Madame the Princess de Conty.
Mad. the Countess de Soissons.[24]
Mad. the Duchess of Nevers.[25]
Mad. de Guise.[26]
Mad. de Longueville. [24]
Mad. de Praslain, mother of Sieur de Praslain.[27]
Mad. de Praslain.
Mesdemoiselles Catherine, Blanche, and Claude, daughters of sieur
de Praslain.
Mad. the Countess de Tonnerre.
Mad. Anne de la Val, Lady of Ricey.
Mad. Françoise da Faulch, wife of sieur Delantage Baratier.
Mad. Charlotte, their daughter.
Mad. de Grieu.
Mad. de la Berge.
Mad. de Savare.
Mad. Anne Arlestain, wife of sieur de l'Estain.
Mesd. Philippa and Charlotte de Arlestain, his sisters.
Madam. Regnard, wife of Sieur Regnard.
Mad. Belot (wife of Treasurer.)
Madame Simony, widow of Monsieur Simony, Procuror in Parliament.
Mad. de Beaulieu.
Mad. Marguerite Simony.
Mad. Hardy.
Mad. Belot, wife of Monsieur Belot, Procuror.
Mad. Bajouë.
Mad. Jeanne des Marets, wife of sieur Megard, Surgeon at Troyes.
Barbe Ramin, mother of the Patriarch.
Barbe de Fleuchey, his sister.
Jeanne, Clemence Roussel, and Valentine Drouin, wives of said
Fleucheys, brothers of the Patriarch.
Voila ce que i'ay extrait d'un ordre confus des parins & marines,
lesquels i'ay voulu coucher icy pour les inuiter a faire du bien à ceux
qui ont eté baptizez soubs leurs noms, dont ie veux bien esperer méme
de ceux de basse condition. Que si la conversion de ces peuples ne va
par milliers, il faut considerer l'estat du païs qui n'est si frequent
en hommes que noz villages de France. On pourroit faire plus grande
moisson qui voudroit passer plus outre: mais il faut vouloir ce que
l'on peut, & prie Dieu qu'il vueïlle faire le reste, puisque les hommes
ont cette entreprise tãt à mépris.
The above are the extracts I have made from a confused list of
godfathers and godmothers, whom I wish to enumerate here so that
they may do some good to those who have been baptized under their
names, which I am willing to hope for, even from those of humble
condition. And if the conversion of these people is not effected
by thousands, we must consider the state of the country, in which
there are not as many men as in our villages in France. A greater
harvest could be reaped by those who could go farther beyond; but
we must be willing to do what we can, and pray God that he may
consent to do the rest, since men look upon this enterprise with so
much contempt.
[25] EXERCICES.
La pieté du sieur de Poutrincourt veut que le premier exercice de la
journée en ce païs là soit de prier Dieu, à l'imitation d'Abel, lequel
(ce dit Philon) offrit au matin son sacrifice. Ce que ne fit Cain. Et
les sages remarquent par la comparaison de Iacob qui receut la premiere
benediction d'Isaac, laquelle fut plus forte que celle qui fut donnée
à Esau: que ceux qui prient du matin, receuans la premiere benediction
de Dieu, ont aussi plus grande part en ses grâces. C'est pourquoy
vn illustre personnage de nôtre temps entre ses preceptes moraux &
sentences vrayement dorees, a écrit.
_Avec le jour commence ta journee
De l'Eternel le sainct nom benissant:
Le soir aussi ton labeur finissant,
Louë-le encor, & passe ainsi l'annee._
[25] OCCUPATIONS.
