defamer; and once, twice, and a third time they so plainly and
completely disproved them, before Biencourt, in the hearing of the
whole settlement, that Imbert was rendered speechless by the final
refutation, and was so reduced that he did not hesitate to claim,
for the sake of excusing his wickedness, that these slanders had
been uttered by him while much intoxicated. Biencourt had been
deeply vexed by the news which was brought, to the effect that,
even with the knowledge of his father, Potrincourt, the possession
and government of the whole of New France from its greatest river,
the Sacqué to Florida, except Port Royal, had been granted by a
Royal charter to _Madame de Guercheville_; and that, by documents
under public authority, there had been transferred to her also
by Sieur de Monts everything which he had recently possessed in
this region by the grant of Henry IV. And, although he could
not suppose that these things were done because of our [583]
influence, still he thereafter acted towards us just as if he had
so believed. The idea of Madame de Guercheville was, indeed, that
their respect for her authority might serve as a strong restraint
to hold to their duty the Biencourts, both father and son, who up
to this time had kept poor faith with us and felt little gratitude
toward us; but not by any means to deprive them of their right to
Port Royal. But these men, too fond of their private interests,
considered as an injury to themselves the solicitude of others
in regard to their own affairs; but because their affairs at
home were embarrassed, and they knew no more convenient source
of provisions for Port Royal than Madame de Guercheville, for
the sake of our Fathers, they silently smothered their vexation,
in order not to lose these supplies. Our brethren very easily
exonerated themselves before Biencourt, and when he had for the
time being accepted their excuses, and harmony had been restored,
the Fathers returned with great determination to their purpose
of learning the Canadian language, dividing the business between
them, so that Father Massé should go for this purpose to Louis
Membertou, son of the late Henry: while Father Biard should have
a Savage to teach him the language at home. While Father Massé,
with a young French companion, was residing with his host at the
St. John river, he fell seriously ill from long fasting and the
continual annoyances of a wandering life; and, although he did not
die, he was reduced to the utmost weakness. During this illness a
very ridiculous discussion, worthy of a Canadian intellect, took
place between Membertou and his guest, the Father. The savage
approached the prostrate Father, very anxious and grieved, as his
countenance actually showed, because of the Priest's unfortunate
condition, [584] whom he addressed with these words: "Hear me,
Father, you will surely die, as I indeed anticipate; write
therefore to Biencourt, and also to your brother, that you have by
no means perished at our hands, but been overcome by disease, in
order that no harm may come to us because of your death." Father
Massé answered him in turn: "I shall not do as you advise me, and
imprudently write to my friends, lest you should become bolder and
more careless, because of my lack of foresight, and lay violent
hands upon me, while nevertheless possessing my letter as proof of
your innocence, which would save you from punishment." The Savage,
astonished by this unexpected and keen reply, soon came to himself,
as if from a deep sleep, and said with a smile: "Therefore make
Jesus favorable to you by your prayers, in order that he may save
you from the danger of death, and no one may lay the blame of
your fate upon us." "I am attending to that very thing," said the
Father, "cease to be anxious, for this disease will not end me."
In the calm of Port Royal Father Biard, in the meantime, employed
a Savage as teacher, that he might learn the barbarous tongue,
which presented itself as the suitable vehicle for the Gospel among
this utterly rude people. As long as he had provisions with which
to furnish the table for his teacher, he made progress by the
aid of his willing and efficient services, but after a few weeks
the scarcity of supplies interrupted the course of learning and
teaching. By these difficulties our brethren were also hindered
in the case of four Savages, whom Father Biard and Biencourt, in
a time of peril upon the sea, had vowed, with the concurrence of
the Savages themselves, to make Christians, if they should safely
escape from the threatened shipwreck. When they were delivered
from this danger, and had brought the ship to Port Royal, there
was nothing in the storehouse with which to feed the Savages until
they should be suitably instructed in the Catechism; and, because
of this poverty of our brethren, the opportunity of successfully
accomplishing the undertaking passed by, and did not afterwards
recur.
