HISTORY OF VERMONT. 303 



proclaimed another person to be king of Eng- 

 land. This aftront could not fail to engage 

 those mighty kingdoms in war, and to involve 

 their American colonies in all its effects and 

 sufferings. On May 4, 1702, war was pro- 

 claimed between England and France ; a sig- 

 nal to the people that mutual hatred, hostility, 

 and destruction were to begin. At first the war 

 did not prove distressing to New York. Count 

 Frontenac, the able and vigilant governor of 

 Canada, died in the year 1698 ; and his suc- 

 cessor, M. De Callieres, had succeeded in com- 

 pleating a treaty of peace and neutrality with 

 the five nations. This agreement was allowed 

 to be in force by the governors of New York 

 and Canada, notwithstanding the war between 

 the two crowns. And instead of being harras- 

 sed by the inroads of the French and Indians, 

 the province of New York continued for some 

 time in a state of gre^t tranquility, and carried 

 on a lucrative trade with the French and In- 

 dians in Canada, at the very time tliey were 

 carrying destruction into the other English col- 

 onies. 



While Nev/ York was thus enjoying peace, 

 the French and Indians were carrying uncom- 

 mon destruction and calamities into the eastern 

 provinces. In August 1703, a body of French 

 and Indians, five hundred in number, divided 

 themselves into several small parties, and as- 

 saulted all the settlements from Casco bay to 

 Wells. They killed, and captured, one hun- 

 dred and thirty of the English ; burning and 

 destroying the houses and settlements. The 

 whole eastern country v^-as in terror^ and con- 



