with the performance of their duties, was at the start to know the
language of the natives, which the Frenchmen--caring but little for
it, with one exception--could not impart by rules, or teach with
advantage; so only one method remained, to learn it from the stupid
natives, not by lessons, but by constant practice. Consequently,
after our associates had made various attempts to conciliate the
Savages, by gifts, by friendliness, and by [574] every sort of
service, they accomplished little or nothing. For, besides the fact
that they employed teachers not at all fitted for instruction,
from whom nothing could be obtained unless their stomachs were
first liberally crammed, and who, being very impatient of even a
short delay, would often be distracted and drawn away from one by
earnest inquiry about any subject: the very nature of the language,
also, so deficient in words suitable for the expression of even
the most common ideas, evaded the eager pursuit of our men, and
greatly disheartened them. Of those things, indeed, which fall
under sight, touch, and the other senses, the names were obtained
from the answers of the Savages in one way or another; but for
those things which elude the senses, there is the greatest scarcity
of names among that race, and also a profound ignorance of the
things themselves. The knowledge of the latter class was despaired
of, since the Savages either could not, or would not explain the
former; one hope remained, in a young Frenchman, fluent in the
native tongue, of remarkable kindness and affability, whom Father
Biard also had laid under obligations to himself by no ordinary
favors. This was Pontgravé, the son of Pontgravé,[71] an excellent
man, who in former years, together with Champlain, represented
Sieur de Monts in New France; and this youth, who was preparing to
pass the winter no farther than eighteen leagues from Port Royal,
at the river St. John, our brethren were anxious to meet, with his
own ready consent, and with inconvenience to no one, for the sake
of the aid of his instruction in acquiring the Canadian language.
Although Biencourt was consulted about this expedition, and also
requested by our comrades that they might be allowed by his kind
permission [575] to make progress through Pontgravé in the foreign
idiom, by their ignorance of which, they were losing all the fruits
of their voyage to New France,[72] they did not succeed; because
such intercourse with Pontgravé inspired suspicion in Biencourt.
While our brethren therefore patiently endured their troubles,
until some path more suitable to their plans should be revealed,
God placed within their reach the desired opportunity, for doing a
kindness to Henry Membertou, a Sagamore who was dangerously ill, by
caring diligently for the salvation of both his soul and his body.
Among this people the chief of each tribe is called a SAGAMORE,
and Membertou was Sagamore among the Souriquois, in Acadia, to the
St. John river, North of the fort at Port Royal. However, when
he began to be afflicted with dysentery, he was residing at _Bay
Ste. Marie_, as they call it, between Port Royal and the Southern
coast, whence he had ordered himself to be brought into the fort,
in order that he might profit by the care of our physicians. Our
fathers received him into their narrow cabin, and, for many days,
in the absence of his wife and daughter, by day, and night, amid
the noxious filth of a vile disease, freely bestowed upon him their
services, as most assiduous and exceedingly solicitous attendants.
When he had been absolved upon Confession, and anointed with the
Holy oil, he arranged with Biencourt about his burial, and said
that he wished to be interred in his own ancestral burial place.
Biencourt, who did not think the matter of much importance, readily
consented, and, upon hearing the objections of Father Biard to
his decision, believed that trouble might be prevented if [576]
that grave would be blessed according to the Christian rite. This
opinion of Biencourt rendered Membertou so much the more steadfast
in his resolution; Father Biard declared that he would not agree
with them in this, and explained why he would not consent. There
was no doubt that, if the Sagamore persisted in his purpose, and
Biencourt continued to support him, some offense and disturbance
would arise therefrom; but Divine providence prevented this evil.
