Part 9

_Henry, King, gives the Society permission to labor in New France_ 19 _his death_ 20

_Infants of the Savages baptised_ 27

_Island of Præsentis [Plaisance], Newfoundland is called by the Indians_ 9

_Islands are numerous in New France_ 12

_Irocois located at sources of great river of Canada_ 9 _wage perpetual war with the Montagnais and Algonquins_ 9 _a tribe of New France_ 11

_Isthmus, gulf of St. Lawrence and French bay form_ 10

_Kinibequi river_, vide _Rimbequi_.

_Latitude of New France_ 8

_Leagues, the Isthmus measures five hundred_ 10

_Language of the natives, the Fathers ignorant of it_ 27

_Massé, Father Ennemond, sent to Acadia_ iii

_Médicis, Marie de, queen regent, extends her favor to the Society of Jesus_ 20 _orders the Fathers to be received into the ship_ [43] 21

_Membertou, Henry, chief of the Soriquois, is baptized with his family_ 24 _his son being sick, is carried to the house of Monsieur de Potrincourt_ 28, 29 _the Chief dies_ 30 _is buried with great pomp_ 32

_Cod-fish, Newfoundland celebrated for the taking of_ 9

_Montagnais, where they dwell_ 9 _a tribe of New France_ 11

_Mountains of New France are covered with snow and perpetual frost_ 12

_Manners of the Savages_ 13, 16

_Dead, they bury their memory and name with them_ 16

_Names of the Savages of New France_ 9

_Normans, the Savages call the French_ 25

_Norumbega is only a shadow and a name_ 8

_Norumbega, Father Biard explores a large part of_ 32

_New France, what sort of a country_ 8 _number and names of its Savage tribes_ 11 _why the country is very cold and wet_ 12 _Society of Jesus obtains permission to labor in_ 19

_New France, its chart to be made by Father Biard_ 18

_New France, the Jesuit Fathers land in_ 24

_Number of the French in Acadia_ 25

_Provisions at Port Royal become scarce_ 34

_Priests, the Jesuit, live at Port Royal_ 10 _their needs and cares_ 35

_Lice, the Indians regard them as a dainty_ 18

_Peltries, the only treasure of the Indians_ 12

_Pons, Antoinette de_, vide _Guercheville_.

_Potugoët river_ [44] 10

_Port Royal, latitude and location_ 10 _the Jesuit Priests arrive here_ 26

_Potrincourt, Sieur Jean de, asks for colonists for New France_ 20 _arrives in New France_ 24 _his family is the only one in Acadia_ 25 _praises the zeal of the Fathers_ 27 _the sick son of Membertou is brought to his house_ 29

_Potrincourt, Sieur de, certain young man reconciled with_ 34

_Præsentis [Plaisance] island_ 9

_Sable, Cape_ 11

_Girl baptized_ 27 _dies in the cabin of the Priests_ 28

_Religion of the Savages_ 14

_Rimbequi (or rather Kinibequi) river_ 10

_Secular Priest, baptises nearly a hundred Savages in New France_ 24 _returns to France_ 26

_Sagamores are leaders in war, but their authority is precarious_ 13

_St. John river empties into French bay_ 10

_St. Lawrence, gulf of_ 9

_French Bay_ 10

_Society of Jesus, in what way it obtained the sending of a mission to this province_ 18 _is permitted to labor in New France_ 19 _summons two Priests to go there_ 20 _the impediments put in their way_ 21 _the fathers arrive at Port Royal_ 24, 26 vide _Priests_.

