After we were come with our boats vnto our ships againe, our Captaine

caused our barks to be made readie to goe on land in the said Iland, to

note the trees that in shew seemed so faire, and to consider the nature

and qualitie of it: which things we did, and found it full of goodly trees

likes to ours. (M124) Also we saw many goodly Vines, a thing not before of

vs seene in those countries, and therefore we named it Bacchus Iland. It

is in length about twelue leagues, in sight very pleasant, but full of

woods, no part of it manured, vnlesse it be in certaine places, where a

few cottages be for Fishers dwellings as before we haue said. The next day

we departed with our ships to bring them to the place of the holy Crosse,

and on the 14 of that moneth we came thither, and the Lord Donnacona,

Taignoagny, and Domagaia, with 25 boats full of those people, came to

meete vs, comming from the place whence we were come, and going toward

Stadacona, where their abiding is, and all came to our ships, shewing

sundry and diuers gestures of gladnesse and mirth, except those two that

he had brought, to wit, Taignoagny, and Domagaia, who seemed to haue

altered and changed their mind, and purpose, for by no meanes they would

come vnto our ships, albeit sundry times they were earnestly desired to

doe it, whereupon we began to mistrust somewhat. Our Captaine asked them

if according to promise they would go with him to Hochelaga? They answered

yea, for so they had purposed, and then ech one withdrew himselfe. The

next day being the fifteenth of the moneth, our Captaine went on shore, to

cause certaine poles and piles to be driuen into the water, and set vp,

that the better and safelier we might harbour our ships there: and many of

those countrey people came to meete vs there, among whom was Donnacona and

our two men, with the rest of their company, who kept themselues aside

vnder a point or nooke of land that is vpon the shore of a certaine riuer,

and no one of them came vnto vs as the other did that were not on their

side. Our Captaine vnderstanding that they were there, commanded part of

our men to follow him, and he went to the saide point where he found the

said Donnacona, Taignoagny, Domagaia, and diuers other: and after

salutations giuen on ech side, Taignoagny setled himselfe formost to

speake to our Captaine, saying that the Lord Donnacona did greatly grieue

and sorrow that our Captaine and his men did weare warlike weapons, and

they not. Our Captaine answered, that albeit it did greeue them yet would

not he leaue them off, and that (as he knew) it was the maner of France.

But for all these words our Captaine and Donnacona left not off to speake

one to another, and friendly to entertaine one another. Then did we

perceiue, that whatsoeuer Taignoagny spake, was onely long of himselfe and

of his fellow, for that before they departed thence our Captaine and

Donnacona entred into a maruellous stedfast league of friendship,

whereupon all his people at once with a loude voyce, cast out three great

cryes, (a horrible thing to heare) and each one hauing taken leaue of the

other for that day, we went aboord againe. The day following we brought

our two great shippes within the riuer and harborough, where the waters

being at the highest, are three fadome deepe, and at the lowest, but halfe

a fadome. We left our Pinnesse without the road to the end we might bring

it to Hochelaga. So soone as we had safely placed our ships, behold we saw

Donnacona, Taignoagny and Domagaia, with more then fiue hundred persons,

men, women and children, and the said Lord with ten or twelue of the

chiefest of the countrey came aboord of our ships, who were all

courteously receiued, and friendly entertained both of our Captaine and of

vs all: and diuers gifts of small value were giuen them. Then did

Taignoagny tell our Captaine, that his Lord did greatly sorrow that he

would go to Hochelaga, and that he would not by any meanes permit that any

of them should goe with him, because the riuer was of no importance. Our

Captaine answered him, that for all his saying, he would not leaue off his

going thither, if by any meanes it were possible, for that that he was

commanded by his king to goe as farre as possibly he could: and that if he

(that is to say Taignoagny) would goe with him, as he had promised, he

should be very well entertained, beside that, he should haue such a gift

giuen him, as he should well content himselfe: for he should doe nothing

else but goe with him to Hochelaga and come againe. To whom Taignoagny

answered, that he would not by any meanes goe, and thereupon they sodainly

returned to their houses. The next day being the 17 of September,

Donnacona and his company returned euen as at the first, and brought with

him many Eeles, with sundry sorts of other fishes, whereof they take great

store in the said riuer, as more largely hereafter shall be shewed. And as

soone as they were come to our ships, according to their wonted use they

beganne to sing and dance. This done, Donnacona caused all his people to

be set on the one side: then making a round circle vpon the sand he caused

our Captaine with all his people to enter thereinto, then he began to make

a long Oration, holding in one of his hands a maiden child of ten or

twelue yeeres old, which he presented vnto our Captaine: then sodainly

beganne all his people to make three great shreeks, or howles, in signe of

ioy and league of friendship: presently vpon that he did present vnto him

two other young male children one after another, but younger then the

other, at the giuing of which euen as before they gaue out shreeks and

howles very loud, with other cerimonies: for which presents, our Captaine,

gaue the saide Lorde great and hearty thankes. Then Taignoagny told our

Captaine, that one of the children was his owne brother, and that the

maiden child was daughter vnto the said Lords owne sister, and the

presents were only giuen him to the end he should not goe to Hochelaga at

all: to whom our Captaine answered, that if they were only giuen him to

that intent, if so he would, he should take them againe, for that by no

meanes he would leaue his going off, for as much as he was so commanded of

his King. But concerning this, Domagaia told our Captaine that their Lord

had giuen him those children as a signe and token of goodwill and

security, and that he was contented to goe with him to Hochelaga, vpon

which talke great wordes arose betweene Taignoagny and Domagaia, by which

we plainely perceiued that Taignoagny was but a crafty knaue, and that he

intended but mischiefe and treason, as well by this deede as others that

we by him had seene. After that our Captaine caused the said children to

be put in our ships, and caused two Swords and two copper Basons, the one

wrought, the other plaine, to be brought vnto him, and them he gaue to

Donnacona, who was therewith greatly contented, yeelding most heartie

thankes vnto our Captaine for them, and presently vpon that he commanded

all his people to sing and dance, and desired our Captaine to cause a

peece of artillerie to be shot off, because Taignoagny and Domagaia made

great brags of it, and had told them maruellous things, and also, because

they had neuer heard nor seene any before: to whom our Captaine answered,

that he was content: and by and by he commanded his men to shoot off

twelue cannons charged with bullets into the wood that was hard by those

people and ships, at whose noyse they were greatly astonished and amazed,

for they thought that heauen had fallen ypon them, and put themselues to

flight, howling, crying, and shreeking, so that it seemed hell was broken

loose. But before we went thence, Taignoagny caused other men to tell vs,

that those men which we had left in our Pinnesse in the road, had slaine

two men of their company, with a peece of ordinance that they had shot

off, whereupon the rest had put themselues all to flight, as though they

should all haue bene slaine: which afterward we found vntrue, because our

men had not shot off any peece at all that day.

Chap. 4. How Donnacona and Taignoagny with others, deuised a prettie

sleight or pollicie: for they caused three of their men to be attired like

Diuels, fayning themselues to be sent from their God Cudruaigny, onely to

hinder our voyage to Hochelaga.

The next day being the eighteenth of September, these men still endeuoured

themselues to seeke all meanes possible to hinder and let our going to

Hochelaga, and deuised a prettie guile, as hereafter shalbe shewed. They

went and dressed three men like Diuels, being wrapped in dogges skinnes

white and blacke, their faces besmeered as blacke as any coales, with

hornes on their heads more then a yard long, and caused them secretly to

be put in one of their boates, but came not neere our ships as they were

wont to doe, for they lay hidden within the wood for the space of two

houres, looking for the tide, to the end the boat wherein the Diuels were,

might approach and come neere vs, which when time was, came, and all the

rest issued out of the wood comming to vs, but yet not so neere as they

were wont to do. There began Taignoagny to salute our Captaine, who asked

him if he would haue the boate to come for him; he answered, not for that

time, but after a while he would come vnto our ships: then presently came

that boat rushing out, wherein the three counterfeit Diuels were with such

long hornes on their heads, and the middlemost came making a long Oration

and passed along our ships with out turning or looking toward vs, but with

the boat went toward the land. Then did Donnacona with all his people

pursue them, and lay hold on the boat and Diuels, who so soone as the men

were come to them, fell prostrate in the boate, euen as if they had beene

dead: then were they taken vp and carried into the wood, being but a

stones cast off, then euery one withdrew himselfe into the wood, not one

staying behind with vs, where being, they began to make a long discourse,

so loud that we might heare them in our ships, which lasted aboue halfe an

houre, and being ended we began to espie Taignoagny and Domagaia comming

towards vs, holding their hands vpward ioyned together, carying their hats

vnder their vpper garment, shewing a great admiration, and Taignoagny

looking vp to heauen, cryed three times Iesus, Iesus, Iesus, and Domagaia

doing as his fellow had done before, cryed, Iesus Maria, Iames Cartier.

Our Captaine hearing them, and seeing their gestures and ceremonies, asked

of them what they ailed, and what was happened or chanced anew; they

answered, that there were very ill tydings befallen, saying in French,

Nenni est il bon, that is to say, it was not good: our Captaine asked them

againe what it was, then answered they, that their God Cudruaigny had

spoken in Hochleaga: and that he had sent those three men to shewe vnto

them that there was so much yce and snow in that countrey, that whosoeuer

went thither should die, which wordes when we heard, we laughed and mocked

them saying, that their God Cudruaigny was but a foole and a noddie, for

he knew not what he did or said; then bade we them shew his messengers

from vs, that Christ would defend them all from colde, if they would

beleeue in him. Then did they aske of our Captaine if he had spoken with

Iesus: he answered no, but that his Priests had, and that he told them

they should haue faire weather: which wordes when they had heard, they

thanked our Captaine, and departed toward the wood to tell those newes

vnto their felowes, who sodainly came all rushing out of the wood, seeming

to be very glad for those words that our Captaine had spoken, and to shew

that thereby they had had, and felt great ioy, so soone as they were

before our ships, they altogether gaue out three great shreekes, and

thereupon beganne to sing and dance, as they were wont to doe. But for a

resolution of the matter Taignoagny and Domagaia tolde our Captaine, that

their Lord Donnacona would by no meanes permit that any of them should goe

with him to Hochelaga vnlesse he would leaue him some hostage to stay with

him: our Captaine answered them, that if they would not goe with him with

a good will, they should stay, and that for all them he would not leaue

off his iourney thither.

Chap 5. How our Captaine with all his Gentlemen and fiftie Mariners

departed with our Pinnesse, and the two boates from Canada to goe to

Hochelaga: and also there is described, what was seene by the way vpon the

said riuer.

(M125) The next day being the 19 of September we hoysed saile, and with

our Pinnesse and two boates departed to goe vp the riuer with the flood,

where on both shores of it we beganne to see as goodly a countrey as

possibly can with eye be seene, all replenished with very goodly trees,

and Vines laden as full of grapes as could be all along the riuer, which

rather seemed to haue bin planted by mans hand than otherwise. (M126) True

it is, that because they are not dressed and wrought as they should be,

their bunches of grapes are not so great nor sweete as ours: also we sawe

all along the riuer many houses inhabited of Fishers, which take all

kindes of fishes, and they came with as great familiaritie and kindnesse

vnto vs, as if we had beene their Countreymen, and brought vs great store

of fish, with other such things as they had, which we exchanged with them

for other wares, who lifting vp their hands toward heauen, gaue many

signes of ioy: we stayed at a place called Hochelai, about fiue and

twentie leagues from Canada, where the riuer waxeth very narrow, and

runneth very swift, wherefore it is very dangerous, not onely for that,

but also for certaine great stones that are therein. Many boates and

barkes came vnto vs, in one of which came one of the chiefe Lords of the

contrey, making a long discourse, who being come neere vs, did by evident

signes and gestures shew vs, that the higher the riuer went, the more

dangerous it was, and bade vs take heede of our selues. The said Lord

presented and gaue vnto our Capuine two of his owne children, of which our

Captaine tooke one being a wench 7 or 8 yeres old, the man child he gaue

him againe, because it was too yong, for it was but two or three yeeres

old. Our Captaine as friendly and as courteously as he could did

entertaine and receiue the said Lord and his company, giuing them certaine

small trifles, and so they departed toward the shore againe. Afterwards

the sayd Lord and his wife came vnto Canada to visite his daughter,

bringing vnto our Captaine certaine small presents. From the nineteenth

vntill the eight and twentieth of September, we sailed vp along the saide

riuer, neuer losing one houre of time, all which time we saw as goodly and

pleasant a countrey as possibly can be wished for, full (as we haue said

before) of all sorts of goodly trees, that is to say, Okes, Elmes,

Walnut-trees, Cedars, Firres, Ashes, Boxe, Willowes, and great store of

Vines, all as full of grapes as could be, so that if any of our fellowes

went on shore, they came home laden with them: there are likewise many

Cranes, Swannes, Geese, Duckes, Feasants, Partriges, Thrushes, Blackbirds,

Turtles, Finches, Redbreasts, Nightingales, Sparrowes of diuerse kindes,

with many other sorts of Birds, euen as in France, and great plentie and

store. (M127) Vpon the 28 of September we came to a great wide lake in the

middle of the riuer fiue or sixe leagues broad, and twelue long, all that

day we went against the tide, hauing but two fadome water, still keeping

the sayd scantling: being come to one of the heads of the lake, we could

espie no passage or going out, nay, rather it seemed to haue bene closed

and shut vp round about, and there was but a fadome and an halfe of water,

little more or lesse. And therefore we were constrayned to cast anker, and

to stay with our Pinnesse, and went with our two boates to seeke some

going out, and in one place we found foure or fiue branches, which out of

the riuer come into the lake, and they came from Hochelaga. But in the

said branches, because of the great fiercenesse and swiftnesse wherewith

they breake out, and the course of the water, they make certaine barres

and shoulds, and at that time there was but a fadome water. Those Shouldes

being passed, we found foure or fiue fadome, and as farre as we could

perceiue by the flood, it was that time of the yeere that the waters are

lowest, for at other times they flowe higher by three fadomes. All these

foure or fiue branches do compasse about fiue or sixe Ilands very

pleasant, which make the head of the lake: about fifteene leagues beyond,

they doe all come into one. That day we landed in one of the saide

Islands, and met with fiue men that were hunting of wilde beastes, who as

freely and familiarly came to our boates without any feare, as if we had

euer bene brought vp togither. Our boates being somewhat neere the shore,

one of them tooke our Captaine in his armes, and caried him on shore, as

lightly and as easily as if he had bene a child of fiue yeeres old: so

strong and sturdie was this fellow. (M128) We found that they had a great

heape of wild Rats that liue in the water, as bigge as a Conny, and very

good to eate, which they gaue vnto our Captaine, who for a recompence gaue

them kniues and glassen Beades. We asked them with signes if that was the

way to Hochelaga, they answered yea, and that we had yet three dayes

sayling thither.

