being in favour of Rome, the settlement must
become what he called a Catholic colony. The Protestants complained
loudly of the governor's treachery; and several of them were arrested on
charge of mutiny, and for plotting against the established authorities.
Captain Beauport coming on shore one day, as he was on the point of
returning to his boat, was seized and carried off to a prison
Villegagnon had lately erected in the fortress. He was not informed of
the crime of which he was accused, nor could he conceive what it was, as
he had carefully abstained from making any remarks on the conduct of his
chief. The following day he was brought into the public hall of the
fort, where the governor was seated as judge, supported by several of
the officers whom he had promoted. One of the crew of the _Madeline_,
with the two priests, appeared as his accusers, and his officers and
several of his men were ordered on shore as witnesses, Nigel being among
them. When the priests were called on to make their statements, one of
them charged the brave captain with the crime of sacrilege, which, as it
had been brought to his notice, he said that he felt bound to make it
public. A seaman, then stepping forward, stated that by his orders, a
number of holy images, crucifixes, and sacred relics captured from the
Portuguese, intended for the conversion of the heathen and the comfort
of believers, had been sacrilegiously thrown overboard on their voyage
to Nitherohy.

"Of what immense value they would have been to us in the conversion of
the heathen had they been preserved!" exclaimed one of the priests.
"They were undoubtedly offered to us by Heaven, to enable us to convert
the barbarous natives."

Nigel and the other officers were then called on for their evidence.
They had to confess that they saw the articles mentioned thrown
overboard; but Nigel observed, as they were part of the cargo of the
prize, he could not suppose that the captain in any way acted contrary
to what he was fully justified in doing.

"Beware, lest you are made a party to his crime!" exclaimed one of the
priests. "I know well the malignant and impious disposition of your
countrymen, and, had you not been imbued by their sentiments, you would
have endeavoured to prevent so sacrilegious an act from being
committed."

The governor, as judge, declared that no further evidence was necessary.
In vain the captain asserted that he had acted as he believed right.
The