This year they sustained an other great loss from y^e French. Monsier de Aulnay coming into y^e harbore of Penobscote, and having before gott some of y^e cheefe y^t belonged to y^e house abord his vessell, by sutlty coming upon them in their shalop, he gott them to pilote him in; and after getting y^e rest into his power, he tooke possession of y^e house in y^e name of y^e king of France; and partly by threatening, & other wise, made Mr. Willett (their agente ther) to approve of y^e sale of y^e goods their unto him, of which he sett y^e price him selfe [208] in effecte, and made an inventory therof, (yett leaving out sundry things,) but made no paymente for them; but tould them in convenient time he would doe it if they came for it. For y^e house & fortification, &c. he would not alow, nor accounte any thing, saing that they which build on another mans ground doe forfite y^e same. So thus turning them out of all, (with a great deale of complemente, and many fine words,) he let them have their shalop and some victualls to bring them home. Coming home and relating all the passages, they here were much troubled at it, & haveing had this house robbed by y^e French once before, and lost then above 500^li. (as is before remembred), and now to loose house & all, did much move them. So as they resolved to consulte with their freinds in y^e Bay, and if y^ey approved of it, (ther being now many ships ther,) they intended to hire a ship of force, and seeke to beat out y^e Frenche, and recover it againe. Ther course was well approved on, if them selves could bear y^e charge; so they hired a fair ship of above 300. tune, well fitted with ordnance, and agreed with y^e m^r. (one Girling) to this effect: that he and his company should deliver them y^e house, (after they had driven out, or surprised y^e French,) and give them peacable possession therof, and of all such trading comodities as should ther be found; and give y^e French fair quarter & usage, if they would yeeld. In consideration wherof he was to have 700^li. of beaver, to be delivered him ther, when he had done y^e thing; but if he did not accomplish it, he was to loose his labour, and have nothing. With him they also sent their owne bark, and about 20. men, with Captaine Standish, to aide him (if neede weer), and to order things, if the house was regained; and then to pay him y^e beaver, which they keept abord their owne barke. So they with their bark piloted him thither, and brought him safe into y^e harbor. But he was so rash & heady as he would take no advice, nor would suffer Captaine Standish to have time to summone them, (who had co[=m]ission & order so to doe,) neither would doe it him selfe; the which, it was like, if it had been done, & they come to affaire parley, seeing their force, they would have yeelded. Neither would he have patience to bring his ship wher she might doe execution, but begane to shoot at distance like a madd man, and did them