Chapter IX: Lettre Du P. Biard (2)

We arrived at Kinibéqui, eighty leagues from Port Royal, the 28th
of October, the day of St. Simon and St. Jude, of the same year,
1611. Our people at once disembarked, wishing to see the English
fort, for we had learned, on the way, that there was no one there.
Now as everything is beautiful at first, this undertaking of the
English had to be praised and extolled, and the conveniences of
the place enumerated, each one pointing out what he valued the
most. But a few days afterward they changed their views; for they
saw that there was a fine opportunity for making a counter-fort
there, which might have imprisoned them and cut them off from the
sea and river; moreover, even if they had been left unmolested
they would not have enjoyed the advantages of the river, since it
has several other mouths, and good ones, some distance from there.
Furthermore, what is worse, we do not believe that, in six leagues
of the surrounding country, there is a single acre of good tillable
land, the soil being nothing but stones and rocks. Now, inasmuch
as the wind forced us to go on, when the third day came, Monsieur
de Biancourt [64] considered the subject in council and decided
to take advantage of the wind and go on up the river, in order to
thoroughly explore it.

Nous avions advancé jà bien trois lieuës, et le flot nous manquant nous estions mis à l'anchre au milieu de la riviere; quand voicy que nous descouvrons six canots Armouchiquois venir à nous. Ils estoyent 24 personnes dedans, tous gens de combat. Ils firent mille tentatives et ceremonies avant que nous aborder. Vous les eussiez parfaictement comparez à une troupe d'oyseaux, laquelle desire d'entrer en une cheneviere, mais elle craind l'espouvantail. Cela nous plaisoit fort, car aussy nos gens avoyent besoin de temps pour s'armer et pavier. Enfin ils vindrent et revindrent, ils recogneurent, considererent finement nostre nombre, nos pieces, nos armes, tout; et la nuict venuë, ils se logerent à l'autre bord du fleuve, sinon hors la portée, du moins hors la mire de nos canons.

We had already advanced three good leagues, and had dropped
anchor in the middle of the river waiting for the tide, when we
suddenly discovered six Armouchiquois canoes coming towards us.
There were twenty-four persons therein, all warriors. They went
through a thousand maneuvers and ceremonies before accosting us,
and might have been compared to a flock of birds which wanted to
go into a hemp-field but feared the scarecrow. We were very much
pleased at this, for our people also needed to arm themselves and
arrange the pavesade. In short, they continued to come and go; they
reconnoitred; they carefully noted our numbers, our cannon, our
arms, everything; and when night came they camped upon the other
bank of the river, if not out of reach, at least beyond the aim of
our cannon.

Toute la nuit ce ne fust que haranguer, chanter, danser; car telle est la vie de toutes ces gens lorsqu'ils sont en troupe. Or comme nous presumions probablement que leurs chants et danses estoyent invocations du diable, pour contrecarrer l'empire de ce maudict tyran, je fis que nos gens chantassent [65] quelques hymnes eclesiastiques, comme le _Salve_, l'_Ave Maris stella_ et autres. Mais comme ils furent une fois en train de chanter, les chansons spirituelles leur manquant, ils se jetterent aux autres qu'ils sçavoyent. Estant encores à la fin de celles cy, comme c'est le naturel du François de tout imiter, ils se prindrent à contrefaire le chant et danse des Armouchiquois, qui estoyent à la rive, les contrefaisant si bien en tout, que, pour les escouter, les Armouchiquois se taysoient; et puis nos gens se taysans, reciproquement eux recommençoyent. Vrayment il y avoit beau rire: car vous eussiés dict que c'estoyent deux chœurs qui s'entendoient fort bien, et à peine eussiés vous pû distinguer le vray Armouchiquois d'avec le feinct.

