268 DEFENCE OF QUEBEC. [1690. 



who has failed in his duty to his king, and forgot- 

 ten all the favors he had received from him, to 

 follow a prince who pretends to be the liberator of 

 England and the defender of the faith, and yet 

 destroys the laws and privileges of the kingdom 

 and overthrows its religion ? The divine justice 

 which your general invokes in his letter will not 

 fail to punish such acts severely." 



The messenger seemed astonished and startled ; 

 but he presently asked if the governor would give 

 him his answer in writing. 



" No," returned Frontenac, " I will answer your 

 general only by the mouths of my cannon, that he 

 may learn that a man like me is not to be sum- 

 moned after this fashion. Let him do his best, and 

 I will do mine ; " and he dismissed the Englishman 

 abruptly. He was again blindfolded, led over the 

 barricades, and sent back to the fleet by the boat 

 that brought him. 1 



Phips had often given proof of personal courage, 

 but for the past three weeks his conduct seems that 

 of a man conscious that he is charged with a work 

 too large for his capacity. He had spent a good 

 part of his time in holding councils of war; and 

 now, when he heard the answer of Frontenac, he 

 called another to consider what should be clone. A 

 plan of attack was at length arranged. The mili- 

 tia were to be landed on the shore of Beauport, 

 which was just below Quebec, though separated 



1 Lettre de Sir William Phips a M. de Frontenac, avec sa Re'ponse ver- 

 bal e ; Relation de re cjui s'est passtf a la Dcsrente des Ancjlois a Quebec au mois 

 d'Octobre, 1600. Compare Monseignat, Relation. The English accounts, 

 though more brief, confirm those of the French. 



