Chapter XXXII: i.e., xxix

THE TAKING AND BURNING OF PORT ROYAL; FATHER BIARD TWICE IN GREAT
DANGER.

CAPTAIN Argal, having destroyed sainte Croix, did not know in what
direction to sail to reach Port Royal, according to his commission,
and hesitated all the more as he [265 i.e., 267] was afraid of
being stranded upon such a dangerous coast without a guide who
was very familiar with the locality; and, judging from the recent
example of Father Biard, he did not dare expect that any Frenchman
would consent to guide him, or give him sincere advice in the
matter. For this reason, he began to look for a Savage, and by dint
of much running about, lying in ambush, inquiring, and skillful
maneuvering, he caught the Sagamore, a very experienced man, and
well acquainted with the country; under his guidance, he reached
Port Royal. Now there was certainly bad luck for the French, as
the English entered the Port by Moonlight, and dropped anchor in
sight of the settlement, at a distance of more than two leagues;
so, if the French had been on their guard, they would have had an
excellent opportunity to prepare for a fight, or to run away, for
on [266 i.e., 268] account of the tide, the English were not in
front of the settlement until ten or eleven o'clock the next day. I
do not know what they were doing. At all events, when the English
landed, they found no one in the fort, and saw shoes and clothing
all scattered about; so they were doubly pleased by this capture,
first, because contrary to all their expectations, they met no
resistance; and second, because they found a fair supply of booty,
which they were not anticipating.

Ce rencontre de butin non attendu, pensa couster la vie au P. Biard: voicy comment. Les Anglois ayant ja perdu beaucoup de temps à chercher saincte Croix: & despuis à attraper vn Sauuage, qui fust leur conducteur, le Lieutenãt Turnel estoit d'aduis de laisser le voyage de Port Royal, & s'en retourner au plustost à la Virginie, alleguant pour raisons, que le lieu [267 i.e., 269] estoit tres-dangereux, & la saison par trop auancée (car c'estoit la fin d'Octobre,) & qu'au bout de tant de peines, ils n'y auroit point de profit, parce qu'on n'y trouueroit rien, sinon misere, & la haine des François, qu'ils s'acquerroyent bien meritoirement par le bruslement qu'ils y alloyent faire, sans recompense d'aucun emolument. Le Lieutenãt Turnel auoit ouy ces raisons du P. Biard, auec lequel il prenoit souu[~e]t plaisir de deuiser, & les estimoit fort valides. Or le Capitaine Argal ayant eu le bõheur d'vne facile entrée, & despuis dans Port Royal (ainsi qu'à esté dit) vn assez bon butin, en viures, hardes, & vtensiles dans l'habitation; il reprochoit à son dit Lieutenant, son conseil, & la croyance qu'il auoit eu au Iesuite: & mesmes pour ceste cause luy faisoit moindre part de la proye. [268 i.e., 270] Le Lieutenant en estoit en grande cholere, & d'autant plus qu'on l'auoit tousiours en reputation d'homme d'esprit, & de bon conseil, de quoy il se voyoit deçeu à l'occasion comm'il pensoit, du Iesuite.

This unlooked-for capture of booty nearly cost Father Biard his
life, in this way. As the English had already lost a great deal of
time looking for sainte Croix, and afterward in finding a Savage
who might act as their guide, Lieutenant Turnel was of the opinion
that it would be better to abandon the voyage to Port Royal, and
return as soon as possible to Virginia; giving as his reasons that
the place [267 i.e., 269] was very dangerous and the season too
far advanced (for it was the end of October); that, after so much
trouble, there would be no profit in the end, because they would
find nothing there but misery and French hatred, which they would
very deservedly draw down upon them by the conflagration they were
going to kindle there, without being requited for it by any reward.
Lieutenant Turnel had heard these arguments from Father Biard, with
whom he often took pleasure in conversing, and considered them very
good. Now when Captain Argal had such an easy entry, and afterwards
at the settlement of Port Royal (as we have said) found such a
quantity of booty in food, clothes and utensils, he reproached his
Lieutenant for his advice, and for his confidence in the Jesuits:
and on that account gave him a smaller part of the plunder. [268
i.e., 270] The Lieutenant was very angry, and so much the more so,
as he had always had the reputation of being a man of intelligence
and good judgment, which he had now forfeited, as he thought, on
account of the Jesuit.

