[Illustration: Cover art]
[Frontispiece: Landing of the Loyalists, 1783 (Page 260)]
[Illustration: Title page]
ROMANCE OF EMPIRE
CANADA
BY
BECKLES WILLSON
AUTHOR OF 'THE GREAT FUR COMPANY,' 'LEDGER AND SWORD,' ETC.
WITH TWELVE REPRODUCTIONS FROM ORIGINAL COLOURED DRAWINGS BY
HENRY SANDHAM
LONDON: T. C. & E. C. JACK, LTD.
35 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C., & EDINBURGH
1907
TO MY SON
GORDON
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PREFACE
In the following pages is told the history of my native land, as a
sagamore of the olden time might tell the legends of the past to the
young braves of his tribe gathered round the lodge fire. Though
primarily intended for youth, yet there is scarce any one of
intelligence and spirit who may not find some entertainment in
hearing of the doings of the valiant heroes, the bloodthirsty
villains, the virtuous ladies who played their part in the Canadian
drama, and then passed for ever away.
Elsewhere I have given the story of Hudson's Bay,[1] and what is
recounted here of fur-traders and fur-trading forts owes much, as the
reader will expect, to my former book.
[1] _The Great Fur Company_ 1899.
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
CARTIER UNFURLS THE FLAG OF THE LILIES
CHAPTER II
POUTRAINCOURT GOES FORTH TO ACADIA
CHAPTER III
OF THE DOINGS OF GALLANT CHAMPLAIN
CHAPTER IV
ROMANCE OF THE TWO DE LA TOURS
CHAPTER V
THE FOUNDING OF MONTREAL
CHAPTER VI
THE FURY OF THE IROQUOIS
CHAPTER VII
STRANGE DOINGS AT PORT ROYAL
CHAPTER VIII
THE COMING OF FRONTENAC
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CHAPTER IX
"QUEBEC FOR KING LOUIS"
CHAPTER X
KING LOUIS BUILDS A MIGHTY FORT
CHAPTER XI
HOW LOUISBURG SURRENDERED AND WAS GIVEN BACK
CHAPTER XII
THE ACADIANS ARE BANISHED FROM ACADIA
CHAPTER XIII
TERRIBLE FIGHTS OVER THE BORDER
CHAPTER XIV
HOW THE GALLANT WOLFE TOOK QUEBEC
CHAPTER XV
LEVIS AND THE NOBLES RETIRE TO OLD FRANCE
CHAPTER XVI
THE COMING OF THE LOYALISTS
CHAPTER XVII
HOW CANADA'S ENEMY WAS FOILED
CHAPTER XVIII
TRAITORS, REDCOATS, AND REDSKINS
INDEX
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Landing of the Loyalists, 1783 ... Frontispiece
Jacques Cartier and the Redskins
"The Order of a Good Time," 1606
De la Tour refuses to yield his Allegiance, 1630
Maisonneuve covering the Retreat of his Followers, 1644
Dollard strikes his Last Blow, 1658
"My Guns will give my Answer," Frontenac, 1690
Heroic Defence by Madeleine de Verchères and her Brothers, 1692
Wolfe's Army scaling the Cliff at Quebec, 1759
Laura Secord intercepted by the Mohawk Scouts
Meeting of the Nor'-Westers at Fort William, 1816
The Defeat of Louis Riel, Fish Creek, 1885.
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THE ROMANCE OF CANADA
CHAPTER I
CARTIER UNFURLS THE FLAG OF THE LILIES
Nearly four centuries ago, in the spring of the year, the banks of
the river Thames from Windsor to Greenwich were lined with a
multitude of gaily-dressed lieges. Artisans and their wives,
tradesmen and apprentices, farmers in smock frocks, gentlemen in
doublets and hose, and ladies in farthingales, all came out to snatch
a peep of a brave spectacle. From lip to lip ran the news that at
last the royal barge in its crimson and gold trappings had set out
from Windsor. Bluff "King Hal," as the people affectionately termed
their monarch, and his new queen, Anne Boleyn, were that day making
their first voyage together down the Thames to the royal palace at
Greenwich.
