Chapter XIII (7)

My very humble greetings, in him who is the salvation of all men.
I do not know whether I am becoming savage, by associating every
day with the savages; but I do know well that it is not so much
the contact with their barbarism as the respect I owe to Your
Eminence, which has prevented me until now from giving myself the
honor of writing to you. Now I fear that this reserve makes me seem
ungrateful, especially as it is hard to remain from day to day in a
state of wonder at your great deeds and benefactions, and not allow
the tongue to give some evidence of the sentiments of the heart.
All Europe, yes, all the old world regards you with admiration. The
Church cherishes and honors you as one of its greatest princes,
full of joy at seeing the arrogance of its enemies crushed by your
government. All France owes her recovery to you, who dissipated
the poison which was creeping to her heart. Alas, what misfortunes
would have befallen her in these past years, if this poison had
retained its strength in the midst of the State![16] The friends
and allies of the most noble crown in the universe have not words
enough to acknowledge your kind deeds, and its enemies no longer
have courage in your presence. You know when to make both peace and
war, as you possess equally goodness and Justice. The land is
too small for your efforts. The seas acknowledge your power, for
it is you who have joined the New France to the old; and all these
peoples, who do not yet know the true God, begin to acknowledge
and admire your authority, and to enjoy the sweet fruits of your
benevolence. I contemplate all this with astonishment, but I am
charmed when I see how your mind, without leaving the care of great
affairs, takes so kind and deep an interest and fondness for a
small number of people lodged at the ends of the earth. I mean the
religious of our society, whom you honor with special affection
in these distant countries. I could not read without wondering
at your goodness the recommendation which I still keep, signed
by your own hand,--in which, taking us under your protection,
you commanded those who, in accordance with your orders, came to
take the country from the hands of the English, to accord us good
treatment under penalty of answering for it in their own persons.
It would have taken a heart of bronze not to feel emotion at the
sight of this recommendation,[17] which was brought to us in New
France by your authority, and which largely dispelled our sadness
in seeing this country in such a deplorable state, after so long a
time as our French had been in possession of it. But its condition
goes on changing every day since you have deigned to honor it with
your interest. These Gentlemen of the New Company have done more
good here in one year than those who preceded did in all their
lives. Families are beginning to multiply, and these already urge
us to open a school for the education of their children, which we
will begin soon, God helping us. I fear but one misfortune,--that
these Gentlemen, who have told no untruth about their great
expenses, which are evident in the fine outfits they put to sea,
may altogether or partly lose the great courage they now display,
if unfortunately their trade in peltries should not always succeed.
Monseigneur, you are all-powerful in this matter, as in many
others; a single glance of your eyes can protect, animate, and help
them, and indeed all these countries, from which France can one
day derive great benefits. It is well known, both from experience
and from reading historians and geographers, that every year a
very great number of people leave France, and cast themselves,
some here, some there, among foreigners, because they have no
employment in their own country. I have been told, and have heard
it only with great regret, that a large part of the artisans in
Spain are Frenchmen. How then! must we give men to our enemies to
make war upon us, when we have here so many lands, so beautiful and
good, where colonies can be introduced which will be loyal to His
Majesty and to Your Eminence? The son of a french artisan born in
Spain is a Spaniard; but, if he is born in New France, he will be
a Frenchman. It all lies in employing strong men to cut down and
clear the woods, so that the land may be distributed among families
which are here, or will be brought over here. The Gentlemen of
the Company are doing wonders in this regard; but the outlay is
so great that I would almost have doubts of their continuing in
the work, were they not supported by Your Eminence. Monseigneur,
you are the heart and soul of this company and of all New France.
You not only can give physical life to an infinite number of
poor french workmen, who go begging it among strangers for lack
of land; but you can give spiritual life to a great number of
barbarous people, who die every day in the slavery of Satan for
lack of preachers of the Gospel. If Your Eminence continues your
favors to us, and these Gentlemen their kindness, I hope that, as
soon as we shall know the language, you will see and taste the
fruits of a new Church, so much sweeter and more savory as these
poor barbarians are now in so pitiable a State. We have already,
in our first stammerings, sent some souls to heaven, bathed in
the blood of the lamb. These are a few fruits of a vine that you
are planting, Monseigneur, and that you bedew with your favors.
Also, it is very reasonable that this new Church should begin and
progress under the authority and assistance of a Prince of the
Church. But I am losing myself in the details of my discourse,
forgetting that, in speaking to the Great, one must imitate the
Laconian fashion, rather than the Athenian. I am following neither,
but am simply relying upon your gentleness and goodness, which
procure and grant me access to Your Eminence, and will permit me,
if you please, to bear in this new world the title and character,

Monseigneur,

Of Your very humble,
very obedient, and greatly
obliged servant in
our Lord,
Paul Lejeune, of the
Society of Jesus.

