[164] THE VOYAGE TO THE ST. JOHN RIVER: AND THE QUARREL WHICH
OCCURRED THERE.
I SAID above that sieur de Biencourt took a barque away from Port
aux Coquilles, that he might make a journey therewith to the
Armouchiquois.[39] This is the name of the people who live below
the forty-third parallel, toward the Southwest. They begin at
Chouacoët, and are said to be very numerous. Lack of provisions
urged sieur de Biencourt to make this voyage, because, as these
people till the soil and put away stores of grain, he hoped, by
means of trade or in some other way, to get help from them to
provide against the famine [165] which awaited us in the course
of the Winter. His barque was equipped too late for such a long
journey, for we were not ready until the third of October, and
he still wanted to go to the Saint John river before making this
voyage.
La riuiere de sainct Iean est au Noroüest de Port Royal, y ayant
entre-deux la Baye Françoise, large de 14. lieuës. L'entrée de ceste
riuiere est fort estroicte, & tres-dangereuse: car il faut passer au
milieu de deux roches, desquelles l'vne iette sur l'autre le courant
de la marée, estãt entre deux aussi viste qu'vn traict. Apres les
roches suit vn affreux, & horrible precipice, lequel si vous ne passez
à propos, & quand il est comblé doucem[~e]t, de cent mille barques vn
poil n'eschapperoit pas, que corps & biens tout ne perist.
The river saint John is to the Northwest of Port Royal, the
intermediate space being occupied by French Bay, 14 leagues wide.
The entrance to this river is very narrow and very dangerous: for
the ship has to pass between two rocks where the current of the
tide is tossed from one to the other, flashing between them as
swift as an arrow. Beyond these rocks lies a frightful and horrible
precipice, and if you do not pass over it at the proper moment, and
when the water is smoothly heaped up, of a hundred thousand barques
not an atom would escape, but men and goods would all perish.
Le ieune du Pont & le Capitaine [166] Merueille s'estoyent allé loger
à quelques six lieuës auant dedans ceste riuiere S. Iean, n'estants en
tout que sept ou huict, tous Maloüins. Le sieur de Biencourt vouloit
exiger d'eux le Quint de toutes leurs marchandises, pource qu'ils
residoyent dans le pays, cõme il a esté dict, à ceste cause il auoit
entreprins ce voyage. Nous estions en tout seize François & deux
Sauuages, qui nous conduisoyent.
Young du Pont and Captain [166] Merveille had gone to stay some six
leagues up this river St. John, with a company of not more than
seven or eight, all Maloüins. Sieur de Biencourt wished to exact
from them the Fifth of all their merchandise, because they were
residents of the country, as has been said; it was for this purpose
he undertook this voyage. We were in all sixteen Frenchmen, and two
Savages, who conducted us.
Or comme nous nauigions cõtremont, estants ja presque à vne lieuë &
demy de l'habitation des Maloüins sur le commencement de la nuict;
vn signacle nous apparut, qui nous espouuanta. Car le ciel rougist
extraordinairement à costé de l'habitation desdits Maloüins, & puis la
rougeur se decoupant en longs fuseaux, & lances s'en alla fondre droit
dessus ceste [167] maison. Cela se fit par deux fois. Nos Sauuages
voyants ce prodige crier[~e]t en leur langage. _Gara gara: Maredo._
Nous aurons guerre, il y aura du sang. Les Frãçois faisoy[~e]t aussi
des Almanachs là dessus chacun selon son sens. Nous arriuasmes au
deuant de leur habitation ja la nuict toute close, & ny eust autre
chose pour lors, sinon que nous les saluames d'vn coup de fauconneau, &
ils nous respondirent d'vn coup de pierrier.
Now as we were sailing up the river, being already about a league
and a half from the Maloüin settlement, towards nightfall a
phenomenon appeared to us, which filled us with terror. For the
heavens became wonderfully red over the Maloüin habitation, and
then the glow, separating into long rays and flashes of light,
moved on and melted away over this [167] settlement. This appeared
twice. Our Savages, when they saw this wonder, cried out in their
language: _Gara gara: Maredo._ "We shall have war, there will
be blood." The French also made some Prophecies thereupon, each
according to his own idea. We arrived opposite their settlement
when the night had already closed in, and there was nothing we
could do then, except to fire a salute from the falconet, which
they answered with one from the swivel gun.
