1670-90.] PENTEGOET. 345 



cessor, Meneval, received instructions in regard 

 to Saint-Castin, which show that the king or his 

 minister had a clear idea both of the baron's 

 merits and of his failings. The new governor was 

 ordered to require him to abandon " his vagabond 

 life among the Indians," cease all trade with the 

 English, and establish a permanent settlement. 

 Meneval was farther directed to assure him that, 

 if he conformed to the royal will, and led a life 

 "more becoming a gentleman," he might expect 

 to receive proofs of his Majesty's approval. 1 



In the next year, Meneval reported that he had 

 represented to Saint-Castin the necessity of reform, 

 and that in consequence he had abandoned his 

 trade with the English, given up his squaws, mar- 

 ried, and promised to try to make a solid settle- 

 ment. 2 True he had reformed before, and might 

 need to reform again ; but his faults were not of 

 the baser sort : he held his honor high, and was 

 free-handed as he was bold. His wife was what 

 the early chroniclers would call an Indian princess ; 

 for she was the daughter of Madockawando, chief 

 of the Penobscots. 



So critical was the position of his post at Pente- 

 goet that a strong fort and a sufficient garrison 

 could alone hope to maintain it against the pirates 

 and the " Bostonnais." Its vicissitudes had been 

 many. Standing on ground claimed by the Eng- 

 lish, within territory which had been granted to 



1 Instruction du Roy au Sieur de Meneval, 5 Avril, 1G87. 



2 Me'moire da Sieur de Meneval sur VAcadie, 10 Sept., 1088. 



