ON THE CONVERSION, BAPTISM, AND HAPPY DEATH OF CERTAIN SAVAGES.
SOME Savages have become Christians this year; three have been
baptized this Winter during my absence. Here are the very
encouraging particulars of these baptisms, which our Fathers
related to me upon my return.
Le premier estoit vn ieune homme nommé Sasousmat aagé de 25. à 30. ans,
les François le surnommoient Marsolet: Le ieune homme entẽdant vn iour
vn Truchement parler des peines d'Enfer & des recompenses du Paradis,
luy dit, mene [8] moy en France pour estre instruict, autrement tu
respondras de mon ame, donc estant tombé malade il fut plus aisé de
l'induire à se faire Chrestien, le Pere Brebœuf m'a donné de luy ce
memoire.
The first was a young man named Sasousmat, from 25 to 30 years
of age, whom the French have surnamed Marsolet. This young man,
having one day heard an Interpreter talk about the pains of Hell
and the rewards of Paradise, said to him; "Take [8] me to France
to be instructed, otherwise thou wilt be responsible for my soul."
Then, having fallen sick, it was easier to induce him to become a
Christian. Father Brebœuf gave me this account of him.
"Ayant appris la maladie de ce ieune hõme ie le fus visiter, & le
trouuay si bas qu'il auoit perdu le iugemẽt, nous voila dõc dans vn
regret de ne le pouuoir secourir, ce qui fit prẽdre resolution à nos
Peres & à moy de presenter à Dieu le lendemain le Sacrifice de la Messe
à l'honneur du glorieux S. Ioseph Patron de cette nouuelle France, pour
le salut & conuersion de ce pauure Sauuage: à peine auiõs nous quitté
l'Autel qu'on nous vint aduertir qu'il estoit rentré en son bon sens,
nous le fusmes voir, & l'ayans sondé nous le trouuasmes remply d'vn
grand desir de receuoir le S. Baptesme, nous differasmes neantmoins
quelques iours pour luy donner vne plus grande instruction. En fin il
m'enuoya prier par nostre Sauuage nommé Manitougatche, & surnommé de
nos Frãçois la Nasse que ie l'allasse baptizer, disant que la nuict
precedente il m'auoit veu en dormant venir en sa Cabane pour luy
conferer ce Sacremẽt, & qu'aussi-tost [9] que ie m'estois assis aupres
de luy que rout [tout] son mal s'en estoit allé, ce qu'il me confirma
quand ie le fus voir: ie luy refusay neantmoins ce qu'il demandoit pour
animer dauantage son desir, si bien qu'vn autre Sauuage qui estoit
present ne pouuant souffrir ce retardement, me demanda pourquoy ie ne
le baptizois point puis qu'il ne falloit que ietter vn peu d'eau sur
luy & que s'en estoit fait, mais luy ayant reparty que ie me perdrois
moy mesme si ie baptizois vn infidelle & vn mécreant mal instruict:
le malade se tournant vers vn François, luy dit, Matchounon n'a point
d'esprit, c'est ainsi que s'appelloit cet autre Sauuage, il ne croit
pas ce que dit le Pere, pour moy ie le crois entierement. Sur ces
entrefaites les Sauuages voulans décabaner & tirer plus auãt dans les
bois Manitougatche qui commẽçoit à se trouuer mal, nous vint prier de
le receuoir & le pauure malade aussi en nostre maison, nous prismes
resolution d'auoir soin des corps, pour aider les ames que nous voyons
bien disposées pour le Ciel. On met dõc sur vne traine de bois ce bon
ieune homme, & on nous l'amene sur la neige, nous le receuons auec
amour & [10] l'accommodons le mieux qu'il nous est possible, luy tout
remply d'aise & de contentement de se voir auec nous, tesmoigna vn
grand desir d'estre baptizé, & de mourir Chrestien. Le lẽdemain qui
estoit le 26. de Ianuier estant tombé dans vne grãde syncope nous le
baptizasmes, croyãs qu'il s'en alloit mourir, luy donnans le nom de
François en l'honneur de S. François Xauier, il reuint à soy, & ayant
appris ce qui s'estoit passé, il se monstra plein de ioye d'estre fait
Enfant de Dieu, s'entretenant tousiours iusques à la mort, qui fut deux
iours apres, en diuers actes que ie luy faisois exercer tantost de Foy
& d'Esperance, tantost d'Amour de Dieu & de regret de l'auoir offencé,
il prenoit en cela vn plaisir fort sensible, & recitoit tout seul auec
de grands sentimens ce qu'on luy auoit enseigné, demandant vn iour
pardon à Dieu de ses pechez, il s'accusoit tout haut soymesme comme
s'il se fust confessé, puis la memoire luy manquant, Enseigne moy (me
disoit-il) ie suis vn pauure ignorant, ie n'ay point d'esprit, suggere
moy ce que ie dois dire; vne autre fois il me pria de luy ietter de
l'eau beniste pour l'aider à auoir douleur de ses pechez, [11] cela
m'estonna, car nous ne luy auions pas encores parlé de l'vsage de cette
eau, nous ayant inuité à chanter aupres de luy quelques prieres de
l'Eglise, nous le voyõs pendant ce sainct exercice les yeux esleuez
au Ciel auec vne posture si deuote que nous estions tous attendris,
admirans les grãdes misericordes que Dieu operoit dedans cette ame, qui
en fin quitta son corps fort doucement le 28. de Ianuier pour aller
ioüir de Dieu."
"Having learned of the illness of this young man, I went to visit
him, and found him so low that he had lost his reason. Behold us
now greatly troubled at not being able to help him, and so we
resolved, our Fathers and I, to offer to God the next day the
Sacrifice of the Mass in honor of the glorious St. Joseph, Patron
of this new France, for the salvation and conversion of this poor
Savage; scarcely had we left the Altar, when they came to tell us
that he had recovered his senses; we went to see him, and, having
sounded him, we found him filled with a great desire to receive
Holy Baptism; we deferred this, however, for a few days, in order
to instruct him more fully. At last he sent word to me, through our
Savage named Manitougatche, and surnamed by our French, "la Nasse,"
that I should come and baptize him, saying that the night before
he had seen me in his sleep, coming to his Cabin to administer to
him this Sacrament; and that, as soon [9] as I sat down near him,
all his sickness went away; he confirmed this to me when I saw him.
Nevertheless I refused his request, in order the more to stimulate
his desire, so that another Savage who was present, not being able
to bear this delay, asked me why I did not baptize him, since it
was only necessary to throw a little water upon him, and then all
would be done. But, when I answered him that I would myself be
lost, if I baptized an infidel and a poorly-taught unbeliever,
the sick man, turning to a Frenchman, said, 'Matchounon has no
sense'--it was thus they called the other Savage--'he does not
believe what the Father says; as for me, I believe it entirely.'