The day thereafter, Membertou of his own accord requested the
usual Christian burial, in which resolution he died, evidently
purposing by this act to leave his faith attested to all Christians
and Savages, and to become a participant in the privileges of the
Church. This Sagamore was in every respect a great man, not only in
the opinion of his own people but in ours; and the good God seems
to have raised this man's excellent nature high above the ordinary
character of the Canadians, in order that he might gather him to
himself as the first fruits in righteousness of his race. Out of
some 80 natives of New France whom since the beginning of June of
the year 1610 a certain Josse,[73] a priest unfamiliar with his
duties, had heedlessly baptized, although they certainly had had no
religious instruction, Membertou alone, who greatly excelled all
his countrymen in acuteness and good sense, had wisely discerned
how important it is not merely to be considered a Christian, but
actually to live with a character agreeing to the name. And indeed,
although the entire remainder of that 80 had continued their brutal
mode of life ever since Baptism, this man alone deserved to be
called a Christian, and indeed led a praiseworthy life in [577] the
midst of dense ignorance, before our brethren had come thither.
As he, first of all the inhabitants of New France, was sprinkled
with the saving waters, it seems, beyond doubt, that he so imbibed
their most potent virtue, that nothing remained for him but to
secure those teachers, by whose instructions he would be trained in
Christian principles until he should become fit to introduce among
his countrymen an Apostolic teacher. Our brethren are competent
witnesses of this burning desire; they often heard from his lips
these words: "By the immortal God, Fathers, endeavor to quickly
learn our language, in order that, after having employed you as
teachers, I also, like you, may go forth as a public exhorter and
instructor; and by our united labors the entire population of New
France may be brought to Christ." This man, who survived hardly
fifteen months after becoming a Christian, and was accorded but a
few days of our training, was nevertheless rendered illustrious
by many virtues truly Christian and belonging to a pious spirit;
and, indeed, unique marks of an upright character had presaged in
him this fruit which was so rich, a short time previously, while
he was still living according to his ancestral customs. By the
testimony of all the inhabitants of the province, this one man, in
strength of mind, in knowledge of the military art, in the great
number of his followers, in power, and in the renown of a glorious
name among his countrymen, and even his enemies, easily surpassed
the Sagamores who had flourished during many preceding ages. This
universal honor and renown he could not have attained, even among
Savages utterly untaught, except from an established reputation,
the knowledge also of the exceptional justice of his [578]
character, and his temperance. Indeed, concerning this last virtue,
although nothing additional can be cited, there was certainly a
distinguished example of a man of great self-restraint in the
continual monogamy of Membertou, in which rank, thus far, New
France has recognized him alone as a phœnix indeed. For, though all
the rest of the natives, but especially the Sagamores, covet above
all else from a multitude of wives a numerous train of progeny,
and desire them as the especial support and foundation of their
power; Membertou could never be induced to conform to this custom
of the race, because, with a certain wisdom deeper than that of the
mass of Sagamores, he perceived that the evils arising among the
quarreling wives and among the children of these rivals, beneath
the same roof, more than balanced the increase of resources and of
power that might arise from a large family. It is an observance of
that race, from a superstitious rite which all especially revere,
to never mention by name any deceased person; but to give each,
according to circumstances, an additional appellation, by which
they always designate him whenever they mention him. In conformity
with this custom, they called Henry Membertou, because he had of
late been highly renowned in warlike virtues, by a name agreeing
with his reputation, meaning, in their language, Great Chief.
