THE REASONS WHY THE FRENCH HAVE APPROPRIATED BY GOOD RIGHT THE
LANDS OF NEW FRANCE, AGAINST THE PRETENSIONS OF THE ENGLISH.
NOW as I have fulfilled the first two [320 i.e., 322] parts of my
promise, that is, I have given an Account of the character of the
lands and the inhabitants of new France, and have described to you
the conduct of the Jesuits, and the adventures that befell them;
there remains then the third topic: the explanation of the dispute
that has now arisen between the French and English in regard to
these countries, and the arguments for and against both sides. For
the curious Reader, I believe, will be glad to learn just what the
point of contention is, and the arguments which are advanced by
both parties; it is even due to the honor of the French people, to
make known to all nations how just are the titles, how suitable the
reasons, and in what sincerity of conscience our Kings have made
themselves Masters, and have taken possession of these lands up to
the present.
[321 i.e., 323] Il faut doncques sçauoir tout premierement, que les
Anglois ne nous disputent point toute la nouuelle France; Car ils
n'osent nous denier, ce que tout le monde nous accorde; ains seulement
ils contestent des confins. Ils nous accordent doncques vne nouuelle
France, mais limitée par les bords du Golfe, & grande riuiere de
sainct Laurens, & nous restreignent dans les 47. 48. & 49. degrés
d'eleuatiõ polaire. Du moins ils ne nous permettent pas de descendre
plus bas vers le midy, que du quarantesixiesme degré; s'attribuans tout
ce qui est dés la Floride, & le 33. degré iusques à Campseau, & les
Isles de Cap Breton.
[321 i.e., 323] Accordingly it must be understood that the English
do not dispute with us all of new France. For they dare not refuse
what everybody grants us, but they only contest some of the
boundaries. They grant us then a new France, but bound it by the
shores of the Gulf and great river saint Lawrence, and restrict
us within the 47th, 48th, and 49th degrees of north latitude. At
least they do not allow us to go farther south than the forty-sixth
degree, claiming all that country from Florida and the 33rd degree
up to Campseau and the Islands of Cape Breton.
Les fondements de ceste leur pretension sont parce que enuiron l'an
1694. il y a vingt deux ans, estants entrez dans ce grand sein [322
i.e., 324] de la mer Americane, que les Anciens appelloyent de Mocosa,
& y ayants trouué vne riuiere, & païs, qui leur agrea: ils commencerent
à le vouloir habiter, luy imposants le nom de Virginie: mais ayants
esté contrariez par les naturels, & autres accidents leur estoyent
arriuez, ils fur[~e]t en fin contraints de le quitter entierement,
n'y ayants pas demeuré plus de deux, ou trois ans. Neantmoins despuis
le Serenissime Roy Iacques à present regnant, venu à la couronne, ils
ont prins resolution de le reconquester, & cultiuer. A quoy ledit Roy
fauorisant, a baillé des grands Priuileges à ceux, qui entreprenoyent
ceste peuplade, & entre autres a estendu le droict de leur tenuë dés le
33. degré d'eleuation iusques au 45. leur donnãt puissance de courir
sus à tous estrangers, qu'ils trouueroy[~e]t dans [323 i.e., 325] ce
destroict de terre, & cinquante mille auant dedans la mer. Ces lettres
du Roy on esté expediees l'an quatriesme de son règne, & de grace 1607.
le 10. d'Auril, il y a sept ans: car ie descry cecy l'an 1614.
The reasons for these their pretensions are, that about the year
1694 [_sic_], twenty-two years ago, having entered that great gulf
[322 i.e., 324] of the American sea which was formerly called
Mocosa, and there having found a river and country which pleased
them, they made attempts at settlement, giving it the name of
Virginia; but, having been opposed by the natives, and other
accidents having overtaken them, they were at last obliged to give
it up entirely, not having lived there more than two or three
years. Nevertheless since the Most Serene King James, now reigning,
came to the throne, they resolved to reconquer and cultivate it.