Sieur de Poutrincourt's piety requires that the first exercise of
the day in this country be to pray to God like Abel, who (as Philo
says) offered his sacrifice to God in the morning; which Cain did
not do. And sages observe, by citing Jacob, who received Isaac's
first blessing, which was stronger than that given to Esau, that
those who pray in the morning and receive the first benediction
of God, always have a greater share in his mercies. Hence an
illustrious personage of our times has written, among his moral
precepts and truly golden sentences;
_With the light thy day beginning,
Then praise the name of the Eternal One;
Again at evening when thy work is done,
Thus spend the year his praises singing._
C'est ainsi que ledit Sieur en a fait, ayant exprés mené à ses dépens
le susdit Patriarche, lequel ie voy par les memoires que i'ay ne
s'estre iamais épargné à ce qui estoit de sa charge s'estant transporté
quelquefois quatre, quelquefois douze lieuës loin pour baptizer des
enfans de Sauvages, au mandement qu'ilz luy en faisoient, disans qu'ils
vouloient estre comme Membertou, c'est à dire Chrétiens. Quelquefois
aussi il a conduit sa troupe en processiõ sur vne montagne qui est au
Nort de leur habitation, sur laquelle y a vn roc quarré de toutes [26]
parts, de la hauteur d'une table, couvert d'vne mousse épesse où ie me
suis quelquefois couché plaisammẽt: i'ay appellé ce lieu le mont de
la Roque au pourtraict que i'ay fait du Port Royal en mon Histoire, en
faveur d'un mien amy nõme de la Roque Prevost de Vimeu en Picardie, qui
desiroit prendre là vne terre, & y enuoyer des hommes.
The Sieur has done this, having brought here, expressly at his own
expense, the aforementioned Patriarch, who, I see from memoranda
which I have, has never spared himself in the performance of
his duties, going sometimes four, sometimes twelve leagues away
to baptize some of the children of the Savages, in answer to
their requests, saying they wanted to be like Membertou, namely,
Christians. Also sometimes he has led his band in a procession to
a mountain North of their settlement, upon which there is a square
rock [26] as high as a table, covered with thick moss, where I have
sometimes enjoyed a pleasant rest. I have called this place mount
de la Roque, in the sketch I made of Port Royal in my History,
after one of my friends named de la Roque, Provost of Vimeu in
Picardy, who desired to take up land there and to send over some
men.
Le second exercice c'est de pourvoir aux necessitez de la vie, à quoy
il employa ses gens chacun selon sa vacatiõ, estant arriué à la terre,
qui au labourage, qui aux batimens, qui à la forge, qui a faire des
ais, &c. Le Patriarche susdit s'empara de mon étude, & de mes parterres
& jardinages, où il dit auoir trouvé arrivant là, quantité de raves,
naveaux, carottes, panais, pois, féves, & toutes sortes d'herbes
jardinieres bonnes & plãtureuses. A quoy s'estant occupé, il y a laissé
à son retour (qui fut le 17. de Iuin dernier) vn beau champ de blé à
beaux épics, & bien fleuri.
The second duty was to provide for the necessities of life, and to
this end he employed his people, each according to his trade, as
soon as they arrived; some were employed in tilling the ground,
some in building, some at the forge, some in making planks, etc.
The Patriarch took possession of my apartment, and of my parterres
and gardens, where he says he found, at his arrival, a great many
radishes, parsnips, carrots, turnips, peas, beans, and all kinds of
good and productive culinary herbs. Occupying himself with these
things, upon his return (which was the 17th of last June), he left
a beautiful field of wheat with fine, well-flowered heads.
Plusieurs autres se sont occupés à la terre, comme estant le premier
métier & le plus necessaire à la vie de l'homme. Ils en ont (comme ie
croy) maintenant recuilli les fruicts, hors-mis des arbres fruitiers
qu'ils ont plantés, lesquels ne sont si prompts à cela.
Several others were occupied in agriculture, this being the
occupation of prime importance, and most necessary to human life.
They have now (I suppose) reaped the harvest thereof, except that
of the trees they planted, which are not so prompt in bearing.
Quant aux Sauvages ils ne sçauent que c'est du labourage, & ne s'y
peuvent addonner, courageux seulement & penibles à la chasse, & à la
pécherie. Toutefois les Armouchiquois & autres plus esloignés plantent
du blé & des fevés, mais ils laissent faire cela aux femmes.
