apprehenderent le danger, et ainsy firent retirer leurs gens. Le soir
venu, et jà tous estans retirés, Meteourmite manda aucuns des siens
pour excuser l'insolence du matin, protestant que tout le desordre
estoit venu non de soy, ains des Armouchiquois; que mesmes ils nous
avoyent desrobé une hasche et une gamelle (c'est une grande escuelle de
bois), lequel meuble il nous renvoyoit; que ce larcin lui avoit tant
despleu qu'aussitost aprés l'avoir descouvert, il avoit congedié les
Armouchiquois; que pour luy, il avoit bon cœur, et sçavoit bien que
[70] nous ne tuions ni ne battions point les Sauvages de par deçà, ains
les recevions à nostre table, leur faisions souvent tabagie, et leur
apportions plusieurs bonnes choses de France, pour lesquelles vertus
ils nous aymoient. Ces gens, croy-je, sont les plus grands harangueurs
de toute la terre; ils ne font rien sans cela.
God willed that Meteourmite and some other captains should
apprehend the danger, and so cause their people to withdraw. When
evening came and all had retired, Meteourmite sent some of his men
to excuse the misconduct of the morning, protesting that all the
disorder had originated not with him, but with the Armouchiquois;
that they had even stolen a hatchet and a platter (a great wooden
dish), which articles he herewith returned; that this theft had
so displeased him that immediately after discovering it he had
sent the Armouchiquois away from him; that, for his part, he was
friendly towards us and knew very well that [70] we neither killed
nor beat the Savages of those parts, but received them at our table
and often made tabagie for them, and brought them a great many
nice things from France, for which courtesies they loved us. These
people are, I believe, the greatest speech-makers in the world;
nothing can be done without speeches.
Mais, d'autant que j'ay faict icy mention des Anglois, quelqu'un peut
estre desirera de sçavoir leur adventure, laquelle nous apprismes en
ce lieu. Il est doncques ainsy, que l'an 1608 les Anglois commencerent
à s'habituer en l'une des embouschures de ce fleuve Kinibéqui, ainsy
que nous avons dict cy devant. Ils avoyent lors un conducteur fort
honneste homme, et se comportoit fort bien avec les naturels du
païs. On dit neantmoins que les Armouchiquois se craignirent de tels
voysins, et à cette cause firent mourir ce capitaine que j'ay dit.
Ces gens ont ce mestier en usage, de tuer par magie. Or la seconde
année 1609 les Anglois, soubs un autre capitaine, changerent de façon.
Ils repoussoient les Sauvages sans aucun honneur; ils les battoyent,
excedoyent et mastinoyent sans beaucoup de retenue: partant ces pauvres
malmenés, impatiens du present, et augurants encores pis l'advenir,
prindrent resolution, comme l'on dict, de tuer le louveteau avant
qu'il eust des dents et griffes plus fortes. La commodité leur en fust
un jour, que [71] trois chaloupes s'en estoyent allées à l'escart en
pescherie. Mes conjurez les suyvoient à la piste, et s'approchans
avec beau semblant d'amitié (car ainsy font ils le plus de caresses
où plus y a de trahison), ils entrent dedans, et au signal donné,
chacun choysit son homme et le tua à coups de cousteau. Ainsy furent
despeschez onze Angloys. Les autres intimidés abandonnerent leur
entreprise cette mesme année, et ne l'ont point poursuyvie depuis, se
contentans de venir l'esté en pescherie en cette isle d'Emetenic, que
nous avons dit estre à 8 lieuës de leur fort encommencé.
But as I have spoken here of the English, some one perhaps will
wish to hear about their adventure, which was related to us in
this place. So here it is: In 1608 the English began to settle at
one of the mouths of this Kinibéqui river, as we have said before.
