_in Novam Franciam pervenit_ 24
_familia ejus unica est in Acadiâ_ 25
_Patrûm sedulitatem collaudat_ 27
_filius ægrotus Membertou deportatus est in ædes ejus_ 29
_Potrincurtio D. quidam iuvenis reconciliatus est_ 34
_Præsentis insula_ 9
_Promontorium Sabulorum_ 11
_Puella baptizatur_ 27
_moritur in Sacerdotum tuguriolo_ 28
_Religio Barbarorum_ 14
_Rimbequi (seu potius Kinibequi) flumen_ 10
_Sacerdos secularis centum ferè Barbaros in Novâ Franciâ baptizat_ 24
_in Galliam remigrat_ 26
_Sagami sunt bellorum ductores sed imperium eorum precarium est_ 13
_S. Ioannis flumen sese in Francicum gurgitem exonerat_ 10
_S. Laurentii gurges_ 9
_Sinus Francicus_ 10
_Societas Iesv, quanam viâ missionem in hanc provinciam obtinet_ 18
_permittitur in Novâ Franciâ laborare_ 19
_evocat duos Sacerdotes ut ibi proficiscantur_ 20
_impedimenta quæ eis afferuntur_ 21
_patres in Portum-regalem perveniunt_ 24, 26
(vide _Patres_).
_Somniis Barbari fidem habent_ [45] 15
_Soricorum Sagamus Henricus Membertou_ 28
_Soriqui ubi habitant_ 10
_tribus Novæ Franciæ_ 11
_duo millia non conficiunt_ 13
_Tabagia, convivium apud Barbaros vocatur_ 17
_Tabagiam, apud Barbaros mos est moribundis facere_ 28
_Templa nulla Barbari habent_ 15
_Terra nova, nomen suum apud Barbaros_ 9
_Tuguriola fœminæ ædificant_ 17
_quomodo ædificantur_ 18
_Venefici apud Barbaros_ 14
_potestas eorum_ 15
_Vultus Barbarorum_ 13
An index of matters, persons and places now for the first time added
to this Letter
[_Figures refer to original pagination.--Ed._]
ACADIA, _two priests of the Society are sent thither_ iii
_and arrive there_ 26
_Algonquins wage perpetual war with the Irocois_ 9
_a tribe of New France_ 11
_and the Montagnais together cannot much exceed a thousand in
number_ 13
_Cannibals, the Excomminiqui and Armouchiquois are said to be_ 9, 14
_Aquitaine, a Priest departs for New France, summoned from_ 20
_Armouchiquois occupy the region from the Kinibequi river to the
fortieth parallel_ 11
_are said to be Cannibals_ 14
_Autmoins, or medicine-men, the Savages consult_ 14
_Bay of Fundy_, vide _French Bay_.
_Baptism is accepted by the Savages as a sign of confederation with
the French_ 24
_Savages, they have neither laws nor magistrates_ [40] 13
_Savages, how they live_ 13
_wage war as a whole people_ 14
_have neither temples nor sacred edifices_ 15
_bury the name and memory of the dead with their bodies_ 16
_worship the Evil Spirit_ 16
_have a slight notion of God_ 16
_some brought to France and baptised there_ 23
_a hundred are baptized in New France_ 24
_receive baptism as a sign of confederation with the French_ 24
_call the French Normans_ 25
_sacrifice dogs when one of their people is about to die_ 28
_Savages of New France, names of the tribes_ 9
_of New France, their numbers and names_ 11, 13
_hides their only treasure_ 12
_their faces, color, and manners_ 13
_in what their religion consists_ 14
_their custom at their feasts_ 17
_infants baptized_ 27
_Father Biard visits their huts_ 33
_Wars, the Indians wage war as a people_ 14
_Biard, Father Pierre, is sent to Acadia_ iii
_visits the huts of the Savages_ 33
_explores a large part of Norumbega_ 32
_reconciles a certain young man with Monsieur de Potrincourt_ 34
_Biencourt, Jean de, asks for colonists for New France_ 20
vide _Potrincourt_.