KEBEK, NEW FRANCE, the 1st Day of August, 1635.

XXV

LE JEUNE'S RELATION, 1635

PARIS: SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, 1636

SOURCE: Title-page and text reprinted from the copy of the first issue (H. 63), in Lenox Library.

Chaps. i.-ii. are given in the present volume; the remainder of the document will appear in Volume VIII.

RELATION
DE CE QVI SEST PASSÉ
EN LA
NOVVELLE FRANCE
+EN L'ANNÉE+ 1635.

Enuoyée au
+R. PERE PROVINCIAL+
de la Compagnie de +IESVS+
en la Prouince de France.

_Par le P. Paul le Ieune de la mesme Compagnie,
Superieur de la residence de Kebec._

A PARIS.

Chez +SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY+, Imprimeur
ordinaire du Roy, ruë sainct Iacques,
aux Cicognes,

M. DC. XXXVI.

_AVEC PRIVILEGE DV ROI._

RELATION
OF WHAT OCCURRED
IN
NEW FRANCE
IN THE YEAR 1635.

Sent to the
REVEREND FATHER PROVINCIAL
of the Society of +JESUS+
in the Province of France.

_By Father Paul le Jeune of the same Society,
Superior of the residence of Quebec._

PARIS.

+SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY+, Printer in ordinary
to the King, ruë sainct Jacques,
at the Sign of the Storks.

M. DC. XXXVI.

_BY ROYAL LICENSE._

[iii] Table des Chapitres contenus en ce liure.

RELATION _de ce qui s'est passé en la Nouuelle France, en l'année
1635._ Pag. 1

_De l'estat & l'employ de nostre Compagnie_ en la _Nouuelle France_,
Ch I. 9

_De la conuersion & de la mort de quelques Sauuages_, Chap. II. 21

_Que c'est vn bien pour l'vn & l'autre France, d'enuoyer icy des
Colonies_, Chap. III. 51

_Ramas de diuerses choses dressé en forme de Iournal._ Chap. IV. 60

Relation de ce qui s'est passé aux Hurons en l'année 1635.
_Enuoyée à Kebec au P. le Ieune, par le P. Brebeuf._ 113

[iiii] Relation de quelques particularitez du lieu & des Habitans de
l'Isle du Cap Breton.
_Enuoyée par le P. Iulien Perrault de la Compagnie de IESVS, à son
Prouincial en France 1634. & 35._ 207

Diuers Sentimens & aduis des Peres qui sont en la Nouuelle France.
_TireZ de leurs dernieres lettres de 1635._ 220

[iii] Table of Chapters contained in this book.

RELATION _of what occurred in New France in the year 1635._ Pag. 1

_Of the condition and occupations of our Society in New France._
Ch. I. 9

_Of the conversion and of the death of some Savages._ Chap. II. 21

_How it is a benefit to both old and new France, to send Colonies
here._ Chap. III. 51

_A collection of various matters prepared in the form of a
Journal._ Chap. IV. 60

Relation of what occurred among the Hurons in the year 1635.
_Sent to Kebec to Father le Jeune by Father Brebeuf._ 113

[iiii] Relation of certain details regarding the Island of Cape
Breton and its Inhabitants.
_Sent by Father Julien Perrault of the Society of JESUS, to his
Provincial in France, in 1634 & 35._ 207

Various sentiments and opinions of the Fathers who are in New
France.
_Taken from their last letters of 1635._ 220

[1] Relation de ce qui s'est passé en la Novvelle France, en l'année 1635.

