r^.tj^ij**^
^^ir
I -t f '«_•
m.
f T r f » t *^/r^r*^r*r f 1 1 f l^lT* « 'J^iMy
ill t 1 * *J***.*«*tf
« i i • t i »i*-*. i Tt'i * t 1 "O t 1
111 «.« *A»,
J
1 t f
HI
o= |
<N |
</5 |
<D |
1 |
— in |
UJ < |
— O) |
^^ |
|
o |
^ |
5 — |
.^<o |
(n— — |
— o |
" |
|
> |
— (O |
— r^ |
IU =
3
=co
f<^
5 M K
THE JESUIT RELATIONS
AND
ALLIED DOCUMENTS
VOL. XL
The edition consists of sev- en hundred and fifty sets all numbered
Isaac Jogues, S.J.
[Statue for St. Joseph's Seminary Hall, Dunwoodie, N. V. -Joseph Sibbel, sculptor.]
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents
Travels and Explorations
OF THE Jesuit Missionaries
IN New France
1610-1791
THE ORIGINAL FRENCH, LATIN, AND ITAL- IAN TEXTS, WITH ENGLISH TRANSLA- TIONS AND NOTES ; ILLUSTRATED BY PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND FACSIMILES
EDITED BY
REUBEN GOLD THWAITES
Secretary of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin
Vol. XL HuRONs, LOWER Canada, Iroquois: 1653
CLEVELAND: tlbe 3Burtows JBtotbcrs Company, publishers, mdcccxcix
Copyright, 1898
BY
The Burrows Brothers Co
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
The Imperial Press, Cleveland
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor
Translators .
Assistant Editor Bibliographical Adviser
Reuben Gold Thwaites FiNLOW Alexander Percy Favor Bicknell Crawford Lindsay William Price Emma Helen Blair Victor Hugo Paltsits
CONTENTS OF VOL. XL
Preface to Volume XL Documents: —
LXXXIII. Breve Relatione d' alcvne missioni de' PP. della Compagnia di Giesu nella Nuoua Francia. [Remain- der of Part IIL, completing the document.] Francesco Gioseppe Bressani; Macerata, Italy, July 19. 1653 . . . .
LXXXIV. Relation de ce qvi s'est pass6 en la ... . Novvelle France, de- puis I'Ete de I'Ann^e 1652. iufques h. I'Et^ de I'Ann^e 1653. Francois le Mercier; Quebec, Oc- tober 29, 1653
Bibliographical Data: Volume XL .
Notes ......
13
67
253
255
ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOL XL
II.
Facsimile of photograph, statue of Isaac
Jogues, S.J. . . . Frontispiece
Photographic facsimile of title-page, Re- lation Q>i 1652-53 . . -70
PREFACE TO VOL XL
Following is a synopsis of the documents con- tained in the present volume :
LXXXIII, Bressani's Breve Relatione, begun in Vol. XXXVIII., and continuing through Vol. XXXIX., is here completed. He relates — abridg- ing from the Relation of 1650 — the martyrdoms of the Huron missionaries, Gamier and Chabanel, and gives sketches of their lives. The final chapter of this document recounts ' ' the desolation of the Huron country, and removal of the Huron mission to Ke- bek." This also is largely compiled from Rague- neau's Relation of 1650. Bressani concludes with an expression of the hope still entertained by the mis- sionaries that, at some future time, they may resume their labors among the Western savages.
LXXXIV. This is the Relation of 1652-53, sent by the new superior, Frangois le Mercier, and dated at Quebec, October 29, 1653. The first chapter, written by the Paris editor, recounts the capture by an English vessel of the ship on which was conveyed Father du Peron and the Canadian mail to France. The Father's papers are seized and carelessly flung about by the soldiers; he rescues what he can, but some are lost, and the Relation for this year is not, in consequence, complete.
10 PREFACE TO VOL. XL
Le Mercier mentions the unusual aid sent to Mont- real this year — a hundred artisans, who are not only versed in their trades, but brave in war. The Fathers residing there recommend special devotions to the Virgin, for aid in repelling the Iroquois; as a result, " God's hand was so heavy upon the enemy that they sued for peace."
Three Rivers is harassed all summer by attacks of the enemy, which are graphically described — espe- cially an attempt to capture that village by surprise, which is foiled by the vigilance and resolution of the French. The Iroquois finally begin friendly nego- tiations, and go away, leaving hostages with the French for the return of Father Poncet and a com- panion, who were captured, a few days before, by one of the Iroquois bands. His seizure and deliver- ance are described — mainly as written by himself, at the command of his superior. The two French prisoners are taken to the Iroquois country, where they are tormented — in like manner, but not as cruelly, as had been Jogues and Bressani. Poncet is given, after a few days, to an old woman in place of her brother; he is then treated with the utmost kindness, and adopted into the family. His young French companion is, however, burned to death. Soon afterward, Poncet is released by his captors, who take him first to Fort Orange (Albany), to obtain some European garments from the Dutch, who treat him most generously and hospitably; then to Three Rivers, where he is surrendered to his countrymen.
Le Mercier now relates in detail the preliminary negotiations for peace — with the accompanying
PREFACE TO VOL. XL 11
Speeches, presents, and ceremonies — between the Iroquois and the French. This result has been secured by the providence of God, and, next, by the influence of Father Poncet. All the five tribes join in this peace — the Mohawks consenting last of all. Father Poncet returns, somewhat later, and confirms the statements of the Iroquois envoys that their people desire peace ; the ratification of the treaty will be made in the following spring.
In November, 1652, a party of Sillery Algonkins had captured some prisoners of a tribe not named, but probably one of the Abenaki tribes. As a result of this event, a treaty of peace is made between this distant people and those of Sillery, which also is described in full. Le Mercier recounts the injuries suffered by the French and their savage allies from the Iroquois war which has just ended. The fur trade, which had amounted to two or three hundred thousand livres annually, has been ruined; " f or a year, the Montreal warehouse has not bought a single Beaver-skin from the Savages." In consequence, the whole country is in distress. News is brought from the far West, that the Algonkins and Hurons who have fled thither from the Iroquois are prepar- ing to come down to the French next year for trade ; and several young Frenchmen plan to go to these tribes for the same purpose. These prospects are especially enticing, because the beaver and other fur- bearing animals, having been left undisturbed for several years, have multiplied enormously; and a rich harvest of furs is consequently expected. An- other resource of Canada is in its fertile soil ; and agriculture there is now becoming successful. The eel-fishery is also highly productive, and enables the
12 PREFACE TO VOL. XL
people to live when all else fails; other fish also abound — " indeed, this country is the Kingdom of water and of fish." The climate is very healthful — " an especial blessing."
The peace made with the Iroquois, detailed in the preceding chapters, fills the missionaries with joy, and great hope for the extension of their field of labor. Le Mercier finds especial encouragement in the prospect of establishing a mission in the enemy's country, on or near Lake Ontario. The Onondagas invite the Jesuits to do this. The final chapter — summarizing several letters from Canada which have come to the Paris editor — mentions that the Hurons who took refuge at Quebec have cleared and planted 300 arpents of land, thus providing food for them- selves. Some of them have been clothed through gifts received from France, from friends of the mis- sion. Several instances of the piety of these neophytes are recounted, as also of their virtuous resistance to temptation.
R. G. T.
Madison, Wis., February, 1899.
LXXXIII (concluded)
Bressani's Breve Relatione
MaCERATA: HEREDI D' AGOSTINO GRISEI, 1653
This document, commenced in Volume XXXVIII., and continued throughout Volume XXXIX., is here completed.
14 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
[114 i.e., 1 16] CAPITOLO SESTO.
MORTE DEL P. CARLO GARNIER.
NELLE montagne della natione del Tabacco haueuamo due Miffioni, & in ciafcuna due de' noftri Padri. La piii efpofta k i nemici fi chia- maua di San Giouanni, come anche la Terra princi- pale. Qui haueua fparfi molti fudori, qui bifognaua fpargeffe il fangue il P. Carlo Gamier operario inuitto di quefte Miffioni. Qualche prigione fuggitiuo dal paefe de nemici ci haueua auuertiti de' lor difegni d* inueflire, 6 la noftra Kola, o le montagne di San Giouanni, e li paefani fi tennero alcuni di in ordine per riceuerli coraggiofamente, e come fperauano, facilmente disfarli, & era per altro gente di cuore, & auuezza alia guerra. Ma annoiandofi finalmente di tanto afpettare, fi rifolfero d' andargli incontro per aflalirli i primi, e forprenderli. Partirno k quefto fine li 5. di Decembre, ma per altra flrada, che quella, che prefero i nemici; i quali hauendo vicino al paefe prefi due prigioni, feppero da effi come era sfornito delle forze di quelli, che erano vfciti per incontrarli. E per non perder' vn occafione si fauoreuole s' affret- tano, e li 7. di Decembre circa le 20. hore, fi prefen- tano alle porte di San Giouanni si fubitamente, che lo fpauento hauendo occupato il cuore degli habitanti, in vece di refiftere, penforno alia fuga, ma inutile
1653] BRESSANI'S RELATION, i6js 15
[1 14 i.e., 1 16] CHAPTER SIXTH.
DEATH OF FATHER CHARLES GARNIER.
IN the mountains of the Tobacco nation, we had two Missions, and, in each of these, two of our Fathers. The one most exposed to the enemies, as also its principal Village, was called Saint Jean. Here Father Charles Garnier, an indefatigable laborer in these Missions, had bestowed many labors; here it was necessary that he should shed his blood. A certain fugitive prisoner from the enemies' coun- try had warned us of their design of investing either our Island or the mountains of Saint Jean; and the country people kept themselves for some days in battle array, to receive them courageously, — and, as they hoped, to defeat them easily; these were, too, people of courage, and accustomed to war. But, at last growing weary of so much waiting, they resolved to go to meet them, in order to attack them first, and to surprise them. They started, for this purpose, on the 5th of December, but by another route than that which the enemies took ; the latter, having taken two captives near that country, learned from these how destitute it was of the forces of those who had gone out to meet them. Accordingly, in order not to lose so favorable an opportunity, they make haste ; and on the 7th of December, about the 20th hour, they appear at the gates of Saint Jean, so suddenly that, terror having seized the hearts of the inhabitants, instead of resisting, they thought of
16 LES RELATIONS DBS /^SUITES [Vol.40
per la maggior parte, che furono, 6 fatti prigioni, 5 vccifi di ferro, 5 di fuoco, che accefero da per tutto per piu sb[r]igarri, temendo il ritorno de' guerrieri. Efercitorno per5 in poco tempo flrane crudeltk, maf- fime con i putti, che ftaccauano dalle mammelle delle madri per gettar viui nel fuoco. II Padre Carlo Gamier era iui all' hora folo de noflri, ne voile vdir parlare di fuggire, come qualche amico gli configliaua. Voile come gli altri morire, amminiftrando i Sacra- menti, & efortando tutti alia coftanza nella Fede, & in vita, & in morte. E lo fece fin tanto, che riceue da nemici vn' archibugiata con tre palle, 1' vna delle quali lo feri nello ftomaco, 1' altra nel petto, la terza [115 i.e., 117] in vna cofcia, che lo getto ^ terra, done non manco di leuar le mani al Cielo, e dar fegni di gran diuotione, e poco doppo, come fuegliandofi da vn profondo fonno, e riguardando in giro, vidde vn ferito come Iui, al quale penso poter dare qualche aiuto fpirituale; onde prefe dalla caritk, e dal zelo, che gli ardeua nel petto, nuoue forze, fi leuo, e fece mezzo inginocchioni due paffi per auuicinarfegli ; ma rica- dendo d' vna ftrana maniera, gli bifogno iui fermarfi, fin che riprefo animo fece vn fecondo, e terzo sforzo per morir nell' efercitio di quella caritk, che in vita haueua fempre efercitata. Non fappiamo altre parti- colaritk della fiia morte, perche vna buona Chriftiana, che era fpettatrice di quanto qui s' e detto, fu doppo quefto, ferita d' vn colpo d' accetta in tefta, cadde, e fu iui lafciata per morta. Ma per diuin volere ne guari, e ci narr6 quanto di fopra. Ma il corpo del
1653] BRESSANPS RELATION, i653 17
flight. But this was in vain for the greater part, who were either taken prisoners or slain by the sword, or by fire, — which they kindled on all sides in order to expedite their work, fearing the return of the warriors. They therefore practiced, in a short time, savage cruelties, — especially upon the children, whom they tore from their mothers' breasts in order to throw them alive into the fire. Father Charles Garnier was at that time alone there of ours; nor would he hear mention of fleeing, as some friend advised him to do. He wished, like the others, to die while administering the Sacraments, and exhort- ing all to constancy in the Faith, both in life and in death. And he did so until he received from the enemies an arquebus shot with three balls, — one of which wounded him in the stomach, another in the breast, the third [115 i.e., 117] in his thigh. This threw him to the ground, where he did not fail to lift his hands to Heaven, and to give signs of deep devotion; and soon afterward — as it were, rousing himself from a profound sleep, and looking about him — he saw one wounded like himself, to whom^ Tie thought he could give some spiritual aid. From the charity and zeal which glowed in his breast he gained, then, new strength; he arose, and took, half kneeling, two steps in order to approach him; but falling back in a strange manner, he was obliged to stop there until, recovering strength, he made a second and a third effort to die in the exercise of that charity which he had always practiced in life. We know no other particulars of his death, because the good Christian woman, who was a spectator of what has been told, was then wounded in the head with a hatchet-blow, fell, and was left there for dead. But,
18 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol.40
Padre haueua oltre le ferite dell' archibugiata, la tefta aperta alle due tempie fino al ceruello. I due Padri, che erano nella vicina Miffione riceuerono tutta la notte i poueri Chriftiani fuggitiui, e la mat- tina feguente andorno k S. Giouanni per fepellir il corpo del lor caro compagno, doue viddero con gli occhi proprij gli effetti della crudeltk del Barbaro nemico. Cercarono quel benedetto cadauero vn pezzo in vano, ma in fine lo ritrouorno nudo tra molti altri mezzo arroftiti, ne 1' haurebbero conofciuto, tanto era contrafatto, fenza 1' aiuto d' alcuni buoni Neofiti, che foli diftinfero da gli altri il loro caro Padre. Per fepellirlo i due Padri fi fpogliomo ciafcuno d' vna parte delle fue vefti, e fe ne ritor- narono fubito co i compagni, che gli affrettauano per tema de nemici. Ritornarono due di doppo, i guer- rieri di S. Giouanni, i quali auuertiti dal fangue, e da' cadaueri de' piii deboli (che i nemici vccideuano per ftrada, come impaccio pericolofoj del lor difaftro, e paffarono fecondo il lor coftume, e degli antichi la giornata in vn profondo filentio, proftrati k terra fenza alzar gli occhi, e quafi fenza moto come ftatue di marmo, o di bronzo, lafciando alle donne le la- grime, e '1 pianto.
II P. Carlo Garnier era natiuo di Parigi. Mori air etk di 44 anni, 25. de quali haueua fpefi nella Compagnia, e 13. in quelle miffioni. Dalla pueritia haueua hauuti gran fentimenti di deuotione, maflime verfo la Beatifs. Vergine, che chiamaua fempre col nome di Madre. Haueua fatto voto di difender fino
1653] BRESSANI'S RELATION, i6s3 1»
by divine will, she recovered from it, and related to us the foregoing. But the Father's body had, besides the arquebus wounds, the head cut open, from both temples even to the brain. The two Fathers who were in the neighboring Mission received the poor fugitive Christians all night ; and on the following morning they went to St. Jean, in order to bury the body of their dear companion, — where they saw with their own eyes the effects of the Barbarian enemy's cruelty. They looked for that blessed body in vain, for a time; but at last they recovered it, naked, among many others which were half roasted ; nor would they have known it, — so disfigured it was, — but for the help of some good Neophytes, who alone distinguished their dear Father from the others. In order to bury him, the two Fathers both stripped themselves of a part of their own clothing ; and they immediately returned thence with their companions, who, for fear of the enemies, hastened away. The warriors of St. Jean returned two days later; and, being informed of their disaster by the blood and the corpses of the weakest (whom the enemies killed by the way, as a dangerous encumbrance), spent, accord- ing to their custom and that of the ancients, the day in a profound silence, — prostrated to the earth with- out lifting their eyes, and almost without motion, like statues of marble or of bronze, — ^ leaving tears and lamentation to the women.
Father Charles Garnier was a native of Paris. He died at the age of 44 years, 25 of which he had spent in the Society, and 13 in these missions. From boy- hood, he had had profound sentiments of devotion, especially toward the Most Blessed Virgin, whom he always called by the name of "Mother." He had
20 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
alia morte la fua purilTiina Concettione, della quale era diuotifllmo, e morl la vigilia di quefta fefta per andarla k celebrar piu folennemete in Cielo. [ii6i.e., ii8] Effendo giouane tra noftri Conuittori nel CoUegio di Parigi, riceueua ogni mefe dal Padre alcuni danari per fua ricreatione. Egli li riferuaua per il giorno della vacanza, nel quale hauuta licenza d' vfcire, in vece di confumarli al giuoco, li portaua "k i prigioni. Vn di ne compr5 vn libro cattiuo per abbruciarlo, acci6 non noceffe k neffuno. Effendo con alcuni compagni, che entrorono in vn' hofteria per farui colatione, egli per non fare contro le regole della Congregatione, fi tenne alia porta come vn laquay afpettando fino, che haueffero finito.
II Signor fuo Padre confegnandolo al Padre Prouin- ciale per la Compagnia gli diffe, che gli daua vn figlio, che non haueua mai commeffa vna minima difobedienza. La fua modeftia veramente Angelica lo faceua dal principio fteffo del fuo Nouitiato pro- porre a tutti per efempio. I Superiori non lo vole- uano riceuere nella Compagnia, e molto meno inuiare nel Canada fenza confenfo del Padre, che fortemente vi repugnaua, ma la perfeuerante coftanza d' anni intieri ottenne il tutto. Nel viaggio di mare, che fece per paffare alia nuoua Francia, fece con vn gran zelo, e prudenza notabili conuerfioni, tra 1' altre d' vn' huomo fenza cofcienza, ne religione, che haueua paffati piii di dieci anni fenza confelTione. Haueua per quefto vna gratia particolare, & anche piu maraui- gliofa per la conuerfione de' Barbari, de' quali fapeua
1653] BRESSANPS RELATION, i6s3 21
made a vow to defend her immaculate Conception, to which he was extremely devoted even till death ; and he died on the eve of this feast, in order to go and celebrate it more solemnly in Heaven, [i i6 i.e., II 8] While a young man among our Students at the College of Paris, he received every month from his Father some money for his recreation. He reserved it for the day of the vacation ; when, having obtained leave to go abroad, instead of spending it in sports, he carried it to the prisoners. One day he bought with it an immoral book, in order to burn it, so that it should harm no one. Being with some compan- ions who entered an inn, to make a banquet there, he, so as not to act against the rules of the Congrega- tion, stayed at the door like a footman, waiting till they had finished.
The Signor, his Father, on committing him to the Father Provincial for the Society, told him that he gave him a son who had never committed the slight- est disobedience. His modesty, truly Angelic, caused him, at the very beginning of his Novitiate, to be set before all as an example. The Superiors did not wish to receive him into the Society, and much less to send him to Canada, without the consent of his Father, who strongly opposed it ; but the persevering constancy of whole years obtained it all. On the sea- voyage which he made in crossing to new France, he effected, with great zeal and prudence, notable con- versions,— among others, that of a man without conscience or religion, who had spent more than ten years without confession. He had a special grace for this, and a still more wonderful one for the conversion of the Barbarians, — whose language he perfectly knew, and whose hearts he gained by a
22 LES RELA TIONS DES J ^SUITES [Vol. 40
perfettamente la lingua, e guadagnaua con mille
induflrie i cuori. Molti affermano efferfi mutati, e
rifoluti di conuertirfi folo in riguardarlo. Era huomo
d' vna profonda humiltk, che tutto che profeffo de 4. .;
voti, & hauendo ogni cofa eminente, fi ftimaua il 1
minimo di tutti anche non Sacerdoti, e fentendofi *
lodare, fi giudicaua caftigato da Dio, e ne fentiua \
pena fenfibile; onde per rimedio fcopriua fpeflo "k
chi lo lodaua i difetti, che penfaua potergli dare auer-
llone dalla fua perfona. Nell' oratione tra le occu-
pationi le piii diftrattine era raccoltiffimo, e tutto
fuoco dal principle fino alia fine. Oltre il dormir k
terra, cofa iui commune k tutti i noftri Miffionanti, fi
feruiua d' vna cintura di ferro con ftellette d' acciaio,
e con r iftefl^e fi difciplinaua. II viuere non folo era
di cofe infipidiffime, ma parchiffimo, per fame limo-
fina k famelici, maffime ne' due vltimi anni, che viffe,
ne' quali parte per neceffitk, parte per edificatione,
ancorche delitiofamente alleuato in cafa nobile, men-
tre mercenarij in domo patris abundabdt panib^ fi ridufl^e
k priuarfi fino del gran turchefco, vnico [117 i.e., 1 19]
cibo del paefe, contentandofi di qualche ghianda, 6
di qualche amara radice cotta nell' acqua femplice,
fenza fale, fenza pane, 5 altro companatico. Tre di
prima, che moriffe, il Superiore della Milfione gli
haueua fcritto, che vedefTe, fe per rimetterfi vn poco
non era efpediente di ritirarfi alquanto da trauagli
eccelfiui, ne' quali viueua, e 1' inuitaua k queflo fine
alia refidenza fiffa, detta di Santa Maria. Ecco vna
parte della rifpofta. E vero, dice, che patifco qual-
1653] BRESSANI'S RELATION, i6s3 23
thousand ingenuities. Many affirm that they became changed, and resolved to be converted, merely by looking at him. He was a man of profound humility, who — though he had taken the 4 vows, and was, in every respect, of eminent character — esteemed him- self the least of all even of those who were not Priests ; and, if he heard himself praised, he thought that he was punished by God, and felt sensible pain from it. Accordingly, by way of remedy, he often revealed his defects to the person who was praising him, — which he thought might give the latter an aversion to him. In prayer, even amid the most distracting occupa- tions, he was most collected, and all fire from begin- ning to end. Besides sleeping on the ground, — a thing common there to all our Missionaries, — he used an iron belt with stars of steel; and with this he disciplined himself. His food was not only of things most insipid, but extremely moderate, so as to give alms with it to the hungry, especially in the last two years that he lived. During that time, partly from necessity, partly for edification, — although he had been delicately brought up in a noble house, — while merce^iarii in domo patris abunda- bant panibus, — he reduced himself to the deprivation even of turkish corn, the only [117 i.e., 119] food of the country ; he contented himself with some acorns, or with some bitter root cooked in water alone, with- out salt, and without bread or other relish. Three days before he died, the Superior of the Mission had written to him that he ought to consider whether it were not expedient, in order to recuperate himself somewhat, to retire for a time from the excessive labors in which he lived; and invited him, to this end, to the fixed residence called Sainte Marie
24 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
che cofa per ragione della fame, che e qui grade, & vniuerfale, ma non vfque ad mortem per gratia di Dio, n^ lo fpirito, ne il corpo perdono il lor vigore, non temo tanto la fame, quanto temerei, che abbando- nando le mie pecorelle, in quelli tempi di miferie, e pericoli di guerra, done io fono piii che mai necef- fario, non mancaffi all' occafione, che Dio mi porge- rebbe di perdermi per lui, rendendomi indegno de fuoi fauori &c. Io ho affai cura di me, e fe mi trouaffi in vera neceffita di ricuperar le forze, non mancherei di partire per S. Maria, effendo difpofto di abbandonare ogni cofa piu tofto, che 1' obedienza. Ma altro, che lei non mi ftaccark dalla Croce, done la diuina bonta mi ha attaccato. Quel che habbiamo detto del fuo interiore, e depofitione di chi 1' ha confeflato, e trattato intimamente piii di 12. anni, il quale aggiunge quefte parole. Io polio dire in verity, che in quefti 12. anni, e piii, ne' quali mi apriua il fuo cuore, come ^ Dio, non credo, che fuor del fonno ftelle vna fola hora fenza defiderij ardenti di crefcere in virtii, e di promouerui il proffimo. Tutto il reil:o gli era indifferente, parenti, amici, ripofo, confola- tioni, pene, fatiche &c. Dio gli era ogni cofa, e fuor di Dio ogni cofa gli era niente. Ma quel, che fegue e d' vno de fuoi compagni, che ad iflanza del Supe- riore cosi ne ferine. V. R. mi ordina di fcriuergli quel, che so del Padre Gamier. Io penfo, general- mente parlando, che hauefle tutte le virtii in grado eminente. In quattro anni, che io fono flato fuo compagno non gli ho vifto fare mancamento alcuno,
1663] BRESSANI'S RELA T/ON, 1653 25
Here is a part of his answer. "It is true," he says, " that I suffer something on account of hunger, which is great and universal here ; but non usque ad mortem, — by the grace of God, neither the spirit nor the body loses its vigor. I do not fear hunger as much as I would fear that, by abandoning my sheep in these times of misery and dangers of war, wherein I am more than ever necessary, I might be lacking, in the opportunity which God should extend to me of losing myself for him, by rendering myself unworthy of his favors, etc. I take sufficient care of myself; and if I found myself in real need of recuperating my strength, I would not fail to leave for Ste. Marie, being disposed to abandon every- thing rather than obedience. But nothing else shall remove me from the Cross to which the divine good- ness has attached me." What we have said of his inward feelings is the testimony of that one who heard him in confession, and intimately dealt with him, for more than 12 years, who adds these words: "I may say in truth that, in these 12 years and more during which he opened his heart to me as to God, I do not believe that, outside of sleep, he remained a single hour without ardent desires of increasing in virtue, and of advancing his neighbor therein. Everything else was indifferent to him, — relatives, friends, rest, consolations, pains, fatigues, etc. God was everything to him ; and, outside of God, everything was naught to him." But that which follows is from one of his companions,^ who at the request of the Superior thus writes of him : ' * Your Reverence orders me to write to you what I know of Father Gamier. I think, generally speak- ing, that he had all the virtues in an eminent degree.