Chap 6. How our Captaine caused our boates to be mended and dressed to goe

to Hochelaga: and because the way was somewhat difficult and hard, we left

our Pinnesse behinde: and how we came thither, and what entertainment we

had of the people.

(M129) The next day our Captaine seeing that for that time it was not

possible for our Pinnesse to goe on any further, he caused our boates to

be made readie, and as much munition and victuals to be put in them, as

they could well beare: he departed with them, accompanyed with many

Gentlemen, that is to say, Cladius of Ponte Briand, Cup-bearer to the

Lorde Dolphin of France, Charles of Pommeraye, Iohn Gouion, Iohn Powlet,

with twentie and eight Mariners: and Mace Iallobert, and William Briton,

who had the charge vnder the Captaine of the other two ships, to goe vp as

farre as they could into that riuer: we sayled with good and prosperous

weather vntill the second of October, on which day we came to the towne of

Hochelaga, distant from the place where we had left our Pinnesse fiue and

fortie leagues. In which place of Hochelaga, and (M130) all the way we

went, we met with many of those countriemen, who brought vs fish and such

other victuals as they had, still dancing and greatly reioycing at our

comming. Our Captaine to lure them in, and to keepe them our friends, to

recompence them, gaue them kniues, beades, and such small trifles,

wherewith they were greatly satisfied. So soone as we were come neere

Hochelaga, there came to meete vs aboue a thousand persons, men, women and

children, who afterward did as friendly and merily entertaine and receiue

vs as any father would doe his child, which he had not of long time seene,

the men dauncing on one side, the women on another, and likewise the

children on another: after that they brought vs great store of fish, and

of their bread made of Millet, casting them into our boates so thicke,

that you would haue thought it to fall from heauen. Which when our

Captaine sawe, he with many of his company went on shore: so soone as euer

we were aland they came clustring about vs, making very much of vs,

bringing their young children in their armes, onely to haue our Captaine

and his company to touch them, making signes and shewes of great mirth and

gladnesse, that lasted more than halfe an houre. Our Captaine seeing their

louing kindnesse and entertainment of vs, caused all the women orderly to

be set in aray, and gaue them Beades made of Tinne, and other such small

trifles, and to some of the men he gaue kniues: then he returned to the

boates to supper, and so passed that night, all which while all those

people stood on the shore as neere our boates as they might, making great

fires, and dauncing very merily, still crying Aguiaze, which in their

tonge signifieth Mirth and Safetie.

Chap. 7. How our Captaine with fiue gentlemen and twentie armed men all

well in order, went to see the towne of Hochelaga, and the situation of

it.

(M131) Ovr Captaine the next day very rarely in the morning, hauing very

gorgeously attired himselfe, caused all his company to be set in order to

go to see the towne and habitation of those people, and a certaine

mountaine that is somewhat neere the citie: with whom went also fiue

Gentlemen and twentie Mariners, leauing the rest to keepe and looke to our

boates: we tooke with vs three men of Hochelaga to bring vs to the place.

All along as we went we found the way as well beaten and frequented as can

be, the fairest and best countrey that possibly can be seene, full of as

goodly great Okes as are in any wood in France, vnder which the ground was

all couered ouer with faire Akornes. (M132) After we had gone about foure

or fiue miles, we met by the way one of the chiefest Lords of the citie,

accompanied with many moe, who so soone as he sawe vs beckned and made

signes vpon vs, that we must rest vs in that place where they had made a

great fire, and so we did. After that we had rested our selues there a

while, the said Lord began to make a long discourse, euen as we haue saide

aboue, they are accustomed to doe in signe of mirth and friendship,

shewing our Captaine and all his company a ioyfull countenance, and good

will, who gaue him two hatchets, a paire of kniues and a crosse which he

made him to kisse, and then put it about his necke, for which he gaue our

Captaine heartie thankes. This done, we went along, and about a mile and a

halfe farther, we began to finde goodly and large fieldes, full of such

corne as the countrie yeeldieth. (M133) It is euen as the Millet of

Bresil, as great and somewhat bigger than small peason, wherewith they

liue euen as we doe with ours. (M134) In the midst of those fields is the

citie of Hochelaga, placed neere, and as it were ioyned to a great

mountaine that is tilled round about, very fertill, on the top of which

you may see very farre, we named it Mount Roiall. The citie of Hochelaga

is round, compassed about with timber; with three course of Rampires, one

within another framed like a sharpe Spire, but laide acrosse aboue. The

middlemost of them is made and built, as a direct line, but perpendicular.

The Rampires are framed and fashioned with peeces of timber, layd along on

the ground, very well and cunningly ioyned togither after their fashion.

This enclosure is in height about two rods. It hath but one gate or entrie

thereat, which is shut with piles, stakes, and barres. Ouer it, and also

in many places of the wall, there be places to runne along, and ladders to

get vp, all full of stones, for the defence of it. There are in the towne

about fiftie houses, about fiftie paces long, and twelue, or fifteene

broad, built all of wood, couered ouer with the barke of the wood as broad

as any boord, very finely and cunning ioyned togither. Within the said

houses, there are many roomes, lodgings and chambers. In the middest of

euery one there is a great Court, in the middle whereof they make their

fire. They liue in common togither: then doe the husbands, wiues and

children each one retire themselues to their chambers. They haue also on

the top of their houses certaine garrets, wherein they keepe their corne

to make their bread withall: they call it Carraconny, which they make as

hereafter shall follow. They haue certaine peeces of wood, made hollow

like those whereon we beat our hempe, and with certaine beetles of wood

they beat their corne to powder; then they make paste of it, and of the

paste, cakes or wreathes, then they lay them on a broad and hote stone,

and then couer it with hote stones, and so they bake their bread in stead

of Ouens. (M135) They make also sundry sorts of pottage with the said

corne and also of pease and of beanes, whereof they haue great store, as

also with other fruits, as Muske-Millions, and very great Cowcumbers. They

haue also in their houses certaine vessels as bigge as any But or Tun,

wherein they preserue and keepe their fish, causing the same in sommer to

be dried in the sunne, and liue therewith in winter, whereof they make

great prouision, as we by experience haue seene. All their viands and

meates are without any taste or sauour of salt at all. They sleepe vpon

barkes of trees laide all along vpon the ground being ouer-spread with the

skinnes of certaine wilde Beastes, wherewith they also cloth and couer

themselues. The thing most precious that they haue in all the world they

call Asurgny: it is as white as any snow: they take it in the said riuer

of Cornibotz, in the maner folowing. When any one hath deserued death, or

that they take any of their enemies in Warres, first they kill him, then

with certaine kniues they giue great slashes and strokes vpon their

buttocks, flankes, thighs, and shoulders: then they cast the same bodie so

mangled downe to the bottome of the riuer, in a place where the said

Esurgny is, and there leaue it ten or 12 houres, then they take it vp

againe, and in the cuts find the said Esurgny or Cornibotz. Of them they

make beads, and weare them about their necks, euen as we doe chaines of

gold and siluer, accounting it the preciousest thing in the world. (M136)

They haue this vertue and propertie in them, they will stop or stanch

bleeding at the nose, for we haue prooued it. These people are giuen to no

other exercise, but onely to husbandrie and fishing for their sustenance:

they haue no care of any other wealth or commoditie in this world, for

they haue no knowledge of it, and that is, because they neuer trauell and

go out of their countrey, as those of Canada and Saguenay doe, albeit the

Canadians with eight or nine Villages more alongst the riuer be subiects

vnto them.

Chap. 8. How we came to the Towne of Hochelaga, and the entertainement

which there we had, and of certaine gifts which our Captaine gaue them,

with diuers other things.

So soone as we were come neere the Towne, a great number of the

inhabitants thereof came to present themselues before vs after their

fashion, making very much of vs: we were by our guides brought into the

middest of the towne. They haue in the middlemost part of their houses a

large square place, being from side to side a good stones cast, whither we

were brought, and there with signes were commanded to stay: then suddenly

all the women and maidens of the towne gathered themselues together, part

of which had their armes full of young children, and as many as could came

to rubbe our faces, our armes, and what part of the bodie soeuer they

could touch, weeping for very ioy that they saw vs, shewing vs the best

countenance that possibly they could, desiring vs with their signes, that

it would please vs to touch their children. That done, the men caused the

women to withdraw themselues backe, then they euery one sate downe on the

ground round about vs, as if they would haue shewen and rehearsed some

Comedie or other shew: then presently came the women againe, euery one

bringing a foure square Matte in manner of Carpets, and spreading them

abroad on the ground in that place, they caused vs to sit vpon them. That

done, the the Lord and King of the countrey was brought vpon 9 or 10 mens

shoulders, (whom in their tongue they call Agouhanna) sitting vpon a great

Stagges skinne, and they laide him downe vpon the foresaid mats neere to

the Captaine euery one beckning vnto vs that hee was their Lord and King.

This Agouhanna was a man about fiftie yeeres old: he was no whit better

apparelled then any of the rest, onely excepted, that he had a certaine

thing made of the skinnes of Hedgehogs like a red wreath, and that was in

stead of his Crowne. He was full of the palsie, and his members shronke

togither. After he had with certaine signes saluted our Captaine and all

his companie, and by manifest tokens bid all welcome, he shewed his legges

and armes to our Captaine, and with signes desired him to touch them, and

so he did, rubbing them with his owne hands: then did Agouhanna take the

wreath or crowne he had about his head, and gaue it vnto our Captaine:

that done they brought before him diuers diseased men, some blinde, some

criple, some lame and impotent, and some so old that the haire of their

eyelids came downe and couered their cheekes, and layd them all along

before our Captaine, to the end they might of him be touched: for it

seemed vnto them that God was descended and come downe from heauen to

heale them. Our Captaine seeing the misery and deuotion of this poore

people, recited the Gospel of Saint Iohn, that is to say, In the beginning

was the word; touching euery one that were diseased, praying to God that

it would please him to open the hearts of this poore people, and to make

them know his holy word, and that they might receiue Baptisme and

Christendome: that done, he tooke a Seruice-booke in his hand, and with a

loud voyce read all the passion of Christ, word by word that all the

standers by might heare him: all which while this poore people kept

silence, and were maruellously attentiue, looking vp to heauen, and

imitating vs in gestures. Then he caused the men all orderly to be set on

one side, the women on another, and likewise the children on an other, and

to the chiefest of them he gaue hatchets, to the other kniues, and to the

women beads and such other small trifles. Then where the children were, he

cast rings, counters, and brooches made of Tin, whereat they seemed to be

very glad. That done, our Captaine commanded Trumpets and other musicall

instruments to be sounded, which when they heard, they were very merie.

Then we tooke our leaue and went to our boate: the women seeing that, put

themselues before to stay vs, and brought vs out of their meates that they

had made readie for vs, as fish, pottage beanes, and such other things,

thinking to make vs eate, and dine in that place: but because the meates

had no sauour at all of salt, we liked them not, but thanked them, and

with signes gaue them to vnderstand that we had no neede to eate. When wee

were out of the Towne, diuerse of the men and women followed vs, and

brought vs to the toppe of the foresaid mountaine, which we named Mount

Roiall, it is about a league from the Towne. (M137)

When as we were on the toppe of it, we might discerne and plainly see

thirtie leagues about. On the Northside of it there are many hilles to be

seene running West and East, and as many more on the South, amongst and

betweene the which the Countrey is as faire and as pleasant as possibly

can be seene, being leuell, smooth, and very plaine, fit to be husbanded

and tilled: and in the middest of those fieldes we saw the riuer further

vp a great way then where we had left our boates, where was the greatest

and the swiftest fall of water that any where hath beene seene, and as

great, wide, and large as our sight might discerne, going Southwest along

three faire and round mountaines that wee sawe, as we judged about

fifteene leagues from vs. Those which brought vs thither tolde and shewed

vs, that in the sayd riuer there were three such falles of water more, as

that was where we had left our boates: but because we could not vnderstand

their language, we could not knowe how farre they were from one another.