Or il y auoit vn Puritain Anglois, maistre du grand nauire plus malin que tous les autres, dissimulé neantmoins, car ils faisoit les plus beaux semblants du monde: mais les autres Anglois nous aduertissoi[~e]t de ne no^{9} point fier en luy, d'autant qu'il estoit malignement enuenimé contre nous. Cestuy-cy donc voyant son coup, persuadoit au Capitaine, & au Lieutenant, lesquels il voyoit esmeus, d'abandonner à terre le Iesuite, disant, qu'il estoit estoit indigne que les Anglois, luy donnassent des viures, puis qu'il les auoit voulu empescher d'[~e] auoir, [269 i.e., 271] & mille autres raisons qu'il alleguoit. Ie ne sçay qui secourust tant à propos le Iesuite en ce danger, que sa simplicité. Car tout de mesme, que s'il eust esté bien fauorisé, & qu'il eust peu beaucoup enuers ledit Anglois, il se mit à genoux deuãt le Capitaine par deux diuerses fois, & à deux diuerses occasions, à celle fin de le flechir à misericorde enuers les François dudit Port Royal esgarés par les bois, & pour luy persuader de leur laisser quelques viures, leur chaloupe, & quelqu'autre moyen de passer l'Hyuer. Et voyez combien differentes petitions on faisoit audit Capitaine: car au mesme temps, que le P. Biard le supplioit ainsi pour les François, vn François crioit de loin auec outrages, & iniures tres indignes à haute voix, qu'il le falloit massacrer. Or Argal (qui est d'vn coeur [270 i.e., 272] noble,) voyant ceste tant syncere affection du Iesuite, & de l'autre costé ceste tant bestiale & enragée inhumanité de ce François, laquelle ne recognoissoit ny sa propre nation, ny biens-faicts, ny Religion, ny estoit domtée par l'affliction & verges de Dieu, estima que ce luy seroit tousiours reproche, & impropere, si sans iugement, & sans auoir ouy parties, il venoit à delaisser pour vne accusation subtile, celuy à qui il auoit donné sa parole. Et par ainsi reietta tout ensemble, & la suasion de l'Anglois, & la forcenerie du François, d'autant plus appaisé enuers le Iesuiste, que plus il le voyoit attaqué sans qu'il remarquait en luy changement, ou alteration.

Now there was an English Puritan, master of the larger vessel, more
malicious than all the others, yet hypocritical, for he made the
finest pretensions in the world: but the other Englishmen advised
us not to trust him, as he was wickedly prejudiced against us.
So this man, seeing his opportunity, persuaded the Captain and
Lieutenant, who he saw were aroused, to leave the Jesuit on shore,
saying he did not deserve that the English should give him food
since he had tried to prevent them from obtaining it, [269 i.e.,
271] and offering a thousand other arguments. I know not what
rescued the Jesuit so opportunely from this danger, unless it were
his simplicity. For just as if he had been highly favored, and
had great influence with these English, he dropped upon his knees
before the Captain, two different times and upon two different
occasions, to move him to pity towards the French of Port Royal
who were wandering about through the woods, and to persuade him
to leave them some food, their boat, and other means of passing
the Winter. And see now what different requests were being made
to this Captain: for at the same time that Father Biard was thus
petitioning him in behalf of the French, a Frenchman was shouting
out from afar, with most scandalous insults and abuse, that he
ought to be slain. Now Argal (who has a noble [270 i.e., 272]
heart), seeing the so sincere affection of the Jesuit, and, on
the other hand, the so brutal and infuriated inhumanity of this
Frenchman, who remembered neither his own country, nor kindnesses,
nor Religion, nor was crushed by God's afflicting rod, considered
that it would always be a reproach and disgrace to him, if, without
trial and hearing from both sides, he should cast off, on account
of a sly and cunning accusation, him to whom he had given his word.
And so he rejected both the persuasions of the Englishman, and
the rage of the Frenchman, looking upon the Jesuit all the more
favorably as he saw that, however much he was attacked, there was
no change or deterioration in his conduct.