26 LES RELA TIONS DES J£SU/TES [Vol. 40
che fufle direttamente contro qualche virtu. Cer- caua in ogni cofa Dio, e non fe fleffo, ne hb mai potuto giudicare, che operaffe per principio di natura, era ardente, e pieno di zelo per il progreflo non folo della fua, ma di tutte quefte miffioni ; nella diuerfitk degli accidenti fempre 1' ifteffo, fenza turbarfi, ma perfettamente conforme al diuin volere, al che in quefti vltimi tempi particolarmente fi ftudiaua. Rif- pettaua tutti grandemente. Mai biafimaua manco i piii inefcufabili, [iiSi.e., 120] e fe gli s' accufana alcun Barbaro alia fua cura commello, o lo fcufaua, fe poteua, ouero taceua. Tutti i fuoi penlieri erano di promouere in quelle miffioni la gloria di Dio, e quefta h V vnica cofa, che mi raccomand6 per 1' altra vita, mentre io flauo per morire quefti anni addietro. Non fapeua quafi. niente delle cofe d' Europa, e le nuoue, che ne vdiua vna voltal' anno fubitole dimen- ticaua, intento k quell' vnil neceffariii, per il quale haueua abbandonato ogni cofa. Bifognaua quafi sforzarlo "k rifpondere alle lettere, maffime de' fuoi, temendo di togliere a' Barbari vn momento di quel tempo, che gli haueua interamete confacrato. Vna delle peggiori nuoue, che riceuefTe era la morte di qualche o adulto, o putto fenza Battefimo, e temeua fempre di non efferne in colpa. L' ho vifto partire per viaggi affai longhi in tempi faftidiofiffimi, efpo- nendofi "k pericolo di perderfi in qualche fiume, o precipitio per aiutar qualche anima, fenza poterlo in alcun modo, o ritenere, 6 moderare. Si accomodaua per5 grandemente a' compagni, mai m' hk detta vna
y
■ 1
1653] BRESSANPS RELATION, ib53 27
In the four years during which I was his companion, I did not see him commit any fault that directly opposed any virtue. He sought God in everything, and not himself, nor have I ever been able to judge that he acted upon the principle of nature. He was ardent and full of zeal for the progress not only of his own, but of all these missions; in the variety of events, always the same, without vexing himself, but perfectly conformed to the divine will, — whereto in these last times he especially applied himself. He greatly respected all. He never blamed a failing, — even the most inexcusable; [i i8 i.e., 120] and if some Barbarian, committed to his charge, accused him- self to him, either he excused him, if he could, or else was silent. All his thought was to promote in those missions the glory of God ; and this is the only thing which he recommended to me for the other life; while I remained to die these years behind him. He knew almost nothing of the affairs of Europe, and the news that he heard of them, once a year, he promptly forgot, — intent on that unum neces- sarium, for which he had forsaken everything. It was almost necessary to compel him to answer letters, especially from his friends, — he fearing to take away from the Barbarians a moment of that time which he had entirely consecrated to them. One of the worst tidings that he received was the death of either some adult or a child without Baptism; and he always feared to be at fault therein. I have seen him start on quite long journeys in most disagreeable weather, — exposing himself, in order to aid some soul, to the danger of losing his life in some river or chasm, — without being able in any way to restrain or to moderate him. Yet he thoroughly adapted himself
28 LES RELATIONS DBS JJ^SUITES [Vol.40
parola brufca, pigliaua fempre il peggio, per auuan- taggiarmi in ogni cofa, volendomi perfuadere, che ci6 lo contentaua piu. Era efattiffLnio nell' offer- uanza delle regole, e teneriffitno nell' obedienza. Per occupatiffimo, che fofle, mai ne lafciaua, ne fminuiua il tempo dell' oratione, efame, 5 lettura fpirituale, impiegandoui la notte quando era impedito il giorno ^ cofto del ripofo, e del fonno. La purity in lui andaua al pari della modeftia, 1' vna, e 1' altra veramente Angelica, ma niente ho ammirato piu, che la fua profonda humilt^ &c. Queflo fuo compagno huomo molto virtuofo era anche fuo Confeflore, k cui quando erano infieme conforme il coftume de noftri Miffionanti, in quel paefi fi confeffaua ogni di. S6, che quelle cofe parranno "k qualchuno forli troppo minute, ma non a chi sk in che confifte la vera virtii, &^chi le pefark col pefo del Santuario. L' habbiam vifto con infermi fchifi sii le fpalle fare le 3. e 4. miglia per guadagnarli ^ Dio; curare per molto tem- po, e pill volte il di, piaghe fchifofiffime, & incura- bili, delle quali i parenti proprij del patiente haueuano horrore, con volto fereno, e pieno di carit^, per guadagnar quelle anime, che per effer in corpi cadauerofi non erano coftato meno dell' altre al loro Redentore; e piii s' auuicinauano alia morte, piii era diligente in feruirli per il pericolo, e neceffit^ maggiore; fare le 30. e 40. miglia k piedi ne' gran caldi della flate in luoghi pericolofiiTimi de nemici, correndo dietro vna guida, per [119 i.e., 121] poter trouar in vita, e battezzare qualche moribondo, 6
1653] BRESSANI'S RELA TJON, 1653 29
to companions ; he never said an abrupt word to me ; he always took the worst, for the sake of giving me the advantage in everything, trying to persuade me that this better contented him. He was extremely punctual in the observance of the rules, and most sensitive in obedience. No matter how much occu- pied he was, he never omitted or lessened the time of prayer, examination, or spiritual reading, — em- ploying therein the night, when he was hindered by day, at the cost of rest and sleep. Purity in him went apace with modesty, both truly Angelic; but I admired nothing more than his profound humility," etc. This his companion, a very virtuous man, was also his Confessor, — to whom, when they were together, agreeably to the custom of our Missionaries in those countries, he confessed every day. I know that these things will perhaps appear to some too minute ; but not to him who knows what true virtue consists in, and to him who shall weigh it with the weight of the Sanctuary. We have seen him with vile sick people on his shoulders, going 3 and 4 miles, to gain them for God; tending a long while, and many times a day, most filthy and incurable wounds, of which the patient's own relatives had a horror, — with a countenance serene and full of charity. This he did in order to gain those souls, which, though in cadaverous bodies, had not cost less than the others to their Redeemer. And, the nearer they approached death, the more diligent he was in serving them, because of the danger and greater necessity, — mak- ing 30 and 40 miles on foot, in the great heat of summer, in places full of danger from the enemies; running behind a guide, so that [119 i.e., 121] he could find alive and baptize some dying man, or some
30 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
qualche prigione gik condannato al fuoco, & hk in limili occafioni paffata la notte fmarrito ne' bofchi tra le neui, e '1 ghiaccio. Nel tempo della contagione ci chiudeuano, come habbiam detto, da per tutto le porte. Ma il fuo zelo non temeua d' efporfi ^ mille pericoli, per penetrare doue fperaua di poter conqui- ftare vna fola anima ^ Die, Ricorreua con gran fiducia k gli Angeli di quelle contrade, e ne prouaua euidente foccorfo. Qualche moribondo gli hk vifto al lato vn belliflimo giouane, che 1' accompagnaua, & efortaua 1' ammalato ^ profittare dell' iftruttioni del Padre. Haueua vn' inclinatione particolare per i piii abbandonati, e per fiero, & ingrato, che incon- traffe vn Barbaro gli moftraua vn' amore piii che materno per ridurlo k Dio. II fuo zelo non haueua alcun termine, afpiraua k nuoue terre, & ad altre nationi piu remote, & haueua defiderato di cafcar nelle mani de gl' Hirocheli, per hauer occafione di predicargli la Fede, ma Dio gli conceffe il prime fenza il fecondo. Era ftato in tutte le miffioni degli Huroni; n' haueua incominciata piii d' vna, e tra I'al- tre quella doue mori. Non haueua alcun' attacco ne ^ luoghi, ne k perfone, ne k fuoi fteffi trauagli; ogn' occupatione gli era vguale, purche gli venifle da Superior!, che gli hanno fatto tal' hora lafciare le miffioni, doue haueua il fuo cuore per tirar come vn Cauallo nelle neui pefi neceffarij; per feruir gli ammalati ; per far la cucina, portar legna, e cercar le 20. e 30. miglia lontano delle lambrufche per fame il vino per la Meffa. In tutte quefte cofe era eguale
1653] BRESSANI'S RELATION, i6s3 31
captive already condemned to the fire ; and he has on similar occasions passed the night astray in the woods, amid the snows and the ice. At the time of the con- tagion, they shut the doors on us, as we have said, on all sides. But his zeal did not fear to expose itself to a thousand dangers, in order to penetrate where he hoped he could make the conquest of a single soul to God. He had recourse, with great confidence, to the Angels of those regions, and proved their manifest help. Some dying man saw at his side a most beautiful youth, who accompanied him, and exhorted the sick man to profit by the Fa- ther's instruction. He had a special inclination for the most abandoned ; and, no matter how proud and ungrateful a Barbarian he encountered, he showed him a more than maternal love in order to bring him back to God. His zeal had no limit; he was aspir- ing toward new villages and toward other nations more distant, and had desired to fall into the hands of the Hiroquois, that he might have an opportunity of preaching the Faith to them; but God granted him the first without the second. He had been in all the missions of the Hurons ; he had founded more than one of them, and, among others, the one in which he died. He had no attachment either to places or to persons, or to his own labors; every occupation was alike to him, provided it came to him from the Superiors, who sometimes made him leave the missions, in which he had his heart, in order to draw, like a Horse, necessary burdens in the snows; to serve the sick, to do the cooking, and carry wood; and to seek, at a distance of 20 and 30 miles, wild grapes, in order to make wine of them for the Mass. In all these things he was equal to himself, — that
32 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.40
k fe fleffo, cioe fempre fereno, e contento, trouando Dio da per tutto.
Non faremo (^diceua) mai niente per la falute delV anime, fe Dio non ^ con not, e non c applica per mezzo de Superiori, e cercar qualche cofa con determinatione, ^ cercare fe ^effo In vna parola, tutti quelli, che lo conofceuano lo flimauano vn Santo.
1653] BRESSANPS RELA TION, 1653 33
is, always serene and contented, finding God every- where.
We shall never (he said) do anything for the salvation of souls, if God is not with us, and does not apply us by means of the Superiors; and to seek something with determination is to seek one' s self. In a word, all those who knew him accounted him a Saint.
34 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
CAPITOLO SETTIMO.
MORTE DEL P. NATALE CHABANEL.
FV il fefto, che mori in quefta Miffione di morte violenta come gli altri, non per5 da medefimi homicidi, come e piu probabile. II P, Natale era compagno del P. Garnier; ma due di prima dell' arriuo de nemici era per ordine de' Superiori partito da [120 i.e., 122] San Giouanni per la refidenza fifla di Santa Maria, parte per la fame, che era eftrema in San Giouanni, onde difficilmente poteua nutrire due foggetti, parte per non efporre in quel tempi, e luoghi pericolofiffimi due perfone, doue baftaua vna; ma Dio, che gli haueua accompagnati in vita, non li voile feparar alia morte. Riuenendo dunque doue r obedienza lo richiamaua, dopo 18. o 20. miglia di cattiuiffima ftrada, fii fopraprefo dalla notte ne' bofchi, in compagnia di 7. 6 8. chriftiani Huroni, i quali ftanchi dal viaggio s' addormirono. II Padre folo vegliaua in oratione. Verfo la mezza notte in- tende diuerfevoci, e gridi confufi, parte dell' armata vittoriofa, che haueua 1' iileffo di prefa la Terra di S. Giouanni, parte de poueri prigioni, che cantauano fecondo i loro coftumi, canzoni di guerra. II Padre fueglia i compagni, i quali fubito fe ne fuggono nel pivi fecreto de' bofchi, chi quk, chi Ik, slontanandofi dalla ftrada, che 1' inimico teneua. Quefti fuggitiui
1653] BRESSANI'S RELA TION, 1653 35
CHAPTER SEVENTH.
DEATH OF FATHER NOEL CHABANEL.
HE was the sixth who died in this Mission by- violent death, — like the others, yet, as is most probable, not by the same murderers. Father Noel was a companion of Father Garnier ; but two days before the arrival of the enemies he had started, by order of the Superiors, from [120 i.e., 122] Saint Jean for the fixed residence of Sainte Marie, — partly by reason of the famine, which was extreme at Saint Jean, for which reason it could with difficulty sup- port two persons in charge; partly in order not to expose, in those most dangerous times and places, two persons, where one was enough ; but God, who had made them companions in life, did not choose to separate them in death. Returning therefore whither obedience was recalling him, he was, after 18 or 20 miles of exceedingly bad road, overtaken by night in the woods, in company with 7 or 8 Huron Chris- tians. These, being weary from the journey, fell asleep; the Father alone watched in prayer. To- ward midnight, he hears fierce voices and confused shouts, — partly from the victorious expedition, which had on the same day taken the Village of St. Jean ; partly from the poor captives, who were sing- ing, according to their custom, songs of war. The Father awakens his companions, who hastily flee away into the most secret places of the woods, — some here, some there, withdrawing from the road,
36 LES RELATIONS DES jtSUITES [Vol.40
arriuando alia natione del Tabacco, riferirono, che il Padre gli hatieua feguitati qiialche tempo, ma che fentendofi mancar le forze diffe. Non importa, che qui io muoia, quelta vita e poca cofa, la felicitk del Paradifo e il vero bene, che non mi puo effer tolto da gl' Hirochefi. All' Alba il Padre ripiglia la ftrada per Santa Maria, ma dopo alquanto di viaggio incon- tra vn fiume, che gl' impedifce il paffo. Cosi ci ha riferito vn' Hurone Apoftata, che aggiunge d' hauer- gli fatto palTar il fiume nella fua canoa, e ritenne per fcaricarlo (k quel, che diffe) il fuo cappello, & i fuoi fcritti, con vna coperta, che ferue in quel paefi il di, di mantello, e la notte di letto. Quel, che doppo gli auuenne non lo fappiamo, fe fii vccifo da nemici, fe fi fmarri ne' bofchi, fe mori di freddo, 6 di fame, fe tradito da chi ce ne diede 1' vltima nuoua, e ne portaua le fpoglie, certo e, che viaggiar in quel paefi, e viaggiare in periculis fluminu, periculis latronum &c. periciilis in faljis fratribtis, e quefto e il piu proba- bile in queflo cafo, per non dir certo/ ne difficile k credere, d' vn Apoftata, che s' era poco prima van- tato, che vcciderebbe vno di noi. II Padre Natale era della Prouincia di Tolofa. Mori all' et^ di 36. anni, 19. di Religione, e 6. di dimora in quel paefi, per i quali haueua hauuta vna forte vocatione, ma non gik fenza contrafti. Doppo li 4. e 5. anni di ftudio di quelle lingue appena poteua farfi intendere, ancor- che non mancaffe ne d' ingegno, ne di memoria, che haueua fatto comparir in Francia, doue hauea infe- gnata con gran fodisfattione la Rethorica. Che morti-
1653] BRESSANPS RELATION, i653 37
which the enemy held. These fugitives, arriving from the Tobacco nation, reported that the Father had followed them for a time, but that, feeling his strength fail, he said: "No matter if I die here; this life is a small thing ; the felicity of Paradise is the true good, which cannot be taken from me by the Hiroquois." At Dawn, the Father resumes the way to Sainte Marie; but, after some journeying, he encounters a river, which hinders his passage. This report was given us by an Apostate Huron, who added that he enabled him to cross the river in his canoe, and retained, for landing him (as he said), his hat and his writings, together with a blanket, which serves in those countries for a mantle by day and a bed by night. What befell him afterward, we do not know, — whether he were killed by the enemies, whether he went astray in the woods, whether he died of cold or hunger, or were betrayed by the man who gave us the last news of him and was wearing his spoils.^ It is certain that to travel in those coun- tries is to travel in periculis fluminum, periculis latronum, etc.; periculis in falsis fratribus; and in this case this is the most probable, not to say certain ; nor is it difficult to believe of an Apostate who had boasted, a little before, that he would kill one of us. Father Noel was of the Province of Toulouse. He died at the age of 36 years, 19 in Religion, and 6 of residence in those countries, for which he had had a strong voca- tion,— but not indeed, without struggles. After 4 or 5 years of study of those languages, he could hardly make himself understood, although he was not deficient in either talent or memory, — as he had shown in France, where he had taught Rhetoric with great satisfaction . What mortification [121 i.e., 123]
38 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
ficatione [121 i.e., 123] ad vn' huomo, che brugia di zelo, vederfi nell' impolTibilit^ d' operare per difetto di lingua ? Secondo, haueua naturalmente vna grand' auerfione al viuere, e coftumi de Barbari tra '1 fumo, o tra le neui "k giacer "k terra tra cani, e nello ftrepito quafi continue de grandi, e de piccoli, fenza poterli ritirare in luogo alcuno, che non fofle publico, fenz' altra luce di notte, che quella d' vn fuoco pieno di fumo; oltr' i pericoli piii che quotidiani di cafcar nelle mani d' vn nimico, che non hk per voi altro, che fuochi, e crudeltS, inaudite. Terzo. Pareua, che Dio per aggrauargli la Croce lo priuaffe delle gratie fenfibili, abbandonandolo al difgufto, & alia triftezza Non e quefta vna gran proua, maffime fe dura li cinque, e li fei anni intieri.^ Hor tal fii quella di quefto feruo di Dio, col quale per5 il demonio non guadagn5 mai niente. Gli fuggeriua ogni di, e piii volte il dl. Che ritornando in Francia vi trouerebbe il contento, che gli mancaua, e temporale, e fpiritu- ale, che haueua iui altre volte fperimentato. Che vi trouerebbe impieghi proportionati k fuoi talenti, & inclinatione, ne' quali feruirebbe Dio con perfettione, e fantitk, come tanti altri, k Iui forfe in molte cofe inferiori &c. ma non folo non fi rendeua k quelle fuggeftioni, ma per attaccarfi piu ferma, & inuiolabil- mente alia S. Croce. Haueua fatto del contrario vn voto in quefta forma. Signor mio Giesii Chrijio, eke per dispofitione particolare della vodra patertia prouidenza, tn hauete, ancorche indeg?io, fatto coadiutore de' vojiri Santi Apo^oli in que^a vigna degli Hicroni; mojfo dal
-1653] BRESSANPS RELATION, j653 39
to a man who burns with zeal, to see himself power- less to produce an effect, for want of language! Secondly, he had naturally a great aversion to the manner of life and the customs of the Barbarians — amid the smoke or amid the snows; to lie down on the ground among dogs, and in the almost continual din of great and small, without being able to retreat to any place which was not public; without other light by night than that of a fire full of smoke, — besides the more than daily perils of falling into the hands of an enemy who has for you nothing but fires and unheard-of cruelties. Thirdly, it appeared that God, in order to make his Cross heavier, deprived him of visible graces by abandoning him to disgust and to sadness. Is not this a great trial, especially if it lasts five or six whole years? Now such was that of this servant of God, — with whom, however, the demon never gained aught. He suggested to him every day, and many times a day, that by returning to France he would find there the content- ment which now failed him, both temporal and spiritual, which he had experienced there in the past ; that he would there find occupations adapted to his talents and inclination, wherein he would serve God to perfection and with holiness, like so many others, — who were, perhaps, in many respects inferior to himself, etc. But not only did he not yield to these suggestions, but, in order to attach himself more firmly and inviolably to the Holy Cross, he had, on the contrary, made a vow in this form: My Lord Jesus Christy — who through a special disposition of your fatherly providence have made me, although unworthy, a coadjutor of your Holy Apostles in this vineyard of the Hurons, — moved with the desire of
40 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
dejiderio di feguire /' impiilfo del vojlro Spirito S. nella promotione de Barbari Hiironi; lo Natale Chabanel fb voto alia prefenza del Santifs. Sacramento del Vojlro Saftti/s. Corpo, e Sangue, vera Tabertiacolo di Dio con gli huornini, di perpetua ^abilith in quejla Mifjione degli Huroni, nel modo, che i Superiori inierpretaranno, i quali diJj>orranno fenipre liberame?ite di me. Vi fupplico dunque di riceuermi per feruo perpetuo di quejla MiJJtoyie, Jacendomi degno d' vn si Jublime mini^erio. que^o dt 20. di Giugno 1647. giorno del Santijjimo Sacramento.
L* vltima volta, che parti per la miffione doue mort, dicendo Addio al fuo Padre fpirituale/ quefta volta si (diffej fpero, che faro da douero k Dio, ma con vn' accento tale, che 1' altro la chiam5 voce d' vna vittima, che s' immolaua, & aggiunfe ad vn terzo: lo non so i difegni di Dio, ma vedo bene, che fa vn S. Confefs5 ad vn' intimo fuo, che li setiua tutto mutato, e che efsedo flato fin' allhora timi- diffimo, efponendofi in quel viaggio ad euidetiflimi pericoli, [122 i.e., 124] non temeua nulla. Ma quefta difpofitione, gli aggiunfe, non vien da me. E paflando il di ftelTo, che mori per la Miffione de S. Mattias, non s6 fdille) ad vno di quel Padri, perche 1' obedi- enza mi richiami, ma o non potro, o otterr6 di ritor- nare al mio pofto. Bi[fo]gna perfeuerare, e feruir Dio fino alia morte, la quale defideraua, e fperaua ancor piti dolorofa, che non la prou5. Cos! fcriueua 1' anno inanzi ad vn fuo fratello della noftra Copagnia in Francia. Poco, dice, ^ jnancato, che V. R. non habbi hauuto vn fratello martire. Ma Dio domanda per que^o
1653] BRESSANPS RELATION, i653 41
following the impulse of your Holy Spirit in the advance- ment of the Huron Barbarians, I, Noel Chabanel, viake a ^ow — in the presence of the Most Blessed Sacrament of Your Most Holy Body and Blood, true Tabernacle of God with men — of perpetual stability in this Mission of the Hurons, in such way as the Superiors shall interpret, who shall always freely dispose of me. I beseech you, therefore, to receive me for a perpetual servant of this Mission, making me worthy of so sublime a ministry, — this day, the 20th of fune, 1647, ^^^^ day of the Most Blessed Sacra^nent.
The last time when he started for the mission where he died, on saying Adieu to his spiritual Fa- ther, " This time indeed" (he said), " I hope that it will be in very truth a Dieu,'' — but with such an accent that the other called it the voice of a victim going to be sacrificed, and added to a third person : " I know not the designs of God, but I well see that he is training a Holy Confessor. " Father Noel said to an intimate friend that he felt himself quite changed ; and that, — although he had been until that time very timid, — in exposing himself on that journey to most obvious dangers, [122 i.e., 124] he feared noth- ing. " But this disposition," he added, " does not come from myself." And, passing by the Mission of St. Matthieu, on the very day when he died, " I know not ' ' (he said to one of those Fathers) ' ' why obedience calls me back ; but, whether or not I shall obtain permission to return to my post, it is neces- sary to persevere, and serve God even to death," — which he desired and hoped for, of even a more pain- ful sort than he found it. He thus wrote, the year before, to a brother of his in our Society in France: ' ' But little was lacking, ' ' he says, ' * that Your Reverence
42 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.40
vna virtii d' vyi altra tempra, che la fnia. II P. Gabriel Lallement , vno de i ire vltimamente vcciji, haueua meco mutato vn me fe prima. lo, come piii robujio fui mandato ad vna mijjione piii lontana, e piu faticofa, ma non s\ fertile in palme, come guella, della quale la 7nia tepidezza m hh refo indegno. Sarh quando piacerh a Dio, purche io dal canto mio non manchi tra tanto difar martyrem in vmbra, & martyrium fine fanguine. // furor degV Hirochefi, che qui rouina ogni cofa, farh forfi vn d\ il re^o per i 7neriti di tanti Santi, co i quali io hb la con- folatione di viuer in grandijjima pace, ne' continui pericoli della vita &c. V. R. e cote^i Padri della Prouincia Ji ricordino di me all' Altar e, come d' vna vittima de^inata al fuoco degV Hirochefi, vt m,erear tot San6loru>n patro- cinio vi6loriam in tarn forti certamine . Dio glie la diede nel modo, e tempo, che meno fperaua.
■
1653] BRESSANI'S RELATION, i6s3 43
had had a martyr brother. But God requires for this a virtue of another temper than mine. Father Gabriel Lallement , one of the three lately killed, had exchanged with me a month before. /, as being more robust, was sent to a more distant and -more fatiguing mission, but one not so fruitful in victories as that of which my lukewarmness has rendered me unworthy. It will be when God shall please, provided that on my side I meamvhile fail not, among so many, to act the part of a martyrem in umbra, et martyrmm sine sanguine. The fury of the Hiroquois, which ruins everything here, will perhaps one day do the rest, through the merits of so many Saints, — with whom I have the consolation of living in very great peace, in continual dangers to life, etc. May Your Reverence and those Fathers of the Province remember me at the A Itar, as a victim destined to the fire of the Hiroquois, — ut merear tot Sanctorum patrocinio victoriam in tarn, forti certamine. ' ' God gave it to him, in the way and at the time that he least expected.
44 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.40
CAPITOLO OTTAVO.
DESOLATIONE DEL PAESE DEGLI HURONI, E TRANSLA- TIONE BELLA MISSIONE HURONA A KEBEK.
LA crudeltk dal Barbaro vincitore de noftri Chri- ftiani nel lor proprio paefe getto vn tale fpa- uento ne' loro cuori, clie molti, efuli volontarij fe ne fuggirono nel piu profondo de bof chi ; altri su i fcogli fterili del mar dolce, preferedo i precipitij, e gli abifli al fuoco de gl' Hirochefi; altri hebbero ricorfo ad vna natione, che chiamauamo neutra, per flare all' hora in pace con ambedue ; altri alle mon- tagne di quella del Tabacco. I pochi, che reftauano, ci efortorno di reftar feco fenza slontanarci piii/ gl' infedeli promettendoci di farfi tutti Chriftiani, & i Cbriftiani d' effer coftanti nella Fede fino alia morte. Noi per accomodarci a tutti ; alcuni andammo dietro k i fuggitiui suli fcogli del mar dolce, e ne [123 i.e., 125] bofcbi da 300. e piii miglia per confolarli, e coltiuare in elTi la Fede ancor naf cente; altri alle montagne del Tabacco; II refto c' impiegammo, vt disperfos congre- garemus iii vnum, vnendoci k quei pochi, che con inftanza ci domandauano, con fperanza di ridurne degli altri Haueuano quefli fcelta per lor refugio vn' Kola nel mar dolce, 24 o 25. miglia lontano da noi. Ci bifogn6 dunque fcafare per feguitarli, e metter noi fteffi il fuoco a quel poco, che nello fpatio di 9. 5
1653] BRESSANI'S RELATION, i6s3 45
CHAPTER EIGHTH.
DESOLATION OF THE COUNTRY OF THE HURONS, AND REMOVAL OF THE HURON MISSION TO KEBEK.