Meanwhile, the Savages wishing to change their camp and to go
farther into the woods. Manitougatche, who began to feel ill,
came to beg us to receive him and the poor sick man also into our
house: and so we decided to care for the bodies, in order to aid
the souls, which we saw were well disposed toward Heaven. So this
worthy young man was placed upon a wooden sledge, and brought to
us over the snow. We received him with love, and [10] made him as
comfortable as we could. He was fall of gladness and satisfaction
to see himself with us, evincing a great desire to be baptized and
to die a Christian. The next day, which was the 26th of January,
as he had fallen into a deep stupor, we baptized him, believing
that he was going to die. We gave him the name François, in honor
of St. François Xavier. He regained consciousness, and, having
learned what had taken place, expressed his joy at having been made
a Child of God. He passed his time constantly until his death,
which was two days later, in different acts that I caused him to
practice, sometimes of Faith and Hope, sometimes of the Love of
God, and of remorse for having offended him. He took a very obvious
pleasure in this, and repeated all alone with deep feeling what
had been taught him. One day, while he was asking pardon of God
for his sins, he accused himself aloud, as if he were making his
confession: then, his memory failing (he said to me): 'Teach me; I
am a poor ignorant creature, I have no understanding; suggest to me
what I ought to say.' Another time he begged me to sprinkle some
holy water upon him, to help him to be sorry for his sins. [11] I
was surprised at this, for we had not yet spoken to him of the use
of this water; when, at his request, we sang some prayers of the
Church in his presence, we saw him during this holy service with
eyes raised toward Heaven in an attitude of such devotion that we
were all greatly touched, admiring the wonderful effects of mercy
that God was bringing about in this soul, which finally left the
body on the 28th of January, to go and enjoy God."
Quand la nouuelle de sa conuersion & de sa mort fut sceuë de nos
François à Kebec, il y en eut qui ietterent des larmes de ioye & de
contentemens, benissans Dieu de ce qu'il acceptoit les premices d'vne
terre qui n'a presque porté que des espines depuis la naissance des
siecles.
When the news of his conversion and death became known to our
French at Kebec, some of them shed tears of joy and satisfaction,
blessing God for accepting the first fruits of a land which has
borne little else than thorns since the birth of the centuries.
Il arriua vne chose biẽ remarquable peu d'heures apres sa mort,
vne grãde lumiere parut aux fenestres de nostre maison, s'éleuant
& s'abbaissant par trois fois, l'vn de nos Peres vid cét esclat, &
plusieurs de nos hommes qui sortirent incontinent, les vns pour voir
si le feu n'estoit point pris en quelque endroit de la maison, les
autres pour voir s'il esclairoit, n'ayans trouué aucun vestige de cette
flamme ils creurent [12] que Dieu declaroit par ce prodige la lumiere
dont ioüissoit cette ame qui nous venoit de quitter. Les Sauuages de la
Cabane du defunct virent dans les bois où ils s'estoient retirez cette
lumiere, ce qui les espouuenta d'autant plus qu'ils creurent que ce feu
estoit vn presage d'vne future mortalité en leur famille.
One quite remarkable thing happened a few hours after his death.
A great light appeared at the windows of our house, rising and
falling three times; one of our Fathers saw the flash, as did
several of our men, who went out immediately, some to see if a
part of our house had not taken fire, the others to see if it were
lightning. Having found no trace of this fire, they believed [12]
that God was declaring through this phenomenon the light that
was being enjoyed by the soul that had just left us. The Savages
belonging to the Cabin of the deceased saw this light in the woods,
where they had withdrawn, and it frightened them all the more as
they thought it was a foreshadowing of future deaths in their
family.
I'estois pour lors (moy qui escris cecy) à quelques quarante lieuës de
Kebec dãs la cabane des freres du defunct, cette lumiere s'y fit voir
à mesme temps & à mesme heure, comme nous l'auons remarqué; depuis
le Pere Brebœuf & moy confrontans nos memoires, & mon hoste frere du
trespassé l'ayant apperceuë sortit dehors tout espouuanté, & la voyant
redoubler s'escria d'vne voix si estonnante, que tous les Sauuages &
moy auec eux sortismes de nos cabanes: ayant trouué mon hoste tout
esperdu ie luy voulus dire que ce feu n'estoit qu'vn esclair, &
qu'il ne falloit pas s'espouuanter, il me repartit fort à propos que
l'esclair paroissoit & disparoissoit en vn moment, mais que cette flãme
s'estoit pourmenée deuant ses yeux quelque espace de tẽps: de plus,
as-tu iamais veu, me dit-il, esclairer ou tonner dans vu froid si [13]
cuisant comme est celuy que nous ressentons maintenãt? Il est vray
qu'il faisoit fort froid, ie luy demanday ce qu'il croyoit dõc de ces
feux, c'est, me fit-il, vn mauuais augure, c'est, vn signe de mort il
m'adiousta que le Manitou ou le diable se repaissoit de ces flammes.
I was then (I who am writing this) some forty leagues from Kebec,
in the cabin of the brothers of the dead man; and this light
appeared there at the same time and at the same hour, as we have
since observed, Father Brebœuf and I, by comparing our notes. My
host, brother of the deceased, having perceived it, rushed out in
horror; and, seeing it repeated, cried out in such astonishment,
that all the Savages, and I with them, rushed out of our cabins.
Having found my host all distracted, I tried to tell him that this
fire was only lightning, and that he need not be frightened; he
answered me very aptly that lightning appeared and disappeared in
an instant, but that this fire had moved before his eyes for some
time. "Besides" said he to me, "hast thou ever seen lightning or
thunder in such piercing [13] cold as that which we are feeling
now?" It was indeed very cold. I asked him then what he thought of
these fires. "It is" he said, "a bad omen, it is a sign of death."
He added that the Manitou, or devil, fed upon these flames.
Pour retourner à nostre bien-heureux defunct, nos Peres l'enterrerent
le plus solemnellemẽt qu'il leur fut possible, nos François s'y
trouuans auec beaucoup de deuotiõ. Manitougatche nostre Sauuage ayant
veu tout cecy en outre, considerant que nous ne voulions rien prendre
des hardes ou des robbes du trespassé, lesquelles il nous offroit, il
resta si edifié & si estonné qu'il s'en alloit par les cabanes des
Sauuages, qui vindrent bien-tost apres à Kebec, raconter tout ce qu'il
auoit veu, disant que nous auions donné toute la meilleure nourriture
que nous eussions à ce pauure ieune homme que nous en auions eu vn soin
cõme s'il eust esté nostre frere, que nous nous estions incommodez
pour le loger, que nous n'auions rien voulu prendre de ce qui luy
appartenoit, que nous l'auiõs enterré auec beaucoup d'hõneur. Cela en
toucha si biẽ quelques-vns, [14] notãment de sa famille, qu'ils nous
amenerent sa fille morte en trauail d'enfant pour l'enterrer à nostre
façon, mais le P. Brebœuf les rencontrant leur dit, que n'ayãt pas
esté baptizée nous ne la pouuiõs mettre dans le Cimetiere des enfans de
Dieu. De plus sçachant qu'ils font ordinairement mourir l'enfant quand
la mere le laisse si ieune, croyans qu'il ne fera que languir apres son
deceds, le Pere pria Manitouchatche d'obuier à cette cruauté, ce qu'il
fit volontiers, quoy que quelques-vns de nos François estoient desia
resolus de s'en charger au cas qu'on luy voulust oster la vie.