As to the Savages, they know nothing about cultivating the
land, and cannot give themselves up to it, showing themselves
courageous and laborious only in hunting and fishing. However, the
Armouchiquois and other more distant tribes plant wheat[32] and
beans, but they let the women do the work.[33]
[27] Nos gens outre le labourage & iardinage, avoient l'exercice
de la chasse, de la pécherie, & de leurs fortifications. Ils ne
manquerent aussi d'exercice à remettre & couvrir les batimens & le
moulin delaissez depuis nótre retour en l'an 1607. Et d'autant que
la fonteine estoit vn peu eloignée du Fort, ils firent vn pui dans
icelui Fort, de l'eau duquel ils se sont fort bien trouvez. De sorte
que (chose emerueillable) ils n'ont eu aucunes maladies, quoy qu'il
y ait eu beaucoup de sujet d'en avoir par la necessité qu'ils ont
soufferte. Car le Sieur de Sainct Iust fils dudit Sieur de Poutrincourt
ayant eu mandement de retourner dans quatre mois (comme nous avons
dit ci-dessus) on l'attendoit dans la fin de Nouembre pour avoir du
rafraichissement, & toutesfois il n'arriva que le iour de Pentecoste,
qui fut le 22. de May ensuivant. Cela fut cause qu'il fallut retrencher
les vivres qu'ils avoient en assez petite quantité. De manger toujours
du poisson (s'il n'est bõ & ferme) ou des coquillages seuls sans pain,
cela est dangereux, & cause la dysenterie, cõme nous avõs rapporté
ci-dessus de quelques Sauuages qui en sont morts, & pouvons en avoir
autre témoignage par les gens du Sieur de Monts, qui moururent en
nombre de vingt la premiere année qu'ils hivernerent à Kebec, tãt pour
la nouveauté de la demeure, que pour avoir trop mangé d'anguilles &
autres poissõs. La chasse aussi ne se trouve pas à foison en vn lieu
où il faut viure de cela, & où l'on fait vne demeure arrestée. C'est
ce qui rend les [28] Sauvages vagabons, & fait qu'ilz ne peuvent
vivre en vne place. Quand ils ont esté six semaines en vn lieu il
faut changer de demeure. Ilz prindrent au terroir du Port Royal six
Grignaces ou Ellans, cet hiver, dont ils en apportoient vn quartier
ou moitié aux nótres. Mais cela ne va gueres loin à tant de gens.
Le iour de Pasques fleuries le fils ainé de Membertou dit Louïs, en
poursuivoit vn, qui s'estant venu rendre au Port Royal passoit l'eau,
quand la femme dudit Louïs vint faire vne alarme en criant plusieurs
fois, _Ech'pada, Ech'pada_, c'est à dire, Aux épées, Aux épées. On
pensoit que ce fussent quelques ennemis, mais il fut le bien venu. Le
Sieur de Poutrincourt se mit dans vne chaloupe pour aller au devant,
& avec vn dogue il le fit tourner en arrière d'où il venoit. Il y
avoit du plaisir à le cotoyer si proche de sa ruine. Si-tost qu'il
approcha de terre, ledit Louïs le transperça d'une fleche, le Sieur
de Iouy luy tira vne arquebusade à la téte, mais _Actaudinech'_ dit
Paul fils puisné de Membertou lui coupa dextrement vne veine au col,
qui l'atterra du tout. Ceci donna vne curée & consolation stomachale
aux nótres. Mais cela ne dura pas toujours. Il fallut revenir à
l'ordinaire. Et faut penser qu'en ce retranchement de vivres dont
nous avons parlé il y eut de grandes affaires pour le chef, car des
mutineries & conspirations survindrent, & d'vn costé le cuisinier
déroboit vne partie de la portion des autres, & tel crioit à la faim,
qui avoit abondance de pain & de chair dans sa [29] cellule, ainsi
que s'est veu par experience. Ceux qui portoient le blé au moulin,
de quinze boisseaux n'en rendoient que douze de farine au lieu de
dix-huict. Et de la necessité d'autrui ils troquoient avarement des
Castors auec les Sauvages. Neantmoins (par trop de bonté) tant de
fautes leur furent pardonnées apres visitation faite. Pauvres sots qui
font des conseils si legers, & ne voyent point ce qu'ils deviendront
par apres, & que leur vie ne peut estre asseurée que par vn perpetuel
exil de leur patrie, & de tout ce qu'ils ont de plus cher au monde.
