“Sir,” said Louis Kirke, “I well know your miserable condition.  Your people have gone out to pick up roots in order to avoid starvation, for we have captured Master Boulle and some other Frenchmen whom we have retained as prisoners at Tadousac, and from whom we have ascertained the condition of the inhabitants of Quebec.”

“Give us a delay of eight days,” said Father de la Roche.  “No,” replied Thomas Kirke, “I shall at once ruin the fort with my cannon.”  “I desire to sleep to-night in the fort,” added his brother Louis, “and, if not, I shall devastate the whole country.”  “Proceed slowly,” said Father de la Roche, “for you are deceived if you believe you will easily gain the fort.  There are a hundred men there well armed and ready to sell their lives dearly.  Perchance you will find your death in this enterprise, for I assure you that the inhabitants are determined to fight, and they derive courage from the conviction that your invasion is unjust, and that their lives and property are at stake.  Once more I warn you that an attack might prove dangerous to you.”

Captain Louis Kirke seemed a little disheartened on hearing this firm and vigorous language.  After having consulted the chief officers of his fleet he asked Father de la Roche to attend a council of war at which an ultimatum was presented in these words:—­“Champlain must surrender at once, but he shall have the privilege of dictating the terms of capitulation.”  Three hours were granted within which his reply was to be given.  The Recollets were promised protection, but no conditions were accorded to the Jesuits, as it was the admiral’s intention to visit their convent, which he believed to contain a quantity of beaver skins.

Father de la Roche returned to Fort St. Louis, and gave an account of his interview.  It was plainly evident that it would be useless to rely upon delays in the face of an enemy determined to see the end of the affair.  Food was almost exhausted, and it was calculated that there were not more than ten pounds of flour in Quebec, and not more than fifty pounds of gunpowder, which was of inferior quality.  Opposition would have been not only useless, but ridiculous.  Champlain realized this, and at once resolved to surrender.

Champlain drew up the following articles of capitulation, which were forwarded to the Kirke brothers:—­

“That Quer (Kirke) should produce his commission from the king of England to prove that war actually existed between England and France; and also to show the power of his brothers, who commanded the fleet, to act in the king’s name.

“That a vessel should be provided to convey Champlain, his companions, the missionaries, both Jesuits and Recollets, the two Indian girls that had been given to him two years before, and all other persons, to France.

“That the religious and other people should be allowed to leave with arms and baggage, and all their furniture, and that a sufficient supply of provisions for the passage to France should be granted in exchange for peltry, etc.

     “That all should have the most favourable treatment possible,
     without violence to any.