To return to our happy deceased. Our Fathers buried him with as
much solemnity as they could, our Frenchmen being present and
showing great devotion. Manitougatche, our Savage, having seen all
this, and also observing that we did not wish to accept any of the
belongings or clothes of the deceased, which he offered us, was
so pleased and astonished that he went about among the cabins of
the Savages who came soon afterward to Kebec, relating all that he
had seen,--saying, that we had given the best food we had to this
poor young man, that we had nursed him as if he had been our own
brother, that we had inconvenienced ourselves in order to give him
a lodging, that we had not consented to take anything that belonged
to him, and that we had buried him with a great deal of honor. Some
of them were so touched by this, [14] especially his own family,
that they brought us his daughter, who had died in childbirth, to
bury her in our way; but Father Brebœuf, meeting them, told them
that, as she had never been baptized, we could not put her in the
Cemetery of the children of God. Besides, knowing that they usually
kill the child when its mother leaves it so young, thinking that
it will languish after her death, the Father begged Manitouchatche
to prevent this cruel act, which he did willingly; although some
of our French People had determined to take charge of the child
themselves, if a disposition were manifested to kill it.
Le second Sauuage baptizé a esté nostre Manitouchatche autrement la
Nasse, i'en ay parlé dans mes Relations precedentes, il s'estoit
comme habitué aupres de nous auant la prise du païs par les Anglois,
commençant à defricher & à cultiuer la terre, le mauuais traictement
qu'il receut de ces nouueaux hostes l'ayãt esloigné de Kebec, il
tesmoignoit par fois à Madame Hebert qui resta icy auec toute sa
famille qu'il souhaittoit grandement nostre retour. Et de fait si tost
qu'il sceut nostre venuë il nous vint voir, & se cabana [15] tout
aupres de nostre maison, disant qu'il se vouloit faire Chrestien, nous
asseurant qu'il ne nous quitteroit point si nous ne le chassions, aussi
ne s'est-il pas beaucoup absenté depuis que nous sommes icy, cette
communication luy a fait conceuoir quelque chose de nos mysteres.
Le seiour qu'a fait en nostre maison Pierre Antoine le Sauuage son
parent luy a seruy, d'autant que nous luy auõs declaré par sa bouche
les principaux articles de nostre creance. O que les iugemens de Dieu
sont pleins d'abismes! Ce miserable ieune homme qui a esté si bien
instruict en France s'estant perdu parmy les Anglois, comme i'escriuis
l'an passé, est deuenu apostat, renegat, excommunié, athée, valet d'vn
Sorcier qui est son frere: Ce sont les qualitez que ie luy donneray cy
apres parlant de luy: & ce pauure vieillard qui a tiré de sa bouche
infectée les veritez du Ciel, a trouué le Ciel, laissant l'Enfer pour
partage à ce renegat, si Dieu ne luy fait de grandes misericordes:
Mais suiuans nostre route, apres la mort de Frãçois Sasousmat dont
nous venons de parler, ce bon homme ennuyé de n'auoir auec qui
s'entretenir: car pas vn de nous ne sçait [16] encores parfaictement
la langue, se retira auec sa femme & auec ses enfans, mais la maladie
dont il estoit desia attaqué, s'augmentant, il presse sa femme & ses
enfans de le ramener auec nous, esperant la mesme charité qu'il auoit
veu exercer enuers son compatriote, on le receut à bras ouuerts, ce
qu'ayant apperceu, il s'escria, ie mourray maintenant content puis
que ie suis auec vous. Or comme ses erreurs auoient vieilly auec
luy, nos Peres recogneurent qu'il pensoit autant & plus à la santé
de son corps qu'au salut de son ame, tesmoignant vn grand desir de
viure, remettant son Baptesme iusques à mon retour, neantmoins comme
il s'alloit affoiblissant ils souhaitterent de le voir vn petit plus
affectiõné à nostre creance, ce qui les incita d'offrir à Dieu vne
neufuaine à l'hõneur du glorieux Espoux de la saincte Vierge pour le
bien de son ame, le cõmencement de cette deuotion fut le commencement
de ses volontez plus ardantes, il se monstra fort desireux d'estre
instruit commençant à mespriser ses superstitions, il ne voulut plus
dormir qu'il n'eust au prealable prié Dieu, ce qu'il faisoit encores
deuant & apres sa refection, [17] si bien qu'il differa vne fois plus
de demie-heure à mãger ce qu'õ luy auoit presenté, pource qu'on ne
luy auoit pas fait faire la benediction, demandant au Pere Brebœuf
qu'il luy fist dire douze ou treize fois de suitte pour la grauer en
sa memoire. C'estoit vn contentement plein d'edification, de voir vn
vieillard de plus de soixante ans, apprendre d'vn petit François que
nous auons icy, à faire le signe de la Croix, & autres prieres qu'il
luy demandoit. Le Pere Brebœuf voyant que ses forces se diminuoient,
& que d'ailleurs il estoit assez instruict, luy dit que sa mort
approchoit, & que s'il vouloit mourir Chrestien, & aller au Ciel, qu'il
falloit estre baptisé. A ces paroles il se monstra si ioyeux qu'il
se traisna luy mesme comme il peut en nostre chapelle, ne pouuant
attendre que les Peres qui preparoient ce qu'il falloit pour conferer
ce Sacrement le vinssent querir: vn de nos François, son Parrain, luy
donna le nom de Ioseph. Deuant & pendant son baptesme, qui fut le
troisiéme d'Auril, le Pere l'interrogeant sommairement sur tous les
[18] articles du Symbole, & sur les commandemens de Dieu, il respondit
nettement & courageusemẽt qu'il croyoit les vns, & s'efforceroit de
garder les autres si Dieu luy rendoit la santé, monstrant de grands
regrets de l'auoir offensé: sa femme & l'vne de ses filles estoient
presentes, celle-là ne pouuoit tenir les larmes & l'autre se monstroit,
toute estonnée, admirant la beauté des sainctes ceremonies de l'Eglise.
The second Savage to be baptized was our Manitouchatche, otherwise,
la Nasse, of whom I have spoken in my former Relations. He had
begun to get accustomed to our ways before the capture of the
country by the English, having commenced to clear and cultivate
the land; the bad treatment he received from these new guests drove
him away from Kebec; he sometimes expressed to Madame Hebert,
who remained here with her whole family, his strong desire for
our return. And, in fact, as soon as he heard of our arrival, he
came to see us, and settled [15] near our house, saying that he
wished to become a Christian, and assuring us that he would not
leave us unless we chased him away; indeed he has been away from
us very little since we have been here. This intercourse has made
him understand something of our mysteries. The sojourn made in our
house by Pierre Antoine,[12] a Savage and a relative of his, has
been of use to him, inasmuch as we have declared to him through
his lips the principal articles of our faith. Oh, how unfathomable
are the judgments of God! This wretched young man, who was so well
instructed in France, having been ruined among the English, as I
wrote last year, has become an apostate, renegade, excommunicate,
atheist, and servant to a Sorcerer who is his brother. These are
the qualities which I shall assign to him hereafter when speaking
of him. And this poor old man, who has received from his infected
lips the truths of Heaven, has found Heaven, leaving Hell as the
heritage of this renegade, unless God shows him great mercy. But,
continuing our story: after the death of François Sasousmat, of
whom we have just spoken, this good man, wearied at not having
any one with whom to converse,--for not one of us yet [16] knows
the language perfectly,--went away with his wife and children;
but, the disease with which he was already affected increasing, he
urged his wife and children to bring him back to us, hoping for the
same charity he had seen us practice toward his fellow-savage.
