“Nous avons receu la vostre, à laquelle nous ne pouvons à present faire aucune reponse, si non qu’il n’est pas en nostre pouvoir de convenir à vos semonces, ni à aucunes choses cy-devant faites; parce que depuis vostre depart d’icy, est arrivé le Col. Daniel Fitche, avec commission de Monsieur le Lieut.-Gen. pour gouverneur, auquel vos semonces et demandes doivent estre faites, comme estant seul commandant de la milice. Nous trouvons que nous avons receu grand preiudice à la rupture des articles concernans les Careibes, qui ont deux fois attenté sur nous à leur maniere accoustumée, qui est cruelle et barbarienne. Nous serions reioüis de vous voir si le souhaittez; car on attend icy quinze navires de la Barbade, dont il y en a cinq de trente pieces de canon chacun, et deux de soixante, et huit navires marchands de vingt à trente pieces de canon, avec mil soldats du roy vestus de casaques rouges, avec quantité d’armes: vous presentant vous rendrez service. Nous demeurons, “Monsieur, vos asseurez amis et serviteurs, “Bastien Baijer, &c. &c.”[16] Upon receiving these letters, M. de Clodoré held a council with his officers, the results of which were as follow:— “As the enemy have made no answer to our summons, sent three days ago, to fulfil the conditions of the treaty made with them; but, on the contrary, they have sent these letters this morning, in which, after having sought vain pretences of rupture, they declare they are not willing to fulfil it, and at the same time they have disposed guard-houses along the coast, and caused several armed persons to oppose our landing; it has been found proper to accept the rupture they have made of the treaty, and after having fired a cannon-ball at them, to land, in order to make them return to their duty, without paying regard to the letters they have sent. Besides the absence of Monsieur de la Barre, and the necessity we are in to send back immediately the island troops to Martinique and Guadaloupe, to oppose the enemy, who, according to advices received, will soon arrive there, it is impossible now to keep the island of Antigua for the king. It has therefore been thought proper to land, attack the enemy, and, in case of success, place the island in such a state, that the enemy can draw no sort of profit from it. “Done unanimously between us, the undersigned, in the harbour of Antigua, the 3rd December, 1666. “De Clodore, Blondel, Hinsselin.”