IN Nouembrem eius sæculi annus duodecimus iam processerat, cùm
exigua cibaria superiore Februario allata, aut absumta penitus, aut
tenuissimis arcta reliquiis Biencourtium valdè anxium habebant: sed
eò maximè, quòd ex Galliis nauis nulla veniebat. Nostris, posteriore
Februarij mensis commeatu, summissa fuerant priuatim quaterna puri
tritici dolia, vnumque hordei, quæ in futurum sibi seposuerant; quam
annonam, accisis communibus contubernij rebus, conferendam in medium
rati, Biencourtio eam permiserunt, vt in quotidianos familiæ totius
vsus diuideret, ipsosque in diurno demenso cum cæteris domesticis
æquaret. Eo subsidio ad tempus subleuatæ sunt publicæ necessitates,
sed in tota hiberna multitudine, tametsi non numerosæ, tenuius id fuit
vectigal, quàm pro soli conditione, nullam frumentationis, incertam
venatus, piscatusque spem offerentis. Vt autem dierum tempestiuitas
omnis adesset ad piscatum, locorumque opportunitas: aberat tamen
necessarium ad hanc operam piscatorij lembi instrumentum. Cæteris
igitur contubernalibus hiberna solatia ex luculento foco segniter
capessentibus, quasi oblitis suam penuriam, nostri appellunt studium,
operamque ab lintrem fabricandam. [_Rectius "ad."_] Eis ad eiusmodi
opus accinctis, suspicere, demirari vniuersum contubernium, quid
moliantur homines à fabrili arte, ab armis fabrilibus, à materia tam
imparati: apud focum [586] de tam nouo instituto multa verba facere,
subitarios Argonautas dicteriis figere: sed nostri ab opere neutiquam
discedere, rem vrgere. Medio Martio, stupentibus suis irrisoribus,
nostri lintrem in aquam deducunt, fluminum ac maris ipsius patientem,
nec verentur adolescente famulo atque alio contubernalium comitibus,
aduerso flumine, Sinum Francicum influente, in siluas ad glandem
Chiquebiamque radicem legendam contendere. _Chiquebi_ radix est illius
oræ præcipua, nostris tuberibus haud absimilis, sed vescentibus
iucundior ac vtilior, cuius multiplices bulbi, tenui filo catenati,
sub summa terra nascuntur. Sed omnia eius radicis cubilia iam à
peritis locorum Barbaris delibata nostri leguli deprehendebant,
vt multa indagine, quilibet eorum eius cibi vnum diarium vix sibi
quæreret. Ab hac glandaria, bulbariaque messe, quandoquidem eius
leue fuit momẽtum, _ad Eplani_ piscatum studia conuertentes, altiùs
versùm amnis caput nauigium promouent. _Eplanus_, seu _Epelanus_,
est pisciculus Trichiæ Rothomagensis magnitudine, hoc est eius, quem
_Sardinam_ vulgus appellat, qui mari egressus ineunte Aprili, magnis
agminibus dulcis aquæ riuos subit, vbi fundendis ouis feturæ operam
det, cuius ingens est copia, quattuor leucis à Porturegiensi statione,
frequentibus riuorũ alueis. Eplanici piscatus laborem excepit Halecis,
ac cæterorum seu fluuiatilis seu marini generis piscium præda, prout
cuiusque captandi se dabat & tempestas, & locus idoneus, ad Maïum vsque
mensem; sed contrà quàm maximè omnium vellent, nostri piscatores, [587]
Euangelij vel hamo, vel reti capiebant homines, in longè amplissimo
Canadiorum Oceano, non nisi paucissimos.
THE twelfth year of this century had already advanced to November,
when the fact that the scanty supplies, brought the preceding
February, were either entirely consumed, or reduced to extremely
scanty remnants, caused Biencourt great anxiety, but especially,
because no ship was coming from France. There had been sent to
our brethren privately, among the preceding February's supplies,
four casks of pure wheat and one of barley, which they had laid
aside for their own use in the future. This grain, because of the
general extremities of the colony, they judged should be added to
the common stock; and gave it to Biencourt, in order that he might
distribute it for the daily needs of the whole settlement, and
give them an equal allowance each day with the rest of the people.
By this aid the general necessities were relieved for a time; but
for the winter, and among all that crowd of people, although not
numerous, this was a scanty supply, considering the condition of
the ground, which presented no opportunity for agriculture, and an
uncertain chance for hunting and fishing. Moreover, even if the
weather and the accessibility of the places had been every way
favorable for fishing, there was still lacking for this pursuit the
necessary aid of a fishing boat. Therefore, while the rest of the
settlers were slothfully enjoying winter cheer before the blazing
hearth, as if forgetful of their poverty, our brethren devoted
their attention and labor to the construction of a boat. While they
were engaged in this sort of work, the whole colony guessed and
wondered what men so unskilled in the carpenter's art, unprovided
with working tools, and unsupplied with material, were trying to
do; they talked a great deal before the hearth [586] concerning
this novel venture, and flung taunts at these rash Argonauts; but
our brethren never left their work, and hurried on the undertaking.
