It didn’t matter. In an era when lawyers were banned from practising in New France, Angélique was on her own. She denied starting the fire. Philippe Archambeau, a court clerk assigned specifically to document her case, believed Angelique might just be telling the truth. That belief only got stronger after Angélique was tortured – and finally confessed. Her captors used the brodequins to crush Angélique’s leg. Her spirit remained indomitable.
As Angélique was paraded through the streets of Montreal, Incendiare embroidered across the front of her white chemise, Archambeau finally realized what really happened the night Montreal burned to the ground.
Donalee Moulton is a professional writer and editor based in Halifax, N.S. As a professional journalist, donalee’s byline has appeared in more than 100 print and online publications throughout North America and beyond. These include The National Post, Chatelaine, Maclean’s, T
donalee is the author of author of the book The Thong Principle: Saying What You Mean and Meaning What You Say, and she has co-authored Celebrity Court Cases: Trials of the Rich and Famous. donalee’s short story “Swan Song” was one of 21 selected for publication in Cold Canadian Crime, an anthology published by the Crime Writers of Canada.