(M138)

(M139) Moreouer they shewed vs with signes, that the said three fals being

past, a man might sayle the space of three monethes more alongst that

Riuer, and that along the hilles that are on the North side there is a

great riuer, which (euen as the other) commeth from the West, we thought

it to be the riuer that runneth through the Countrey of Saguenay: and

without any signe or question mooued or asked of them, they tooke the

chayne of our Captaines whistle, which was of siluer, and the dagger haft

of one of our fellow Mariners, hanging on his side being of yellow copper

guilt, and shewed vs that such stuffe came from the said Riuer, and that

there be Agouionda, that is as much to say, as euill people, who goe all

armed euen to their finger ends. Also they shewed vs the manner and making

of their armour: they are made of cordes and wood, finely and cunningly

wrought togither. They gaue vs also to vnderstande that those Agouionda

doe continually warre one against another, but because we did not

vnderstand them well, we could not perceiue how farre it was to that

Countrey. Our Captaine shewed them redde Copper, which, in their language

they call Caignetadze, and looking towarde that Countrey, with signes

asked them if any came from thence, they shaking their heads answered no:

but they shewed vs that it came from Saguenay, and that lyeth cleane

contrary to the other. After we had heard and seene these things of them,

we drewe to our boates accompanied with a great multitude of those people:

some of them when as they sawe any of our fellowes weary, would take them

vp on their shoulders, and carry them as on horsebacke. So soone as we

came to our boates we hoysed saile to goe toward our Pinnesse, doubting of

some mischance. Our departure grieued and displeased them very much, for

they followed vs along the riuer as farre as they could: we went so fast

that on Munday being the fourth of October wee came where our Pinnesse

was. The Tuesday following being the fift of the moneth, we hoysed saile,

and with our Pinnesse and boates departed from thence toward the Prouince

of Canada, to the port of the Holy Crosse, where we had left our ships.

The seuenth day we came against a riuer that commeth from the North, and

entred into that riuer, at the entrance whereof are foure little Ilands

full of faire and goodly trees: we named that riuer The riuer of Fouetz:

But because one of those Ilandes stretcheth it selfe a great way into the

riuer, our Captaine at the point of it caused a goodly great Crosse to be

set vp, and commanded the boates to be made readie, that with the next

tide he might goe vp the saide riuer, and consider the qualitie of it,

which wee did, and that day went vp as farre as we could: but because we

found it to be of no importance, and very shallow, we returned and sayled

down the riuer.

Chap. 9. How we came to the Port of the Holy Crosse, and in what state we

found our ships: and how the Lord of the Countrey came to visite our

Captaine, and our Captaine him: and of certaine particular customes of the

people.

Vpon Monday being the 11 of October we came to the Port of the Holy

Crosse, where our ships were, and found that the Masters and Mariners we

had left there, had made and reared a trench before the ships, altogether

closed with great peeces of timber set vpright and verywell fastened

togither: then had they beset the said trench about with peeces of

Artillerie and other necessarie things to shield and defend themselues

from the power of all the countrey. So soone as the Lord of the countrey

heard of our comming, the next day being the twelfth of October, he came

to visite vs, accompanied with Taignoagny, Domagaia, and many others,

fayning to be very glad of our comming, making much of our Captaine, who

as friendly as he could, entertained them, albeit they had not deserued

it. Donnacona their Lord desired our Captaine the next day to come and see

Canada, which he promised to doe: for the next day being the 13 of the

moneth, he with all his Gentlemen and fiftie Mariners very well appointed,

went to visite Donnacona and his people, about a league from our ships.

The place where they make their abode is called Stadaoona. When we were

about a stones cast from their houses, many of the inhabitants came to

meete vs, being all set in a ranke, and (as their custome is) the men all

on one side, and the women on the other, still dancing and singing without

any ceasing: and after we had saluted and receiued one another, our

Captaine gaue them kniues and such other sleight things: then he caused

all the women and children to passe along before him, giuing each one a

ring of Tin, for which they gaue him hearty thankes: that done, our

Captaine was by Donnacona and Taignoagny, brought to see their houses,

which (the qualitie considered) were very well prouided, and stored with

such victuals as the countrey yeeldeth, to passe away the winter withall.

(M140) Then they shewed vs the skins of fiue mens heads spread vpon boards

as we do vse parchment: Donnacona told vs that they were skins of

Toudamani, a people dwelling toward the South, who continually doe warre

against them. Moreouer they told vs, that it was two yeeres past that

those Toudamans came to assault them, yea euen into the said riuer, in an

Iland that lyeth ouer against Saguenay, where they had bin the night

before, as they were going a warfaring in Hognedo, with 200 persons, men,

women, and children, who being all asleepe in a Fort that they had made,

they were assaulted by the said Toudamans, who put fire round about the

Fort, and as they would haue come out of it to saue themselues, they were

all slaine, only fiue excepted, who escaped. For which losse they yet

sorrowed, shewing with signes, that one day they would be reuenged: that

done, we came to our ships againe.

Chap. 10. The maner how the people of that Countrey liue: and of certaine

conditions: of their faith, maners, and customes.

This people beleeue no whit in God, but in one whom they call Cudruaigni:

they say that often he speaketh with them and telleth them what weather

shal follow, whether good or bad. Moreouer they say, that when he is angry

with them he casteth dust into their eyes: they beleeue that when they die

they go into the stars, and thence by litle and little descend downe into

the Horizon, euen as the stars doe, and that then they goe into certaine

greene fields full of goodly faire and precious trees, floures, and

fruits. After that they had giuen vs these things to vnderstand, we shewed

them their error, and told that their Cudruaigni did but deceiue them, for

he is but a Diuell and an euill spirit: affirming vnto them, that there is

but one onely God, who is in heauen, and who giueth vs all necessaries,

being the Creatour of all himselfe, and that onely we must beleeue in him:

moreouer, that it is necessarie for vs to be baptised, otherwise wee are

damned into hell. (M141) These and many other things concerning our faith

and religion we shewed them, all which they did easily beleeue, calling

their Cudruaigni, Agouiada, that is to say, nought, so that very earnestly

they desired and prayed our Captaine that he would cause them to be

baptised, and their Lorde, and Taignoagny, Domagaia, and all the people of

the towne came vnto vs, hoping to be baptised: but because we did not

throughly know their minde, and that there was no bodie could teach them

our beliefe and religion, we excused our selues, desiring Taignoagny, and

Domagaia, to tell the rest of their countreymen, that he would come againe

another time, and bring Priests and chrisome with vs, for without them

they could not be baptised: which they did easily beleeue, for Domagaia

and Taignoagny had seene many children baptised in Britain whiles they

were there. Which promise when they heard they seemed to be very glad.

They liue in common togither: and of such commodities as their countrey

yeeldeth they are indifferently well stored, the inhabitants of the

countrey cloth themselues with the skinnes of certaine wilde beasts, but

very miserably. In winter they weare hosen and shoes made of wilde beasts

skins, and in Sommer they goe barefooted. They keepe and obserue the rites

of matrimonie sauing that euery one weddeth 2 or 3 wiues, which (their

husbands being dead) do neuer marrie againe, but for the death of their

husbands weare a certaine blacke weede all the daies of their life,

besmearing al their faces with cole dust and grease mingled togither as

thicke as the backe of a knife, and by that they are knowen to be

widdowes. They haue a filthy and detestable vse in marrying of their

maidens, and that is this, they put them all (after they are of lawfull

age to marry) in a common place, as harlots free for euery man that will

haue to doe with them, vntill such time as they find a match. This I say,

because I haue seene by experience many housen full of those Damosels,

euen as our schooles are full of children in France to learne to reade.

Moreouer, the misrule and riot that they keepe in those houses is very

great, for very wantonly they sport and dally togither, shewing whatsoever

God hath sent them. They are no men of great labour. They digge their

grounds with certaine peeces of wood, as bigge as halfe a sword, on which

ground groweth their corne, which they call Offici: it is as bigge as our

small peason: there is great quantitie of it growing in Bresill. (M142)

They haue also great store of Muske-milions, Pompions, Gourds, Cucumbers,

Peason and Beanes of euery colour, yet differing from ours. There groweth

also a certaine kind of herbe, whereof in Sommer they make great prouision

for all the yeere, making great account of it, and onely men vse of it,

and first they cause it to be dried in the Sunne, then weare it about

their neckes wrapped in a little beasts skinne made like a little bagge,

with a hollow peece of stone or wood like a pipe: then when they please

they make pouder of it, and then put it in one of the ends of the said

Cornet or pipe, and laying a cole of fire vpon it, at the other ende sucke

so long, that they fill their bodies full of smoke, till that it commeth

out of their mouth and nostrils, euen as out of the Tonnell of a chimney.

They say that this doth keepe them warme and in health: they neuer goe

without some of it about them. We ourselues haue tryed the same smoke, and

hauing put it in our mouthes, it seemed almost as hot as Pepper. The women

of that countrey doe labour much more then the men, as well in fishing

(whereto they are greatly giuen) as in tilling and husbanding their

grounds, and other things: as well the men as women and children, are very

much more able to resist cold then sauage beastes, for wee with our owne

eyes haue seene some of them, when it was coldest (which cold was extreme

raw and bitter) come to our ships starke naked going vpon snow and yce,

which thing seemeth incredible to them that haue not seene it. When as the

snow and yce lyeth on the ground, they take great store of wilde beasts,

as Faunes, Stags, Beares, Marterns, Hares and Foxes, with diuers other

sorts whose flesh they eate raw, hauing first dried it in the sunne or

smoke, and so they doe their fish. As farre foorth as we could perceiue

and vnderstand by these people, it were a very easie thing to bring them

to some familiaritie and ciuility, and make them learne what one would.

The Lord God for his mercies sake set thereunto his helping hand when he

seeth cause. Amen.

Chap. 11. Of the greatnesse and depth of the said riuer, and of the sorts

of beasts, birdes, fishes, and other things that we haue seene, with the

situation of the place.

The said riuer beginneth beyond the Iland of the Assumption, ouer against

the high mountaines of Hognedo, and of the seuen Ilands. The distance ouer

from one side to the other is about 35 or 40 leagues. In the middest it is

aboue 200 fadome deepe. The surest way to sayle vpon it is on the South

side. And toward the North, that is to say, from the said 7 Ilands, from

side to side, there is seuen leagues distance, where are also two great

riuers that come downe from the hils of Saguenay, and make diuers very

dangerous shelues in the Sea. At the entrance of those two riuers we saw

many and great store of Whales and Sea horses. Ouerthwart the said Islands

there is another little riuer that runneth along those marrish grounds

about 3 or 4 leagues, wherein there is great store of water foules. (M143)

From the entrance of that riuer to Hochelaga there is about 300 leagues

distance: the originall beginning of it is in the riuer that commeth from

Saguenay, which riseth and springeth among high and steepe hils: it

entreth into that riuer before it commeth to the Prouince of Canada on the

North side. That riuer is very deepe, high, and streight, wherefore it is

very dangerous for any vessell to goe vpon it. After that riuer followeth

the Prouince of Canada, wherein are many people dwelling in open boroughes

and villages. There are also in the circuit and territorie of Canada,

along, and within the said riuer, many other Ilands, some great, and some

small, among which there is one that containeth aboue ten leagues in

length, full of goodly and high trees, and also many Vines. You may goe

into it from both sides, but yet the surest passage is on the South side.

On the shore or banke of that riuer Westward, there is a goodly, faire,

and delectable bay or creeke, conuenient and fit for to harborough ships.

Hard by there is in that riuer one place very narrow, deepe, and swift

running, but it is not passing the third part of a league, ouer against

the which there is a goodly high piece of land, with a towne therein: and

the countrey about it is very well tilled and wrought, and as good as

possibly can be seene. That is the place and abode of Donnacona, and of

our two men we tooke in our first voyage, it is called Stadacona. But

before we come to it, there are 4 other peopled townes, that is to say,

Ayraste, Starnatan, Tailla, which standeth vpon a hill, Scitadin, and then

Stadagona, vnder which towne toward the North the riuer and port of the

holy crosse is, where we staied from the 15 of September, vntil the 16 of

May 1536, and there our ships remained dry, as we haue said before. That

place being past, we found the habitation of the people called

Teguenondahi, standing vpon an high mountaine, and the valley of Hochelay,

which standeth in a Champaigne countrey. All the said countrey on both

sides of the riuer as farre as Hochelay and beyond, is as faire and plaine

as euer was seene. (M144) There are certain mountaines farre distaines

diuers riuers descend, which fall into the said riuer. All that countrey

is full of sundry sorts of wood and many Vines, vnless it be about the

places that are inhabited, where they haue pulled vp the trees to till and

labour the ground, and to build their houses and lodgings. (M145) There is

great store of Stags, Deere, Beares, and other such sorts of beasts, as

Connies, Hares, Marterns, Foxes, Otters, Beares, Weasels, Badgers, and

Rats exceeding great and diuers other sortes of wilde beasts. They cloth

themselues with the skinnies of those beasts, because they haue nothing

else to make them apparell withall. (M146) There are also many sorts of

birdes, as Cranes, Swannes, Bustards, wild Geese white and grey, Duckes,

Thrushes, Blackbirdes, Turtles, wilde Pigeons, Lenites, Finches,

Red-breasts, Stares, Nightingales, Sparrowes, and other Birdes, euen as in

France. (M147) Also, as we haue said before, the said riuer is the

plentifullest of fish that euen hath of any man bene seene or heard of,

because that from the mouth to the end of it, according to their seasons,

you shall finde all sorts of fresh water fish and salt. There are also

many Whales, Porposes, Seahorses, and Adhothuis, which is a kind of fish

that we had neuer seene or heard of before. They are as great as Porposes,

as white as any snow, their bodie and head fashioned as a grayhound, they

are wont alwaies to abide between the fresh and salt water, which

beginneth betweene the riuer of Saguenay and Canada.

