men. Champlain told him the arrangement he had made with the clerks, on
which Du Pont Grave continued his route to Trois Rivieres to trade with
the Indians, confiding in Champlain's promise to do justice to all till
the king's commands should arrive. De Caen, on the 15th, wrote to
Champlain to go to him at Tadoussac (which he then refused), and to
give notice to the Indians of his arrival, and warn them that they were
not to trade with any others. To make the confusion complete, on the
17th, Champlain received letters stating that the old company had
obtained a judgment authorizing them to trade for the year 1621,
conjointly with the new company (De Caen's). As De Caen did not arrive,
and the departure of the clerks, Du Pont Grave, and his people, for the
upper part of the river had, for the present, removed all danger from
the fort and settlement, Champlain resolved to go down to Tadoussac,
leaving De May in command. On his arrival he had long "discourse" with
De Caen, wherein he gave him very good counsel as to the obedience to
be given to the orders of the king and governor; which De Caen
promised, but wished the peltry, etc., which had been already collected
to be delivered to him. Champlain declined, unless he could produce
specific orders to that effect, which De Caen averred that he had, but
would not produce; and getting angry, and consequently obstinate,
declared that, if his wish was not complied with, he would seize Du
Pont Grave's ship, by force, if necessary. Champlain replied, that in
that case he should take the vessel under his protection and safeguard,
so that the forms of justice might be preserved, and that De Caen,
having superior force, might afterwards do as he pleased on his own
responsibility; and therefore sent to take possession of the ship. De
Caen then also sent a force to occupy the vessel, declaring he would
punish those who should resist; on which Champlain, under protest of
the employment of "force majeure", withdrew, thus preserving his
prerogative while matters were in suspense, without having recourse to
violence.
But while the partisans of the two companies were thus contending for
the trade, neither making much progress, one of Champlain's
abominations, a little Rochellois vessel, came in quietly, and carried
off great part of the object in dispute--trading with the natives,
selling powder and guns and warlike stores, and packing up peltry under
their very noses; and when at last Champlain and De Caen in great
indignation sent to catch the interloper--the bird had flown. De Caen,
however, seems to have gained but little by the great fuss that he
made, for after sending in some arms and ammunition to the settlement
(which, by the way, Champlain plainly hints were not by any means all
that had been sent), and settled his affairs for a time, he left for
France on the 18th August, and Du Pont Grave shortly followed him,
leaving Champlain once more to finish building his fort and rule his
little colony in peace.
The end of all this turmoil was, that the rival companies "amalgamated"
in the following year.
Being now tranquil, and free to occupy himself without interruption for
the good of the settlement and the country, Champlain passed the year
1622 and the following in building--not forgetting his favourite
fort--in clearing land, establishing fisheries, and in strengthening
and consolidating the trade. He also made peace between the friendly
tribes of Indians and their old enemies the Iroquois, and having
assured the good order of the colony, and his fort being nearly
finished, he resolved to return to France for a time with his family.
He accordingly embarked at Tadoussac on the 21st of August, 1624, and
on the 1st of October entered the harbour of Dieppe. After a two days
repose he proceeded with his suite to St. Germains, to give a report to
the king and the viceroy of his proceedings, and of the events which
had occurred during his four years absence. He found the two companies
again at loggerheads, and their continued disputes so worried the Duke
de Montmorency, that he gave up the viceroyalty--"qui luy rompuist plus
la teste, que ses affaires plus importantes"--to the Duke de Ventadour
(for "a consideration," however, according to the practice of the
time), who, "animated by the zeal and affection which he had to see the
glory of God flourish in those barbarous lands," sent out six Jesuits
in the following year at his own expense.[20]
[20] It was not so much the worry of the Duke de Montmorency, as
the intrigues of the Jesuits, which induced him to give up, or
rather sell, the viceroyalty. The whole negotiation is explained
in the _Hist. Canadensis_ of the Jesuit Du Creux (or Creuxius, as
he styles himself), Paris, 1664. The Duke de Ventadour was very
devout, had even taken holy orders, and was quite in the Jesuits'
hands: they wishing to get, or rather strengthen their footing in
Canada, after many expedients, settled the matter as follows:
"Via certa demum haec judicata; Pro rege Novae Franciae dignitatem a
Duce Montmorantio, coemeret Ventadorius.... Nec mora, agit
continuo cum Montmorantio Ventadorius; cum eoque brevi decidit in
Librarum Turonensium (Livres Tournois) centum millia, et quod
excurrit haec tam grandi pecunia pene profundendia illustrissime
testatus, quam sibi cordi, Canadensis res esset."--Lib. i, p. 4.
