shaken by this tempest of human passions. But I also saw, very
clearly that if fire and arms were once put into the hands of badly
disciplined men, the masters have much to fear and suffer from
their own servants. I do not know that there was one who closed
his eyes during that night. For me, I made many fine propositions
and promises to Our Lord, never to forget this, his goodness, if
he were pleased to avert all bloodshed. This he granted in his
infinite mercy.
Il estoit trois heures aprés midy du jour suyvant, que je n'avois pas
eu encores loysir de sentir la faim, tant j'estois empesché à aller et
venir des uns aux autres. Enfin environ ce temps là, tout fut accoysé,
Dieu mercy.
It was three o'clock in the afternoon of the next day before I
had time to feel hungry, so constantly had I been obliged to go
back and forth from one to the other. At last, about that time
everything was settled, thank God.
Certes le capitaine Merveilles et ses gens monstrerent leur piété
non vulgaire. Car nonobstant cet heurt et rencontre si troublant, le
deuxiesme jour [61] d'après, ils se confesserent et communierent avec
grand exemple, et si, à nostre départir, ils me prierent instamment
trestous et par spécial le jeune du Pont, de les aller veoir et
demeurer avec eux à ma commodité. Ie leur promis d'ainsy le faire, et
n'en attends que les moyens. Car de vray j'ayme ces gens de bien de
tout mon cœur.
Certainly captain Merveilles and his people showed unusual piety.
For notwithstanding this so annoying encounter and conflict, two
days [61] afterwards they confessed and took communion in a very
exemplary manner; and so, at our departure, they all begged me very
earnestly, and particularly young du Pont, to come and see them
and stay with them as long as I liked. I promised to do so, and am
only waiting for the opportunity. For in truth I love these honest
people with all my heart.
Mais, départans un peu de pensée d'avec eux, comme nous fismes lors de
presence, continuons nostre route et voyage. Au retour de cette rivière
Sainct Jean, nostre voyage s'addressoit jusques aux Armouchiquoys. Deux
causes principales esmouvoyent à cela M. de Biancourt: la premiere,
pour avoir nouvelle des Angloys, et sçavoir si on pourroit avoir raison
d'eux; la seconde affin de troquer du bled armouchiquoys, pour nous
ayder à passer nostre hyver, et ne point mourir de faim, en cas que
nous ne receussions aucun secours de France.
But dismissing them from our thoughts for the time being, as we
did then from our presence, let us continue our journey. Upon
our return from this river Saint John, our route turned towards
the country of the Armouchiquoys. Two principal causes led M. de
Biancourt to take this route: first, in order to have news of
the English, and to find out if it would be possible to obtain
satisfaction from them; secondly, to buy some armouchiquoys corn to
help us pass the winter, and not die of hunger in case we did not
receive help from France.
Pour entendre la première cause, faut sçavoir que peu auparavant,
le capitaine Platrier de Honfleur, cy devant nommé, voulant aller
à Kinibéqui, il fut saisy prisonnier par deux navires angloys qui
estoient en une isle appelée Emmetenic, à 8 lieües dudit Kinibéqui.
Son relaschement fut moyennant quelques presents (ainsy parle-t-on
pour parler doucement) et la promesse qu'il fit d'obtemperer aux
prohibitions à luy faictes, de point negotier en toute [62] cette
coste. Car les Angloys s'en veulent dire maistres, et sur ce ils
produysoyent des lettres de leur Roy, mais à ce que nous croyons
fausses.
To understand the first cause you must know that, a little while
before, captain Platrier, of Honfleur, already mentioned, wishing
to go to Kinibéqui, was taken prisoner by two English ships
which were at an island called Emmetenic,[85] eight leagues from
Kinibéqui. His release was effected by means of presents (this
expresses it mildly), and by his promise to comply with the
interdictions laid upon him not to trade anywhere upon all [62]
this coast. For the English want to be considered masters of it,
and they produced letters from their King to this effect, but these
we believe to be false.
Or Monsieur de Biancourt ayant ouy tout cecy de la bouche mesme du
capitaine Platrier, il remontra serieusement à ces gens combien il
importoit à luy, officier de la Couronne et Lieutenant de son pere,
combien aussy à tout bon Françoys, d'aller au rencontre de cette
usurpation des Anglois tant contrariante aux droits et possessions de
sa Majesté. "Car, disoit-il, il est à tous notoire (pour ne reprendre
l'affaire de plus hault) que le grand Henry, que Dieu absolve, suyvant
les droicts acquis par ses prédecesseurs et luy, donna à Monsieur des
Monts, l'an 1604, toute cette région depuis le 40^{e} degré d'élévation
jusques au 46. Depuis laquelle donation ledit Seigneur des Monts, par
soy mesme et par Monsieur de Potrincourt, mon très-honoré pere, son
lieutenant, et par autres, a prins souvent reelle possession de toute
la contrée, et trois et quatre ans avant que jamais les Angloys ayent
habitué, ou que jamais on aye rien entendu de cette leur vindication."