Chap. 12. Of certaine aduertisements and notes giuen vnto vs by those

countreymen, after our returne from Hochelaga.

After our returne from Hochelaga, we dealt, traffickt, and with great

familiaritie and loue were conuersant with those that dwelt neerest vnto

our ships, except that sometimes we had strife and contention with

certaine naughtie people, full sore against the will of the others. Wee

vnderstood of Donnacona and of others, that the said riuer is called the

riuer of Saguenay, and goeth to Sagnenay, being somewhat more then a

league farther Westnorthwest, and that 8 or 9 dayes journeys beyond, it

will beare but small boats. (M148) But the right and ready way to Saguenay

is vp that way to Hochelaga, and then into another that commeth from

Saguenay, and then entreth into the foresaid riuer, and that there is yet

one moneths sayling thither. (M149) Moreouer, they told vs and gave vs to

vnderstand, that there are people clad with cloth as we are, very honest,

and many inhabited townes, and that they haue great store of Gold and red

Copper: (M150) and that about the land beyond the said first riuer to

Hochelaga and Saguenay, is an Iland enuironed round about with that and

other riuers, and that beyond Saguenay the said riuer entereth into two or

3 great lakes, and that there is a Sea of fresh water found, and as they

haue heard say of those of Sanguenay, there was neuer man heard of that

found out the end thereof: for, as they told vs, they themselues were

neuer there. Moreouer they told vs, that where we had left our Pinnesse

when wee went to Hochelaga, there is a riuer that goeth Southwest, from

whence there is a whole moneths sayling to goe to a certaine land, where

there is neither yce nor snow seene, where the inhabitants doe continually

warre one against another, where there is great store of Oranges, Almonds,

Nuts, and Apples, with many other sorts of fruits, and that the men and

women are clad with beasts skinnes euen as they: we asked them if there

were any gold or red copper, they answered no. I take this place to be

toward Florida, as farre as I could perceiue and vnderstand by their

signes and tokens.

Chap. 13. Of a strange and cruell disease that came to the people of

Stadacona, wherewith because we did haunt their company, we were so

infected, that there died 25 of our company.

In the moneth of December, wee vnderstood that the pestilence was come

among the people of Stadacona, in such sort, that before we knew of it,

according to their confession, there were dead aboue 50: whereupon we

charged them neither to come neere our Fort, nor about our ships, or vs.

And albeit we had driuen them from vs, the said vnknowen sicknes began to

spread itselfe amongst vs after the strangest sort that euer was eyther

heard of or seene, insomuch as some did lose all their strength, and could

not stand on their feete, then did their legges swel, their sinnowes

shrinke as blacke as any cole. Others also had all their skins spotted

with spots of blood of a purple coulour: then did it ascend vp to their

ankels, knees, thighes, shoulders, and necke: their mouth became

stincking, their gummes so rotten, that all the flesh did fall off, even

to the rootes of the teeth, which did also almost all fall out. With such

infection did this sicknesse spread itselfe in our three ships, that about

the middle of February, of a hundreth and tenne persons that we were,

there were not ten whole, so that one could not help the other, a most

horrible and pitifull case, considering the place we were in, forsomuch as

the people of the countrey would dayly come before our fort, and saw but

few of vs. There were alreadie eight dead, and more then fifty sicke, and

as we thought, past all hope of recouery. Our Captaine seeing this our

misery, and that the sicknesse was gone so farre, ordained and commanded,

that euery one should deuoutly prepare himselfe to prayer, and in

remembrance of Christ, caused his Image to be set vpon a tree, about a

flight shot from the fort amidst the yce and snow, giuing all men to

vnderstand, that on the Sunday following, seruice should be said there,

and that whosoeuer could goe, sicke or whole, should goe thither in

Procession, singing the seuen Psalmes of Dauid, with other Letanies,

praying most heartily that it would please the said our Christ to haue

compassion vpon vs. Seruice being done, and as well celebrated as we

could, our Captaine there made a vow, that if it would please God to giue

him leaue to returne into France, he would go on Pilgrimage to our Ladie

of Rocquemado. That day Philip Rougemont, borne in Amboise, died, being 22

yeeres olde, and because the sicknesse was to vs vnknowen, our Captaine

caused him to be ripped to see if by any meanes possible we might know

what it was, and so seeke meanes to saue and preserue the rest of the

company: he was found to have his heart white, but rotten, and more then a

quart of red water about it: his liuer was indifferent faire, but his

lungs blacke and mortified, his blood was altogither shrunke about the

heart, so that when he was opened great quantitie of rotten blood issued

out from about his heart: his milt toward the backe was somewhat perished,

rough as it had bene rubbed against a stone. Moreouer, because one of his

thighs was very blacke without, it was opened, but within it was whole and

sound: that done, as well as we could he was buried. In such sort did the

sicknesse continue and increase, that there were not aboue three sound men

in the ships, and none was able to goe vnder hatches to draw drinke for

himselfe, nor for his fellowes. Sometimes we were constrained to bury some

of the dead vnder the snow, because we were not able to digge any graues

for them the ground was so hard frozen, and we so weake. Besides this, we

did greatly feare that the people of the countrey would perceiue our

weaknesse and miserie, which to hide, our Captaine, whom it pleased God

alwayes to keepe in health, would go out with two or three of the company,

some sicke and some whole, whom when he saw out of the Fort, he would

throw stones at them and chide them, faigning that so soone as he came

againe, he would beate them, and then with signes shewe the people of the

countrey that hee caused all his men to worke and labour in the ships,

some in calking them, some in beating of chalke, some in one thing, and

some in another, and that he would not haue them come foorth till their

worke was done. And to make his tale seeme true and likely, he would make

all his men whole and sound to make a great noyse with knocking stickes,

stones, hammers, and other things togither, at which time we were so

oppressed and grieued with that sicknesse, that we had lost all hope euer

to see France againe, if God of his infinite goodnesse and mercie had not

with his pitifull eye looked vpon vs, and reuealed a singular and

excellent remedie against all diseases vnto vs, the best that euer was

found vpon earth, as hereafter shall follow.

Chap. 14. How long we stayed in the Port of the holy Crosse amidst the

snow and yce, and how many died of the said disease, from the beginning of

it to the midst of March.

From the midst of Nouember vntill the midst of March, we were kept in

amidst the yce aboue two fadomes thicke, and snow aboue foure foot high

and more, higher then the sides of our ships, which lasted till that time,

in such sort, that all our drinkes were frozen in the Vessels, and the yce

through all the ships was aboue a hand breadth thicke, as well aboue

hatches as beneath, and so much of the riuer as was fresh, euen to

Hochelaga, was frozen, in which space there died fiue and twentie of our

best and chiefest men, and all the rest were so sicke, that wee thought

they should neuer recouer againe, only three or foure excepted. Then it

pleased God to cast his pitiful eye vpon vs, and sent us the knowledge of

remedie of our healthes and recouerie, in such maner as in the next

Chapter shall be shewed.

Chap. 15. How by the grace of God we had notice of a certaine tree,

whereby we all recouered our health: and the maner how to vse it.

Ovr Captaine considering our estate (and how that sicknesse was encreased

and hot amongst vs) one day went foorth of the Forte, and walking vpon the

yce, hee saw a troupe of those Countreymen comming from Stadacona, among

which was Domagaia, who not passing ten or twelue dayes afore, had bene

very sicke with that disease, and had his knees swolne as bigge as a

childe of two yeres old, all his sinews shrunke together, his teeth

spoyled, his gummes rotten, and stinking. Our Captaine seeing him whole

and sound, was thereat maruellous glad, hoping to vnderstand and know of

him how he had healed himselfe, to the end he might ease and help his men.

So soone as they were come neere him, he asked Domagaia how he had done to

heale himselfe: he answered, that he had taken the juice and sappe of the

leaues of a certain Tree, and therewith had healed himselfe: For it is a

singular remedy against that disease. Then our Captaine asked of him if

any were to be had thereabout, desiring him to shew him, for to heale a

seruant of his, who whilest he was in Canada with Donnacona, was striken

with that disease: That he did because he would not shew the number of his

sicke men. Domagaia straight sent two women to fetch some of it, which

brought ten or twelue branches of it, and therewithall shewed the way how

to vse it, and that is thus, to take the barke and leaues of the sayd

tree, and boile them togither, then to drinke of the sayd decoction euery

other day, and to put the dregs of it vpon his legs that is sicke:

moreouer, they told vs, that the vertue of that tree was, to heale any

other disease: the tree is in their language called Ameda or Hanneda, this

is thought to be the Sassafras tree. (M151) Our Captaine presently caused

some of that drink to be made for his men to drink of it, but there was

none durst tast of it, except one or two, who ventured the drinking of it,

only to tast and proue it; the other seeing that did the like, and

presently recovered their health, and were deliuered of that sickenes, and

what other disease soeuer, in such sorte, that there were some had bene

diseased and troubled with the French Pockes foure or fiue yeres, and with

this drinke were cleane healed. After this medicine was found and proued

to be true, there was such strife about it, who should be first to take

it, that they were ready to kill one another, so that a tree as big as any

Oake in France was spoiled and lopped bare, and occupied all in fiue or

sixe daies, and it wrought so wel, that if all the phisicians of

Mountpelier and Louaine had bene there with all the drugs of Alexandria,

they would not haue done so much in one yere, as that tree did in sixe

dayes, for it did so preuail, that as many as vsed of it, by the grace of

God recouered their health.

Chap. 16. How the Lord Donnacona accompanied with Taignoagny and diuers

others, faining that they would goe to hunt Stags, and Deere, taried out

two moneths, and at their returne brought a great multitude of people with

them, that we were not wont to see before.

While that disease lasted in our ships the lord Donnacona, Taignoagny,

with many others went from home, faining that they would goe to catch

Stags and Deere, which are in their tongue called Aiounesta, and

Asquenoudo, because the yce and snow was not so broken along the riuer

that they could sayle: it was told vs of Domagaia and others, that they

would stay out but a fortnight, and we beleeued it, but they stayed aboue

two moneths, which made vs mistrust that they had bene gone to raise the

countrey to come against vs, and do vs some displeasure, we seeing our

selues so weake and faint. (M152) Albeit we had vsed such diligence and

policie in our Fort, that if all the power of the countrey had bene about

it, they could haue done nothing but looke vpon vs: and whilest they were

foorth, many of the people came dayly to our ships, and brought vs fresh

meat, as Stags, Deere, fishes, with diuers other things, but held them at

such an excessiue price, that rather then they would sell them any thing

cheape, many times they would carie them backe againe, because that yere

the Winter was very long, and they had some scarcity and neede of them.

Chap. 17. How Donnacona came to Stadacona againe with a great number of

people, and because he would not come to visit our Captaine, fained

himselfe to be sore sicke, which he did only to haue the Captaine come see

him.

On the one and twentieth day of April Domagaia came to the shore side,

accompanied with diuers lusty and strong men, such as we were not wont to

see, and tolde vs that their lord Donnacona would the next day come and

see vs, and bring great store of Deeres flesh, and other things with him.

The next day he came and brought a great number of men to Stadacona, to

what end, and for what cause wee knew not, but (as the prouerb sayth) hee

that takes heede and shields himselfe from all men, may hap to scape from

some: for we had need to looke about vs, considering how in number we were

diminished, and in strength greatly weakned, both by reason of our

sicknesse and also of the number that were dead, so that we were

constrained to leaue one of our ships in the Port of the Holy Crosse. Our

Captaine was warned of their comming, and how they had brought a great

number of men with them, for Domagaia came to tell it vs, and durst not

passe the riuer that was betwixt Stadacona and vs, as he was wont to doe,

whereupon we mistrusted some treason. Our Captaine seeing this sent one of

his seruants to them, accompanied with Iohn Poulet being best beloued of

those people, to see who were there, and what they did. The sayd Poulet

and the other fained themselues onely to be come to visit Donnacona, and

bring him certaine presents, because they had beene together a good while

in the sayd Donnaconas Towne. So soone as he heard of their comming, he

got himselfe to bed, faining to bee very sicke. That done, they went to

Taignoagny his house to see him, and wheresoeuer they went, they saw so

many people, that in a maner one could not stirre for another, and such

men as they were neuer wont to see. Taignoagny would not permit our men to

enter into any other houses, but still kept them company, and brought them

halfe way to their ships, and tolde them that if it would please our

captaine to shew him so much fauour as to take a Lord of the Countrey,

whose name was Agonna, of whom hee had receiued some displeasure, and

carie him with him into France, he should therefore for euer be bound vnto

him, and would doe for him whatsoeuer hee would command him, and bade the

seruant come againe the next day, and bring an answere. Our Captaine being

aduertised of so many people that were there, not knowing to what end,

purposed to play a prettie prancke, that is to say, to take their Lord

Donnacona, Taignoagny, Domagaia, and some more of the chiefest of them

prisoners, in so much as before hee had purposed, to bring them into

France, to shew vnto our King what he had seene in those Westerne (M153)

parts, and maruels of the world, for that Donnacona had told vs, that he

had bene in the Countrey of Saguenay, in which are infinite Rubies, Gold,

and other riches, and that there are white men, who clothe themselues with

woollen cloth euen as we doe in France. (M154) Moreover he reported, that

hee had bene in another countrey of a people called Piquemians, and other

strange people. The sayd Lord was an olde man, and euen from his

childehood had neuer left off nor ceased from trauailing into strange

Countreys, as well by water and riuers, as by lande. The sayd Poulet and

the other hauing tolde our Captaine their Embassage, and shewed him what

Taignoagny his will was, the next day he sent his seruant againe to bid

Taignoagny come and see him, and shewe what hee should, for he should be

very well entertained, and also part of his will should be accomplished.