All night there was continual haranguing, singing and dancing,
for such is the kind of life all these people lead when they are
together. Now as we supposed that probably their songs and dances
were invocations to the devil, to oppose the power of this cursed
tyrant, I had our people sing [65] some sacred hymns, as the
_Salve_, the _Ave Maris Stella_, and others. But when they once
got into the way of singing, the spiritual songs being exhausted,
they took up others with which they were familiar. When they came
to the end of these, as the French are natural mimics, they began
to mimic the singing and dancing of the Armouchiquois who were
upon the bank, succeeding in it so well that the Armouchiquois
stopped to listen to them; and then our people stopped and the
others immediately began again. It was really very comical, for
you would have said that they were two choirs which had a thorough
understanding with each other, and scarcely could you distinguish
the real Armouchiquois from their imitators.

Le matin venu, nous poursuyvions notre route contremont. Eux, nous ayans accompagnez, nous dirent que si nous voulions du _piousquemin_ (c'est leur bled), que nous debvions avec facilité prendre à droicte, et non avec grand travail et danger aller contremont; que prenant à droicte par le bras qui se monstroit, en peu d'heures, nous arriverions vers le grand sagamo Meteourmite, qui nous fourniroit de tout; qu'ils nous y serviroient de guides, car aussy bien s'en alloyent ils le visiter.

In the morning we continued our journey up the river. The
Armouchiquois, who were accompanying us, told us that if we wanted
any _piousquemin_ (corn), it would be better and easier for us
to turn to the right and not, with great difficulty and risk, to
continue going up the river; that if we turned to the right through
the branch which was just at hand, in a few hours we would reach
the great sagamore Meteourmite, who would furnish us with all we
wanted; that they would act as our guides, since they themselves
were going to visit him.

Il est à presumer, et en avons de grands indices, qu'ils ne nous donnoyent ce conseil sinon en intention [66] de nous prendre aux filets, et avoir bon marché de nous à l'ayde de Meteourmite, lequel ils sçavoient estre ennemy des Anglois, et le conjecturoient l'estre de tous estrangers. Mais, Dieu mercy, leurs embusches se tournerent contre eux.

It is to be supposed, and there were strong indications of it, that
they gave us this advice only with the intention [66] of ensnaring
us, and making an easy conquest of us by the help of Meteourmite,
whom they knew to be the enemy of the English, and whom they
supposed to be an enemy of all foreigners. But, thank God, their
ambuscade was turned against themselves.

Cependant nous les creusmes; aussy partie d'eux s'en alloyent devant nous, partie après, partie aussy avec nous dedans la barque. Neantmoins Monsieur de Biancourt se tenoit tousiours sur ses gardes, et souvent faisoit marcher la chaloupe devant avec la sonde. Nous n'avions pas faict plus de demy lieue, quand, venus en un grand lac le sondeur nous crie: "Deux brasses d'eau, qu'une brasse, qu'une brasse partout." Aussy tost: Ameine, ameine, lasche l'anchre. Où sont nos Armouchiquois? où sont-ils? point. Ils nous avoyent trestous insensiblement quittés. O les traistres! ô que Dieu nous a bien aydés! Ils nous avoyent conduicts aux pieges. "Revire, revire." Nous retournons sur nostre route.

However, we believed them; so a part of them went ahead of us, part
behind, and some in the barque with us. Nevertheless Monsieur de
Biancourt was always on his guard, and often sent the boat on ahead
with the sounding-lead. We had not gone more than half a league
when, reaching a large lake, the sounder called out to us: "Two
fathoms of water; only one fathom, only one fathom everywhere,"
and immediately afterward, "Stop! stop! cast anchor." Where are
our Armouchiquois? Where are they? Not one. They had all silently
disappeared. Oh, the traitors! Oh, how God had delivered us! They
had led us into a trap. "Veer about, veer about." We retrace our
path.

Cependant Meteourmite ayant esté adverty de nostre venue, nous courroit au devant, et quoyqu'il nous vist tourner bride, si est-ce qu'il nous poursuyvit. Bien valut à Monsieur de Biancourt d'etre plus sage que plusieurs de son esquipage, qui ne crioyent lors que de tout tuer. Car ils estoyent en grande cholere et en non moindre crainte; mais la cholere faisoit plus de bruit.

