Down North and Up Along 
Acadians. Taking advantage of the ignorance 
and superstition of the people, we are told he 
taught them that allegiance to Louis of France 
was inseparable from fidelity to God, and that 
to swear allegiance to the Crown of England 
was to bring them eternal damnation. 
The word of the priest was the only law to 
the simple peasantry, and they refused the 
oath. When they did take it, they were in- 
structed that it was no sin to break it. 
The treaty of Utrecht was signed in 17 13, 
and the expulsion of the Acadians did not 
take place until 1755, so for nearly half a 
century England bore with what she looked 
upon as treasonable conduct with a forbear- 
ance unparalleled in history. 
During this long period of time, this forty- 
two years, the Acadians, notwithstanding their 
unfriendly behaviour, were not taxed, they were 
allowed the practice of their own religion and 
the ministration of their own priests. 
We are informed that from the beginning 
the priests were the secret enemies of England, 
and when Le Loutre's power began the Aca- 
dians were incited to every sort of violence. 
They were not asked by England to take 
86 
