250 MASSACHUSETTS ATTACKS QUEBEC. [1690, 



all his wishes on the subject. Frontenac now de- 

 manded to see the register in which the proceed- 

 ings on the question at issue were recorded. 

 Villeray was directed to carry it to him. The 

 records had been cautiously made ; and, after 

 studying them carefully, he could find nothing at 

 which to cavil. 



He received the next deputation with great 

 affability, told them that he was glad to find that 

 the council had not forgotten the consideration due 

 to his office and his person, and assured them, with 

 urbane irony, that, had they offered to accord him 

 marks of distinction greater than they felt were 

 due, he would not have permitted them thus to 

 compromise their dignity, having too much regard 

 for the honor of a body of which he himself was 

 the head. Then, after thanking them collectively 

 and severally, he graciously dismissed them, saying 

 that he would come to the council after Easter, or 

 in about two months. 1 During four successive 

 Mondays, he had forced the chief dignitaries of the 

 colony to march in deputations up and clown the 

 rugged road from the intenclant's palace to the 



1 " M. le Gouverneur luy a repondu qu'il avoit reconnu avec plaisir que 

 la Compagnie (le Conseil) conservoit la consideration qu'elle avoit pour 

 son caractere et pour sa personne, et qu'elle pouvoit bien s'assurer qu'en- 

 core qu'elle luy eust fait des propositions au dela de ce qu'elle auroit era 

 devoir t'aire pour sa reception au Conseil, il ne les auroit pas acceptees, 

 l'lionneur de la Compagnie luy estant d'autant plus considerable, qu'en 

 estant le chef, il n'auroit rien voulu souffrir qui peust estre contraire a sa 

 dignite." Registre da Conseil Souverain, se'ance du 13 Mars, 1690. The 

 affair had occupied the preceding sessions of 20 and 27 February and 6 

 March. The submission of the councillors did not prevent them from com- 

 plaining to the minister. Champigny au Minislre, 10 Mai, 1691 ; M€moire 

 instruct!/ sur le Canada, 1691. 