POTRINCOVRTIVS Biencourtij pater, in Galliam mense Iulio nauigarat,
commeatus summittendi gratia, cuius erant magnæ angustiæ in
Porturegiensi familia, Octobri mense insequente; cibariorum tamen
nihil è Gallia missum erat; idcirco Biencourtius ad Almochiquios,
Choüacoetij fluminis [579] accolas, Indici milij copiis abundantes,
nauigationem, comite Patre Biardo, instituit, Gallicarum mercium
permutatione ad hibernam aliquam annonam frumentaturus. Sed quòd ex
itinere ad Sancti Ioannis flumen, trans Francicum Sinum diuerterat, vt
ex adolescente Pontgrauæo, reliquisque Maclouiensibus quintas exigeret
Canadicæ negotiationis, diutiùs eum morantibus subortis cum ea familia
discordiis, tempore frumentationis pæne exclusus est, ad quam deinde
cùm est reuersus, Barbarorum delusus fraude, qui spem frumentariæ
permutationis fecerant, vacuus in Portum Regium renauigauit. In ea
excursione feliciter obtigit Patri Biardo, vt Pontgrauæo conciliaret
Biencourtium, sicuti nuper Potrincourtium eidem insensum placauerat, &
vt Merueillæo item Maclouiensi, de salute, ob nescio quas suspiciones,
periclitanti grauiter, eadem pacificationis opera, vitam affereret;
quo suo facto vtrumque sibi magnopere deuinxit. Nostro Sacerdoti
demeritos esse beneficiis homines huiusmodi, cum ob cætera multa, tum
ob id in primis opportunè accidebat, quòd eorum opera fideli, ac vtili
esset vsurus in disciplina Canadicæ linguæ, quam Pontgrauæus callebat
egregiè, si dies aliquot vnà viuere, aut certè frequentiùs congredi
liceret. Id certè, vt Pater Biardus nõ expeteret, quod expetebat,
ipsi vltrò ambiebant, delato ei perhumaniter suo contubernio; quibus
in præsentia Pater egit gratias, habuitque, rogatis tamen, vt sibi
hanc benignitatem, in id tempus reseruarent, quo bene vti fas esset;
tunc enim haud [580] decere Biencourtium, in periculosa præsertim
nauigatione, ab se deseri. Biencourtio deinde redeunti ex irrita
illa Quinibequiensi frumentatione, quam modò indicauimus, cùm ad
Pentegoetium amnem, & Sanctæ Crucis insulam ventum esset, suadere
conatus est, immo supplex fuit Pater Biardus, vt se inde, loco ex
propinquo, ad Pontgrauæum dimitteret, Canadici catechismi contexendi
causa, quod inter eos antè conuenerat. Huic postulationi, licet
æquissimæ, is cuius nihil planè intererat, non nisi eis conditionibus
assensus est, quæ & iniquissimæ, & nequaquam in potestate Patris
essent. Quamobrem facultate deiectus idiomatis vernaculi condiscendi,
ad otiosam pæne vitam in arce degendam adactus est, ingenti sua
molestia. Nouembri exeunte, iam ferme exausto penu, nulli nuncij
afferebantur è Gallia; & quod reliquum esse poterat ab venatione
subsidium, niuibus obsitũ solum intercipiebat; vt ex parsimonia
petendum esset vectigal, quò plures in dies annona sufficeret. Demensum
igitur cuiuslibet è familia, in quamque hebdomadam, ad denas panis
vncias, lardi selibram, pisi aut fabæ ternas scutellas, & prunorum
vnam denique redierat. Atque tametsi familia vniuersa eo commeatu,
quem nostrum è Gallia importaueramus, vitam tolerabat, nihil nobis
liberaliùs, quàm cuiuis de calonibus eo tempore indultum est, neque
vt indulgeretur, optauimus, quamquam nebulo quidam, scripto in Gallia
edito, non est veritus multa secus per summam impudentiam & calumniam
disseminare. Ad nonum calendas Februarias, anni [581] sexcentesimi
duodecimi, tenuerunt cibariorum angustiæ, quem ad diem in Portum Regium
inuecta est nauis cum mediocri admodum annona, Dominæ Guercheuillææ
sumtibus emta, & transmissa. Mille aureos nummos, ex pacto societatis
cum Robinio & Patribus Canadiensibus initæ, contributos hæc pia matrona
numerauerat Roberto du Thet, fratri nostro coemendis transmittendisque
Porturegiensi contubernio cibariis; sed eorum quadringentis fratrem
nostrum, non satis cautum depositi custodem, Potrincourtius oblata
suæ syngraphæ cautione, confestim emunxit; sicque res tota rediit ad
sexcentos, vnde annona nobis exigua conflaretur. Sed neque tot aureorum
cibaria in nauem illata sunt, nam Potrincourtij naualis administer
partem coemti frumenti auertit in Gallia, & eorum quæ aduecta erant,
Porturegiensi Societati quantum collibuit, nec amplius, reddidit.