THE cruelty of the Barbarian conqueror of our Christians in their own country threw such a terror into their hearts that many, voluntary exiles, fled to the farthest depth of the woods ; others, upon the barren rocks of the fresh- water sea, — pre- ferring precipices and abysses to the fire of the Hiro- quois. Others had recourse to a nation which we called " neutral," since it was then at peace with both sides ; others, to the mountains of the Tobacco nation. The few who remained exhorted us to stay with them, without retreating farther, — the infidels promising us all to become Christians, and the Chris- tians to be constant in the Faith until death. That we might accommodate all, some of us went back to the fugitives on the rocks of the fresh-water sea, and into the [123 i.e., 125] woods, 300 miles and more, to console them, and to cultivate in them the still incipient Faith; others, to the mountains of the Tobacco nation. The rest of us employed ourselves ut dispersos congregaremus in unum, — uniting our- selves with those few, who urgently asked us, in the hope of winning back others of the scattered people. These had chosen for their refuge an Island in the fresh-water sea, 24 or 25 miles distant from us. We were therefore obliged to go forth to follow them,
46 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
lo. anni haueuamo eretto, di cafa, e di Chief a, per paura, che i nemici non profanaffero quel luoghi di Santit^. Chiamammo quefl' Kola di S. Giofeppe, e la refidenza fiffa, che ci trasferimmo, la Refidenza di S. Maria, col nome della prima. Quefli bofchi intatti forli dal principio del mondo ci riceuerono, e ci fomminiftrorno materia per fortificarci con i noftri Barbari contro i communi nemici. Vt fine timore inimicorum literati, feruiffimo al commun Signore. Haueuamo con noi alcuni fecolari al numero di 40. che per diuotione fenza fperanza d' alcuna ricopenfa temporale feruiuano quefta Miffione, facendo ogni forte di meftiero, ciafcuno fecondo la propria capa- city, e tutti quello di foldato, per difender quel poueri fuggitiui dair incurfioni di quei fpietati. Tutti con i Barbari s' impiegarono talmente all' opra, che in vna ftate ci trouammo regolarmente difefi con i noflri Chriftiani, i quali in breue iui concorfero da varie parti per potere con ficurezza, e facility riceuere 1' in- ftruttioni neceflarie per la conferuatione, & augu- mento della lor fede. Ma non v' e in quefta vita bene alcuno fenza contrapefo di qualche male. Quefto gran concorfo, che era il fine di tutti i noflri trauagli, porto feco in parte la rouina del paefe, che ellendo nuouo, e non hauendo potuto effer' k baftanza coltiuato in si breue tempo, maffime da gente fame- lica, & occupata inlieme ad alloggiarfi, e fortificarfi, non pote portar' affai di che nutrire tanta gente affamata, & oppreffa da mille difagi, che haueuano cominciato 1' anno inanzi. Onde non oltante le
1653] BRESSANPS RELATION, i6s3 47
and ourselves to set fire to that little which we had built up in the space of 9 or 10 years, in the way of a house and a Church, fearing lest the enemies should profane those places of Holiness. We called this Island St. Joseph ; and the fixed residence, which we transferred thither, by the name of the first, — the Residence of Ste. Marie. These forests, unbroken, perhaps, from the beginning of the world, received us and furnished us materials for fortifying ourselves, together with our Barbarians, against our common enemies, — Ut sine timore inimicorwm liberati, we might serve our common Lord. We had with us some laymen, to the number of 40, who from devotion, without hope of any temporal recompense, served this Mission; plying every sort of trade, each one accord- ing to his proper capacity, — and all, that of soldier, in order to defend those poor fugitives from the incursions of those pitiless foes. All, with the Bar- barians, so applied themselves to the work that in one summer we found ourselves regularly defended, as well as our Christians, who in a short time gath- ered thither from various quarters, so that they could receive with safety and facility the instructions neces- sary for the preservation and increase of their faith. But there is not in this life any good without its counterpoise of some evil. This great concourse, which was the culmination of all our labors, brought with it, in part, the ruin of the country, which, as it was new, and could not be sufficiently cultivated in so short a time, — especially by starving people, and those occupied, besides in housing and fortifying themselves, — could not yield enough to feed so many people, famished, and oppressed by a thousand misfortunes which had begun the year before. In
48
LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 40
molte limofme, che facemmo di 800. facchi, la met^
di gran turchefco, la metk di ghiande, che fi ftimauano
in quel tempo cofa delitiofa, e ce le leuauamo noi
fleffi dalla bocca; non potemmo impedire, che non
ne morifTero 1' inuerno le centinaia, e centinaia di
fame. L' eflate molti haueuano piu tofto differita la
morte, che prolongata la vita, viuendo, 6 ne' bofchi
di poche radiche amare, e frutti faluatichi; b sii i
fcogli di qualche pefciolino, che come alia sfuggita
pefcauano per timore de nemici. Ma [124 i.e., 126]
r Inuerno, che la terra era coperta di 6. o 7. palmi di
neue, & i laghi, e fiumi agghiacciati non potendo
hauere alcun foccorfo, ne dalla terra, ne dall' acqua;
fi riduffero ad vn' eflrema miferia Era cofa fpa-
uentofa il vedere in vece d' huomini, fcheletri mori-
bondi, caminar piu come ombre di morti, che come
corpi de' viui; e nutrirfi di quel che la natura ha piu
in horrore.- diffotterrare i cadaueri, (che noi fotterra-
uamo con le noftre mani, mancando fpeffo i parenti
de morti di forze per farloj per cibarfene, e mangiare
i refli delle volpi, e de cani. Quid non mortalia peclo-
ra cogis facra fames ? Gli Huroni prima d' hauer la
luce della Fede e vero, che mangiauano i cadaueri
de' loro nemici, ma hebbero fempre horrore di man-
giarfi tra di loro niente meno, che gli Europei. Ma
in quell:a occafione la neceffit^ oltrapafso tutte le
leggi : qualche fratello ha magiato il morto fratello :
qualche madre i morti figli, & i figli doppo morte
non riconofceuano, ne rifpettauano i cadaueri de'
proprij padri. Era vn fpettacolo afifai frequente di
1653] BRESSANPS RELATION, ibs3 49
consequence, notwithstanding the many alms that we gave, — 800 bags, half of turkish corn, half of acorns, which at that time were esteemed a delicious article, and which we ourselves took from our own mouths, — we could not prevent hundreds and hundreds of them from dying in the winter by hunger. In the sum- mer, many had rather postponed death than prolonged life, by living either in the woods on a few bitter roots and wild fruits ; or on the rocks, on some little fish, — which they caught, as it were, by stealth, for fear of the enemies. But [124 i.e., 126] in the win- ter,— when the earth was covered with 6 or 7 palms of snow, and the lakes and rivers were frozen, — un- able to obtain any succor from either the land or the water, they were reduced to an extreme misery. It was a frightful thing to see, instead of men, dying skeletons, walking more like shadows of the dead than like bodies of the living; and feeding them- selves on that which nature has most in abomina- tion,— exhuming the corpses (which we buried with our own hands, the relatives of the dead often lack- ing the strength to do so), in order to nourish them- selves therewith, and eat the leavings of foxes and dogs. Quid non -trior t alia pectora cogis, sacra fames ? It is true that the Hurons, before having the light of the Faith, ate the dead bodies of their enemies; but they always had, no less than the Europeans, a horror of eating one another, among their own people. But on this occasion necessity exceeded all laws: a certain brother ate his dead brother; a mother, her dead sons; and the sons, after death, did not recog- nize or respect the corpses of their own fathers. It was a quite frequent spectacle to see two little children still sucking the dry breasts of their dead
50 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 40
veder due bambini fucchiar ancor le fecche mamelle della morta madre, le madri fpirar con i figli nel feno, 6 vederli morir alia mammella, che offeriuano anche k i piu grandi vn dopo 1' altro per tirarne piii toflo il fangue, che il latte, ma con refignatione si grande, e si chrifliana, che tiraua dagli occhi lagrime non meno di copaffione, che di deuotione. Habbiam veduto venire i moribondi da loro flelTi h. domandarci il Bat- tefimo per paffaporto dell' altra vita; benedicendoci in vn tepo, che pareua, che 1' impatieza gli douelTe tirare ogni maledittione dalla bocca. Molti ci prega- uano, che li fotterraffimo ancor fpiranti, per paura d' effer diuorati da' fuoi, o almeno lafciati nudi, cofa, che ftimano piu obbrobriofa in morte, che in vita. Le iftruttioni, le prediche, 1' amminiftrationi de Sacramenti, mai fono flate piti frequent! , ne riceuute con piii deuotione non folo le fefte, ma i giorni anche di lauoro, quefle con le vifite degli ammalati, e fepol- tura de morti erano le occupation! quotidiane de noftri Padri. S' aggiiageua a quefti mali il timore de nemici, che ci faceua vegliar le notti intiere, per no effer come 1' anno inanzi prefi all' improuifo. Ma egli fapendo le fortificationi fatte, e la vigilanza, & ordine, che fi guardaua nell' Kola, volto le armi altroue, come s' e vifto. Molti, che aiutati dalle noflre limofme fcamporno il flagello della fame, furono affaliti da vn mal contagiofo, che in pochi di fece gra flrage, maffime ne' putti. Non vi reftaua piii che la guerra per rouinarli affatto, e quefta non manco, e cosi furono nell' ifteffo tepo [125 i.e., 127]
1653] BRESSANPS RELATION, i6s3 51
mother, the mothers dying with their children in their laps ; or to see them die at the breast, which was offered even to the largest, one after the other, to draw thence blood rather than milk, — but with sa great and so Christian resignation that it drew from the eyes tears, no less of compassion than of devo- tion. We have seen the dying come of their own accord to ask from us Baptism, as a passport to the other life, — blessing us at a time when it seemed that impatience should have drawn every malediction from their lips. Many begged us to bury them while still breathing, for fear of being devoured by their peo- ple, or at least left naked, — a thing which they esteem more shameful in death than in life. Instructions, sermons, administrations of the Sacraments, were never more frequent; nor had they received with more devotion not only the feasts, but also the work- ing days ; these, with visits to the sick and the burial of the dead, were the daily occupations of our Fa- thers. To these evils was added the fear of the enemies, which caused us to watch whole nights, in order not to be taken unawares, as in the year before. But they, knowing the fortifications that were made, and the vigilance and order which were observed on the Island, turned their arms elsewhere, as was seen. Many who, aided by our alms, escaped the scourge of hunger, were attacked by a contagious disease, which in a few days made great slaughter, especially among the children. There remained nothing but war to ruin them altogether, and this failed not ; and thus they were at the same time [125 i.e., 127] smit- ten with all three scourges. For, as soon as the ice began to melt and the earth to become bare, our dying people went out from the Island, in which they
52 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 40
percolTi da tutti tre i flagelli; imperoche fubito, chi i ghiacci cominciorno ^ liquefarfi,e la terra ^ fcoprirli, i noftri moribodi vfcirono dall' Kola, nella quale erano aflediati dalla fame, per cercarui rimedio nell* acqua CO qualche forte di pefca. Ma doue penfauano di ritrouar la vita, vi riceuerno, 6 la fchiauitudine, 5 la morte, e per no morir di fame, molti morirono di fuoco, prefi da nemici. che gl' inueftiuano da per tutto, maffime di notte fenz' alcuna refiftenza, effedo i noftri Huroni diuifi in varie truppe per neceffitk, e carichi di donne, e fanciulli, che non feruiuano fe non per augumentar lo fpauento, e la confufione. Venne di piii nuoua di due truppe nemiche, cbe veni- uano, vna per dar il guafto "k i capi, 1' altra alia gete. Due de piii antichi Capitani venero k trouarci in fegreto, e tennero al Superiore con alcuni altri Padri, quefto difcorfo. Fratello, i tuoi occhi /' ingdnano, mefttre ci riguardi. Tu penfi veder huomini vitii, e not non fiamo altro, che spettri, & a^iime de morti. Quejla Terra, che calchi ?ion e ferma, s' aprir a quanta prima per itigoiarci, e ntetterci trh morti, tra qiiali perb gih ci con- tiamo. QueSla notte in vn confeglio fegreto s' e rifoluto d' abbandonarla prima, che s' apra. Gli vni Ji ritirano ne' bo f chi, Jiifnddoji piii Jicuri trh le fiere, cJi ejpojli air Hiroche/e; altri fe ne vamio d 6. giornate verfo il Settentr. sii i fcogli del mar dolce in compagnia degli Algonchini; altri alia nuoua Suetla 500. miglia disidte; altri dicojto publicamente, che vogliono menar le lor mogli, e figli, loro fteffi al paefe de' nemici, doue trouardno vna grd parte de lor pareti prigioni, i quali gli efortano alia
1653] BRESSANPS RELATION, i653 h%
had been besieged by hunger, in order to seek for its relief, in the water there, certain kinds of fish. But, where they thought to recover life, they received there either slavery or death ; and, instead of dying by hunger, many died by fire. These were seized by the enemies, who were surrounding them on all sides, especially at night, without any resistance, — our Hurons being divided into several bands, from necessity; and burdened with women and children, who served only to augment the terror and the con- fusion. Moreover, there came news of two hostile bands that were on their way to make havoc, one with the fields, the other with the people. Two of the eldest Captains came to find us, in secret; and to the Superior, in company with certain other Fathers, they made the following speech: Brother^ thhie eyes deceive thee when thou lookest at us; Thou think est that thou seest living men, and we are nothing but ghosts, and souls of the dead. This La7td which thou treadest is not solid; it will open very soon to swallow us, and to put us among the dead, among whom, we therefore already reckon ourselves. This night, in a secret council, it has been resolved to abajidon it before it opens. Some retreat to the woods, accounting themselves more secure among the wild beasts than when exposed to the Hiroquois; others are going away, 6 days' journey toward the North, upon the rocks of the fresh-water sea, in company with the Algonquins; others to new Sweden, 500 m.iles distant. Still others openly say that they thefnselves will take their wives and children to the country of the enemies, where they will find ^nany of their captive kinsmen, who exhort them to flight unless they will utterly perish. And what wilt thou do alone, forsaken by all, in this Island? Hast thou come here for the cultivation of
54 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.40
fuga, fe no voglio affatto perire. E tu che farai folo, abbddonato da tiitti in queji' Ifola? Set tu qui venuto per la cultura della terra, b delV anime? Vuoi tu predicar la fede h que^i querci, b a quejii pini? quejli laghi, e que^i fiumi ha7i forji orecchie per a/coltarti, b intelletto per intenderti? Done anderai? chifeguirai? puoi tu forJi accompagnar vn popolo, che Jl dijjipa in tati paefi? la mag- gior parte di que^i fuggitiui trouera la morte, doue crede trouar la vita, ma quando tu liauefji cento corpiper diuiderti in cento luoghi, tu non lo potrejii fare fenz' ejjergligraue, & onero/o, e ben pre^o in horrore. La fame gli accom- pagyiarh da per tutto, e non Ji efentaranno dal fiagello della guerra, Che ri^nedio? habbi cuore, e te lo mofira- remo. Guarda verfo Kebe^, e lo vedrai. Arditamete intraprendilo, e lo farai feliceniente. Tu deui faluar i refii di quefio rouinato paefe. Pigliaci ttelle jnani tu che did, che ci porti nel cuore. N' hai vifii piii di lo. ntila morti a tuoi piedi, fe a/petti acor vn poco, no ve ne refla- rh. neffuno, & inuano f affliggerai [126 i.e., 128] di non hauer faluato almeno quel, che poteui. Non bifogna piii confultare, bifogna partire, e tra(j)ortar quefle reliquie della Chief a Hurona alV ombra del forte di Kebeh, e quanta prima, gia, che ogn vn fugge per non aspettar r arriuo del nemico. lui la nofira Fede non folo non pericolarh, anzi s' auuiuarh, vedendo gli efempi degli Algonchini, e de France ft, e le loro car it h ci aiutaranno, e quando non potejfero, b non voleffero, e ci bifognoffe iui morire, hauremo almeno que^a confolatione di non morire abbandonati ne' bofchi, m.a vicini ci chi ci rincori in quel duro paffaggio fenza pregiuditio della nofira Fede, che piii fiimiamo, che la vita.
1653] BRESSANI'S RELATION, i6ss 55
the earth, or of souls ? Wilt thou preach the faith to these oaks or these pines ? Have perhaps these lakes and these rivers ears to listen to thee, or sense to understand thee ? Where zvilt thou go ? Whom wilt thou follow ? Canst thou perchance accompany a people which scatters itself into so many countries ? Most of these fugitives will find death, where they think to find life; but though thou hadst a hundred bodies, to divide thyself in a hundred places: thou couldst not do so without being heavy and burdensome to them, and, soon, even an object of hatred. Hunger will attend them, everywhere, and they will not be exeynpted from, the scourge of war. What is the remedy f Have courage, and we will show it thee; look toward Kebek, and thou zvilt see it. Undertake it ardently, ajid thou wilt effect it successfully. Thou must save the remains of this ruined country. Take us into thy hands, thou who say est that thou bear est us in thy heart. Thou hast seen m,ore than lo thousand of us dead at thy feet; if thou wait a little longer, not one of us will be left to thee; and vainly thou wilt grieve [126 i.e., 128] for not having saved at least what thou couldst. It is not necessary to deliberate longer; it is necessary to depart, and to convey these remains of the Huron Church to the shadozv of the fort of Kebek, — and that as soon as possible, now that every one is fleeing, in order not to await the arrival of the enemy. There our Faith will not only not be in danger, but, on the contrary, it will revive by seeing the examples of the Algonquins and the French; and their charities will help us. But even if they could not or would not, and if we must die there, we would at least have this consolation, of dying not abandoned in the woods, but near one who may encourage us in that trying passage, without prejudice to our Faith, which we esteem, more than life.
56 LES RELA TIONS DES J ^SUITES [Vol. 40
II negotio era troppo importante per non penfarci, e ne vn dl, ne due, ne dieci baftauano per conclu- derlo. Lafciar' vn paefe tanto deliderato, tanto cercato, doue ogn' vnohaueuail fuocuore; Paefe, che riguardauamo, come la chiaue di tante miffioni ^ mille popoli fconofciuti, e doue attualmente haueuamo, oltre 6. miffioni della lingua Hurona, 5. per diuerfe nationi d' Algoncliini non era piccol negotio. Dall' altro canto le raggioni de' Barbari ci pareuano fenza replica, e conuincenti. Che fare? Raddoppiamo le noflre diuotioni con 1' oratione delle 40. hore. Coir oratione cofultiamo il Cielo, e con frequenti confulte conferiamo tra noi le 15. e 20. volte aflai k lungo; fempre ci pare, che Dio habbi parlato per la bocca di quei Capitani. Diceuano la veritk: il paefe degli Huroni no era piu altro, che vn luogo d' hor- rore, e di carnificina, e pareua inhabitabile ad altri, che alle furie dell' Inferno. Douunq; riguardauamo per ritirarci, e ceder alle miferie del tempo, v' inco- trauamo, e fame, e guerra/ e per altro fperauamo poterne faluar molti vicino alle habitationi Francefl con maggior facilita d' inftruirli nella Fede, nella quale erano ancor nuotii. Bifogno dunque renderfi/ tutti d' vn commun confenfo contro la propria incli- natione, confeffandofi conuinti dalle raggioni de Barbari. E perche il nemico non dormiua, bifogn5 affrettarne 1' efecutione al pofTibile, prima, che ci tendeffe infidie per il camino. Abbandonammo dun- que, ma non fenza lagrime, quel caro paefe, che inaffiato felicemente co i fudori, e col fangue de'
1653] BRESSANPS RELATION, i653 57
This transaction was too important not to require thought, and neither one day nor two, nor ten, were sufficient to settle it. To leave a country so much desired, so much sought after, where each one had his heart, — a Country which we regarded as the key to so many missions to a thousand unknown peoples; and where we actually had, besides 6 missions in the Huron language, 5 for various nations of Algon- quins, — was not a small affair. On the other side, the reasons of the Barbarians appeared to us unan- swerable and convincing. What was to be done? We redouble our devotions, together with the 40 hours' prayer. With prayer we consult Heaven; and with frequent deliberations we confer among our- selves, 15 or 20 times, at considerable length. It ever appears to us that God has spoken by the mouth of those Captains. They were telling the truth ; the country of the Hurons was no longer aught else than a place of horror and of slaughter, and appeared uninhabitable to others than the furies of Hell. Whithersoever we looked, that we might retire, and yield to the miseries of the time, we encountered both hunger and war; and, besides, we hoped to be able to save many of them when near the French settlements, with greater facilities for instructing them in the Faith, in which they were still new. It was therefore necessary to yield, — all with a common consent, though against their own inclination, acknowledging themselves convinced by the Bar- barians' reasons. And because the enemy was not asleep, it was necessary to hasten the execution of the plan to the utmost, before he laid snares for us by the way. We abandoned, therefore, but not without tears, that dear country, which, blessedly
58 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol.40
noftri fratelli, ci prometteua vna copiofa meffe, e ci daua k tutti fperanza d' imitarli, e in vita, e in morte. L' vnica nollra confolatione fii di menar con noi circa 300. perfone d' vna natione altre volte popolatiffima, rouinata quafi affatto nel tempo, che era piu fedele k Dio, il quale ne haueua tirati i fuoi eletti, e fpopo- lando qiiella Terra, liaiieua popolato il [127 i.e., 129] Cielo, arricchito delle noftre perdite. Quefti infelici refti de diuini flagelli nella perdita de beni, della Patria, e de' parenti no han perfa la Fede, la quale queft' vltimo anno era ftata communicata col S. Bat- telimo k piu di tremila perfone, che hora ne poffe- dono, come fperiamo, il frutto in Paradifo. Partimmo dagli Huroni al principio di Maggio, e doppo 900. miglia di camino, varij difagi, e pericoli, e fpeffi. naufragij arriuamo finalmente tutti k Kebek con per- fetta fanitk li 28. di Luglio 1650. done poco doppo circa altri 300. ci hano feguitati. Qui acorche 1' Illuftrifs. Gouernatore, qualche particolare, & i due Monafherij di Monache fi fiano caricati fopra le loro forze, d' al- cune poche famiglie, nondimeno il forte del pefo e caduto fopra le noftre fpalle, che ci fiamo di buon cuore caricati dello fpirituale, e temporale del refto, che Dio non lafcia fin' hora morir di fame. M^ e bifognato per queflo fcaricar la miffione d' alcuni operarij, maffime non effendo in quefta paucity di gente, come prima neceffarij. Che fe il Lettore mi domandaff e, che diuerrk quefta milTione ; fe fi rimet- ter^ vn giorno; fe v' e fperanza di ritorno per gli Huroni, e per i noftri. lo gli rifponderei, che ludi-
1653] BRESSANrS RELATION, ib53 59
watered with the sweat and the blood of our breth- ren, was promising us an abundant harvest, and was giving all of us the hope of imitating them, both in life and in death. Our only consolation was to take with us about 300 persons of a nation formerly most populous, but now almost utterly ruined, at the time when it was most faithful to God, — who had drawn from it his elect, and by depopulating that Land, had peopled [127 i.e., 129] Heaven, which is enriched by our losses. These unhappy remnants from the divine scourges, did not, in the loss of their posses- sions, their native Country, and their kinsmen, lose the Faith, — which in this last year had been bestowed by Holy Baptism upon more than three thousand persons; these now enjoy, as we hope, the fruit of it in Paradise. We departed from the Hurons at the beginning of May; and, after 900 miles of march, — amid various hardships and perils, and frequent ship- wrecks,— we all finally arrived in perfect health, on the 28th of July, 1650, at Kebek, — whither, soon afterward, about 300 others followed us. Here, although the Most Illustrious Governor, a certain private citizen, and the two Convents of Nuns, bur- dened themselves above their strength with some few families; nevertheless the bulk of the load fell upon our shoulders; but with good courage we charged ourselves with the spiritual and temporal interests of the remnant, whom God has not hitherto allowed to die of hunger. But on this account it has been necessary to relieve the mission of some laborers, — especially as they are not, in this paucity of people, indispensable as before. Now if the Reader should ask me, " What will become of this mission?" — whether it will be restored some day;
60 LES RELA TIONS DES jASUITES [Vol. 40
cia Dei abyffus mult a. Ma fe il furor de 1' Hirochefe G reprimefle, perche no? lo so, che vi fono grandiffime difficolt^, mk qu(B inipojjibilia fiuit apud Jiomines, poffi- bilia funt apud Deum, apud quern non e^ impoffibile omne verbum. E per altro il mondo non finirk, che 1' Euan- gelio non fia predicato da per tutto. Hor verfo 1' Oc- cidente degli Huroni fino al mare della China fono innumerabili nationi, quibus nonduni est annunciatum Regnum Dei, bifogna dunque che vn giorno 1' Euan- gelio c' arriui, quando bene tutte quefle miffioni per vn tempo finiffero, Dio sk il come. Non ejl nojirum noffe tempora, vel inonienta, qucz pater pofuit in fiia potejlate. Ma si bene di fupplicarlo, che quanto prima Adueniat regnii fuuin, e che fia glorificato da ogni gente, e natione, fmoho, fiat vnum ouile, & vims pajlor, & oinnes labia vnum laudemus viuentem in fcecula fcBcu- lorum. Reftano per6 ancora nel Canada, circa 30. PP. per diuerfe miffioni, e ftabili, e volanti; ^ Tadu- fak; verfo gl' Inglefi; ^ gli Atticameghi &c. oltre il Collegio di Kebek, e le Refideze di Sylleri, de i tre fiumi, e di Montreale, nominate al principio, 1' hiito- ria delle quali fi e fcritta ogn' anno in Francefe. II tutto fi farebbe piu fchiarito colla mappa, che fperauo qui aggiungere, ma non effendo in ordine; chi la defiderark, la potrk di qui "k poco hauer £i parte con le figure de Barbari, e delle loro crudeltk.
LAVS DEO.
1653] BRESSANPS RELATION, ibs3 61
whether there is hope of a return for the Hurons and for ours, — I would answer him that /udtcta Dei abys- sus multa. But if the fury of the Hiroquois should moderate itself, why not? I know that there are very great difficulties, but quce impossibilia sunt apud homines, possibilia sunt apud Deum, apud quern non est impossibile oimie verbum. And, furthermore, the world will not end until the Gospel has been preached everywhere. Now Westward from the Hurons, even to the sea of China, are innumerable nations, quibus nondum est annunciatum Regnuin Dei, hence it is neces- sary that the Gospel one day reach thither; even though all these missions should cease for a time; God knows how. Non est nostrum nosse tempora, vel momenta, qucB pater posuit in sua potestate, — but, indeed, to beseech him that Adve?iiat regnum suum as soon as possible ; and that he be glorified by every people and nation, until fiat unum ovile, et unus pastor, et ofnnes labio unufn laudemus viventem in scecula sceculorum. As it is, there still remain in Canada about 30 Fathers for various missions, both stationary and itinerant, — at Tadusak, toward the English, among the Attica- megues, etc., — besides the College of Kebek and the Residences at Sylleri, three rivers, and Montreal, mentioned at the beginning, the history of which has been written every year in French. The whole v/ould have been made clearer with the map which I was hoping to add here, but it is not ready. Those who shall desire it can have it a little while later, in separate form, with pictures of the Barbarians and their cruelties.
LAUS DEO.
62 LES RELA TIONS DBS /^SUITES [Vol. 40
Tauola de' Capitoli.
PRO EM 10. .... pag. I
Parte prima Cap. i . Situationc, & inuentione
della Nuoua Fra^icia. . . Pcig- i
Cap. 2. Defcrittione del paefe degli Hurojii. . 5
Cap. 3. Del /nolo, viuere, venire de' Barbari
della nuoua Frajicia . . . P^g- 7
Cap. 4. Politica de Barbari Canadefi. . 12 [i.e., 14] Cap. 5. Religione de' medejimi. . . 19 [i.e., 21]
Parte Seconda Della Conuerjione de Canadefi alia
Fede. . . . .28 [i.e., 30]
Cap. I. Prima difficolth della Conuerfione degli
Huroni pre/a da I Paefe. . .29 [i.e., 31]
Cap. 2. Seco?ida difficoltei, i pericoli del viaggio.
. 31 [i.e., 33] Cap. 3. Terza difficolth, la lijigua. . 54 [i.e., 56]
Cap. 4. Altre difficolth della Conuerfione de Bar- bari, particolarmente degli Huroni. . 62 [i.e., 64] Parte Terza Morte d' alcuni PP. della Compa- gnia di Giesii nelle Miffi07ii della Nuoua Francia. . . . .72 [i.e., 74]
Cap. I . Morte del P. Anna de Noue, e del P. Enne-
mo7ido Maffa. . . . 72 [i.e., 74]
Cap. 2. Del P. Ifaac logues. . . yy [i.e., 79]
Cap. 3. Refio della vita, e morte del P. logues.
102 [i.e., 104] Cap. 4. Morte del P. Antonio Daniel 105 [i.e., 107]
1653] BRESSANI'S RELATION, i6s3 63
Table of Chapters.
PREFACE. .... page i
Part first, Chap. i. Situation and dis- covery of New France. . page i
Chap. 2. Description of the country of the Hurons. 5
Chap. 3. Of the soil, food, and dress of the Bar- barians of new France. . . p^g^ 7
Chap. 4. Government of the Canadian Bar- barians. . . . .12 [i.e., 14]
Chap. 5. Religion of the same. . . 19 [i.e., 21]
Part Second. Of the ConversioJi of the Canadians
to the Faith. .... 28 [i.e., 30]
Chap. I. First difficulty in the Conversion of the
Hurons — establishment iri the Country. 29 [i.e., 31]
Chap. 2. Second difficulty — the dangers of the
journey. . . . . 31 [i.e., 33]
Chap. 3. Third difficulty — the language. 54 [i.e., 56]
Chap. 4. Other difficulties in the Conversion of
the Barbarians, especially of the Hurons. 62 [i.e., 64]
Part Third. Deaths of certain Fathers of the Society of Jesus, in the Missions of New France. . . . . 72 [i.e., 74]
Chap. I. Death of Father Anne de Noue, and of
Father Enne^nond Masse. . . 72 [i.e., 74]
Chap. 2. Of Father Isaac Jogues. . 77 [i.e., 79]
Chap. 3. Remainder of the life and death of
Father Jogues. . . 102 [i.e., 104]
Chap. 4. Death of Father Antoine Daniel.
