THREE CENTURIES AGO

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 280, 26 November 1932, Page 13 (Supplement)

THREE CENTURIES AGO

RULER’S TURBULENT CAREER

A colourful chapter of the history of the Acadians, who came to Canada from France in 1605 was‘closed recently when the remains of Seigneur d’Aulnay Charnisay, who ruled Acadia as if he were king, and was drowned in 1650, were interred at Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, with the full rites of the Roman Catholic Church, says the Vancouver correspondent of the New Zealand Herald. The burial was made in accordance with his will, dated 1649, in which he requested that his body be interred without any pomp, and put at the entrance of the Port Royal Church, and that all passing by “have pity for a person who merits only the wrath and punishment of a justly angry God.” Charnisay came of a distinguished family of Touraine. His authority as a feudal lord, in the favour of Cardinal Richelieu, no one disputed but Charles de la Tour, whose father was among those captured by an English squadron under Sir David Kirkc, and taken to England. His natural address stood him in good stead, and he won the favour of King James, married one of the Queen’s maids of honour, was •created a baronet of Nova Scotia and received large tracts of land there.’He was later defied by his son, and was glad to take refuge with him in the constant feudal warfare carried on between Charles de la Tour and Charnisay. Marie Jacquelins. wife of the younger La Tour, had qualities of mind and heart that won for her the title of “Heroine of Acaria.” Charnisay’s self-condemnation in his will refers to his last attack on the La Tour fortress, during the latter’s absence in Virginia. For three days Madame de la Tour repelled the besiegers and obliged them to retire. On the fourth day, while she, hoping for some respite, was making her soldiers rest, a Swiss sentinel betrayed the garrison, and the enemy were soon within the walls. Even in this dire emergency the brave woman succeeded in rallying the defenders and surrendered only on condition that the lives of all should bo spared. This condition Charnisay is declared to have shamefully violated. All the garrison were hanged, with the exception of one, whom he spared on condition that he acted as executioner. The lady commander of the garrison was forced to be present at the execution of her brave followers, a rope round her neck. Three weeks after the capture of the fort which she so gallantly defended, she was laid to rest near the spot consecrated by her devotion. When Charnisay was drowned disputes arose regarding the claims of his widow, in which the Due de Vendome became interested. La Tour solved the problem by marrying the widow. The descendants of this second marriage are to be found in several prominent Acadian families at the present day.