Taignoagny sent him word, that the next day hee would come and bring the

Lord Donnacona with him, and him that had so offended him, which hee did

not, but stayed two dayes, in which time none came from Stadacona to our

shippes, as they were wont to doe, but rather fled from vs, as if we would

have slaine them, so that then wee plainely perceiued their knauery.

(M155) But because they vnderstood, that those of Sidatin did frequent our

company, and that we had forsaken the bottome of a ship which we would

leaue, to haue the olde nailes out of it, the third day following they

came from Stadacona, and most of them without difficulty did passe from

one side of the riuer to the other with small Skiffes: but Donnacona would

not come ouer: Taignoagny and Domagaia stood talking together about an

houre before they would come ouer, at last they came to speake with our

Captaine. There Taignoagny prayed him that hee would cause the foresayd

man to be taken and caried into France. Our Captaine refused to doe it,

saying that his King had forbidden him to bring any man or woman into

France, onely that he might bring two or three yong boyes to learne the

language, but that he would willingly cary him to Newfoundland, and there

leave him in an Island. Our Captaine spake this, onely to assure them,

that they should bring Donnacona with them, whom they had left on the

other side; which wordes, when Taignoagny heard, hee was very glad,

thinking hee should neuer returne into France againe, and therefore

promised to come the next day which was the day of the Holy Crosse, and to

bring Donnacona and all the people with him.

Chap. 18. How that vpon Holyrood day our Captaine caused a Crosse to be

set vp in our Forte: and how the Lord Donnacona, Taignoagny, Domagaia, and

others of their company came: and of the taking of the sayd Lord.

The third of May being Holyroode day, our Captaine for the solemnitie of

the day, caused a goodly fayre crosse of 35 foote in height to bee set vp,

vnder the crosset of which hee caused a shield to be hanged, wherein were

the Armes of France, and ouer them was written in antique letters,

Franciscus primus Dei gratia Francorum Rex regnat. And vpon that day about

noone, there came a great number of the people of Stadacona, men, women

and children, who told vs that their Lord Donnacona, Taignoagny, and

Domagaia were comming, whereof we were very glad, hoping to retaine them.

About two of the clocke in the afternoone they came, and being come neere

our ships, our Captaine went to salute Donnacona, who also shewed him a

merie countenance, albeit very fearefully his eyes were still bent toward

the wood. Shortly after came Taignoagny, who bade Donnacona that he should

not enter into our Forte, and therefore fire was brought forth by one of

our men, and kindled where their Lord was. Our Captaine prayed him to come

into our ships to eate and drinke as hee was wont to do, and also

Taignoagny, who promised, that after a while he would come, and so they

did, and entred into our ships: but first it was told our Captain by

Domagaia that Taignoagny had spoken ill of him, and that he had bid

Donnacona hee should not come aboord our ships. (M156) Our Captaine

perceiuing that, came out of the Forte, and saw that onely by Taignoagny

his warning the women ran away, and none but men stayed in great number,

wherefore he straight commanded his men to lay hold on Donnacona,

Taignoagny, and Domagaia, and two more of the chiefest whom he pointed

vnto: then he commanded them to make the other to retire. Presently after,

the said lord entred into the Fort with the Captaine, but by and by

Taignoagny came to make him come out againe. Our Captaine seeing that

there was no other remedy, began to call vnto them to take them, at whose

crie and voice all his men came forth, and tooke the sayd Lord with the

others, whom they had appointed to take. The Canadians seeing their Lord

taken, began to run away, even as sheepe before the woolfe, some crossing

over the riuer, some through the woods, each one seeking for his owne

aduantage. That done, we retired our selues, and laid vp the prisoners

vnder good guard and safety.

Chap. 19. How the said Canadians the night following came before our ships

to seeke their men, crying and howling all night like Woolues: of the

talke and conclusion they agreed vpon the next day: and of the gifts which

they gaue our Captaine.

The night following they came before our ships, (the riuer being betwixt

vs) striking their breasts, and crying and howling like woolues, still

calling Agouhanna, thinking to speake with him, which our Captaine for

that time would not permit, neither all the next day till noone, whereupon

they made signes vnto vs, that we had hanged or killed him. About noone,

there came as great a number in a cluster, as euer we saw, who went to

hide themselues in the Forest, except some, who with a loud voice would

call and crie to Donnacona to speake vnto them. Our Captaine then

commanded Donnacona to be brought vp on high to speake vnto them, and bade

him be merrie, for after he had spoken, and shewed vnto the King of France

what hee had seene in Saguenay and other countreys, after ten or twelve

moneths, he should returne againe, and that the King of France would giue

him great reward. Donnacona was very glad, and speaking to the others told

it them, who in token of ioy, gaue out three great cryes, and then

Donaconna and his people had great talke together, which for want of

interpreters, cannot be described. Our Captaine bade Donnacona that hee

should cause them to come to the other side of the riuer, to the end they

might better talke together without any feare, and that he should assure

them: which Donnacona did, and there came a boate full of the chiefest of

them to the (M157) ships, and there anew began to talke together, giuing

great praise to our captaine, and gaue him a present of foure and twenty

chaines of Esurgny, for that is the greatest and preciousest riches they

haue in this world, for they esteeme more of that, then of any gold or

siluer. After they had long talked together, and that their Lord sawe that

there was no remedy to auoide his going into France, hee commanded his

people the next day, to bring him some victuals to serue him by the way.

Our Captaine gaue Donnacona, as a great present, two Frying pannes of

copper, eight Hatchets, and other small trifles, as Kniues, and Beades,

whereof hee seemed to be very glad, who sent them to his wiues and

children. Likewise, he gaue to them that came to speake with Donnacona,

they thanked him greatly for them, and then went to their lodgings.

Chap. 20. How the next day, being the fift of May, the same people came

againe to speake vnto their Lord, and how foure women came to the shore to

bring him victuals.

Vpon the fift of May, very early in the morning, a great number of the

sayd people came againe to speake vnto their Lord, and sent a boate, which

in their tongue they call Casnoni, wherein were onely foure women, without

any man, for feare their men should be retained.

These women brought great store of victuals, as great Millet, which is

their come that they liue withall, flesh, fish, and other things, after

their fashion.

These women being come to our shippes, our Captaine did very friendly

entertaine them. Then Donnacona prayed our Captaine to tell these women

that hee should come againe after ten or twelue moneths, and bring

Donnacona to Canada with him: this hee sayd only to appease them, which

our Captaine did: wherefore the women, as well by words as signes, seemed

to be very glad, giuing our Captaine thanks, and told him, if he came

againe, and brought Donnacona with him, they would giue him many things:

in signe whereof, each one gaue our Captaine a chaine of Esurgny, and then

passed to the other side of the riuer againe, where stood all the people

of Stadacona, who taking all leaue of their Lord, went home againe. On

Saturday following, (M158) being the sixt of the moneth, we departed out

of the sayd Port of Santa Croix, and came to the harborough a little

beneath the Island of Orleans, about twelue leagues from the Port of the

Holy Crosse, and vpon Sonday we came to the Island of Filberds, where we

stayed vntil the sixteenth of that moneth, till the fiercenesse of the

waters were past, which at that time ranne too swift a course, and were

too dangerous to come downe along the riuer, and therefore we stayed till

faire weather came. (M159) In the meane while many of Dannaconas subiects

came from the riuer of Saguenay to him, but being by Domagaia aduertised,

that their Lord was taken to bee carried into France they were all amazed:

yet for all that they would not leaue to come to our ships, to speake to

Dannacona, who told them that after twelue moneths he should come againe,

and that he was very well vsed by the Captaine, Gentlemen, and Mariners.

Which when they heard, they greatly thanked our Captaine and gaue their

Lord three bundles of Beauers, and Sea Woolues skinnes, with a great knife

of red copper that commeth from Saguenay, and other things. They gaue also

to our Captaine a chaine of Esurgny, for which our Captaine gaue them ten

or twelue Hatchets, and they gaue him hearty thankes, and were very well

contented. The next day, being the sixteenth of May, we hoysed sayle, and

came from the said Island of Filberds, to another about fifteene leagues

from it, which is about fiue leagues in length, and there, to the end we

might take some rest the night following, we stayed that day, in hope the

next day we might passe and auoide the dangers of the riuer of Saguenay,

which are great. (M160) That euening we went a land and found great store

of Hares, of which we tooke a great many, and therefore we called it the

Island of Hares: in the night there arose a contrary winde, with such

stormes and tempest that wee were constrained to returne to the Island of

Filberds againe, from whence wee were come, because there was none other

passage among the sayde Islandes, and there we stayed till the one and

twentieth of that moneth, till faire weather and good winde came againe:

and then wee sayled againe, and that so prosperously, that we passed to

Honguedo, which passage vntill that time had not bene discouered: wee

caused our ships to course athwart Cape Prat which is the beginning of the

Port of Chaleur: and because the winde was good and conuenient, we sayled

all day and all night without staying, and the next day we came to the

middle of Brions Island, which we were not minded to doe, to the end we

might shorten our way. These two lands lie Northwest, and Southeast, and

are about fiftie leagues one from another. The said Island is in latitude

47 degrees and a halfe. Vpon Thursday being the twenty sixe of the moneth,

and the feast of the Ascension of our Lord, we coasted ouer to a land and

shallow of lowe sandes, which are about eight leagues Southwest from

Brions Island, aboue which are large Champaignes, full of trees and also

an enclosed sea, whereas we could neither see, nor perceiue any gappe or

way to enter thereinto. On Friday following, being the 27 of the moneth,

because the wind did change on the coast, we came to Brions Island againe,

where we stayed till the beginning of Iune, and toward the Southeast of

this Island, wee sawe a lande, seeming vnto vs an Island, we coasted it

about two leagues and a halfe, and by the way we had notice of three other

high Islands, lying toward the Sands: after wee had knowen these things we

returned to the Cape of the sayd land, which doeth diuide it selfe into

two or three very high Capes: the waters there are very deepe, and the

flood of the sea runneth so swift, that it cannot possibly be swifter.

That day we came to Cape Loreine, which is in forty seuen degrees and a

halfe toward the South: on which cape there is a low land, and it seemeth

that there is some entrance of a riuer, but there is no hauen of any

worth. Aboue these lands we saw another cape toward the south, we named it

Saint Paules Cape, it is at 47 degrees and a quarter.

The Sonday following, being the fourth of Iune, and Whitsonday, wee had

notice of the coast lying Eastsoutheast, distant from the Newfoundland

about two and twenty leagues; and because the wind was against vs, we went

to a Hauen, which wee named S. Spiritus Porte, where we stayed till

Tewesday that we departed thence, sayling along that coast vntill we came

to Saint Peters Islands. Wee found along the sayd coast many very

dangerous Islands and shelues, which lye all in the Eastsoutheast and

Westnorthwest, about three and twenty leagues into the sea. Whilest we

were in the sayd Saint Peters Islands we met with many ships of France and

of Britaine, wee stayed there from Saint Barnabas day, being the eleuenth

of the moneth, vntil the sixteenth that we departed thence and came to

Cape Rase, and entred into a Port called Rognoso, where we took in fresh

water, and wood to passe the sea: there wee left one of our boates. Then

vpon Monday, being the nineteenth of Iune, we went from that Port, and

with such good and prosperous weather we sailed along the sea, in such

sorte, that vpon the sixt of Iuly 1536 we came to the Porte of S. Malo, by

the grace of God, to whom we pray, here ending our Nauigation, that of his

infinite mercy he will grant vs his grace and fauour, and in the end bring

vs to the place of euerlasting felicitie. Amen.

Here followeth the language of the countrey, and kingdomes of Hochelaga

and Canada, of vs called New France: But first the names of their numbers.