Noster Gilbertus du Thet, cuius in oculis horum pleraque commissa
erant, posteà quam vidit, ab eo qui annonæ transuehendæ præfuerat,
nullas acceptorum rationes referri, assumto Patre Biardo, apud
Biencourtium egit modestè, vti ab eo, qui mandato parentis eius, pro
magistro in naui gesserat, acceptorum ratio reposceretur: interesse
siquidem nauticorum omnium sociorum, vt constaret, quantũ à singulis
expensum acceptũque esset. Biencourtius quidem & tum, & deinde sæpius
est professus, nihil moderatiùs, nihil æquiùs postulari à quoquam
potuisse: nihilo tamen minùs, quasi à nostro atrociter insimularetur
Simon Imbertus, cuius fides in [582] eo negotio desiderabatur; ita
illius postulata isti de pinxit, vt eum nobis infensissimum faceret.
Imbertus ergo vt Biencourtium sibi conciliatum à nobis abalienaret,
seque referendæ rationis necessitate absolueret, malignè interpretatus
consilium Dominæ Guercheuillææ, quæ paciscendæ societatis cum Robinio
ansam captauerat, vt Missionis nostræ rebus tantò certiùs caueret;
fraudulenter cauillatus est, per causam eius societatis intendi
machinã, qua Biencourtiorum nomẽ Porturegiensi arce, atque vniuersa
Noua Francia detruderetur. Ex hac calumnia illæ Biencourtij simultates
exstiterunt, quibus factum est, vt nostrorum opera Nouo-francis
populis, quin & ipsis quoque Gallis nihilo ferè quam isti minùs
egentibus institutione, deinceps esset inutilis. Calumniatoris
mendacia facile fuit nostris diluere, & semel, iterum, ac tertiò tam
apertè ac validè apud Biencourtium, audiente vniuerso contubernio,
diluerunt; vt postrema refutatione ad infantiam adactus Imbertus eò
deueniret, vt excusandæ noxæ gratia profiteri non vereretur, sibi
largiter temulento illas aduersum nos calumnias excidisse. Biencourtium
acriter pupugerat nuncius, quo afferebatur, etiam conscio parente
suo Potrincourtio, vniuersæ Nouæ Franciæ ius imperiumque à maximo
amne Sacquéo ad Floridam, Portu Regio demto, _Guercheuillææ_ Regio
diplomate esse cõcessum eidémq; à Domino de Monts quidquid Henrici
Quàrti beneficio nuper in eadem ora possedisset, id omne tabulis
publicè consignatis esse transcriptum. Atque, vt non putaret, hæc nobis
[583] auctoribus gesta esse, perinde tamen posteà in nos affectus fuit
quasi credidisset. Guercheuillææ quidem mens, fuit huius principatus
sui reuerentia, velut potenti freno iniecto, Biencourtiorum vtrumque,
patrem & filium, fidei hactenus in nos parum sinceræ, animique minus
grati, suo in officio continere; nihil autem de Porturegiensi iure
ipsis detrahere. Sed fui nimio plus amantes homines alienam in re
propria cautionem, suam iniuriam interpretabantur: quòd tamen res iis
esset angusta domi, nec viderent vnde commodiùs cella Porturegiensis
instrui posset, quàm à Guercheuillæa in gratiam nostrorum Patrum, ne
hac annona exciderent, suum dolorem taciti concoquebant. Nostrorum
facillima fuit apud Biencourtium purgatio, quam cum accepisset in
præsentia, reconciliatis animis Patres ad institutum Canadiensis
idiomatis condiscendi magnis animis reuersi sunt, partitis inter se
prouinciis, vt Pater Massæus ad Ludouicum Membertouium, Henrici vita
functi filium, eius rei causa demigraret; Pater Biardus magistrum eius
linguæ domi Barbarum sibi adhiberet. Patri Massæo ad Sancti Ioannis
flumen apud hospitem, cum adolescente Gallo socio degenti, ex diuturna
inedia, & Nomadicæ vitæ continentibus vexationibus, accidit grauis
ægrotatio, qua tantum non confectus ad vltima delaberetur, inter
quem morbum Membertouio cum hospite Patre accidit ridicula planè, ac
Canadico ingenio digna sermocinatio. Ad decumbentem scilicet Patrem is
adiit, vt quidem eius vultus præferebat, Patris acerbo casu [584] valdè
sollicitus ac mœrens, quem in hæc verba compellauit. Audi me, Pater,
moreris omnino, vt ego quidem auguror: scribe igitur ad Biencourtium,
itemque ad tuum fratrem, te à nobis nequaquam trucidatum occubuisse,
sed morbo consumtum, ne qua in nobis tui obitus noxa resideat. Cui
contrà retulit Pater Massæus: Non committam, vt quod mones, imprudenter
