Page:The history of Grand-Pre by Herbin, John Frederic.djvu/162

144 disposition and conduct since that time. … The French made frequent incursions into our country, in order to annoy that settlement, whereby we came exposed to many straits and hardships. … About the time of the settlement of Halifax, General Cornwallis did require that we should take the oath of allegiance without the exemption before allowed us of not bearing arms; but this we refused, as being an infringement of the principal condition upon which our forefathers agreed to settle under the British Government. … After the settlement of Halifax, we suffered many abuses and insults from Your Majesty's enemies. … our cattle were killed, our houses pillaged, and many of us personally abused and put in fear of our lives, and some even carried away prisoners to Canada, solely on account of our resolution steadily to maintain our oath of fidelity to the English Government; particularly René Le Blanc was taken prisoner by the Indians when actually travelling in Your Majesty's service, his house pillaged and himself carried to the French fort, and he did not recover his liberty but with great difficulty after four years' captivity. … Yet it cannot be expected but that amongst us, as well as amongst other people, there have been some weak and false-hearted persons, susceptible of being bribed by the enemy so as to break the oath of fidelity. … Not long before our being made prisoners the house in which we kept our contracts, records, deeds, etc., was invested with an armed force and all our papers violently carried away, none of which to this day have been returned us. … On sending a remonstrance to the Governor and Council, no answer was returned. … Eighty of our elders were summoned … to take the oath of allegiance without the exemption. … We refused. … We would gladly renew our oath of fidelity … We were immediately made prisoners. … Our estates both real and personal were forfeited. Those at home were summoned to appear before the commanders of the forts, which we showing some fear to comply with on account of the seizure of our papers, and the imprisonment of so many of our elders, we had the greatest assurance given us that there was no other design but to make us renew our former oath of fidelity; yet as soon as