Meanwhile, Meteourmite having been informed of our coming, came
to meet us, and, although he saw our prow turned about, yet he
followed us. It was well that Monsieur de Biancourt was wiser than
many of his crew, whose sole cry was to kill them all. For they
were as angry as they were frightened: but their anger made the
most noise.

[67] Monsieur de Biancourt se reprima, et ne faisant pas autrement mauvaise chere à Meteourmite, apprit de luy qu'il y avoit une route par laquelle on pourroit passer; qu'à celle fin de ne la pas faillir, il nous donneroit de ses propres gens dedans nostre barque; qu'au reste vinssions à sa cabane, il tascheroit de nous donner contentement. Nous luy crusmes, et pensasmes nous en repentir; car nous passasmes des haults et destroicts si perilleux que ne cuidions quasi jamays en eschapper. D'effect, en deux endroits, aucuns de nos gens s'escrierent miserablement que nous estions trestous perdus. Mais, Dieu mercy, ils crierent trop tost.

[67] Monsieur de Biancourt restrained himself, and not otherwise
showing any ill-will toward Meteourmite, learned from him that
there was a route by which they could pass; that in order not to
miss it, he would let us have some of his own people in our barque;
that, besides, if we would come to his wigwam he would try to
satisfy us. We trusted him, and thought we might have to repent
it; for we traversed such perilous heights and narrow passes that
we never expected to escape from them. In fact, in two places some
of our men cried out in distress that we were all lost. But, thank
God, they cried too soon.

Arrivés, Monsieur de Biancourt se mit en armes, pour en cet arroy aller veoir Meteourmite. Il le trouva en son hault appareil de majesté sauvagesque, seul dans une cabane bien nattée le haut et bas, et quelques quarante puissans jeunes hommes à l'entour de la cabane, en forme de corps de garde, chacun son pavois, son arc et flesches à terre au devant de soy. Ces gens ne sont point niais, nullement, et qu'on nous en croye.

When we arrived, Monsieur de Biancourt armed himself, and thus
arrayed proceeded to pay a visit to Meteourmite. He found him in
the royal apparel of savage majesty, alone in a wigwam that was
well matted above and below, and about forty powerful young men
stationed around it like a body-guard, each one with his shield,
his bow and arrows upon the ground in front of him. These people
are by no means simpletons, and you may believe us when we say so.

Pour moy, je receus, ce jour là, la plus grande part des caresses; car, comme j'estois sans armes, les plus honorables, laissans les soldats, se prindrent à moy avec mille significations d'amitié. Ils me conduysirent en la plus grande cabane de toutes; [68] elle contenoit bien 80 ames. Les places prinses, je me jettay à genoux, et ayant faict le signe de la croix, recitay mon _Pater_, _Ave_, _Credo_, et quelques oraisons; puis, ayant faict pause, mes hostes, comme s'ils m'eussent bien entendu, m'applaudirent en leur façon, s'escriant _Ho! ho! ho!_ Ie leur donnay quelques croix et quelques images, leur en donnant à apprehender ce que je pouvois. Eux les baysoient fort volontiers, faisoyent le signe de la Croix, et, chacun pour soy, s'efforçoyent à me presenter ses enfans, à ce que je les benisse et leur donnasse quelque chose. Ainsy se passa cette visite, et une autre que je fis depuis.

As for me, I received that day the greater part of the welcome;
for, as I was unarmed, the most honorable of them, turning
their backs upon the soldiers, approached me with a thousand
demonstrations of friendship. They led me to the largest wigwam of
all; [68] it contained fully eighty people. When they had taken
their places, I fell upon my knees and repeated my _Pater_, _Ave_,
_Credo_, and some orisons; then pausing, my hosts, as if they had
understood me perfectly, applauded after their fashion, crying _Ho!
ho! ho!_ I gave them some crosses and pictures, explaining them as
well as I could. They very willingly kissed them, made the sign
of the Cross, and each one in his turn endeavored to present his
children to me, so that I would bless them and give them something.
Thus passed that visit, and another that I have since made.

Or Meteourmite avoit respondu à Monsieur de Biancourt, que pour le bled, ils n'en avoyent pas quantité; mais qu'ils avoyent aucunes peaux, s'il luy playsoit de troquer.