ad meos scribam: ne tu ex mea imprudentia factus audacior, securiorque
violentas manus afferas, nihilò tamen minùs innocentiæ testes meas
litteras apud te habeas, quæ te noxa eximant. Inexspectato, & arguto
responso perculsus Barbarus, quasi ex alto sopore mox ad se rediit,
atque renidenti ore, ait: Iesum igitur tuis precibus tibi propitium
facito, vt te periculo mortis eruat, ne quis in nos tui occasus culpam
conferat. Illud ipsum curo, inquit, Pater, desine esse sollicitus,
nec enim me hic morbus exhauriet. In Porturegiensi quiete Pater
Biardus interea doctore Barbaro vtebatur ad condiscendam barbariem,
quæ se idoneum Euangelij præconem in rudi admodum gente præstaret:
cui doctori quamdiu habuit vnde mensam insterneret, eius facili,
vtilíque opera profecit, sed discendi docendíque cursum post aliquot
hebdomadas inhibuit penus inopia. Cuius angustiis quoq; prohibiti
sunt nostri, ne quattuor Barbaros, quos Pater Biardus & Biencourtius
in maritimo discrimine, ipsis Barbaris ratum votum habẽtibus, futuros
Christianos vouerant, si è præsenti naufragio incolumes euaderent.
Erepti periculo cum ad Regium Portum appulissent nauem, non fuit in
cella vnde alerentur Barbari, quoad idonea Catechesi essent imbuti, qua
destitutione affectis nobis rei bene gerendæ occasio periit, nec postea
rediit.
POTRINCOURT, the father of Biencourt, had sailed for France in the
month of July for the sake of procuring supplies, of which there
was a great scarcity in the colony at Port Royal; but up to the
following month of October no provisions had been sent from France;
therefore, Biencourt decided to make a trip, in company with Father
Biard, to the Almochiquois, who lived near the Choüacoet river,
[579] and had plenty of Indian corn, in order by the exchange of
French goods to obtain some food for the winter. But because he
turned aside from the journey across French Bay, to the St. John
river, in order that he might exact from the young Pontgravé and
the rest of the Maclouins a tax upon their Canadian traffic, and
being longer delayed by disputes which arose with that colony, he
waited almost beyond the time for obtaining corn; and, when he
finally returned to that business, deceived by the pretensions of
the Indians, who had held out the hope of buying food, he sailed
back empty-handed to Port Royal. During this trip Father Biard
fortunately succeeded in reconciling Biencourt to Pontgravé, just
as he had lately conciliated Potrincourt, who had been enraged at
the same man; and also, by the same office of pacification, in
preserving the life of Merveille, the Malouin, who was in great
jeopardy on account of certain suspicions; by which actions he
acquired the greatest influence over them both. It was advantageous
to our Priest to have men of this character indebted for favors to
him, not only for many other reasons, but especially, because he
designed to make use of their faithful and effective services in
learning the Canadian language, in which Pontgravé was unusually
skilled, if they should be allowed to reside together for a few
days, or to meet even more frequently. They, of their own accord,
took care that Father Biard might not request what he desired,
by very politely offering him the privileges of their home; the
Father was grateful to them, and for the present returned thanks,
requesting them, however, to postpone their kindness to him until
that time when it would be proper for him to accept it; for it was
not then fitting for him [580] to desert Biencourt, especially when
he was engaged in a dangerous journey. Afterwards, while Biencourt
was returning from that unsuccessful trip to the Quinibequi for
provisions, which we have just described, when they had arrived
at the Pentegoët river and the island of Ste. Croix, Father Biard
endeavored to persuade him, and even begged him, to send him to
Pontgravé from that place, which was near at hand, for the purpose
of composing a Canadian catechism, which had previously been