One hardly knows which most to admire, the simplicity of the
worthy "Creuxius" in thus letting out the secret, or the
abominable Latin in which he narrates the whole affair.
The new viceroy also appointed Champlain his lieutenant in New France,
and he remained in Paris partly to give the duke some insight into the
affairs of the colony, partly for his private affairs; the Sieur De
Caen also received a commission (or had it renewed), from the new
governor, and prepared to continue his voyages; but he seems to have
had a taste for disputes and litigation, as he contrived to pick a
quarrel with the united companies, in which, however, he got the better
of them, and was permitted to send out vessels; one of the conditions
being, "that the command should be given to a catholic."
The ships being ready to sail from Dieppe, Champlain, and his
brother-in-law, Boulle, who had been named his lieutenant, embarked on
the 15th April, 1626, on board of the _Catharine_, of two hundred and
fifty tons; and after a tedious voyage of two months and six days,
again landed in new France; finding Du Pont Grave (who had returned in
the previous year, and had been extremely ill during the winter), the
missionaries, and all the people in good health, but almost reduced to
extremity for want of provisions; and the buildings, etc., in nearly
the same state as when he left.
Champlain here complains bitterly of the carelessness of the company in
not providing sufficient supplies of provisions, and of the
improvidence and carelessness of the people; as, but for his arrival,
the colony would probably have been abandoned, from famine.
The cause assigned for the delay in finishing the dwellings and
constructions planned by Champlain, previous to his departure was, that
fully one half of the men were employed during two months and a half of
the best part of the year, in collecting and bringing in forage for the
cattle, which they were obliged to fetch from Cape Tourmente, quite
eight leagues from the settlement. To obviate this difficulty,
Champlain established a farm in a favourable spot at the foot of the
said cape, where the cattle could remain at pasture, and but few men be
required to look after them. He also appointed an overseer to stay
there permanently, and take care that the labourers did not waste their
time; and every week he paid a visit of inspection to the new
establishment. Considering also that the fort which he had commenced
was but small, that, by and bye, as the population increased, more
soldiers would be required for the defence of the colony; and that
"selon l'oyseau il fallait la cage,"--he resolved to make the "cage
according to the bird," and pull down and enlarge it. He pushed on the
works so that they might be in a fit state of defence in the spring;
and erected two bastions, well flanked, to protect the land side, by
which alone it could be approached, and only then with difficulty. In
the autumn, he received news of an outbreak of his old acquaintances
the Iroquois, who had slain five Dutchmen, being at war with the
Mahiganathicoit (Mohicans), in whose country the Dutch were settled
about the fortieth degree of latitude, "near to Virginia, where the
Englishmen were established." His old friend, Du Pont Grave, who seems
to have been a martyr to the gout for some time past, resolved to
return to France, and he little expected ever to see him again.
About this time Champlain suffered much anxiety on account of the
insufficient supplies of provisions from France, which had become most
necessary,--the people, notwithstanding their long sojourn in the
country, depending chiefly on the arrival of the ships for support; he
had even been obliged to send some families back to France, who,
instead of working or cultivating the land, did nothing but hunt, and
shoot, and fish, and amuse themselves from morning till night, being
idle themselves and the cause of idleness in others. He notices
(January, 1627) the death of one Hebert, "the first head of a family
who lived by what he cultivated." The Missionaries seem to be making
progress among the natives at this time, as the Reverend (Jesuit)
Father Lallemand, "baptised a little savage of only ten or twelve days
old," who was buried the next day in the cemetery of the settlement.
