It is a new thing to see clergy
in a Council of War!"
"No one has a better right to speak here than the Abbe Piquet,"
replied La Corne. "No one has sent more Indian allies into the
field to fight for New France than the patriotic Abbe."
Other officers did not share the generous sentiments of La Corne St.
Luc. They thought it derogatory to pure military men to listen to a
priest on the affairs of the war.
"The Marshal de Belleisle would not permit even Cardinal de Fleury
to put his red stockings beneath his council-table," remarked a
strict martinet of La Serre; "and here we have a whole flock of
black gowns darkening our regimentals! What would Voltaire say?"
"He would say that when priests turn soldiers it is time for
soldiers to turn tinkers and mend holes in pots, instead of making
holes in our enemies," replied his companion, a fashionable
freethinker of the day.
"Well, I am ready to turn pedlar any day! The King's army will go
to the dogs fast enough since the Governor commissions Recollets
and Jesuits to act as royal officers," was the petulant remark of
another officer of La Serre.
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