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in the dead of night and burned； amidst bloody massacre of its
few toil…worn settlers； was to be the result of that strange
mingling of Europe with wild America。
Frontenac's task was to make war on the English and their
Iroquois allies。 He had before him the King's instructions as to
the means for effecting this。 The King aimed at nothing less than
the conquest of the English colonies in America。 In 1664 the
English； by a sudden blow in time of peace； had captured New
Netherland； the Dutch colony on the Hudson； which then became New
York。 Now； a quarter of a century later； France thought to strike
a similar blow against the English； and Louis XIV was resolved
that the conquest should be thoroughgoing。 The Dutch power had
fallen before a meager naval force。 The English now would have to
face one much more formidable。 Two French ships were to cross the
sea and to lie in wait near New York。 Meanwhile from Canada；
sixteen hundred armed men； a thousand of them French regular
troops； were to advance by land into the heart of the colony；
seize Albany and all the boats there available； and descend by
the Hudson to New York。 The warships； hovering off the coast；
would then enter New York harbor at the same time that the land
forces made their attack。 The village； for it was hardly more
than this； contained； as the French believed； only some two
hundred houses and four hundred fighting men and it was thought
that a month would suffice to complete this whole work of
conquest。 Once victors； the French were to show no pity。 All
private property； but that of Catholics； was to be confiscated。
Catholics； whether English or Dutch； were to be left undisturbed
if not too numerous and if they would take the oath of allegiance
to Louis XIV and show some promise of keeping it。 Rich
Protestants were to be held for ransom。 All the other
inhabitants； except those whom the French might find useful for
their own purposes； were to be driven out of the colony； homeless
wanderers； to be scattered far so that they could not combine to
recover what they had lost。 With New York taken； New England
would be so weakened that in time it too would fall。 Such was the
plan of conquest which came from the brilliant chambers at
Versailles。
New York did not fall。 The expedition so carefully planned came
to nothing。 Frontenac had never shown much faith in the
enterprise。 At Quebec； on his arrival in the autumn of 1689； he
was planning something less ideally perfect； but certain to
produce results。 The scarred old courtier intended so to
terrorize the English that they should make no aggressive
advance； to encourage the French to believe themselves superior
to their rivals； and； above all； to prove to the Indian tribes
that prudence dictated alliance with the French and not with the
English。
Frontenac wrote a tale of blood。 There were three war parties；
one set out from Montreal against New York； and one from Three
Rivers and one from Quebec against the frontier settlements of
New Hampshire and Maine。 To describe one is to describe all。 A
band of one hundred and sixty Frenchmen； with nearly as many
Indians； gathers at Montreal in mid…winter。 The ground is deep
with snow and they troop on snowshoes across the white wastes。
Dragging on sleds the needed supplies； they march up the
Richelieu River and over the frozen surface of Lake Champlain。 As
they advance with caution into the colony of New York they suffer
terribly； now from bitter cold； now from thaws which make the
soft trail almost impassable。 On a February night their scouts
tell them that they are near Schenectady； on the English
frontier。 There are young members of the Canadian noblesse in the
party。 In the dead of night they creep up to the paling which
surrounds the village。 The signal is given and the village is
awakened by the terrible war…whoop。 Doors are smashed by axes and
hatchets； and women and children are killed as they lie in bed；
or kneel； shrieking for mercy。 Houses are set on fire and living
human beings are thrown into the flames。 By midday the assailants
have finished their dread work and are retreating along the
forest paths dragging with them a few miserable captives。 In this
winter of 1689…90 raiding parties also came back from the borders
of New Hampshire and of Maine with news of similar exploits； and
Quebec and Montreal glowed with the joy of victory。
Far away an answering attack was soon on foot。 Sir William Phips
of Massachusetts； the son of a poor settler on the Kennebec
River； had made his first advance in life by taking up the trade
of carpenter in Boston。 Only when grown up had he learned to read
and write。 He married a rich wife； and ease of circumstances
freed his mind for great designs。 Some fifty years before he was
thus relieved of material cares； a Spanish galleon carrying vast
wealth had been wrecked in the West Indies。 Phips now planned to
raise the ship and get the money。 For this enterprise he obtained
support in England and set out on his exacting adventure。 On the
voyage his crew mutinied。 Armed with cutlasses； they told Phips
that he must turn pirate or perish； but he attacked the leader
with his fists and triumphed by sheer strength of body and will。
A second mutiny he also quelled； and then took his ship to
Jamaica where he got rid of its worthless crew。 His enterprise
had apparently failed； but the second Duke of Albemarle and other
powerful men believed in him and helped him to make another
trial。 This time he succeeded in finding the wreck on the coast
of Hispaniola； and took possession of its cargo of precious
metals and jewelstreasure to the value of three hundred
thousand pounds sterling。 Of the spoil Phips himself received
sixteen thousand pounds； a great fortune for a New Englander in
those days。 He was also knighted for his services and； in the
end； was named by William and Mary the first royal Governor of
Massachusetts。
Massachusetts； whose people had been thoroughly aroused by the
French incursions； resolved to retaliate by striking at the heart
of Canada by sea and to take Quebec。 Sir William Phips； though
not yet made Governor； would lead the expedition。 The first blow
fell in Acadia。 Phips sailed up the Bay of Fundy and on May 11；
1690； landed a force before Port Royal。 The French Governor
surrendered on terms。 The conquest was intended to be final； and
the people were offered their lives and property on the condition
of taking； the oath to be loyal subjects of William and Mary。
This many of them did and were left unmolested。 It was a
bloodless victory。 But Phips； the Puritan crusader； was something
of a pirate。 He plundered private property and was himself
accused of taking not merely the silver forks and spoons of the
captive Governor but even his wigs； shirts； garters； and night
caps。 The Boston Puritans joyfully pillaged the church at Port
Royal； and overturned the high altar and the images。 The booty