SIR WILLIAM ALEXANDER. 99 



to dislodge them, but were apprehensive of being dislodged by them, and accordingly 

 leaving them in quiet possession of Port Eoyal, they resolved to establish themselves on 

 the St. John River. 



Ferland says that the Scotch settlers had been protected by the presence of La Tour 

 from the enmity of the Indians, and that when he left, they were so beleaguered in their 

 fort by them, that they all fell victims to their enmity or the scurvy with the exception 

 of one family. He does not give his authority for this statement and the facts seem to 

 contradict it. At the time La Tour left, they were so strong, that they could threaten to 

 dislodge the French from Fort La Tour. And after he was gone we find them the next 

 season able to maintain their position. In February, 1631, King Louis XIII. granted a 

 commission to the younger La Tour to act as his lieutenant-general in Acadie, and in 

 April, the Company of New France sent a vessel with supplies for him. The vessel carried 

 back the Sieur de Krainguille, the lieutenant of La Tour, who reported that the Scotch 

 were unwilling to leave Port Eoyal and had brought families and cattle there. (£ Cham- 

 plain, 366.) In the autumn previous, Sir William the younger had returned to Britain, 

 leaving the colony in charge of Sir George Home. Still now after three winters they 

 not only held their position against any French power then on the field, but were 

 making all arrangements for permanent settlement. 



But the whole project was doomed to sudden overthrow, and the blow was to come 

 from a source the least expected. Treachery at home was to accomplish what foreign 

 force had failed to do, and men were to receive another lesson in regard to putting their 

 trust in princes. On the 29th April, 1631, the Scottish Privy Council were assured by 

 royal letter that the plantation of New Scotland was still an object of solicitude, and 

 they were invited to nominate members of their body to assist in the enterprise. On the 

 5th May followed another missive intimating that the king was prepared to grant 

 baronetcies to those aiding the new colony, special commissioners being appointed to 

 receive from Lord Stirling resignations of land for that purpose. But about two months 

 later came the following letter from His Majesty to Sir William, now Earl Stirling. 



" Charles R. Wheras ther is a finall agreement made betweixt ws and our good 

 brother, the French king, and that amongst other particulariteis for perfecting heirof, we 

 have condescended that Port Royall shal be putt in the estate it was befor the beginning 

 of the late warre, that no pairtie may have any advantage ther dureing the continuance 

 of the same & without derogation to any preceeding right or title be vertew of any thing 

 done, ather then, or to be done, by the doeing of that which we command at this tyme : 

 It is our will and pleasur, yow ordour to Sir George Home, Knycht, or any vther haveiug 

 charge from yow ther, to demolisch the Fort, which was builded by your Sone ther, and 

 to remove all the people, goods, ordnance, munition, cattel and vther things belonging 

 vnto that Colonie, leaveing the bounds altogidder waist and unpeopled as it was at the 

 tyme when your said Sone landed first to plant ther, by vertew of our commission, and 

 this yow faill not to doe, as yow wilbe answerable vnto -ws. 



G-reeuwich 10 July, 1631 " 



In the year 1627, the year as we have seen in which Alexander's preparations for 

 sending out his colony were completed, and the year in which the French company of a 

 hundred associates was formed, a war was precipitated upon France through the influ- 

 ence of Buckingham, the English prime minister, mainly to gratify a personal pique, but 



