Chapter XXI: i.e., xx

[193] THE BEGINNING OF THE DISPUTES BETWEEN SIEUR DE BIENCOURT AND
THE JESUITS, AND THE CAUSES THEREOF; THE ACCUSATION MADE AGAINST
GILBERT DU THET, AND HIS DEFENSE.

GREAT was the rejoicing over the relief afforded by the arrival of
this ship, on account of the severe straits to which the colonists
had been reduced, and the dread which they felt for the future. But
this joy did not last long, sieur de Biencour being ill at ease on
account of the news brought by Simon Imbert about the partnership
formed with the Marquise de Guercheville. Now the Jesuit, Gilbert
du Thet, being in the ship, although he had not meddled with
affairs, nevertheless [194] had not been so blind of one eye (as
the saying is) that he had not always kept watch with the other,
as he had been charged and commanded to do. Now in order to acquit
himself of his duty, and to uphold the right, he went to see sieur
de Biencourt; and, in the presence of Father Biard, he said to
him: That he was very much surprised that, as Simon Imbert had had
the management of the entire embarkation, nevertheless he had not
brought any list of the ship's company, nor charter party,[44] nor
invoice of what had been shipped, nor statement of where or how
the money of Madame la Marquise de Guercheville had been spent.
That he ought to have done this at least for the vindication of
his own honesty and good faith, since he had brought a great deal
of merchandise which he claimed belonged to him, and which it
would be suspected he had appropriated [195] to the detriment of
the said Lady, and of themselves. That they did not wish to accuse
him before having found him guilty; nevertheless, before admitting
his innocence, there was a great deal to investigate in the whole
matter, and especially in regard to his having sold at Dieppe wheat
which had been given him to be shipped--an act which would prove
to be a great disadvantage to the settlement, which was in need of
provisions more than of anything else. Also, that he counted seven
barrels of Sea-biscuits dispensed during the voyage, and he did not
say that of these seven, two were furnished by a certain Robert de
Roüen as his share; so, for this reason, seven barrels should not
have been charged to the company, but only five. That the sieur
was entreated to investigate the whole affair prudently, [196] and
to conduct himself always in the matter as we ought to do in all
things, with charity and dignity. Such was the simple remonstrance
that was made to him by the Jesuit; and sieur de Biencourt has
often testified since then, that this matter could not have been
called to his attention with greater delicacy than it was. But,
instead of doing what he was requested, and what he was bound to
do, he went and reported the whole affair to Simon Imbert, adding
that the Jesuit lay brother had accused him.

Or quels conseils furent prins là dessus, & quelles menées, ou pretensions, ie n'en sçay rien. Tant y a, que comme de petites exhalaisons & vapeurs, qui au commencement ne sont rien, s'esleuent d'espaisses nuees, vents furieux, & horribles tempestes qui à traict de temps s'effarouchent & [197] gastent les cãpagnes & moissons: Ainsi de ce peu de cause par l'agitation de l'esprit malin se grossit en vn tourbillon malencontreux de discorde, qui a dissipé, & rauagé tous les fruicts, & les esperances de ce premier essartem[~e]t. Car Imbert luy depeignit l'association faicte auec la Dame Marquise de de Guercheuille comm'vn moyen inuenté par les Iesuites, à fin de l'expulser hors de ses amples Seigneuries de Canada.

Now what counsels were held thereupon, and what underhand
dealings or claims, I know not. However, as from little exhalations
and vapors, which at first amount to nothing, arise dense clouds,
furious winds, and horrible tempests, which suddenly sweep over
and [197] destroy fields and harvests; so from this slight cause,
through the agitation of the evil spirit, the trouble increased
to a mischievous whirlwind of discord, which has scattered and
ravaged all the fruits and hopes of this first clearing. For Imbert
represented to him that the partnership formed with Madame la
Marquise de Guercheville was a means invented by the Jesuits to
drive him out of his broad Seigneuries of Canada.

Or les Iesuites n'estants point aises de se voir loger en si ioly predicament, par deux fois en presence du sieur de Biencourt, & de toute l'habitation conuainquirent de fausseté ledit Imbert par les tesmoins mesmes qu'il alleguoit; & en la secõde le presserent tellement qu'il fut contrainct de dire qu'il auoit esté yure quand il auoit ainsi parlé. Desquelles verités [198] & innocence, y a bons & authentiques actes, & tesmoignages faicts & rendus iuridiquem[~e]t à Dieppe par deuant le Magistrat, apres le retour du nauire.

Now the Jesuits, not pleased at seeing themselves placed in such a
pretty predicament, twice in the presence of sieur de Biencourt and
of the whole settlement, convicted the said Imbert of duplicity,
by the very same witnesses which he had put forward; and the
second time they pressed him so hard that he was compelled to say
he had been drunk when he had spoken thus. Of their truth [198]
and innocence in this, there are good and authentic records and
proofs, made and rendered according to law at Dieppe, before the
Magistrate, after the return of the ship.

CHAPITRE XXIII. [i.e., xxi.]

VN VOYAGE DU PERE ENEMOND MASSÉ & VN AUTRE DU P. BIARD.

LA reconciliation ayant esté faicte du depuis, & toutes choses pacifiées, les Iesuites se r'adonnans à l'estude, & apprentissage du langage Sauuaginois, estimerent vn bon moyen de s'y cõtraindre, & d'apprendre mieux les vs, façons, & vie du pays, s'ils alloyent, & demeuroyent auec les naturels, errants, & courants auec eux par monts & vallées; & viuants à leur mode quant au ciuil, [199] & corporel. Ils s'offrirent à Louys Membertou, pour en ceste façon demeurer auec luy, s'il luy plaisoit l'agréer: ce qu'il accepta fort volontiers. Le P. Enemond Massé, comm'il est courageux, voulut que cest'entreprinse fust pour luy; aussi fut-il iugé plus propre à cela par la cõmune voix de ceux de l'habitation, à cause de son industrie, & engin practic, idoine de trouuer tous remedes à tous inconueniens. Il s'en alla dõc auec Louys Membertou, & sa famille, au delà de la Baye Françoise à la riuiere S. Iean, & commença son nouitiat de ceste vie Nomadique, bien aspre de vray, & de fort essay.