n. 185, 186, where 
councilors were joined with learned counsel as 
referees. 
191 Sir Philip de Carteret, the Jersey bailiff, had 
presented a petition complaining of the various 
abuses and corruptions in Jersey judicial administration. 
The Lord Privy Seal, the Lord 
Treasurer, the Vice-Chamberlain, and Secretary 
Coke or any three of them were named 
to consider the matters complained of and to 
advise some fit course therein (PC 2/41/488). 
192 After considering the complaints of de Carteret, 
the Committee was "also to heare, consider, 
and certifie their opinions in like manner, 
concerning all such appeales out of the aforesaid 
isle, as are now depending there" (PC 
2/41/488). The Attorney General and the 
King's Advocate were to attend the named 
committee when they considered the complaints, 
but nothing is said as to such attendance 
at future appeal hearings.