Читать книгу Piau - Bruce Monk Murray - Страница 11

The month of September 1726 was one I remember as a time when fate began to manipulate our lives in ways we never imagined. Only a few days after our unsettling encounter with Lieutenant-Governor Armstrong, a vessel flying a French flag floated through the thick and impossible mist like a ghost ship carrying no one but the dead. Eerily approaching us at the shipyard at Annapolis, at first it appeared to have not a living soul aboard. Looking back on that day, I realize that Benjamin, in watching that ship sail into our lives, was facing his own destiny.

It was he who first noticed the tall, faceless apparition at the wheel of the ship. He became so mesmerized by the vision, he was not aware of the commotion surrounding him. Soldiers rushed to the shore with muskets pointing at the mysterious vessel. The lieutenant-governor waded into the water, pushing officers and troops aside. We waited breathlessly on shore as the tableau unfolded. To this day, I can clearly remember the two men facing one another for the first time: Armstrong and Mangeant.

An unlikely alliance was about to be forged. In hindsight, an unholy one!

Armstrong barked an order in the direction of the figure behind the helm, “All persons on board must show themselves unarmed on deck immediately or my soldiers will commence firing on your vessel.”

Not completely certain his message was being understood by the captain of the ship, he called to me on the shore.

“Young Belliveau, come here at once.”

Running as fast as I could, I shouted: “Yes, Excellency. I am at your service.”

“Did you hear my orders just now?”

“Yes, Excellency. You were quite clear in your directions.”

“Deliver them to the captain of the ship in French.”

I nodded in agreement, and then translated his command into French, loud enough for all to hear. A quiet descended on the scene.

The captain’s voice broke the silence. “I understood you the first time, Monsieur le Gouverneur.” There was only a hint of French in his accent but no sign of fear or deference.

The captain spoke to his unseen compatriots below deck, but no one ashore heard his utterances or their reply. The small group who came up from below were a surprise to all watching.

If anyone had witnessed this scene not knowing what had gone before, they would have believed it to be an almost farcical scenario. One hundred and fifty muskets directed at one tall, unarmed man, an elegant woman, and two small children, a boy and a girl. The only possible threat was from the first mate, who followed them on deck. His simple dress and lack of a weapon diffused any sense of menace he may have posed.

The captain shouted to those on shore: “We come in peace. My family and I wish to seek sanctuary.”

“You have no other crew aboard?” inquired Armstrong.

“None, I assure you, Monsieur le Gouverneur.”

Armstrong’s tone and demeanour relaxed and he seemed to be more intrigued than alarmed by his new visitors.

“Come ashore then and we will talk.”

On being given permission to disembark, the first mate activated the pulleys to lower the lifeboat into the water. A seat suspended by ropes appeared to accommodate the captain’s lady. She was lowered into the small vessel. The others descended a ladder after the swing was lifted.

Once ashore, the captain and his wife and children engaged in the formalities of gentlemanly bows and curtseys.

“Monsieur le Gouverneur, I am François St. Germain Mangeant, and this is my wife, Marguerite, and my children, Samuel and Louise. Jacques is my first mate.”

“You say you are here seeking sanctuary. Why would a French gentleman and his family enter an English colony seeking protection? And protection from what?”

“If you would permit me a private audience, Excellency, I will relate my story. There are too many sensitive details to describe here amidst so many.”

“Sir, you must present yourself formally to my council and describe fully the circumstances that have brought you here. You may take up temporary residence in the priest’s quarters at the garrison. At present, he is absent from Annapolis.”

“You are more than generous, monsieur.”

The soldiers were instructed to disperse, and Armstrong personally led the visitors toward the fort, giving the impression he was about to entertain honoured guests.

The oddity of this event did not escape us as we continued our tasks in the shipyard. Although we were not privy to Mangeant’s presentation to the council nor the telling of his story, the details would be revealed to us in good time. My great-uncle on my father’s side, Abraham Bourg, was an Acadian delegate on the Lieutenant-Governor’s Council and he would enlighten us.

True to our prediction, Uncle Abraham began his visits to the Acadian homes throughout the Annapolis community to reveal the nature of Mangeant’s mysterious arrival at the colony. When he finally arrived at our home in Melanson Village, the fantastic story Uncle related was far more unusual than even we could have imagined. He spoke of how Mangeant, having immigrated to Acadia from Paris several years back, had arrived in Beaubassin, married one Marguerite Caissie, and then moved to Quebec, where he proceeded to amass a considerable fortune in the shipping industry. Apparently, Mangeant’s fleet grew to such a size that he became one of the wealthiest men in New France.

The extraordinary details of the story were delivered with great ceremony by Uncle Abraham, who tended toward the histrionic.

“Mangeant explained that on board one of his own ships, after being at sea somewhere close to the entrance to the River St. Laurent, his captain, one Joseph Alphonse Lestage of Quebec, did, and I quote, ‘most basely and heinously insult, affront, and provoke’ him, forcing him to attack and wound said captain. The captain’s wounds were so severe he died two days later. Evidence was submitted to the Admiralty Court at Quebec, where Mangeant was found guilty of murder. Shortly after, he escaped on one of his ships with his family and a first mate, sailing continuously until he reached Annapolis. He has made a formal request to settle in our colony. And the most astounding development is that, in the presence of the council, he declared he was prepared to swear the oath of allegiance to King George without qualification.

“Could you trust such a man?”

He paused for dramatic effect, and then he resumed. “Apparently so, for our lieutenant-governor not only accepted Mangeant’s story but declared that his actions against his captain were justified. Can you imagine? He believed every word of his story without question! Armstrong has assured his safety in Acadia, allowing him to settle here. I believe the lieutenant-governor was quite taken by the gentleman. Mangeant does have an exquisite carriage and impeccable manners.”

My grandmother interrupted as expected. She had an opinion on most things.

“The lieutenant-governor got the consent of all those present, without any dissent?”

“Madame Melanson, the lieutenant-governor did not request our consent. Major Cosby seemed very suspicious of Mangeant, however, and not certain of his story or his motives for settling here, other than it was clear he was not able to flee to any French colony because of his murder conviction. Cosby cross-examined him relentlessly. I believe it was more to vex Armstrong than on account of any feelings he may have had against Mangeant.”

“It is well known that the lieutenant-governor and Major Cosby share an enmity for one another,” I interjected, wanting to contribute to the conversation.

“The fact is, Major Cosby is the brother-in-law of our ever-absent Governor Philipps, and Lieutenant-Governor Armstrong sees him as both a threat and a spy. He feels Cosby’s opposition at every turn. God bless Major Cosby.”

“Amen,” we all chanted in unison.