. . . . . 105 [i.e., 107]
64 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
Cap. 5. Morte del P. Gio: di Brebeuf, e P. Ga-
brielle Lalleinent. . . 107 [i.e., 109]
Cap. 6. Morte del P. Carlo Gamier. 114 [i.e., 116]
Cap. 7. Morte del P. Nat ale Chabatiel. 119 [i.e., 121] Cap. 8. Defolatione del Paefe degli Htironi, e translatione della MiJJione Hurona a Kebek..
122 [i.e., 124]
1653] BRESSANPS RELATION, i633 65
Chap. 5. Death of Father Jean de Brebeuf, aiid
Father Gabriel Lallement. . 107 [i.e., 109]
Chap. 6. Death of Father Charles Gamier.
114 [i-e., 116] Chap. 7. Death of Father Noel Chabanel.
119 [i-e., 121] Chap. 8. Desolation of the Country of the Hu- rons, and removal of the Huron Mission to Kebek. . . . 122 [i.e., 124]
LXXXIV
Relation of 16^2-53
Paris: SEBASTIEN ET GABRIEL CRAMOISY, 1654
SOURCE: We follow a copy of the original Cramoisy (H. loi) in Lenox Library, New York.
RELATION
DE CE Oyi S'EST PASSE'
EN LA Mission des Peres dckCompagniedclEsvs,
AV PAYS DE LA
NpVVELLE' FRANCE,
Dcpuis lEre de TAnnee 1651, iuiqucs a i'Ete dc >' A nnee 1653.
Enuoyec au R. P. Prouincial de la Prouince de France,
?4r le Super ienr desM'tpons de In mefmi Compagnir.
■^-V"^
A P A R I S,
Chez Sebastien Cr.AMoisyJmprimfUi
ordinaire du Roy & de ia Reyne, Et Gabriel Cramoist ,iuf;- S.iacqucSj aux Gicoenes,
M. DC. LIV, '^r£C FMiFlLEQE Dr. M9Z
RELATION
OF WHAT OCCURRED
IN THE Mission of the Fathers of the Society of Jesus,
IN THE COUNTRY OF
NEW FRANCE,
From the Summer of the Year 16^2 to the Summer of the Year 16^3.
Sent to the Reverend Father Provincial of the Province of France.
By the Superior of the Missions of the same
Society.
PARIS,
Sebastien Cramoisy, Printer in ordinary
to the King and Queen,
And Gabriel Cramoisy, rue St. Jacques,
at the Sign of the Storks.
M. DC. LIV. BY ROYAL LICENSE.
»
/
f
I fA\J
1
^
•1 I t I ^ * * 1
. 1 L I t « < H.
, *^, ^. »•. *- * * «
I i I i Ji A
I i \ «. i 1
M,^mjf%.^-s,^r^-y^'
UOi. 7. «4f«
f "1
f
T ON
OCC RRED
OF THE \THERS
ty of J sus, »F
'*r of ear 16^2
of the' ir 16^^.
Hrend hai 1 IVovincial Wvince ol 1 mcc.
mf t/u :■: the satne
■ Socuty.
P A R I ^ Cramoisy. i ;...^. ,,, ordinary thftKing nn,^ Oil, ,^ lEL Cramc .t. Jacques,
the Sign of the b
i*..*.
''■ —^'^^•3
72
LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 40
Table des Chapitres contenvs en ce Livre.
RELA TION de ce qui sefl paj^^ en la Mijlion des Peres de la Compagnie de I E S V s , au Pays de la Nouuelle France depuis F Et^ de V ann^e 1652. iufques a Vann^e 1653. page Ch. I. D'vn vaiffeau pris par les Anglois, & des memoir es dont il eji parU en la lettre precedente
II. De ce qiii s' ejl paj^^ a Montreal.
III. De ce qui s' eJi pajld aux Trois Riuieres.
IV. De la pri/e & de la deliurance du Pere lofeph Poncet. ....
V. De la Paix faite auec les Iroquois.
VI. De la Paix faite auec vne Nation qui habit e du cojl^ du Sud a regard de Quebec. .
VII. La Pauuret^ & les RicheJJes du Pays.
VIII. La porte ferm^e h V Euangile, femble s'ouurir plus grande que iamais.
Chap. DERN. Recueil tir^ de diuerfes Lettres ap porties de la Nouuelle France.
5 10
22
46 88
129 146
153 156
Fin de la Table des Chapitres.
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-53 73
Table of Chapters contained in this Book.
RELA TION of what occurred in the Mission of the Fathers of the Society (?/ J E S U S , in the Country of New France, from, the Summer of the year 1652 to the year 1653. . page I
Chap. I. Of a vessel taken by the English, and of
the memoirs referred to in the preceding letter. 5
II. Of what occurred at Montreal. . .10
III. Of what occurred at Three Rivers. . 22
IV. Of the capture and deliverance of Father foseph Poncet. . . . .46
V. Of the Peace made ivith the Iroquois. . 88
VI. Of the Peace made with a Nation dwelling
in a Southerly direction from Quebec. . 129
VII. The Poverty and the Riches of the Country. 146
VIII. The door closed to the Gospel seems to open wider than ever. . . . '153
Chap, the last. Extracts from various Letters
brought from. New France. . . .156
End of the Table of Chapters.
74 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
[i] Relation de ce qvi s'eft paffe en la Miffion
des Peres de la Compagnie de JESVS, au
Pays de la Nouuelle France, depuis
I'Ete de I'anneLe] 16^2. iuf-
ques a I'annee 1653.
LETTRE DU PERE SUPERIEUR DE LA MISSION, AU REUEREND PERE PROUINCIAL.
MON R. PERE, Pax Chrijli. Eftant dans le deffein d'informer V. R. de I'eflat de nos Miffions en ce nouueau Monde; mon [2] efprit s'eft trouue partage, entre la crainte & I'ef- perance. La perfidie des Iroquois, que nous auons efprouuee a nos d'efpens, me fait peur: & les raions de bonte, que Dieu a fait 6clater nouuellement fur ces Contrees, bannilTant cette crainte, pour loger en fa place vne douce efperance. Si nos Ennemis font deloyaux, Dieu eft tres-fidelle : s'ils font tres- mechans, & tres-cruels, Dieu eft trefbon, & tres- doux: s'ils ont la penfee de nous perdre, Dieu k la volonte de nous fauuer. Nous adorons fa conduitte, & fur nous & fur nos Eglifes. le puis dire auec verite, que depuis dixhuit ans, que ie confidere les refforts de fa prouidence fur nos petits trauaux, i'ay remarque qu'il n'a iamais eloigne fa veue, ny fes regards, de ceux qui prodiguent leurs vies pour fon honneur. [3] II nous a releuez en nous abbailTans ;
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-33 75
[i] Relation of what occurred in the Mission.
of the Fathers of the Society of Jesus,
in the Country of New France, from
the Summer of the year 16^2
to the year 16^3.
LETTER FROM THE FATHER SUPERIOR OF THE MISSION TO THE REVEREND FATHER PROVINCIAL.
MY REVEREND FATHER, Pax Christi. When I purposed informing Your Rever- ence of the state of our Missions in this new World, my [2] heart was divided between fear and hope. The perfidy of the Iroquois, which we have experi- enced to our cost, causes me alarm ; and the rays of goodness which God has recently caused to shed their radiance upon these Countries, banish that fear, to put a sweet hope in its place. If our Enemies are treacherous, God is very faithful ; if they are very wicked and cruel, God is very good and gentle ; if it is their intention to destroy us, it is God's will to save us. We adore his guidance, of both us and our Churches. I can say with truth that, in the eighteen years during which I have observed the workings of his providence over our little labors, I have remarked that he has never turned away his eyes or hidden his face from those who freely give their lives in honor of him. [3] He has exalted us in abasing us; has made us find life in death; and, at the moment when.
76 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.40
il nous a fait trouuer la vie dedans la mort : & au point que la nuit d'vn profond defefpoir, fe vouloit emparer de nos coeurs, il a fait naiftre vn iour, qui donnera de I'etonnenient iufques dedans la France. Les chofes font encor fi recentes, que nous pouuons dire, que nous craignons fans craindre, & que nous efperons contre toute efperance. Nous enuoyons au Pere Paul le leune Procureur de nos Miffions, les memoires de nos bonnes, & de nos mauuaifes auan- tures, pour les prefenter ^ Voftre Reuerence. Elle verra que nous auons befoin plus que iamais de fes prieres, & des fecours de tous ceux qui prennent part k nos biens, & k nos maux : qui craignent dans nos craintes, & qui efperent dedans [4] nos efperances. Voftre Reuerence fe fouuienne, s'il luy plaifl h. I'au- tel de ces pauures peuples & de toutes nos Miffions, & en particulier de celuy qui luy eft de coeur & par deuoir.
Mon Reuerend Pere, A Quebec ce 2g. Tres-humble & tres-obeif-
cT 06lobre i6^j. fant feruiteur, en Nofhre
Seigneur. Francois le Mercier.
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-33 77
the darkness of a deep despair was about to take possession of our hearts, he caused a light to dawn that will arouse wonder even in France. These events are still so recent that we can say that we fear without fearing, and that we hope against all hope. We send to Father Paul le Jeune, Procurator of our Missions, the account of both our good and our ill fortunes, in order that he may present it to Your Reverence. You will see that we are in greater need than ever of your prayers, and of the assistance of all those who take an interest in our weal and woe, who fear in our fears and hope in [4] our hopes. Your Reverence will please to remember at the altar these poor people and all our Missions, and, in par- ticular, him who is, cordially and devotedly.
My Reverend Father, Quebec, this 2gth Your very humble and very
of October y i6^j. obedient servant in Our
Lord, Francois le Mercier.
78 LES RELATIONS DBS J&SUITES [Vol.40
[S] CHAPITRE PREMIER.
D'VN VAISSEAU PRIS par LES ANGLOIS, & DES MEMOIRES
DONT IL EST PARLE EN LA LETTRE
PRECEDENTE.
LE Pere k qui on auoit confix ces memoires, ayant eft6 pris par les Anglois, le dix feptiefme du mois de Decembre dernier paffe : les foldats, qui s'eftoient rendus maiftres du vaiffeau qui le por- toit, le fouillerent, & le pillerent auffi bien que les autres; ils luy rauirent fa petite Chapelle, en vn mot, ils luy ofterent iufques k fon Breuiaire, n'epar- gnans n'y Calice, ny Meffel, ny ornemens lacerdotaux, non pas mefme vne mechante couuerture, dont il fe feruoit les nuits, [6] affes froides, & affes longues. lis ouurirent tous les paquets, deplierent tous les papiers, efperans trouuer quelques pieces dargent: mais fe voyans fruftr^s de leurs efperances, ils en decbirerent vne partie, ietterent I'autre en la mer, ou bien fur le tillac du nauire, ou tout le monde marcboit pefle-mefle, les vainqueurs & les vaincus, les bumilies, & les Infolens. Le pauure Pere ramalla doucement ce qu'il put de lettres, de papiers, & de memoires. Les vns eftoient en lambeaux, & les autres eftoient fales, comme fi on les eut retires de la boue. Les Frangois les mieux vefhus, furent depouilles tous nuds, pour eftre couuers de vieux haillons: ils paffoient les nuits fous le tillac, fans autre mattelas que les ordures, & les falet^s cauf^es
1653] RELATION OF 1652-53 79
[5] CHAPTER FIRST.
OF A VESSEL TAKEN BY THE ENGLISH, AND OF THE MEMOIRS REFERRED TO IN THE PRE- CEDING LETTER.
THE Father to whom the above memoirs had been entrusted, was taken prisoner by the English on the seventeenth of the month of December last.^ The soldiers who had taken pos- session of the vessel that was bearing him searched and plundered him, as well as the rest; they robbed him of his little Chapel, and, in short, pillaged him even to his Breviary, sparing neither Chalice nor Missal, nor sacerdotal ornaments, nor even a wretched blanket which he used at night, [6] the nights being rather cold and long. They opened all the packages and unfolded all the papers, hoping to find some pieces of money; but, being disappointed in their hopes, they tore up some of the papers and threw the rest into the sea or else on the ship's deck, where all the people were walking about, pell-mell, — vic- tors and vanquished, the humbled and the Insolent. The poor Father quietly gathered up what he could of letters, papers, and memoirs, — some of them being in tatters, and others as dirty as if they had been taken out of the mud. The best dressed of the French were stripped quite naked, and forced to cover themselves with old rags. They passed the nights under the deck, without any other mattress than the filth and dirt which was caused by a crowd
80 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.40
par vn ramas de [7] Soldats, des Mattelots, & de PafTagers : detrempees dans les eaux de la mer, qui entroient par les fabores, & qui fe couloient entre les deux ponts, pour feruir de lits, & de couuertures, a ces pauures vaincus. Enfin le nauire fut conduit k Pleymouth en Angleterre.
C'eft icy, ou nos Fran9ois rencon trans quelques vailTeaux, & quelques Capitaines leurs compatriotes, tomb6s dans le mefme malheur, furent failis d'vne nouuelie douleur. A peine leur nauire fut-il entre dedans le port, qu'il fe vit inuefly de tous coft^s, de batteaux, & de gondoles remplis de marchands, qui monterent auffi-toft fur le tillac, pour acheter des foldats, le pillage & le vol qu'ils venoient de com- mettre. Le Pere vit vendre a I'Encan fon Breuiaire, celuy qui I'aclieta, ne [8] demanda point s'il eftoit a I'vfage de Rome, ou de quelque autre Diocefe, la piete de ces bonnes gens, eft d'auoir de largent, & d'en tirer des chofes fainc5tes, auffi bien que des pro- phanes. Nos Frangois voyoient mettre a I'encliere leurs petis meubles, & la plus part des paffagers perdirent en vn iour, ce qu'ils auoyent gagne en plu- fieurs annees en la Nouuelie France. Quelques-vns d'entre eux difoient que la perte de ce nauire, pouuoit monter a trois cent mille liures. le ne fcay £i cela eft veritable, mais ie fgay bien, qu'on voyoit dans vne miferable rencontre, beaucoup de ioye, & beaucoup de trifleff e : les vns baiff oient la tefte, & les autres la leuoient auec affes de fafte, fe reiouif- fans, Sicut exultant viclores captd prcedd, quando diuidunt fpolia, [9] Comme des vidtorieux, lors qu'ils parta- gent leur proye, & leur butin.
II ny a lieu au monde, excepte I'Enfer, ou il ne fe
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-53 81
of [7] Soldiers, Sailors, and Passengers, and was steeped in the sea-water which came in through the port-holes, and ran along between the two decks, to serve as beds and blankets to those poor vanquished souls. At last the ship was brought to Pleymouth in England.
Here our Frenchmen, meeting with some vessels and Captains from their own country, subject to the same misfortune, were seized with a fresh grief. Scarcely had their ship entered the harbor, when it was surrounded on all sides by boats and gondolas filled with merchants, who immediately came up on deck to purchase from the soldiers the fruits of the pillage and theft just committed by them. The Father saw his Breviary sold at Auction, the pur- chaser not [8] asking whether it was for the use of Rome or of some other Diocese. The piety of those worthy people consists in having money, and in ob- taining it from things sacred, as well as from things profane. Our Frenchmen saw their little belongings put up at auction, and the greater part of the pas- sengers lost in one day what they spent several years in gaining in New France. Some of them said that the loss of this ship might reach as high as three hundred thousand livres. I do not know whether that is true ; but I do know very well that there was seen, in pitiful conjunction, much joy and great sadness, — some hanging their heads, and others rais- ing theirs vaingloriously and rejoicing, Sicut exultant victor es captd prcedd, quando dividunt spolia — [9] " like victors when they divide their plunder and booty."
There is no place in the universe, except Hell, where there are not found some good people, or some persons of a good disposition. Some Englishmen
82 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
treuue, des gens de bien, ou des perfonnes de bon naturel, Quelques Anglois, s'approchans du Pere, luy firent vne petite aumofne. II faut confeffer que c'eft vne chofe bien rude, & bien facheufe, de faire, comme on dit, naufrage au port. Ce pauure Pere, & tous les paffagers, & les matelots du mefme equipage, ayans fouffert les fatigues de la mer, dans vn long voyage, n'eilans pas loing de leur patrie, gouftans par auance le repos, & la douceur, qu'ils attendoyent de la veue, & de la communication de leurs parens & de leurs amis : f e virent mif erablement pris & enle- ues, par des [lo] gens, qui ne portent pas le nom d'ennemis, mais qui en font toutes les adtions. Dieu foit beny de tout, pour conclufion les Anglois ayans retenu quelques iours le Pere k Pleymouth, le firet paffer au Havre de Grace, ^ la follicitation de quel- ques Capitaines Frangois, dont les vaiffeaux auoyent eft6 pris, & conduits dans ce mefme port. Voila comme nous auons receu les fragmens des memoires, qu'on nous enuoyoit.
1653] RELATION OF i6s3-S3 83
approached the Father and bestowed on him a small gift of charity. It must be admitted, it is a very- harsh and trying experience to suffer shipwreck in port, as the saying is. This poor Father and all the passengers and sailors of the same ship, after they had endured the fatigues of the sea during a long voyage, and when they were not far from their native land, — and tasting, in anticipation, the rest and delight which they expected from seeing and con- versing with their relatives and friends, — saw them- selves miserably captured and carried off by [lo] those who did not bear the name, although they displayed all the conduct, of enemies. Let God be blessed for all things. To conclude, after the Eng- lish had kept the Father for some days at Pley- mouth, they sent him over to Havre de Grace, at the solicitation of some French Captains whose vessels had been captured and brought into this same port. It is thus that we received the fragments of the memoirs that were sent to us.
84 LES RELATIONS DES jtSUITES [Vol.40
CHAPITRE II.
DE CE QUI S'EST PASSE A MONTREAL.
LE fecours extraordinaire, qu'on a enuoy6 en cette habitation, an dernier embarquement ; [ii] a donne de la ioye, non feulement aux Francois, qui y font leur demeure : mais encor ^ tout le pais. Quelques perfonnes de merite, & de vertu, qui ayment mieux eftre connues de Dieu, que des hommes: ayans donne dequoy leuer vne bonne efcouade d'ouuriers, femblables a ceux qui rebatif- foient ladis le Temple de lerufalem, manians la truelle d'vne main, & I'epee de I'autre: on a fait palTer a Montreal, plus d'vne centaine de braues Artifans; tous fgauans dans les metiers qu'ils pro- felTent, & tous gens de cceur pour la guerre. Dieu beniffe au centuple, ceux qui ont commanc6 cet ouurage, & leur donne la gloire d'vne fainte perfe- uerance, pour la mettre k chef,
Les Peres de noftre Compagnie, [12] qui font en cette habitation, voyans que les Iroquois la mugue- toient inceffamment, faifans des courfes dedans I'lfle: dreffans k toute heure des embufcades: tenans nos Frangois fi etroitement affieges, qu'on n'ofoit tant foit peu s'ecarter, fans vn danger euident de perdre la vie ; comme il arriua a vn pauure miferable, qui pour n'auoir pas fuiuy les ordres, qu'on luy auoit donn6s : tomba malheureufement dans les armes de ces chaffeurs d'hommes. Nos Peres dy-ie voyans
1653] RELATION OF ibs2-S3 8&
CHAPTER II. OF WHAT OCCURRED AT MONTREAL.
THE extraordinary assistance that was sent tO' this settlement by the last shipment [ii] gave joy not only to the French who live there, but also to the whole country. Certain persons of merit and virtue, who choose to be known of God rather than of men, having given the means to raise a suit- able company of workmen, — like those who, in days of Yore, rebuilt the Temple of Jerusalem, wielding the trowel with one hand and the sword with the other, — there were sent over to Montreal more than a hundred worthy Artisans, all well versed in the trades that they professed, and all men of courage for war. May God bless a hundredfold those who began this work, and give them the glory of a holy perseverance in pushing it to completion.
The Fathers of our Society [12] who are at this settlement observed that the Iroquois were inces- santly striving to obtain it, making sallies into the Island, continually laying ambuscades, and holding our French so closely besieged that no one ventured upon a ramble, to even the least distance, without manifest danger of losing his life, — as was shown by what happened to one poor wretch, who, because he did not obey the orders that were given him, unhappily fell into the hands of these hunters of men. Our Fathers, I say, seeing the imminence of these dangers, induced our French to have recourse
«6 LES RELA TIONS DES jASUITES [Vol. 40
ces dangers fi preffans, porterent nos Frangois a auoir recours k la fainte Vierge par quelque deuotion extraordinaire. On fit des ieufnes, des aumofnes, on inftitua les oraifons de quarante heures, on offrit plufieurs communions en fon honneur, bref on [13] fit vn voeu folemnel de celebrer publiquement la fefle de fa prefentation, demandant ^ Dieu par I'en- tremife de cette Mere des bontes, ou qu'il arretaft la fureur de ces ennemis, ou qu'il les exterminaft, s'il preuoyoit, qu'ils ne fe vouluffent pas conuertir, ny rendre "k la raifon ; Chofe Strange, & tres-remarquable, les Iroquois depuis ce temps-1^, non feulement n'ont eu aucun auantage deffus nous, mais ils ont perdu beaucoup de leur monde, dans leurs attaques, & Dieu "k la parfin, les a fi fortement touches, qu'ils ont de- mande la paix.
La protedtion de cette Reyne des hommes & des Anges parut dans vn certain rencontre, d'vne fa5on toute particuliere. Vingt fix Frangois, fe trouuans renfermes au milieu de deux cent Iroquois, [14] deuoyent perdre la vie, fans le fecours de cette Prin- cefTe. Ces Barbares, firent vne decharge fur eux, d'vn lieu fort proche; lis tirerent deux cent coups fans tuer ny bleffer pas vn des noflres. Ce n'eft pas qu'ils ne manient tres-bien leurs armes; mais c'eft que Dieu vouloit, en c6t attaque, verifier le prouerbe, qui dit que ce que Dieu garde eft bien gard6. Le Fils de Marie ne refufe rien "k fa fainte Mere. II ^carta les bales des ennemis, & dirigea fi bien celles des Fran9ois, qu'ils renuerferent quantity des Affie- geans, & myrent en fuitte ceux qui rechapperent de la mort, ou des bleffures notables. I'ay leu dans vne lettre, que les chemins par ou ils paflerent en
1653] RELATION OF i6s2-S3 87
to the blessed Virgin in a special devotional service. Fasts were observed, alms were given, forty hours of prayer were entered upon, and several com- munions were offered in her honor. In short, [13] a solemn vow was made to celebrate publicly the festival of her presentation, — with petitions to God, through the mediation of this Mother of goodness, either to stay the fury of these enemies, or to exter- minate them, if he foresaw that they were unwilling to be converted or yield to reason. Strange and very remarkable Circumstance ! From that time not only did the Iroquois not gain any advantage over us, but they even lost many of their own number in their attacks; and God's hand was finally so heavy upon them that they sued for peace.
The protection of this Queen of men and of Angels was, on a certain occasion, made evident in an alto- gether peculiar way. Twenty-six Frenchmen were surrounded by two hundred Iroquois [14] and, with- out the aid of that Princess, would have surely lost their lives. The Barbarians discharged their pieces at them from a position of close proximity ; and two hundred shots were fired by them, without killing or wounding one of our men. It was not that they did not handle their weapons well. But it was God's will, in this attack, to verify the proverb which says that " what God guards is well guarded." Mary's Son refuses his holy Mother nothing. He turned aside the enemy's bullets, and directed those of the French so well that they caused many of their Assailants to fall, and put to flight those who escaped death or serious wounds. I have read in a letter that the routes taken by them in their flight were found all covered with their blood; and that, a
88 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 40
s'enfuyans, furent trouues, tous couuers de leur fang; & qu'affes long-temps apres leur depart, [15] les chiens rapportoient des lambeaux de corps humains en I'habitation des Francois.
II ne s'eft paff6 aucun mois de I'annee, difent les memoires qui font venus iufques a nous, que ces Chaffeurs ne nous ayent vifites a la fourdine, tachans de nous furprendre ; mais enfin le vingt fixiefme de luin, il en parut foyxante, de ceux qui font nommes par les Hurons, Onnontaeronnons, demandans de loing vn fauf conduit pour quelques vns d'entre eux: crians qu'ils eftoient enuoyes de la part de toute leur Nation, pour ffauoir fi les Frangois auroient le coeur difpofe k la paix.
C'eft chofe eftrange, combien ces Infideles, fe fient en nos paroles, quoy qu'ils n'ignorent pas, qu'ils nous ayent trahis, [16] quafi autant de fois, qu'ils ont traite auec nous: & qu'ils meritent en fuitte, le reci- proque. Nos Frangois auoient bien delTein de leur rendre le change faifans main bafle de ces deloyaux, & de ces perfides : mais quand ils les virent auancer fans armes, & fans deffence, cette franchife amolit leur coeur, & leur fit croire, que Dieu auoit exauc6 les prieres qu'ils luy auoient prefentees, par les mains de la faindle Vierge, a laquelle ils auoyent demande du fecours, contre vn ennemy fi traiflre & fi puiffant.
Quand ils furent entr6s dans le Fort de nos Fran- 9ois, & qu'ils eurent expofe les penfees, & les defirs de leur Nation : on ne parla plus que de confiance, de paix, & de bien veillance, vous euffies dit que iamais on ne s'eftoit fait la [17] guerre, & qu'on n'eftoit pas en difpofition, de iamais la recommancer. Nos Frangois neantmoins eftoient toujours fous leurs
1653] RELATION OF i6s2-53 89
considerable time after their departure, [15] the dogs kept bringing back fragments of human bodies to the French settlement.
" There has not passed," say the memoirs which have reached us, ' ' a single month of the year in which these Hunters have not visited us by stealth and tried to surprise us. But finally, on the twenty- sixth of June, there appeared sixty of them, belong- ing to those who are called by the Hurons, Onnon- taeronnons, requesting from afar a safe-conduct for some of their number, and calling out that they were sent on behalf of their whole Nation to learn whether the hearts of the French would be inclined to peace."
It is strange how much confidence these Infidels have in our word, although they are well aware that they have betrayed us [16] almost as often as they have treated with us, and that consequently they themselves deserve like usage. Our Frenchmen were, indeed, planning to deceive them, and to put these treacherous and perfidious people to the sword ; but, when they saw them advancing unarmed and defenseless, such frankness softened their hearts and made them believe that God had granted the prayers which they had offered him through the mediation of the blessed Virgin, whom they had petitioned for help against so faithless and powerful an enemy.
When they had entered the Fort of our French people and had declared the purposes and wishes of their Nation, you would have said, — since nothing was any longer talked about but confidence and peace and good will, — that they had never waged any [17] war, and that they were indisposed ever to begin it again. Our Frenchmen were, nevertheless, always under arms and all ready to fight, although
90 LES RELATIONS DES JJ^SUITES [Vol.40
armes, & tons prefts de combattre, quoy que ces bonnes gens fuffent parmy eux, fans verge ny bafton, fe contentans de la feule parole qu'on leur auoit donn^e, pour toute leur deffence.
On les traita auec amour, on receu leurs prefens, & on leur en fit de reciproques, & apres vne reiouif- fance publique, de part & dautre: ils s'en retour- nerent en leur pays, rauis de ioye, d'auoir trouue des efprits, & des coeurs amateurs de la paix. le trouue dans quelques memoires, qu'ils donnerent parole, qu'on auroit bien-toft de leurs nouuelles, & on nous a mand6, que quelques [i8] vns de cette Nation, font defcendus a Quebec auec des prefens, comme il fe verra au Cliapitre cinquiefme, ou il eft parl6 de la paix. Pour ceux dont nous parlous prefentement, on nous dit, qu'en paffant, a leur retour, par le Bourg d'Onneiout, ils deplierent deuant les Habitans de cette Bourgade, les prefens qu'on leur auoit fait a Montreal, racomptans mille biens des Frangois: ce font, difoyent-ils, des Demons quand on les attaque : mais les plus doux, les plus courtois, & les plus affa- bles, qui foyent au monde, quand on les traite d'amis: ils protefterent, qu'ils alloient tout de bon, contradter vne etroitte alliance auec eux.