He was received with open arms, perceiving which, he cried out,
"Now I shall die happy, since I am with you!" But as his errors
had grown old with him, our Fathers recognized that he thought as
much and even more of the health of his body than of the Salvation
of his soul, showing a great desire to live, and putting off his
Baptism until my return; nevertheless, as he was continually
growing weaker, they wished to see him show more interest in our
belief; this induced them to offer to God a novena in honor of
the glorious Spouse of the holy Virgin, for the welfare of his
soul. The beginning of this devotion was the beginning of more
earnest inclination on his part; he showed himself very desirous
of being instructed, and began to despise his superstitions. He
would no more go to sleep unless he had first prayed to God, which
he did also before and after eating,--[17] to such an extent that
he once deferred, for more than half an hour, eating what had
been presented to him, because they had not had him offer the
benediction, asking Father Brebœuf to have him say it twelve or
thirteen times in succession, to engrave it upon his memory. It was
very edifying to see an old man more than sixty years of age learn
from a little French boy, whom we have here, to make the sign of
the Cross, and other prayers that he asked to be taught. Father
Brebœuf, seeing that his strength was failing, and also that he was
well enough instructed, told him that death was approaching; and
that, if he wished to die a Christian and go to Heaven, he must
be baptized. At these words he showed such joy that he dragged
himself as well as he could to our chapel, not being able to wait
until our Fathers, who were making the necessary arrangements
for administering this Sacrament, could go after him. One of our
Frenchmen, his Godfather, gave him the name Joseph. Before and
during his baptism, which took place on the third of April, the
Father examining him briefly upon all the [18] articles of the
Creed, and upon the commandments of God, he answered clearly and
courageously that he believed the former, and would endeavor to
keep the latter if God would restore him his health, and showed
great regret for having offended him. His wife and one of his
daughters being present, the one could not keep back her tears, and
the other was greatly bewildered, admiring the beauty of the holy
ceremonies of the Church.
Ie retournay de mon hyuernement d'auec les Sauuages, six iours apres
son baptesme, ie le trouuay bien malade, mais bien content d'estre
Chrestien. Ie l'embrassay comme mon frere, bien resioüy de le voir
enfant de Dieu, nous continuasmes de l'instruire, & de luy faire
exercer des actes des vertus, notamment Theologales, pendant l'espace
de douze iours, qu'il suruescut apres son baptesme.
I returned from my winter sojourn with the Savages, six days
after his baptism, and found him very sick, but very glad to be
a Christian. I embraced him like a brother, greatly rejoiced at
seeing him a child of God. We continued to teach him and to have
him practice acts of virtue, especially the Theological Virtues
[faith, hope, and charity], during the twelve days that he survived
his baptism.
Les Sauuages desirans le penser à leur mode auec leurs chants, auec
leurs tintamarres, & auec leurs autres supersti[ti]ons, tascherent
plusieurs fois de nous l'enleuer iusques là, qu'ils amenerent vne
traine pour le reporter, & l'vn de [19] leurs sorciers ou iongleurs
le vint voir exprés pour le débaucher de nostre creance: mais le bon
Neophyte tint ferme, respondant qu'on ne luy parlast plus de s'en
aller, & qu'il ne nous quitteroit point, que nous ne l'enuoyassiõs.
Ce n'est pas vne petite marque de l'efficacité de la grace du sainct
Baptesme, de voir vn homme nourry depuis soixante ans & plus, dedans
la Barbarie, habitué aux façons de faire des Sauuages, imbu de leurs
erreurs & de leurs resueries, resister à sa propre femme, à ses
enfans, & à ses gendres, & à ses amis & à ses compatriotes, à ses
_Manitousiouets_, sorciers ou iongleurs, non vne fois, mais plusieurs
pour se ietter entre les bras de quelques estrangers, protestant qu'il
veut embrasser leur creance, mourir en leur Foy & dedans leur maison.
Cela fait voir que la grace peut donner du poids à l'ame d'vn Sauuage
naturellement inconstante.
The Savages, wishing to care for him in their way, with their
songs, their uproar, and their other superstitions, tried several
times to take him away from us, even going so far as to bring
a sledge upon which to take him back, and one of [19] their
sorcerers or jugglers came to see him, for the express purpose
of enticing him away from our belief; but the good Neophyte held
firm, answering that they should not speak to him about going
away, and that he would not leave us unless we sent him away. It
is no slight indication of the efficacy of the grace of holy
Baptism, to see a man who had been steeped for over sixty years in
Barbarism, accustomed to all the ways of the Savages, imbued with
their errors and with their illusions, resist his own wife, his
children, his sons-in-law, his friends and his fellow-savages, his
_Manitousiouets_, sorcerers or jugglers, not once but many times,
to throw himself into the arms of strangers, protesting that he
wished to embrace their belief, to die in their Faith and in their
house. This shows that grace can give stability to the soul of a
Savage, who is by nature inconstant.
En fin, apres auoir instruit nostre bon Ioseph du Sacrement de
l'Extreme-Onction, nous luy conferasmes, & iustement le Samedy Sainct
son ame partit de son corps, pour s'en aller celebrer [20] la feste
de Pasques au Ciel. L'vn de ses gendres l'ayant veu fort bas, estoit
demeuré aupres de luy pour voir comme nous l'enseuelirions apres sa
mort, desirant qu'on luy donnast vne Castelogne & son petunoir, pour
s'en seruir en l'autre monde: mais comme il alloit porter la nouuelle
de cette mort à la femme du deffunct, nous l'enseuelismes à la fàçon
de l'Eglise Catholique, honorant ses obseques le mieux qu'il nous fut
possible. Monsieur de Champlain pour tesmoigner l'amour & l'honneur que
nous portons à ceux qui meurent Chrestiens, fist quitter le trauail à
ses gens, & nous les enuoya pour assister à l'office, nous gardasmes
le plus exactement qu'il nous fut possible les ceremonies de l'Eglise,
ce qui agrea infiniment aux parens de ce nouueau Chrestien; vne chose
neantmoins leur depleut quand on vint à mettre le corps dans la fosse,
ils s'apperceurent qu'il y auoit vn peu d'eauë au fonds, à raison que
les neiges se fondoient pour lors & degouttoient là dedans, cela leur
frappa l'imagination, & comme ils sont [21] superstitieux les attrista
vn petit. Cet erreur ne sera pas difficile à combatre quand on sçaura
bien leur langue; voila à mon aduis les premiers des Sauuages adultes
baptisez, & morts constans en la foy dans ces contrées.
Finally, after having instructed our good Joseph in the Sacrament
of Extreme Unction, we administered it to him; and on that very
day, Holy Saturday, his soul left the body and went to celebrate
[20] Easter in Heaven. One of his sons-in-law, when he saw him very
low, remained near him to see how we would bury him after death,
wishing us to give him his Castelogne [blanket] and his tobacco
pouch, for use in the other world; but, when he went to carry the
news of this death to the wife of the deceased, we buried the
latter according to the custom of the Catholic Church, showing
as much honor as we could in the funeral ceremonies. Monsieur de
Champlain, in order to give proof of the love and honor we bear
those who die in the Christian Faith, had his people leave their
work, and sent them to us to attend the services; we followed as
closely as possible the ceremonies of the Church, which was very
acceptable to the relatives of this new Christian. There was one
thing, however, which displeased them; when we came to put the body
in the grave, they noticed that there was a little water in the
bottom, caused by the snow melting just then and dropping into it;
this struck their imagination, and as they are [21] superstitious,
saddened them a little. It will not be difficult to combat such
errors, when we know their language well. These are, as far as I
know, the first adult Savages in these countries who have been
baptized and died firm in the faith.