1 Secada

Tigneni

Hasche

Hannaion

Ouiscon

Indahir

Aiaga

8 Addigue

Madellon

10 Assem

Here follow the names the chiefest partes of men, and other words

necessary to be knowen.

the Head aggonzi

the Browe hegueniascon

the Eyes higata

the Eares abontascon

the Mouth esahe

the Teeth esgongay

the Tongue osnache

the Throat agonhon

the Beard hebelim

the Face hegonascon

the Haires aganiscon

the Armes aiayascon

the Flanckes aissonne

the Stomacke aggruascon

the Bellie eschehenda

the Thighes hetnegradascon

the Knees agochinegodascon

the Legges agouguenehondo

the Feete onchidascon

the Hands aignoascon

the Fingers agenoga

the Nailes agedascon

a Mans member ainoascon

a womans member castaigne

an Eele esgueny

a Snaile vndeguezi

a Tortois heuleuxima

Woods conda

leaues of Trees hoga

God cudragny

giue me some drink quazahoaquea

giue me to breakfast quase hoa quascaboa

giue me my supper quaza hoa quatfriam

let vs goe to bed casigno agnydahoa

a Man aguehum

a woman agruaste

a Boy addegesta

a Wench agniaquesta

a Child exiasta

a Gowne cahata

a Doublet caioza

Hosen hemondoha

Shooes atha

a Shirt amgoua

a Cappe castrua

Corne osizi

Bread carraconny

Water ame

Flesh quahottascon

Reisins queion

Damsons honnesta

Figges absconda

Grapes ozoba

Nuttes quahoya

a Hen sahomgahoa

a Lamprey zisto

a Salmon ondacon

a Whale ainne honne

a Goose sadeguenda

a Streete adde

Cucumber seede casconda

to Morrowe achide

the Heauen quenhia

the Earth damga

the Sunne ysmay

the Moone assomaha

the Starres stagnehoham

the Winde cohoha

good morrow aignag

let vs go to play casigno caudy

come and speak with me assigniquaddadia

looke vpon me quagathoma

hold your peace aista

let vs go with the boat casigno casnouy

giue me a knife buazahca agoheda

a Hatchet adogne

a Bow ahenca

a Darte quaetan

let vs goe a hunting Casigno donnascat

a Stagge aionnesta

a Sheepe asquenondo

a Hare Sourhanda

a Dogge agaya

a Towne canada

the Sea agogasy

the waues of the sea coda

an Island cohena

an Hill agacha

the yce honnesca

Snow camsa

Colde athau

Hotte odazani

Fier azista

Smoke quea

a House canoca

Beanes sahe

Cinnamom adhotathny

my Father addathy

my Mother adanahoe

my Brother addagrim

my Sister adhoasseue

They of Canada say, that it is a moneths sayling to goe a lande where

Cinnamom and Cloues are gathered.

Here endeth the Relation of Iames Cartiers discouery and Nauigation to the

Newfoundlands, by him named New France.

XVI. The third voyage of discouery made by Captaine Iaques Cartier, 1540.

vnto the Countreys of Canada, Hochelaga, and Saguenay.

King Francis the first hauing heard the report of Captaine Cartier his

Pilot generall in his two former Voyages of discouery, as well by writing

as by word of mouth, touching that which hee had found and seene in the

Westerne partes discouered by him in the parts of Canada and Hochelaga,

and hauing also seene and talked with the people, which the sayd Cartier

had brought out of those Countreys, whereof one was king of Canada, whose

name was Donnacona, and others: which after that they had bene a long time

in France and Britaine, were baptized at their owne desire and request,

and died in the sayd countrey of Britaine. (M161) And albeit his Maiestie

was aduertized by the sayd Cartier of the death and decease of all the

people which were brought ouer by him (which were tenne in number) sauing

one little girle about tenne yeeres old, yet he resolued to send the sayd

Cartier his Pilot thither againe, with Iohn Francis de la Roche, Knight,

Lord of Roberual,(20) whome hee appointed his Lieutenant and Gouernour in

the Countreys of Canada and Hochelaga, and the sayd Cartier Captaine

Generall and leader of the shippes, that they might discover more then was

done before in the former voyages, and attaine (if it were possible) vnto

the knowledge of the Countrey of Saguenay, whereof the people brought by

Cartier, as is declared, made mention vnto the King, that there were great

riches, and very good countreys. And the King caused a certaine summe of

money to be deliuered to furnish out the sayd voyage with fiue shippes:

which thing was performed by the sayd Monsieur Roberual and Cartier. After

that they had agreed together to rigge the sayd fiue ships at Saint Malo

in Britaine, where the two former voyages had beene prepared and set

forth. And the said Monsieur Roberual sent Cartier thither for the same

purpose. And after that Cartier had caused the said fiue ships to be built

and furnished and set in good order. Monsieur Roberual came downe to S.

Malo and found the ships fallen downe to the roade, with their yards

acrosse full ready to depart and set saile, staying for nothing else but

the comming of the Generall, and the payment of the furniture. And because

Monsieur Roberual the kings lieutenant had not as yet his artillery,

powder and munitions, and other things necessary come downe, which he had

prouided for the voyage, in the Countreys of Champaigne and Normandie: and

because the said things were very necessary, and that hee was loth to

depart without them, he determined to depart from S. Malo to Roan, and to

prepare a ship or two at Honfleur, whither he thought his things were

come. And that the said Cartier shoulde depart with the fiue shippes which

he had furnished, and should goe before. (M162) Considering also that the

said Cartier had receiued letters from the king, whereby hee did expresly

charge him to depart and set sayle immediatly vpon the sight and receit

thereof, on payne of incurring his displeasure, and to lay all the fault

on him. And after the conclusion of these things, and the said Monsieur

Roberual had taken muster and view of the gentlemen, souldiers, and

mariners which were retained and chosen for the performance of the sayd

voyage, hee gaue vnto Captain Cartier full authoritie to depart and goe

before, and to gouerne all things as if he had bene there in person: and

himselfe departed to Honfleur to make his farther preparation. After these

things thus dispatched, the winde comming faire, the foresayd fiue ships

set sayle together well furnished and victualled for two yeere, the 23. of

May, 1540. (M163) And we sailed so long with contrary winds and continuall

torments, which fell out by reason of our late departure, that wee were on

the sea with our sayd fiue ships full three moneths before wee could

arriue at the Port and Hauen of Canada, without euer hauing in all that

time 30 houres of good wind to serue vs to keepe our right course: (M164)

so that our fiue shippes through those stormes lost company one of

another, all saue that two kept together, to wit that wherein the Captaine

was, and the other wherein went the Viscount of Beaupre, vntill at length

at the end of one moneth wee met all together at the Hauen of Carpont in

Newfoundland. (M165) But the length of time which we were in passing

betweene Britayne and Newfoundland was the cause that we stood in great

neede of water, because of the cattell, aswell Goates, Hogges, as other

beastes which we caried for breede in the Countrey, which wee were

constrained to water with Sider and other drinke. Now therefore because we

were the space of three moneths in sayling on the sea, and staying in

Newfoundland, wayting for Monsieur Roberual, and taking in of fresh water

and other things necessary, wee arriued not before the Hauen of Saincte

Croix in Canada, (where in the former voyage we had remayned eight

moneths) vntill the 23. day of August. (M166) In which place the people of

the Countrey came to our shippes, making shew of ioy for our arriuall, and

namely he came thither which had the rule and gouernment of the Countrey

of Canada, named Agona, which was appointed king there by Donacona, when

in the former voyage we carried him into France. And hee came to the

Captaines ship with 6. or 7. boates, and with many women and children. And

after the sayd Agona had inquired of the Captaine where Donacona and the

rest were, the Captaine answered him, That Donacona was dead in France,

and that his body rested in the earth, and that the rest stayed there as

great Lords, and were maried, and would not returne backe into their

Countrey: the said Agona made no shewe of anger at all these speeches: and

I thinke he tooke it so well because he remained Lord and Gouernour of the

countrey by the death of the said Donacona. (M167) After which conference

the said Agona tooke a piece of tanned leather of a yellow skin edged

about with Esnoguy (which is their riches and the thing which they esteeme

most precious, as wee esteeme gold) which was vpon his head in stead of a

crowne, and he put the same on the head of our Captaine, and tooke from

his wrists two bracelets of Esnoguy, and put them vpon the Captaines

armes, colling him about the necke, and shewing vnto him great signes of

ioy: which was all dissimulation, as afterward it wel appeared. The

captaine tooke the said crowne of leather and put it againe vpon his head,

and gaue him and his wiues certaine smal presents, signifying vnto him

that he had brought certaine new things, which afterward he would bestow

vpon him: for which the sayd Agona thanked the Captaine. And after that he

had made him and his company eat and drinke, they departed and returned to

the shore with their boates. (M168) After which things the sayd Captaine

went with two of his boates vp the riuer, beyond Canada and the Port of

Saincte Croix, to view a Hauen and a small riuer, which is about 4.

leagues higher: which he found better and more commodious to ride in and

lay his ships, then the former. And therefore he returned and caused all

his ships to be brought before the sayd riuer, and at a lowe water he

caused his Ordinance to bee planted to place his ships in more safetie,

which he meant to keep and stay in the Countrey, which were three: which

hee did the day following and the rest remayned in the roade in the

middest of the riuer (In which place the victuals and other furniture were

discharged, which they had brought) from the 26. of August vntill the

second of September, what time they departed to returne for S. Malo, in

which ships he sent backe Mace Iolloberte his brother in lawe, and Steuen

Noel his Nephew, skilfull and excellent pilots, with letters vnto the

king, and to aduertise him what had bene done and found: and how Monsieur

Roberual was not yet come, and that hee feared that by occasion of

contrary winds and tempests he was driven backe againe into France.

The description of the aforesayd Riuer and Hauen.

The sayd Riuer is small, not past 50. pases broad, and shippes drawing

three fathoms water may enter in at a full sea: and at a low water there

is nothing but a chanell of a foote deepe or thereabout. (M169) On both

sides of the said Riuer there are very good and faire grounds, full of as

faire and mightie trees as any be in the world, and diuers sorts, which

are aboue tenne fathoms higher then the rest, and there is one kind of

tree aboue three fathoms about, which they in the Countrey call Hanneda,

which hath the most excellent vertue of all the trees in the world,

whereof I will make mention hereafter. Moreouer there are great store of

Okes the most excellent that euer I saw in my life, which were so laden

with Mast that they cracked againe: besides this there are fairer Arables,

Cedars, Beeches, and other trees, then grow in France: and hard vnto this

wood (M170) on the South side the ground is all couered with Vines, which

we found laden with grapes as blacke as Mulberies, but they be not so kind

as those of France because the Vines bee not tilled, and because they grow

of their owne accord. (M171) Moreouer there are many white Thornes, which

beare leaues as bigge as oken leaues, and fruit like vnto Medlers. To bee

short, it is as good a Countrey to plow and mannure as a man should find

or desire. (M172) We sowed seedes here of our Countrey, as Cabages,

Naueaus,(21) Lettises and others, which grew and sprung vp out of the

ground in eight dayes. The mouth of the riuer is toward the South, and it

windeth Northward like vnto a snake: and at the mouth of it toward the

East there is a high and steepe cliffe, where we made a way in manner of a

payre of staires, and aloft we made a Fort to keepe the nether Fort and

the ships, and all things that might passe by the great as by this small

riuer. (M173) Moreouer a man may behold a great extension of ground apt

for tillage, straite and handsome, and somewhat enclining toward the

South, as easie to be brought to tillage as I would desire, and very well

replenished with faire Okes and other trees of great beauty, no thicker

then the Forrests of France. Here we set twenty men to worke, which in one

day had laboured about an acre and an halfe of the said ground, and sowed

it part with Naueaus or small Turneps, which at the ende of eight dayes,

as I said before, sprang out of the earth. And vpon that high cliffe wee

found a faire fountaine very neere the sayd Fort: (M174) adioyning

whereunto we found good store of stones, which we esteemed to be Diamants.

On the other side of the said mountaine and at the foote thereof, which is

towards the great Riuer is all along a goodly Myne of the best yron in the

world, and it reacheth euen hard vnto our Fort, and the sand which we

tread on is perfect refined Myne, ready to be put into the fornace. And on

the waters side we found certaine leaues of fine gold as thicke as a mans

nayle. And Westward of the said Riuer there are, as hath bene sayd, many

faire trees: and toward the water a goodly Medow full of as faire and

goodly grasse as euer I sawe in any Medowe in France: and betweene the

said Medow and the Wood are great store of Vines: (M175) and beyond the

said Vines the land groweth full of Hempe which groweth of it selfe, which

is as good as possibly may be seene, and as strong. And at the ende of the

sayd Medow within an hundred pases there is a rising ground, which is of a

kind of slate stone blacke and thicke, wherein are veines of mynerall

matter, which shewe like gold and siluer: and throughout all that stone

there are great graines of the sayd Myne. And in some places we haue found

stones like Diamants, the most faire, pollished and excellently cut that

it is possible for a man to see, when the Sunne shineth vpon them, they

glister as it were sparkles of fire.

How after the departure of the two shippes which were sent backe into

Britaine, and that the Fort was begun to be builded, the Captaine prepared

two boates to go vp the great Riuer to discouer the passage of the three

Saults or falles of the Riuer.