Glance at this spectacle but a moment, for, if an English reader and
more familiar with English than with Canadian history, it will serve
to fix the date of my story's opening firmly in your mind. The banks
are re-echoing with loyal cheers, the State {2} bargemen are plying
their oars and the State trumpeters their trumpets, while poor Anne
Boleyn, little dreaming of the fate awaiting her, smiles and nods
merrily at the crowds who wave their silken kerchiefs in the
sunshine. So this first water pageant of the season passes along.
Now, History borrowing something of Romance, has so ordered it that
on this self-same day, the 20th of April 1534, when the English King
was setting out on the river journey with his new queen, on the other
side of the English Channel another and very different embarkation
was taking place, and a very different voyage was begun.
The object of this enterprise was far indeed from pleasure, and its
consequences were very important and far-reaching, not only to the
King of France, but to King Henry the Eighth's successors, the
English people and the British Empire of our own day. Different as
it was, there was here, too, cheering and waving of caps and cries of
"Vive le Roi!" as the soldiers, sailors, and townsfolk on the dock at
St. Malo bade lion-hearted Jacques Cartier godspeed on his
adventurous voyage to the New World.
At this time, you must bear in mind, more than forty years had
elapsed since Christopher Columbus had returned to Spain with tidings
of his glorious discovery on the other side of the Atlantic. When
Jacques Cartier, son of a Breton mariner, was born, all Europe was
still ringing with the news. As the child grew up he heard tales of
how often famous mariners had in turn sailed boldly to the west and
{3} claimed for Spain, Portugal, and England the lands which might
lead to India and serve as gateway to the Spice Islands of the East.
Amongst these sailors were John Cabot and his son Sebastian, who,
although themselves Venetians, sailed from the port of Bristol and
flew the English flag. In 1498 the Cabots explored the whole coast
of North America from Labrador to South Carolina, and were the first
Europeans actually to land in the country we to-day know as Canada.
After the Cabots, who claimed the whole northern lands for England,
came, a quarter of a century later, a Florentine navigator, named
Verrazano, who declared the entire region annexed to the French
Crown. And now, because of Verrazano's claim, King Francis of France
was sending Jacques Cartier forth from St. Malo with two little ships
and 120 men to explore inland and set up the French flag and a French
colony in a New France beyond the sea. So this Frenchman, valiant,
lean, and rugged, with his little band of compatriots, sailed away on
that April day while Bluff King Hal of England was merrymaking on the
Thames, well content with his little isle of England, giving no
thought to Empire or distant deeds of discovery and conquest amongst
the savage nations of the earth.
Straight towards the setting sun steered Cartier and his men. As
they were not buffeted greatly by the waves, in twenty days' time, on
the 10th of May, they reached the straits which led to the gulf and
river of St. Lawrence. How their hearts leapt when they sighted
land! On their left they saw the great island of Newfoundland and on
the right Labrador's {4} bleak shores stretched before them.
"Surely," cried Cartier, "this is Cain's portion of the earth!" But
their spirits rose when they sailed into the Gulf and came to rich
forests of pine, maple, and ash, with abundance of blossom and wild
berries on every hand. They had been afraid that the interior was as
desolate as their first glimpse of Labrador. The few Indians on the
banks gazed upon them with a wondering but friendly eye. The
explorers were unprepared, too, for the great heat which overtook
them. By day the land was bathed in intense sunshine, and at night a
gorgeous moon lit up the broad waters, while owls and bats wheeled in
air heavily perfumed with wild shrubs and flowers. A bay in which he
anchored Cartier called Baie des Chaleurs. Sailing on, he came to a
promontory, which he christened Cape Gaspé, where he landed and set
up a cross 30 feet high. On its front was a shield with the arms of
France. As you travel through Eastern Canada to-day you will
frequently come upon crosses by the wayside, where the country folk
kneel and say their prayers. This at Gaspé was the first cross
erected in New France. While the pious sailors were erecting it a
number of red-men flocked near and surveyed the proceeding jealously,
as if the white newcomers were about to charm away their land; but
Cartier explained as best he could to their medicine-men and
distributed amongst them some knives and trinkets, of which he had
brought out hither a goodly store.
