The Conquest of New France | Page 8

worthless crew. His enterprise had apparently

failed; but the second Duke of Albemarle and other powerful men
believed in him and helped him to make another trial. This time he
succeeded in finding the wreck on the coast of Hispaniola, and took
possession of its cargo of precious metals and jewels--treasure to the
value of three hundred thousand pounds sterling. Of the spoil Phips
himself received sixteen thousand pounds, a great fortune for a New
Englander in those days. He was also knighted for his services and, in
the end, was named by William and Mary the first royal Governor of
Massachusetts.
Massachusetts, whose people had been thoroughly aroused by the
French incursions, resolved to retaliate by striking at the heart of
Canada by sea and to take Quebec. Sir William Phips, though not yet
made Governor, would lead the expedition. The first blow fell in
Acadia. Phips sailed up the Bay of Fundy and on May 11, 1690, landed
a force before Port Royal. The French Governor surrendered on terms.
The conquest was intended to be final, and the people were offered
their lives and property on the condition of taking, the oath to be loyal
subjects of William and Mary. This many of them did and were left
unmolested. It was a bloodless victory. But Phips, the Puritan crusader,
was something of a pirate. He plundered private property and was
himself accused of taking not merely the silver forks and spoons of the
captive Governor but even his wigs, shirts, garters, and night caps. The
Boston Puritans joyfully pillaged the church at Port Royal, and
overturned the high altar and the images. The booty was considerable
and by the end of May Phips, a prosperous hero, was back in Boston.
Boston was aflame with zeal to go on and conquer Canada. By the
middle of August Phips had set out on the long sea voyage to Quebec,
with twenty-two hundred men, a great force for a colonial enterprise of
that time, and in all some forty ships. The voyage occupied more than
two months. Apparently the hardy carpenter-sailor, able enough to
carry through a difficult undertaking with a single ship, lacked the
organizing skill to manage a great expedition. He performed, however,
the feat of navigating safely with his fleet the treacherous waters of the
lower St. Lawrence. On the morning of October 16, 1690, watchers at
Quebec saw the fleet, concerning which they had already been warned,
rounding the head of the Island of Orleans and sailing into the broad
basin. Breathless spectators counted the ships. There were thirty-four in

sight, a few large vessels, some mere fishing craft. It was a spectacle
well calculated to excite and alarm the good people of Quebec. They
might, however, take comfort in the knowledge that their great
Frontenac was present to defend them. A few days earlier he had been
in Montreal, but, when there had come the startling news of the
approach of the enemy's ships, he had hurried down the river and had
been received with shouts of joy by the anxious populace.
The situation was one well suited to Frontenac's genius for the dramatic.
When a boat under a flag of truce put out from the English ships,
Frontenac hurried four canoes to meet it. The English envoy was placed
blindfold in one of these canoes and was paddled to the shore. Here two
soldiers took him by the arms and led him over many obstacles up the
steep ascent to the Chateau St. Louis. He could see nothing but could
hear the beating of drums, the blowing of trumpets, the jeers and
shouting of a great multitude in a town which seemed to be full of
soldiers and to have its streets heavily barricaded. When the bandage
was taken from his eyes he found himself in a great room of the
Chateau. Before him stood Frontenac, in brilliant uniform, surrounded
by the most glittering array of officers which Quebec could muster. The
astonished envoy presented a letter from Phips. It was a curt demand in
the name of King William of England for the unconditional surrender
of all "forts and castles" in Canada, of Frontenac himself, and all his
forces and supplies. On such conditions Phips would show mercy, as a
Christian should. Frontenac must answer within an hour. When the
letter had been read the envoy took a watch from his pocket and
pointed out the time to Frontenac. It was ten o'clock. The reply must be
given by eleven. Loud mutterings greeted the insulting message. One
officer cried out that Phips was a pirate and that his messenger should
be hanged. Frontenac knew well how to deal with such a situation. He
threw the letter in the envoy's face and turned his back upon him.