Le troisiesme Sauuage baptisé cette année, estoit vn enfant âgé de
trois à quatre mois seulement, son Pere estant en cholere contre sa
femme, fille de nostre bon Ioseph, soit pource qu'elle le vouloit
quitter, ou qu'il estoit touché de quelque ialousie, il print l'enfant
& le ietta contre terre pour l'assommer: Vn de nos François suruenant
là dessus, & se souuenant que nous leurs auions recommandé de conferer
le Baptesme aux enfans qu'ils verroient en danger de mort, au cas
qu'ils ne nous peussent appeller, il prit de l'eauë & le baptiza: ce
pauure petit neantmoins ne mourut pas du coup, sa mere le reprit &
l'emporta auec soy dans les Isles quittant son mary, qui nous a dit
depuis qu'il croit que son fils est mort, sa mere estant tombée dans
vne maladie qu'il iuge mortelle.
The third Savage baptized this year was a child only three or four
months old: the Father, being angry at his wife, daughter of our
good Joseph, either because she wanted to leave him, or because he
had a touch of jealousy, took the child and threw it against the
ground, to kill it. One of our Frenchmen happening along just then,
and remembering that we had recommended them to administer Baptism
to children whom they saw in danger of death, in case they could
not call us took some water and baptized it; this poor little child
did not die immediately, however; its mother took it and carried it
away with her to the Islands, leaving her husband, who has since
told us that he believes his child is dead, as its mother had been
taken with a disease which he thought was mortal.
Le quatriesme estoit fils d'vn Sauuage [22] nommé Khiouirineou, sa
mere s'appelloit Ouitapimoueou, ils auoiẽt donné nom à leur petit
Itaouabisisiou ses parens me promirent qu'ils nous l'apporteroient pour
l'enterrer en nostre cimetiere au cas qu'il mourut, & qu'ils nous le
donneroient pour l'instruire s'il guerissoit, car il estoit malade,
faisans ainsi paroistre le contentement qu'ils auoient que leur petit
fils receut le sainct Baptesme: Ie le baptisay donc, & luy donnay le
nom de Iean Baptiste, ce iour estant l'octaue de ce grand Sainct. Le
sieur du Chesne Chirurgien de l'habitation, qui vient volontiers auec
moy par les Cabanes, pour nous aduertir de ceux qu'il iuge en danger de
mort fut son parrain.
The fourth was the son of a Savage [22] named Khiouirineou, the
mother's name was Ouitapimoueou, and they had named their little
child Itaouabisisiou. His parents had promised me that they would
bring him to us to be buried in our cemetery, if he died; and, if
he recovered,--for he was very sick,--they would give him to us to
be educated, thus showing their satisfaction that their little son
should receive holy Baptism. So I baptized him and gave him the
name Jean Baptiste, that day being the octave of this great Saint.
Sieur du Chesne, Surgeon of the colony, who willingly comes with
me through the Cabins, to advise us of those whom he considers in
danger of death, was his godfather.
Le cinquiesme fut baptizé le mesme iour, son Pere auoit tesmoigné au
sieur Oliuier truchement, qu'il eut bien voulu qu'on eust fait à son
fils ce qu'on fait aux petits enfans François, c'est à dire qu'on
l'eust baptizé, le sieur Oliuier m'en ayant donné aduis i'allay voir
l'enfant, ie differay le baptesme pour quelques iours, le trouuant
encore plein de vie; en fin le P. Buteux & [23] moy l'estans retournez
voir, nous appellasmes Monsieur du Chesne, qui nous dit que l'enfant
estoit bien mal. ie demanday à son Pere s'il seroit content qu'on
le baptizât, tres-cõtent (fit-il,) s'il meurt ie le porteray en ta
maison, s'il retourne en santé il sera ton fils, & tu l'instruiras.
Ie le nommé Adrian du nom de son Parrain, il se nommoit auparauant
Pichichich, son Pere est surnommé des François Baptiscan, il s'appelle
en Sauuage Tchimaouirineou, sa mere Matouetchiouanouecoueou. Ce pauure
petit âgé d'enuiron 8. mois s'enuola au Ciel, la nuict suiuante son
Pere ne manqua pas d'apporter son corps, amenant auec soy dix-huict
ou vingt Sauuages, hommes, femmes & enfans, ils l'auoient enueloppé
dans des peaux de Castor, & pardessus d'vn grand drap de toile, qu'ils
auoient achepté au magazin, & encore pardessus d'vne grande escorce
redoublée. Ie déueloppay ce pacquet, pour voir si l'enfant estoit
dedans, puis ie le mis dans vn cercueil que nous luy fismes faire, ce
qui agrea merueilleusement aux Sauuages: car ils croyent que l'ame [24]
de l'enfant se doit seruir en l'autre monde de l'ame, de toutes les
choses qu'on luy donne à son depart, ie leur dis bien que cette ame
estoit maintenant dedans le Ciel, & qu'elle n'auoit que faire de toutes
ces pauuretez neãtmoins nous les laissasmes faire, de peur que si nous
les eussions voulu empescher, ce que i'aurois peu faire, (car le Pere
chanceloit defia,) les autres ne nous permissent pas de baptizer leurs
enfans quand ils seroient malades, où du moins ne les apportassent
point apres leur mort. Ces pauures gens furent rauis, voyants cinq
Prestres reuestus de surplis honorer ce petit ange Canadien, chantant
ce qui est ordonné par l'Eglise, couurans son cercueil d'vn beau
parement, & le parsemant de fleurs: nous l'enterrasmes auec toute la
solemnité qui nous fut possible.
The fifth was baptized the same day. His Father made known to
sieur Olivier, the interpreter,[13] that he would be very glad if
they would do to his son what was done to little French children;
meaning that they should baptize him. Having been informed of this
by sieur Olivier, I went to see the child, but deferred baptism
for a few days, as the child was still full of vitality. At last,
Father Buteux and [23] I, having gone to see him, called Monsieur
du Chesne, who told us that the child was very sick. I asked his
Father if he would like to have us baptize him. "I should be very
glad" (he answered); "if he dies, I will carry him to thy house;
if he recovers, he shall be thy son, and thou shalt instruct
him." I named him Adrian, after his Godfather; before this he was
called Pichichich; his Father has been surnamed by the French
Baptiscan,--he was called, in Savage, Tchimaouirineou, his mother
Matouetchiouanouecoueou. This poor little child of about eight
months flew away to Heaven. The following night, his Father did not
fail to bring the body, having with him eighteen or twenty Savages,
men, women, and children. They had wrapped it in Beaver skins,
and over that was a large piece of linen cloth, which they had
bought at the store, and over all a great double piece of bark. I
unrolled the parcel to see if the child was inside; then I laid it
in a coffin which we had made for it, and this pleased the Savages
wonderfully, for they believe that the soul [24] of the child will
use in the other world of souls all the things that have been
given to it at its departure. I told them indeed that the soul
was now in Heaven, and that it had no concern whatever with these
trifling things. Nevertheless we let them go on, for fear that, if
we tried to prevent them,--which I might have done (for the Father
already wavered)--the others would not permit us to baptize their
children when they were sick, or at least would not call us after
they died. These simple people were enchanted, seeing five Priests
in surplices honoring this little Canadian angel, chanting what
is ordained by the Church, covering the coffin with a beautiful
pall, and strewing it with flowers. We buried him with all possible
solemnity.