Now Meteourmite had replied to Monsieur de Biancourt that as to
the corn he did not have much, but he had some skins, if we were
pleased to trade with him.

Le matin doncques de la troque venu, je m'en allay en une isle voysine avec un garçon, pour là offrir l'hostie saincte de nostre reconciliation. Nos gens de la barque, pour n'estre surprins, soubs couleur de la troque, s'estoyent armez et barricadez, laissans place au milieu du tillac pour les Sauvages; mais en vain, car ils se jetterent tellement en foule et avec si grande avidité, qu'aussy tost ils remplirent tout le vaisseau, jà peslemeslés avec les nostres. On se mit à crier: Retire, retire-toy. Mais [69] à quel profit? Eux aussy crioyent de leur costé.

Then in the morning when the trade was to take place I went to a
neighboring island with a boy, to there offer the blessed sacrament
for our reconciliation. Our people in the barque, not to be taken
by surprise under pretext of the trade, were armed and barricaded,
leaving a place in the middle of the deck for the Savages; but in
vain, for they rushed in in such crowds and with such greediness,
that they immediately filled the whole ship, becoming all mixed up
with our own people. Some one began to cry out, "Go back, go back."
But [69] to what good? On the other hand, the savages were yelling
also.

Ce fut lors que nos gens se penserent estre veritablement prins, et jà tout n'estoit que clameur et tumulte. Monsieur de Biancourt a souvent dit et redit, qu'il eut maintes fois le bras levé et la bouche ouverte pour en frappant le premier crier, "Tue, tue;" mais que cette seule consideration, ne sçay comment, le retinst, que j'estois dehors, et par consequent que si l'on en venoit aux mains, j'estois perdu. Dieu se servit de cette sienne bonne volonté, non seulement pour ma sauveté, mais autant pour celle de tout l'esquipage. Car, comme tous recognoissent bien à cette heure, si la folie eust esté faicte, jamais aucun n'en fust eschappé, et les Françoys eussent esté descriés pour jamays en toute la coste.

Then our people were sure they were captured, and there was nothing
but cries and confusion. Monsieur de Biancourt has often said and
said again, that several times he had raised his arm and opened his
mouth to strike the first blow and to cry out, "Kill, kill;" but
that somehow the one consideration that restrained him was that I
was outside, and if they came to blows I was lost. God rewarded him
for his good-will by saving not only me but also the whole crew.
For, as all readily acknowledge at this hour, if any foolish act
had been committed none of them would ever have escaped, and the
French would have been condemned forever all along the coast.

Dieu voulut que Meteourmite et quelques autres capitaines apprehenderent le danger, et ainsy firent retirer leurs gens. Le soir venu, et jà tous estans retirés, Meteourmite manda aucuns des siens pour excuser l'insolence du matin, protestant que tout le desordre estoit venu non de soy, ains des Armouchiquois; que mesmes ils nous avoyent desrobé une hasche et une gamelle (c'est une grande escuelle de bois), lequel meuble il nous renvoyoit; que ce larcin lui avoit tant despleu qu'aussitost aprés l'avoir descouvert, il avoit congedié les Armouchiquois; que pour luy, il avoit bon cœur, et sçavoit bien que [70] nous ne tuions ni ne battions point les Sauvages de par deçà, ains les recevions à nostre table, leur faisions souvent tabagie, et leur apportions plusieurs bonnes choses de France, pour lesquelles vertus ils nous aymoient. Ces gens, croy-je, sont les plus grands harangueurs de toute la terre; ils ne font rien sans cela.

God willed that Meteourmite and some other captains should
apprehend the danger, and so cause their people to withdraw. When
evening came and all had retired, Meteourmite sent some of his men
to excuse the misconduct of the morning, protesting that all the
disorder had originated not with him, but with the Armouchiquois;
that they had even stolen a hatchet and a platter (a great wooden
dish), which articles he herewith returned; that this theft had
so displeased him that immediately after discovering it he had
sent the Armouchiquois away from him; that, for his part, he was
friendly towards us and knew very well that [70] we neither killed
nor beat the Savages of those parts, but received them at our table
and often made tabagie for them, and brought them a great many
nice things from France, for which courtesies they loved us. These
people are, I believe, the greatest speech-makers in the world;
nothing can be done without speeches.

