Page:Letter from Quebeck, in Canada, to M. L'Maine, a French officer.pdf/7

 ( 7 ) uſe them, except thoſe Oliverian Heretics who took our Cape-Breton; theſe caſt a damp on our undertakings; they have the ſame governour Shirley, who is an enterprizing, reſolute man; and when he, and the puritan miniſters, ſay to the inhabitants, Go, fight for your religion and country, they ruſh like lions, and had rather die in battle, than ſubmit to the dictates of our holy fathers, Jeſuits, Friers, and Monks, and become members of our mother church. They retain the moſt martial ſpirit of any in North America, and have a ticture of Oliver Cromwell's blood remaining; therefore for the preſent, we ſhall not erect any forts bordering near them. Should we attempt ſuch a thing, even with ten thouſand men, McLaiſh is confident we ſhould be prevented, and all our meaſures diſconcerted, by the vigilance of thoſe New England Heretics; for if they could take Cape Breton (which we imagined to be impregnable) what can we ſuppoſe they could not effect, when their indignation and reſentment provokes them to oppoſe our encroachments on their territories ? And they are ſenſible, that when once we become their maſters, fire and gibbet will be their portion, if they do not fall down and worſhip the images we all ſet up.

Our deſign is to get footing in the weſtern provinces. Lord Baltimore was one of our mother church, and a good friend to king James; and in Maryland and Virginia, and thoſe parts, there are many true Catholics that will not fight their brethren. M'Laiſh acquaints me, the inhabitants of Pennſylvania are