They had then as leader a very honest man, who got along remarkably
well with the natives of the country. They say, however, that the
Armouchiquois were afraid of such neighbors, and so put the captain
to death, as I have said. These people make a practice of killing
by magic. But the second year, 1609, the English, under another
captain, changed their tactics. They drove the Savages away without
ceremony; they beat, maltreated and misused them outrageously and
without restraint; consequently these poor, abused people, anxious
about the present, and dreading still greater evils in the future,
determined, as the saying is, to kill the whelp ere its teeth
and claws became stronger.[5] The opportunity came one day when
[71] three boat-loads of them went away off to the fisheries. My
conspirators followed in their boat, and approaching with a great
show of friendliness (for they always make the greatest show of
affection when they are the most treacherous), they go among them,
and at a given signal each one seizes his man and stabs him to
death. Thus were eleven Englishmen dispatched. The others were
intimidated and abandoned their enterprise the same year; they
have not resumed it since, being satisfied to come in the summer
to fish, at this island of Emetenic, which we have said was eight
leagues from the fort they had begun building.
A cette cause doncques, l'excès commis en la personne du capitaine
Platrier par lesdicts Angloys ayant esté perpetré en cette isle
d'Emetenic, Monsieur de Biancourt se delibera de l'aller recognoistre,
et y laisser quelque monument de revindication. Ce qu'il fit dressant
sur le havre une fort belle croix, avec les armes de France. Aucuns de
ses gens luy conseilloyent qu'il bruslast les chaloupes qu'il y trouva;
mais, comme il est doux et humain, il ne le voulut point, voyant que
c'estoyent vaisseaux non de soldats, ains de pescheurs.
So, for this reason, the outrage to which captain Platrier was
subjected by these English having been committed upon this island
of Emetenic, Monsieur de Biancourt decided to go and reconnoitre
it, and to leave there some memento in assertion of his rights.
This he did, erecting at the harbor a beautiful cross bearing the
arms of France. Some of his crew advised him to burn the boats
which he found there; but as he is kind and humane he would not do
it, seeing they were fishermen's boats and not men-of-war.
De là, d'autant que la saison nous pressoit, estant jà le 6 novembre,
nous tournasmes nos voiles pour retourner à Port-Royal, passant à
Pentegoët, ainsy que nous avons promis aux Sauvages.
Thence, as the season was advancing, it being already the 6th of
November, we turned our ships towards Port Royal, stopping at
Pentegoët, as we had promised the Savages.
[72] Pentegoët est une fort belle riviere, et peut estre comparée à la
Garonne de France. Elle se descharge dans le Golfe françois (baie de
Fundy) et a plusieurs isles et roches à l'endroit de son embouschure;
de maniere que si on ne monte fort avant, on estime que ce soit
quelque grand sein ou baye de mer, là où on commence manifestement à
recognoistre le lict et cours de riviere. Elle a son large d'environ 3
lieuës à 44 et demy degré de l'Equateur. On ne peut deviner quelle est
la Norembegue des anciens, si ce n'est celle cy: car autrement et les
autres et moy, nous enquestans de ce mot et lieu, n'en avons jamays peu
rien apprendre.
[72] The Pentegoët is a very beautiful river, and may be compared
to the Garonne in France. It flows into french Bay [the bay of
Fundy] and has many islands and rocks at its mouth; so that if you
do not go some distance up, you will take it for a great bay or arm
of the sea, until you begin to see plainly the bed and course of
a river. It is about three leagues wide and is forty-four and one
half degrees from the Equator. We cannot imagine what the Norembega
of our forefathers was, if it were not this river; for elsewhere
both the others and I myself have made inquiries about this place,
and have never been able to learn anything concerning it.
Nous doncques, ayans advancé dans le courant de cette riviere trois
lieuës ou plus, rencontrasmes un autre beau fleuve appellé Chiboctous,
qui du nord-est vient se jeter dans ce grand Pentegoët.
When we had advanced three leagues or more into the current of the
river we encountered another beautiful river called Chiboctous,
which comes from the northeast to discharge its waters into the
great Pentegoët.