Mais, d'autant que j'ay faict icy mention des Anglois, quelqu'un peut estre desirera de sçavoir leur adventure, laquelle nous apprismes en ce lieu. Il est doncques ainsy, que l'an 1608 les Anglois commencerent à s'habituer en l'une des embouschures de ce fleuve Kinibéqui, ainsy que nous avons dict cy devant. Ils avoyent lors un conducteur fort honneste homme, et se comportoit fort bien avec les naturels du païs. On dit neantmoins que les Armouchiquois se craignirent de tels voysins, et à cette cause firent mourir ce capitaine que j'ay dit. Ces gens ont ce mestier en usage, de tuer par magie. Or la seconde année 1609 les Anglois, soubs un autre capitaine, changerent de façon. Ils repoussoient les Sauvages sans aucun honneur; ils les battoyent, excedoyent et mastinoyent sans beaucoup de retenue: partant ces pauvres malmenés, impatiens du present, et augurants encores pis l'advenir, prindrent resolution, comme l'on dict, de tuer le louveteau avant qu'il eust des dents et griffes plus fortes. La commodité leur en fust un jour, que [71] trois chaloupes s'en estoyent allées à l'escart en pescherie. Mes conjurez les suyvoient à la piste, et s'approchans avec beau semblant d'amitié (car ainsy font ils le plus de caresses où plus y a de trahison), ils entrent dedans, et au signal donné, chacun choysit son homme et le tua à coups de cousteau. Ainsy furent despeschez onze Angloys. Les autres intimidés abandonnerent leur entreprise cette mesme année, et ne l'ont point poursuyvie depuis, se contentans de venir l'esté en pescherie en cette isle d'Emetenic, que nous avons dit estre à 8 lieuës de leur fort encommencé.

But as I have spoken here of the English, some one perhaps will
wish to hear about their adventure, which was related to us in
this place. So here it is: In 1608 the English began to settle at
one of the mouths of this Kinibéqui river, as we have said before.
They had then as leader a very honest man, who got along remarkably
well with the natives of the country. They say, however, that the
Armouchiquois were afraid of such neighbors, and so put the captain
to death, as I have said. These people make a practice of killing
by magic. But the second year, 1609, the English, under another
captain, changed their tactics. They drove the Savages away without
ceremony; they beat, maltreated and misused them outrageously and
without restraint; consequently these poor, abused people, anxious
about the present, and dreading still greater evils in the future,
determined, as the saying is, to kill the whelp ere its teeth
and claws became stronger.[5] The opportunity came one day when
[71] three boat-loads of them went away off to the fisheries. My
conspirators followed in their boat, and approaching with a great
show of friendliness (for they always make the greatest show of
affection when they are the most treacherous), they go among them,
and at a given signal each one seizes his man and stabs him to
death. Thus were eleven Englishmen dispatched. The others were
intimidated and abandoned their enterprise the same year; they
have not resumed it since, being satisfied to come in the summer
to fish, at this island of Emetenic, which we have said was eight
leagues from the fort they had begun building.

A cette cause doncques, l'excès commis en la personne du capitaine Platrier par lesdicts Angloys ayant esté perpetré en cette isle d'Emetenic, Monsieur de Biancourt se delibera de l'aller recognoistre, et y laisser quelque monument de revindication. Ce qu'il fit dressant sur le havre une fort belle croix, avec les armes de France. Aucuns de ses gens luy conseilloyent qu'il bruslast les chaloupes qu'il y trouva; mais, comme il est doux et humain, il ne le voulut point, voyant que c'estoyent vaisseaux non de soldats, ains de pescheurs.

So, for this reason, the outrage to which captain Platrier was
subjected by these English having been committed upon this island
of Emetenic, Monsieur de Biancourt decided to go and reconnoitre
it, and to leave there some memento in assertion of his rights.
This he did, erecting at the harbor a beautiful cross bearing the
arms of France. Some of his crew advised him to burn the boats
which he found there; but as he is kind and humane he would not do
it, seeing they were fishermen's boats and not men-of-war.