The King, favoring this project, granted some important Privileges
to those who undertook this colony, and, among other things,
extended their right of occupation from the 33rd degree of north
latitude up to the 45th, giving them power to attack all foreigners
whom they might find within [323 i.e., 325] these limits, and fifty
miles out into the sea. These patents of the King were drawn up
during the fourth year of his reign, and in the year of grace 1607
on the 10th of April, seven years ago, for I am writing this in
1614.[11]
Voyla ce que i'en ay peu apprendre de toutes les parchartes &
enseignements, que nos contendants apportent pour se maintenir en
droict, & cause; & nous confiner dans le destroict de la vieille
Canada, eux se tenants au large, & à franches coudées, nous faisants la
part à leur bon plaisir. Voicy ce que nous leur repartissons legalement.
So that is what I have been able to learn from all the charters and
instructions which our contestants bring forth to support them in
their rights and claims; and, while we are being confined within
the limits of old Canada, they are holding themselves at large with
plenty of elbow room, giving us our share at their good pleasure.
Now this is how we would answer them according to law:
1. En premier lieu, que par vne prouidence admirable de Dieu leurs
propres lettres Royaux sur lesquelles ils se fondent, les desdisent
de leur pretention: Parce qu'il est dit expressement dans [324 i.e.,
326] icelles auec exception specifique: _Nous leur donnons toutes les
terres iusques au 45. degré, lesquelles ne sont point actuellement
possedées par aucun Prince Chrestien._ Or est-il, que lors de la datte
de ces lettres, le Roy de France actuellement & reellement possedoit
pour le moins iusques au 39. degré desdictes terres. Tout le monde le
sçait par les voyages de Champlain: car il conste par iceux, que l'an
1607. le sieur de Mõts estoit à port Royal, & par ses gens, & authorité
gouuernoit tout iusques au 39. degré, comme Lieutenant de sa Majesté
tres-Chrestienne.
1. In the first place, as by an admirable providence of God, their
own Royal patents, upon which they found their claims, contradict
them in their pretensions. Because it is said expressly in these,
[324 i.e., 326] with specific exception: _We give them all the
lands up to the 45th degree, which do not actually belong to any
Christian Prince._ Now it happens that at the time of the date of
these letters, the King of France actually and really possessed the
said lands at least up to the 39th degree. Every one knows this
through the voyages of Champlain, for he relates in these that, in
the year 1607, sieur de Monts was at port Royal, and, through his
people and authority, ruled all the country to the 39th degree as
Lieutenant of his most Christian Majesty.
2. En apres, si les Anglois veul[~e]t dire, qu'ils n'ont pas commencé
de posseder leur Virginie dés l'an seulement 1607, ains dés l'an 1594.
qu'ils la trouuerent (comme nous auons dit:) Nous respondõs, que la
riuiere, laquelle ils commencerent [325 i.e., 327] lors à posseder est
au 36. degré, & que ceste leur allegation à l'auenture pourroit valoir,
s'il n'estoit question, que de retenir ceste dicte riuiere, & sept ou
huict lieües de l'vn, & l'autre costé d'icelle: car autant loin se peut
porter nostre veuë pour l'ordinaire; mais que subitement vn vaisseau
pour entrer dans vn fleuue enjambe par dominatiõ trente fois plus
loin, qu'il ne peut estendre sa veuë; c'est vouloir auoir les bras, ou
plustost la conuoitise bien monstrueuse, mais posons que cela se puisse
faire.
2. Again, if the English wish to say that they did not begin to
take possession of their Virginia from the year 1607 only, but from
the year 1594, when they discovered it (as we have said), we answer
that the river, which they began [325 i.e., 327] then to possess
[the James river], is in latitude 36 degrees, and that this their
claim might perchance be of some value, if it were only a question
of retaining this said river, and seven or eight leagues on either
side of it, for our eyes can generally reach as far as that; but
that a ship, merely because it had entered a river, should claim
dominion thirty times farther than the eye can reach--this is
wishing to have arms, or rather greediness, indeed monstrous. But
let us suppose it could be done.
Il s'ensuiura donc, que Ribaud & Laudoniere estans allez à la Floride
en tres-bel arroy, par authorité du Roy Charles IX. l'an 1564. 1565. &
1566. pour cultiuer le païs; & y ayant edifié la Caroline au 30. degré
d'eleuation: ils prindrent possession iusques au 38. & [326 i.e., 328]
39. degré, & par ainsi voila les Anglois hors de leur Virginie, suiuãt
leurs propres maximes.