Tous les Sauuages assistoient à toutes les ceremonies, quand ce vint à
le mettre en la fosse, sa mere y mit son berceau auec luy & quelques
autres hardes selon leur coustume, & bien-tost apres tira de son laict
dans vne petite [25] escuelle d'escorce qu'elle brusla sur l'heure
mesme. Ie demanday pourquoy elle faisoit cela, vne femme me repartit,
qu'elle donnoit à boire à l'enfant, dont l'ame beuuoit de ce laict. Ie
l'instruisis là dessus, mais ie parle encores si peu qu'à peine me pût
elle entendre.
All the Savages were present during the entire ceremony. When it
came to lowering him into the grave, his mother placed his cradle
therein, with a few other things, according to their custom; and
soon after she drew some of her milk in a little [25] bark ladle,
which she burned immediately. I asked why this was done, and a
woman answered me that she was giving drink to the child, whose
soul was drinking this milk. I instructed her upon this point,
but I still speak the language so poorly that I scarcely made her
understand me.
Apres l'enterrement nous fismes le festin des morts, donnans à manger
de la farine de bled d'Inde, meslée de quelques pruneaux à ces bonnes
gens, pour les induire à nous appeller quand eux ou leurs enfans seront
malades. Bref ils s'en retournerent auec fort grande satisfaction,
comme ils firent paroistre pour lors, & particulierement deux iours
apres.
After the burial we had the funeral feast, giving some Indian
cornmeal mixed with prunes to these simple people, to induce them
to call upon us when they or their children were sick. In short,
they went away very much pleased, as they showed us then, and more
particularly two days later.
Le Pere Buteux retournant de dire la Messe de l'habitation, comme il
visitoit les Cabanes des Sauuages, il rencontra le corps mort du petit
Iean Baptiste qu'on enueloppoit comme l'autre, ses parents, quoy que
malades, luy promirent de l'apporter chés nous. On m'a desia fait
recit (dit la mere) de l'honneur & du bon traictement que vous faictes
à nos enfans, mais ie ne [26] veux point qu'on deueloppe le mien. Là
dessus le Pere du premier trespassé luy dist, on ne fait point de mal à
l'enfant on ne luy oste point ses robbes, on regarde seulement s'il est
dedans le pacquet, & si nous ne sommes point trompeurs, elle acquiesça
& presenta son fils pour estre porté dans nostre Chapelle, dans
laquelle le Pere Buteux nous l'amena en la compagnie de ses parens &
des autres Sauuages; nous l'enterrasmes auec les mesmes ceremonies que
l'autre, & eux luy donnerent aussi ses petits meubles pour passer en
l'autre monde, nous fismes encores le festin qu'ils font à la mort de
leurs gens, bien ioyeux de voir ce peuple s'affectionner petit à petit,
aux sainctes actions de l'Eglise Chrestienne & Catholique.
Father Buteux, as he was visiting the Cabins of the Savages on his
return from saying Mass at the settlement, saw the dead body of
little Jean Baptiste, which they were wrapping up like the other.
His parents, although sick, promised to bring him to us. "They
have already told me," (said the mother) "of the honor and kind
treatment you show to our children, but I do not [26] wish mine
to be unrolled." Thereupon, the Father of the one who had died
first said to her, "They do no harm to the child; they do not take
off any of its clothes; they only look to see if it is inside
the parcel, and if we are deceiving them." She acquiesced, and
presented her son to be carried into our Chapel, into which Father
Buteux brought him to us, together with his relatives and other
Savages. We buried him with the same ceremonies as the other, and
they gave him also his belongings, to pass with him into the other
world. We again held the feast that is made at the death of their
people, very happy to see them, little by little, acquiring an
affection for the holy offices of the Christian and Catholic Church.
Le quatorziesme de Iuillet ie baptizay le sixiesme, c'estoit vne petite
Algonquine aagée d'enuiron vn an, ie ne l'eusse pas si tost fait
Chrestienne, n'estoit qui ses parens s'en vouloient aller vers leur
pays. Or iugeant auec Monsieur du Chesne, que cet enfant trauaillé
d'vne fieure ethique, estoit en [27] danger de mort, ie luy conferay
ce Sacrement, elle fut appellée Marguerite, on la nommoit en Sauuage
_Memichtigouchiouiscoueou_, c'[e]st à dire, femme d'vn European, son
Pere se nomme en Algonquain _Pichibabich_, c'est à dire Pierre, & sa
mere Chichip, c'est à dire vn Canard, ils m'ont promis que si cette
pauure petite recouure sa santé qu'ils me l'apporteroient, pour la
mettre entre les mains de l'vne de nos Françoises, comme ce peuple est
errant, ie ne sçai maintenant où elle est, ie crois qu'elle n'est pas
loing du Paradis, si elle n'y est desia.
On the fourteenth of July, I baptized the sixth, a little Algonquin
girl about a year old. I would not have made this child a Christian
so soon, had it not been that its parents wished to go to their own
country. Now, believing with Monsieur du Chesne that this child,
who was suffering from hectic fever, was in [27] danger of death, I
administered this Sacrament. She was called Marguerite; her Savage
name was _Memichtigouchiouiscoueou_, meaning, "wife of a European;"
her Father was called in Algonquain, _Pichibabich_, that is to
say, "Stone," and her mother Chichip, meaning "a Duck." They have
promised me that if this poor little child recovers its health,
they will bring it to me, to be placed in the hands of one of our
French Women. As this is a wandering tribe, I do not know now where
she is; but I believe she is not far from Paradise, if she is not
already there.