De là, d'autant que la saison nous pressoit, estant jà le 6 novembre, nous tournasmes nos voiles pour retourner à Port-Royal, passant à Pentegoët, ainsy que nous avons promis aux Sauvages.

Thence, as the season was advancing, it being already the 6th of
November, we turned our ships towards Port Royal, stopping at
Pentegoët, as we had promised the Savages.

[72] Pentegoët est une fort belle riviere, et peut estre comparée à la Garonne de France. Elle se descharge dans le Golfe françois (baie de Fundy) et a plusieurs isles et roches à l'endroit de son embouschure; de maniere que si on ne monte fort avant, on estime que ce soit quelque grand sein ou baye de mer, là où on commence manifestement à recognoistre le lict et cours de riviere. Elle a son large d'environ 3 lieuës à 44 et demy degré de l'Equateur. On ne peut deviner quelle est la Norembegue des anciens, si ce n'est celle cy: car autrement et les autres et moy, nous enquestans de ce mot et lieu, n'en avons jamays peu rien apprendre.

[72] The Pentegoët is a very beautiful river, and may be compared
to the Garonne in France. It flows into french Bay [the bay of
Fundy] and has many islands and rocks at its mouth; so that if you
do not go some distance up, you will take it for a great bay or arm
of the sea, until you begin to see plainly the bed and course of
a river. It is about three leagues wide and is forty-four and one
half degrees from the Equator. We cannot imagine what the Norembega
of our forefathers was, if it were not this river; for elsewhere
both the others and I myself have made inquiries about this place,
and have never been able to learn anything concerning it.

Nous doncques, ayans advancé dans le courant de cette riviere trois lieuës ou plus, rencontrasmes un autre beau fleuve appellé Chiboctous, qui du nord-est vient se jeter dans ce grand Pentegoët.

When we had advanced three leagues or more into the current of the
river we encountered another beautiful river called Chiboctous,
which comes from the northeast to discharge its waters into the
great Pentegoët.

Sur le confluant des deux rivieres, y avoit la plus belle assemblée des Sauvages que j'aye point encore veue. Ils estoyent 80 canots et une chaloupe, 18 cabanes et bien environ 300 ames. Le plus apparent Sagamo s'appelloit Betsabés, homme discret et fort moderé; et, sans mentir, on recognoist souvent en ces Sauvages des vertus naturelles et politiques qui font rougir quiconque n'est eshonté, lorsqu'en comparaison ils regardent une bonne partie des Françoys qui viennent en ces quartiers.

At the confluence of these two rivers there was the finest
assemblage of Savages that I have yet seen. There were 80 canoes
and a boat, 18 wigwams and about 300 people[6]. The most prominent
Sagamore was called Betsabés, a man of great discretion and
prudence; and I confess we often see in these Savages natural and
graceful qualities which will make anyone but a shameless person
blush, when they compare them to the greater part of the French who
come over here.

[73] Aprés qu'ils nous eurent recogneus, ils demenerent grande joye le soir à leur accoustumée, par danses, chansons et harangues. Et nous, bien ayses d'estre en païs d'asseurance; car entre les Etechemins, tels que sont ceux cy, et les Souriquois, tels que sont ceux de Port-Royal, nous ne nous tenons sur nos gardes non plus qu'entre nos propres domestiques, et Dieu mercy nous ne nous en sommes pas encores mal trouvez.

[73] When they had recognized us they showed their great joy
during the evening by their usual demonstrations; dancing, singing
and making speeches. And as for us, we were very glad to be in a
country of safety; for among the Etechemins, as these are, and the
Souriquois, as are those of Port Royal, we are no more obliged to
be on our guard than among our own servants, and, thank God, we
have never yet been deceived in them.