In the middle of March, to the amazement of their scoffers, our
friends launched their boat, which endured the violence of the
rivers and even of the sea; nor did they fear, in company with
their young servant and another of the household, to ascend the
river flowing into French Bay, to gather acorns and the Chiquebi
root[77] in the forest. The _Chiquebi_ root is peculiar to this
coast, and is not unlike our potatoes, but more pleasant and useful
for eating; its numerous bulbs, joined by a slender thread, grow
deep in the earth. However, our collectors found that all the spots
where this root grew had been already visited by the Savages, who
were acquainted with the places; so that after long search each one
of them could scarcely find a quantity of this food sufficient for
one day. From this harvest of acorns and roots, since it was of
small importance, they turned their attention to fishing for the
_Eplanus_,[36] and advanced their boat, farther toward the head of
the river. The _Eplan_ or _Epelan_ is a little fish of the size of
the Trichia Rothomagensis, that is, of the fish which is commonly
called the _Sardine_; and, in the beginning of April, it leaves the
ocean, and in great shoals enters the fresh-water streams, where
it lays the eggs for its abundant young, these streams being very
numerous four leagues from the post at Port Royal. Fishing for the
Eplanus was succeeded by that for the Halecis, and for other sorts
of river and sea-fishes, just as opportunity and suitable place
offered for capturing each, up to the month of May; but, contrary
to what they most of all wished, our fishermen, [587] with the hook
or net of the Gospel, took only a very few men in the immense Ocean
of the Canadian tribes.
INTEREA tẽporis in Gallia Reginæ auctoritas interponebatur, vt primo
quoque tẽpore Porturegiẽsi seruitute liberaremur, nobis vti liceret,
in quolilibet Nouæ Franciæ tractu, aut patrium idioma perdiscere,
aut quod iam didicissemus nostro iure, nullius exspectata venia,
inter Barbaros exercere. In eam rem igitur Regio diplomate instructi
Sociorum duo, Pater Quintinus, & qui antè in Galliam renauigarat è
Portu Regio, Gilbertus du Thet Nouo-Frãcicum littus, anno sexcentesimo
decimo tertio, medio Maïo incolumes lætique tenuerunt. Diplomate
cauebatur, vti liceret nobis nouũ domiciliũ commodo loco ædificare,
ac idoneam familiam domicilio tuendo habere, ad cuius instructum
annua tricenûm capitum cibaria, equi prætereà, capræ, ac cætera id
genus largiter summissa erant. Ad vim quoque propulsandam instrumenti
bellici, & commeatus nonnihil, militaria item quattuor tabernacula,
quibus tegeremur, dum muri assurgerent nouæ domus, Reginæ beneficentia
accesserant. Sausseius militari titulo imperioque domesticæ cohorti,
domicilio ædificando, eidemque exstructo, ac munito præfuturus erat,
vti nihil deesset ad ingruẽtes casus, quin sedes familiáque omnis sarta
tectaque consisteret. His in Regium Portum appellentibus, quini tantum
de toto contubernio aderamus, absente inter cæteros Biencourtio, cuius
vices obeunti Hèberto cùm Reginæ litteræ lectæ fuissent, [588] quibus
dimitti iubebamur, nostras nobis licuit colligere sarcinas, quibus
collectis post biduũ Porturegiensi statione, ad nouas sedes collocandas
in Norembegensi regione soluimus. _Kadesquitum_, Norembegæ oræ portus,
nautis edicebatur ex pacto, vt eò nauigium appellerent, vnde vniuersa
familia exscensionem faceret, futuri domicilij locum auspicatò captura
in proximis collibus; sed cùm in propiore portu hæsissent, cui à Sancto
Saluatore nomen, ex fausto euentu, indidimus, asserebant se pactam
fidem abunde exsoluisse, neque longiùs cursum prouecturos. Inter eam
contentionem sermo incidit cum indigenis Barbaris, quibus suam oram
mirificè præ Kadesquito collaudantibus, & ad eam sedem deligendam
magnoperè hortantibus, eius explorandæ cupido nobis incessit; qua
explorata, impenséque probata ab omnibus, totius multitudinis eò
incubuit animus, vt opportuno in colle area excitando ædificio
designaretur. Loco itaque inaugurando Crux erigitur, solum exstruendis
ædibus describitur, iaciendis fundamentis terra effoditur, eodem
nomine, quo subiectus portus, nascens tenuibus exordiis domus Sanctus
Saluator appellatur. Sausseïo cohortis Duci rusticæ rei tam acris cura
principio insederat, vt id vnum cogitaret, cætera negligeret omnia,
exque nimio agriculturæ studio, magnam familiæ partem ab opere fabrili
ad rusticum seuocaret. Mottæus Sausseïo Legatus, Ronseræus Signifer,
Ioubertus ordinum Instructor, cæterique de Cohorte primores erant in ea
sententia, omnibus reliquis posthabitis curis, ædificandum [589] esse
domicilium, eóque conferendas vniuersæ cohortis operas, quoad aduersùm
hostilẽ vim munitionibus cinctum, tutò habitari posset. Quamobrem
ægerrimè ferebant, contubernalium plerosque ab ædificando abductos
arationibus ab Sauseïo adhiberi, apud quem vehementer instabant, vt
omnium manus & studia in ædificationem, vtilius in præsentia vtique
negotium, conuerteret; sed surdo canebatur. Ita variantibus procerum
sententiis atque institutis, exoriebantur contentiones, cuiusmodi
solent inter diffentiẽtes nasci, dum quod quisque optimum censet,
id aliorum consiliis atque cœptis præuertendum putat: fiebatque vt
altercationibus dies ab opera inanes traducerentur. Quam inertiam, &
discordantium iudiciorum obstinationem, rei Christianæ cultuique Diuino
in ea ora valdè infestam, Deus visus est improuiso infortunio voluisse
multare.