Ceci et plusieurs autres choses discouroit ledit Sieur de Biancourt
encourageant ses gens.
Now, Monsieur de Biancourt, having heard all this from the mouth of
captain Platrier himself, remonstrated earnestly with these people,
showing how important it was to him, an officer of the Crown
and his father's Lieutenant, and also how important to all good
Frenchmen, to oppose this usurpation of the English, so contrary
to the rights and possessions of his Majesty. "For," said he, "it
is well known to all (not to go back any farther in the case) that
the great Henry, may God give him absolution, in accordance with
the rights, acquired by his predecessors and by himself, gave to
Monsieur des Monts, in the year 1604, all this region from the 40th
to the 46th parallel of latitude. Since this donation, the said
Seigneur des Monts, himself and through Monsieur de Potrincourt,
my very honored father, his lieutenant, and through others, has
frequently taken actual possession of all the country; and this,
three or four years before the English had ever frequented it, or
before anything had ever been heard of these claims of theirs."
This and several other things were said by Sieur de Biancourt to
encourage his people.
Moy, j'avois deux autres causes qui me poussoyent au mesme voyage:
l'une, pour accompagner [63] d'ayde spirituel ledict Sieur de Biancourt
et ses gens; l'autre, pour cognoistre et voir la disposition de ces
nations à recevoir le saint evangile. Telles doncques estoyent les
causes de nostre voyage.
As for me, I had two other reasons which impelled me to take this
journey: One, to give [63] spiritual aid to Sieur de Biancourt and
his people; the other, to observe and to study the disposition of
these nations to receive the holy gospel. Such, then, were the
causes of our journey.
Nous arrivasmes à Kinibequi, 80 lieuës de Port-Royal, le 28 d'octobre,
jour de S. Simon et S. Jude, de la mesme année 1611. Aussy tost nos
gens mirent pied à terre, desireux de veoir le fort des Angloys; car
nous avions appris par les chemins, qu'il n'y avoit personne. Or, comme
de nouveau tout est beau, ce fust à louër et vanter cette entreprise
des Angloys, et raconter les commodités du lieu; chacun en disoit ce
que plus il prisoit. Mais de là à quelques jours, on changea bien
d'advis; car on vid y avoir beau moyen de faire un contrefort qui les
eust emprisonnés et privés de la mer et de la riviere; item que quand
bien on les eust laissez là, si n'eussent-ils point jouy pourtant des
commodités de la riviere, puisqu'elle a plusieurs autres et belles
emboucheures bien distantes de là. Davantage, ce qu'est le pis, nous ne
croyons pas que de là à six lieuës à l'entour il y ayt un seul arpent
de terre bien labourable, le sol n'estant tout de pierre et roche. Or,
d'autant que le vent nous contrarioit à passer outre, le troisiesme
jour venu, Monsieur de Biancourt [64] tourna l'incident en conseil
et se delibera de recevoir l'ayde du vent, à refouler contremont la
riviere, pour la bien recognoistre.
We arrived at Kinibéqui, eighty leagues from Port Royal, the 28th
of October, the day of St. Simon and St. Jude, of the same year,
1611. Our people at once disembarked, wishing to see the English
fort, for we had learned, on the way, that there was no one there.
Now as everything is beautiful at first, this undertaking of the
English had to be praised and extolled, and the conveniences of
the place enumerated, each one pointing out what he valued the
most. But a few days afterward they changed their views; for they
saw that there was a fine opportunity for making a counter-fort
there, which might have imprisoned them and cut them off from the
sea and river; moreover, even if they had been left unmolested
they would not have enjoyed the advantages of the river, since it
has several other mouths, and good ones, some distance from there.
Furthermore, what is worse, we do not believe that, in six leagues
of the surrounding country, there is a single acre of good tillable
land, the soil being nothing but stones and rocks. Now, inasmuch
as the wind forced us to go on, when the third day came, Monsieur
de Biancourt [64] considered the subject in council and decided
to take advantage of the wind and go on up the river, in order to
thoroughly explore it.