MON R. PERE,

Dieu soit beny pour vn iamais. C'est à ce coup que la Nouuelle Frãce se va ressentir des benedictions de l'ancienne, & que l'équité triomphant de l'iniustice, fera que ces contrées cesseront d'estre ce qu'elles ont esté depuis tant de siecles; vne forest sans limites; la demeure de la [2] barbarie; le pays de l'infidelité. Nous commençons à voir l'ouuerture de quelques campagnes, par les défrichements qu'on fait en diuers endroits; Les familles qui passent chaque année, changent la barbarie des Sauuages en la courtoisie naturelle aux François; & le petit aduancement que nous faisons par nos begayements, nous fait coniecturer que la foy bannira l'infidelité de son Empire. Bref, i'espere qu'on verra vn iour ces paroles accomplies dans nos grands deserts, _Multi filij desertæ, magis quàm eius quæ habet virum_. Il est bien conuenable que sous le Regne d'vn Roy si sainct, la vertu entre dans l'vne des grandes Seigneuries de sa Couronne: Que sous la faueur & la conduite d'vn Prince de l'Eglise, on voye naistre vne nouuelle Eglise, _quæ extendet palmites suos vsque ad mare, & vsque ad flumen_ [3] _propagines eius_; qui étendra ses pampres iusques à la mer, & prouignera ses seps du long des riues du premier de tous les fleuues. Mille raisons nous donnent ces pensées, & nous font entrer dans ces attentes. Cette entreprise est appuyée de personnes de merite & de condition, dont la vertu regardée des yeux de toute la France, reçoit vne approbation generale, & vn applaudissement mesme de la bouche de nostre grand Roy. Le rebut qu'on a fait de ceux, qui ayans succé le bien qu'on peut recueillir en ces contrées, les ont laissées sans peuplades & sans culture, n'ayans pas en tant d'années qu'ils en ont iouy, fait défricher vn seul arpent de terre: Les grãdes dépenses que font Messieurs de la Compagnie de la Nouuelle France, soit sur le pays, soit en leurs équipages; l'affection que nous [4] voyons en plusieurs personnes de fauoriser ce dessein, les vns de leurs moyens, les autres par leurs propres trauaux, nous font conclure que Dieu conduit cét affaire.

[1] Relation of what occurred in New France, in the year 1635.

MY REVEREND FATHER,

May God be forever blessed. Now, at last, New France is about
to experience the blessings of the mother country; and right,
triumphing over injustice, will cause these countries to cease
being what they have been for so many centuries,--boundless
forests, the abode of [2] barbarism, and the land of infidelity.
We begin to see some open country, through the clearings that have
been made in different places. The families who come over every
year are beginning to change the barbarism of the Savages into the
courtesy natural to the French; and the slight progress we are
making, through our stammerings, leads us to conjecture that the
faith will banish infidelity from its Empire. In short, I hope to
see, some day, these words fulfilled in our great deserts: _Multi
filii desertæ, magis quàm eius quæ habet virum._ It is, indeed,
proper that, in the Reign of so saintly a King, virtue should enter
one of the great Seigniories of his Crown; that, under the favor
and leadership of a Prince of the Church, we should see a new
Church arise, _quæ extendet palmites suos usque ad mare, et usque
ad flumen_ [3] _propagines eius_, which shall extend its branches
even to the sea, and shall propagate itself along the shores of
the chief of all rivers. A thousand considerations suggest these
thoughts, and arouse in us these expectations. This enterprise is
supported by persons of merit and rank, whose integrity, viewed by
the eyes of all France, receives general approbation and praise,
even from the lips of our great King. The exclusion of those
who, having drained off the wealth that can be gathered in this
country, left it without settlers and without cultivation,--not
having, in all the years they enjoyed it, cleared a single arpent
of land; the great sums that the Gentlemen of the Company of
New France are expending, either upon the country or upon their
establishments;[18] the disposition we [4] see in many persons to
favor this project, some by their means, others by their personal
labors: [all these considerations] lead us to conclude that God is
conducting this enterprise.