La septiesme personne que nous auons mis au nombre des enfans de Dieu,
par le Sacrement de Baptesme, c'est la mere du petit Sauuage, que nous
auions nommé bien-venu; elle s'appelloit en Sauuage _Ouroutiuoucoueu_,
& maintenant on l'appelle Marie, ce beau nom luy a esté donné, suiuant
le vœu qu'auoit fait autresfois le R. Pere Charles l'Allement, que
la premiere Canadienne que nous baptizerions, porteroit le nom de la
saincte Vierge, & le premier Sauuage, celuy de [28] de son glorieux
Espoux sainct Ioseph, nous n'auions point cognoissance de ce vœu,
quand les autres ont esté baptizés. I'espere que dans fort peu de
iours il sera entierement accomply: mais pour retourner à nostre
nouuelle Chrestienne, l'ayant trouuée proche du fort de nos François,
abandonnée de ses gens, pource qu'elle estoit malade, ie luy demanday
qui la nourrissoit, elle me respondit que les François luy donnoient
quelque morceau de pain, & que quelques vns reuenans de la chasse, luy
iettoient par fois en passant vne tourterelle, si vous vous voulez
cabaner, luy dis-je, proche de nostre maison, nous vous nourrirõs,
& vous enseignerons le chemin du Ciel; Elle me repartit d'vne voix
languissante, car elle estoit fort mal, helas! i'y voudrois bien aller,
mais ie ne sçaurois plus marcher, aye pitié de moy, enuoye moy querir
dans vn Canot. Ie ny manquay pas le lendemain matin 23. Iuillet ie
la fis apporter proche de nostre maison; la pauure fẽme me demãdoit
bien si elle n'entreroit point chez nous, elle s'attẽdoit que nous luy
feriõs la mesme [29] charité que nous auions fait aux deux premiers
baptizés, mais ie luy respõdis qu'elle estoit fẽme, & que nous ne
pouuions pas la loger dãs nôtre maisõnette qui est fort petite, que
neãtmoins nous luy porterions à manger dans sa Cabane, & que tous les
iours ie l'irois voir pour l'instruire, elle fut contente. Quand ie
commençay à luy parler de la saincte Trinité, disant, que le Pere, & le
F[i]ls & le sainct Esprit, n'estoient qu'vn Dieu qui a tout fait: ie le
sçay bien, me fit-elle, ie le crois ainsi; Ie fus tout estonné à cette
repartie, mais elle me dit que nostre bon Sauuage Ioseph luy rapportoit
par fois ce que nous luy disions, cela me consola fort, car en peu de
temps elle fut suffisamment instruicte pour estre baptizée: i'estois
seulement en peine de luy faire conceuoir vne douleur de sez pechez,
les Sauuages n'ont point en leur langue, si bien en leurs mœurs, ce
mot de peché: le mot de meschanceté & de malice signifie parmy eux vne
action contre la pureté, à ce qu'ils m'ont dit: i'estois donc en peine
de luy faire conceuoir vn deplaisir d'auoir offencé [30] Dieu, ie luy
leus par plusieurs fois les Commandemens, luy disant que celuy qui à
tout fait haïssoit ceux qui ne luy obeïssoient pas, & qu'elle luy dit
qu'elle estoit bien marrie de l'auoir offencé: La pauure femme qui
auoit bien retenu les deffences que Dieu a fait à tous les hommes de
mentir, de paillarder, de desobeïr à ses parents, s'accusa tout seule
de toutes ses offences par plusieurs fois: disant de soy mesme, celuy
qui as tout fait aye pitié de moy, IESVS, Fils de celuy qui peut tout,
fais moy misericorde: ie te promets que ie ne m'enyureray plus ny que
ie ne diray plus de paroles des honnestes, que ie ne mentiray plus, ie
suis marrie de t'auoir fasché, i'en suis marrie de tout mon cœur, ie
ne mens point, aye pitié de moy, si je retourne en santé, ie croiray
tousiours en toy, ie t'obeiray tousiours, si ie meurs aye pitié de mon
ame; l'aiant donc veuë ainsi disposée, craignant d'ailleurs qu'elle ne
mourust subitement, car elle estoit fort malade, ie luy demanday si
elle ne vouloit pas bien estre baptizée, ie voudrois bien encore viure,
me dit-elle, [31] ie cogneu qu'elle s'imaginoit que nous ne donnions
point le baptesme qu'à ceux qui deuoient mourir incontinent apres; ie
luy fist entendre que nous estions tous baptizés, & que nous n'estions
pas morts, que le baptesme rendoit plutost la santé du corps, qu'il
ne l'ostoit; baptise moy donc au plutost me fit elle: ie la voulus
esprouuer, il estoit arriué quelques canots de Sauuages à Kebec, ie
luy dis, voila vne compagnie de tes gens qui vient d'arriuer, si tu
veux t'en aller auec eux, ils te receuront, & ie te feray porter en
leurs cabanes; la pauure creature se mit à pleurer & à sanglotter si
fort, qu'elle me toucha, me tesmoignant par ses larmes qu'elle vouloit
estre Chrestienne, & que ie ne la chassasse point: enfin voiant son
mal redoubler, nous prismes resolution de la baptizer promptement; ie
luy fist entendre qu'elle pourroit mourir la nuict, & que son ame s'en
iroit dans les feux, si elle n'estoit baptizée: que si elle vouloit
receuoir ce sacrement en nostre Chappelle, que ie l'y ferois apporter
dans vne couuerture, elle tesmoigna qu'elle [32] en estoit contente:
ie m'en vay, luy disie, preparer tout ce qu'il fault, prends courage,
ie t'enuoieray bien-tost querir: la pauure femme n'eut pas la patience
d'attendre, elle se traisne comme elle pût, se reposant à tous coups,
en fin elle arriua à nostre maison esloignée de plus de deux cent pas
de sa cabane, & se jetta par terre n'en pouuant plus, estant reuenuë
à soy, ie la baptizay en presence de nos Peres, & de tous nos hommes:
elle me respondit brauement à toutes les demandes que ie luy feis,
suiuant l'ordre de conferer ce Sacrement aux personnes qui ont l'vsage
de raison: Nous la reportasmes dans sa cabane toute pleine de joie, &
nous remplis de consolation voiant la grace de Dieu operer dans vne
ame où le diable auoit fait sa demeure si long temps. Cecy arriua le
premier iour d'Aoust.
The seventh person whom we have placed among the number of the
children of God, through the Sacrament of Baptism, is the mother
of the little Savage whom we named "bien-venu;" she is called,
in Savage, _Ouroutiuoucoueu_, and now her name is Marie. This
beautiful name was given to her in pursuance of a vow once made by
Reverend Father Charles l'Allement, that the first Canadian Woman
whom we should baptize should bear the name of the holy Virgin; and
the first Savage, that [28] of her glorious Spouse, saint Joseph.
We did not know about this vow, when the others were baptized; I
hope that in a very few days it will be entirely fulfilled. But to
return to our new Christian. When I found her near the French fort,
abandoned by her people, because she was sick, I asked her who fed
her; she answered that the French gave her a few morsels of bread,
and that, on their return from the chase, they occasionally threw
her a pigeon. "If you wish to stay near us," I said, "we will care
for you, and will teach you the way to Heaven." She answered me in
a weak voice, for she was very sick, "Alas! I would indeed like to
go there, but I can no longer walk; have pity upon me, send some
one in a Canoe to fetch me." I did not fail to do this; and on
the next day, the 23rd of July, I had her brought near our house.
The poor woman asked me if she were not to go inside, expecting
us to show her the same [29] charity that the first two who had
been baptized had received; but I told her that, as she was a
woman, we could not lodge her in our house, which is very small;
that we would, however, carry her something to eat to her Hut, and
that every day I would go to see and teach her. She was satisfied
with this. When I began to speak to her about the holy Trinity,
saying that the Father, the son, and the holy Spirit, were only one
God, who has made all things, "I know that well," she replied, "I
believe it." I was greatly astonished at this answer, but she told
me that our good Savage Joseph occasionally reported to her what we
told him. This was a great consolation to me, for in a short time
she was sufficiently instructed to be baptized. My only trouble
was to make her feel sorrow for her sins. The Savages have not
this word "sin" in their language, though they certainly have it
in their customs. The word for wickedness and malice, among them,
means a violation of purity, as they have told me. So I was puzzled
to know how to make her understand sorrow at having offended [30]
God. I read her the Commandments several times, telling her that
he who made all things hates those who do not obey him; and that
she should tell him she was very sorry for having offended him. The
poor woman, who well remembered that God forbids all men to lie, to
be wanton, to disobey their parents, accused herself over and over
again of all these offences. She said of her own accord, "Thou who
hast made all things, have mercy upon me; JESUS, son of him who
hath all power, have compassion upon me. I promise thee that I will
not get drunk any more, that I will not utter bad words any more,
that I will not lie any more. I am sorry for having angered thee, I
am sorry with all my heart. I am not lying, have mercy upon me. If
I recover, I will always believe in thee, I will always obey thee.