Nous avions advancé jà bien trois lieuës, et le flot nous manquant
nous estions mis à l'anchre au milieu de la riviere; quand voicy que
nous descouvrons six canots Armouchiquois venir à nous. Ils estoyent
24 personnes dedans, tous gens de combat. Ils firent mille tentatives
et ceremonies avant que nous aborder. Vous les eussiez parfaictement
comparez à une troupe d'oyseaux, laquelle desire d'entrer en une
cheneviere, mais elle craind l'espouvantail. Cela nous plaisoit fort,
car aussy nos gens avoyent besoin de temps pour s'armer et pavier.
Enfin ils vindrent et revindrent, ils recogneurent, considererent
finement nostre nombre, nos pieces, nos armes, tout; et la nuict venuë,
ils se logerent à l'autre bord du fleuve, sinon hors la portée, du
moins hors la mire de nos canons.
We had already advanced three good leagues, and had dropped
anchor in the middle of the river waiting for the tide, when we
suddenly discovered six Armouchiquois canoes coming towards us.
There were twenty-four persons therein, all warriors. They went
through a thousand maneuvers and ceremonies before accosting us,
and might have been compared to a flock of birds which wanted to
go into a hemp-field but feared the scarecrow. We were very much
pleased at this, for our people also needed to arm themselves and
arrange the pavesade. In short, they continued to come and go; they
reconnoitred; they carefully noted our numbers, our cannon, our
arms, everything; and when night came they camped upon the other
bank of the river, if not out of reach, at least beyond the aim of
our cannon.
Toute la nuit ce ne fust que haranguer, chanter, danser; car telle est
la vie de toutes ces gens lorsqu'ils sont en troupe. Or comme nous
presumions probablement que leurs chants et danses estoyent invocations
du diable, pour contrecarrer l'empire de ce maudict tyran, je fis que
nos gens chantassent [65] quelques hymnes eclesiastiques, comme le
_Salve_, l'_Ave Maris stella_ et autres. Mais comme ils furent une
fois en train de chanter, les chansons spirituelles leur manquant,
ils se jetterent aux autres qu'ils sçavoyent. Estant encores à la fin
de celles cy, comme c'est le naturel du François de tout imiter, ils
se prindrent à contrefaire le chant et danse des Armouchiquois, qui
estoyent à la rive, les contrefaisant si bien en tout, que, pour les
escouter, les Armouchiquois se taysoient; et puis nos gens se taysans,
reciproquement eux recommençoyent. Vrayment il y avoit beau rire: car
vous eussiés dict que c'estoyent deux chœurs qui s'entendoient fort
bien, et à peine eussiés vous pû distinguer le vray Armouchiquois
d'avec le feinct.
All night there was continual haranguing, singing and dancing,
for such is the kind of life all these people lead when they are
together. Now as we supposed that probably their songs and dances
were invocations to the devil, to oppose the power of this cursed
tyrant, I had our people sing [65] some sacred hymns, as the
_Salve_, the _Ave Maris Stella_, and others. But when they once
got into the way of singing, the spiritual songs being exhausted,
they took up others with which they were familiar. When they came
to the end of these, as the French are natural mimics, they began
to mimic the singing and dancing of the Armouchiquois who were
upon the bank, succeeding in it so well that the Armouchiquois
stopped to listen to them; and then our people stopped and the
others immediately began again. It was really very comical, for
you would have said that they were two choirs which had a thorough
understanding with each other, and scarcely could you distinguish
the real Armouchiquois from their imitators.
Le matin venu, nous poursuyvions notre route contremont. Eux, nous
ayans accompagnez, nous dirent que si nous voulions du _piousquemin_
(c'est leur bled), que nous debvions avec facilité prendre à droicte,
et non avec grand travail et danger aller contremont; que prenant à
droicte par le bras qui se monstroit, en peu d'heures, nous arriverions
vers le grand sagamo Meteourmite, qui nous fourniroit de tout; qu'ils
nous y serviroient de guides, car aussy bien s'en alloyent ils le
visiter.
In the morning we continued our journey up the river. The
Armouchiquois, who were accompanying us, told us that if we wanted
any _piousquemin_ (corn), it would be better and easier for us
to turn to the right and not, with great difficulty and risk, to
continue going up the river; that if we turned to the right through
the branch which was just at hand, in a few hours we would reach
the great sagamore Meteourmite, who would furnish us with all we
wanted; that they would act as our guides, since they themselves
were going to visit him.
Il est à presumer, et en avons de grands indices, qu'ils ne nous
donnoyent ce conseil sinon en intention [66] de nous prendre aux
filets, et avoir bon marché de nous à l'ayde de Meteourmite, lequel ils
sçavoient estre ennemy des Anglois, et le conjecturoient l'estre de
tous estrangers. Mais, Dieu mercy, leurs embusches se tournerent contre
eux.