Les Onneichronnons voulurent eftre de la partie. lis deleguerent quelque temps apres vne [19] Ambaf- fade a Montreal, auec vn grand colier de porcelaine ; qui t^moignoit, que toute leur Nation vouloit entrer dans le traite de paix, que les Onnontaeronnons auoient commance auec les Fran9ois. Et pour donner quelque marque, de la fidelite de leur parole, ils nous donnerent auis, que fix cent Iroquois Anniehronnons, eftoient partis de leur pais, h. deiTein d'enleuer le
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-33 91
those simple people were in our midst without rod or staff, satisfied with the mere word that had been given them for their sole defense.
They were treated with kindness ; their presents were received, and others given them in return ; and, after a public rejoicing on both sides, they returned to their own country, overcome with joy at having found minds and hearts desirous of peace. I find in some memoirs that they gave their promise that news should soon be heard from them ; and we have received word that some [18] from that Nation came down to Quebec with presents, as will be seen in the fifth Chapter, where the peace is described. As for those of whom we are speaking at present, we are told that, on their way back, they called at the Village of Onneiout and displayed, before the Inhabitants of that Village, the presents that had been given them at Montreal. They said a thousand things in favor of the French: " They are," said they, " Demons when they are attacked, but the gentlest, most courteous, and most affable people in the world, when they are treated as friends." They declared they were really going to contract a close alliance with them.
The Onneichronnons, wishing to be parties to it, some time afterward sent an [19] Embassy to Mont- real, with a large porcelain collar, declaring that all their Nation wished to enter into the treaty of peace that the Onnontaeronnons had begun with the French. And, in order to give some proof of their sincerity, they informed us that six hundred Annie- hronnon Iroquois had set out from their country with the purpose of capturing the Village built by the French at three rivers. This was found to be true.
92 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol, 40
Bourg des Fran9ois, bafty aux trois riuieres : ce qui s'efk trotiu6 veritable. II faut confeffer, que Dieu eft vn grand ouurier, & qu'il fait en vn iour, pour les hommes, ce que les hommes n'oferoient quali efperer en trente ans. le dirois quafi volontiers, dans ce changement de I'efprit des Iroquois, ce que difoient deux Algonquins, il y a quelques ann6es, leur canot [20] ayant efl6 brife au milieu du grand fleuue, ils fe ietterent fur vne glace flottante, & voy- ans qu'ils s'alloyent perdre fans refource, ils firent vne petite priere ^ Dieu, quoy qu'ils ne fuffent pas encor Chreftiens: lis ne I'auoyent pas quafi com- manc^e, que cette glace, quittant le courrant, qui I'emportoit, trauerfa droit aux riues de ce grand fleuue, oil s'eflant doucement arreftee, ils fe ietterent incontinent en lieu de fauuete ; & ^ mefme temps, cette glace qui leur auoit feruy de batteau, fut fra- caffee deuant leurs yeux par d'autres glaces. Eux furpris de ce miracle, ne dirent autre chofe, pour adtion de grace, que ces paroles: En verite, il a eu bien-toft fait; nous n'auions pas encor acheu6, le dernier mot de nos prieres, qu'il nous a deliur6s [21] du naufrage. Difons le mefme a I'egard des Iroquois. lis eftoient remplis de rage & de fureur: on prie, on leufne, on k recours k la Saindte Vierge, & k fon cher Epoux Saint lofeph, tant k Quebec, quaux trois Riuieres & a Montreal, & ces Barbares font changes en vn moment. En verit6 Dieu k eu bien- toft fait, c'eft vn grand ouurier. Soli Deo honor &■ gloria, c'eft k luy feul, que ce grand changement doit eftre attribu6.
Quelque temps apres le changement, & le pourparler de ces deux Nations, vne trouppe d' Iroquois Annie-
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-53 93
It must be confessed that God is a great workman, and that he does for man, in one day, what man himself would scarcely dare hope to accomplish in thirty years. In this change of disposition on the part of the Iroquois, I would be almost willing to use the words uttered by the Algonquins some years ago. Their canoe [20] being wrecked in the middle of the great river, they leaped upon a piece of floating ice ; and, seeing that they were on the point of irremedi- able destruction, they offered a little prayer to God, although they were not yet Christians. They had scarcely begun it when the piece of ice, leaving the current that was bearing it away, crossed straight to the bank of the great river, where it gently came to rest, and the men forthwith sought a place of safety. At the same time, the block of ice which had served them as a boat was shattered before their eyes by other ice-blocks. Surprised at this miracle, they said in thanksgiving only these words: " Truly, it was soon done ; we had not yet finished the last word of our prayers, when he delivered us [21] from ship- wreck." Let us say the same in regard to the Iroquois. They were filled with rage and fury ; we pray, we Fast, we have recourse to the Blessed Virgin and to her dear Spouse, Saint Joseph, at Quebec as well as at three Rivers and Montreal ; and in a mo- ment these Barbarians are changed. In truth, God did his work quickly; he is a master workman. Soli Deo honor et gloria; to him alone is this great change to be attributed.
Some time after the change, and after the parley of these two Nations, a band of Anniehronnon Iro- quois invaded the Island of Montreal for the purpose of molesting the French in their usual manner. A
94 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 40
hronnons, s'eftant iett^e dans I'lflede Montreal, pour molefter les Frangois h. leur ordinaire, vne braue efcouade de Hurons Chreftiens furuenant la delTtis, decouurit leur piftes, & donna la chaff e h. ces challeurs, £i [22] viuement, le propre iour de I'Affomption de la Sainte Vierge, qu'ils prierent \sc. prirent] le Capi- taine de ces Courreurs, & quatre des principaux de fa fuitte, mettant le refte en deroute. Cette prife a bien feruy ^ la paix generalle de tons ces peuples, comme nous verrons cy-apres.
!
1653] RELA TJON OF 1652-53 95
gallant company of Christian Hurons, arriving unex- pectedly, discovered their trail, and gave such hot chase after these hunters, [22] on the very day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, that they made prisoners the Captain of the Skirmishers and four of his principal followers, putting the rest to rout. That capture, as we shall see hereafter, contributed greatly to the general peace of all these tribes.
96 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 40
CHAPITRE III.
DE CE QUI S'EST PASSE AUX TROIS RIUIERES.
IE fuiuray, quali de mot k mot, ce qui eft couch6 dans quelques lettres venues de cette Bourgade. Le Capitaine Aontarifati, dit I'vne de ces lettres, que nos Sauuages prirent I'annee paff^e, fut fi fort regrett6 de tous les cantons des Iroquois d'enbas fes compatriotes, qu'auffi toft que la [23] nouuelle de fa mort leur en fut portee, il fe fit vne ligue generale, & vne refolution, de tirer vne fanglante, & vne cruelle vengeance de cette mort. Le maffacre de Monfieur du PlefQs noftre Gouuerneur, & de quantity des princi- paux de noftre Bourg, n'afCouuit point leur rage: les tourmens horribles, qu'ils firent fouffrir h. tous leurs prifonniers, tant Franjois que Sauuages, n'eteignirent point le feu de leur colere. lis firent vn edit dans tous leur pays, qu'on ne donneroit plus la vie k aucun Huron pris en guerre : ce qu'ils executerent en fuitte, fur quelques miferables qui tomberent entre leurs mains. Tout cela leur parut peu de chofe : il falloit pour les confoler dans la perte d'vn fi grand homme en leur idee, enleuer la Bourgade des [24] trois Riuieres, & mettre a feu & k fang tous les Fran9ois, & tous les Sauuages qu'ils y rencontreroient.
Pour I'execution de ce deffein, vne petite armee d'Anniehronnos vint prendre fon quartier d'Hyuer, k trois lieues ou enuiron de noftre Bourgade, dans le fond des bois ; croyant nous furprendre, lors que les
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-53 97
CHAPTER III.
OF WHAT OCCURRED AT THREE RIVERS.
I SHALL follow, almost word for word, the con- tents of some letters that have come from this Village. " Captain Aontarisati," says one of these letters, " whom our Savages captured last year, was so deeply lamented by all the cantons of the lower Iroquois, his fellow-countrymen, that, as soon as the [23] news of his death reached them, a general league was formed, and a resolution taken to exact a bloody and cruel vengeance for his loss. The murder of Monsieur du Plessis, our Governor, and of many of the chief men of our Village, did not glut their rage; the horrible torments that they made all their prisoners undergo, French as well as Savage, failed to extinguish the fire of their wrath. They issued an edict throughout their whole country that no one should thenceforth spare the life of any Huron taken in war ; and this order they afterward executed upon some wretched victims who fell into their hands. But all this seemed a small matter to them ; in their opinion, it was necessary, in order to console them for the loss of so great a man, to take the Village of [24] three Rivers and put to fire and sword all the French and all the Savages that they might find there.
" To carry out this purpose, a little army of Annie- hronnons came and took up its Winter quarters at the distance of three leagues or thereabout from our
98 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
grandes neiges, & les grands froids, nous feroyent plutoft penfer an repos, qu'a la guerre: mais Dieu qui ne vouloit pas, nous donner en proye k ces loups rauiflans, nous fit decouurir les piftes de leurs efpions, qui s'eftoient auanc6s iufques k vne lieue proche de noflre Bourg. Cela nous mit dans la deff enfiue. On fortifia nos Baftions, & nos Courtines, on redoubla les gardes, & les fentinelles : bref on fe [25] tint fi bien k couuert, que ces Ennemis, dont nous ne fgauions pas le nombre, ne trouuans plus de chaffe, aux enuirons du fort qu'ils auoient dreff^, furent contrains de fecarter, & d'aller chercher des viures, en leur pays, mais ils n'y firent pas vn bien long fejour.
Si toft que la riuiere fut libre, on ne vit de tous coft6s, que de petites bandes de coureurs, qui tachoient de furprendre quelque challeur, ou quelque Laboureur, & letter ceux qui les voudroient fauuer, dans leurs embufcades. Nos Sauuages fe voyans fi referres, & fi fouuent harceles, prirent courage, aymans mieux mourir en combattans, que d'eftre furpris, comme il arriuoit par fois a quelque Fran- 9ois, ou k quelques vns de leurs compatriotes. Ils fe refolurent d'arrefter I'infolence [26] de ces Trafons, qui nous venoient brauer, quafi iufques ^ nos portes. Dieu leur a donn6 benedidlion; car quoy qu'ils fulTent en petit nombre, ils ont fouuent pourfuiuy d'afT6s groffes trouppes: les contraignans de quitter leurs armes, leurs batteaux & leur bagage, pour fe fauuer dans les bois.
Le neufieme de May, vn petit canot Algonquin ayant apperceu vne embufcade, cach^e ^ labry des Ifles des trois Riuieres, s'enfuit ^ forces de rames, non
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-S3 99
Village, in the depths of the woods, — thinking to surprise us when the heavy snows and intense cold should make us think of rest rather than of war. But God, who did not choose to make us a prey to those ravenous wolves, caused us to discover the traces of their spies, who had advanced to within a league from our Village. That put us on the defen- sive : we fortified our Bastions and Curtains, doubled our guards and sentinels, and, in short, [25] kept ourselves so carefully protected that the Enemy, whose numbers we did not know, finding no more game in the vicinity of the fort which they had constructed, were forced to disperse and go in search of provisions to their own country ; but they did not remain there very long.
" As soon as the river was free, we saw on all sides nothing but little bands of skirmishers trying to sur- prise some hunter or some Husbandman, and to draw into their ambuscades those who should wish to save these. Our Savages, seeing themselves so hemmed in and so often harassed, took courage, choosing rather to die fighting than to be surprised, as occasionally happened to some Frenchman or to some of their own fellow-countrymen. They resolved to put a stop to the insolence [26] of these Trasos [boasters], who came to defy us almost at our very doors. God gave them his blessing; for, although they were few in number, they often gave chase to some rather large bands, and compelled them to abandon their arms, their boats, and their baggage, in order to seek safety in the woods.
" On the ninth of May, a little Algonquin canoe, catching sight of an ambuscade concealed under shelter of the Islands of the three Rivers, took flight
100 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.40
pour euiter le combat, mais pour mettre a terre en vn cap, ou il y auoit des Fran9ois retranch^s, vne femme qui eftoit dans leur petit batteau, fi toft quelle fut en alTurance, ils tournent vifage vers les enne- mis, qui les pourfuiuoient, ils n'eftoient que trois [27] hommes dans cette petite gondole, & les Iro- quois rempliffoient trois de leurs grands canots. Quand ces Iroquois virent la refolutio de nos trois guerriers qui tachoient de les aborder, ils furet jQ furpris, & fi €t6n€s, qu'ils fe miret en fuitte: croyans que d'autres les pourroient pourfuiure puis qu'ils eftoient decouuerts.
Le treifieme du mefme mois, Monfieur de Laufon Gouuerneur pour fa Maieft6 dans tout le pays, venant vifiter noftre Bourgade: il arriua, qu'a mefme temps qu'on tiroit le canon par honneur, pour le faluer, que quattre ou cinq Laboureurs, qui tenoient le manche de leurs charues, dans la campagne voyfine, furent inueftis par vne trouppe d' Iroquois, qui en tuerent deux. Nos Sauuages les pourfuiuirent, mais vn pen trop [28] tard: ils trouuerent feulement le bagage de ces voleurs, qu'ils auoient abandonne, pour courir plus legerement, & pour fe mettre plutoft hors des dangers d'eftre attrapes.
Le vingt-huiti^me, ces Chaff eurs ayans tu6 vn petit enfant Frangois, quafi k la port6e du fufil de nos habitations, le canonier, voiant qu'il ny auoit per- fonne pour les pourfuiure, mit le feu h. vne piece de canon, pour donner le fignal : mais le canon creua, & rompit vne iambe h. ce pauure homme, qui mourut pen de iours apres de fa blefCure.
Le trenti^me, cette mefme bande furprit vn ieune Huron, que quelques Laboureurs auoient mis en
1653] RELATION OF 1652-53 101
as fast as its paddles could urge it, — not to avoid an engagement, but to put ashore, on a cape where some Frenchmen were intrenched, a woman who was in their little boat. As soon as she was in safety, they faced about toward the enemy that pursued them, although they were only three [27] men in that little gondola, while the Iroquois filled three of their large canoes. When these Iroquois saw the determination of our three warriors, who were try- ing to board them, they were so surprised and astounded that they took flight, thinking that others might pursue them, now that they were discovered.
" On the thirteenth of the same month. Monsieur de Lauson, Governor for his Majesty of the whole country, came to visit our Village. At the same time that the cannon fired a salute in his honor, it happened that four or five Husbandmen, who were plowing in the neighboring field, were surrounded by a band of Iroquois, who killed two of them. Our Savages pursued them, but a little too [28] late, — finding only the baggage of these robbers, which they had abandoned in order to run more freely and put themselves the sooner out of danger of being caught.
" On the twenty-eighth, these Hunters having killed a little French child, almost within gunshot of our settlement, the cannoneer, seeing that there was no one to pursue them, discharged a piece of artillery, in order to give the signal; but the cannon burst, and broke one of this poor man's legs; he died from his wound, a few days later.
" On the thirtieth, this same band surprised a young Huron, whom some Husbandmen had posted as sentinel at the edge of the wood, while they
102 LES RELATIONS DES jlSUITES [Vol.40
fentinelle, ftir le bord du bois, pendant qu'ils trauail- loient k la terre. lis le menerent dans vn [29] fond, enuiron k demie lieue de la Bourgade : oil ils le firent alTeoir, pour luy demander en quelle pofture nous eftions, & pour apprendre I'eftat de nos affaires. Ce bon gar§on fut adroit, il leur parla en forte que ces brigands, ne croyans point qu'on les deut fuiure s'ar- refterent vn peu trop long-temps en ce lieu pour leur bien, car nos Hurons furuenans, non feulement leur firent lacher leur proye, mais ils en prirent encor quelques-vns deux prifonniers, qu'ils ramenerent au fort. le ferois trop long, fi ie voulois rapporter toutes les attaques, les pourfuittes, & les prifes qui fe font faites de part & d' autre es enuirons de cette Bourgade, venons au fiege qu'ils ont fait "k leur mode.
Quoy que les Sauuages ne [30] plantent pas de fieges "k la fa9on des Europeans, ils ne manquent pas nean- moins de conduitte dedans leurs guerres : en voicy vne preuue. Les Iroquois Anniehronnons, ayans deffein d'enleuer la Bourgade des trois Riuieres, plutoft par furprife, que par force, ils enuoyerent premierement, autant que ie peux conjedturer, quel- ques petites trouppes detachees de leur gros, a Mont- real, & vers Quebec: afin d'occuper nos Fran9ois, & leur ofter I'enuie, aux vns de defcendre aux trois Riuieres, & aux autres dy monter ; & par ce moyen empefcher le fecours, qu'on auroit peu donner k la place qu'ils vouloyent prendre.
Cela fait, ils fe vinrent cacher iufques au nombre de cinq cent, dans vne ance fort voyfine du [31] Bourg des trois Riuieres: la pointe qui forme cette ance, les couuroit en forte, qu'on ne les pouuoit apperce- uoir. La nuit venue, ils fe diuiferent en trois bandes ;
1653] RELATION OF i6s2-53 lOS
worked in the field. They led him to a [29] retired spot, about half a league from the Village, where they made him sit down, in order to question him on our situation and learn the state of our affairs. This good lad was adroit ; and he talked with them in such wise that these brigands, not thinking they might be followed, tarried there a little too long for their own good; for our Hurons. coming upon them by surprise, not only made them release their prey, but also took some of them prisoners and carried these back to the fort. I would take too much time if I tried to relate all the attacks, pursuits, and captures that were made on both sides in the neighborhood of this Village. Let us come to the siege, which they carried on after their usual method.
' ' Although the Savages do not [30] carry on sieges in the manner of the Europeans, yet they do not lack generalship in their wars, of which I will give an instance. The Anniehronnon Iroquois, purpos- ing to capture the Village of three Rivers by surprise rather than by force, sent in the first place, as far as I can infer, some small bands, detached from their main body, to Montreal and toward Quebec. This was in order to engage the attention of our French- men and make them indisposed to go down — or up, as the case might be — to three Rivers ; and by this means to cut off the aid that it might have been possible to render the place which they wished to capture.
" That done, they came and hid themselves, to the number of five hundred, in a cove that is very near the [31] Village of three Rivers; they were covered by the point forming that cove, so that they could not be perceived. At nightfall, they divided
104 LES RELATIONS DES jASUJTES [Vol.40
lis enuoierent vn canot de dix hommes, dans de petites Ifles qui font toutes voifmes du fort, & du Bourg des trois Riuieres, & ils firet paffer onze canots, an dela du grand fleuue vis ^ vis de ce fort. Le refte fe cacha dans les bois derriere noftre Bourgade, voicy leur penfee dans cette conduitte.
Comme ils voyoient des bleds d'inde plant^s dans ces petites Ifles, ils creurent, que ceux k qui ces bleds appartenoient, viendroient du matin trauailler k leur champs, comme c'eft la coufbume, & que ces dix hommes, qui eftoient en embufcade, prendroient [32] quelqu'vn, qu'ils emmeneroient dans leur petit bat- teau, paffant deuant le fort, afin de porter les Fran- cois ^ les pourfuiure; & alors les onze canots, qui eftoient caches k I'autre riue du fleuue, viendroient au fecours, & en fuitte, ils s'imaginoient que les Frangois s'efchauffans fortiroient de leur Bourg, & fe viendroient letter k la foule fur les bords de ce grand fleuue, partie pour s'embarquer, & deffaire ces douze canots : partie pour voir ce combat : & pendant que les vns & les autres, feroient occupes ^ voir, & ^ combattre, le gros qui eftoit cach6 derrier la Bour- gade, la deuoit facilemet furprendre, eftant depour- ueue de la plus part de fes Habitans. Mais la chofe ne reuflit pas comme ils pretendoient : car nos Sauuages, k qui ces bleds [33] appartenoient ne s'eloi- gnerent point de leurs cabanes ce iour Ik, qui eftoit le vingti6me d'Aouft, & ainfi perfonne ne branfla: eux demeurans caches, & nous dans I'ignorance, que nous euflions de 0 manuals voiflns.
Le lendemain quelques beftiaux s'eftans egar6s, les Habitans Frangois prierent des Sauuages de les aller chercher dans les bois, ou fur les riues du grand
1653] RELATION OF i6s2-S3 105
into three bands, sent a canoe with ten men to some small Islands very near the fort and the Village of three Rivers, and caused eleven canoes to proceed to the farther side of the great river, opposite this fort. The rest concealed themselves in the woods behind our Village. In this disposition of their forces their purpose was as follows :
" Seeing some Indian corn planted on those little Islands, they thought that those to whom this corn belonged would come in the morning to work in their fields, according to their custom; and that the ten men in ambush would capture [32] one of these and carry him away in their little boat, passing in front of the fort, in order to incite the French to pursue them ; and then the eleven canoes that were concealed on the other side of the river would come to the rescue. Thereupon, as they imagined, the French would get excited, come out of their Village, and rush in crowds to the banks of this great river, partly to embark and put to rout these twelve canoes, partly to see the engagement ; and, while these were engaged, — some in fighting, and others in looking on, — the main body, concealed behind the Village, would easily surprise it, as it would be emptied of the greater part of its Inhabitants. But the thing did not succeed according to their intention ; for our Savages, to whom that corn [33] belonged, did not go away from their cabins on that day, which was the twentieth of August; and so no one moved, — they remaining in hiding, and we being unaware that we had such bad neighbors.
" On the following day, some cattle having gone astray, the French Inhabitants asked some Savages to go and look for them in the woods, or on the
106 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.40
fleuue: ceux qui fe mirent en deuoir d'executer cette commilTion, retourneren,t bien-tofl fur leurs pas, difans qu'ils auoient veu les piftes d'vn grand nombre de perfonnes, & que Tennemy n'eftoit pas loing. A mefme temps quelques moiflonneurs quittans leur ouurage, coururent vers la Bourgade, affeurans qu'ils auoient veus de nouueaux [34] vifages, des gens veftus d'vne fa^on extraordinaire, qui fe tenoient "k couuert dans les bois. On enuoya des efpions qui n'ayans rien rencontre, on fit paffer ces auis pour des craintes mal fondees, ou pour des terreurs paniques.
Le vingt-deuxiefme du mefme mois, on retourna au trauail des moiffons, & pour affurer les moiflon- neurs, on pofa quelques fentinelles ^ I'or^e des bois. Les Iroquois impatiens, coururent fur I'vne de ,^ces fentinelles pour f^auoir I'eftat de noftre habitation. C6t homme gagne au pied, mais ils I'attraperent, & luy donnerent deux ou trois coups de maffe, ou de hache fur la tefte, qui I'offencerent beaucoup, mais ces coups ne furent pas mortels. On ne douta plus pour lors, que les ennemis [35] ne fuffent en campagne, ou plutoft dans les forets.
Le vingt-troifieme ils parurent fur I'eau, auffi bien que fur la terre. Le canot qui s'efloit cach6 dedans les Ifles, dont i'ay fait mention, voyant que perfonne ne paroifToit, quitte fon pofte pour trauerfer la riuiere, & pour s'aller ioindre "k ces onze batteaux que I'ennemy auoit mis en embufcade fur 1' autre riue. On luy donna la cliafTe, non tant pour le com- battre, que pour d^couurir par fon moyen, fi les ennemis eftoient en grand nombre. Mais comme on ne le put attraper, le Capitaine du fort enuoya vne chalouppe armee de bons hommes au haut du fleuue.
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-53 107
banks of the great river. Those who took it upon themselves to execute this commission, retraced their steps in a short time, saying they had seen traces of a great many people, and that the enemy was not far away. At the same time, some harvesters, leav- ing their work, came running toward the Village, declaring that they had seen new [34] faces, — those of people dressed in an unusual manner, who were keeping themselves hidden in the woods. Spies were sent out ; but, as they discovered nothing, this information was ascribed to ill-founded fears or panic.
" On the twenty-second of the same month, the men returned to the work of harvesting; and, in order to give security to the harvesters, some sentinels were placed on the edge of the woods. The Iroquois, growing impatient, rushed out upon one of these sentinels, for the purpose of learning the condition of our settlement. This man took to his heels ; but they overtook him, and gave him two or three blows on the head with clubs or hatchets, hurting him severely, although these blows were not mortal. There was then no longer any doubt that the enemy [35] were in the field, or, rather, in the forests.
" On the twenty-third, they appeared on the water as well as on the land. The canoe that had hidden among the Islands, as already mentioned, seeing that no one appeared, left its post to cross the river and go to join those eleven boats which the enemy had placed in ambush on the other bank. We gave chase after it, not so much to fight with it as to find out, by its means, whether the enemy were many in num- ber. But, as we could not overtake it, the Captain of the fort sent an armed shallop, well manned, up the river."
108 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
Ecoutons-le parler, i'ay tir6 ce qui fuit de la copie de I'vne de fes lettres. A peine nos gens etoient-ils [36] eloignes d'vn quart de lieue du fort, qu'ils apperceurent vn grand nombre de canots, echoiies dans vne ance : ils dechargent deffus leurs armes k feu, & aulii-toft reprennent leur route vers le fort. Le Tambour, k qui i'auois commande de donner quelques coups de baguettes fur fa caifTe, en cas que la chalouppe eut d^couuert I'ennemy, me rapella dans le fort; comme i'en approchois, ie vy vn grand nombre d' Iroquois, courans k bride abbatue, comme on dit, a trauers les champs, faifant mine de venir attaquer la Bourgade. Ie crie aux armes: ie fay fermer les portes, & rouler deux pieces de canon, que i'auois difpofe pour ce fujet. Ces Barbares au bruit de ce tonnerre, fe iettent fur des beftiaux qui palToient proche du Bourg, ils les [37] pouffent dans le bois, & les ayans maffacres, ils courent fur les riues du grand fleuue, dechargeans leurs fufils fur noftre chalouppe, qui fe vit affaillie de tons coftes: car les onze ou douze canots, dont nous auons parl6, vinrent fondre fur elle, la voulant contraindre de s'approcher de la terre pour eftre battue, & par eau & par terre. On fit feu de tous coftes : I'air fut bien- toft remply de flammes & de fumee. Ie fit tirer plus de vingt coups de canon en vn quart d'heure, qui n'eurent autre effet, pour ce que nos boulets n'eftoient pas de calibre, que de faire retirer I'ennemy, & don- ner paffage b. noftre chalouppe, qui fe defendit vail- lamment, & auec vn bon-heur : car nos gens tirerent & blefferent quelques Iroquois, & pas vn deux ne recent aucun dommage.
[38] Ces demis Demons voyans qu'ils auoient eft6
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-33 109
Let US hear him speak ; I have taken what follows from the copy of one of his letters.^ " Scarcely had our people [36] proceeded a quarter of a league from the fort, when they perceived a large number of canoes that had stranded in a cove ; they discharged their firearms at these, and immediately resumed their course toward the fort. The Drummer, whom I had ordered to give some drum-beats in case the shallop should discover the enemy, called me back into the fort ; as I approached it, I saw a great num- ber of Iroquois running with loose rein, as the saying is, across the fields, and acting as if they were com- ing to attack the Village. I called to arms, had the gates closed and two pieces of ordnance discharged, which I had arranged for this purpose. Those Bar- barians, at the noise of this thunder, rushed upon the cattle that were passing near the Village, [37] drove them into the woods, and, after butchering them, ran to the banks of the great river, discharging their muskets at our shallop. The latter found itself assailed on all sides ; for the eleven or twelve canoes that we have mentioned, came and pounced upon it, trying to force it to approach the shore, that it might be beaten both by land and by water. Fire was opened on all sides, and soon the air was full of flames and smoke. In a quarter of an hour, I had more than twenty cannon shots fired, — which, because our balls were not of the right caliber, produced no farther effect than to make the enemy retire and give passage to our shallop. This defended itself valiantly and with success ; for our people used their firearms and wounded a number of Iroquois, while not one of them received any injury.