Or ledit Capitaine ayant enleué de Port Royal tout ce qui luy sembla commode, iusques aux [271 i.e., 273] ais, verroils, serrures, & cloux; il y mit le feu. Chose certes bien pitoyable, car dans vn'heure ou deux on vit reduit en cendres le trauail & despense de plusieurs années & personnes de merite. Et plaise à nostre Seigneur que ce mesme feu aye tellement destruit tous les pechés, qui peuuent auoir esté commis en ceste place, que iamais ils ne resuscitent plus en aucune part, ny ne prouoquent la iuste & redoutable vengeance de nostre Dieu. L'Anglois (comme i'ay dit autre part) effaçoit par tout, tous monuments, & indices de la puissance Françoise: ce qu'il n'oublia pas icy iusques à faire vser du pic, & ciseau sur vne grosse & massiue pierre, en laquelle estoyent entaillés les nõs du sieur de Monts, & autres Capitaines auec les fleurs de lys. Ce faict, il leua l'anchre pour s'en aller; mais [272 i.e., 274] il fut retenu par le mauuais temps à l'emboucheure du Port trois, ou quatre iours.

Now this Captain, having taken away from Port Royal everything
that seemed convenient to him, even to the [271 i.e., 273] boards,
bolts, locks, and nails, set the place on fire. A truly pitiable
thing, for in an hour or two the work of several worthy people,
during a number of years, was reduced to ashes. And may our Lord
grant that this same fire has so completely destroyed all sins,
which may have been committed in this place, that they may never
again arise in any other place, nor ever provoke the just and
dreadful vengeance of our God. The English (as I have stated
elsewhere) destroyed, everywhere, all monuments and evidences
of the dominion of the French; and this they did not forget to
do here, even to making use of pick and chisel upon a large and
massive stone, on which were cut the names of sieur de Monts and
other Captains, with the fleurs-de-lys. This done, they weighed
anchor to sail away, but [272 i.e., 274] bad weather detained them
three or four days at the mouth of the Harbor.

Tandis qu'il seiournoit icy à l'Anchre, vn François de ceux dudit Port demanda de parlementer: ce qui luy fut accordé. Or entre les bõs affaires, que ce beau parlementateur vint traicter, fut de dire au Capitaine Anglois, qu'il s'esmerueilloit bien fort, comment il n'auoit pieça deliuré le monde du pernicieux Iesuite, qui estoit en ses nauires, Si ce n'estoit, peut-estre que le mal-heur l'y conseruast pour reuancher les François par quelque trahison meschante, que ledit Iesuite ioüeroit à son coup, & occasion. Car c'estoit (disoit-il) vn vray, & naturel Espagnol, qui ayant commis plusieurs forfaicts en France, à cause desquels il en estoit fuitif, leur auoit encores donné beaucoup [273 i.e., 275] de scandales à Port Royal, & qu'il ne falloit aucunement douter, qu'encores ne fit-il pis aux Anglois. Argal oyant dire, que le P. Biard estoit naturel Espagnol, ne le pouuoit croire; mais on luy donna cest'accusation par escrit, & soub-signé de cinq ou six: & le pressoit-on fort à ce qu'il iettast en terre à l'abandon ledit P. Biard. Mais tant plus qu'on l'en pressoit, tant moins l'Anglois y consentoit, parce que y consentant il ne pouuoit fuir le deshonneur d'auoir manqué de foy, & de iustice; là où le gardant pour la Virginie, il s'attendoit de l'y faire mourir en acquerant loüange de fidelité à son office, & de patience à supporter. Car en communiquant au Mareschal ceste deposition des François, & adioustant par dessus comme ledit Pere n'auoit voulu monstrer l'Isle S. [274 i.e., 276] Croix, & auoit tasché de diuertir les Anglois d'aller à Port Royal; il n'auoit garde deschapper des mains du Mareschal, desquelles à peine l'auoit-on peu arracher, lors mesme, qu'on n'auoit aucune prinse sur luy. Ainsi Dieu le voulut sauuer pour lors, & encores pl^{9} merueilleusement despuis, comme vous orrez. Cependant vous remarquerez sagement iusques à quelle rage le malin esprit agite ceux, qui se vendent à luy, & combien il faut estre reserué à croire les delations & detractiõs, puis que le P. Biard auoit vescu dans Port Royal, & auoit tousiours esté notoirement recogneu pour ce qu'il est, c'est à dire bon François naturel, & qui iamais ne fut en Espagne ny luy, ny son pere, ou mere, ou aucun de ses parens. Or que ce neantmoins vn François se soit trouué si possedé par l'esprit [275 i.e., 277] sanguinaire, que pour le faire mourir il soit venu à imposturer si furieusement, & receuant le chastiment de Dieu n'en aye faict autre profit, que de se prostituer si desesperement à Sathan, & à calomnie, cela surpasse toute apprehension commune de malice, & à peine peut-on conceuoir, qu'vn homme puisse deuenir si vendu, & si desesperement asserui à peché.