_Biencourt, son of Potrincourt, serves as interpreter_ 31
_explores with Father Biard a large part of Norumbega_ [41] 32
_Evil Spirit, the Savages worship the_ 19
_Canada, the Irocois live at the head-waters of the great river
of_ 9
_the St. John river takes its rise near the river of_ 10
_Dogs, the Savages at the approach of death are accustomed to
sacrifice_ 28
_the Fathers of the Society blame this custom_ 29
_Canoes constructed out of bark_ 17
_Chart of New France, Father Biard proposes to send_ 18
_Chouacoët is a promontory jutting into French bay_ 11
_Color of the Savages_ 13
_Feasts, customs of, among the Savages_ 17
_Coton, Father, obtains permission for the Society of Jesus to labor
in New France_ 19
_God, the Savages have a slight knowledge of_ 16
_Dieppe, two Jesuits go there to embark_ 20
_and sail from this port_ 22
_Etheminqui, live between St. John and Kinibequi rivers_ 10
_a tribe of New France_ 11
_cannot number a thousand_ 13
_Excominqui, a fierce tribe, and Cannibals_ 9
_Excommunicated, the, common appellation of the Excominqui_ 9
_a tribe of New France_ 9, 11
_are said to be Cannibals_ 14
_Explanation, or heads of this Letter_ 6
_Rivers of New France_ 9, 10
_Women among the Savages_ 16
_fill the place of slaves_ 17
_French bay, its position,_ [42] 10
_French, what country is called by them New France_ 8
_do not settle in the country of New France_ 19
_France, Savages brought there and baptised_ 23
_French, the Irocois and Armouchiquois little known to_ 11
_French, their number in Acadia_ 25
_Geographers, old, full of errors_ 7
_Guercheville, Marchioness de, buys a ship for the Fathers of the
Society_ 21
_Gulf of St. Lawrence_ 9
_Heretics refuse to receive the Jesuits into their ship_ 20
_Henry, King, gives the Society permission to labor in New France_ 19
_his death_ 20
_Infants of the Savages baptised_ 27
_Island of Præsentis [Plaisance], Newfoundland is called by the
Indians_ 9
_Islands are numerous in New France_ 12
_Irocois located at sources of great river of Canada_ 9
_wage perpetual war with the Montagnais and Algonquins_ 9
_a tribe of New France_ 11
_Isthmus, gulf of St. Lawrence and French bay form_ 10
_Kinibequi river_, vide _Rimbequi_.
_Latitude of New France_ 8
_Leagues, the Isthmus measures five hundred_ 10
_Language of the natives, the Fathers ignorant of it_ 27
_Massé, Father Ennemond, sent to Acadia_ iii
_Médicis, Marie de, queen regent, extends her favor to the Society
of Jesus_ 20
_orders the Fathers to be received into the ship_ [43] 21
_Membertou, Henry, chief of the Soriquois, is baptized with his
family_ 24
_his son being sick, is carried to the house of Monsieur de
Potrincourt_ 28, 29
_the Chief dies_ 30
_is buried with great pomp_ 32
_Cod-fish, Newfoundland celebrated for the taking of_ 9
_Montagnais, where they dwell_ 9
_a tribe of New France_ 11
_Mountains of New France are covered with snow and perpetual
frost_ 12
_Manners of the Savages_ 13, 16
_Dead, they bury their memory and name with them_ 16
_Names of the Savages of New France_ 9
_Normans, the Savages call the French_ 25
_Norumbega is only a shadow and a name_ 8
_Norumbega, Father Biard explores a large part of_ 32
_New France, what sort of a country_ 8
_number and names of its Savage tribes_ 11
_why the country is very cold and wet_ 12
_Society of Jesus obtains permission to labor in_ 19
_New France, its chart to be made by Father Biard_ 18
_New France, the Jesuit Fathers land in_ 24
_Number of the French in Acadia_ 25
_Provisions at Port Royal become scarce_ 34
_Priests, the Jesuit, live at Port Royal_ 10
_their needs and cares_ 35
_Lice, the Indians regard them as a dainty_ 18
_Peltries, the only treasure of the Indians_ 12
_Pons, Antoinette de_, vide _Guercheville_.
_Potugoët river_ [44] 10
_Port Royal, latitude and location_ 10
_the Jesuit Priests arrive here_ 26
_Potrincourt, Sieur Jean de, asks for colonists for New France_ 20
_arrives in New France_ 24
_his family is the only one in Acadia_ 25
_praises the zeal of the Fathers_ 27
_the sick son of Membertou is brought to his house_ 29
_Potrincourt, Sieur de, certain young man reconciled with_ 34
_Præsentis [Plaisance] island_ 9
_Sable, Cape_ 11
_Girl baptized_ 27
_dies in the cabin of the Priests_ 28
_Religion of the Savages_ 14
_Rimbequi (or rather Kinibequi) river_ 10
_Secular Priest, baptises nearly a hundred Savages in New France_ 24
_returns to France_ 26
_Sagamores are leaders in war, but their authority is precarious_ 13
_St. John river empties into French bay_ 10
_St. Lawrence, gulf of_ 9
_French Bay_ 10
_Society of Jesus, in what way it obtained the sending of a mission
to this province_ 18
_is permitted to labor in New France_ 19
_summons two Priests to go there_ 20
_the impediments put in their way_ 21
_the fathers arrive at Port Royal_ 24, 26
vide _Priests_.
