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setts authorities for some time. More than nine months after their capture Frontenac had not heard of their being set at liberty, and on May 25, 1675, despatched another expedition for Boston, under the Sieur Normanville, a famous interpreter, with a letter of safe-conduct for "men, canoes and equipage." He sent a communication to the Magistrates at Boston in which he said "this obliges me, gentlemen, to send you, for the third time, the Sieur de Normanville, accompanied by one of my guards, to repeat to you the same request and to entreat you to remove all obstacles affecting the liberty of M. Chambly as well as the other persons who are with him, if perchance they should still be prisoners."

Doubtless the prudent Bostonians had waited to get their bills of exchange on Rochelle cashed—a lengthy operation in those days—before setting their captives at liberty. This was certainly according to the approved rules of brigandage.

In October, 1674, the Flying Horse sailed from Boston. Captain Aernouts left behind four of his company—John Rhoade, another Englishman, and two Dutchmen named Rodrigo and Andreson—with authority for them and their associates to return to "New Holland," to trade and to hold possession of the country until further orders came from him or from the Dutch government.

Massachusetts traders who had hitherto been shut out of Acadian waters, or compelled to pay a license to the French for fishing and trading privileges there, now supposed, as Acadia had been conquered with the help of Massachusetts, that they would have free access to its coasts. They expected to reap rich profits from the coveted fur trade and the valuable fisheries, but were destined to receive a serious rebuff. Rhoade and his associates, obtaining supplies in Boston, armed