The winter of 1626-27 was very long and severe, the snow lying very
deep and long on the ground, and the usual improvidence of the settlers
causing provisions to run short. In the course of it, some of the
Indian tribes, of the country inhabited by the Dutch, begged the
assistance of Champlain's native allies, to make war against the
Iroquois, who had killed twenty-five of their people (besides five of
the Dutch) because they had refused them passage through their
territory, to attack the "Loups," Indians with whom the said Iroquois
were at feud. The Algenquins and some other of the friendly tribes
consented to the peace, which Champlain had with such difficulty made
between his friends and the Iroquois, being broken to his great
indignation: other tribes refused, without the consent of Champlain. He
did all in his power to prevent the war, sending his brother-in-law,
Boulle, with Emery De Caen, the nephew, to the rendezvous of the
savages for that purpose, but to no avail; three Iroquois were taken
prisoners and tormented, and the war commenced. Champlain thereupon
hastened in person to the Indian camp, and with great difficulty
prevailed on them to send back one of the prisoners, with presents, to
propitiate the Iroquois and renew the peace. On his return to Quebec he
there found, to his surprise, Du Pont Grave just arrived, having
returned to Canada at the solicitation of the elder De Caen (who was
detained in France), notwithstanding his almost constant sufferings
from the gout.
Champlain had returned but a few weeks to his post, when he received
intelligence that "the ambassadors," who had been sent with the
Iroquois prisoner, had all been murdered by the "Ouentanoronnons"
(Hurons?), who were allies of the Iroquois. Among the envoys were one
Pierre Magnan, a Frenchman, and a chief called "De Reconcilie." "The
latter," says Champlain, "well deserved his death, for having massacred
two of our men at Cape Tourmente; and Magnan, who was from the vicinity
of Lisieux, had killed a man of that neighbourhood, and had been
obliged to take refuge in New France. See," he continues, "how God
sometimes chastises the men who seek to avoid his justice in one way,
and are caught in another." All hope of peace was now at an end, and
Champlain was compelled to avenge the death of his countryman, however
unworthy, lest, by passing over the affront, greater injury might
follow; so he prepared for hostilities, and his Indian friends
recommended tormenting a wretched prisoner whom, at Champlain's
intercession, they had hitherto spared, with more than usual barbarity,
roasting him by a slow fire, and "every one carried off a piece of him,
which they ate!"
Affairs also became more complicated from the old complaint--scarcity
of provisions, the English having taken one of the company's ships; and
by the resistance of the associates to the viceroy's orders and
regulations, refusing to contribute to the erection of the fort, and
not troubling themselves about king or governor, or how matters went
on, provided they received their profits of about forty per cent. It
was evident that "they who govern the purse could do, and would do at
pleasure." Champlain could do nothing, save to write an account of the
state of things to the viceroy, that he might act accordingly, and work
at his fort and other buildings of the settlement.[21]
[21] Scarcity of provisions. "Nec minus animo Camplenius
angebatur, Galli remanebant quinque et quinquaginta, quibus in
istis angustiis difficultatibusque, victum quotidianum tandiu
praebere haud facillimum merito putabatur, etc,"--Du Creux,
_Hist. Canadensis_, lib. i, p. 13.
On the 20th of September, 1627, some scouts of the Indians informed
Champlain that a great number of Iroquois were on their way to attack
him, to which he replied, "that he was glad of it, but did not believe
the news, as they had only courage to attack sleeping men"; and, in
fact, some months later, two of his men, conducting cattle from the
farm at Cape Tourmente to Quebec, were murdered during their sleep, not
by the Iroquois, but by his own allies. Champlain, thoroughly roused at
this treachery, peremptorily demanded that the murderers should be
given up, and declared that, till that was done, he should keep three
of the savages as hostages; the Indians requested three days, that they
might endeavour to discover the assassin; and, in the mean time,
Champlain kept on his guard, taking every precaution against surprise
or open attack, the affair having now become very serious, as the
settlement was completely surrounded by the tribes.
The Indians, after the expiration of the three days, sent word that
they could not find the murderer, but as proof of good faith, and to
make amends, offered to give Champlain three young girls, to be brought
up and treated as he should please; "a thing never before known," says
Champlain, "as our surgeon and many there wished to take young girls
and marry them, but the savages would never consent."[22] After
consultation with Du Pont Grave, (who, while thinking that the
arrangement might be good, opposed the reception of the girls, on
account of the scarcity of food,[23]) the girls were accepted; but on
condition, that Champlain should nevertheless be at liberty to seek for
the murderer, and punish him when found. These "virgunculae" were
destined to be a source of considerable trouble and pain to Champlain,
as will shortly be seen.