Le matin venu, & les prieres accoustumées faictes, deux Maloüins se
presenterent à la riue, & nous signifierent, qu'on pouuoit aborder
pacifiquement; ce qu'on fit. On sceut d'eux que leurs Capitaines n'y
estoyent point, ains s'en estoyent allez bien haut contre la riuiere,
despuis trois iours, & qu'on ne sçauoit quand ils reuiendroyent.
Cependant le P. Biard [168] s'en alla preparer son Autel, & celebra la
saincte Messe.
When morning came, and the usual prayers were said, two
Maloüins presented themselves upon the bank, and signified to us
that we could disembark without being molested, which we did. It
was learned from them that their Captains were not there, but had
gone away up the river three days before, and no one knew when they
would return. Meanwhile Father Biard [168] went away to prepare his
Altar, and celebrated holy Mass.
Apres la Messe le sieur de Bi[~e]court posa vn corps de garde à
la porte de l'habitation, & des sentinelles tout à l'entour. Les
Maloüins furent bien estonnés de ceste façon de faire. Les plus
timides s'estimoyent estre perdus, les plus courageux en escumoyent &
despitoyent.
After Mass sieur de Biencourt placed a bodyguard at the door of
the habitation, and sentinels all around it. The Maloüins were
very much astonished at this way of doing things. The more timid
considered themselves lost, the more courageous stormed, and fumed,
and defied them.
La nuict venuë, & ja close, le Capitaine Merueille s'en reuint à son
logis, ne sçachant rien de ses hostes. La sentinelle l'oyant approcher
cria son _qui voila?_ Le Maloüin, qui p[~e]soit que ce fust quelqu'vn
des siens, respondit se mocquant, mais qui voila timesme? Et tousiours
poursuiuoit auançant. La sentinelle tout de bon luy delascha son
mousquet contre. Et bien merueille fut que Merueille ne fut ny tué
ny blessé. Mais il fut [169] bien estonné, & plus encores voyant
aussi tost des gensd'armes sur soy l'espée nuë, qui le saisirent &
emmener[~e]t dans la maison, comme vous pouuez penser en tel accident,
que font gens de pouldre & de corde; leurs crys, leurs menaces, & leurs
faicts. Le pauure homme ne se trouuoit point bien de sa personne ja dés
plusieurs iours, & lors il estoit tout harassé du chemin. Plusieurs
inconueni[~e]s de perte, & de maladie luy estoi[~e]t arriuez ceste
année là, comme pour l'accabler; Partant se voyant ainsi tombé comme
dans vn abysme subitement, il ne sçauoit où il estoit. Il se coucha
aupres du feu tout de son long, se lamentãt: les gardes estoient tout
à l'entour de luy. Le P. Biard voyant la confusion en laquelle estoit
toute la maison, & n'y pouuant donner ordre se mit à prier Dieu au
pied [170] d'vn banc, qui estoit contre vu des licts assez loin du
feu. Merueille, ayant eu quelque respit pour sentir ses miseres, &
se recognoistre, & ayant apperceu le P. Biard qui prioit, se leuant
subitement en sursaut, tout troublé, & à coup s'alla ietter à genoux
aupres dudit Pere, à qui neantmoins il n'auoit iamais parlé auparauant,
& luy dit: Mon Pere, ie vous prie confessez-moy, ie suis mort. Le
P. Biard se leua pour le consoler, s'apperceuant bien, qu'il estoit
troublé; Tout le corps-de-garde tourna les yeux de mesme sur eux, &
chacun aduisoit autour de soy s'il y auoit rien à craindre. De fortune,
ou à dessein, comme que ce soit, ie n'en sçay rien, vn certain eceruelé
va trouuer à deux bons pas de Merueille vn poictrinal tout chargé,
amorcé, le chien abatu, & s'escria: O le traistre! il auoit enuie
[171] de se saisir de ce poytrinal, & faire quelque coup. Le Malouïn
respondit, que cela ne pouuoit estre, parce que dés sa venuë il auoit
tousiours esté en leurs mains; & partant il estoit impossible, qu'il
eust preparé, ny mesmes veu ce poytrinal, & que quand mesmes il l'eust
veu, qu'il en estoit trop loin pour s'en saisir sans estre preuenu.
