During the period the council was being held, several armed soldiers, (of the English troops,) impatient to know what answer would be returned to their letters, appeared upon the beach; upon which, according to the resolutions already passed, a cannon-ball was fired at them, when they dispersed, and appeared no more, without a white flag in their hand. Before the French council broke up, an English officer came on board, bringing the following letter for M. de Clodoré:— “Monsieur, “Nous vous avons envoyé ce matin telle reponse que nous pouvions, estant sous le commandement et autorité de Mons. le Gouverneur, au pouvoir duquel n’estions pas capables de resister; mais depuis que nous luy avons fait voir amplement la raison de nostre premier traité et nostre refus de rompre, avons tant fait qu’il en est demeuré d’accord, moyennant qu’il y soit, compris comme le reste des habitans; le dit traité et accord sera ponctuellement ratifié et effectué en toutes ses particularitez. “Monsieur, vos, &c., “Bastien Baijer, &c. &c.”[17] But paying no regard to this letter, M. de Clodoré wrote them as follows:— “Messieurs, “J’ay esté fort surpris, lorsque j’ay veû que vous n’avez pas repondu à la sommation que ie vous ay fait faire, et encore davantage lorsque i’ay leû la lettre que vous m’avez envoyée ce matin, où vous nous accusez de vous avoir traité avec rigueur, pour chercher pretexte de rompre comme vous avez fait, en manquant à vostre foy et à vostre parolle. Je descends à terre et vous vais trouver, pour vous mettre à vostre devoir par la voye des armes: ceux qui les poseront, auront de moy bon quartier, et les autres seront traitez selon la rigueur de la guerre. “Vostre serviteur, “De Clodore.”[18] Immediately after sending this letter, M. de Clodoré and Hinscelin landed with the French forces; but, upon gaining the beach, they were met by a party of the English, bearing a flag of truce, and offering, in the name of the inhabitants, to give up all pretensions to this island, provided they would include Governor Fitche in the treaty. To this proposition M. de Clodoré would not assent, but forming his troops into battle array, marched to attack the English. The result of this encounter appears to me so remarkable, that it obliges me again and again to assure my readers I give the true translation: “marching to attack the new Governor and his eight or nine hundred men, only two shots were fired by the English, one of which wounded _their own sentinel_, and this was the only blood spilt in this engagement; and Governor Fitche hearing that M. de Clodoré was coming up with all his troops, and four pieces of artillery, ran away in a boat with Colonel Warner and some others, saying to his soldiers only these words—“God be with me, and with you.”