Sur le confluant des deux rivieres, y avoit la plus belle assemblée des
Sauvages que j'aye point encore veue. Ils estoyent 80 canots et une
chaloupe, 18 cabanes et bien environ 300 ames. Le plus apparent Sagamo
s'appelloit Betsabés, homme discret et fort moderé; et, sans mentir, on
recognoist souvent en ces Sauvages des vertus naturelles et politiques
qui font rougir quiconque n'est eshonté, lorsqu'en comparaison ils
regardent une bonne partie des Françoys qui viennent en ces quartiers.
At the confluence of these two rivers there was the finest
assemblage of Savages that I have yet seen. There were 80 canoes
and a boat, 18 wigwams and about 300 people[6]. The most prominent
Sagamore was called Betsabés, a man of great discretion and
prudence; and I confess we often see in these Savages natural and
graceful qualities which will make anyone but a shameless person
blush, when they compare them to the greater part of the French who
come over here.
[73] Aprés qu'ils nous eurent recogneus, ils demenerent grande joye le
soir à leur accoustumée, par danses, chansons et harangues. Et nous,
bien ayses d'estre en païs d'asseurance; car entre les Etechemins, tels
que sont ceux cy, et les Souriquois, tels que sont ceux de Port-Royal,
nous ne nous tenons sur nos gardes non plus qu'entre nos propres
domestiques, et Dieu mercy nous ne nous en sommes pas encores mal
trouvez.
[73] When they had recognized us they showed their great joy
during the evening by their usual demonstrations; dancing, singing
and making speeches. And as for us, we were very glad to be in a
country of safety; for among the Etechemins, as these are, and the
Souriquois, as are those of Port Royal, we are no more obliged to
be on our guard than among our own servants, and, thank God, we
have never yet been deceived in them.
Le jour suyvant, j'allay visiter les Sauvages, et y fis à mon
accoustumé, ainsy qu j'ay dict de Kinibéqui. Cela y fut de plus, qu'eux
m'ayans dict y avoir quelques malades, je les allay visiter, et comme
prestre, ainsy qu'est porté dans le Rituaire, recitay sur eux les
sainct Evangile et Oraisons, donnant à un chacun une croix pour se la
pendre au col.
The next day I went to visit the Savages, and followed my usual
custom, which I have described in speaking of Kinibéqui. But there
was more to be done here, as they told me they had some sick; I
went to visit them; and as priest, it being thus ordained in the
Ritual, I recited over them the holy Gospel and Orisons, giving to
each one a cross to wear around the neck.
Entre les autres j'en trouvay un à leur mode estendu auprés du feu, les
yeux et visage fort estonnés, suant à grosse goutte de la seule teste,
qui à peine pouvoit parler, en un grand acces. Il me dirent qu'il
estoit malade dés quatre mois, et que comme il apparoissoit, il ne la
feroit pas longue. Or ne sçay-je quelle estoit sa maladie; si elle
venoit seulement par intervalles, ou non, je n'en sçay rien: tant y a
que le 2. jour d'aprés, je le vis dans nostre barque sain et gaillard,
ayant sa croix pendue au col, et me fit recognoissance d'un fort bon
visage, [74] me prenant par la main. Je n'eus moyen de luy parler,
d'autant que lors on faisoit la troque, et à cette cause le tillac
estoit tout remply des gens, et tous les truchemens empeschez. De vray
je fus fort ayse que la bonté de Dieu commençoit à faire sentir à ces
pauvres et abandonnées nations n'y avoir que tout bien et que toute
prosperité au signe de la saincte et salutaire Croix.
Among others I found one stretched out, after their fashion, before
the fire, wonder expressed in his eyes and face, great drops
standing out upon his forehead, scarcely able to speak, so severe
was the attack. They told me that he had been sick for four months
and, as it appeared, he could not last long. Now I do not know what
his malady was; whether it only came intermittently or not I do not
know; at all events, the second day after that I saw him in our
barque, well and happy, with his cross around his neck. He showed
his gratitude to me by a cheerful smile [74] and by taking my hand.
I had no means of speaking to him, as the trading was then going
on, and for this reason the deck was full of people and all the
interpreters were busy. Truly I was very glad that the goodness of
God was beginning to make these poor and abandoned people feel that
in the sign of the holy and salutary Cross there was every good and
every blessing.
