348 THE WAR IN ACADIA. [1690-92. 



Armed with these instructions, Villebon re- 

 paired to his post, where he was joined by a body 

 of Canadians under Portneuf. His first step was 

 to reoccupy Port Eoyal ; and, as there was nobody 

 there to oppose him, he easily succeeded. The set- 

 tlers renounced allegiance to Massachusetts and 

 King William, and swore fidelity to their natural 

 sovereign. 1 The capital of Acadia dropped back 

 quietly into the lap of France ; but, as the " Boston- 

 nais " might recapture it at any time, Villebon 

 crossed to the St. John, and built a fort high up 

 the stream at Naxouat, opposite the present city of 

 Fredericton. Here no "Bostonnais" could reach 

 him, and he could muster war-parties at his leisure. 



One thing was indispensable. A blow must be 

 struck that would encourage and excite the Aben- 

 akis. Some of them had had no part in the truce, 

 and were still so keen for English blood that a 

 deputation of their chiefs told Frontenac at Quebec 

 that they would fight, even if they must head their 

 arrows with the bones of beasts. 2 They were under 

 no such necessity. Guns, powder, and lead were 

 given them in abundance ; and Thury, the priest 



de detourner de tout autre employ les Francois qui sont avec vous, en 

 leur donnant de vostre part un si bon exemple en cela qu'ils ne soient 

 animez que du de'sir de chercher a faire du proffit sur les ennemis. Je 

 n'ay aussy rien a vous recoramander plus fortement que de mettre en 

 usage tout ee que vous pouvez avoir de capacite et de prudence afin que 

 les Canibas (Abenakis) ne s'employent qu'a la guerre, et que par l'eeono- 

 mie de ce que vous avez a leur fournir ils y puissent trouver leur subsis- 

 tance et plus d'avantage qu'a la chasse." Le Ministre a Villebon, Avril, 

 1692. Two years before, the king had ordered that the Abenakis should 

 be made to attack the English settlements. 



1 Proces-verbul de la Prise de Possession du Port Royal, 27 Sept., 1691. 



2 Paroles des Sauvages de la Mission de Pentegoet. 