Le jour suyvant, j'allay visiter les Sauvages, et y fis à mon accoustumé, ainsy qu j'ay dict de Kinibéqui. Cela y fut de plus, qu'eux m'ayans dict y avoir quelques malades, je les allay visiter, et comme prestre, ainsy qu'est porté dans le Rituaire, recitay sur eux les sainct Evangile et Oraisons, donnant à un chacun une croix pour se la pendre au col.

The next day I went to visit the Savages, and followed my usual
custom, which I have described in speaking of Kinibéqui. But there
was more to be done here, as they told me they had some sick; I
went to visit them; and as priest, it being thus ordained in the
Ritual, I recited over them the holy Gospel and Orisons, giving to
each one a cross to wear around the neck.

Entre les autres j'en trouvay un à leur mode estendu auprés du feu, les yeux et visage fort estonnés, suant à grosse goutte de la seule teste, qui à peine pouvoit parler, en un grand acces. Il me dirent qu'il estoit malade dés quatre mois, et que comme il apparoissoit, il ne la feroit pas longue. Or ne sçay-je quelle estoit sa maladie; si elle venoit seulement par intervalles, ou non, je n'en sçay rien: tant y a que le 2. jour d'aprés, je le vis dans nostre barque sain et gaillard, ayant sa croix pendue au col, et me fit recognoissance d'un fort bon visage, [74] me prenant par la main. Je n'eus moyen de luy parler, d'autant que lors on faisoit la troque, et à cette cause le tillac estoit tout remply des gens, et tous les truchemens empeschez. De vray je fus fort ayse que la bonté de Dieu commençoit à faire sentir à ces pauvres et abandonnées nations n'y avoir que tout bien et que toute prosperité au signe de la saincte et salutaire Croix.

Among others I found one stretched out, after their fashion, before
the fire, wonder expressed in his eyes and face, great drops
standing out upon his forehead, scarcely able to speak, so severe
was the attack. They told me that he had been sick for four months
and, as it appeared, he could not last long. Now I do not know what
his malady was; whether it only came intermittently or not I do not
know; at all events, the second day after that I saw him in our
barque, well and happy, with his cross around his neck. He showed
his gratitude to me by a cheerful smile [74] and by taking my hand.
I had no means of speaking to him, as the trading was then going
on, and for this reason the deck was full of people and all the
interpreters were busy. Truly I was very glad that the goodness of
God was beginning to make these poor and abandoned people feel that
in the sign of the holy and salutary Cross there was every good and
every blessing.

Enfin, pour ne redire souvent le mesme, et en cet endroit et en tous les autres où nous avons pû converser avec ces pauvres gentils, nous avons tasché de leur imprimer quelques premieres conceptions de la grandeur et verité du Christianisme, autant que les moyens s'en addonnoyent. Et pour le sommaire en un bloc, celuy a esté le fruict du voyage: nous avons commencé de cognoistre et estre cogneus; nous avons prins possession au nom de l'Eglise de Dieu de ces regions icy, y asseants le throsne royal de nostre Sauveur et Monarque Iesus Christ, son sainct autel; les Sauvages nous ont veu prier, celebrer, prescher par nos discours, les images et croix, la façon de vivre et choses semblables, (ils) ont receu les premieres apprehensions et semences de nostre saincte foy, lesquelles s'esclorront et germeront abondamment, s'il plaist à Dieu, quelque jour, y survenant un plus long est meilleur cultivage.

Finally, not to continue repeating the same story, both in this
place and in all others, where we have been able to talk with these
poor gentiles, we have attempted to impress upon them some of the
simplest conceptions of the grandeur and truth of Christianity, in
so far as our means would permit. And to sum it up in a word, this
has been the result of our journey. We have begun to know and to
be known, we have taken possession of these regions in the name of
the Church of God, establishing here the royal throne of our Savior
and King, Jesus Christ, his holy altar; the Savages have seen us
pray, celebrate the mass, and preach; through our conversations,
pictures, and crosses, our way of living, and other similar things,
they have received the first faint ideas and germs of our holy
faith, which will some day take root and grow abundantly, please
God, if it is followed by a longer and better cultivation.