While they remained anchored here, a Frenchman from among those at
the Port asked to confer with them; his request was granted. Now
among the nice things which this fine parliamentarian did, was to
say to the English Captain that he was very much surprised indeed
that he had not already rid the world of the pernicious Jesuit,
who was in one of his ships. If he were not despatched, perhaps
some ill luck might keep him there to take revenge for the French
upon the English by some wicked treason, which the Jesuit would be
guilty of, in his way and at his opportunity. For he was (said he)
a true and native Spaniard, who, having committed several crimes
in France, on account of which he was a fugitive from justice, had
also been the cause of a great deal [273 i.e., 275] of scandal
at Port Royal, and there could not be the slightest doubt that
he would do something still worse to the English. Argal, when he
heard it said that Father Biard was a native Spaniard, could not
believe it; but this charge, made in writing and signed by five
or six persons, was handed to him; and they urged him strongly to
put on shore and desert Father Biard. But the more they urged him,
the less the Englishman would yield to them, because in giving his
consent, he could not escape the dishonor of having broken faith
and failed in doing justice; whereas, if he kept him until he got
to Virginia, he could count upon having him executed there, at the
same time receiving praise for his fidelity to his word, and for
his patience in bearing with him. For when he would communicate
to the Marshal this statement of the French, and add to it that
the Father would not consent to guide them to the Island of Ste.
[274 i.e., 276] Croix, and had tried to keep the English from
going to Port Royal, there would be no danger of his escaping from
the hands of the Marshal, from which they had hardly rescued him
before, although then they had no claim upon him. Thus God willed
that he should be saved that time, and still more wonderfully since
then, as you will hear. Meanwhile, you will wisely observe to what
madness the evil spirit incites those who sell themselves to him,
and how necessary it is to be cautious in believing slanders and
detractions; for Father Biard had lived in Port Royal, and had
always been universally recognized for what he is; namely, a good,
native-born Frenchman, who had never even been in Spain, neither
he, nor his father, nor his mother, nor any of his kindred. Now
notwithstanding all this, a Frenchman was found so possessed with
the spirit of [275 i.e., 277] bloodshed, that to have him killed
he was led to commit such a monstrous act of imposition, and while
under the chastisement of God, derived no other advantage therefrom
than to sell himself so hopelessly to Satan and to calumny. This
exceeds all ordinary conceptions of wickedness, and it is difficult
to conceive how a man can be so desperately given up to and
enslaved by sin.

CHAPITRE XXXI. [i.e., xxx.]

LE DEPART DE PORT ROYAL, LES DIUERSES AUENTURES DES NAUIRES; & COMME NOUS FUSMES CONTRAINTS DE RELASCHER AUX AÇORES.

LE neufuiesme de Nouembre de ceste année 1613. les Anglois departir[~e]t de Port Royal en intention de s'aller rendre à [276 i.e., 278] leur Virginie, & y iouïr du butin l'hyuer suiuant. Or dés ce temps le Lieutenant Turnel, ne regardoit plus le P. Biard, que comme vn pendard abominable: il le detestoit encores d'auantage, quand il repensoit au passé: car par le passé, il auoit faict estat de le priser, & l'aymer pour sa naïfue simplicité, & ouuerte candeur. Mais ayant veu le tesmoignage par escrit de tant de François, qui l'asseuroyent estre naturel Espagnol, & meschant homme, il aimoit mieux croire, que le Iesuite fust menteur, que non pas tant d'autres, qui l'accusoyent. Par ainsi il haissoit d'autant plus irreconciliablement ceste si profonde & impenetrable dissimulation (comme il pensoit) d'vn Espagnol, contrefaisant le François, laquelle luy, homme reputé pour accort, & bien aduisé, n'auoit sceu descouurir [277 i.e., 279] en tant de temps; ains à laquelle il s'estoit laissé surprendre iusques à vne familiarité, & amitié grande. Telle estoit la cholere du Capitaine Turnel, lequel d'ores en auant i'appelleray absoluement Capitaine & non plus Lieutenant, parce que nous allons nous separer: escoutez comment.