If I die, have mercy upon my soul." As I saw her thus minded, and
feared beside that she might die suddenly, for she was very ill,
I asked her if she would not like to be baptized. "I would like
to live longer," she replied. [31] I saw she imagined that we only
gave baptism to those who were to die immediately afterwards. I
made her understand that we were all baptized and we were not dead,
that baptism restored health to the body rather than took it away.
"Baptize me then as soon as possible," she answered. I wanted to
try her. Some canoes of Savages having arrived at Kebec, I said to
her: "Here is a company of thy people just arrived; if thou wishest
to go away with them, they will receive thee, and I will have thee
taken to their cabins." The poor creature began to weep and to sob
so violently, that I was touched, proving to me by her tears that
she wanted to be a Christian, and that she did not want me to drive
her away. At last, when we saw that she was growing much worse,
we decided to baptize her at once. I made her understand that she
might die that night, and that her soul would go into the flames if
she were not baptized; that if she wished to receive this sacrament
in our Chapel, I would have her conveyed there in a blanket. She
showed that she [32] was satisfied with this. "I am going away," I
said to her, "to prepare what is necessary, take courage, I will
send for thee soon." The poor woman did not have the patience to
wait, but dragged herself along as well as she could, resting at
every step, until at last she arrived at our house more than two
hundred steps from her cabin, and threw herself upon the ground
completely exhausted. When she recovered herself, I baptized her
in the presence of our Fathers and of all our men. She answered
confidently all the questions I put to her in following the order
of the administration of this Sacrament to persons who have the
use of their reason. We bore her, all full of joy, back to her
own cabin; and we ourselves were greatly comforted at seeing the
grace of God working in a soul where the devil has so long made his
habitation. This happened the first day of August.
Le lendemain quelques François m'estant venus voir, l'allans visiter,
ils la trouuerent tenant vn Crucifix en main, & l'apostrophant fort
doucement! Toy qui est mort pour moy, fais moy misericorde, ie veux
croire en [33] toy toute ma vie, aye pitié de mon ame; Ie rapporte
expressement toutes ces particularitez, pour faire voir que nos
Sauuages ne sont point si barbares qu'ils ne puissent estre faits
enfans de Dieu: I'espere que là où le peché a regné, que la grace y
triomphera, cette pauure femme veit encores plus proche du Ciel que de
la santé.
The next day, some French people, who came to see me, went to visit
her, and found her holding a Crucifix in her hand, and addressing
it in a low voice: "Thou who hast died for me, be merciful to me; I
wish to believe in [33] thee all my life; have pity upon my soul."
I report all these details purposely, that you may see that our
Savages are not so barbarous that they cannot be made children of
God. I hope that there, where sin has reigned, grace will triumph.
This poor woman is still living, nearer to Heaven than to health.
Ie concluerray ce Chapitre par vn chastiment assez remarquable d'vne
autre Canadienne, qui ayant fermé l'oreille à Dieu pendant sa maladie,
semble auoir esté rejettée à sa mort. Le Pere Brebœuf l'ayant esté
voir, pour luy parler de receuoir la foy, elle se mocqua de luy, &
mesprisa ses paroles: sa maladie l'ayant terrassée, & les Sauuages
voulans decabaner, la porterent à cette honneste famille, habituée
icy depuis vn assez long temps; mais n'ayãt pas où la loger, ces
Barbares la trainerent au fort, si nous n'eussions esté si esloignez,
asseurément ils nous l'auroient amenée; car ie me doute qu'ils la
presentoiẽt à nos François, voyans que nous auions receu auec beaucoup
d'amour les deux Sauuages morts Chrestiens. [34] Monsieur de Champlain
voyant qu'il estoit desia tard luy fist donner le couuert pour vne
nuict, ceux qui estoient dans la chambre où on la mit furent contraints
d'en sortir, ne pouuans supporter l'infection de cette femme.
I shall finish this Chapter with an account of the very remarkable
punishment of a Canadian Woman, who, having closed her ear to God
during her sickness, seems to have been rejected at her death. When
Father Brebœuf went to see her, to speak to her about receiving
the faith, she laughed at him and scorned his words. Having been
prostrated by sickness, and the Savages wishing to break camp, they
carried her to this worthy family who have lived here for quite a
long time; but, as they had no place to keep her, these Barbarians
dragged her to the fort; if we had not been so far away, they would
no doubt have brought her to us, for I am inclined to think that
they presented her to our Frenchmen because we had received with so
much kindness the two deceased Christian Savages. [34] Monsieur de
Champlain, as it was already late, gave her shelter for one night.
Those who were in the room where she was placed, had to leave, as
they could not bear the odor from this woman.
Le iour venu Monsieur de Champlain fist appeller quelques Sauuages,
& leur ayant reproché leur cruauté d'abandonner cette creature qui
estoit de leur nation, ils la reprirent & la trainerent vers leurs
Cabanes, la rebutans comme vn chien, sans luy donner le couuert. Cette
miserable se voyant delaissée des siens, exposée à la rigueur du froid,
demãda qu'on nous fist appeller; mais cõme il n'y auoit point là de
nos François, les Sauuages ne voulurent pas prendre la peine de venir
iusques en nostre maison, esloignée d'vne bonne lieuë de leurs Cabanes,
si bien que la faim, le froid, la maladie, & les enfans des Sauuages,
à ce qu'on dit, la tuerent; nous ne fusmes aduertis de cette histoire
tragique que quelques iours apres sa mort: s'il y auoit icy vn Hospital
il y auroit tous les malades du [35] pays, & tous les vieillards, pour
les hommes nous les secourerons, selon nos forces, mais pour les femmes
il ne nous est pas bien seant de les receuoir en nos maisons.
In the morning, Monsieur de Champlain caused a number of the
Savages to be called; and, being reproached by him for their
cruelty in abandoning this creature, who was of their tribe, they
took her and dragged her toward their Cabins, repulsing her as
they would a dog, and giving her no covering. This wretched woman,
finding herself abandoned by her own people and exposed to the
severity of the cold, asked that we should be called. But, as
there were no Frenchmen there, the Savages did not care to take
the trouble to come all the way to our house, a good league from
their Cabins; so that hunger, cold, disease, and the children of
the Savages, as it is reported, killed her. We did not hear of this
tragedy until some days after her death. If we had a Hospital here,
all the sick people of the [35] country, and all the old people,
would be there. As to the men, we will take care of them according
to our means; but, in regard to the women, it is not becoming for
us to receive them into our houses.
CHAPITRE III.
DES MOYENS DE CONUERTIR LES SAUUAGES.
LE grand pouuoir que firent paroistre les Portugais au commencement
dedans les Indes Orientales & Occidentales, ietta l'admiration bien
auant dedans l'esprit des Indiens, si bien que ces peuples embrasserent
quasi sans contreditte la creance de ceux qu'ils admiroient. Or voicy à
mon aduis les moyens d'acquerir cet ascendant, pardessus nos Sauuages.