the Major who stood beside it.

"M. le Lieutenant-Bailly, and Messieurs les Etats!" he said, "I have
called you together to consider a message from the Queen: this gentleman
here will impart it to you, Major Querto, of his Majesty's army."

The Major's face assumed the colour of his nose.

"I am a rough soldier," he muttered, in English, "and little used to
address such an august assembly as I see here; least of all in a foreign
language."

"English, English," cried a dozen voices. But Querto was silent, and
looked at the Governor with a scared and anxious gaze.

"Since our guest is so modest," resumed Carteret, "it is necessary that
I should speak for him. The question is simple. Her Majesty, with her
constant care for the subjects of her son, has heard with dismay that
the rebels in England are projecting a descent upon Jersey. At the same
time, Castle Cornet, in Guernsey, will be attacked by sea. Sir Baldwin
Wake, with your active aid, has hitherto held out against the Roundheads
of that island; and surely since the time of Troy has seldom been so
long a siege, so stout a defence. But, with the Roundheads assaulting
him by land, and Blake's squadron by sea--Gentlemen, I know Blake and
his brave seamen--what can Wake and a hundred half-starved men avail? To
guard us against all these dangers, and against the loss of all the
profits that we now have from our letters-of-marque in the Channel, her
Majesty has been pleased to devise a means of succour."

Here the Governor's speech was interrupted by cries of "Vive la Reine,"
led by the Constable of S. Brelade, in whose parish was situated the
town of S. Aubin, the principal port and residence of the corsairs.

"Nay, but hear her Majesty's gracious project. Nothing doubting your
good affection or your courage, the Queen is persuaded that her royal
son's person (to say little of the other small matters already named by
me) cannot be safe in your hands against a serious attempt such as can
be made as soon as General Cromwell returns victorious--as he doubtless
will--from the Irish war. She therefore intends--and here, Gentlemen, I
come to the main purpose of our present meeting--she intends, I say, to
send over a strong force of French troops to occupy the island."

Consternation kept the assembly silent.

"You are not ignorant of the history of your country," pursued the
Governor. "When a former Queen sought the aid of France you know on what
terms that aid was gi