Having quieted their suspicions, Cartier lured two of the young
red-men into his ship, wishing to {5} show them, on his return, to
the King. Cartier had meant to continue his voyage much farther
westward, but adverse winds met him, wherefore, abandoning this
resolution, and taking counsel with his officers and pilots, he
decided to set sail for France. As truly as Columbus he had
discovered a new world, and from the two natives whom he bore away
Jacques Cartier had learnt of the existence of the great river St.
Lawrence. So much interest was awakened in France by Cartier's
narrative of his voyage, that there was no difficulty about procuring
the money for another expedition. The French Court and people were
filled with enthusiasm about Canada, and so they continued to be for
more than two centuries. How their hope and confidence were rewarded
we shall see in due time.
When Jacques Cartier again took his departure from St. Malo, in May
1535, he commanded three ships and 110 sailors. A number of nobles
and gentlemen, moreover, belonging to some of the proudest families
in France, went with him, eager for adventure. They thought, as
marine adventurers often thought in those days, that this time surely
they would find the gateway to the passage of Cathay and win wealth
untold. But they were not so lucky as at first; the winds were so
bad that seven weeks elapsed before Cartier reached the Straits of
Belle Isle. From this point the squadron steered for the Gulf St.
Lawrence, so named by Cartier in honour of the saint upon whose day
it was discovered. Keeping on, as his Indian interpreters bade him
do, he sailed up that stream which the Indians called "The Great
River of Canada."
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Can you wonder at Cartier and his attendant nobles feeling a thrill
of excitement as the landscape no white man had ever seen before
slowly unfolded itself to view? Opposite the great mouth of the
mysterious Saguenay red-men in birch bark canoes came to greet them.
Their two interpreters could exchange language with these, although
their many months' residence in France had made them very different
in appearance from their brother savages of Canada. They wore now
slashed crimson doublets and brilliant striped hose, while the
massive feathers in their heads caused the Canadian Indians to regard
them as chiefs of great renown. Cartier led his ships on to what the
natives called "The Kingdom of Canada," which stretched along the St.
Lawrence as far as the Island of Montreal, where the King of
Hochelaga held his sway. To the fertile Isle of Orleans, which
Cartier reached on the 9th of September, he gave the name of Isle of
Bacchus, on account of the abundant grape vines growing upon it.
From here the explorer could see on the north bank of the great river
a towering promontory lit up by the morning sun. This was Cape
Diamond, at whose base there crouched the Indian village of
Stadacona. Cartier anchored here his little fleet, and the chief of
the neighbouring tribe, Donacona, came to greet him, with twelve
canoes full of warriors. After a speech of welcome, the women of the
tribe, or squaws, danced and sang without ceasing, standing in water
up to their knees.
Jacques Cartier was delighted with the country he had discovered, and
lost no time in deciding to proceed {7} up the river as far as
Hochelaga. Donacona and the other chiefs, on hearing this, did their
utmost to dissuade him by inventing stories about the dangers of the
river. Perceiving these made little impression on the sturdy sailor,
three Indians were forthwith dressed as devils, "with faces painted
as black as coal, with horns as long as the arm, and covered with the
skins of black and white dogs." Cartier was told that these devils
were the servants of the Indian god at Hochelaga, who warned the
European strangers that "there was so much snow and ice that all
would die." To their astonishment, however, Cartier only laughed at
such tricks, and told them that "their god was a mere fool, and that
Jesus would preserve them from all danger if they would believe in
Him." Wishing also to impress upon them his own great power, he
ordered several pieces of artillery to be discharged in the presence
of the chief and his warriors; whereupon they became filled with
astonishment and dread. Never before had they heard such terrible
sounds. What were these strangers who could produce thunder at will?
To reassure them, the "pale-face" chief distributed trinkets, small
crosses, beads, pieces of glass, and other trifles amongst them and
sailed on boldly up the river.