Ie ne diray rien du zele de ceux, dont l'ardeur nous échaufe & confond tout ensemble, dont les secours nous réiouyssent & nous renforcent. Ie ne parleray non plus des desirs brulans d'vn tres-grand nombre de nos Peres, qui trouuent l'air de la Nouuelle France vn air du Ciel, puis qu'on y peut souffrir pour le Ciel, & qu'on y peut ayder les ames à trouuer le Ciel. Ie passe sous silence quantité d'autres Religieux, qui ont les mesmes sentiments, & les mesmes volontez. Mais ce qui m'étonne, c'est qu'vn grand nombre de filles Religieuses, consacrées à nostre Seigneur, veulent estre de la partie; surmontant la crainte naturelle [5] à leur sexe, pour venir secourir les pauures filles, & les pauures femmes des Sauuages. Il y en a tant qui nous écriuent, & de tant de Monasteres, & de diuers Ordres tres-reformez en l'Eglise; que vous diriez que c'est à qui se mocquera la premiere des difficultez de la Mer, des mutineries de l'Ocean, & de la barbarie de ces contrées. On me mande que la Superieure d'vne Maison tres-reglée, sollicitée de donner de ses Filles pour fonder vn Conuent de son Ordre en quelque ville de France, a respondu qu'elle n'auoit point de Filles, sinon pour la Nouuelle France, & pour l'Angleterre, au cas que Dieu y fist rentrer la foy Catholique. Vne autre non moins zelée, m'ayant déduit les grandes deuotions qu'on fait en sa Maison, pour l'heureuse conuersion de ces Peuples, dit que la Relation [6] de l'an passé, capable d'étonner vn courage assez fort, non seulement n'a point ébranlé le cœur de ses Filles, ains au contraire les a tellement animées, que treize d'entre elles ont signé de leur propre main vn vœu, qu'elles ont fait à Dieu de passer en la Nouuelle France, pour y exercer les fonctions de leur Institut, s'il plaist à leurs Superieurs de leur permettre. I'ay receu, veu, & leu ce vœu auec étonnement. I'en sçay vne autre, qui apres auoir étably plusieurs Monasteres de son Ordre en France, tiendroit à vne grande faueur de Dieu, si elle venoit finir ses iours dans vne petite maisonnette, dediée au seruice des petites Sauuages, qui vont errantes parmy ces grands bois. A tout cela ie ne dis rien autre chose, sinon que _Digitus Dei est hîc_, que la main de Dieu conduit cette entreprise.

I shall say nothing of those whose ardent zeal warms and at the
same time confounds us, whose help cheers and strengthens us.
Neither shall I say any more about the burning desire of a great
number of our Fathers, who find the air of New France the air of
Heaven, since there they can suffer for Heaven, and there can help
souls to find Heaven. I pass over in silence many other Religious,
who have the same sentiments and the same willingness. But what
surprises me is that many young Nuns, consecrated to our Lord,
wish to join us,--overcoming the fear natural [5] to their sex, in
order to come and help the poor girls and poor women among these
Savages. There are so many of these who write to us, and from
so many Convents, and from various Orders in the Church, of the
strictest discipline, that you would say that each one is first to
laugh at the hardships of the Sea, the riotous waves of the Ocean,
and the barbarism of these countries. They have written me that
the Superior of a very well-ordered House, being asked to send
some Sisters to establish a Convent of her Order in some town of
France, answered that she had no Sisters except for New France,
and for England, in case God restored the Catholic faith there.
Another one, no less zealous, having recounted the great devotions
that were performed in her House for the happy conversion of
these Tribes, said that the Relation [6] of last year, capable of
appalling the stoutest heart, not only has not disheartened these
Sisters, but on the contrary has so inspired them, that thirteen
have with their own hands signed a vow to God, to cross over into
New France, there to exercise the functions of their Order, if
their Superiors are pleased to allow them. I have received, seen,
and read this vow with astonishment. I know another one, who, after
having established several Convents of her Order in France, would
consider it a great favor of God if she could come and end her days
in a little home, dedicated to the service of the little Savage
girls who go wandering through these great forests. To all of which
I can only say that _Digitus Dei est hîc_, that the hand of God
guides this enterprise.

[7] Mais il faut que ie donne cét aduis en passant à toutes ces bonnes Filles, qu'elles se donnent bien de garde de presser leur depart, qu'elles n'ayent icy vne bonne Maison, bien bastie, & bien rentée, autrement elles seroient à charge à nos Francois, & feroient peu de choses pour ces Peuples. Les hommes se tirent bien mieux des difficultez: mais pour des Religieuses, il leur faut vne bonne Maison, quelques terres défrichées, & vn bon reuenu pour se põuuoir nourrir; & soulager la pauureté des femmes & des filles Sauuages.

[7] But I must give this advice, in passing, to all these good
Sisters,--that they be very careful not to urge their departure
until they have here a good House, well built and well endowed;
otherwise, they would be a burden to our French, and could
accomplish little for these Peoples. Men can extricate themselves
much more easily from difficulties; but, as for the Nuns, they must
have a good House, some cleared land, and a good income upon which
to live, and relieve the poverty of the wives and daughters of the
Savages.