_Dreams, the Savages have faith in_ [45] 15

_Soriquois, their Sagamore Henry Membertou_ 28 _where they live_ 10 _a tribe of New France_ 11 _do not number two thousand_ 13

_Tabagie, feast among the Indians is called_ 17

_Tabagie, a custom among the Savages held for the dying_ 28

_Temples, the Savages have none_ 15

_Newfoundland, its name among the Savages_ 9

_Tents, the women set them up_ 17 _how they are constructed_ 18

_Medicine-men among the Indians_ 14 _their power_ 15

_Aspect of the Indians_ 13

A. Le lieu de l'habitation. B. Iardin du Sieur de Champlain. C. Alleé au trauers les bois que fit faire le Sieur de Poitrincourt. D. Ile à l'entrée de la riuiere de l'Equille. E. Entrée du port Royal. F. Basses qui assechẽt de basse mer. G. Riuiere sainct Antoine. H. Lieu du labourage où on seme le blé. I. Moulin que fit fair le Sieur de Poitrincourt. L. Prairies qui sont innōdées des eaux aux grandes marées. M. Riuiere de l'Equille. N. La coste de la mer du port Royal. O. Costes de montaignes. P. Ile proche de la riuiere sainct Antoine. Q. Ruisseau de la Roche. R. Autre Ruisseau. S. Riuiere du moulin. T. Petit lac. V. Le lieu où les sauuages peschent le harang en la saison. X. Ruisseau de la trutiere. Y. Allée que fit faire le Sieur de Champlain.]

XI

LESCARBOT'S RELATION DERNIÈRE

de ce qui s'est Passé au Voyage du Sieur de Poutrincourt

PARIS: JEAN MILLOT, 1612

SOURCE: Reprinted from original in Harvard College Library.

RELATION DERNIÈRE DECE QVI S'EST PASSÉ AV VOYAGE DV SIEVR DE POVTRINCOVRT en la Nouuelle-France depuis 20. mois ença.

_Par_ MARC LESCARBOT _Aduocat en Parlement._

A PARIS, Chez IEAN MILLOT, deuant S. Barthelemy aux trois Couronnes.

_M. DCXII._

AVEC PRIVILEGE DU ROY.

LAST RELATION OF WHAT TOOK PLACE IN THE VOYAGE MADE BY SIEUR DE POUTRINCOURT to New France, twenty months ago.

_By_ MARC LESCARBOT, _Advocate in Parliament._

PARIS: JEAN MILLOT, opposite St. Barthelemy, at the Three Crowns.

_MDCXII._

BY ROYAL LICENSE.

Relation Dernière de ce qvi s'est passé av voyage dv sieur de Poutrincourt en la Nouuelle-France depuis 20. mois ença.

PREFACE.