Enfin, pour ne redire souvent le mesme, et en cet endroit et en tous
les autres où nous avons pû converser avec ces pauvres gentils, nous
avons tasché de leur imprimer quelques premieres conceptions de la
grandeur et verité du Christianisme, autant que les moyens s'en
addonnoyent. Et pour le sommaire en un bloc, celuy a esté le fruict
du voyage: nous avons commencé de cognoistre et estre cogneus; nous
avons prins possession au nom de l'Eglise de Dieu de ces regions icy, y
asseants le throsne royal de nostre Sauveur et Monarque Iesus Christ,
son sainct autel; les Sauvages nous ont veu prier, celebrer, prescher
par nos discours, les images et croix, la façon de vivre et choses
semblables, (ils) ont receu les premieres apprehensions et semences de
nostre saincte foy, lesquelles s'esclorront et germeront abondamment,
s'il plaist à Dieu, quelque jour, y survenant un plus long est meilleur
cultivage.
Finally, not to continue repeating the same story, both in this
place and in all others, where we have been able to talk with these
poor gentiles, we have attempted to impress upon them some of the
simplest conceptions of the grandeur and truth of Christianity, in
so far as our means would permit. And to sum it up in a word, this
has been the result of our journey. We have begun to know and to
be known, we have taken possession of these regions in the name of
the Church of God, establishing here the royal throne of our Savior
and King, Jesus Christ, his holy altar; the Savages have seen us
pray, celebrate the mass, and preach; through our conversations,
pictures, and crosses, our way of living, and other similar things,
they have received the first faint ideas and germs of our holy
faith, which will some day take root and grow abundantly, please
God, if it is followed by a longer and better cultivation.
[75] De vray aussi, tel est quasi le principal fruict que nous faisions
pour encores icy mesmes à Port-Royal, jusques à ce que nous ayons apris
le langage. Cependant cela nous console de veoir ces petits Sauvageois,
encores que non chrestiens, porter neantmoins volontiers, quand ils se
trouvent icy, les cierges, les clochettes, l'eau benite et autre chose,
marchans en bel ordre aux processions et enterremens que l'on faict.
Ainsy s'accoustument-ils à estre chrestiens, pour en son temps le bien
estre.
[75] And indeed such is about all we are accomplishing, even here
at Port Royal, until we have learned the language. However, it
comforts us to see these little Savages, though not yet christians,
yet willingly, when they are here, carrying the candles, bells,
holy water and other things, marching in good order in the
processions and funerals which occur here. Thus they become
accustomed to act as christians, to become so in reality in his
time.
Il ne seroit besoin sinon que fussions meilleurs ouvriers de Nostre
Seigneur, et n'empeschassions pas tant de graces d'iceluy sur nous
et autruy, par tant de péchés et indignité. Quant à moy certes, j'ay
grande occasion d'en battre bien rudement ma poictrine, et tous ceux
qui ont le zele de charité en debvroyent bien estre touchés au cœur.
Nostre Seigneur, par sa saincte misericorde et par les prieres de sa
glorieuse mere et de toute son Eglise celeste et militante, en veuille
estre fleschy à compassion!
No need is felt except that we ought to be better workers for Our
Lord, and ought not to divert from ourselves and others so many of
his blessings by our many sins and great unworthiness. As for me,
truly I have good reason to severely reproach myself; and all those
who are imbued with earnest charity ought to be deeply touched in
their hearts. May Our Lord, by his sacred mercy, and by the prayers
of his glorious mother and of all his Church; both heavenly and
militant, be moved to compassion!
Particulierement je supplie Vostre Reverence et tous nos RR. PP. et
FF. de vouloir se ressouvenir, en vos meilleures devotions, et de
nous, et de ces pauvres ames, esclaves miserablement soubs la tyrannie
de Satan. Qu'il plaise à ce bening Sauveur [76] du monde, la grace
duquel personne ne previent et de qui les liberalités sont tousjours
par dessus nos merites, qui luy plaise, dy-je, regarder enfin d'un œil
pitoyable ces pauvres nations, et les retirer tost dans sa famille, en
l'heureuse franchise des fortunés enfans de Dieu. Ainsy soit-il.