[27] Our people, besides the farm and garden work, passed their
time in hunting, fishing, and in making fortifications. Work was
not wanting also in repairing and roofing the buildings and the
mill, abandoned since our return in 1607. And, as the spring was
some little distance from there, they dug a well in the Fort, and
found the water very good. So that (wonderful to relate) they had
no sickness, although there was sufficient cause for it in the
privations they suffered. For Sieur de Sainct Just, son of Sieur
de Poutrincourt, having been ordered to return in four months (as
we have said above), was expected the last of November, with fresh
supplies; yet he did not come until the day of Pentecost, the
22nd of the following May. For this reason they were obliged to
diminish their rations, of which they had rather a small quantity.
To always eat fish (unless it is good and firm) or shellfish
alone, without bread, is dangerous, and causes dysentery, as we
have observed above in regard to certain Savages who died of it.
We can prove this also by Sieur de Monts' men, who died, to the
number of twenty, the first year they wintered at Kebec, both on
account of their change of dwelling, and because they ate too many
eels and other fish. Furthermore, game is not always to be found
in abundance in a place where people are obliged to live on it,
and where there is a permanent settlement. This is what makes [28]
nomads of the Savages, and prevents them from remaining long in one
place. When they have been six weeks in a place, they are obliged
to leave their habitation. This winter, in the neighborhood of Port
Royal they took six Grignaces[34] or Elks, and brought a quarter or
half of them to our people. But that did not go far with so many
men. On Palm Sunday, Louis, the eldest son of Membertou, was on the
trail of one which had reached Port Royal and was just crossing
the river, when his wife caused an alarm by crying out several
times, _Ech'pada, Ech'pada_, that is, "To arms, to arms." They
thought it might be an enemy, but it was a welcome one. Sieur de
Poutrincourt got into a boat to go and head it off, and, with the
help of a big dog, made it turn back whence it came. There was some
sport in chasing it so near its death. As soon as it approached
the land, Louis pierced it through with an arrow, Sieur de Jouy
discharged his arquebuse at its head, but _Actaudinech'_, or Paul,
the younger son of Membertou, dexterously cut a vein in its neck,
which completely finished it. This gave our people some game, and
consolation to their stomachs. But it did not last always, and they
had to come back to ordinary fare. You must bear in mind that,
in this cutting down of supplies, of which we have spoken, there
were great responsibilities for the commandant; for mutinies and
conspiracies arose; and on the one hand the cook stole a part of
what belonged to the others, while a certain one cried "hunger" who
had plenty of bread and meat in his [29] cell, as has been proven.
Those who carried wheat to the mill, from fifteen bushels brought
back only twelve of flour, instead of eighteen. They also took
advantage of the necessity of others, in miserly traffic in Beaver
skins with the Savages. Nevertheless (through too much kindness),
all these faults were pardoned after they had been looked into.
Poor fools, who take good counsel so lightly, and do not see what
will become of them afterwards, and that their lives can only be
assured by a perpetual exile from their country, and from all they
hold dearest in the world.
En cette disette on eut avis de quelques racines que les Sauvages
mangent au besoin, lesquelles sont bonnes comme Truffes. Cela fut
cause que quelques paresseux se mirẽt avec les diligens a fouiller
la terre, & firent si bien par leurs iournées qu'ils en defricherent
environ quatre arpens, là où on a semé des segles & legumes. C'est
ainsi que Dieu sçait tirer du mal vn bien; il chastie les siens, &
neantmoins les soutient de sa main.
During this scarcity they heard of some roots which the Savages
eat in their time of need, and which are as good as Truffles.[35]
To seek for these, some of the lazy ones, as well as the more
industrious, began to dig; and did so well that, by working daily,
they cleared about four acres, in which rye and vegetables were
planted. It is thus that God can draw good from evil; he chastises
his people, and yet sustains them with his hand.