It will follow, then, that Ribaud and Laudoniere,[12]--having
gone to Florida in fine array by the authority of King Charles
IX., in the years 1564, 1565, and 1566, to cultivate the land,
and there having extended Carolina to the 30th parallel of north
latitude,--took possession as far as the 38th and [326 i.e., 328]
39th parallels; and so behold the English out of their Virginia
according to their own maxims.
3. Quoy que, si pour estre en vn lieu, lon possede aussi tost (selon la
presupposition des Anglois) huict ou neuf degrez plus auant; Pourquoy
est-ce, qu'eux estants au 36. auanceront plustost iusques au 45. que
nous (comme ils confessent) estans ja au 46. ne descendrons iusques
au 37. Quel droict y ont-ils plus que nous? Voila donc ce que nous
respondons aux Anglois.
3. Yet if being in a place gives possession (as the English
presuppose) of eight or nine degrees farther on, why is it that
they, being at the 36th, can advance to the 45th, better than we
(as they acknowledge) being at the 46th, can go down to the 37th?
What greater rights have they than we? So thus we answer the
English.
4. Mais pour mieux declarer le fonds de nostre iustice; il faut se
ressouuenir de ce que nous auons monstré cy-deuant; sçauoir est, que sa
majesté tres-Chrestienne a prins possession de ces terres, auant tout
autre Prince Chresti[~e], par droict d'inuention premiere. Car il est
asseuré, & confessé de [327 i.e., 329] tous, que les Bretons & Normãds
trouuerent premierement le grãd Banq, & les Terres Neusues, rangeants
la coste iusques au Cap de Sable, qui est au 43. degré, iusques où le
grand Banq s'estend. Ceste inuention fut faicte l'an 1504. il y ja cent
& dix ans.
4. But to better declare the justice of our cause, what we have
explained above most be recalled; namely, that his most Christian
Majesty took possession of these lands before any other Christian
Prince, by right of first discovery. For it is true, and is
acknowledged by [327 i.e., 329] all, that the Bretons and Normans
first discovered the great Bank, and Newfoundland, sailing along
fine coast to Cape Sable, which is in the 43rd degree, up to where
the great Bank extends. This discovery was made in the year 1504,
one hundred and ten years ago.
5. D'auantage tous confessent, que par le commandement du grãd Roy
François Iean Verazan print possession de cesdictes terres au nom de la
France; commençant dés le 33. degré d'eleuation iusques au 47. Ce fut
par deux voyages desquels le dernier fut faict l'an 1523. il y a quatre
vingts & dix ans.
5. Furthermore, all acknowledge that, by the command of the great
King Francis, Jean Verazan took possession of these countries in
the name of France, beginning at the 33rd degree of north latitude
up to the 47th. This was done in two voyages, the last of which was
made in the year 1523, ninety years ago.
6. Outre plus, Jacques Cartier entra premier dans la grande riuiere
par deux voyages, qu'il y fut, & descouurit les terres de Canada. Son
dernier voyage fut l'an 1534. Donc c'est merueille [328 i.e., 330] que
les Anglois nous accordent les terres de la descouuerture de Jacques
Cartier, nous voulants oster le 45. degré: car il est asseuré, que
ceste descouuerture est de beaucoup posterieure aux autres cy-deuant
dictes des parties plus meridionales. Et la grande riuiere est
tellement situee, que la possession de ses terres est presque inutile à
qui ne ti[~e]t du moins iusques au 40. degré. Qu'on regarde la charte.
6. In addition to this, Jacques Cartier[13] first entered the great
river in two voyages that he made, and discovered the lands of
Canada. His last voyage was in the year 1534. Now it is a wonder
[328 i.e., 330] that the English grant us the lands of Jacques
Cartier's discovery, wishing as they do to deprive us of the 45th
degree; for it is very certain that this discovery dates back much
farther than the others heretofore cited of the more southern
parts. And the great river is so situated that the possession of
these lands is almost useless to any one who does not possess at
least as far as the 40th degree. Look at the map.
7. Aussi est-ce merueille comme lesdicts Anglois disent nous accorder
les Terres Neufues, & cependant ils y sont allez habiter despuis quatre
ans, enuiron le 48. ou 49. degré.