[22] Three young girls. "Accessere sub extremum Januarium
virgunculae indigenae tres, ultro praeter morem, oblutae a parentibus
... partem metu, ne Gallorum duorum caedem, quos Barbari aliquot
dormientes, recens, per summam inhumanitatem oppresserant,
Camplenius gravius ulcisceretur, etc."--Du Creux, _Hist.
Canadensis_, lib. i, p. 13.
[23] "In summa inopia, pernegante Pontio-Gravaeo!"--Du Creux.
The colony continued tolerably flourishing and quiet, with the
exception of the squabbles of the associates of the Company (now become
apparently habitual) among themselves, with the viceroy and all
authorities, and with everybody in short, and of the usual deficiency
of provisions; till the month of July, 1628, when Champlain received a
surprise of quite a different kind, and far more serious than any of
his previous troubles and difficulties. On the 9th July, two of his
men, coming from Cape Tourmente, told him that, according to the report
of a savage, (who, on the same day, confirmed the news,) six ships had
arrived at Tadoussac, and that a certain Captain Michel of Dieppe was
the chief commander for the Sieur De Caen. At first Champlain thought
that this commander was a certain Michel with whom De Caen was
associated in the fishery at Gaspey; but on reflection, it seemed
little probable, as Michel was not a fit person for such a command, and
that six vessels were an extraordinary number for the trade or fishery,
so that some great change must have taken place in general affairs.
Champlain therefore desired a young Greek, who acted as interpreter, to
disguise himself as an Indian, and to proceed with two natives in a
canoe to reconnoitre. Champlain was in great doubt, fearing, what he
had often apprehended, that an enemy would arrive, and that the
aforesaid ships were hostile: he therefore took order both at the fort
and settlement so as to receive the enemy properly, if needed.
About an hour after the departure of the Greek, he suddenly returned
accompanied by two canoes which were hastening to the settlement, in
one of which was Foucher, the superintendent of the farm at Cape
Tourmente, who told Champlain that he had just escaped from the
English, who had taken him prisoner with three of his men, a woman, and
a little girl, whom they had carried off to a barque which was at
anchor off the Cape, having killed all the beasts they had need of, and
burned the remainder in the stables; they had also set fire to two
small houses, and ravaged and pillaged everything, even the head-gear
of the little girl; they had then reembarked in haste, fearing to be
pursued; "which," says Champlain, "assuredly they would have been, if
the savages, who all knew of their arrival, had informed us of it; but,
like perfidious traitors as they are, they not only concealed this
unpleasant news, but spread the report that the strangers were our own
people, and that we were not to be anxious about them." It appeared
that the enemy had arrived at Cape Tourmente an hour or so before
daylight, and sent about fifteen soldiers ashore, thinking to surprise
Foucher and his people asleep; but on approaching the habitation,
Foucher met them, asking, "who they were and what they wanted?" They
replied in French that they were friends: "Do you not recollect us? We
were here last year, and we are now sent by Monseigneur the Cardinal
and Monseigneur de Roquemont with intelligence; in passing we wished to
see you." With these civilities and gentle words they saluted,
gradually surrounding Foucher and his men, who were presently
astonished at being seized and made prisoners, as before related, "the
treacherous savages having told them of the state in which we were."
Champlain, at this confirmation of his fears, immediately set everybody
to work at making intrenchments around the little town, and stockades
on the ramparts of the fort (which was not finished for want of
workmen), appointing every man his post, to which he was to hasten when
required.
On the next day, the 10th of July, about three in the afternoon, a boat
was seen approaching the settlement, which, from its manoeuvres,
seemed to make for the St. Charles river, either to disembark men or to
set fire to the house of the mission, which was there situated, or
else, that the crew did not know the right channel to the town.