It is to be supposed, and there were strong indications of it, that
they gave us this advice only with the intention [66] of ensnaring
us, and making an easy conquest of us by the help of Meteourmite,
whom they knew to be the enemy of the English, and whom they
supposed to be an enemy of all foreigners. But, thank God, their
ambuscade was turned against themselves.
Cependant nous les creusmes; aussy partie d'eux s'en alloyent devant
nous, partie après, partie aussy avec nous dedans la barque. Neantmoins
Monsieur de Biancourt se tenoit tousiours sur ses gardes, et souvent
faisoit marcher la chaloupe devant avec la sonde. Nous n'avions pas
faict plus de demy lieue, quand, venus en un grand lac le sondeur nous
crie: "Deux brasses d'eau, qu'une brasse, qu'une brasse partout." Aussy
tost: Ameine, ameine, lasche l'anchre. Où sont nos Armouchiquois? où
sont-ils? point. Ils nous avoyent trestous insensiblement quittés. O
les traistres! ô que Dieu nous a bien aydés! Ils nous avoyent conduicts
aux pieges. "Revire, revire." Nous retournons sur nostre route.
However, we believed them; so a part of them went ahead of us, part
behind, and some in the barque with us. Nevertheless Monsieur de
Biancourt was always on his guard, and often sent the boat on ahead
with the sounding-lead. We had not gone more than half a league
when, reaching a large lake, the sounder called out to us: "Two
fathoms of water; only one fathom, only one fathom everywhere,"
and immediately afterward, "Stop! stop! cast anchor." Where are
our Armouchiquois? Where are they? Not one. They had all silently
disappeared. Oh, the traitors! Oh, how God had delivered us! They
had led us into a trap. "Veer about, veer about." We retrace our
path.
Cependant Meteourmite ayant esté adverty de nostre venue, nous courroit
au devant, et quoyqu'il nous vist tourner bride, si est-ce qu'il nous
poursuyvit. Bien valut à Monsieur de Biancourt d'etre plus sage que
plusieurs de son esquipage, qui ne crioyent lors que de tout tuer.
Car ils estoyent en grande cholere et en non moindre crainte; mais la
cholere faisoit plus de bruit.
Meanwhile, Meteourmite having been informed of our coming, came
to meet us, and, although he saw our prow turned about, yet he
followed us. It was well that Monsieur de Biancourt was wiser than
many of his crew, whose sole cry was to kill them all. For they
were as angry as they were frightened: but their anger made the
most noise.
[67] Monsieur de Biancourt se reprima, et ne faisant pas autrement
mauvaise chere à Meteourmite, apprit de luy qu'il y avoit une route par
laquelle on pourroit passer; qu'à celle fin de ne la pas faillir, il
nous donneroit de ses propres gens dedans nostre barque; qu'au reste
vinssions à sa cabane, il tascheroit de nous donner contentement.
Nous luy crusmes, et pensasmes nous en repentir; car nous passasmes
des haults et destroicts si perilleux que ne cuidions quasi jamays en
eschapper. D'effect, en deux endroits, aucuns de nos gens s'escrierent
miserablement que nous estions trestous perdus. Mais, Dieu mercy, ils
crierent trop tost.
[67] Monsieur de Biancourt restrained himself, and not otherwise
showing any ill-will toward Meteourmite, learned from him that
there was a route by which they could pass; that in order not to
miss it, he would let us have some of his own people in our barque;
that, besides, if we would come to his wigwam he would try to
satisfy us. We trusted him, and thought we might have to repent
it; for we traversed such perilous heights and narrow passes that
we never expected to escape from them. In fact, in two places some
of our men cried out in distress that we were all lost. But, thank
God, they cried too soon.
Arrivés, Monsieur de Biancourt se mit en armes, pour en cet arroy
aller veoir Meteourmite. Il le trouva en son hault appareil de majesté
sauvagesque, seul dans une cabane bien nattée le haut et bas, et
quelques quarante puissans jeunes hommes à l'entour de la cabane, en
forme de corps de garde, chacun son pavois, son arc et flesches à terre
au devant de soy. Ces gens ne sont point niais, nullement, et qu'on
nous en croye.
When we arrived, Monsieur de Biancourt armed himself, and thus
arrayed proceeded to pay a visit to Meteourmite. He found him in
the royal apparel of savage majesty, alone in a wigwam that was
well matted above and below, and about forty powerful young men
stationed around it like a body-guard, each one with his shield,
his bow and arrows upon the ground in front of him. These people
are by no means simpletons, and you may believe us when we say so.