_Dreams, the Savages have faith in_ [45] 15
_Soriquois, their Sagamore Henry Membertou_ 28
_where they live_ 10
_a tribe of New France_ 11
_do not number two thousand_ 13
_Tabagie, feast among the Indians is called_ 17
_Tabagie, a custom among the Savages held for the dying_ 28
_Temples, the Savages have none_ 15
_Newfoundland, its name among the Savages_ 9
_Tents, the women set them up_ 17
_how they are constructed_ 18
_Medicine-men among the Indians_ 14
_their power_ 15
_Aspect of the Indians_ 13
[Illustration: [_Facsimile of map of Port Royal, from "Les Voyages du
Sieur de Champlain" (Paris, 1613)._]
A. Le lieu de l'habitation.
B. Iardin du Sieur de Champlain.
C. Alleé au trauers les bois que fit faire le Sieur de Poitrincourt.
D. Ile à l'entrée de la riuiere de l'Equille.
E. Entrée du port Royal.
F. Basses qui assechẽt de basse mer.
G. Riuiere sainct Antoine.
H. Lieu du labourage où on seme le blé.
I. Moulin que fit fair le Sieur de Poitrincourt.
L. Prairies qui sont innōdées des eaux aux grandes marées.
M. Riuiere de l'Equille.
N. La coste de la mer du port Royal.
O. Costes de montaignes.
P. Ile proche de la riuiere sainct Antoine.
Q. Ruisseau de la Roche.
R. Autre Ruisseau.
S. Riuiere du moulin.
T. Petit lac.
V. Le lieu où les sauuages peschent le harang en la saison.
X. Ruisseau de la trutiere.
Y. Allée que fit faire le Sieur de Champlain.]
XI
LESCARBOT'S RELATION DERNIÈRE
de ce qui s'est Passé au Voyage du Sieur de Poutrincourt
PARIS: JEAN MILLOT, 1612
SOURCE: Reprinted from original in Harvard College Library.
RELATION
DERNIÈRE
DECE QVI S'EST
PASSÉ AV VOYAGE
DV SIEVR DE POVTRINCOVRT
en la Nouuelle-France
depuis 20. mois ença.
_Par_ MARC LESCARBOT _Aduocat
en Parlement._
[Illustration]
A PARIS,
Chez IEAN MILLOT, deuant
S. Barthelemy aux trois Couronnes.
_M. DCXII._
AVEC PRIVILEGE DU ROY.
LAST RELATION
OF
WHAT TOOK PLACE
IN THE VOYAGE MADE
BY SIEUR DE POUTRINCOURT
to New France, twenty
months ago.
_By_ MARC LESCARBOT, _Advocate in
Parliament._
PARIS:
JEAN MILLOT, opposite St. Barthelemy, at
the Three Crowns.
_MDCXII._
BY ROYAL LICENSE.
Relation Dernière de ce qvi s'est passé av voyage dv sieur de
Poutrincourt en la Nouuelle-France depuis 20. mois ença.
PREFACE.
LE proverbe ancien est bien veritable, que les Dieux nous vendent
toutes choses par labeur. Ceci se reconoit par experience ordinaire
en plusieurs choses, mais particulierement au fait duquel nous avons
à parler: auquel donne sujet par ses incomparables vertus le sieur de
Poutrincourt, de qui les labeurs plus que Herculeans ont dés y a long
temps merité vne bien ample fortune, & y eust donné attainte au temps
de nos troubles derniers, s'il n'eust esté trop entier à maintenir le
party qu'il auoit embrassé. Car le Roy le tenant en personne assiegé
dans le chateau de Beaumont [4] lui voulut donner le Comté dudit lieu
pour se rendre à son service. Ce qu'ayant refusé, il le fit toutefois
peu après gratuitement voyant sa Majesté reduit à l'Eglise Catholique
Romaine. Vray est que nostre feu Roy HENRI le Grand l'auoit obligé en
vne chose, c'est d'avoir rendu par sa bouche ce temoignage de lui,
qu'il estoit vn des plus hommes de bien, & des plus valeureux de
son royaume. Suiuant quoy aussi apres noz guerres passées, lui qui
naturellement est porté aux entreprises difficiles, fuiant la vie
oisive, auroit recherché l'occasion de faire plus que devant paroitre
son courage, honorer son Prince, & illustrer sa patrie. Ce qu'il
auroit fait par la rencontre du sieur de Monts, lequel en l'an 1603,
entreprenoit le voyage de la France Nouvelle & Occidentale d'outre mer,
auec lequel il se ioignit pour y reconoistre vne terre propre à habiter
& y rendre service a Dieu & au Roy. A quoy il a depuis travaillé
continuellement & eust desia beaucoup avancé l'œuvre, si sa facilité
ne se fust trop fiée à des hommes trompeurs, qui lui ont fait perdre
son temps & son argent. Voire encore estant Gentilhomme indomtable
à la fatigue, & sans crainte aux hazars, il se pourroit promettre
vn assez prompt avancement à son entreprise s'il n'estoit troublé
par l'avarice de ceux qui lui enlevent la graisse de sa terre sans y
faire habitation, & avides des Castors de ce païs là y vont exprés
pour ce sujet, & ont fait à l'envi l'un de l'autre que chacune peau
de Castor (qui est le traffic le plus [5] present de ces terres) vaut
icy auiourd'hui dix liures, qui se pourroit bailler pour la moitié,
si le commerce d'icelles estoit permis à vn seul. Et au moyen de ce
pourroit prendre fondement la Religion Chrestienne par dela; comme
certes elle y auroit esté fort avancée, si telle chose eust esté faite.