Mais nonobstant tout son dire, il fut garrotté, luy, & trois de ses
gens, qui sembloyent estre les plus mauuais.
When night came on and it was already quite dark, Captain
Merveille returned to his lodgings, knowing nothing of his guests.
The sentinel, hearing him approach, uttered his, "_Who goes
there?_" The Maloüin, thinking this was one of his own people,
answered mockingly, "But who goes there thyself?" and continued
upon his way. The sentinel fired off his musket at him in earnest,
and it was a great wonder [Fr. _merveille_] that Merveille was not
killed or wounded. But he was [169] very much astonished, and still
more so when he saw some soldiers upon him with naked swords, who
seized him and took him into the house; you may imagine how men
of powder and of rope act at such times, with their cries, their
threats, and their gesticulations. The poor man had not been well
for several days, and just then was very much wearied from his
journey. He had had several discouraging losses and sicknesses that
year, enough to break him down. So, seeing himself thus, as it
were, suddenly fallen into an abyss, he knew not where he was. He
lay down at full length before the fire, and began to lament: the
guards were all around him. Father Biard, seeing the confusion of
the whole house, and not being able to restore order, began to pray
to God, kneeling at the foot [170] of a bench which was against one
of the beds, some distance from the fire. Merveille, having had
some chance to realize his unfortunate condition and to collect
himself, and, having perceived Father Biard praying, started up in
great agitation, and ran, and threw himself on his knees before the
said Father; and, although he had never before spoken to him, said:
"My Father, I pray you to confess me, I am a dead man." Father
Biard got up to console him, seeing clearly that he was troubled;
the whole bodyguard likewise turned their eyes upon them, and each
one looked about him to see if there was anything to fear. By
chance or design, whichever it was, I know not, a certain madcap
stepped forward and picked up, at two good paces from Merveille, a
carbine, all loaded and primed, with the trigger down; and cried:
"Oh, the traitor! He wanted [171] to get hold of this carbine and
have a few shots from it." The Malouïn answered that that could not
be, because since his arrival he had always been in their hands;
and so it was impossible for him to have prepared or even seen this
carbine; and, if he had seen it, he was too far away to get hold of
it without being prevented. But in spite of all he said, he, and
three others of his men, who seemed to be the worst, were bound.
Merueille estoit garrotté les mains derriere le dos, & si estroictement
que ne pouuant prendre aucun repos, il se lamentoit fort pitoyablement.
Le P. Biard en ayant compassion pria le sieur de Biencourt de faire
deslier cest affligé, lequel il plegeoit corps pour corps, alleguant
que si on se craignoit dudit Merueille, qu'on l'enserrast [172] dans
vn des licts faicts à la Chartreuse, & qu'il se tiendroit à la porte,
à fin de luy empescher la sortie: Que si on entendoit du remuem[~e]t,
qu'on frappast sur luy aussi tost que sur l'autre. Le sieur de
Biencourt accorda au P. Biard sa demande, & Merueille fut deslié &
confiné dans vn des licts, le P. Biard estant à la porte.
Merveille had his hands bound behind his back so tightly, that
he could not rest, and he began to complain very pitifully. Father
Biard taking pity on him, begged sieur de Biencourt to have the
sufferer untied, whom he pledged man for man, alleging that, if
they had any fears about the said Merveille, they might enclose him
[172] in one of the Carthusian beds,[40] and that he would stay at
the door to prevent his going out: that if any noise were heard the
punishment therefor should fall upon him as well as upon the other.
Sieur de Biencourt granted Father Biard's request, and Merveille
was untied and confined in one of these beds, Father Biard being at
the door.
