summons, which was written before they landed,) expecting their surrender, which is as followeth.

"Aboard her Majesty's Ship Adventure, near the gut of Menis, June 20, 1704.

An agreement made by the field officers commanding her Majesty's forces for the present expedition against the French enemies, and Indian rebels.

Agreed, that a declaration or summons be sent on shore at Menis and Portroyal, under a flag of truce. Particularly, we do declare to you, the many cruelties and barbarities that you and the Indians have been guilty of towards us, in laying waste our country here in the east at Casco, and the places adjącent. Particularly, the horrid action at Deerfield, this last winter, in killing, massacreing, murdering and scalping, without giving any notice at all, or opportunity to ask quarter at your hands; and, after all, carrying the remainder into captivity in the height of winter, (of which they killed many in the journey) and exposed the rest to the hardships of cold and famine, worse than death itself. Which cruelties we are yet every day exposed unto and exercised with.

We do also declare, that we have already made some beginnings of killing and scalping some Canada men, (which we have not been wont to do or allow) and are now come with a great army of English and Indians, all volunteers, with resolutions to subdue you, and make you sensible of your cruelties to us, by treating you after the same manner.

At this time we expect our men of war and transport ships to be at Portroyal. (We having but lately parted with them.)

In the last place, we do declare to you, that inasmuch as some of you have shown kindness to our captives, and expressed a love tc, and desire of being under the English government, we do therefore, notwithstanding all this, give you timely notice, and

do demand a surrender immediately, by the laying down your arms, upon which, we promise very good quarter; if not, you must expect the utmost severity. To the chief commander of the town of Menis, and the inhabitants thereof, and we expect your answer, positively, within an hour.

BENJAMIN CHURCH, Col.
JOHN GORHAM, Lieut. Col.
WINTHROP HILTON, Maj."

Then moving to the creek, expecting to have had water enough for the boats, as the pilot had informed them, but found not water enough for a canoe. So [they] were obliged to land, intending to have been up at the town before the hour was out, that the summons expressed. For their return was, "that if our forces would not hurt their estates, then they would surrender, if otherwise intended, they should fight for them," &c.

But meeting with several creeks, near twenty or thirty feet deep, which were very muddy and dirty; so that the army could not get over them, [and] were obliged to return to their boats again, and wait till within night, before the tide served them to go up to the town. And then [they] intended to go up pretty near the town, and not to fall to, till morning; being in hopes that the banks of the creeks would shelter them from the enemy. But the tide's rising so high, exposed them all to the enemy; who had the trees and woods to befriend them; and so came down in the night, and fired smartly at our forces. But Colonel Church being in a pinnace, that had a small cannon placed in the head, ordered it to be charged several times with bullets, in small bags, and fired at the enemy; which made such a rattling amongst the trees, that [it] caused the enemy to draw off. And by the great providence of Almighty God, not one of our forces was hurt that night. But

as I have been informed, [the enemy]1 had one In. dian killed, and some others wounded, which was some discouragement to [them.]2

Next morning, by break of day, Colonel Church ordered all his forces (and. placed Major Hilton on the right wing) to run all up, driving the enemy before them; who leaving their town to our forces, but had carried away the best of their goods, which were soon found by our soldiers. The bulk of the enemy happening to lie against our right wing, caused the hottest dispute there. [They] lay behind logs and trees, till our forces, and Major Hilton, who led them, came upon them, and forced them to run. And notwithstanding the sharp firing of the enemy at our forces, by the repeated providence of God, there was rever a man of ours killed or wounded.

Our soldiers not having been long in town, before they found considerable quantities of strong drink, both brandy and claret; and being very greedy after it, especially the Indians, were very disorderly; firing at every pig, turkey, or fowl [that] they saw; of which [there] were very plenty in the town, which endangered our own men. Colonel Church perceiving the disorder, and firing of his own men, ran to put a stop to it, [and] had several shot come very near him. And finding what had occasioned this disorder, commanded his officers to knock out the heads of every cask of strong liquor they could find in the town, to prevent any further disturbance among his army; knowing, [that] it was impossible to have kept it from them, especially the Indians, if it were saved, &c.

Then some of the army who were desirous to pursue the enemy, having heard them driving away their cattle, requested the Colonel to let them go. [He] did, and gave them their orders. Captain Cooke, and Captain Church to lead the two wings,

1 [they] 2 [the enemy] 3 [who] 4 [on] 5 [who]

and Lieutenant Barker,* who led the Colonel's company, in the centre. And the said Captain Cooke and Captain Church desired Lieutenant Barker not to move too fast; so that he might have the benefit of their assistance, if he had occasion. But the said Lieutenant not being so careful as he should have been, or at least was too eager, was shot down, and another man, which were all the men that were killed in the whole expedition.+

Towards night, Colonel Church ordered some of his forces to pull down some of the houses, and others to get logs and make a fortification for his whole army to lodge in, that night; that so they might be together. And just before night [he] ordered some of his men to go [and] see if there were any men in any of the houses in the town; [and] if [there were] not, to set them all on fire, which was done; and the whole town seemed to be on fire all at once, &c.

The next morning the Colonel gave orders to his men, to dig down the dams, and let the tide in, to destroy all their corn, and every thing that was good according to his instructions ; and to burn the fortification which they had built the day before; and when the tide served to put all the plunder which they had got into the boats. Then ordering his soldiers to march a good distance one from another, which caused the enemy to think that there were no less than a thousand men, as they said afterwards; and that the burning of the fortification, and doing as they did, caused the enemy to think that they were

* Charlevoix, in his account of the taking of Menis, says, that the Lieutenant General of the English forces, was killed, by which the Lieutenant of Church's company is meant.

† Penhallow in N. H. Hist. Col. I, 34, says "not above six died in the whole expedition."

Thus do governments cause such horrid scenes. But is the crime lessened? They are considered right in the trade and custom of war. But is it so on that account?

gone clear off, and not to return again. But it proved to the contrary; for Colonel Church and his forces, only went aboard their transports, and there staid till the tide served. In the night [they]1 embarked on board their whaleboats, landed some of their men, expecting they might meet with some of the enemy mending their dams; which they did. And with their boats went up another branch of the river to another town or village, [and] upon such a surprise, [that they] took as many prisoners as they could de

sire.

And it happened that Colonel Church was at the French Captain's house when two gentlemen came post from the Governour* of Portroyal to him, who was the chief commander at Menis, with an express to send away two companies of men to defend the King's fort there; and to give him an account, that there were three English men of war come into Portroyal gut, or harbour; and that the men sent for must be posted away with all speed. Colonel Church as was said before, being there, treated the two gentlemen very handsomely, and told them, [that] he would send them back again post to their master upon his business. And bid them give him his hearty thanks for sending him such good news, that part of his fleet was in so good a harbour. Then reading the summons to them that he had sent to Menis. Further added, that their master, the Governour of Portroyal, must immediately send away a post to the Governour of Canada, at Quebeck, to prevent his further sending any of his cruel and bloody French, and savages, as he had lately done upon Deerfield, where they had committed such horrible and bloody outrages upon those poor people, that never did

* Monsieur De Subercase, this year came in to be governour of Acadie. Portroyal, I suspect. was his principal seat. The next year he drove the E h from Newfoundland, and destroyed their settlements. Es II, 65.