Sir William
Phips

May

Map of New England

the Kennebec, beyond the English fort of Pemaquid. On the other hand, the English claimed that Maine extended eastward to the Saint Croix. The picturesque figure of this region in this period was the brave but lawless wood-ranger, Baron Saint Castine, who, at Fort Pentagoët, kept the gates of Acadia against the encroachments of New England.

In Maine, in 1651, was born William Phips, one of his mother's twenty-six children of whom twenty were his brothers. After serving as a shepherd and as a shipcarpenter, he went to Boston where he wooed and won a widow and her wealth and learned to read and write. In 1687, he recovered a great wealth of treasure from

William Phipf, won the bottom of the

Autograph of William Phips

West Indian sea; his

share was sixteen thousand pounds. In 1688, he returned to Boston as Sir William Phips and high sheriff of New England. In 1690, Governor Bradstreet appointed him to lead an expedition against Port Royal. The fort was captured, the town was plundered, and the whole of Acadia was reduced to English

rule.

It is said that the booty carried off was sufficient 1 6 9 0 to defray the cost of the expedition.

It was planned that while the Winthrop expedition, Another already mentioned, was advancing on Montreal by land, Attempt a naval expedition under Sir William Phips and Major Canada

to Conquer

John Walley was to ascend the Saint Lawrence and
take Quebec. The New England saints thought it
sin to doubt that God would give his chosen people
the victory over papists and idolaters. The colonial
treasuries were empty, England was deaf, and money
had to be borrowed. With twenty-two hundred men,
thirty-two ships, and a scant supply of ammunition,
the bluff adventurer sailed out of Boston harbor on
the ninth of August, 1690. The universal anxiety and
eagerness for information led to
the publication of a little sheet
called "Publick Occurrences.'
The single issue of this first
American newspaper was dated September 25, 1690. The
proposed monthly, four-page magazine was promptly
suppressed.

John Walley

Autograph of John Walley

An

American

Newspaper

After a protracted voyage, Phips beheld the warlike Phips at rock over which the white banner, spangled with fleurs- Quebec

1 690 de-lis, flaunted defiance in the clear autumnal air.

Concerning the details of this attempt to take Quebec, little need be said; the attack was clumsy and the repulse decisive. After a singularly innocent cannonade, the fleet was withdrawn considerably the worse for wear.

For

Consent. To by the Governo &

& Council. Jr. Addington Sect.

Order of the Council, appointing Phips as General of the Canada (Quebec) Expedition several months, ships were straggling back to Boston, some never getting there at all. This colonial bravado

cost Massachusetts fifty thousand pounds and, for the first time in the history of the colony, the printing-press was called upon to aid the tax-gatherer in his work. In 1691, Phips went to England to seek help for a fresh attempt to conquer Canada.