[38] " These half-Demons, seeing that they had
110 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
maltraites, allerent decharger leur colere fur nos bleds d'Indes, & fur nos bleds Frangois. lis coup- poient tout ce qu'ils pouuoient rencontrer, bruflans les charrues, & les charettes laifT6es en la campagne, pour mettre le feu dans les tas de pois, & de bled qu'ils ramaffoient : ils mirent le feu en quelques maifons 6cart6es, tuerent les beftiaux des Peres, qu'on n'auoit peu retirer aff6s toit: en vn mot, on eut dit qu'ils eftoient enragez, tant ils faifoient paroiftre de fureur.
le fi rouler vn canon, fur vn platon, & ie le fi tirer delTuseux; les Sauuages s'auancerent, faifant quel- ques efcarmouches, & dans ces petits combats vn de nos Algonquins recent vn coup de fuGl [39] au genoiiil, & nous bleffafmes, & tuafmes quelques Iroquois.
Enfin ces Barbares fe retirerent faifant mine d'auoir affoupy leur rage, & leur vengeance: mais h. deffein de s'approcher la nuit de la Bourgade pour y mettre le feu, n'eftant enuironnee en plufieurs endroits que de gros arbres. Nous fufmes fous les armes tant que la nuit dura, ie redoublay les fentinelles: le Trompette, & le Tambour ioiierent quafi tou jours au fort. On n'entendoit par tout que ces paroles, qui val^: la Redoute tira plufieurs coups d'arquebufe, fi bien que I'ennemy qui faifoit fes approches, epou- uant6 par ces bruits, defefpera de nous pouuoir ny prendre, ny furprendre. ^
Pendant cette nuit, arriua vn canot Algonquin qui venoit de la chaffe, & qui fut bien eflonn6 de [40] fe voir fain & fauue au milieu de tant de dangers. II arriua aulTi vn canot Fran9ois, qui nous dit que le Pere Poncet auoit eft6 pris au Cap rouge, es enuirons
1653] RELATION OF i6s2-S3 HI
been hardly used, proceeded to vent their wrath on our Indian corn and French wheat. They cut down all that they could find, burning the plows and carts left in the field, in order to set fire to the heaps of peas and grain that they gathered together. They set fire to some scattered houses and killed the Fathers' cattle, which we had been unable to place in safety soon enough. In a word, one would have said they were madmen, so great fury did they manifest.
" I had a cannon rolled out upon a level place, ^ and fired at them. The Savages advanced, engaging in several skirmishes; and in these little actions one of our Algonquins received a musket-ball [39] in the knee, and we wounded and killed several Iroquois.
" At length, these Barbarians retired, feigning to have glutted their rage and vengeance, but planning to approach the Village at night and set fire to it, as it is surrounded in several places only by large trees. We were under arms all night long; I doubled the sentinels, and the Trumpeter and Drummer played almost constantly at the fort. Everywhere was to be heard only the cry, ' Who goes there? ' The Redout fired several arquebus volleys ; and, as a result of all this, the enemy, after making their approach, were frightened by these noises, and despaired of being able either to capture or to surprise us.
' ' During that night there arrived a canoe of Algon- quins, who were returning from the chase ; they were much astonished to [40] find themselves safe and sound in the midst of so many dangers. There also arrived a canoe of Frenchmen, who told us that Father Poncet had been made prisoner at Cap rouge, in the neighborhood of Quebec ; and that a squad of Frenchmen and Christian Savages, full of determina-
112 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol.40
de Quebec; & qu'vne efcoiiade de quelques Frangois & quelques Sauuages Chreftiens bien refolus, pour- fuiuoient ceux qui I'auoient enleu6 : mais le rencontre des Iroquois, qui nous tenoient comme affieges, leur fit changer de deffein. Dieu nous enuoioit ce renfort, qui releuant noftre courage, affoiblit autant le cceur de nos Ennemis.
Le lendemain vingt-quatri6me d'Aouft, ils fe r^pandirent vne autre fois dans nos petites campagnes, recommangans leurs degats, noftre canon les empefcha bien de s'approcher de trop pres, mais il n'arrefta point nos Hurons, [41] qui ayans vne paffion de fga- uoir des nouuelles de leurs parens, & de leurs amis, pris autrefois en guerre, & deuenus Iroquois, s'ap- procherent doucement des Ennemis pour leur parler. S'eftans reconnus les vns les autres, la confiance fe gliffa petit k petit de part & d'autre, fl bien qu'en pen de temps, ce ne furent plus que conferences, & qu'entretiens d' Iroquois auec les Hurons: cela continua quelques iours en forte qu'on eut dit, que iamais on ne s'eftoit battu. Nous faifions bonne garde de noftre cofte, chacun demeurant en fon pofte, & fous les armes. Quelques Hurons du party Enne- my, fe vinrent rendre a nous. Comme on vid ces grands pourparlers, & qu'on ne doutoit point que les Ennemis ne cherchaffent I'occafion [42] de nous furprendre, il fut propofe en la maifon de Ville, fi on les tromperoit eux mefmes: mais il ne fut pas iuge a propos, pour plufieurs raifons.
Enfin on en vint iufques Ik, que les Ennemis s'ap- prochoient de nous fans armes, ils nous firent mefme \
des prefens k diuerfes fois, proteftans qu'ils n'auoient plus d'amertume, ny de venin dedans le coeur. Vn
'i .1
T.
1653] RELATION OF i6s2-53 113
tion, were in pursuit of his captors, but, meeting with the Iroquois, — who were holding us, as it were, besieged, — they were led to change their plan. God sent us this reinforcement, which raised our courage and depressed proportionately the spirits of our Enemies.
" On the next day, the twenty-fourth of August, they once more dispersed throughout our little fields and renewed their ravages. Our cannon prevented them from coming too near, but did not deter our Hurons, [41] who, — being eager to learn news of their relatives and friends who had formerly been taken in war, and had become Iroquois, — quietly approached the Enemy, in order to speak to them. When they had recognized one another, confidence spread little by little, on one side and the other, to such an extent that in a short time there was nothing to be seen but conferences and interviews between Iroquois and Hurons; and this continued for several days, so that one would have said there had never been any war between them. We kept careful guard on our side, each man remaining at his post, and under arms. Some Hurons of the Enemy's side came and gave themselves up to us. When these earnest parleys were noticed, and it was not doubted that the Enemy were seeking an opportunity [42] to surprise us, the question whether we should not practice deception upon them themselves was pro- posed in the Town house ; but, for several reasons, this was deemed inadvisable.
" At last, matters reached the point that the Ene- my approached us without arms, and even made us presents on several occasions, — protesting that they had no more bitterness or venom in their hearts. A
114 LES RELATIONS DES /£SUITES [Vol.40
Huron Iroquif6 s'eftant glilT6 parmy nos gens, emmena au camp Ennemy vne lienne fille, qu'il rencontra parmy nous, & luy & les Iroquois apprirent beaucoup de chofes de fa bouche, bonnes & mauuaifes. Elle leur dit, qu'il nous eftoit venu quelque fecours, qu'vne compagnie de Hurons auoit pris des Iroquois h. Montreal, & qu'on attendoit de iour k autre, les vicftorieux, [43] & les vaincus. Cela fut caufe de leur retardement: car dans les prefens que nous nous eftions faits les vns aux autres, ils nous auoient donn6 parole, qu'ils s'en retourneroient bien-tofl en leur pays, mais ils voulurent attendre le retour de ces Hurons, qui amenoient de leurs gens prifonniers. Dans cette treve ou attente, ils parlerent de rendre prifonniers pour prifonniers, ils promirent de rame- ner le Pere Poncet, & le Francois qui auoit efte pris auec luy.
Le trentiefme du mois d'Aouft, les Hurons retour- nans de Montreal, auec leurs prifonniers Iroquois Anniehronnons, tomberent non pas tous, mais en partie entre les mains des Ennemis qui les atten- doient. Nous dirons au Chapitre de la paix comme tout [44] fe paila entre les Iroquois pris par les Hurons: il y auoit vn Capitaine de confideration, il parla fortement ^ fes compatriotes, qu'il trouua defia tous difpofes ^ la paix, pouff^s par vn efprit plus fecret, que celuy qui anime les hommes.
lis enuoyerent promptement deux canots en leur pays, pour empefcher qu'on ne fit aucun mal au Pere, & a fon compagnon, fi on les trouuoit encor en vie : & apres auoir renuoye les Hurons en noftre fort, les principaux d' entre eux nous venoient vifiter, entrans & couchans en noftre Bourgade auec autant de t^moi-
1653] RELATION OF 1652-53 115
Huron who had turned Iroquois, stealthily slipping in among our people, carried off to the Enemy's camp a daughter of his, whom he found with us ; and he and the Iroquois learned from her mouth many things, good and bad. She told them that assistance had come to us; that a company of Hurons had captured some Iroquois at Montreal, and that victors [43] and vanquished were daily expected. That was the reason of their delay ; for in our interchange of presents, one side with the other, they had given us their word to go back soon to their own country, but said they wished to await the return of these Hurons, who were bringing some of their people prisoners. In this truce, or period of waiting, they spoke of returning prisoner for prisoner, and promised to bring back Father Poncet and the Frenchman who had been captured with him."
On the thirtieth of the month of August, the Hu- rons, returning from Montreal with their Anniehron- non Iroquois prisoners, fell — not all, but a part of them — into the hands of the Enemy, who were wait- ing for them. We shall relate in the Chapter on the peace how it all [44] came to pass among the Iroquois captured by the Hurons. Among these was a Captain of influence, who spoke in energetic terms to his compatriots, whom he found already univer- sally in favor of peace, impelled by a more secret influence than that which actuates men.
They straightway despatched two canoes to their own country, to prevent any harm being done to the Father and his companion, if they should be found to be still alive; and, after sending back the Hurons to our fort, the chief men among them came to visit us, entering our Village and sleeping there with as
116 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol.40
gnage d'alleurance, que s'ils euffent eite nos plus fideles, & plus conftans amis. Bref ils nous ont lailT6 quatre ou cinq de leurs gens en oftage, proteftans qu'ils rameneroient [45] le Pere dans pen de iours, & qu'ils viendroient traiter la paix auec nous, mais vne paix veritable & du fond du coeur: voila vn abrege de deux lettres venues des Trois Riuieres, oii ces chofes fufdites fe font paff^es, ce qui fuit eft tir6 d'vne troifieme qui a efte efcrite par vn Pere de noflre Compagnie.
Nous attendons de iour a autre le refultat d'vn Confeil, ou d'vne affembl6e generale, que tiennent nos Ennemis en leur pays, fur la propofition de la paix qu'ils nous ont faite eux-mefmes, apres mille adtes d'hoftilite, & mille efforts de prendre noftre Bourgade des Trois Riuieres. lis ont eft6 fideles dans la treve de quarante iours, qu'ils nous auoient accord^es: car ils n'ont point paru du tout pendant ce temps-Ik, & [46] nous auons marche fur terre, & vogue fur les eaux, fans aucun mauuais rencontre. Tadjoufteray pour conclufion de ce Cbapitre, que les Onnontaeronnons defcendans a Quebec pour traiter de la paix, les Anniehronnons, dont nous venons de parler, deleguerent quelques-vns d'entr'eux pour entrer dans ce mefme traits, comme il fera remarqu6 dans le Chapitre de la paix.
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-53 117
much exhibition of confidence as if they had been our most faithful and constant friends. In short, they left us four or five of their people as hostages, solemnly promising that they would bring back [45] the Father in a few days, and that they would come and treat of peace with us — a peace, too, which should be genuine and sincere. The foregoing is an abridgment of two letters that came from Three Rivers, where the above events occurred; what fol- lows is drawn from a third which was written by a Father of our Society.
' ' We are daily awaiting the result of a Council or general assembly, that our Enemies are holding in their own country, on the proposal of peace which they themselves made to us after a thousand acts of hostility, and a thousand attempts to take our Village of Three Rivers. They were faithful in the truce of forty days which they granted us; for during that time nothing at all was seen of them, and [46] we went our way, on both land and water, without any hostile encounter." I will add, in concluding this Chapter, that, when the Onnontaeronnons were on their way down to Quebec to treat of peace, the Anniehronnons, of whom we have just spoken, dele- gated some of their own number to enter into this same treaty, as will be related in the Chapter on the peace.
118 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
CHAPITRE IV.
DE LA PRISE & DE LA DELIURANCE DU PERE JOSEPH
PONCET.
LES Iroquois ayans malTacrez au mois de luin quelques Fran9ois au Cap rouge, lieu 61oigne de trois lieues ou enuiron du fort de Quebec, furprirent au [47] mefme endroit le vingtiefme du mois d'Aouft dernier paff6 le P. lofeph Poncet, & vn Fran9ois nomme Maturin Franchetot. Ce bon Pere, voyant qu'vne pauure vefue Fran9oise auoit du grain fur la terre, & qu'elle manquoit de bras pour le ramaffer, s'en alloit en ce quartier Ik, chercher quelques bonnes perfonnes, qui la voulufTent aider k faire fa petite recolte. II venoit de parler au Fran- cois queie vies de nommer, quelques Iroquois fortans de la foreft voifme, oil ils eftoient cachez en embuf- cade, fe jetterent fur eux feparement, & k I'impro- uilte, & les entraifnerent. On a commande au Pere k fon retour, de coucher fur le papier fa prife, & ' ):,
toutes fes auantures, il a obey auec repugnance, fouhaittant que fes Croix ne fulTent connues [48] que du Roy des crucifies: mais vne partie de fes memoires a efte dechiree par les Anglois. Nous fuiurons dans ce Chapitre ce qui eft venu entre nos mains, apres auoir rapporte deux ou trois petits mots d'vne lettre efcrite fur ce fujet.
Si toft que la nouuelle fut apportee h. Quebec, que les Iroquois auoient enleue le P. Poncet, comme il ertoit aim6 de tout le monde, non feulement on en
1653] RELATION OF ib32-S3 119
CHAPTER IV.
OF THE CAPTURE AND DELIVERANCE OF FATHER JOSEPH
PONCET.
THE Iroquois, having butchered some Frenchmen in the month of June, at Cap rouge, — a place distant three leagues, or thereabout, from the fort of Quebec, — surprised in the [47] same place, on the twentieth of the month of last August, Father Joseph Poncet and a Frenchman named Maturin Franchetot. This good Father, seeing that a poor French widow had some grain in the field, and lacked help to gather it in, went off in that direction to hunt up some good people who would be willing to aid in garnering her little harvest. He had just spoken to the Frenchman mentioned above, when some Iroquois, issuing from the neighboring forest, where they had been hidden in ambush, rushed upon them separately and unexpectedly, and dragged them away. The Father was bidden, upon his return, to commit to paper his capture and all his adventures ; he obeyed with reluctance, desiring that his Crosses be known [48] only to the King of the crucified ; but a part of his account was torn up by the English. After citing two or three short passages from a letter written on this subject, we shall follow, in this Chapter, what has come into our hands.
' ' As soon as the news was brought to Quebec that the Iroquois had carried off Father Poncet, not only was general sadness felt on his account, as he was
120 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
conceut vne triftelTe generale : mais trente ou quarante Frangois, & quelques Sauuages Chreftiens, prirent vne forte refolution de le retirer des mains de ces Barbares, quoy qu'il leur en couftaft. lis monterent en canot le lendemain de fa prife, "k deffein de preuenir I'Ennemy, I'allant attendre en quelque endroit ou il deuoit [49] palTer, pour le furprendre au paflage. On fait icy tant de prieres, en public & en particulier, depuis leur depart, que ie ne puis penfer autre chofe, ou que Dieu nous le rendra, ou que par fon moyen, il donnera la paix au dedans, & au dehors de ce pauure pais. Et plus bas das la mefme lettre, le P. Poncet fut pris le vingti6me d'Aouft fur le foir, le vingt-vnieme, nos coureurs le fuiuirent fur la nuit, & voila, que le vingt-fixieme, I'vn des canots qui eftoient alles donner la chaffe aux voleurs, qui remmennent, nous rapporte nouuelle, que ces coureurs fe font arreft^s aux Trois Riuieres, pour fecourir la Bourgade, infeftee par cinq cens Iroquois, qui la tiennent bouclee, rodans aux enuirons de tous coftes. Ceux qui font retournez dans ce canot, nous [50] difent qu'ils ont trouu6 proche I'lfle de faindl Eloy, deux vifages crayonnez auec du charbon, fur vn arbre, dont on auoit enleue I'ecorce, & les noms du Pere Poncet, & de Mathurin Francbetot, ecrits au deffous de ces deux vifages. De plus, qu'ils ont remontr^ \sc. rencontre] au mefme endroit, vn liure dans lequel efloit efcrit le fens de ces paroles : Six Hurons Iroquifez, & quatre Anniehronnons, emmen- nent le P. Poncet, & Mathurin Franchetot, ils ne nous ont encore fait aucun mal. C'eft leur couftume de traiter doucement leurs prifonniers, tant qu'ils font encor dans la crainte d'eftre attrappez. Voila
lfi;53] RELATION OF 1652-53 121
beloved by all; but thirty or forty Frenchmen, and some Christian Savages, firmly resolved to rescue him from the hands of those Barbarians, whatever it might cost them to do so. They launched their canoes on the day following his capture, purposing to forestall the Enemy by going to wait for them in some spot which they must [49] pass, in order to surprise them as they went by. So many prayers have been offered here, in public and in private, since their departure, that I can but think either that God will restore him to us, or that by his means he will give peace to this poor country, both within and without its borders. ' ' And, farther down in the same letter: " Father Poncet was captured on the twen- tieth of August, toward evening; on the twenty-firat, toward night, our scouts followed him ; and on the twenty-sixth, one of the canoes that had gone in pursuit of the robbers who were carrying him off brought back news to us that those scouts had stopped at Three Rivers to give help to the Village, as it was harassed by five hundred Iroquois, — who were hold- ing it closely beset, and were prowling about the neighborhood in all directions. Those who returned in this canoe [50] told us that they found, near the Island of saint Eloy, two faces drawn with charcoal on a tree from which the bark had been removed, and the names of Father Poncet and Mathurin Fran- chetot written beneath these. Furthermore, they said they had found in the same place a book in which was written, in substance, these words : ' Six Hurons, turned Iroquois, and four Anniehronnons are carry- ing off Father Poncet and Mathurin Franchetot. They have not yet done us any injury. It is their custom to treat their prisoners gently as long as they
122 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
ce qui m'a eft^ recrit fur la prife de ce bon Pere. Venons maintenant aux lambeaux de fes memoires, dont ie feray vn petit abbrege.
[51] Nous arriuafmes, dit-il, k vne Riuiere fort rapide, oil rarm^e qui eftoit all6e aux Trois Riuieres auoit campe. Le Barbare qui m'auoit pris au Cap rouge, m'ofta le Reliquaire que ie portois au col, & le pendit au fien : comme il couroit, certain iour das les bois, ce Reliquaire s'ouurit, & toutes les Reliques furent perdues, il ne refta dans la petite boete de cuiure, qui compofoit ce Reliquaire, qu'vn petit papier, furlequel i'auois efcry de mon propre fang, comme i'eflois encore au pais des Hurons, les noms de nos Peres martyrifez en 1' Amerique, & vne petite Orai- fon, par laquelle ie demandois a Noftre Seigneur, vne mort violente pour fon feruice, & la grace d'y r^pandre tout mon fang. De forte, qu'ayant adroite- ment retird ce papier, [52] d'entre les mains de ce Barbare, ie voyois fans ceffe deuant mes yeux, la fentence de ma mort, ^crite de mon propre fang, fi bien que ie ne m'en pouuois dedire. I'auois neant- moins vne penfee, que ces grandes ames, & ces braues courages, qui m'auoient precedez en ce com- bat, auoient efle effedtiuement immolez, comme ayans des vertus veritables, & que moy qui n'en auois que les ombres, & la figure, ne ferois crucifie qu'en peinture.
I'auois encor dans mon Breuiaire, vne Image de S. Ignace, auec Noftre Seigneur portant fa Croix, myftere propre de noftre Compagnie, auquel ayant toujours efte fort affedtionne, il luy a pleu de m'y donner quelque part, dans les fatigues extraordinaires que i'eus dans ce chemin, [53] I'lmage de Noftre
1653] RELATION OF 1632-53 123
are still in fear of being overtaken.' " That is what was written to me concerning this good Father's capture. Let us now come to the tattered remnants of his own account, of which I shall make a brief abridgment.
[51] "We arrived," says he, "at a very rapid River, where the army that had gone to Three Riv- ers had camped. The Barbarian who had captured me at Cap rouge took away from me the Reliquary which I was wearing on my neck, and hung it to his own. One day, when he was running in the woods, this Reliquary flew open and all the Relics were lost, — there remaining in the little copper box com- posing the Reliquary only a small piece of paper on which I had written in my own blood, when I was still in the country of the Hurons, the names of our Fathers martyred in America, and a short Prayer in which I asked Our Lord for a violent death in his service, and the grace to shed all my blood for the same cause. It so happened that, when I had adroitly removed this paper [52] from that Barbarian's grasp, I saw constantly before my eyes the sentence of my death written in my own blood, so that I could not revoke it. Nevertheless, I had a feeling that those great souls and stout hearts who had preceded me in this conflict had been actually immolated, as having genuine virtues ; and that I, who had only the shad- ows and faint likenesses thereof, would be crucified only in appearance.
" I still had in my Breviary a Picture of St. Igna- tius, with Our Lord bearing his Cross, — a mystery which well suited our Society; and in which, as I had always felt a strong affection for it, he was pleased to give me some share, in the extraordinary
124 LES RELATIONS DES JASUITES [Vol.40
Dame de Piti6, entour^e des cinq playes de fon Fils, m'eftoit auffi reft6e; c'eftoit ma plus grande recrea- tion, & mon reconfort, dans mes detreffes: mais la crainte que ces faints portraits ne fuffent m6prifez, me fit refoudre de m'en priuer, & de les cacher dans vn builTon.
le garday vne petite Couronne de Noftre Seigneur, qui me refta feule de tout ce que ie portois fur moy, quand ie fus pris. Ie la cachay fi bien qu'elle ne fut iamais apperceue de ces Barbares.
Pour reuenir h. noftre voyage. Quand il fut queftion de pafler le Torrent, dont i'ay parle: on me commanda de le trauerfer h. beau pied, i'eftois defia tout moiiille, ayant pafl^ la nuit, dans des herbiers tous trempez de la bruine, [54] & de la rof^e de la nuit, qui fut fort froide. I'eus de I'eau iufques k la ceinture dans ce Torrent ; tout cela, auec le manque de nourriture, me caufa de grandes coliques, & des peines exceffiues. Ie ne laiffay pas neantmoins de faire toutes mes deuotions h. I'ordinaire, me confolant doucement auec Noftre Seigneur, de la main duquel ie prenois cette Croix, & non pas de la main des hommes.
II me prit dans ces trauaux, vn fi grand engour- diffement en la jambe gauche, «& ie receuois vne fi grande incommodite, d'vne groffe ampoulle qui me vint fous le mefme pied gauche, que mes hoftes furent contrains de faire vn gille, auquel ils ne s'at- tendoient pas. lis n'auoient plus qu'vn morceau de chair boiiillie, [55] qu'ils auoient gardee de leur der- nier repas, croyans arriuer en lieu, ou ils trouueroient des viures : ils le mangerent, dans la mefme hoftel- lerie, oil nous auios logez en tout noftre voyage, fous
I
1653] RELATION OF 1652-33 125
hardships that I underwent on this journey, [53] The Picture of Our Lady of Pity, surrounded by the five wounds of her Son, was also left me, and formed my greatest recreation, and my consolation in dis- tress. But the fear that these hallowed portraits might meet with some indignity, made me decide to forego their possession and hide them in a bush.
" I kept a little Crown of Our Lord, which was the only thing left me of all that I had on my person when I was captured. I concealed it so well that it was never perceived by those Barbarians.
" To return to our journey: when it came to cross- ing the Stream of which I have spoken, I was ordered to wade through it. I was already soaking wet, having passed the night in the tall grass, which was all saturated with drizzling rain [54] and the dew of night, the nights being very cold. I was wet up to the waist in this Stream ; and all that, with the want of nourishment, caused me a severe colic and excess- ive pains. I did not, however, cease to perform all my devotions as usual, taking comfort quietly with Our Lord, from whose hand, and not from the hand of men, I received this Cross.
" Amid these labors, I was seized with so great numbness in the left leg, and was so severely incon- venienced by a large blister under this same left foot, that my hosts were compelled to halt for a time, a thing which they had not expected. They had only a morsel of boiled meat left, [55] which they had kept from their last meal, thinking to reach a place where they would find provisions. They ate it at the same inn where we had lodged throughout our journey, — under the vault of Heaven; and, as I felt extremely exhausted, I had recourse to my two
126 LES RELA TIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol. 40
la voute du Ciel ; & comme ie me fentois extreme- ment 6puif6, i'eus recours a mes deux Patrons, Saint Raphael, & Sainte Marthe: leur difant doucement en mon coeur, que i'aurois bien befoin de quelque rafraifchiffement, dans la foif que i'endurois, & d'vn peu de bouillon, dans mon epuifement. A peine auois-je form6 ces fentimens en mon coeur, que I'vn de nos codudteurs, m'apporta quelques prunes fauuages, qu'il trouua, par grande auanture, dans les bois: car plus de {^is. cens homes auoient pafle par cet endroit. Sur la nuit, ayant eu bien de la peine [56] d'auoir vn peu d'eau nette, pource que nous eftions dans vn vilain marais, ie me couchay, & m'endormy, fans autre reconfort que de malaffitude: mais ie fus bien eftone, que mon hofte m'eueilla, & me prefenta vn boiiillon, fans f^auoir comment il I'auoit pu faire.
Le lendemain matin, il fallut partir fans defieuner, & marcher auec vne jambe, & vn pied eflropie, & vn corps tout rompu: i'attribue la force, que Dieu me donna, h. mes chers Patrons, notamment a S. lofeph, auquel i'auois vn grand recours. Eflans arriuez, a deux heures apres midy, proche de la riuiere qui defcend au quartier des Hollandois, au delk de la- quelle eft plac6 le premier Bourg des Iroquois, on nous commanda de nous depoiiiller, [57] & de quitter ce qui nous refloit de nos habits Fran9ois; n'ayant plus qu'vn brayer, on ietta fur mon dos, vne houppe- lande bleue toute dechiree, & on laiffa k mon com- pagnon, vn vieux pourpoint de toile tout rompu. Quelques Sauuages de noftre bande, ayans pris le deuant, eftoient retournez iufques h. cette riuiere auec leurs femmes, apportans des epics de bled d'Inde, &
1653] RELATION OF z6s2-53 127
Patrons, Saint Raphael and Saint Martha, saying to them softly in my heart that I greatly needed some refreshment in the thirst from which I was suffering, and a little broth in my exhaustion. Scarcely had these feelings arisen in my breast, when one of our conductors brought me some wild plums that he had found in the woods, — by great good luck, for more than six hundred men had passed that spot. Toward night, after experiencing much difficulty [56] in find- ing a little clean water, because we were in a nasty swamp, I lay down and went to sleep, with no other comfort than what I gained from my weakness ; but when my host aroused me and offered me some broth, I was much surprised, not knowing how he could have made it.
