Antigua and the Antiguans (Vol. 1&2). Mrs. Lanaghan

An estate in Antigua called by that name.

      ⁶ This rock is still pointed out upon an estate, called Patterson’s, belonging to the Hon. John Athill.

      ⁷ The proper appellation of this gentleman (according to the authority of E. S. B———, Esq.) is Colonel Luke Stokes; but, from an orthographical error of the French historian, Du Tertre, he has been handed down to posterity as Colonel Lake. He afterwards removed to Jamaica at the head of a small party of English settlers, where he died in 1659, universally esteemed for his virtues and honourable actions.

      CHAPTER III.

       Table of Contents

      Rupture between France and England​—​War in the West Indies​—​Loss of Lord Francis Willoughby​—​Colonel Carden​—​Capture of Antigua by the French forces under M. de la Barre​—​Colonel Fitche​—​Restoration of Antigua by the Treaty of Breda​—​Death of Colonel Carden​—​Biographical notices.

      In 1665–6, England was engaged in a contest with Holland, Denmark, and France; and during that period, her colonies in the West Indies suffered greatly, particularly St. Christopher’s and Antigua.

      St. Christopher’s being reduced by the French, Lord Francis Willoughby headed an expedition of 2000 troops, and sailed from Barbados (where he was then residing in preference to Antigua) with the hope of recapturing that island. On his passage to St. Christopher’s, he visited Martinique, with the design of surprising the place, and, after taking the French prisoners, to transport them to Antigua, Montserrat, and Nevis. The French, however, having received tidings of his movements, were accordingly prepared; and Lord Willoughby, finding himself baffled in his intentions, sailed for Guadaloupe, where he arrived on the 2nd of August. Before any success was effected against this island, a dreadful hurricane arose, which, raging with extreme violence for the space of twenty-four hours, entirely destroyed the fleet of Lord Willoughby, strewing the coast with its fragments, and every soul perished, with the exception of two seamen.⁸

      Before embarking upon this expedition, this ill-fated nobleman appointed his nephew, Mr. Henry Willoughby, lieutenant-general and governor of these islands, who in his turn constituted Colonel Carden governor of Antigua.

      Before the declaration of war between France and England was published, several Frenchmen had left the French colonies, from different motives, and settled in Antigua, where they lived sociably with the English, and prosecuted their respective professions. After the rupture between those nations was known in the West Indies, and the report of the intended attack upon St. Christopher’s by the French, reached the ears of Lord F. Willoughby, he dispatched his nephew, Mr. Henry Willoughby, to the relief of that place. Arriving, however, too late for the action, he was obliged to proceed with his ship to Antigua; and being (according to Du Tertre, the French historian) in “a burning rage” at the failure of his plans, he vented it upon the French settlers whom he found there​—​confiscating their property, forbidding them to quit their houses, or hold communications between themselves, under pain of death, and obliging them to swear allegiance to the English monarch.

      “Many of them submitted, in a very cowardly manner,” remarks the above-named quaint author; “but others, whose heart was in a better place, refused to do so.”

      Among these French settlers was a young surgeon, of the name of Grand-Maison, who had been formerly valet-de-chambre to M. de la Barre, lieutenant-general by sea and land of the French forces, and who was fully alive to the tyrannical manner in which himself and his countrymen had been treated. Having a little more liberty than the others, from the nature of his profession, Grand-Maison had an opportunity of entering into conversation with another young Frenchman, of the name of Baston, who, says Du Tertre, “was skilful by sea and land, courageous and brave, and an admirer of firmness and constancy.” Finding Grand-Maison entertained the same sentiments as himself, he proposed that they should steal a small shallop, which was attached by an iron chain to a post firmly planted in the beach, and taking advantage of the darkness of the night, effect their escape from the island. As, however, the oars had been carried away by the owner of the boat, they bribed a French carpenter, who was engaged working in some of the back woods of Antigua, to join them in their enterprise, and make them a pair in that retired place.

      Grand-Maison, who served a very rich master,⁹ took the charge of bringing a sufficient quantity of provisions from his home; and between them they procured five muskets, a few pairs of pistols, some cutlasses, twenty or thirty pounds of powder, and lead in proportion. But thinking themselves not strong enough to man the shallop, Grand-Maison, who was very much beloved by the negroes, engaged two of them, who were esteemed excellent rowers, to accompany him.

      All things being duly prepared, they stole away from their masters by night, hurried to the beach, and the carpenter having sawn in two the post to which the boat was fastened, they departed, and made for Guadaloupe. After struggling manfully against the current and contrary winds for some time, running many risks of their lives, and putting back into Antigua once or twice, they changed their resolution, and made for St. Christopher’s​—​arriving in Cabsterre, a district of that island, at the very time M. de Chambre was on the point of sailing for Martinique, to rejoin M. de la Barre, with all the French ships of war.

      M. Sannois, captain of that district, welcomed the adventurers, and treated them very kindly; and upon hearing their story, sent them to M. de St. Laurent, who, after examining them, and finding them well informed of the strength and natural barriers of Antigua​—​and more particularly, as Baston gave him a plan of the coast, shewing the best landing-places, and offered himself as a guide to the troops, to lead them to the place “wherever resistance might be expected,” and to be everywhere “at their head,”​—​he determined to send them with M. de Chambre to M. de la Barre, at Martinique.

      Upon their arrival at that island, at counsel was held, and Grand-Maison and Baston introduced, when the latter repeated his offers. The assembly was well pleased with his information and solid reflections; but M. de Chambre represented, that the officers of the French forces were so contented with the conquest of St. Kitts, that he thought they would be unwilling to engage in any new adventure, unless there was an augmentation of the troops. To this objection M. Clodoré, the Governor of Martinique, replied, in such a splendid speech, abounding with so much true martial ardour, that every objection was borne down before him; and M. de Chambre was led to observe, that if M. St. Laurent had heard the powerful arguments brought forward by M. de Clodoré, he would change his opinion, and join in attacking Antigua; and he did not believe M. St. Leon, (the commanding officer,) with his brother officers, would even stand firm in their resolution after hearing him. M. de Chambre then asked M. Clodoré if he would accompany him to St. Christopher’s, to consult with the other officers. M. Clodoré immediately replied he should be most happy to do so, if M. de la Barre would give him such instructions in writing; which being directly complied with, they made sail 25th October, 1666, with seven vessels of war, carrying 166 pieces of cannon, and commanded by M. de la Barre, admiral of the whole fleet; M. de Clodoré, Governor of Martinique; M. du Lion, Governor of Guadaloupe; M. de Chambre, Intendant of the French West Indian Company’s affairs; and attended by 130 men of the regiment of Poictiers, commanded by Sieur d’Orvillier, and two companies of infantry, besides the seamen.

      Calling in at Guadaloupe, they held another council of war, in which it was determined to sail for St. Kitt’s; but at the same time to come so near to Antigua as to be able to reconnoitre the island, and ascertain if it would be prudent to attack it before they proceeded to St. Christopher’s.

      Leaving Guadaloupe on the 2nd November, they made sail for Antigua, bearing the English flag as a subterfuge, and thinking by that means to deceive the English. Upon reaching Antigua, they endeavoured to get into the harbour of St. John’s; but meeting with contrary winds, they put back and made for Five Islands’ Bay, which at that period was defended by two forts​—​the smaller one (which appears to have been only an artificial mound, without any parapets or