LE proverbe ancien est bien veritable, que les Dieux nous vendent toutes choses par labeur. Ceci se reconoit par experience ordinaire en plusieurs choses, mais particulierement au fait duquel nous avons à parler: auquel donne sujet par ses incomparables vertus le sieur de Poutrincourt, de qui les labeurs plus que Herculeans ont dés y a long temps merité vne bien ample fortune, & y eust donné attainte au temps de nos troubles derniers, s'il n'eust esté trop entier à maintenir le party qu'il auoit embrassé. Car le Roy le tenant en personne assiegé dans le chateau de Beaumont [4] lui voulut donner le Comté dudit lieu pour se rendre à son service. Ce qu'ayant refusé, il le fit toutefois peu après gratuitement voyant sa Majesté reduit à l'Eglise Catholique Romaine. Vray est que nostre feu Roy HENRI le Grand l'auoit obligé en vne chose, c'est d'avoir rendu par sa bouche ce temoignage de lui, qu'il estoit vn des plus hommes de bien, & des plus valeureux de son royaume. Suiuant quoy aussi apres noz guerres passées, lui qui naturellement est porté aux entreprises difficiles, fuiant la vie oisive, auroit recherché l'occasion de faire plus que devant paroitre son courage, honorer son Prince, & illustrer sa patrie. Ce qu'il auroit fait par la rencontre du sieur de Monts, lequel en l'an 1603, entreprenoit le voyage de la France Nouvelle & Occidentale d'outre mer, auec lequel il se ioignit pour y reconoistre vne terre propre à habiter & y rendre service a Dieu & au Roy. A quoy il a depuis travaillé continuellement & eust desia beaucoup avancé l'œuvre, si sa facilité ne se fust trop fiée à des hommes trompeurs, qui lui ont fait perdre son temps & son argent. Voire encore estant Gentilhomme indomtable à la fatigue, & sans crainte aux hazars, il se pourroit promettre vn assez prompt avancement à son entreprise s'il n'estoit troublé par l'avarice de ceux qui lui enlevent la graisse de sa terre sans y faire habitation, & avides des Castors de ce païs là y vont exprés pour ce sujet, & ont fait à l'envi l'un de l'autre que chacune peau de Castor (qui est le traffic le plus [5] present de ces terres) vaut icy auiourd'hui dix liures, qui se pourroit bailler pour la moitié, si le commerce d'icelles estoit permis à vn seul. Et au moyen de ce pourroit prendre fondement la Religion Chrestienne par dela; comme certes elle y auroit esté fort avancée, si telle chose eust esté faite. Et la consideration de la Religion & de l'establissement d'un païs dont la France peut tirer du profit & de la gloire, merite bien que ceux qui l'habitent iouïssent pleinement & entierement des fruits qui en proviennent, puis que nul ne contribuë à ce dessein pour le soulagement des entrepreneurs, lesquels au peril de leurs vies & de leurs moyens ont découvert par dela tant les orées maritimes, que le profond des terres, où iamais aucun Chrétien n'avoit esté. Il y a vne autre consideration que ie ne veux mettre par écrit, & laquelle seule doit faire accorder ce que dessus à ceux qui se presentent & offrent pour habiter & defendre la province, voire pour donner du secours à toute la France de deça. C'a esté vne plainte faite de tout temps, que les considerations particulieres ont ruiné les affaires du general. Ainsi est-il à craindre qu'il n'en avienne en l'affaire des Terres-neuves, si nous la negligeons, & si l'on ne soustient ceux qui d'une resolution immuable s'exposent pour le bien, l'honneur, & la gloire de la France, & pour l'exaltation du nom de Dieu, & de son Eglise.

Last Relation of what took place in the voyage made by sieur de Poutrincourt to New France, twenty months ago.

PREFACE.

THE old proverb is true that the Gods sell us all things for work. This may be recognized in many of the ordinary events of life, but especially in the matter of which we are about to speak, and for which we have a subject in the incomparable virtues of sieur de Poutrincourt, whose more than Herculean labors have for a long time deserved a very ample fortune, which he might have succeeded in acquiring during our late struggles, had he not been too entirely devoted to the party which he had embraced. For the King, holding him besieged in person in Beaumont castle, [4] wished to give him the County thereof to attach him to his service. Refusing the gift at this time, he nevertheless accepted it freely soon afterwards, when he learned that his Majesty had embraced the faith of the Roman Catholic Church. It is true that our late King HENRY the Great had rendered him one service; that is, he had testified with his own lips that he was one of the most honorable and valiant men in his kingdom. Again, after our recent wars, being naturally attracted to difficult enterprises and shunning a life of idleness, he sought some occasion to more effectually show his courage, to honor his Prince, and to glorify his country. This he did by meeting sieur de Monts,[13] who, in the year 1603, undertook the voyage to New and Western France beyond the sea; and by associating himself with him, to find a suitable place where he could settle down, and there render service to God and the King. To this end he has labored continually ever since, and would have already greatly advanced the work, had not his amiable nature been imposed upon by dishonest men, who have been the cause of great losses to him in time and money. But, as he was a Gentleman not to be conquered by hardships, and fearing no dangers, he might have been sure of prompt advancement in his work had he not been hindered by the greed of those who robbed him of the fat of his lands, without making any settlement there. These people, eager to get the Beaver skins of that country, go there for no other purpose; and so compete with each other, that they have caused every Beaver skin (which is the chief traffic [5] of these regions) to be worth here to-day ten livres, when they might have been sold for one-half that price, if the traffic therein had been limited to one person. In this way the Christian Religion might have also been established there; and it certainly would have been greatly advanced, if such a course had been pursued. Also for the sake of Religion and of permanent colonization, from which France can derive both profit and glory, it is well that those who settle there should enjoy fully and wholly the advantages guaranteed by them; since no one does anything in this direction for the sake of the leaders of the enterprise, who, at the risk of their lives and their fortunes, have discovered coasts and interior lands where no Christian had ever been. There is another consideration which I do not wish to set down in writing, and which alone ought to obtain the above-mentioned privileges to those who present and offer themselves to settle and defend the province, and indeed to give assistance to the entire French colony over there. There has always been a complaint that affairs of general importance are ruined by giving too much attention to the consideration of personal interests. It is to be feared this may be the case in the affairs of the new World, if we neglect them, and do not encourage those who, with an unchangeable purpose, take great risks for the welfare, the honor, and the glory of France, and for the exaltation of the name of God, and of his Church.