Helas mon Dieu! si les excés, si les superfluitez de quelquez Dames de France s'employoient à cét œuure si sainct; quelle grande benediction feroient-elles fondre sur leur famille? Quelle gloire en la face des Anges, d'auoir recueilly le sang du [8] Fils de Dieu, pour l'appliquer à ces pauures infidelles? Se peut-il faire que les biens de la terre nous touchent de plus prés que la propre vie? Voila des Vierges tendres & delicates, toutes prestes à ietter leur vie au hazard sur les ondes de l'Ocean; de venir chercher de petites ames dans les rigueurs d'vn air bien plus froid que l'air de la France; de subir des trauaux qui étonnent des hommes mesmes, & on ne trouuera point quelque braue Dame qui donne vn Passeport à ces Amazones du grand Dieu, leur dotant vne Maison, pour loüer & seruir sa diuine Majesté en cét autre monde? Ie ne sçaurois me persuader que nostre Seigneur n'en dispose quelqu'vne pour ce sujet.

Alas, my God! if the waste, the superabundance of some of the
Ladies of France were employed in this so holy work, what great
blessings would it bring down upon their families! What glory in
the sight of the Angels, to have gathered the blood of the [8] Son
of God, to apply it to these poor infidels! Is it possible that
earthly possessions are of greater concern to us than life itself?
Behold these tender and delicate Virgins all ready to hazard their
lives upon the waves of the Ocean, to come seeking little souls in
the rigors of an air much colder than that of France, to endure
hardships at which even men would be appalled; and will not some
brave Lady be found who will give a Passport to these Amazons of
the great God, endowing them with a House in which to praise and
serve his divine Majesty, in this other world? I cannot persuade
myself that our Lord will not dispose some one to this act.

Mais changeons de discours, & déduisons briéuement le peu que i'ay à dire pour cette année. Ie diuiseray [9] cette Relation en quatre Chapitres seulement.

But let us change the subject, and briefly relate the little I have
to say for this year. I will divide [9] this Relation into only
four Chapters.

CHAPITRE I.

DE L'ESTAT, & DE L'EMPLOY DE NOSTRE COMPAGNIE EN LA NOUUELLE FRANCE.

NOVS auons six Residences en la Nouuelle France. La premiere, commençant par les premieres terres qu'on rencontre venant en ces pays, se nomme la Residence de Saincte Anne; elle est au Cap Breton. La seconde la Residence de Sainct Charles, à Miskou. La troisiéme, que nous allons habiter cette Automne, la Residence de Nostredame de Recouurance, à Kebec, proche du Fort. La quatriéme, la Residence de Nostredame des Anges, à vne demie lieuë de Kebec. La cinquiéme, la Residence de la Conception, aux trois Riuieres. La sixiéme, la Residence de Sainct Ioseph, [10] à Ihonatiria, aux Hurons; i'espere que nous en aurons bien-tost vne septiéme au mesme pays, mais dans vne Bourgade differente d'Ihonatiria. Or comme les Vaisseaux qui vont au Cap Breton & à Miskou, ne montent point iusques à Kebec, de là vient que nous n'auons aucune communication auec nos Peres qui sont és Residences de Saincte Anne, & de Sainct Charles, si ce n'est par la voye de France: & par consequent il ne faut point nous adresser ny lettres, ny autres choses pour leur faire tenir, ains les donner aux Vaisseaux qui vont en ces habitations de nos François. Il s'ensuit encor que ie ne puis rien dire des choses qui se passent en ces Residences, pour la distance des lieux, & le peu de commerce que nous auons auec elles. Toutes ces Residences sont entretenuës par Messieurs de la Compagnie [11] de la Nouuelle France, qui font dresser des Forteresses, & des demeures pour nos François en diuers endroits de ces contrées, excepté la Residence de Nostredame des Anges, appuyée principalement sur les liberalitez de Monsieur le Marquis de Gamache. Cette Residence a trois grands desseins pour la gloire de nostre Seigneur; Le premier, de dresser vn College pour instruire les enfans des familles qui se vont tous les iours multipliant. Le second, d'établir vn Seminaire de petits Sauuages, pour les éleuer en la foy Chrestienne. Le troisiéme, de secourir puissamment la Mission de nos Peres aux Hurons, & autres Peuples sedentaires. Pour le College, bien qu'il ne soit pas encor erigé, si est-ce que nous commencerons dés cette année à enseigner quelques enfans. Toutes choses ont leur commencement, [12] les plus doctes n'ont sceu autrefois que les premiers elements de l'Alphabet.