' ' On the following morning I was compelled to set out without breakfasting, and walk with one leg and one foot crippled, and my whole body disabled. The strength that God gave me I attribute to my dear Patrons, especially to St. Joseph, to whom I had frequent recourse. At two o'clock in the after- noon, reaching a spot near the river which flows down to the territory of the Dutch, and across which is situated the principal Village of the Iroquois, we were ordered to strip ourselves, [57] and give up what was left us of our French garments. When I had nothing left on me but a breech-clout, a blue great- coat, all in rags, was thrown over my back ; and to my companion was left an old linen doublet, badly tattered. Some Savages of our band, who had gone on ahead, had returned as far as this river with their wives, bringing some ears of Indian corn and some native squashes to our conductors; but they never offered us a single morsel. It was late ; we were
128 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
des citroiiilles du pais h. nos condudteurs, iamais on ne nous en prefenta vn feul morceau. II eltoit tard, nous eftions k ieun, eftrangement haraffez du chemin, couuers de haillons fort fales, & pour rafraichiffement on nous commanda de chanter, & de marcher en c6t equipage. C'eftoit le comencement du triomphe de nos vidlorieux, i'entonnay les Litanies de la fainte Vierge, [58] le Vent Creator, & autres Hymnes de I'Eglife.
Comme nous paffions la riuiere des Hollandois, ie |
confeffay mon compagnon, qui fe voulut difpofer k la mort; ayant apperceu, enuiron quarante ou cin- quante Iroquois, qui paroilToient nous attendre auec des baftons ^ la main. On nous depoiiilla tous nuds, k la referue de nos brayers, & on nous fit pafler au trauers de ces Barbares, rangez en haye. lis me donnerent quelques coups de houffmes fur le dos: mais comme ie doublois le pas, I'vn de ces bourreaux m'arrefta tout court, me prenant par le bras, qu'il eflendit, pour me defcharger vn coup d'vn gros & court bafton, qu'il 61eua en I'air: ie donnay mon bras k Noftre Seigneur, croyant qu'il m'alloit caffer & [59] brifer I'os, entre le coude & le poignet: mais le coup portant fur la iointure, i'en fus quitte pour vne meutriffure, qui s'efl euanoiiie auec le temps. Entrez que nous fufmes dans la Bourgade, on me fit monter le premier, fur vn efchaffaut, plante au milieu de la place publique, eleue enuiron de cinq pieds; mon compagnon y vint bien-toft apres moy, portant les marques des baftonnades qu'il auoit receues: on voyoit, entr'autres, les veftiges d'vne fafcheufe, & douloureufe cinglade, au trauers de fa poitrine.
1653J RELA TION OF 1652-53 129
fasting, extremely fatigued by our journey, and cov- ered with very dirty rags ; but for refreshment were ordered to sing as we walked, thus attired. It was the beginning of our victors' triumph. I intoned the Litany of the blessed Virgin, [58] the Veni Creator, and other Hymns of the Church.
" As we crossed the river of the Dutch, I confessed my companion, who wished to prepare himself for death, having caught sight of about forty or fifty Iroquois who appeared to be waiting for us with staves in their hands. We were stripped entirely naked, except our breech-clouts, and were made to pass through these Barbarians, who were drawn up in line. They gave me some blows on the back with their switches; but as I was quickening my steps, one of those executioners stopped me short, taking me by the arm and stretching it out, in order to give me a blow with a short, thick stick that he raised aloft. I gave my arm to Our Lord, think- ing the man was about to break and [59] shatter the bone between the elbow and the wrist ; but, the blow falling on the joint, I came off with a wound which disappeared in course of time. When we had entered the Village, I was made to take the lead in ascending a scaffold erected in the middle of the public place, and raised about five feet from the ground. My companion joined me there soon after- ward, bearing the marks of the blows he had received ; and, among others, were seen the traces of a trouble- some and painful lashing across his breast.
" I felt so firm and calm on this stage, and faced, with so serene an eye and mind, those who were looking at me, that I wondered at myself. Never- theless, I felt some alarm at the sight of a certain
130 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 40
le me fentois fi fort, & fi paifible fur ce theatre, & i'enuifageois ceux qui me regardoiet, d'vn oeil & d'vn efprit fi ferain, que ie m'eltonnois de moy- mefme. Ie fenty neantmoins quelque frayeur, k la veue d'vn certain Borgne, qui [60] portoit vn cou- fteau d'vne main, & vn morceau de leur pain de I'autre. Ie me fouuenois que le bon Pere Ifaac logues, auoit perdu I'vn de fes poulces fur vn fem- blable efchaffaut, & ne me fentant point pour lors, das la difpofition de luy donner mes doigts, ie m'ad- dreflay "k fon bon Ange, & c6t homme s'eftant auanc^, donna le pain, qu'il tenoit, k mon compagnon, & puis fe retira fans fa[i]re aucun mal. Vne pluye furue- nant, ecarta les fpedtateurs, & on nous conduiCt fous vn petit toit, k 1' entree d'vne cabane. \A on nous fit chanter, Dieu me mit dans vne telle foumiffion k ces Barbares, & ie m'abandonnay fi fortement "k toutes fortes de mepris, qu'il n'y auoit rien que ie ne fiffe, pourueu qu'il me fut commande, & qu'il ne fut pas [61] contre la Loy de Dieu. Ie diray icy en paHant, ce que i'ay remarque dans vne lettre particuliere. Que le Pere, ne reiiffiffant pas dans toutes ces fmge- ries, felon I'idee des Sauuages; qui, par confequent, eftans moins fatisfaits, I'auroient pluftoft condamn6 k mort; vn ieune Huron captif parmy ces peuples, fe prefenta pour chanter, pour danfer, & pour faire toutes les grimaces, en la place du Pere, qui n'auoit iamais appris ce meftier.
Sur le foir, pourfuit le Pere, on nous conduifit dans la cabane de celuy qui m'auoit pris; & 1^ on me donna vn plat de leur fagamite, c'eft de la boiiillie faite auec de I'eau, & de la farine de bled d'Inde. Les vieillards s'eftans affemblez, dans cette cabane,
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-33 131
One-eyed man who [60] carried a knife in one hand, and a piece of their bread'' in the other. I remem- bered that the good Father Isaac Jogues had lost one of his thumbs on a similar scaffold; and, not feeling then disposed to give the man my fingers, I appealed to his good Angel; and the man, approaching us, gave my companion the bread that he was holding, and then withdrew without doing any injury. A shower, coming up suddenly, dispersed the specta- tors, and we were conducted to the shelter of a little roof at the entrance to a cabin. There we were made to sing ; and God put me in such a state of sub- mission to those Barbarians, and I abandoned myself with such fortitude to all sorts of indignities, that there was nothing I would not have done, provided it were bidden me and were not [61] contrary to God's Law." I will say here, in passing, what I have noticed in a private letter, — namely, that, as the Father did not succeed in all these apish tricks in a manner satisfactory to the Savages, — who, in conse- quence, would have been inclined to condemn him to death, — a young Huron, a captive among these people, came forward to sing and dance, and execute all the grimaces, in the Father's place, the latter having never learned that trade.
" Toward evening," continues the Father, " we were conducted to the cabin of him who had captured me, and there I was given a dish of their sagamit6, or porridge made of Indian corn and water. The old men having assembled in this cabin, a woman presented a brasse of Porcelain [62] to enforce her request that one of my fingers should be cut off. I felt iio farther reluctance at giving up my hands, especially as — in the hope which I had entertained,
132 LES RELATIONS DBS J^SUITES [Vol.40
vne femme prefenta vne braffe de Porcelaine, [62] pour me faire coupper vn doigt. le n'eus plus de repugnance de donner mes mains; veu mefmement, que dans les efperances que i'auois eues de la vie, pendant mon voyage, & dans les defirs de trauailler en fuitte k la paix; ie croyois toufiours qu'il efloit expedient, que i'en portaffe les marques, & qu'il m'en coutaft quelque doigt. Si bien que ie ne m'ad- dreffay plus aux Anges de ces Barbares, pour euiter cette croix: mais bien a Saint Gabriel, pour obtenir la force de la fouffrir gayement. Le Borgne qui s'eftoit approche de noftre efchaffaut, pour faire ce qu'il n'executa pas pour lors, me prit la main droite, confiderant mes doigts ; & comme i'auois la penf6e, que les doigts de cette main, m'efloient vn peu plus neceffaires, [63] que ceux de la gauche: il la prit, quittant la droite, & appellant vn enfant ag6 de quatre a cinq ans, il luy donne f on couteau : me prit 1 'index, ou le fecond doigt de la main gauche, & le fit couper k cet enfant. I'offry mon fang, & mes fouffrances, pour la paix : regardant ce petit facrifice d'vn oeil doux, d'vn vifage ferain, & d'vn coeur ferme : chantant le Vexilla, & ie me fouuiens, que ie reiteray deux ou trois fois le couplet, ou la Strophe, hnpleta funt qucB concinit, Dauid fideli carmine, dicendo nationibus, regnauit a ligno Deus.
L'Hymne acheu^, & le doigt coupe, cet homme me mit au col, vne partie de la Porcelaine, que cette femme auoit donn6e, & de 1' autre il entoura mon doigt coupe, qu'il porta k celuy qui m'auoit pris. Or comme le fang fortoit [64] de la playe en abon- dance, ce Borgne y voulut appliquer le feu de fa pippe k prendre du tabac, pour I'eftancher: ce qui
1653] RELATION OF 16^2 -S3 133
during my journey, of saving my life, and in my desire to work afterward in the cause of peace — I always believed it expedient that I should bear the marks of my experience, and that it should cost me one of my fingers. As a result, I no longer appealed to the Angels of these Barbarians, in order to avoid that cross, but rather to Saint Gabriel, that I might gain strength to suffer it cheerfully. The One-eyed man, who had approached our scaffold with a purpose which he did not execute at the time, took my right hand and examined my fingers; and, just as I was thinking that the fingers of that hand were a little more necessary to me [63] than those of the left, he took the latter and dropped the right. Then calling a child, from four to five years of age, he gave him his knife, took the index or forefinger of my left hand, and made the child cut it off. I offered my blood and my sufferings in the cause of peace, regard- ing this little sacrifice with a mild eye, a serene countenance, and a stout heart; I sang the Vexilla, and I remember that I repeated two or three times the couplet, or Strophe, — Inipleta sunt qucs concinit David fide li carmine, dicendo nationibus, regnavit t ligno Deus.
' ' The Hymn completed and the finger cut off, that man hung around my neck a part of the Porcelain beads which the woman mentioned above had given ; and with the rest he encircled my severed finger, and carried it to my captor. Now, as the blood flowed [64] from the wound in abundance, the One- eyed man wished to apply to it the fire of his tobacco- pipe, in order to stanch it — which would have caused me intense pain. But he was anticipated by others, who had a glowing coal applied to it by the same
134 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol.40
tn'auroit caufe vne grande douleur: mais il fut pre- uenu par d'autres, qui y firent appliquer vn charbon ardent, par le mefme enfant qui I'auoit coupe. Le fang ne lailTant pas de couler, on me I'enuelopa quel- que temps apres, d'vne feuille de bled d'Inde, & ce fut tout I'appareil qu'on y mit, iufques k ce qu'on m'eut donn6 la vie. I'abbregeray, adjoufte le Pere, ce qui fuit, puis qu'il me femble qu'on me Tarrache des mains.
Le lendemain on nous mena dans vne autre Bour- gade, oil fe deuoit tenir vne grande Affemblee des notables du pais. Vne femme m'ofta mes fouliers, [65] croyant, peut-eflre, qu'on nous alloit executer k mort. le fis doc ce voyage nuds pieds, & nud tefte. Nous fufmes expofez trois iours & deux nuits, f9a- uoir eft le Vendredy, le Samedy, & le Dimache, qui eftoit la veille de la Natiuite de la faindte Vierge, a la rif6e, aux brocards, & aux infolences des enfans, & de tout le monde: nous participafmes k la pro- meffe, qui fut faite au Fils de Dieu, deuant fa naif- fance. Saturabitur opprobrijs. II fera repeu d'op- probres : c'eftoit noftre grand mets, depuis le matin iufques au foir, dedans la grande place publique, ou nous eftions expofez. Les vns me donnoient des coups de leurs calumets fur mon doigt coupe: d'au- tres y appliquoient des cendres bruflantes : quelques- vns m'y donnoient des chiquenodes: [66] d'autres y appliquoient le feu de leur tabac; & d'autres la pierre chaude de leurs petunoirs. En vn mot, chacun nous faifoit quelque mal, felon fa fantaifie. Voila ce que nous fouffrions au dehors; & au dedans, nous n'atten- dions, pour le dernier adte de cette tragedie, que des tourmens horribles, & epouuentables.
1653] RELATION OF ib52-S3 135
child who had done the cutting. As the blood did not cease flowing, they wrapped the wound for me, some time afterward, in a leaf of Indian corn ; and that was all the dressing applied to it until my life had been granted me. I shall abridge what follows, ' ' adds the Father, ' ' since it appears to me as if it were being snatched out of my hands.
" On the following day, we were conducted to another Village, where there was to be held a great Assembly of the notables of the country. A woman took away my shoes from me, [65] thinking perhaps that we were going to be put to death ; accordingly I made that journey barefooted and bareheaded. For three days and two nights — namely, the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday immediately preceding the Nativity of the blessed Virgin — we were exposed to the ridicule, the taunts, and the insolence of the chil- dren and of every one. We shared in the promise that was made to the Son of God before his birth : Saturabitur opprobriis, — ' He shall be filled with re- proaches.' It was our principal dish, from morning^ until evening, in the great public place where we were exposed. Some gave me blows with their pipes on my cut finger, others applied to it burning ashes ; some gave me fillips on it; [66] others applied thereto the fire from their tobacco, and others the hot stone of their pipes. In a word, every one did us some injury, according to his fancy. Behold what we suffered outwardly, while inwardly we were expecting, as the last act of this tragedy, only horrible and frightful torments.
' ' In the night from Friday to Saturday they burned in the fire of their pipes the two Index-fingers, both right and left, of poor Mathurin, my companion, — an
136 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
La nuit du Vendredy an Samedy, ils bruflerent dans le feu de leurs calumets, les deux Index de la main gauche, & de la main droite du pauure Mathu- rin mon compagnon: ce qu'il endura auec vne patience admirable, chantant V Aue maris Jlella dans fes fouffrances. Nous fufmes liez fort rigoureufe- ment, pendant ces deux nuits; on attacha les liens de nos pieds, «& de nos mains, fi haut, & d'vne fa9on fi rude & fi mauffade, [67] que nous eftions k demy fufpendus en I'air, ce qui nous caufoit vne douleur tres-grande, & fi fenfible, qu'vn bon vieillard voyant bien qu'elle efloit infupportable, lafcba nos liens, & nous foulagea vn petit.
Les Anciens commanderent "k la ieuneffe, de fe contenter, I'vne de ces deux nuits, de nous faire chanter & danfer, fans nous caufer d'autres tour- mens. Ce qui n'empefcha pas, qu'en paffant aupres des feux, qui eftoient en la cabane, ceux qui les en- touroient, ne nous appliquaffent quelque tifon ardent fur la chair. le receus vne bonne part de ces brufleures.
Le Dimanche fe pafla en confeils & en affembl^es, pour fgauoir ce que Ton feroit de nous. Sur le foir, on prononga noftre fentence : mais en des termes, que [68] ie n'entendy point. le la pris pour vne fentence de mort, & mon efprit s'y trouua fi difpof6, qu'il fembloit que ie voyois la grace toute prefte, pour me fouftenir dans la cruaut6 des derniers tourmens: mais ma fentence eftoit plus douce. Ie fus donn6 ^ vne bonne vieille femme, en la place d'vn hen frere, pris ou tu6 par ceux de noftre party. Ie n'auois pas pour cela la vie fauue : car cette femme me pouuoit faire mourir par tous les tourmens que la vengeance
1653] RELATION OF 1652-53 137
operation which he bore with admirable patience, singing the Ave maris stella in his sufferings. We were very rigorously bound during these two nights, the cords around our hands and feet being made fast at such a height, and in a manner so extremely uncomfortable, {^'J^^ that we were half suspended in the air ; we suffered in consequence, a pain of such excruciating severity that a good old man, seeing plainly that it was unbearable, loosened our bonds and relieved us a little.
" On one of these nights, the Elders ordered the young people to content themselves with making us sing and dance, without causing us further torments. But that did not prevent those who were around the fires in the cabin from touching glowing firebrands to our flesh as we passed. I received a good part of these burns.
" Sunday was spent in councils and assemblies, in order to determine what should be done with us. Toward evening, our sentence was pronounced, but in terms which [68] I did not understand. I took it for a sentence of death, and my mind was so well prepared for this that I seemed to see the divine grace all ready to sustain me in the cruelty of the last torments. But my sentence was milder : I was given to a good old woman in place of a brother of hers, who had been captured or killed by those on our side. Nevertheless, my life was not yet safe; for that woman could have made me die in all the torments that could have been suggested by revenge. But she had pity on me and delivered me from death, at the season when the Church is wont to honor the birth of the blessed Virgin. I pray God to reward that goodness. As soon as I had entered her cabin, she
138 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
auroit pu fuggerer a fon efprit: mais elle eut com- pafTion de moy, me deliurant de la mort, au temps que I'Eglife honore la naiffance de la faindte Vierge. le prie Dieu de recompenfer cette bont6. Si toft que ie fus entre en fa cabane, elle fe mit k chanter vne chanfon des morts: [69] que deux de fes fiUes pourfuiuirent auec elle. I'eftois aupres du feu, pen- dant ces chants lugubres : on me fit affeoir fur vne efpece de table vn peu ^leu6e: & alors ie connu, que i'eflois donne pour vn mort, dont ces femmes renou- uelloient le dernier deiiil, faifant refufciter le trefpaff^ en ma perfonne, fuiuant leur couftume. Ie rencon- tray dans cette cabane, vne Algonquine captiue, adoptee dans cette famille; ou ie me voyois auffi adopte, comme ie I'auois veue autrefois, & que i'entendois fa lague, cela me r^joiiit. Ie trouuay auffi vn Huron de mon ancienne connoiffance, ce qui augmenta ma ioye.
Auffi-toft que ie fus fay parent de ma maifon, on commenga de penf er mon doigt k la Sauuage : on y appliqua ie ne fgay quelles [70] racines, ou ecorces cuittes, qu'on enueloppa d'vn chiffon de toille, plus gras qu'vn torchon de cuifme. Ce cataplafme me dura quinze iours, fi bien qu'il s'endurcit, en forte qu'il m'eftoit fort incommode. On me donna vne demie couuerte, pour me feruir de robe, & de lidt; & quelque temps apres, on me fit des chauffes, & des fouliers ^ leur mode : on me donna auffi vne vieille chemife fort graffe, & tout cela auec tant de bont6 fauuage, & auec vne fi grande affec5tion, que ie n'ay point 6prouu6 plus de cordialite parmy les Sauuages, qui nous font amis. De plus, on alia payer ma vie ^ celuy qui m'auoit pris, par quelques milliers de Porcelaine.
1653 J RELATION OF 1652-53 139
began to sing a song of the dead, [69] in which two of her daughters accompanied her. I was near the fire during these doleful chants and was made to sit down on a kind of table slightly raised from the ground; and then I became aware that I was given in return for a dead man, the last mourning for whom these women were renewing, — causing the departed to become alive again in my person, according to their custom. In this cabin I met a captive Algon- quin woman, who had been adopted into that family, into which I saw myself also adopted. As I had seen her before, and as I understood her language, I was delighted. I found also a Huron of my former acquaintance, which increased my joy.
" As soon as I had been made a relative of my house, they began to dress my finger after the man- ner of the Savages, — applying to it I know not what [70] roots or barks, previously boiled, which they wrapped in a linen rag that was greasier than a kitchen-cloth. This poultice lasted me a fortnight, so that it became hard, in such a manner as to cause me great inconvenience. I was given half a blan- ket, to serve me as robe and as bed ; and, some time afterward, they made me some stockings and shoes after their fashion ; I was also presented with an old and very greasy shirt, — and all that with so much savage kindness and so great affection, that I have not experienced more cordiality among the Savages who are friendly to us. Moreover, they went to my captor, and paid him for my life with several thou- sand Porcelain beads.
" As for my poor companion, he was conducted on Sunday to another Village and was burned on Monday, [71] the day of the Nativity of the blessed
140 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
Pour mon pauure compagnon, il fut mene le Dimanche en vne autre Bourgade, & brufle le Lundy, [71] iour de la Natiuit^ de la fainte Vierge, qui m'auoit deliure des la premiere entree de fa fefte.
A trois iours de la, on apporta dans la Bourgade oil i'eftois, des nouuelles de I'armee, qui eftoit all6e au Trois Riuieres. le fus vn affez long-temps dans les alarmes de la mort, ne fgachant pas, fi elles eftoient bonnes ou mauuaifes: eftant bien affeure, que ie ferois I'objet de leurs vengeances, au cas qu'elles fuffen[t] mauuaifes.
Mais enfin, il vint vn Capitaine, qui auoit charge de me faire donner la vie, & de me reconduire aux Trois Riuieres. II 6clieut par vne prouidence toute particuliere, que cet homme efloit de la famille, oil i'auois efte donne, & frere de celle qui m'auoit adopte pour fon frere. II demeuroit dans [72] vne autre Bourgade, d'ou il m'enuoya deux Hurons, pour m'in- uiter de Taller voir. Ces bones gens dirent des mer- ueilles de moy, aux Iroquois ; les aflurans, que iettois \^sc. i'eftois] regrette de tous les Frangois, & que de ma vie, & de mon retour, dependoit la vie de leurs compatriotes, qu'on auoit lailTes pour oftages aux Trois Riuieres. Ces difcours me firent autant confi- derer que i'auois efte m6prife. Le Capitaine dont ie viens de parler, fut rauy me voyant encor en vie, il me donna vn vieux chapeau, qui me fit plaifir, pource qu'il y auoit douze iours que i'al[l]ois nue tefte. II me promis de me mener aux Hollandois, pour me faire habiller: & en fuitte, de me ramener aux pays des Frangois.
On commanga, fur le rapport de ce Capitaine, ^ faire des alTemblees : [73] & h. tenir des confeils pour
1653] RELATION OF ibs2-S3 141
Virgin, who had delivered me at the beginning of her festival.
" Three days thereafter, there was brought to the Village where I was news of the army that had gone to Three Rivers. For a considerable time I was in fear of death, not knowing whether the news was good or bad, and being well assured that I would be the object of their vengeance, in case it were bad.
" But at length there came a Captain, who was commissioned to grant my life, and to conduct me back to Three Rivers. It happened, by a very special providence, that this man was a member of the family to which I had been given, and a brother of her who had adopted me as her brother. He lived in [72] another Village, whence he sent two Hurons to invite me to go and see him. These good people told the Iroquois marvels about me, assuring them that I was mourned by all the French, and that on my life and my return depended the lives of their fellow-countrymen who had been left as hostages at Three Rivers. These words caused me to receive as much consideration as I had before met with indignity. The Captain whom I have just men- tioned was delighted to see me still alive; and he gave me an old hat, which was very acceptable to me, inasmuch as I had been going bareheaded for twelve days. He promised to conduct me to the Dutch, in order to have me clothed, and then to take me back to the country of the French.
"Upon this Captain's report, they began to call assemblies [73] and hold councils, for the purpose of concluding peace with the French. Meanwhile, I was conducted to fort Orange, occupied by the Dutch, where I arrived on the twentieth of September.
142 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 40
arrefler la paix auec les Francois. Pendant lefquels ie fus mene au fort d' Orange tenu par les HoUan- dois, ou i'arriuay le vintiefme de Septembre. La premiere maifon que ie rencontray, me receut tres- charitablement : on m'y prefenta dequoy difner, & entre autres chofes, i'y mangeay des pommes, dont ie n'auois point goufte depuis quinze ans, on m'y fit encor prefent d'vne chemife blanche, vn ieune homme, pris aux Trois Riuieres, par les Iroquois, & rachepte par les Hollandois, aufquels il feruoit d'in- terprete, me vint trouuer: & apres quelque entretien, me dit qu'il fe viendroit confefler le lendemain qui eftoit Dimanche.
Vne bonne Dame EcofToife, qui s'eft montr^e, dans toutes rencontres, [74] tres-charitable aux Frangois, & qui auoit fait tout fon pouuoir, pour rachepter le petit fils de Monfieur Petit, qui eft mort depuis parmy les Iroquois; me mena en fa maifon, pour leuer I'appareil d'^corce, ou de racines que ces bonnes Iroquoifes, dont i'ay parl6, auoient mis fur mon doit, & I'ayant veu encor bien malade m'enuoya au fort d' Orange, pour le faire penfer par vn Chirurgien. Ie rencontray la le Gouuerneur de ce fort, h. qui le Capitaine Iroquois, auoit prefente vne lettre de Mon- fieur de Lauzon Gouuerneur pour le Roy fur le grand fleuue de faint Laurens en la nouuelle France. Get homme me receut fort froidement, nonobftant que la lettre, qu'on luy auoit apportee, me recommandaft tres-auantageufement. Comme [75] la nuit s'appro- choit, «& que ie m'en allois coucher fur le plancher, fans lit, & fans foupper: vn Sauuage demanda per- miffion au Gouuerneur, de me mener en vne maifon qui luy eftoit amie. I'y fus coduit, & i'y trouuay vn
1653] RELATION OF 1632-33 143
The first family to whom I came received me with much charity: I was given a dinner and, among other things, I there ate some apples, — a fruit which I had not tasted for fifteen years; and I was also presented with a white shirt. A young man who had been captured at Three Rivers by the Iroquois, and ransomed by the Dutch, whom he served as inter- preter, came to find me, and, after some conversation, told me that he was coming to make his confession on the next day, which was Sunday.
" A good Scotch Lady, who has shown herself on all occasions [74] very charitable toward the French, — and who had done all in her power to ransom Mon- sieur Petit 's little son, who has since died among the Iroquois," — conducted me to her house, to remove the dressing of bark or roots which those good Iroquois women, of whom I have spoken, had applied to my finger; and, when she saw that it was still very far from being healed, she sent me to fort Orange, to have it dressed by a Surgeon. There I met the Governor of that fort, to whom the Iroquois Captain had presented a letter from Monsieur de Lauzon, Governor for the King over the great river saint Lawrence in new France. This man received me very coldly, although the letter which had been brought to him commended me in the highest terms. As [75] night was approaching, and I was going away to lie down on the bare floor, without bed or supper, a Savage asked the Governor for leave to take me to a family who were friendly to him. I was conducted thither, and found there an old man who received me with much kindness. The French- man whom I mentioned above was living in that house ; and he set his conscience in order during the
144 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
vieillard, qui me recent auec beaucoup de bienueil- lance. Le Fran9ois, dont i'ay fait mention cy-deffus, demeuroit en cette maifon : il mit ordre a fa con- fcience, pendant trois nuits, que ie demeuray auec luy ches c^t honnefte homme, dont ie voudrois pouuoir reconnoiftre la courtoifie, par toutes fortes de feruices, tant il me traita honeftement, lors que i'eltois en vn eftat le plus m^prifable du monde. Ie ne pouuois pas manquer d'habits, cet honnefte Gentil- homme m'en prefenta vn fort honnefte; & ^ mefme temps, vn [^jG] bon Vualon, ne fgachant rien de cet office, alloit quefter par les maifons, pour trouuer dequoy m'habiller. On me dit encor, que cette bonne Dame Ecoffoife, me preparoit la mefme cha- rity : mais ie les remerciay tons, & ie ne voulu iamais rien accepter, qu'vn capot, & des bas de chauffes k la Sauuage, auec des fouliers Fran9ois, & vne couuer- ture, qui me deuoit feruir de lit k mon retour, cette Dame prit le foin de tout cela auec tant d'addreffe, & tant d'affedtion, qu'elle n'6pargna aucun ajufte- ment, dont elle fe pent auifer. Mes hoftes me pref- f erent, de prendre des prouifions pour mon voyage : mais ie me contentay, de receuoir quelques pefches, d'vn Marchand de Bruxelles bon Catholique, que ie confeffay h. mon depart. II fallut leur promettre ^ [yy^ tons, que ie les retournerois voir, I'Eft^ prochain: tant ils me t^moignoient d'amour & de bienueillance.