(M176) The said Captaine hauing dispatched two ships to returne to carry

newes, according as hee had in charge from the king, and that the Fort was

begun to be builded, for preseruation of their victuals and other things,

determined with the Vicount of Beaupre, and other Gentlemen, Masters, and

Pilots chosen for counsayle, to make a voyage with two boates furnished

with men and victuals to goe as farre as Hochelaga, of purpose to view and

vnderstand the fashion of the Saults of water, which are to be passed to

goe to Saguenay, that hee might be the readier in the spring to passe

farther, and in the Winter time to make all things needefull in a

readinesse for their businesse. (M177) The foresaid boates being made

ready, the Captaine and Martine de Painpont, with other Gentlemen and the

remnant of the Mariners departed from the sayd place of Charlesburg Royal

the seuenth day of September in the yeere aforesayd 1540. And the Vicount

of Beaupre stayed behind for the garding and gouernement of all things in

the Fort. And as they went vp the riuer, the Captaine went to see the Lord

of Hochelay, which dwelleth betweene Canada and Hochelaga: which in the

former voyage had giuen vnto the said Captaine a little girle, and had

oftentimes enformed him of the treasons which Taignoagny and Domagaya

(whom the Captaine in his former voyage had caried into France) would haue

wrought against him. (M178) In regard of which his curtesie the said

Captaine would not passe by without visiting of him, and to let him

vnderstand that the Captaine thought himselfe beholding vnto him, hee gaue

vnto him two yong boyes, and left them with him to learne their language,

and bestowed vpon him a cloake of Paris red, which cloake was set with

yealow and white buttons of Tinne, and small belles. And withall hee gaue

him two Basons of Laton, and certaine hachet and kniues: whereat the sayde

Lord seemed highly to reioyce, and thanked the Captaine. (M179) This done,

the Captaine and his company departed from that place: And wee sailed with

so prosperous a wind, that we arriued the eleuenth day of the moneth at

the first Sault of water, which is two leagues distant from the Towne of

Tutonaguy. And after wee were arriued there, wee determined to goe and

passe as farre vp as it was possible with one of the boates, and that the

other should stay there till it returned: and wee double manned her to

rowe vp against the course or streame of the sayde Sault. (M180) And after

wee had passed some part of the way from our other boate, wee found badde

ground and great rockes, and so great a current, that wee could not

possibly passe any further with our Boate. And the Captaine resolued to

goe by land to see the nature and fashion of the Sault. And after that we

were come on shore, wee founde hard by the water side a way and beaten

path going toward the sayde Saultes, by which wee tooke our way. And on

the sayd way, and soone after we found an habitation of people which made

vs great cheere, and entertained vs very friendly. (M181) And after that

he had signified vnto them, that wee were going toward the Saults, and

that wee desired to goe to Saguenay, foure yong men went along with vs to

shewe vs the way, and they brought vs so farre that wee came to another

village or habitation of good people, which dwell ouer against the second

Sault, which came and brought vs of their victuals, as Pottage and Fish,

and offered vs of the same. After that the Captaine had enquired of them

as well by signes as wordes, how many more Saults we had to passe to goe

to Saguenay, and what distance and way it was thither, this people shewed

vs and gaue vs to vnderstand, that wee were at the second Sault, and that

there was but one more to passe, that the Riuer was not nauigable to goe

to Saguenay, and that the sayd Sault was but a third part farther then we

had trauailed, shewing vs the same with certaine little stickes, which

they layd vpon the ground in a certaine distance, and afterward layde

other small branches betweene both, representing the Saults. And by the

sayde marke, if their saying be true, it can be but sixe leagues by land

to passe the sayd Saults.

(M182) After that we had bene aduertised by the sayde people, of the

things abouementioned, both because the day was farre spent, and we had

neither drunke nor eaten the same day, we concluded to returne vnto our

boats, and we came thither, where we found great store of people to the

number of 400 persons or thereabout, which seemed to giue vs very good

entertainment and to reioyce of our comming: And therefore our Captaine

gaue eche of them certaine small trifles, as combs, brooches of tynne and

copper, and other smal toyes, and vnto the chiefe men euery one his litle

hatchet and hooke, whereat they made certaine cries and ceremonies of ioy.

(M183) But a man must not trust them for all their faire ceremonies and

signes of ioy, for if they had thought they had bene too strong for vs,

then would they haue done their best to haue killed vs, as we vnderstood

afterward. (M184) This being done, we returned with our boats, and passed

by the dwelling of the Lord of Hochelay, with whom the Captaine had left

the two youths as hee came vp the riuer, thinking to haue found him: But

hee coulde find no body saue one of his sonnes, who tolde the Captaine

that hee was gone to Maisouna, as our boyes also told vs, saying that it

was two dayes since he departed. But in truth hee was gone to Canada to

conclude with Angona what they should doe against vs. (M185) And when we

were arriued at our Fort, wee vnderstoode by our people, that the Sauages

of the Countrey came not any more about our Fort as they were accustomed,

to bring vs fish, and that they were in a wonderful doubt and feare of vs.

Wherefore our Captaine, hauing bene aduertised by some (M186) of our men

which had bene at Stadacona to visite them, that there were a wonderfull

number of the Countrey people assembled together, caused all things in our

fortresse to bee set in good order: &c. The rest is wanting.

XVII. A letter written to M. Iohn Growte student in Paris, by Iaques Noel

of S. Malo, the nephew of Iaques Cartier, touching the foresaid discouery.

Master Growte, your brother in law Giles Walter shewed me this morning a

Mappe printed at Paris, dedicated to one M. Hakluyt an Englishman: wherein

all the West Indies, the kingdome of New Mexico, and the countreys of

Canada, Hochelaga, and Saguenay are contained. I hold that the Riuer of

Canada which is described in that Mappe is not marked as it is in my

booke, which is agreeable to the booke of Iaques Cartier: and that the

sayd Chart doth not marke or set downe The great Lake, which is aboue the

Saults, according as the Sauages haue aduertised vs, which dwell at the

sayd Saults. In the foresayd Chart which you sent me hither, the Great

Lake is placed too much toward the North.(22) (M187) The Saults or falles

of the Riuer stand in 44. degrees of latitude: it is not so hard a matter

to passe them, as it is thought: The water falleth not downe from any high

place, it is nothing else but that in the middest of the Riuer there is

bad ground. (M188) It were best to build boates aboue the Saults: and it

is easie to march or trauell by land to the end of the three Saults: it is

not aboue fiue leagues iourney. I haue bene vpon the toppe of a mountaine,

which is at the foot of the Saults, where I haue seene the said Riuer

beyond the sayd Saultes, which shewed vnto vs to be broader then it was

where we passed it. (M189) The people of the Countrey aduertised vs, that

there are ten dayes iourney from the Saults vnto this Great Lake. We know

not how many leagues they make to a dayes iourney. At this present I

cannot write vnto you more at large, because the messenger can stay no

longer. Here therefore for the present I will ende, saluting you with my

hearty commendations, praying God to giue you your hearts desire. From S.

Malo in haste this 19 day of Iune. 1587.

Your louing Friend,

Iaqves Noel.

Cosin, I pray you doe me so much pleasure as to send me a booke of the

discouery of New Mexico, and one of those new Mappes of the West Indies

dedicated to M. Hakluyt the English Gentleman, which you sent to your

brother in law Giles Walter. I will not faile to informe my selfe, if

there be any meane to find out those descriptions which Captain Cartier

made after his two last voyages into Canada.

XVIII. Vnderneath the aforesaid vnperfite relation that which followeth is

written on another letter sent to M. Iohn Growte student in Paris from

Iaques Noel of S. Malo, the grand nephew of Iaques Cartier.

I can write nothing else vnto you of any thing that I can recouer of the

writings of Captaine Iaques Cartier my uncle disceased, although I haue

made search in all places that I could possibly in this Towne: sauing of a

certaine booke made in maner of a sea Chart, which was drawne by the hand

of my said vncle, which is in the possession of master Cremeur: which

booke is passing well marked and drawne for all the Riuer of Canada,

whereof I am well assured, because I myself haue knowledge thereof as

farre as to the Saults, where I haue bene: The height of which Saults is

in 44. degrees. I found in the sayd Chart beyond the place where the Riuer

is diuided in twaine in the midst of both the branches of the said riuer

somewhat neerest that arme which runneth toward the Northwest, these words

following written in the hand of Iaques Cartier.

By the people of Canada and Hochelaga it was said, That here is the land

of Saguenay, which is rich and wealthy in precious stones.

And about an hundred leagues vnder the same I found written these two

lines following in the saide Carde enclining toward the Southwest. Here in

this Countrey are Cinamon and Cloues, which they call in their language

Canodeta.

Touching the effect of my booke whereof I spake vnto you, it is made after

the maner of a sea Chart, which I haue deliuered to my two sonnes Michael

and Iohn, which at this present are in Canada. If at their returne, which

will be God willing about Magdalene tyde, they haue learned any new thing

worthy the writing, I will not faile to aduertise you thereof.

Your louing Friend,

Iaqves Noel.

XIX. Here followeth the course from Belle Isle, Carpont, and the Grand Bay

in Newfoundland vp the Riuer of Canada for the space of 230. leagues,

obserued by Iohn Alphonse of Xanctoigne chiefe Pilote to Monsieur

Roberual, 1542.

Belles Isles are in 51 degrees and 2/3. Belles Isles and Carpont are

Northnorthwest and Southsoutheast, and they are ten leagues distant.

Carpont is in 52 degrees. Carpont and Bell Isle from the Grand Bay are

Northeast and Southwest, and the distance from Bell Isle to the Grand Bay

is 7 leagues. The midst of the Grand Bay is in 52 degrees and an halfe,

and on the Northside thereof there is a rocke: halfe a league from the

Isle, ouer against Carpont toward the East there is a small flat Island,

and on the side toward the Northeast there is a flat rocke. And when thou

commest out of the harborough of Carpont thou must leaue this rocke on the

starreboord side, and also on the larboord side there are two or three

small Isles: and when thou commest out on the Northeast side, ranging

along the shore toward the West about two pikes length in the midway there

is a shold which lyeth on thy starboord side: and saile thou by the North

coast, and leaue two partes of the Grand Bay toward the South; because

there is a rocke which runneth 2 or 3 leagues into the sea. And when thou

art come athwart the hauen of Butes, ran along the North shore about one

league or an halfe of, for the coast is without all danger; (M190) Bell

Isle in the mouth of the Grand Bay, and the Isles of Blanc Sablon, which

are within the Grand Bay, neere vnto the North shore lie Northeast, West

and Southwest, and the distance is 30 leagues. The Grand Bay at the

entrance is but 7 leagues broad from land to land vntill it come ouer

against the Bay des Chasteaux: and from thence forward it hath not past 5

leagues in breadth. And against Blanc Sablon it is 8 leagues broad from

land to land. And the land on the South shore is all low land along the

sea coast. The North shore is reasonable high land, Blanc Sablon is in 51

degrees 2/3. The Isles of Blanc Sablon and the Isles de la Damoiselle are

Northeast, Westsouthwest, and take a little of the Westsouthwest, and they

are distant 36 leagues: these Isles are in 50 deg. 3/4. And there is a

good hauen: and you may enter by an high Cape which lieth along toward the

Northeast and within the distance of a pike and an halfe, because of a

rocke which lieth on your larrebord side, and you may ancre in 10 fathome

water ouer against a little nooke: and from the great headland vnto the

place where thou doest ancre there is not aboue the length of 2 Cables.

And if thou wouldest go out by the West side, thou must saile neere the

Isle by the starrebord, and giue roome vnto the Isle on the larbord at the

comming forth: and when thou art not past a cables length out thou must

saile hard by the Isles on the larbord side, by reason of a suncken flatte

which lieth on the starrebord, and thou shalt saile so on to the

Southsouthwest, vntill thou come in sight of a rocke which shineth, which

is about halfe a league in the sea distant from the Isles, and thou shalt

leaue it on the larrebord: (and from the Isles of Damoiselle vnto

Newfoundland the sea is not in bredth aboue 36. leagues, because that

Newfoundland euen vnto Cape Briton runneth not but Northnortheast and

Southsouthwest.) Between the Isles de la Damoiselle and the Isles of

Blanck Sablon there be many Isles and good harbours: and on this coast,

there are faulcons and haukes, and certaine foules which seeme to be

feasants. The Isles de la Damoiselle and Cape Tienot are Northeast and

Westsouthwest and take a little of the Northeast and southwest, and they

are distant 18. leagues. Cape Tienot is in 50. deg and 1/4. And there the

sea is broadest. And it may be to the end of Newfoundland, which is at the

entrance of Cape Briton 70 leagues, which is the greatest bredth of the

sea. And there are 6 or 7 Isles between the Isles de la Damoiselle and

Cape Tienot. Cape Tienot hath in the sea 5 or 6 leagues distant from it a

suncken Iland dangerous for ships. (M191) The Cape Tienot and the midst of

the Isle of Ascension are Northeast and southsouthwest, and they are 22.

leagues distant, the midst of the Isle of Ascension is in 49. deg and 1/2.

The said Isle lieth Northwest and Southeast, the Northwest end is in 50.

degrees of latitude and the Southeast end is in 48. degrees and a halfe

and it is about 25. leagues long and 4. or 5. leagues broad: and from the

Northwest end of the Isle vnto the firme land of the North side the Sea is

not aboue seven leagues broad, but vnto the firme land on the South side

are about 15. leagues. Cape Tienot and the end of the Isle of Ascention

toward the Southeast are Northeast and Southwest, and are distant 30.

leagues. The said Cape of Tienot and the Northwest end of the Isle of

Ascension are East and West, and take a little of the Northeast and

Southwest, and they are distant 34. leagues.

(M192) The Isle of Ascension is a goodly Isle, and a goodly champion land

without any hilles, standing all vpon white rocks and Alablaster, all

couered with trees vnto the Sea shore, and there are al sorts of trees as

there be in France: and there be wild beasts, as beares, Luserns,

Porkespicks.(23) And from the Southeast end of the Isle of Ascension vnto

the entrance of Cape Briton is but 50. leagues. The Northwest end of the

Isle and the Cape des Monts nostre Dame,(24) which is on the maine land

towards the South, are Northeast and Westsouthwest, and the distance

betweene them is 15. leagues. The Cape is in 49. degrees, which is a very

high land. The Cape and end of the Isle of Ascension toward the Southeast

are East and West and there is 15. leagues distance betweene them. The Bay

of Molues or Gaspay(25) is in 48. degrees, and the coast lyeth North and

South, and taketh a quarter of the Northeast and Southwest vnto the Bay of

Heate(26) and there are 3. Isles, one great one and two smal: from the Bay

of Heate vntill you passe the Monts nostre Dame al the land is high and

good ground al couered with trees. Ognedoc is a good Bay and lyeth

Northnorthwest and Southsoutheast, and it is a good Harbour: and you must

saile along the shore on the Northside by reason of the low point at the

entrance therof: and when you are passed the poynt bring your selfe to an

ancre in 15. or 20. fathoms of water toward the South shore, and here

within this Hauen are two riuers, one which goeth (M193) toward the

Northwest, and the other to the South west.

