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

good stone buildings, and standing in that part now occupied by the batteries of “Goat’s Hill”) mounted with eight guns. The men stationed at the smaller fort had their suspicions first awakened by observing how carefully the French came in, sounding with the lead every moment; and consequently they determined to fire upon them.

      To this warm welcome the French replied in such a manner, bringing all their guns to bear upon the place, that the English abandoned the fort, and fled. Arriving abreast of the larger fort, the French anchored at pistol-shot; and the firing was carried on with such vigour, that it was also abandoned, and that with such precipitancy, that the royal flag was left behind.

      The signal was now made for a party to land and take possession of the forts, with directions to capture all they could, but not to burn or destroy any part of the country, wisely remarking, according to their own narrator, that “they could do that another time.” These orders for forbearance, if they were ever given, were not attended to; for everything that fell in their way was devastated; and it has been remarked by an old author, that the French robbed the very shoes from off the feet of the inhabitants.¹⁰

      But to return to the particulars of the attack. The next morning, about four o’clock, M. de Clodoré, &c., attended by 200 men, landed upon the beach, and, guided by Baston, proceeded to the house where the governor, Colonel Carden, then resided, which was situated about a mile and a half from the shore. The English fought with their usual bravery, but were at length overpowered; and Colonel Carden, Colonel Monk, and about thirty other officers, were taken prisoners, and the house burnt to the ground.

      The governor, being thus captured, was conveyed on board the admiral’s ship; and the French were so elated with their success, that they determined to push on their good fortune, and endeavour to subdue the whole island. The next day, they again landed at daybreak, attended by 240 men, divided into two companies, and guided by Baston. Reaching a large house situated upon a hill, they dispatched a trumpeter to summon the inhabitants to surrender, among whom was Mrs. Carden, the wife of the governor. This trumpeter carried a letter, written by Colonel Carden, describing how well he was treated(?), and advising them not to wait to the last extremity to surrender, but to do so without delay. To this letter they returned a verbal answer, thanking the French for their polite treatment to their governor, but at the same time intimating, that they were resolved to do their duty, and resist to the last.

      Upon receiving this reply, the French commanders prepared for battle, and resolved to storm the house. At first they were repulsed by the English; and the greater part of the regiment of Poictiers, commanded by the Sieur d’Orvillier, being seized with a panic, retreated and concealed themselves in a neighbouring wood; but Mons. de Clodoré, seeing the state of affairs, hurried to the spot, and, being joined by the officers of the regiment and about thirty of the common soldiers, whom they had prevailed upon to leave their concealment, made a second attack upon the house, and succeeded in forcing an entrance.

      A battalion of the English making their appearance upon the hill behind the house, M. de Clodoré drew off his men to engage with them, while D’Orvillier and the rest of the party were left in charge of the edifice. Upon entering, they found Colonel Quest (who had taken the command of the island after the seizure of Colonel Carden) seated “in an arm-chair, with a pair of pistols cocked in his hand,” and surrounded by a few brave English. Colonel Quest demanded quarter, to which a Frenchman replied by sending a ball through his body; and the rest of the English who were with him, were slaughtered without mercy.

      In justice to M. de Clodoré, it must be remarked, that as soon as he knew of these proceedings, he endeavoured to put a stop to them, and finally saved the lives of about fifty English, who had concealed themselves in another part of the house.

      After burning down the edifice, and many others in the vicinity​—​which were described as being very handsome ones​—​killing fifty of the English, and getting all the plunder they could, the French proceeded to the beach, carrying their prisoners, about fifty in number, along with them. Upon arriving there, it was agreed to ship them immediately, and despatch them to St. Kitts, with the wounded Frenchmen, among whom was Baston, the instigator of the attack, and who afterwards died of his wound at that island.¹¹ When Colonel Quest was to be carried down to the beach along with the other prisoners, he was found to be so seriously wounded, that he was unable to walk; and consequently, one of the French officers proposed to despatch him, offering to do the deed himself. At this barbarous scheme, M. de Clodoré was justly incensed; and, ordering a few of his soldiers to form a kind of bier, had him carefully conducted on board the ship that was to carry him to St. Kitts, in which island he also died.

      After getting rid of their prisoners, the French held another council of war, when it was resolved to send a trumpeter, summoning all the inhabitants to surrender, threatening to set fire to all their property should they demur. A compliance with this demand appears to have been wholly unexpected by the French, and their threat of burning only a species of bravado; for at this council it was resolved, that if the English held out, they would immediately sail for St. Christopher’s with the whole fleet. Fate, however, willed it otherwise, and the trumpeter brought answer back, that the English were willing to accede to their demand, and desired a place to be appointed in which to treat about the terms of capitulation. Overjoyed at their unexpected success, the French named the harbour of St. John’s as the place of treaty; and accordingly despatched one of their frigates​—​the “Armes d’Angleterre,” on board of which the conference was to be held. On the tenth of November, 1666, M. de Clodoré, M. de Chambre, &c. &c., accompanied by four shallops, containing eighty armed men, proceeded on board that vessel, and were quickly joined by Lieut.-Colonel Bastien Baijer, Colonel Buckley, Joseph Lee, Captain Samuel Winthorp,¹² Captain Philip Warner, and James Halliday, who were appointed by the English to sign the capitulation.

      All arms, ammunition, forts, batteries, &c., were to be given up to the French; but the English were to be allowed to retain their property, have free exercise of their religion; (except in that immediate district which the French governor might choose as his quarters;) and Colonel Carden, who had been detained prisoner of war on board one of the enemy’s vessels, was to be restored to liberty.

      After signing the capitulation, on the 12th of November, the English deputies despatched Colonel Buckley on board the “Armes d’Angleterre,” with the information that there were three hundred soldiers arrived from Barbados, which would prevent them from fulfilling their part of the treaty; but that if the French thought proper to hazard an attack, they (the deputies) would not interfere.

      Upon receiving this message, the greater part of the French officers were for detaining Colonel Buckley as an hostage, as well as refusing to liberate Colonel Carden; but to this M. de Clodoré would not assent, remarking that as he had given his word to restore Colonel Carden to liberty, and Colonel Buckley had come on board under protection of a flag of truce, they should both be conveyed safely to land. This was accordingly done the same day; but Monsieur Giraud, the head commander of St. Kitts, seeing Colonel Buckley on shore, and not being aware of M. de la Barre’s intentions towards him, had him seized and conveyed on board the admiral’s ship; who, being of different opinion to M. de Clodoré, detained him as a hostage; and the whole of the French forces having embarked, the fleet sailed for St. Kitts, where they arrived on the 15th of November.

      After remaining there a few days, M. de Clodoré sailed for Martinique to transact some necessary business, and then, accompanied by a fleet of six frigates, returned to Antigua, to oblige the inhabitants to fulfil the treaty they had signed. He arrived on the 30th of November, but found the state of affairs entirely changed, Mr. Willoughby having appointed Colonel Daniel Fitche, (who upon the former visit of the French was staying at Nevis,) governor of Antigua, in place of Colonel Carden, and the island being reinforced by the arrival of some troops from Barbados.

      Surprised but not intimidated, M. de Clodoré, with the concurrence of his principal officers, sent a trumpeter to Colonel Carden, calling upon him to fulfil the treaty, and oblige the inhabitants to surrender. This message was received by Colonel Carden in the presence of some of the English officers; but the same night, by the order of Colonel Fitche, (who was displeased at his expressing his opinion, that it was but equitable to stand by their