In a fortnight a town, consisting of about fifty large huts or cabins
surrounded by wooden palisades, came into view; 1200 souls belonging
to a tribe called the Algonquins dwelt here in Hochelaga. The whole
population assembled on the banks and gave the visitors friendly
welcome. All that night the savages remained on the shore, burning
bonfires, {8} dancing, and crying out "Aguaze!" which was their word
for welcome and joy. The poor Indians took Cartier and his men for
gods. He distributed gifts amongst them and professed to heal their
ailments.
[Illustration: Jacques Cartier and the Red-skins]
Near the town of Hochelaga was a mountain, to which the Indians
conducted their visitors. From the summit this first band of
Europeans in Canada gazed down at the wonderful panorama spread
before their eyes, glistening rivers, green meadows, and forests of
maple brilliant in autumn scarlets and yellows. Naming this lofty
eminence Mount Royal, Jacques Cartier and his companions returned to
Stadacona. Having decided to spend the winter in Canada, a fort was
forthwith built on the shore, but before the little colony could be
more than half prepared, a fierce Canadian blizzard was upon them.
Never had they known such cold and such tempests. From their lack of
fresh food, scurvy rioted amongst them, and out of 110 men 25 died.
When the disease was at its height an Indian told them that they
could be cured by the juice of a spruce tree. Out of their fort they
ran with the axes, and so quickly did they drink the juice that in
six days the whole of a great tree had been consumed.
Thus was the little colony made well again. Lest the Indians should
know how weak they were during that terrible winter, they continued
to dread; but no attack was made upon them, and in the spring Cartier
made ready to return to France. This time Donacona and four other
chiefs were seized by stratagem and taken on board ship. A cross 30
feet high, with the fleur-de-lys fastened to {9} it, was set up on
the shore, and in the middle of May the waters of the St. Lawrence
began to bear them down to the Gulf and the open Atlantic. Exactly
one month later Cartier was being greeted by the cheers of the people
of his native St. Malo.
Alas! Donacona and the other Indian braves whom the French had borne
away never returned to Stadacona and their forest haunts. Before
Cartier was ready to make another voyage to Canada, five years later,
all had pined away and died. It was then that the Sieur de Roberval,
a nobleman of Picardy, was appointed by King Francis as lieutenant,
with the high-sounding titles of Governor of Canada, Hochelaga,
Saguenay, Newfoundland, Belle Isle, Carpunt, Labrador, the Great Bay,
and of Baccalaos, as well as Lord of Norembaga, which latter country
existed only in imagination. Roberval meant to have gone out with
Cartier, but was detained until the following year. On his third
voyage Jacques Cartier visited Hochelaga and tried to pass up the
river beyond the village, but the dangerous rapids of Lachine caused
him to pause. When he returned to France a year later, he took with
him some small transparent stones which he supposed were diamonds,
but which were really only quartz crystals; he also carried away what
he deemed to be gold ore, but which turned out to be merely mica. On
the way back he met the Sieur de Roberval, who afterwards built a
fort on the St. Lawrence and explored the surrounding country. But
Roberval wrought nothing, and famine at length reduced the survivors
to a state of abject dependence upon the natives. In vain Roberval
entreated the {10} King to come to his rescue with supplies of
colonists, food, and ammunition. Instead of acceding to this
petition, King Francis despatched orders for his lieutenant to return
home to France. Roberval reluctantly obeyed, and thus this first
attempt to establish a French colony on the banks of the St. Lawrence
ended in failure.
Cartier was allowed by the King to bear always the title of
"Captain." He undertook no more voyages into unknown lands, but died
about 1577 in his own manor-house close to St. Malo. While he was
thus spending his later years in an enforced retirement, eating his
heart out for want of adventure, a daring Spaniard, De Soto, was
facing dangers at the other and southern end of the Continent, close
to the triple mouths of the Mississippi, which he had discovered.
King Francis of France, years before, had been stricken by death, and
thereupon his country became plunged in unhappy civil war. Catholic
and Huguenot dipped their blades in each other's blood; but in the
midst of the long and deadly strife Canada was not wholly forgotten.
Frenchmen still spoke with pride of the valiant Cartier and the flag
of the lilies which he had unfurled in the Western world.
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