7. Also it is wonderful how these English say they have granted us
Newfoundland, and nevertheless went there to live four years ago,
near the 48th or 49th degree.[14]
8. Or est-ce le commun consentement de toute l'Europe, que de depeindre
la nouuelle France, l'estendant au moins iusques au 38. ou 39. degré,
ainsi qu'il appert [329 i.e., 331] par les mappemondes, imprimées en
Espagne, Italie, Holande, Allemagne, & Angleterre mesme. Ce sont aussi
les François, qui en ont faict description, ont imposé les noms, ont
appriuoisez les Sauuages, ont trocqué, & tousiours conuersé auec eux
dés la premiere inuention iusques à ce temps, & non point autres. Et
ce fut au quarante troisiesme degré, que le Marquis de la Roche s'alla
loger, dressant sa peuplade l'an 1598. Et despuis l'an 1603. le sieur
de Mõts receut en don toutes ces terres dés le 40. degré iusques au
46. de feu d'heureuse memoire Henry le Grand, lequel aussi declara par
lettres expresses, que rien de ce qu'on apportoit de là, ou qu'on y
emportoit ne deuoit traicte foraine, comme estant ce païs vne partie
iuste, & legitime accreüe à ce Royaume, & nullem[~e]t estrãgere.
8. Now, by the common consent of all Europe, new France is
represented as extending at least as far as the 38th or 39th
degree, as it appears [329 i.e., 331] on the maps of the world
printed in Spain, Italy, Holland, Germany, and England itself.[15]
Also, it is the French, and not others, who have made a description
of it, have given it its names, have tamed the Savages, have traded
and always had communication with them from the first discovery up
to the present time. And it was in the forty-third degree that the
Marquis de la Roche went to settle, establishing his colony in the
year 1598. And, since the year 1603, sieur de Monts received as a
gift all the lands from the 40th degree to the 46th degree, from
the late Henry the Great, of happy memory, who also declared by
express letters, that nothing which was brought away from there,
or taken there, was liable to foreign custom duty, as that country
was a just part and legitimate outgrowth of this Kingdom, and in no
wise a foreign one.
[330 i.e., 332] 9. Et certes, outre les raisons apportées, l'equité
naturelle fauorise à cette declaration; parce que ces terres là sont
paralleles à nostre France, & non point à l'Angleterre. Elles sont
dy-ie tout d'vne tenuë auecques nous: de maniere, qu'ayant esté
trouuées vaquãtes par nous au delà de nostre riuage; elles accroissent
à nostre heritage, ainsi que la loy des Alluuions en determine. _ff.
acq. rer. domin. l. 29. inter multos. & l. 30. Ergo._
[330 i.e., 332] 9. And surely, in addition to the reasons here
given, common justice favors this declaration; for those lands
are parallel to our France, and not to England. They are, I say,
contiguous with us, so that having been found unoccupied by us and
beyond our shores they accrue to our inheritance, as the law of
Alluvions determines. _ff. acq. rer. domin. l. 29. inter multos. &
l. 30. Ergo._[16]
10. En effect, feu Monsieur le Comte de Soyssons fut pourueu du
gouvernement desdites contrées, & en a porté le tiltre de son viuant;
& auiourd'huy Monsieur le Prince met ceste là au rang de ses autres
prerogatiues, & principaux honneurs.
10. Finally the late Comte de Soyssons was invested with the
government of the said countries,[17] and bore the title to it in
his lifetime; and to-day the Prince places this in the rank of his
other prerogatives and principal honors.[18]
CHAPITRE XXXVIII. [i.e., xxxvii.]
[331 i.e., 333] RAISONS POUR LESQUELLES ON DEUROIT ENTREPRENDRE À BON
ESCIENT LE CULTIUAGE DE LA NOUUELLE FRANCE.
ICY deuant que finir, ie suis contrainct de cotter aucunes raisons
qui m'esmeuuent l'ame, quand ie considere comme nous delaissons ceste
pauure nouuelle Frãnce en frische, & quant au temporel, & quant au
spirituel, en barbarie, & paganisme. Ie sçay prou, que ie profite
bi[~e] plus de les alleguer aux oreilles de nostre Seigneur par
feruente priere; que de les marquer aux yeux des hommes par escriture
morte. Neantmoins tant plus ardamment ie m'escrie deuãt Dieu en les
pesant, tant plus ie me sens [332 i.e., 334] pressé à les specifier aux
hommes, les escriuant.