Particularly I beg Your Reverence and all our Reverend Fathers and
Brothers to be pleased to remember in your most earnest devotions
both us and these poor souls, miserable slaves under the tyranny of
Satan. May it please this benign Savior [76] of the world, whose
grace is denied to no one, and whose bounty is ever beyond our
merits, may it please him, I say, to look down with a pitying eye
upon these poor tribes, and to gather them soon into his family, in
the happy freedom of the favored children of God. Amen!
De Port-Royal, ce dernier de Ianvier 1612.
Cependant que j'escrivois ces lettres, le navire qu'on a envoyé pour
nostre secours, est Dieu mercy arrivé sain et sauf, et dans iceluy
nostre Frere Gilbert du Thet. Celuy pourra sçavoir l'aise qu'en avons
receu et recevons, qui aura cogneu les dangers et necessités où nous
estions. Dieu soit beny. Amen.
De V. R. filz et serviteur
bien humble en Nostre Seigneur.
PIERRE BIARD.
NOTES:
[I.] Vieux mot employé pour signifier exténué de travaux.
From Port Royal, this last day of January, 1612.
While I was writing these letters, the ship which was sent to our
assistance has, thank God, arrived safe and sound, and in it our
Brother Gilbert du Thet. He, who knows the dangers and necessities
we were in, will appreciate the joy we felt and that we feel at its
arrival. God be praised. Amen.
Of Your Reverence, the son and very
humble servant in Our Lord.
PIERRE BIARD.
FOOTNOTES:
[II.] An old word used to signify weakened by hard
labor.--[Carayon.]
[Illustration: CARTE GEOGRAPHIQVE DE LA NOVVELLE FRANSE FAICTTE PAR LE
SIEVR DE CHAMPLAIN SAINT TONGOIS CAPPITAINE ORDINAIRE POVR LE ROY EN LA
MARINE.
REDUCED FACSIMILE OF GENERAL MAP, DRAWN BY CHAMPLAIN IN 1612, FROM _Les
Voyages du Sieur de Champlain_ (PARIS, 1613).]
X
BIARD'S EPISTOLA
ex Portu-regali in Acadia
Januarii 31, [1612]
DILLINGEN: MEYER'S PRESS, n. d.
SOURCE: Reprinted from O'Callaghan's Reprint, No. 1.
_Missio Canadensis_
EPISTOLA
ex
Portu-regali in ACADIA
transmissa
Ad Praepositvm Generalem Societatis IESV
A. R. PETRO BIARDO ejvsdem Societatis
[Illustration]
_Secundvm exemplar emissum in_ ANNUIS LITTERIS _Anni_ CIↃ. IↃC. XI
DILINGÆ.
Ex Typographéo Mayeriana, apud Melchiorem Algeyer.
_Canadian Mission_
LETTER
from
Port Royal in ACADIA
sent
To the General of the Society of JESUS by Reverend PIERRE BIARD of the
same Society
_According to the copy published in the_ ANNUÆ LITTERÆ _of the year
1611_
DILLINGEN.
From Meyer's Press, at Melchior Algeyer's.
[iii] Lectori.
_POSTQUAM Patres Societatis_ Jesu _malevolentiam inimicorum suorum
vicerant et in_ Galliam _reversierant, vocari videbantur aliò ad
labores suos fructuosè collocandos._
[iii] To the Reader.
