Page:Memoirs of a Huguenot Family.djvu/223

 Rh The desperate tone of this reply made them repeat once more their offer of good quarter.

I said, "I do not know what you mean by good quarter; but this I know, I am resolved not to surrender unconditionally. I would rather perish with my whole family."

They left off firing, and begged I would order my people to do the same, that we might speak about terms; so we had a cessation of hostilities on both sides. Their proposition was, that they should have the plunder, to which I assented; for, with our lives, we should most certainly have lost our goods. I demanded life and liberty for myself and all who were with me. They spoke to me in English; and I said I would have nothing to do with Englishmen or Irishmen in making the treaty.

"I consider myself a British subject, and as such, I will only treat with the French, who are at war with England, and I request the French commander to come forward, and put his head to the breach; I assure him that he may do so with perfect safety. We have no traitors in our ranks."

One of the rascally Irish lieutenants then presented himself as the commander of the party. He went by the name of Carty in Ireland, and La Touche in France; he could speak French as well as I could. I told him, that as an Irishman, I had not the slightest reliance upon him, but it was of the authorized agent of the French commander, that I was willing to, treat with him. I then repeated to him the terms of capitulation, speaking French all the time. He was to guarantee life and liberty to all of us, and to promise on their part the most strictly honorable deportment while in possession, and they were to have the plunder. They swore to the observance of these terms as