Or quelle fut ceste nuict, ie ne vous le sçaurois expliquer: car elle
passa toute en alarmes, en escopeterie & impetuositez de quelques vns,
telles, qu'à bon droict pouuoit-on craindre que les prognostiques veus
au ciel la nuict precedente n'eussent lors leurs effects sanguinaires
en terre. Le P. Biard fit promesse de ramenteuoir ce benefice toute sa
vie, s'il plaisoit à Dieu de brider ces esprits mutins, & meurtriers,
qui sembloi[~e]t d'estre estachés & voler par [173] dessus la maison
attendans leur curée. Dieu par sa bonté l'exauça, & les feruentes
prieres du Capitaine Merueille, car certes il mõstra vn coeur vrayement
Chresti[~e] dés qu'il fut à part deslié, ne cessant quasi toute la
nuict de louër, & benir son Createur, nonobstant toutes les algarades,
qui luy fur[~e]t faictes. Et le matin venu il se confessa, & fit
son bon-jour luy & trois de ses gents auec vne grande tranquillité
d'esprit. De vray c'est vn exemple bien rare, & bien excell[~e]t à qui
sçait estimer la vertu.
Now I could not describe to you what a night this was: for it
passed in continual alarms, gunshots and rash acts on the part of
some of the men; so that it was feared with good reason that the
prognostications seen in the heavens the night before would have
their bloody fulfillment upon earth. Father Biard promised to
keep this favor in mind as long as he lived, if it pleased God to
restrain these mutinous and murderous spirits which seemed to be
in ecstasy and to fly [173] over the house waiting for their prey.
God in his goodness hearkened to him, and to the sincere prayers
of Captain Merveille, for he certainly showed a truly Christian
spirit, as soon as he was partially released, never ceasing, nearly
all night, to praise and bless his Creator, notwithstanding all
the insults that had been heaped upon him. And when morning came
he confessed, and, together with three of his men, received the
sacrament, in great tranquillity of mind. In truth it was a very
rare and very excellent example to those who know how to esteem
virtue.
L'aprés-disnee le P. Biard demanda congé d'aller trouuer du Pont, sous
promesse du sieur de Biencourt, que tout bon traictement luy seroit
faict. Mais comme ledit Pere fut à vn quart de lieüe; de soy-mesme
ledit du Pont arriua, & toutes esmotions furent accoisées. Le sieur de
Biencourt emprunta [174] la barque de Merueille, & l'emmena auec soy, &
vn des Maloüins, qui despuis mourut de maladie à Port Royal.
In the afternoon Father Biard asked leave to go and find du
Pont, with sieur de Biencourt's promise that he would receive
nothing but good treatment. But when the said Father had gone a
quarter of a league, the said du Pont came up of his own accord,
and all disturbances were quieted. Sieur de Biencourt borrowed
[174] Merveille's barque, and took it away with him, together with
one of the Maloüins, who afterwards died at Port Royal.
CHAPITRE XXI. [i.e., xviii.]
LE VOYAGE DE QUINIBEQUI, & LE RETOUR À PORT ROYAL.
NOVS auons remarqué peu au parauant, que ce voyage à la riuiere S.
Iean, n'estoit qu'vn destour du plus grand entreprins aux Armouchiquois
pour auoir du bled. Comme donc nous eussions ainsi transigé auec
les Maloüins, nous mismes la voile au vent, prenants la route des
Armouchiquois. Auant que partir, le sieur du Pont & Merueille prierent
le P. Biard de vouloir demeurer auec eux; mais il leur respondit,
[175] que pour lors il ne le pouuoit faire, d'autant que ce ne luy
seroit point beau de quitter le sieur de Biencourt en vn voyage tant
perilleux: Et qu'il importoit à sa charge de recognoistre les gens, &
disposition des lieux; & peu à peu domestiquer le sens des Sauuages à
la veuë, vs, & façon du Christianisme, les visitant, & leur en donnant
quelq; goust de pieté, bien que ce ne fust qu'en passant. Mais qu'il
esperoit auec la benediction de Dieu, le voyage accomply de venir
passer l'Hyuer auec eux: & auec leur ayde composer son Catechisme. A
quoy il pria le sieur du Pont de se preparer, s'enquerant des Sauuages
de la proprieté des mots, qui peuuent correspõdre à ceux de nostre
langue, & Religion. Et à fin qu'il le peust faire commodément, il luy
laissa vne explication bien ample des [176] principaux articles de
nostre saincte Foy.