Pour moy, je receus, ce jour là, la plus grande part des caresses;
car, comme j'estois sans armes, les plus honorables, laissans les
soldats, se prindrent à moy avec mille significations d'amitié. Ils me
conduysirent en la plus grande cabane de toutes; [68] elle contenoit
bien 80 ames. Les places prinses, je me jettay à genoux, et ayant faict
le signe de la croix, recitay mon _Pater_, _Ave_, _Credo_, et quelques
oraisons; puis, ayant faict pause, mes hostes, comme s'ils m'eussent
bien entendu, m'applaudirent en leur façon, s'escriant _Ho! ho! ho!_
Ie leur donnay quelques croix et quelques images, leur en donnant à
apprehender ce que je pouvois. Eux les baysoient fort volontiers,
faisoyent le signe de la Croix, et, chacun pour soy, s'efforçoyent à me
presenter ses enfans, à ce que je les benisse et leur donnasse quelque
chose. Ainsy se passa cette visite, et une autre que je fis depuis.
As for me, I received that day the greater part of the welcome;
for, as I was unarmed, the most honorable of them, turning
their backs upon the soldiers, approached me with a thousand
demonstrations of friendship. They led me to the largest wigwam of
all; [68] it contained fully eighty people. When they had taken
their places, I fell upon my knees and repeated my _Pater_, _Ave_,
_Credo_, and some orisons; then pausing, my hosts, as if they had
understood me perfectly, applauded after their fashion, crying _Ho!
ho! ho!_ I gave them some crosses and pictures, explaining them as
well as I could. They very willingly kissed them, made the sign
of the Cross, and each one in his turn endeavored to present his
children to me, so that I would bless them and give them something.
Thus passed that visit, and another that I have since made.
Or Meteourmite avoit respondu à Monsieur de Biancourt, que pour le
bled, ils n'en avoyent pas quantité; mais qu'ils avoyent aucunes peaux,
s'il luy playsoit de troquer.
Now Meteourmite had replied to Monsieur de Biancourt that as to
the corn he did not have much, but he had some skins, if we were
pleased to trade with him.
Le matin doncques de la troque venu, je m'en allay en une isle
voysine avec un garçon, pour là offrir l'hostie saincte de nostre
reconciliation. Nos gens de la barque, pour n'estre surprins, soubs
couleur de la troque, s'estoyent armez et barricadez, laissans place
au milieu du tillac pour les Sauvages; mais en vain, car ils se
jetterent tellement en foule et avec si grande avidité, qu'aussy tost
ils remplirent tout le vaisseau, jà peslemeslés avec les nostres. On
se mit à crier: Retire, retire-toy. Mais [69] à quel profit? Eux aussy
crioyent de leur costé.
Then in the morning when the trade was to take place I went to a
neighboring island with a boy, to there offer the blessed sacrament
for our reconciliation. Our people in the barque, not to be taken
by surprise under pretext of the trade, were armed and barricaded,
leaving a place in the middle of the deck for the Savages; but in
vain, for they rushed in in such crowds and with such greediness,
that they immediately filled the whole ship, becoming all mixed up
with our own people. Some one began to cry out, "Go back, go back."
But [69] to what good? On the other hand, the savages were yelling
also.
Ce fut lors que nos gens se penserent estre veritablement prins, et jà
tout n'estoit que clameur et tumulte. Monsieur de Biancourt a souvent
dit et redit, qu'il eut maintes fois le bras levé et la bouche ouverte
pour en frappant le premier crier, "Tue, tue;" mais que cette seule
consideration, ne sçay comment, le retinst, que j'estois dehors,
et par consequent que si l'on en venoit aux mains, j'estois perdu.
Dieu se servit de cette sienne bonne volonté, non seulement pour ma
sauveté, mais autant pour celle de tout l'esquipage. Car, comme tous
recognoissent bien à cette heure, si la folie eust esté faicte, jamais
aucun n'en fust eschappé, et les Françoys eussent esté descriés pour
jamays en toute la coste.
Then our people were sure they were captured, and there was nothing
but cries and confusion. Monsieur de Biancourt has often said and
said again, that several times he had raised his arm and opened his
mouth to strike the first blow and to cry out, "Kill, kill;" but
that somehow the one consideration that restrained him was that I
was outside, and if they came to blows I was lost. God rewarded him
for his good-will by saving not only me but also the whole crew.
For, as all readily acknowledge at this hour, if any foolish act
had been committed none of them would ever have escaped, and the
French would have been condemned forever all along the coast.