agreed upon between them. To this request, although most just, and
although it certainly made no difference to him, Biencourt would
not consent, except under conditions which were both exceedingly
unjust and by no means in the power of the Father. Therefore he was
disappointed of the opportunity of learning the language of the
natives, and was compelled to lead an almost inactive existence in
the fort, to his great vexation. By the end of November, although
the provisions were already almost exhausted, no tidings were
received from France; and what aid they might have obtained by
hunting was cut off by the deep snow that covered the ground; so
it was necessary to exercise the greatest economy, in order that
the provisions might last longer. The weekly allowance, therefore,
of every one in the colony had finally been fixed at ten ounces
of bread, half a pound of lard, three dishes of peas or beans,
and one of prunes. And, although the whole colony was living upon
the provisions which we had brought from France for our own use,
we were treated with no more indulgence at that time than any one
of the servants, nor did we wish for special privileges; although
a certain rascal, in a writing published in France,[74] has not
hesitated to circulate many statements to the contrary, in the most
shameless and calumnious manner. Until the 24th of January, in the
year [581] 1612, the scarcity of provisions lasted, upon which
day a ship entered Port Royal with a small quantity of supplies,
bought and sent over by Madame de Guercheville. This pious lady had
paid to brother Robert du Thet, 1,000 golden crowns, contributed
according to the agreement between Robin[75] and the Canadian
Fathers, for the purpose of purchasing and conveying provisions
to the colony at Port Royal; but Potrincourt, by means of his
promissory note, straightway cheated our brother out of 400, as
he was not a sufficiently careful guardian of his trust, and so
the whole sum was reduced to 600, by means of which a scanty store
was provided for us. But not even provisions to the value of that
number of crowns were placed in the vessel, for Potrincourt's naval
agent[76] embezzled in France part of the grain purchased; and,
of the supplies carried over, he delivered to the Society at Port
Royal as much as he pleased, and no more. Our brother Gilbert du
Thet, before whose eyes most of these acts had been committed,
when he saw that no account was rendered, by the person in charge
of the transportation of the supplies, of what had been received
by him, in company with Father Biard modestly requested Biencourt
that a reckoning concerning his trust be demanded from the man who,
by order of his father, had acted as captain of the vessel; saying
that it was to the interest of all the ship's company that it
should be made manifest how much had been received and expended by
each individual. Biencourt indeed admitted at that time, and often
thereafter, that nothing more modest or more just could be asked
by any person; but, nevertheless, just as if Simon Imbert, whose
account in [582] the matter was desired, had been cruelly accused
by our brother, he so represented to the former the request of the
latter, that he made him our bitter enemy. Therefore Imbert, in
order to make Biencourt his friend and alienate him from us, and to
release himself from the necessity of rendering an account, placing
an evil interpretation upon the plan of Madame de Guercheville, who
had taken occasion to make an agreement between the society and
Robin, in order that he might more securely guard the interests
of our Mission, falsely charged that by means of it a conspiracy
of the society was in progress, by which the authority of the
Biencourts was to be destroyed in the fort at Port Royal and in the
whole of New France. From this slander arose those quarrels with
Biencourt by which our services were rendered useless to the tribes
of New France, nay, more, to the French themselves, who needed
instruction scarcely less than the natives.