_AFTER the Fathers of the Society of_ Jesus _had overcome the
ill-will of their enemies and again been admitted into_ France,[7]
_they felt themselves called to other fields for the fruitful
employment of their labors._
_Multa erat in_ Novâ Franciâ _messis, ubi incolæ pene belluarum more
sine Numinis cognitione vivebant._
_A rich harvest was offered in_ New France, _where the natives
lived almost like animals, without any knowledge of God._
_Illûc igitur missi fuerunt duo Societatis sacerdotes, Patres scilicet_
Petrus Biardus _et_ Enemundus Massæus, _qui in_ Acadiam _pervenerunt
22 Maii, Anno Salutis 1611. Septem per menses ibi commoratus_, [iv] P.
Biardus _hanc epistolam, Superiori suo transmisit._
_To that country, accordingly, were sent two priests of the
Society, Fathers_ Pierre Biard _and_ Enemond Massé, _who reached_
Acadia _on the 22nd of May, 1611. After remaining there seven
months_, [iv] Father Biard _sent this epistle to his Superior._
_Quatuor velluti in capita hæc litera divisa est, & narrat:_
1º. _Quid sit_ Nova Francia, _qualis regio, qui in eâ populi, quique
mores._
2º. _Quo modo, quibusve auxiliis aut successu, Societas missionem illá
in regione consecuta sit._
3º. _Quonam in statu rem Christianam his in locis offenderit Societas._
4º. _Quid a missionariis hactenus effectum seu potius attentatum sit._
_The letter is divided, as it were, under four heads, and relates:_
_1st. What New France is, the nature of the country, what tribes
inhabit it, and their customs._
_2nd. In what manner, with what help and with what success the
Society secured a mission in that country._
_3rd. In what condition the Society found the Christian religion in
this region._
_4th. What has been done by the missionaries thus far, or rather
what has been attempted._
_Licet epistola sub finem habeat:_ ultimo die Januarii CIↃ. IↃC. XI.
_ia quidem aut error in anno est, aut P._ Biardus _secundum stylum
veterem scripsit, nam debit esse annus_, CIↃ. IↃC. XII.
_Although, the end of the letter reads: the last day of_ January,
1611,--_either there is an error in the year, or Father Biard wrote
according to the old style, for the year ought to be 1612.[8]_
[5] Missio Canadensis.
REVERENDE IN CHRISTO PATER,
Pax Christi.
VOCAT NOS huius anni CIↃ.IↃC.XI. instans iam atqʒ vrgens exitus ad
recognoscendum coram Paternitate vestra principium, quo primùm Societas
in has nouæ Franciæ regiones delata est: multorum quoque beneficiorum
cumulus, quo nos diuina largitas in his & auspicādis, & sospitādis
initijs prosecuta est, hoc exigit, vt in hoc tanquam temporum anníque
portu actionum nostrarū, & tanquam velificationis seriem relegētes,
Chariss: Patres Fratrésqʒ nostros inuitemus, & ad gaudium pro ijs,
quæ feliciter [6] in nobis diuina manus operata est, & scilicet ad
gemitum pariter & orationem pro ijs, quæ in animorum salute procuranda,
segniter ipsi nequitérque multa deliquimus. Quod enim diutius antè
Societas multísqʒ conatibus intenderat, vt aliquam suis laboribus
posset huic quoq; siluaticæ genti opem & lucem Euangelio inferendo
affere, id hoc ipsa demum anno videtur, vt in tenui exiguóque principio
satis feliciter, próque desiderio esse assecuta.
[5] Canadian Mission.
REVEREND FATHER IN CHRIST,
The peace of Christ be with you.
The end of this year 1611, which is already so rapidly drawing
near, invites me to write to your Reverence in acknowledgment of
its beginning, in which our Society first penetrated into this
territory of new France. The profusion of blessings and favors
which the divine bounty has bestowed upon us while undertaking and
sustaining this infant enterprise, requires that in this haven, as
it were, of time and of the year we should, reviewing the course
of our actions and the occurrences of our voyage, invite our dear
Fathers and Brothers to share both in our rejoicing for those
things which the hand of God has happily [6] effected through us,
and, too, in our mourning and our prayers for our delinquencies and
inefficiency in seeking the salvation of souls. The object sought
by the Society for a long time previously and with many efforts,
that it might in some degree impart help and light to this savage
people also by its labors in bringing the Gospel among them, it
seems at last to have attained in this year, with a small and
slight beginning indeed, yet auspiciously and in accordance with
its hopes.