Quand l'hiver fut passé, & que la douceur du temps allecha le poisson à
rechercher les eaux douces, on dépecha des gens le 14. Avril pour faire
la quéte de cela. Il y a nombre infini de ruisseaux au Port Royal,
entre lesquels sont trois ou quatre où vient à foison le poisson au
renouveau. L'vn apporte l'Eplan en Avril en quantité infinie. L'autre
le Haren, l'autre l'Eturgeon & Saumõ, &c. Ainsi furent lors deputez
quelques vns pour aller voir à la riviere qui [30] est au profond
du Port Royal, si l'Eplan estoit venu. Ils y allerent, & leur fit
Membertou (qui estoit cabanné là) bonne chere, de chair & de poisson.
Delà ils allerent au ruisseau nommé Liesse par le Sieur des Noyers
Advocat en Parlement, là où ils trouverent tant de poisson, qu'il
fallut envoyer querir du sel pour en faire bonne prouision. Ce poisson
est fort savoureux & delicat, & ne fait point de mal comme pourroient
faire les coquillages: & vient enuiron l'espace de six semaines en ce
ruisseau: lequel temps passé il y a vn autre ruisseau audit Port Royal,
où vient le Haren, item vn autre où vient la Sardine en méme abondance.
Mais quant à la riuiere dudit Port, qui est la riviere de l'Equille,
depuis nommée la riviere du Dauphin, au temps susdit elle fournit
d'Eturgeons & Saumons à qui veut prendre la peine d'en faire la chasse.
Quand le Haren fut venu, les Sauvages (selon leur bon naturel) firent
des feuz & fumees en leur quartier, pour en dõner avis à noz François.
Ce qui ne fut negligé. Et est cette chasse beaucoup plus certaine que
celle des bois.
When the winter was over and the mildness of the weather allured
the fish to seek fresh water, upon the 14th of April, men were
sent out fishing. There are a great many streams at Port Royal,
and among them three or four where the fish swarm in the spawning
season. One contains vast numbers of Smelts[36] in April. Another,
Herring, another, Sturgeon and Salmon, etc. So some were then sent
to the river at the [30] back of Port Royal, to see if the Smelts
had come. When they reached the place, Membertou (who was encamped
there), received them hospitably, regaling them with meat and
fish. Thence they went to the stream called Liesse[37] by Sieur
des Noyers, an Advocate in Parliament, where they found so many
fish that they had to send and get some salt, to lay in a store of
them. These fish are very tempting and delicate, and are not so
injurious as shellfish are apt to be. They remain about six weeks
in this stream; after that there is another small river near Port
Royal, where Herring is found, also another to which Sardines come
in great abundance. But as to the river of the Port, which is the
river Equille, since named the Dauphin,[38] at the time of which
we speak it furnished Sturgeon and Salmon to any one who would
take the trouble to fish for them. When the Herrings came, the
Savages (with their usual good-nature) let the French know it by
signaling from their quarters with fires and smoke. The hint was
not neglected, for this kind of hunting is much more sure than that
of the woods.
RETOVR EN LA NOVVELLE-FRANCE.
Il estoit le 10. de May quand la derniere cuisson du pain faite, on
tint conseil de retourner en France, si dãs le mois n'arriuoit secours.
Ce qui fut prest d'estre executé. Mais le iour de la Pentecoste [31]
Dieu envoya son esprit consolateur à cette compagnie ja languissante,
qui lui suruint bien à propos, par l'arrivée du Sieur de Sainct Iust,
duquel il nous faut dire quelque chose: car ci-devant nous l'avons
laissé au port de Dieppe, sans avoir veu ce qu'il a fait depuis.