[6] VOYAGE EN LA TERRE-NEUVE.

I'ay rapporté en mon histoire de la Nouvelle France ce qui est des deux premiers voyages faits outre mer par le sieur de Poutrincourt. Ici i'ay à écrire ce qui s'est ensuiui és voyages subsequens. Depuis quelques années une succession lui est echeuë a cause de Dame Iehanne de Salazar sa mere, qui est la Baronnie de Sainct Iust en Champagne. Les rivieres de Seine & d'Aulbe rendent le lieu de cette Baronnie autant agreable, que fort & avantageux à la defense. Là au commencement de Février mil six cens dix il fit partie de son equippage, y ayant chargé vn bateau de meubles, viures, & munitions de guerre, voire tellement chargé qu'il n'y restoit que deux doigts de bord hors de l'eau. Cependant la riviere estoit enflée & ne se pouuoit plus tenir en son lict à cause des longues pluies hivernales. Les flots le menaçoient souuent, les perils y estoient presens, mesmement és passages de Nogent, Corbeil, Sainct Clou, Ecorche-veau, & autres où des bateaux perirent à sa veuë, sans qu'il fust aucunement emeu d'apprehension. En fin il parvint à Dieppe, & apres quelque sejour il se mit en mer le 26. dudit mois de Février. Plusieurs en cette ville là benissoient son voyage, & prioient Dieu pour la prosperité d'icelui. La saison estoit rude, & les vents le plus souvent contraires. Mais on peut bien appeller vn [7] voyage heureux, quand en fin on arrive à bon port. [_Forbans, ce sont Pyrates._] Ils ne furent gueres loin qu'ils rencontrerent vers le Casquet vn nauire de Forbans, lesquels voyans ledit Sieur & ses gens bien resolus de se defendre si on les attaquoit, passerent outre. Le 6. de Mars ils rencontrerent vnze navires Flamens, & se saluerent l'vn l'autre de chacun vn coup de canon. Depuis le 8. iusques au 15. il y eut tempéte, durant laquelle vne fois ledit Sieur estant couché à la poupe, fut porté de son lict pardessus la table au lict de son fils. [_Su, c'est Midi._] Ce mauvais temps les fit chercher leur route plus au Su, & virent deux iles des Essores, Corbes, & Flore, là où ils eurent le rafraichissement de quelques Marsoins qu'ils prindrent. Et comme l'on dit que de la guerre vient la paix, Ainsi apres ces tourmentes ils eurent des calmes iusques au iour de Pasques Fleuries plus facheux que les tourmentes: car quoy qu'on soit en repos, il n'y a pourtant sujet de contentement: car les vivres se mangent, & la saison de bien faire se passe: bref vn grand calme est fort mauvais sur la mer. Mais cela n'est point perpetuel: & quelquefois (selon l'inconstance d'Eole) apres le calme suit vn vent favorable, tantost vne tempéte, comme il survint vn peu apres (sçauoir le lendemain de Pasques) laquelle fit faire eau à la soute, qui est le magazin du pain, ou biscuit. [_Peril d'vn charpentier._] Occasion que le Charpentier du navire voulant aller remedier au mal avenu, d'autant qu'en faisant ce qui est de son art il troubloit les prieres publiques qui se faisoient du matin, ledit Sieur lui commanda [8] de besongner par le dehors, là où estant allé il trouva le Gouvernail rompu (chose dangereuse) lequel voulant aller racoutrer, comme il estoit à sa besongne, il tomba de son echaffaut dedans la mer. Et bien vint que le temps s'estoit ammoderé: car autrement c'estoit vn homme perdu. Mais il fut garenti par la diligence des matelots, qui lui tendirent vne corde, par laquelle il se sauva.