MEANTIME in France the authority of the Queen was interposed, that
we might at the first opportunity be relieved from our bondage
at Port Royal, and that we might be allowed, in any part of New
France, either to study the language of the natives, or practice
among the Savages what we had already learned by our own right, and
seeking the permission of no man. Therefore two of our members,
provided with a Royal commission for this undertaking,--Father
Quintin,[78] and he who previously had sailed from Port Royal
for France, Gilbert du Thet,--safely and joyfully reached the
coast of New France in the middle of May of the year 1613. It was
provided in the commission that we should be allowed to establish
a new settlement in a suitable place, and to have a sufficient
number of colonists to protect it;[79] and for its provision
there had generously been sent a year's supply of food for thirty
persons, and also horses, goats, and other things of the sort. By
the kindness of the Queen there were also added weapons for our
defense, some supplies, and also four military tents, by which we
might be sheltered while our new residence was being built. La
Saussaye, with a military title and command, was to have charge
of the household of colonists, not only while the buildings were
in process of erection, but also when they had been completed
and fortified, in order that in case of attack nothing might be
neglected, but the entire colony should be in a condition of
defense, and the buildings in good repair. When the supplies were
landed at Port Royal, only five of us were there, out of the whole
population, Biencourt being absent with the others. When the
letter of the Queen, [588] in which were orders for our dismissal,
had been read to Hèbert,[80] who represented Biencourt, we were
allowed to collect our baggage; having done this, two days later we
left Port Royal, with the intention of founding a new settlement
in the neighborhood of Norembega. The boatmen had been notified,
according to their agreement, to land at _Kadesquit_,[81] a harbor
on the shore of Norembega, in order that the whole colony might
there disembark, and auspiciously take possession of a site for
the future settlement upon the neighboring hills; but when we
had stuck in a bay, this side of that,[82] to which from the
favorable outcome, we gave the name of St. Sauveur, they declared
that they had abundantly fulfilled their agreement, and that they
would not continue the voyage any further. During this dispute,
we engaged in conversation with the Savages inhabiting the spot;
and since they praised their own country as being far superior to
that at Kadesquit, and earnestly solicited us to choose it for
our settlement, we conceived a desire to explore it. After we had
examined this region, which was heartily approved by all, the whole
company turned their attention to selecting a site for the building
upon a suitable hill. Therefore, a Cross was erected, by way of
consecrating the place; the ground was marked out for the erection
of the buildings; the earth was dug up for laying the foundations;
and our abode, while still in its infancy, was called by the same
name as the harbor, St. Sauveur. La Saussaye, the commander of
the colonists, took, from the beginning, so deep an interest in
agriculture that he thought of that alone, and neglected everything
else; and through his excessive zeal for husbandry, called off a
large portion of the colony from the work of building, and set
them to farming. La Motte,[83] Saussaye's Lieutenant, Ronseraye,
the Color-bearer, Joubert, the Drill-master, and other leading
men of the Company were of the opinion that, postponing all other
enterprises, the building [589] ought to be completed, and the
energies of the entire company be devoted to this, until it should
be protected by fortifications against hostile violence, and might
safely be inhabited. Wherefore, they were greatly displeased
because most of the colonists were taken away from building and
employed in plowing by La Saussaye, whom they eagerly urged to
apply the labors and zeal of all in building, a more profitable
undertaking for the present; but it fell upon deaf ears. So, as the
views and plans of the leaders were at variance, disputes arose,
such as usually take place between those who differ, when each
one thinks that what he deems best ought to be preferred to the
projects and undertakings of others; the result was, that days were
idly spent, away from work, in quarreling. This inactivity, and
obstinacy in contrary opinions, so inimical to Christian interests
and the Divine worship upon that shore, God seems to have willed to
punish by means of an unforeseen calamity.