Et la consideration de la Religion & de l'establissement d'un païs dont
la France peut tirer du profit & de la gloire, merite bien que ceux
qui l'habitent iouïssent pleinement & entierement des fruits qui en
proviennent, puis que nul ne contribuë à ce dessein pour le soulagement
des entrepreneurs, lesquels au peril de leurs vies & de leurs moyens
ont découvert par dela tant les orées maritimes, que le profond des
terres, où iamais aucun Chrétien n'avoit esté. Il y a vne autre
consideration que ie ne veux mettre par écrit, & laquelle seule doit
faire accorder ce que dessus à ceux qui se presentent & offrent pour
habiter & defendre la province, voire pour donner du secours à toute
la France de deça. C'a esté vne plainte faite de tout temps, que les
considerations particulieres ont ruiné les affaires du general. Ainsi
est-il à craindre qu'il n'en avienne en l'affaire des Terres-neuves, si
nous la negligeons, & si l'on ne soustient ceux qui d'une resolution
immuable s'exposent pour le bien, l'honneur, & la gloire de la France,
& pour l'exaltation du nom de Dieu, & de son Eglise.
Last Relation of what took place in the voyage made by sieur de
Poutrincourt to New France, twenty months ago.
PREFACE.
THE old proverb is true that the Gods sell us all things for work.
This may be recognized in many of the ordinary events of life,
but especially in the matter of which we are about to speak,
and for which we have a subject in the incomparable virtues of
sieur de Poutrincourt, whose more than Herculean labors have for
a long time deserved a very ample fortune, which he might have
succeeded in acquiring during our late struggles, had he not
been too entirely devoted to the party which he had embraced.
For the King, holding him besieged in person in Beaumont castle,
[4] wished to give him the County thereof to attach him to his
service. Refusing the gift at this time, he nevertheless accepted
it freely soon afterwards, when he learned that his Majesty had
embraced the faith of the Roman Catholic Church. It is true that
our late King HENRY the Great had rendered him one service; that
is, he had testified with his own lips that he was one of the
most honorable and valiant men in his kingdom. Again, after our
recent wars, being naturally attracted to difficult enterprises
and shunning a life of idleness, he sought some occasion to more
effectually show his courage, to honor his Prince, and to glorify
his country. This he did by meeting sieur de Monts,[13] who, in the
year 1603, undertook the voyage to New and Western France beyond
the sea; and by associating himself with him, to find a suitable
place where he could settle down, and there render service to God
and the King. To this end he has labored continually ever since,
and would have already greatly advanced the work, had not his
amiable nature been imposed upon by dishonest men, who have been
the cause of great losses to him in time and money. But, as he
was a Gentleman not to be conquered by hardships, and fearing no
dangers, he might have been sure of prompt advancement in his work
had he not been hindered by the greed of those who robbed him of
the fat of his lands, without making any settlement there. These
people, eager to get the Beaver skins of that country, go there for
no other purpose; and so compete with each other, that they have
caused every Beaver skin (which is the chief traffic [5] of these
regions) to be worth here to-day ten livres, when they might have
been sold for one-half that price, if the traffic therein had been
limited to one person. In this way the Christian Religion might
have also been established there; and it certainly would have been
greatly advanced, if such a course had been pursued. Also for the
sake of Religion and of permanent colonization, from which France
can derive both profit and glory, it is well that those who settle
there should enjoy fully and wholly the advantages guaranteed by
them; since no one does anything in this direction for the sake
of the leaders of the enterprise, who, at the risk of their lives
and their fortunes, have discovered coasts and interior lands
where no Christian had ever been. There is another consideration
which I do not wish to set down in writing, and which alone ought
to obtain the above-mentioned privileges to those who present and
offer themselves to settle and defend the province, and indeed
to give assistance to the entire French colony over there. There
has always been a complaint that affairs of general importance
are ruined by giving too much attention to the consideration of
personal interests. It is to be feared this may be the case in the
affairs of the new World, if we neglect them, and do not encourage
those who, with an unchangeable purpose, take great risks for the
welfare, the honor, and the glory of France, and for the exaltation
of the name of God, and of his Church.