[6] VOYAGE TO THE NEW WORLD.

I related in my history of New France what happened in the first two voyages made by sieur de Poutrincourt to the lands beyond the sea. Here I shall give an account of what took place in the subsequent voyages. Some years ago an inheritance, the Barony of Sainct Just, in Champagne, fell to Sieur de Poutrincourt through his mother, Lady Jehanne de Salazar. The Seine and Aulbe rivers render the situation of this domain as beautiful as it is strong and eligible for defense. Here, in the beginning of February, one thousand six hundred and ten, he partly equipped his ship, loading it with furniture, provisions, and munitions of war; and, indeed, so freighted it down that the sides were only two finger-lengths out of the water. Meanwhile, the river had risen until it could no longer be confined in its bed, on account of the long winter rains. Often threatened by floods and by imminent perils in the passages from Nogent, Corbeil, Sainct Clou, Ecorche-veau and other places, where vessels were wrecked before his eyes, he was not in the least affected by fear. At last he arrived at Dieppe, and, after a sojourn there, he put to sea upon the 26th of this same month of February. Many people of that city wished him well in his voyage and prayed God for its success. The season was stormy, and contrary winds prevailed the greater part of the time. But we may indeed call a [7] voyage fortunate, which brings us at last safe into port. [_Forbans are pirates._] They were not far away when they met, in the direction of Casquet,[14] a ship of Forbans, who, seeing that the Sieur and his crew were all ready to defend themselves if attacked, sailed on past them. On the 6th of March they met eleven Flemish ships, and they saluted each other by a discharge of cannon. From the 8th to the 15th there was a tempest, during which the Sieur, who was lying down on the poop, was thrown from his bed, over the table, to that of his son. [_South, that is, Meridian._] This bad weather made them turn their route more to the South, where they saw two of the Essores islands, Corbes and Flore; and there they had some fresh food by catching a few Porpoises. And as, according to the old saying, peace follows war, so, after these storms, there were calms more trying than the tempests, until Palm Sunday; for then, although there was rest, there was no satisfaction in it, for the food was being consumed and the good season was passing away; in short, a great calm is a very harmful thing upon the sea. But it does not last always; and sometimes (according to the fickle moods of Æolus) after the calm comes a favorable wind, sometimes a tempest; as happened shortly afterwards (namely, the day after Easter), and this caused a leak in the soute, which is the storeroom for bread or biscuit. Now the ship's carpenter, who went to repair the leak, while doing what his trade demanded, interfered with the public prayers which were being offered in the morning, and the Sieur commanded him [8] to do his work outside. [_Peril of a carpenter._] He obeyed, and there found the Rudder broken (which is a very dangerous thing); wishing to readjust it, while he was engaged in the work, he fell from his scaffolding into the sea. And it was well that the weather had moderated; for otherwise there would have been a man lost. But he was rescued by the efforts of the sailors, who threw him a rope by which he saved himself.

[_Voy l'Hist. de la Nouv. France liv. 4. chap. 12._]