Some years before Angèle’s letter was written, Michel de la Forêt had
become an officer in the army of Comte Gabriel de Montgomery, and
fought with him until what time the great chief was besieged in the
castle of Domfront in Normandy. When the siege grew desperate,
Montgomery besought the intrepid young Huguenot soldier to escort
Madame de Montgomery to England, to be safe from the oppression and
misery sure to follow any mishap to this noble leader of the
Camisards.
At the very moment of departure of the refugees from Domfront with
the Comtesse, Angèle’s messenger--the “piratical knave with a most
kind heart”--presented himself, delivered her letter to De la Forêt,
and proceeded with the party to the coast of Normandy by St. Brieuc.
Embarking there in a lugger which Buonespoir the pirate secured for
them, they made for England.
Having come but half-way of the Channel, the lugger was stopped by an
English frigate. After much persuasion the captain of the frigate
agreed to land Madame de Montgomery upon the island of Jersey, but
forced De la Forêt to return to the coast of France; and Buonespoir
elected to return with him.