[6] VOYAGE EN LA TERRE-NEUVE.
I'ay rapporté en mon histoire de la Nouvelle France ce qui est des deux
premiers voyages faits outre mer par le sieur de Poutrincourt. Ici i'ay
à écrire ce qui s'est ensuiui és voyages subsequens. Depuis quelques
années une succession lui est echeuë a cause de Dame Iehanne de Salazar
sa mere, qui est la Baronnie de Sainct Iust en Champagne. Les rivieres
de Seine & d'Aulbe rendent le lieu de cette Baronnie autant agreable,
que fort & avantageux à la defense. Là au commencement de Février mil
six cens dix il fit partie de son equippage, y ayant chargé vn bateau
de meubles, viures, & munitions de guerre, voire tellement chargé
qu'il n'y restoit que deux doigts de bord hors de l'eau. Cependant la
riviere estoit enflée & ne se pouuoit plus tenir en son lict à cause
des longues pluies hivernales. Les flots le menaçoient souuent, les
perils y estoient presens, mesmement és passages de Nogent, Corbeil,
Sainct Clou, Ecorche-veau, & autres où des bateaux perirent à sa veuë,
sans qu'il fust aucunement emeu d'apprehension. En fin il parvint à
Dieppe, & apres quelque sejour il se mit en mer le 26. dudit mois
de Février. Plusieurs en cette ville là benissoient son voyage, &
prioient Dieu pour la prosperité d'icelui. La saison estoit rude, &
les vents le plus souvent contraires. Mais on peut bien appeller vn
[7] voyage heureux, quand en fin on arrive à bon port. [_Forbans, ce
sont Pyrates._] Ils ne furent gueres loin qu'ils rencontrerent vers
le Casquet vn nauire de Forbans, lesquels voyans ledit Sieur & ses
gens bien resolus de se defendre si on les attaquoit, passerent outre.
Le 6. de Mars ils rencontrerent vnze navires Flamens, & se saluerent
l'vn l'autre de chacun vn coup de canon. Depuis le 8. iusques au 15.
il y eut tempéte, durant laquelle vne fois ledit Sieur estant couché
à la poupe, fut porté de son lict pardessus la table au lict de son
fils. [_Su, c'est Midi._] Ce mauvais temps les fit chercher leur route
plus au Su, & virent deux iles des Essores, Corbes, & Flore, là où
ils eurent le rafraichissement de quelques Marsoins qu'ils prindrent.
Et comme l'on dit que de la guerre vient la paix, Ainsi apres ces
tourmentes ils eurent des calmes iusques au iour de Pasques Fleuries
plus facheux que les tourmentes: car quoy qu'on soit en repos, il n'y
a pourtant sujet de contentement: car les vivres se mangent, & la
saison de bien faire se passe: bref vn grand calme est fort mauvais
sur la mer. Mais cela n'est point perpetuel: & quelquefois (selon
l'inconstance d'Eole) apres le calme suit vn vent favorable, tantost
vne tempéte, comme il survint vn peu apres (sçauoir le lendemain de
Pasques) laquelle fit faire eau à la soute, qui est le magazin du pain,
ou biscuit. [_Peril d'vn charpentier._] Occasion que le Charpentier du
navire voulant aller remedier au mal avenu, d'autant qu'en faisant ce
qui est de son art il troubloit les prieres publiques qui se faisoient
du matin, ledit Sieur lui commanda [8] de besongner par le dehors, là
où estant allé il trouva le Gouvernail rompu (chose dangereuse) lequel
voulant aller racoutrer, comme il estoit à sa besongne, il tomba de son
echaffaut dedans la mer. Et bien vint que le temps s'estoit ammoderé:
car autrement c'estoit vn homme perdu. Mais il fut garenti par la
diligence des matelots, qui lui tendirent vne corde, par laquelle il
se sauva.
[6] VOYAGE TO THE NEW WORLD.