[75] De vray aussi, tel est quasi le principal fruict que nous faisions pour encores icy mesmes à Port-Royal, jusques à ce que nous ayons apris le langage. Cependant cela nous console de veoir ces petits Sauvageois, encores que non chrestiens, porter neantmoins volontiers, quand ils se trouvent icy, les cierges, les clochettes, l'eau benite et autre chose, marchans en bel ordre aux processions et enterremens que l'on faict. Ainsy s'accoustument-ils à estre chrestiens, pour en son temps le bien estre.

[75] And indeed such is about all we are accomplishing, even here
at Port Royal, until we have learned the language. However, it
comforts us to see these little Savages, though not yet christians,
yet willingly, when they are here, carrying the candles, bells,
holy water and other things, marching in good order in the
processions and funerals which occur here. Thus they become
accustomed to act as christians, to become so in reality in his
time.

Il ne seroit besoin sinon que fussions meilleurs ouvriers de Nostre Seigneur, et n'empeschassions pas tant de graces d'iceluy sur nous et autruy, par tant de péchés et indignité. Quant à moy certes, j'ay grande occasion d'en battre bien rudement ma poictrine, et tous ceux qui ont le zele de charité en debvroyent bien estre touchés au cœur. Nostre Seigneur, par sa saincte misericorde et par les prieres de sa glorieuse mere et de toute son Eglise celeste et militante, en veuille estre fleschy à compassion!

No need is felt except that we ought to be better workers for Our
Lord, and ought not to divert from ourselves and others so many of
his blessings by our many sins and great unworthiness. As for me,
truly I have good reason to severely reproach myself; and all those
who are imbued with earnest charity ought to be deeply touched in
their hearts. May Our Lord, by his sacred mercy, and by the prayers
of his glorious mother and of all his Church; both heavenly and
militant, be moved to compassion!

Particulierement je supplie Vostre Reverence et tous nos RR. PP. et FF. de vouloir se ressouvenir, en vos meilleures devotions, et de nous, et de ces pauvres ames, esclaves miserablement soubs la tyrannie de Satan. Qu'il plaise à ce bening Sauveur [76] du monde, la grace duquel personne ne previent et de qui les liberalités sont tousjours par dessus nos merites, qui luy plaise, dy-je, regarder enfin d'un œil pitoyable ces pauvres nations, et les retirer tost dans sa famille, en l'heureuse franchise des fortunés enfans de Dieu. Ainsy soit-il.

Particularly I beg Your Reverence and all our Reverend Fathers and
Brothers to be pleased to remember in your most earnest devotions
both us and these poor souls, miserable slaves under the tyranny of
Satan. May it please this benign Savior [76] of the world, whose
grace is denied to no one, and whose bounty is ever beyond our
merits, may it please him, I say, to look down with a pitying eye
upon these poor tribes, and to gather them soon into his family, in
the happy freedom of the favored children of God. Amen!

De Port-Royal, ce dernier de Ianvier 1612.

Cependant que j'escrivois ces lettres, le navire qu'on a envoyé pour nostre secours, est Dieu mercy arrivé sain et sauf, et dans iceluy nostre Frere Gilbert du Thet. Celuy pourra sçavoir l'aise qu'en avons receu et recevons, qui aura cogneu les dangers et necessités où nous estions. Dieu soit beny. Amen.

De V. R. filz et serviteur
bien humble en Nostre Seigneur.

PIERRE BIARD.

NOTES:

[I.] Vieux mot employé pour signifier exténué de travaux.

From Port Royal, this last day of January, 1612.

While I was writing these letters, the ship which was sent to our
assistance has, thank God, arrived safe and sound, and in it our
Brother Gilbert du Thet. He, who knows the dangers and necessities
we were in, will appreciate the joy we felt and that we feel at its
arrival. God be praised. Amen.

Of Your Reverence, the son and very
humble servant in Our Lord.

PIERRE BIARD.

FOOTNOTES:

[II.] An old word used to signify weakened by hard
labor.--[Carayon.]

REDUCED FACSIMILE OF GENERAL MAP, DRAWN BY CHAMPLAIN IN 1612, FROM _Les Voyages du Sieur de Champlain_ (PARIS, 1613).]