S'estant presenté à la Royne; elle fut merveilleusement rejouïe
d'entendre la conversion de plusieurs Sauvages qui avoient esté
baptizés avant le depart dudit sieur de Sainct Iust, dont ie fis vn
recit public que ie presentay à sa Majesté. La dessus les Iesuites se
presẽtẽt pour aller au secours. La Royne le trouve bon. Elle les
recõmande. I'eusse desiré qu'avant partir quelqu'vn eust remontré à sa
Majesté chose qu'elle n'eust fait que trop volontiers: C'est d'envoyer
quelque present de vivres & d'habits à ces Neophytes & nouveaux
Chrétiens qui portẽt les noms du feu Roy, de la Royne Regente, &
de Messeigneurs & Dames les enfans de France. Mais chacun regarde à
son profit particulier. Ledit sieur de Sainct Iust apres son rapport
fait, pretendoit obtenir quelques defenses pour le cõmerce des Castors,
cuidant que la cõsideration de la religion lui pourroit faire aisément
accorder cela. Ce qu'il ne peut toutefois obtenir. Et voyant que
cette affaire tiroit en longueur, & qu'il falloit aller secourir son
pere, ayant mandement de faire en forte d'estre de retour dans quatre
mois, il print cõgé de la Royne, laquelle luy bailla de compagnie
deux Iesuites pour la conversion des peuples Sauvages de delà. Mais
puis que le sieur de Poutrincourt avoit pris vn [32] homme capable
à son partement, il me semble que ceux-ci (qui peuvent estre plus
vtiles pardeça) se hasterẽt trop pour le profit dudit Sieur: Car le
retardement écheu à leur occasion lui a prejudicié de beaucoup, & causé
la rupture de son association. Et faut en telles affaires fonder la
Republique premierement, sans laquelle l'Eglise ne peut estre, ainsi
que i'ay des-ja écrit ci-dessus. I'en avoy dit mon avis audit sieur de
Sainct Iust, & qu'il falloit asseurer la vie avant toutes choses, faire
vne cuillette de bledz, avoir des bestiaux, & des volatiles domestics,
devant que pouvoir assembler ces peuples. Or ceste precipitation pensa,
outre la perte susdite, reduire la troupe qui estoit pardela à vne
miserable necessité, n'y ayant plus que la cuisson de pain ja faite &
distribuée.
RETURN TO NEW FRANCE.
It was the 10th of May, when the last bread was baked, that they
took counsel about returning to France, if help did not come within
a month. This they were ready to do. But on the day of Pentecost
[May 22nd] [31] God sent his consoling spirit to this company,
already so disheartened, and it came to them very opportunely in
the arrival of Sieur de Sainct Just, of whom we must say a few
words; for awhile ago we left him at the port of Dieppe, and have
not seen what he has been doing since. When he was presented to the
Queen, she was wonderfully pleased to hear about the conversion
of several Savages, who had been baptized before the departure of
sieur de Sainct Just, an account of which I published and presented
to her Majesty. Thereupon the Jesuits offered themselves to aid
in the work. The Queen favored the plan, and recommended them. I
should have been glad, if, before their departure, some one had
suggested to her Majesty a thing which she would willingly have
done; namely, to send some presents of food and clothes to these
Neophytes and new Christians, who bear the names of the deceased
King, of the Queen Regent, and of my Lords and Ladies, the children
of France.[39] But every one looks out for his own interests. Sieur
de Sainct Just, after his report had been made, meant to obtain
protection for the Beaver trade, believing that considerations of
a religious nature would easily secure this for him. However, he
could not obtain it. And seeing that the affair was dragging on,
and that he must go and relieve his father, having been ordered
to so arrange affairs as to be back in four months, he took leave
of the Queen, who sent with him two Jesuits for the conversion of
the Savage tribes over there. But as sieur de Poutrincourt had
taken an [32] able man at his departure, it seems to me that these
men (who can be more useful here) were in too much of a hurry for
the best interests of the Sieur; because the delay, which took
place on their account, was very detrimental to him, and caused
a dissolution of his partnership. In such undertakings the State
must first be founded, without which the Church cannot exist,
as I have said before. I expressed my opinion on this subject
to sieur de Sainct Just, to the effect that it was necessary to
guarantee a living before anything else, to obtain a crop of wheat,
to have cattle and domestic fowls, before they could bring these
people together. Now this blind haste came very near, besides the
above-mentioned losses, reducing the company that was over there
to misery and want, as they had nothing left but the one baking of
bread, already made and distributed.