Champlain sent some arquebusiers to reconnoitre, who found that the
supposed enemies were the men with the woman and girl who had just been
taken prisoners, with six Basques, who had also been captured by the
English. One of the latter was bearer of a letter from the English
"General" at Tadoussac, to this effect:--
"Messieurs,--I give you notice that I have received a commission
from the king of Great Britain, my honoured lord and master, to
take possession of the countries of Canada and Acadia, and for that
purpose eighteen ships have been dispatched, each taking the route
ordered by His Majesty. I have already seized the habitation at
Miscare, and all boats and pinnaces on that coast, as well as those
of Tadoussac, where I am presently at anchor. You are also informed
that, among the vessels that I have seized, there is one belonging
to the new company, commanded by a certain Norot, which was coming
to you with provisions and goods for the trade. The Sieur De la
Tour was also on board, whom I have taken into my ship. I was
preparing to seek you, but thought it better to send boats to
destroy and seize your cattle at Cape Tourmente; for I know that,
when you are straitened for supplies, I shall the more easily
obtain my desire, which is, to have your settlement; and in order
that no vessels shall reach you, I have resolved to remain here
till the end of the season, in order that you may not be
re-victualled. Therefore see what you wish to do,--if you intend to
deliver up the settlement or not, for, God aiding, sooner or later
I must have it. I would desire, for your sake, that it should be by
courtesy rather than by force, to avoid the blood which might be
spilt on both sides. By surrendering courteously, you may be
assured of all kind of contentment, both for your persons and for
your property, which, on the faith that I have in Paradise, I will
preserve as I would my own, without the least portion in the world
being diminished. The Basques, whom I send you, are men of the
vessels that I have captured, and they can tell you the state of
affairs between France and England, and even how matters are
passing in France, touching the new company[24] of this country.
Send me word what you desire to do; and if you wish to treat with
me about this affair, send me a person to that effect, whom, I
assure you, I will treat with all kind of attention, and I will
grant all reasonable demands that you may desire in resolving to
give up the settlement.
"Waiting your reply, I remain, Messieurs,
"Your affectionate servant,
"DAVID QUER.
"On board the 'Vicaille'(?) this 18th of July, 1628 (old style),
and addressed to 'Monsieur Champlain, Commandant at Quebec.'"
[24] On the 29th April, 1627, another company for the trade with
New France, to the exclusion of all previous associations, and
styled the Company of the Hundred Associates, was organized, and
the articles settled and signed, under the especial patronage and
influence of the Cardinal de Richelieu; and on the 29th June the
Duke de Ventadour resigned the post of viceroy of New France, in
consideration of the sum of seventy thousand livres, which the
President de Lauzun promised him on the part of the king. The
"Great Cardinal" had been already invested in 1626 with the
direction of all naval affairs, under the title of Grand Master
and Superintendant of Navigation and Commerce, those of admiral
and vice-admiral of France being suppressed. His first care was
to put down the rival companies, and take the trade into his own
hands; the next, to get rid of the Jesuits, and their tool the
Duke de Ventadour.
This logical, precise, and "affectionate" letter being read, "We
concluded," says Champlain, "that if he wished to see us he had better
come, and not threaten from such a distance;" so replied in equally
polite terms to the purport, "That he did not in the least doubt the
fact of Quer (or Keith) having the commission of his king, as great
princes always select men of brave and generous courage," acknowledging
the intelligence of the capture of Norot and De la Tour, and also the
truth of the observation that, "the more provisions there were in a
fortress the better it could hold out, still it could be maintained
with but little, provided good order were kept; therefore, being still
provided with grain, maize, beans, and peas, (besides what the country
could furnish,) which his soldiers loved as well as the finest corn in
the world, by surrendering the fort in so good a condition, he should
be unworthy to appear before his sovereign, and should deserve
chastisement before God and men. He was sure that Quer would respect
him much more for defending himself, than for abandoning his charge,
without first making trial of the English guns and batteries;"
concluding, that he should expect his attack, and oppose, as well as he
could, all attempts that might be made against the place; and signing,
"Your affectionate servant, Champlain."
This courteous, but decided, and, under the circumstances, chivalrous
answer, was given to the Basques to deliver to the English commander,
who, finding that Champlain was determined to hold out, and thinking
that the settlement was better provided with provisions and stores than
it really was, contented himself with burning all the boats and vessels
at Tadoussac, and set sail again to look for ships along the coast; and
well it was for Champlain that he did so, as he writes, "Every man
being reduced to seven ounces of peas a day, and only having about
fifty pounds of gunpowder, hardly any matches or other commodities, if
they had made their point, we could hardly have resisted them."