(M194) And on this coast there is great fishing for Coddes and other fish,

where there is more store then is in Newfoundland, and better fish. And

here is great store of riuer foule, as Malards, wild Geese, and others:

And here are all sorts of trees, Rose trees, Raspesses, Filbrid(27) trees,

Apple trees, Peare trees, and it is better here in Sommer then in France.

The Isle of Ascension and the 7. Isles which lie on the North shore lie

Southeast and Westnorthwest, and are distant 24. leagues. The Cape of

Ognedoc and the 7. Isles are Northnorthwest and Southsoutheast; and are

distant 35. leagues.

(M195) The Cape of Monts nostre Dame and the 7. Isles are North and South,

and the cut ouer from the one to the other is 25. leagues: and this is the

breadth of this Sea, and from thence vpward it beginneth to waxe narrower

and narrower. The 7. Isles are in 50. degrees and 1/2. The 7. Isles and

the poynt of Ongear lie Northeast and Southwest and the distance betweene

them is 15. leagues, and betweene them are certaine small Islands: and the

point of Ongear and the mountaines Nostre Dame, which are on the South

side of the entrance of the riuer, are North and South: (M196) and the cut

ouer from the one to the other is ten leagues: and this is here the

abredth of the Sea. The poynt of Ongear and the riuer of Caen lie East and

West, and they are distant 12. leagues. And all the coast from the Isle of

Ascension hither is very good ground, wherin growe all sorts of trees that

are in France and some fruits. The poynt of Ongear is in 49. degrees and

1/4. And the riuer of Caen and the Isle of Raquelle lye Northeast and

Southwest, and they are distant 12. leagues. The Isle of Raquelle is in

48. degrees and 1/2. In this riuer of Caen there is great store of fish.

And here the Sea is not past 8. leagues broad. The Isle of Raquelle is a

very low Isle, which is neere vnto the South shore, hard by a high Cape

which is called the Cape of Marble. There is no danger there at all. And

betweene Raquelle and the Cape of Marble ships may passe. And there is not

from the Isle to the South shore aboue one league, and from the Isle vnto

the North shore about foure leagues. The Isle of Raquelle and the entrance

of Saguenay are Northeast Westsouthwest, and are distant 14. leagues, and

there are betweene them two small Islandes neere the North shore. The

entrance of Saguenay is in 48. degrees and 1/2, and the entrance hath not

past a quarter of a league in breadth, and it is dangerous toward the

Southwest: and two or three leagues within the entrance it beginneth to

waxe wider and wider: and it seemeth to bee as it were an arme of the Sea:

And I thinke that the same runneth into the Sea of Cathay,(28) for it

sendeth foorth there a great current, and there doth runne in that place a

terrible rase or tyde. (M197) And here the riuer from the North shore to

the South shore is not past foure leagues in breadth, and it is a

dangerous passage betweene both the lands, because there lie bankes of

rockes in the riuer. The Isle of Raquelle and the Isle of Hares lye

Northeast and Southwest, and take 1/2 of the East and the West, and they

are distant 18. leagues. The entrance of Saguenay and the Isle of

Liepueres or Hares lie Northnortheast and Southsouthwest, and are distant

5. leagues. The entrance of Saguenay and the Isle of Raquelle are

Northnorthwest, and Southsouthwest, and are distant three leagues. The

Isle of Hares is in 48 and 1/16 of a degree. From the Mountaines of Nostre

Dame vnto Canada(29) and vnto Hochelaga, all the land on the South coast

is faire, a lowe land and goodly champaigne, all couered with trees vnto

the brink of the riuer. And the land on the North side is higher, and in

some places there are high mountaines. And from the Isle of Hares vnto the

Isle of Orleans the riuer is not past 4 or 5 leagues broad. Betweene the

Isle of Hares and the highland on the North side the sea is not past a

league and a halfe broad, and it is very deepe, for it is aboue 100.

fathoms deepe in the middest. To the East of the Isle of Hares there are 2

or 3 small Isles and rockes. And from hence to the Isle des Coudres or of

Filbeards, all is nothing but Isles and rockes on the South shore: and

towards the North the sea is fayre and deepe. The Isle of Hares and the

Isle of Filbeards lie northeast, West and Southwest, and they are distant

12 leagues. And you must alwayes run along the high land on the north

shore; for on the other shore there is nothing but rocks. And you must

passe by the side of the Isle of Filbeards, and the riuer there is not

past a quarter of a league broad, and you must sayle in the middest of the

Chanel: and in the middest runneth the best passage either at an hie or a

low water, because the sea runneth there strongly, and there are great

dangers of rocks, and you had neede of good ancre and cable. The isle of

Filbeards is a small isle, about one league long, and halfe a league

broad, but they are all banks of sand. The isle of Filberds stands in 47.

deg and 3/4. The isle of Filberds and the isle of Orleans lie northeast

and southwest, and they are distant 10 leagues, and thou must passe by the

high land on the north-side about a quarter of a league, because that in

the midst of the riuer there is nothing but sholds and rocks. (M198) And

when thou shall bee ouer against a round Cape, thou must take ouer to the

South shore southwest, and a quarter toward the south; and thou shalt

sayle in 5. 6 and 7 fathoms: and there the riuer of Canada beginneth to

bee fresh, and the salt water endeth. (M199) And when thou shall be

athwart the point of the isle of Orleans, where the riuer beginneth to be

fresh, thou shalt sayle in the midst of the riuer, and thou shalt leaue

the isle on the starreboord, which is on the right hand: and here the

riuer is not past a quarter of a league broad, and hath 20 and 30 fathoms

water. And towards the South shore there is a ledge of Isles all couered

with trees, and they end ouer against the point of the Isle of Orleans.

And the poynt of the Isle of Orleans toward the Northeast is in 47 degrees

and one terce of a degree. And the Isle of Orleans is a fayre Isle, all

couered with trees even vnto the riuers side: and it is about 5 leagues

long, and a league and an halfe broade. And on the North shore there is

another Riuer, which falleth into the mayne Riuer at the ende of the

Island: and Shippes may very well passe there. From the middest of the

Isle vnto Canada the Riuer runneth West; and from the place of Canada vnto

France-Roy the riuer turneth West Southwest: and from the West ende of the

Isle to Canada is but one league; and vnto France-Roy 4 leagues. And when

thou art come to the end of the Isle thou shalt see a great Riuer which

falleth fifteene or twenty fathoms downe from a rocke, and maketh a

terrible noyse. The Fort of France-roy stands in 47 degrees, and one sixt

part of a degree.

The extension of all these lands, vpon iust occasion is called New France.

For it is as good and as temperate as France, and in the same latitude.

(M200) And the reason wherefore it is colder in the Winter is, because the

fresh Riuer is naturally more colde then the Sea; and it is also broad and

deepe: and in some places it is halfe a league and aboue in breadth.

(M201) And also because the land is not tylled nor full of people, and is

all full of Woods, which is the cause of colde, because there is not store

of fire nor cattel. And the sunne hath his Meridian as high as the

Meridian at Rochel: and it is noone here when the Sunne is at South

Southwest at Rochel. (M202) And here the north starre by the compasse

standeth North northeast. And when at Rochel it is noone, it is but halfe

an houre past nine at France-Roy. From the sayde place vnto the Ocean sea

and the coast of New France, is not aboue 50 leagues distance. And from

the entrance of Norumbega(30) vnto Florida are 300 leagues: and from this

place of France-Roy to Hochelaga, are about 80 leagues: and vnto the Isle

of Rasus 30 leagues. And I doubt not but Norumbega entereth into the riuer

of Canada, and vnto the Sea of Saguenay. And from the Fort of France-Roy

vntill a man come foorth of the Grand Bay is not aboue 230 leagues. And

the course is Northeast and West Southwest not aboue 5 degrees and 1/3

difference: and reckon 16 leagues and an halfe to a degree. By the nature

of the climate the lands toward Hocheslaga are still better and better,

and more fruitfull. And this land is fitte for Figges and Peares. (M203)

And I thinke that gold and siluer will be found here, according as the

people of the countrey say. These landes lye ouer against Tartarie, and I

doubt not but that they stretch toward Asia, according to the roundnesse

of the world. And therefore it were good to haue a small Shippe of 70

tunnes to discouer the coast of New France on the backe side of (M204)

Florida: for I haue bene at a Bay as farre as 42 degrees betweene

Norambega and Florida, and I haue not searched the ende thereof, and I

knowe not whether it passe through.(31) And in all these Countreys there

are okes, and bortz, ashes, elmes, arables, trees of life, pines,

prussetrees, ceders, great wall nut trees, and wilde nuts, hasel-trees,

wilde peare trees, wilde grapes, and there haue bene found redde plummes.

And very faire corne groweth there and peason grow of their owne accord,

gooseberries and strawberries. And there are goodly Forrests, wherein men

may hunt. And there are great store of stagges, deere, porkepicks, and the

Sauages say there bee Vnicornes. Fowle there are in abundance, as

bustards, wilde geese, cranes, turtle doues, rauens, crowes, and many

other birds. All things which are sowen there, are not past two or three

dayes in coming vp out of the ground. I haue tolde in one eare of corne an

hundred and twenty graines, like the corne of France. And ye neede not to

sowe your Wheate vntill March, and it will be ripe in the middest of

August. The waters are better and perfecter then in France. And if the

Countrey were tilled and replenished with people, it would be as hotte as

Rochel. (M205) And the reason why it snoweth there oftener then in France

is, because it raineth there but seldome: for the raine is conuerted into

snowes.

All things aboue mentioned, are true.

Iohn Alphonse made this Voyage with Monsieur Roberual.

There is a pardon to be seene for the pardoning of Monsieur de Saine

terre, Lieutenant of the sayd Monsieur de Roberual, giuen in Canada in the

presence of the sayde Iohn Alphonse.

XX. The Voyage of Iohn Francis de la Roche, knight, Lord of Roberual, to

the Countries of Canada, Saguenai, and Hochelaga, with three tall Ships,

and two hundred persons, both men, women, and children, begun in April,

1542. In which parts he remayned the same summer, and all the next winter.

Sir Iohn Francis de la Roche knight, lord of Roberual, appoynted by the

king as his Lieutenant general in the countreis of Canada, Saguenay, and

Hochelaga, furnished 3. tall Ships, chiefly at the kings cost: And hauing

in his fleete 200. persons, aswel men as women, accompanied with diuers

gentlemen of qualitie, as namely with Monsieur Saineterre his lieutenant,

l’Espiney his Ensigne, captain Guinecourt, Monsieur Noire Fontaine, Dieu

Lamont, Frote, la Brosse, Francis de Mìre, la Salle, and Roieze, and Iohn

Alfonse of Xanctoigne an excellent pilot, set sayle from Rochel the 16. of

April 1542. The same day about noone we came athwart of Chefe de boys,

where we were enforced to stay the night following. On Monday the

seuenteenth of the sayde Moneth wee departed from Chefe de boys. The winde

serued vs notably for a time: but within fewe dayes it came quite

contrary, which hindered our iourney for a long space: For wee were

suddenly enforced to turne backe, and to seeke Harborough in Belle Isle,

on the coast of Bretaigne, where wee stayed so long, and had such contrary

weather by the way, that wee could not reach Newfound lande, vntill the

seuenth of Iune. The eight of this Moneth wee entred into the Rode of

Saint Iohn, where wee founde seuenteene Shippes of fishers. While wee made

somewhat long abode heere, Iaques Cartier and his company returning from

Canada, whither hee was sent with fiue sayles the yeere before, arriued in

the very same Harbour. Who, after hee had done his duetie to our Generall,

tolde him that hee had brought certaine Diamonts, and a quantitie of Golde

ore, which was found in the Countrey. Which ore the Sunday next ensuing

was tryed in a Furnace, and found to be good.

Furthermore, hee enformed the Generall that hee could not with his small

company withstand the Sauages, which went about dayly to annoy him: and

that this was the cause of his returne into France. Neuerthelesse, hee and

his company commended the Countrey to bee very rich and fruitfull. (M206)

But when our Generall being furnished with sufficient forces, commanded

him to goe backe againe with him, hee and his company, mooued as it

seemeth with ambition, because they would haue all the glory of the

discouerie of those partes themselues, stole priuily away the next night

from vs, and without taking their leaues departed home for Bretaigne.

Wee spent the greatest part of Iune in this Harbour of Saint Iohn, partly

in furnishing our selues with fresh water, whereof wee stoode in very

great neede by the way, and partly in composing and taking vp of a quarell

betweene some of our Countreymen and certaine Portugals. At length, about

the last of the aforesayde Moneth, wee departed hence, and entred into the

Grand Baye, and passed by the Isle of Ascension: and finally arriued foure

leagues Westward of the Isle of Orleans. In this place wee found a

conuenient Harbour for our shipping, where wee cast anchor, went a shoare

with our people, and chose out a conuenient place to fortifie ourselues

in, fitte to command the mayne Riuer, and of strong situation against all

inuasion of enemies. Thus towarde the ende of Iuly, wee brought our

victuals and other munitions and prouisions on shore, and began to

trauaile in fortyfying of our selues.

Of the Fort of France Roy, and that which was done there.