Conflagration
On a warm spring day in April 1734, a fire raged through Montreal's merchant quarters. When the flames finally died, 46 buildings - including the H tel-Dieu convent and hospital - had been destroyed. Within hours, rumors ran rampant that Marie-Joseph Ang lique, a Black slave fighting for her freedom, had started the fire with her white lover, Claude Thibault. Less than 24 hours later, Angelique was sitting in a prison cell. Her lover was nowhere to be found. More than 20 witnesses appeared before the judge, all claiming Ang lique was the arsonist. But no one saw her set the fire.
It didn't matter. In an era when lawyers were banned from practising in New France, Ang lique 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 Ang lique was tortured - and finally confessed. Her captors used the brodequins to crush Ang lique's leg. Her spirit remained indomitable.
As Ang lique 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.
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