Sortant du quartier des Hollandois, ie fus conduy h. la Bourgade de celuy qui m'auoit pris. L'allant vifiter, il me rendit mon Breuiaire. De 1^ nous allames au Bourg, & k la cabane oii i'auois eft6 adop- ts, len'y fus que deux iours: car on me vint prendre
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-53 145
three nights that I spent with him under the roof of that worthy man, — whose courtesy I wish I could acknowledge by any kind of service, so handsomely did he treat me when I was in the most despicable condition in the world. I could not lack coats, as this worthy Gentleman presented me a very decent one; and, at the same time, a \j^'\ good Walloon, know- ing nothing of this kindness, went to search through the houses, to find me the means of clothing myself. I was also told that that good Scotch Lady was preparing to do me the same charity ; but I thanked them all, and would not accept anything but a hooded cloak, and some stockings of the Savage fashion, with some French shoes, and a blanket that was to serve me for bed on my return journey. That Lady took charge of all this, with so much skill and affec- tion as to include every conceivable provision for my comfort. My hosts urged me to take some food for my journey; but I contented myself with some peaches from a Brussels Merchant, a good Catholic, whom I confessed at my departure. I had to prom- ise them \y^^ all to come back and see them the next Summer, so much affection and kindness did they manifest toward me.
" Leaving the Dutch settlement, I was conducted to the Village of the man who had captured me. Upon going to visit him, he returned to me my Breviary. Thence we proceeded to the Village and to the cabin where I had been adopted, where I remained only two days ; for some one came to con- duct me, together with my sister who had given me my life, to the largest of the Iroquois Villages, for the purpose of attending the councils and assemblies in which the question of peace was to be discussed.
146 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
anec ma foeur, qui m'auoit donn^ la vie, pour me mener en la plus grande des Bourgades Iroquoif es : afin d'affifter aux confeils, & aux alTemblees, ou on deuoit parler de la paix. le remarquay qu'on amaf- foit par tout des prefens, pour me reconduire h, Quebec. Ce n'eftoient plus que feftins, dans lef- quels, on me faifoit tout le bon accueil poffible. Enfin le iour de S. Michel, [78] il fut arrefte, qu'on iroit demander, & conclurre la paix auec les Fran9ois, & auec leurs Alliez, Cette conclufion fut prife, en la Bourgade, ou le premier Frangois, le bon Ren6 Goupil, compagnon du Pere Ifaac logues, auoit eft6 tue par les Iroquois, le mefme iour de S. Michel. le m'eftois toufiours attendu, que cette fefte, ne fe pafferoit pas, fans quelque chofe de remarquable.
Trois iours apres cette refolution, on me dit, que le Capitaine qui m'auoit conduit au quartier des Hol- landois, me conduiroit au pais des Franfois ; non par eau, "k caufe des tempeftes, qui font ordinairement en cette faifon, fur le lac de Champlain, par ou il eut fallupaffer: mais par vn autre chemin, tres-fafcheux pour moy; dautant qu'il falloit marcher fept [79] ou huit iours &, pied, dans ces grandes forefts, & ie n'auois ny force, ny jambes pour vn fi grand trauail. Au bout de ces huit iournees, on trouue vne riuiere, fur laquelle on vogue enuiron deux iours, & puis on rencontre le grand fleuue de faint Laurens, dans lequel fe defcharge cette riuiere, k foixante lieues, ou enuiron, au delTus de I'lfle de Montreal, affez proche du lac nomme 1' Ontario.
Ie me fouuins pour lors de S. lofeph, qui porta Nollre Seigneur en Egypte, par les deferts d' Arable, comme on croit, ie le priay de me feruir de guide, &
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-33 147
I observed, that presents were being everywhere collected, to accompany my escort back to Quebec. There was nothing but feasting, and I was given the best possible reception at these gatherings. At length, on St. Michael's day, [78] it was decreed that they should solicit and conclude a treaty of peace with the French and their Allies. This conclusion was reached in the Village where the first French- man, the good Ren6 Goupil, companion to Father Isaac Jogues, had been killed by the Iroquois on that very day of St. Michael. I had always expected that this festival would not pass without some important occurrence.
" Three days after this resolution, I was told that the Captain who had escorted me to the Dutch settle- ment would be my conductor to the country of the French, — not by water, because of the storms which ordinarily prevail at this season upon lake Cham- plain, over which we must have passed; but by another route, which was very fatiguing to me, as we had to proceed [79] on foot through those great forests for seven or eight days, and I had neither strength nor legs for so great an undertaking. At the end of these eight days is found a river upon which we proceed by boat for about two days, and then we come to the great river saint Lawrence, into which the first empties its waters, sixty leagues or thereabout above the Island of Montreal, and not far from the lake called Ontario.
" I at that time recalled to mind St. Joseph, who bore Our Lord to Egypt through the deserts of Ara- bia, as is believed ; and I prayed him to serve me as guide and support in the fatigues of this journey. I had always had frequent recourse to his protection in
148 LES RELATIONS DBS j£SUITES [Vol. 40
de fupport, dans les fatigues de ce voyage. I'auois tou jours eu grand recours k fa protection , dans tous mes trauaux; comme auffi k S. Michel, protecfteur de I'Eglife, & de la France. Et il arriua, comme i'ay [80] apris depuis, que le quatrieme de Septembre, lour auquel i'entray pour la premiere fois, en vne Bourgade Iroquoife, qu'on chanta h. Kebec le TV Deum, das vne petite Eglife dedi^e ^ S. lofeph, en adlio de grace de ma deliurance, & de mon retour aux Trois Riuieres; vn bruit s'eftant eleue, fans qu'on en ait iamais pu d^couurir le premier autheur, que ie m'eftois ^chappe des mains de I'Ennemy. Et ce mefme iour, on alia prefenter le Sacrifice de la Meffe pour le mefme fujet, en I'Ance de S. lofeph, dans vne Eglife dedi^e k Dieu, fous le nom de S. Michel; que nous pouuons appeller I'Ange de noftre paix, puis qu'elle a efte conclue le iour de fa fefte, au pais des Iroquois.
Enfin, le troifieme d'Odtobre, ie quittay le dernier Bourg des [81] Iroquois pour retourner a Quebec. Ie rencontray fur vne petite coline, vn peu 61oign6e du Bourg, les Capitaines, & les Anciens du pais, qui m'attendoient: auec les prefens qu'ils enuoyoient, comme les contradts de la paix. lis me firent leur derniere harangue, m ' excitant k lier fortement noftre nouuelle alliance. Mon condudteur s'eftant charge des prefens, nous pourfuiuifmes noftre chemin, & fifmes feulement quatre lieues cette premiere iour- nee. Tous ceux que nous anions k la rencontre, me faifoient quelque careffe h. leur mode, & me prioient de moyenner vne bonne paix auec les Frangois.
Ie commen9ay, & acheuay ce chemin par terre, auec des peines inconceuables. Nous partifmes vn
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-53 149
all my labors, as also to that of St. Michael, protector of the Church and of France ; and it happened, as I have [80] since learned, that on the fourth of Sep- tember, the day on which I entered an Iroquois Village for the first time, the Te Deum was sung at Kebec in a little Church dedicated to St. Joseph. This was in thanksgiving at my deliverance and my return to Three Rivers, — a report having arisen, though the first author of it could never be discov- ered, that I had escaped from the hands of the Enemy. On that same day, too, the Sacrifice of the Mass was offered for the same reason at the Cove of St. Joseph [Sillery], in a Church dedicated to God under the name of St. Michael, — ^whom we may call the Angel of our peace, since that was concluded in the country of the Iroquois on the day of his festival.
" At length, on the third of October, I left behind me the last Village of the [81] Iroquois, to return to Quebec. On a little hill at a short distance from the Village, I met the Captains and Elders of the coun- try, who were waiting for me with the presents which they sent in ratification of the peace. They made me their last harangue, urging me to bind our new alliance firmly. My conductor having taken charge of the presents, we pursued our journey, accomplish- ing only four leagues on that first day. All those whom we met bestowed some endearment on me, according to their custom, and begged me to use my influence in concluding a satisfactory peace with the French.
" I began and completed this journey by land, with inconceivable fatigues. We started upon a Friday, the third of October; [82] and we arrived at the first river that I mentioned above on Saturday, the elev-
150 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.40
Vendredy troifi6me d'Ocftobre, [82] & nous arriuafmes "k la premiere riuiere, dont i'ay parl6 cy-deffus, le Samedy onzi6me du mois. Nous marchions en compagnie de plufieurs Iroquois, qui s'en alloient a la chalTe du Caftor, au lac de 1' Ontario: les pluyes, les montagnes, & les values, les torrens, & les ruiffeaux, & quatre riuieres affez groffes, qu'il fallut paffer a guay, & fe moiiiller iufques k la ceinture, vne autre plus grande, qu'il fallut trauerfer auec des cayeux branflans, & mal liez, les viures fort courts, & du feul bled d'Inde tout nouueau, fans pain, fans vin, fans viande, fans aucune chaffe, ces endroits en eftans depeuples: Toutes ces chofes, dif-je, me baftirent vne Croix fi horrible, & fi continuelle, qu'il me femble que ce fut vn miracle perpetuel, que ie I'aye pu [83] porter, dans vne peine fi exceffiue, &dans vne fi grande foibleffe. Ce fut auffi vne merueille bien particuliere, que mon Guide foit toujours demeure dans la douceur, & dans la patience, me voyant fi manuals pieton. II me femble que ie participay vn petit en ce retour, aux langueurs, & aux defaillances du Roy des affligez; comme i'auois eu part en mon voyage, apres ma prife, a fes liens & a fes agonies. Mais voicy qu'au bout de ce trauail de neuf iours, parurent trois ieunes hommes, enuoyez de la part des Anciens du pais, pour donner auis k mon Con- dudteur, qu'vn Capitaine, ^ qui on auoit fait des pre- fens aux Trois Riuieres pour ma deliurance, venant d'arriuer au pais, rapportoit que les oftages Iroquois, laillez [84] dans le fort des Frangois, auoient elte mis aux fers, & qu'on auoit defia cafl^e la tefte a quel- ques-vns d'iceux: ce Capitaine affeuroit, qu'il auoit appris cette nouuelle, de la bouche d'vn Sauuage fon
1653J RELA TION OF 1632-53 151
enth of the month. We proceeded in company with several Iroquois who were going to hunt the Beaver about lake Ontario. The rains, and the mountains and valleys ; the mountain-streams and brooks, and four rivers of considerable size which we had to cross by fording, wetting ourselves thereby up to the waist ; another larger one, that had to be crossed on rafts, insecure and badly put together ; very short rations, consisting solely of Indian corn just picked, without bread, without wine, without meat and without game, those regions having been hunted bare, — all these things, I say, formed a Cross for me that was so formidable and unceasing that it seems to me a perpetual miracle that I was able [83] to bear it, suffering, as I was, such intense pain and such ex- treme weakness. It was also very remarkable that my Guide never lost his gentleness and patience, although he saw what a bad traveler I was. In this return journey, I seem to have participated a little in the weakness and exhaustion of the King of the afflicted, — as on my outward journey, after my capture, I had shared in his bonds and his agony.
" But now, at the end of this nine days' labor, there appeared three young men, sent by the Elders of the country to notify my Conductor that a Captain, to whom presents had been given at Three Rivers for my deliverance, had just arrived in the country with a report that the Iroquois hostages who had been left [84] in the French fort had been put in irons, and that some of them had already had their heads broken. This Captain declared that he had learned that news from the mouth of a »Savage, a friend of his. Upon leaving, they warned my Con- ductor and his attendants to be on their guard, if they
152 LES RELATIONS DES jilSUITES [Vol.40
amy. Et partant on auertiffoit mon Conducleur & fes gens, de prendre garde, s'ils deuoient s'engager plus anant dans mon retour. lis me demanderent, fi ie voulois paffer plus auant, dans I'ellat des affaires. le n'eus point de repartie. Mon Condudteur me dit auec vn grand courage, que fi ie luy voulois donner ma parole, que ie tafcherois de conferuer fa vie, qu'il I'expoferoit k toutes fortes de dangers, pour me reme- ner fain & fauue parmy les Francois. Ie luy donnay fort librement, & ce plufieurs fois: car il me la demanda toujours. La parole donnee [85] & accep- t6e, nous nous embarquafmes, & pourfuiuifmes noftre chemin. Fay fceu depuis, que ce faux bruit eftoit fonde, fur ce qu'on auoit mis les fers aux pieds, a vn Sauuage Algonquin, qui s' eftoit enyure. Ces alarmes nous venoient de temps en temps, & quelques-vns prenoient plaifir de me les donner, croyans m'inti- mider: mais ces gens-1^, n'eftoient pas du nombre de mes Guides, lefquels m'ont toufiours trait6 auec beaucoup de douceur.
Comme nous commencions d'approcher de I'lfle de Montreal, mes gens auoient peur de rencontrer des Algonquins, & cependant ils s'amufoient fi fort a la chaffe, qui es[t] tres-abondante en ces endroits du grand fleuue faint Laurens, que ce retardement me fembloit ennuyeux. Noftre [86] derniere Croix, fut le danger de nous perdre, dans les bouillons du faut de faint Louys, k la veue de 1' habitation de Montreal. Ie creu quafi trouuer, mon tombeau, dans ces cou- rans: mais ils ne me firent autre mal, que de lauer le refte de mes fautes.
Enfin nous abordafmes heureufement en cette habitation, le vmgtquatri6me d'Oc5tobre; les neuf
1663] RELA TION OF 1652-53 153
were to involve themselves farther in conducting me home. They asked me if I wished to go on, as affairs then stood, and I had no answer. My Con- ductor, with great courage, said to me that if I would give him my word to try to save his life, he would expose it to all sorts of dangers for the sake of lead- ing me back, safe and sound, among the French. I gave it to him very freely, and that many times ; for he constantly asked me for it. The promise given [85] and accepted, we embarked and pursued our journey. I have since learned that this false rumor was based on the fact that irons had been put on the feet of an Algonquin Savage who had become intox- icated. These alarms came to us from time to time, and some took pleasure in reporting them to me, thinking to intimidate me; but those persons were not of the number of my Guides, who always treated me with much gentleness.
" As we began to draw near the Island of Mont- real, my people were afraid of meeting with some Algonquins; and meanwhile they took such great pleasure in hunting — game being very plenty in those regions of the great river saint Lawrence — that this delay seemed tiresome to me. Our [86] final Cross was the danger of being swallowed up in the whirlpools of the saint Louys rapids, within sight of the Montreal settlement. I almost thought I would find my grave in those currents, but they did me no further harm than to wash away the rest of my sins.
' ' At last, we landed safely at that settlement on the twenty-fourth of October, — nine weeks having passed, in honor of St. Michael and all the holy Angels, since the beginning of my captivity. We left Montreal on the twenty-fifth, toward evening,
154 LES RELA TIONS DES j£SU/TES [Vol. 4a
femaines accomplies de ma captiuit6, en I'honneur de S. Michel, & de tous les faints Anges. Nous en partifmes le vingt-cinquiefme fur le foir, & arri- uafmes aux Trois Riuieres, le vingt-liuiti6me : ou nous demeurafmes iufques au troifiefme de Nouembre. Le cinquiefme, nous mifmes pied ^ terre h. Quebec; Le fixieme, nos Iroquois mes Condudteurs, [87] firent leurs prefens pour la paix, aufquels on repondit par d'autres prefens, &ainfi vn Dimanche au foir, quatre- vingt & vn iour[s] apres ma prife, c'eft h. dire neuf fois neuf iours accomplis, le grand affaire de la paix tant defiree, fut termine. Les Saints Anges faifans voir par ce nombre de neuf, qui leur *eft dedie, la part qu'ils prenoient en ce faint ouurage, conduit tout d'vne autre fagon, que les affaires des Sauuages, qui font extremement longs en leurs affemblees, & en leurs procedez. le n'ay efte qu'vn mois dans le pais des Iroquois. I'y entray le quatrieme Septembre. Fen forty le troifieme d'Odtobre. Et dans ce peu de temps, i'ay communique auec les Hollandois: i'ay veu le fort d'Orange: i'ay paffe trois fois dans les quatre Bourgades des Iroquois [88] Anniehronons : le refte du temps de ma captiuite, a efle employ^, dans mon all6e, & dans mon retour. le fus conduy par la Riuiere des Iroquois, & par le Lac de Cham- plain, & ne fis en fuite que deux iournees de chemin par terre. Et ie fuis reuenu par vne autre route: fi bien que i'ay paff^ par les deux chemins que tiennent leurs armees, & leurs guerriers, quand ils nous viennent chercher. Voila ^ peu pres, ce que I'obeiflance a exig6 de moy, fur mon voyage.
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-53 155
and arrived on the twenty-eighth at Three Rivers, where we remained until the third of November. On the fifth we set foot on shore at Quebec; on the sixth our Iroquois, my Conductors, [87] made their presents in the cause of peace, which were responded to with other presents; and thus, upon a Sunday evening, eighty-one days after my capture, — that is to say, just nine times nine days, — the great affair of the peace, so ardently desired, was brought to a close. The Holy Angels made manifest by this number, nine, which is dedicated to them, the share which they had in this sacred work, — which was conducted in an entirely different manner from the affairs managed by the Savages, who protract to extreme length their assemblies and proceedings. I spent only one month in the country of the Iroquois, entering it on the fourth of September, and leaving it on the third of October; and in this short time I held communication with the Dutch, saw fort Orange, and thrice entered the four Villages of the Annie- hronnon Iroquois, — [88] the rest of the period of my captivity being consumed by my journey thither and back. I was taken by way of the River of the Iro- quois and Lake Cham plain, and then proceeded, for two days only, by land ; and I returned by another way, so that I passed over the two routes taken by their armies and warriors when they come to seek us. That, approximately, is what obedience required me to relate concerning my journey."
156 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.40
CHAPITRE V.
DE LA PAIX FAITE AUEC LES IROQUOIS.
ENFIN nous auons la paix, pleiit k Dieu que ces paroles, fuffent auffi veritables dans la bouche des Francois: qu'elles font [89] douces & agreables aux Habitans de la Nouuelle France. Ouy, mais dira quelqu'vn, les Iroquois, font des perfides? ils ne font la paix, que pour trahir plus auantageufe- ment dans vne nouuelle guerre? le paffe nous eft vn grand pronoftique du futur? nous auons defia eu la paix auec eux, & ils I'ont violee. le confefle que nous auons eu la paix auec eux : mais ie ne f9ay fl iamais ils I'ont eue auec nous: car k vray dire, c'e- ftoit nous qui les portions ^ la paix, nous les preffions, & par prefens, & par de longs confeils. lis auoient bien quelque inclination de s'allier des Fran9ois: mais lis auoient horreur des Sauuages, notamment des Algoquins, Ceux qui auoient les yeux ouuerts, connoifloient bien que cette paix n'eftoit pas dans la parfaite idee des Sauuages. [90] Mais, quoy qu'il en foit du futur, duquel ie ne voudrois pas repondre, ny en I'vne ny en 1' autre France: fi pouuons nous dire auec verite, que ce font prefentement les Iro- quois, qui ont fait la paix. Ou pluftofl difons que c'eft Dieu, car ce coup eft fi foudain, ce changement fl impreueu; ces difpofitions, dans des efprits Bar- bares, fl furprenantes : qu'il faut confeffer, qu'vn genie plus releu6 que I'humain, a conduit cet ouurage.
1653] RELATION OF ib52-53 1^7
CHAPTER V.
OF THE PEACE MADE WITH THE IROQUOIS.
AT last we have peace. Would to God that these words were as true in the mouths of the French as they are [89] sweet and agreeable to the Inhabitants of New France! " Yes," some one will say, " but the Iroquois are treacherous, making peace only in order to betray us to better advantage in a fresh war. The past is very ominous to us of the future : we have already had peace with them and they have violated it." I admit that we have had peace with them, but am uncertain whether they have ever had it with us; for, to tell the truth, it was we who induced them to make peace, urging them with presents and in long councils. They had, indeed, some inclination to ally themselves with the French, but held the Savages, and especially the Algonquins, in abhorrence. Those who had their eyes open recognized clearly that that peace did not entirely suit the Savages' notions. [90] But, how- ever it may be in the future, — which I would not like to answer for, either as to old France or as to new, — yet we can say with truth that, in the present instance, it is the Iroquois that have made peace. Or, rather, let us say that it is God ; for this stroke is so sudden, this change so unexpected, these tendencies in Barbarian minds so surprising, that, it must be admitted, a genius more exalted than that of man has guided this work. In the evening there
158 LES RELATIONS DBS j£SUITES [Vol.40
Le foir, il n'y auoit rien de £1 liideux, pour ainfi dire, & de fi deffait, que le vifage de ce pauure pays: & le lendemain, il n'y a rien de i^i guay, & de fi ioyeux que la face de tous les Habitans : on fe tue, on fe maflacre, on faccage, on brufle, vn Me[r]credy par exemple, & le leudy on fe fait des prefens, & on fe vifite les vns les autres, [91] comme font les amis. Si les Iroquois ont quelque deffein, Dieu a auffi les Cens. le m'affeure qu'on auoiiera, que ce que [ie] vay dire, ne s'eft point fait par vn pur rencontre.
Le iour de la Vifitation de la fainte Vierge, le Capitaine Aontarifaty tant regrete des Iroquois, ayant eft^ pris de nos Sauuages, & inftruit par nos Peres, fut baptife, & ce mefme iour, ayant efte execute h. mort, il monta au Ciel. Ie ne doute point qu'il n'ait remerci6 la fainte Vierge de fes malheurs & de fon bon-heur, & qu'il n'ait prie Dieu pour fes Compa- triotes.
Les habitans de Montreal, comme nous auons remarqu6 cy-deffus, ayans fait vn voeu folennel, de celebrer publiquement la fefte de la Prefentation de cette Mere des bontez, les Iroquois [92] des Nations plus hautes, les rechercherent de paix.
Ce fut le iour de I'Affomption de cette Reine des Anges & des hommes, que les Hurons prirent dans rifle de Montreal, cet autre fameux Capitaine Iroquois, qui fut caufe que les Anniehronnons demanderent noftre alliance, comme nous verrons bien-toft.
Le Franfois qui accompagnoit le P. Poncet en fa prife, ayant efte brufle au pais des Iroquois, ils done- rent la vie au Pere, au temps que I'Eglife honore la Natiuite de la fainte Vierge, & il trauailla en fuite,
1658] RELATION OF 1652-53 159
was nothing so unsightly, so to speak, and so dejected as the face of this poor country; and the next day there is nothing so blithe and joyous as the counte- nances of all the Inhabitants. On Wednesday, for example, there is mutual killing, butchering, pillag- ing, and burning; but, on Thursday, presents are exchanged and visits paid on both sides, [91] after the manner of friends. If the Iroquois have some design, God also has his. I am sure that it will be admitted that the event I am going to describe was not brought about purely by chance.
On the day of the Visitation of the blessed Virgin, Captain Aontarisaty, so mourned by the Iroquois, after his capture by our Savages was instructed by our Fathers, and baptized; and on that same day, after suffering execution, he ascended into Heaven. I doubt not he has thanked the blessed Virgin for his misfortunes and for his good fortune, and has prayed to God for his Compatriots.
The people of Montreal, as we have remarked above, having made a solemn vow to celebrate pub- licly the festival of the Presentation of that Mother of kindness, the Iroquois [92] of the upper Nations sought to make peace with them.
It was on the day of the Assumption of that Queen of Angels and of men that the Hurons captured, on the Island of Montreal, that other famous Iroquois Captain who was the cause of the Anniehronnons' ask- ing for an alliance with us — as we shall presently see.
After the Frenchman who accompanied Father Poncet in his captivity had been burned in the coun- try of the Iroquois, they gave the Father his life, at the time when the Church honors the Nativity of the blessed Virgin ; and he worked thereafter so effectively
160 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.40
fi efficacement k la paix, on plultoft la fainte Vierge, & les faints Anges, que le iour de S. Michel, il fut arreft^ dans vn Confeil public des vieillards du pais, qu'on remeneroit le Pere k Quebec, & qu'on lieroit fortement [93] la paix auec les Frangois.
Le mefme iour de la naiffance de la fainte Vierge, pendant que les Iroquois Anniehronnons concluoient la paix en leur pais, on faifoit vne proceffion gene- rale a Quebec; pour gagner le coeur du fils, par Tentremife delamere. On y fit marcher quatre cens moufquetaires bien armez, qui faifans leur defcharge de temps en temps bien ^ propos, donnerent de I'epouuate aux Iroquois, qui efloiet defcendus pour parler de la paix, ce qui leur fit iuger que cette paix leur eftoit d'autant plus neceffaire, qu'ils remar- quoient d'addreffe en nos Frangois, ^ manier les armes, dont ils venoient d'experimenter quelques effets, aux Trois Riuieres.
Or dites-moy maintenant, fi le hazard, ou la Proui- dence ont trauaille [94] dans ces rencontres? & fi la deuotion des habitans de la nouuelle France, & la confiance qu'ils ont eue enuers I'Epoufe du grand S. lofeph, Patron de toutes ces nouuelles Eglifes, n'a pas eft6 bien recompenfe? paffons outre.
Les Iroquois qui nous faifoient la guerre eftoient diuifez en cinq Nations, dont voicy les noms en langue Huronne.
Les Anniehronnons, dont le pais s'appelle Ani6.
Les Onneihronnons, dont le principal Bourg fe nomme Onneiout.
Les Onnontaeronnons, dont le pais & la principale Bourgade fe nomme Onnonta6.
1653] RELATION OF ibS2-S3 161
in the cause of peace — or, rather, the blessed Virgin and the holy Ang-els did this — that on St. Michael's day it was decreed, in a public Council of the elders of the country, to conduct the Father back to Que- bec, and conclude a firm [93] peace with the French.
On the same day, that of the birth of the blessed Virgin, while the Anniehronnon Iroquois were con- cluding peace in their country, a general procession was celebrated at Quebec for the purpose of winning the heart of the son through the mediation of the mother. Four hundred musketeers, well armed, were made to join in this procession ; and as they discharged their pieces from time to time, at fitting moments, they filled with alarm the Iroquois who had come down to treat of peace ; and who were led to conclude, from this exhibition, that peace was the more necessary for them, as they remarked our Frenchmen's address in handling their arms, some effects of which they had just experienced at Three Rivers.
Tell me, now, whether it was chance or Provi- dence that was at work [94] in these emergencies, and whether the devotion of the people of new France, and the trust which they reposed in the Spouse of the great St. Joseph, Patron of all these new Churches, has not been well rewarded. Let us continue.
The Iroquois who made war upon us were divided into five Nations, whose names, in the Huron lan- guage, are as follows:
The Anniehronnons, whose country is called Anie.
The Onneihronnons, whose principal Village is named Onneiout.
162 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 40
Les Sonnontouaheronnons du pais nomme Sonnon- thouan.
Les Onionenhronnons, dont le Bourg s'appelle Onneiot6.
[95] Qui ^ porte toutes ces Nations, a prendre des fentimens de paix, independemment les vnes des autres? Nous auons fceu de bonne part, que les Sonnontouaheronnons, qui font la plus grande nation Iroquoife, & la plus peupl6e, penfoient h. la paix des le Printemps: auec deffein d'y faire ioindre les Onioenhronnons leurs plus proches voifms.
Nous auons veu au Chapitre fecond, comme les Onnontaeronons, & en fuitte les Onnejohronnons, font venus la demander aux Francois de Montreal.
II ne reftoit plus que le feul Iroquois Anniehron- non, lequel enfie de fes victoires, vouloit perfeuerer dans les defirs de la guerre: mais il a donne les mains, auffi bien, que les autres. Toutes ces penfees de paix, & d'alliance, font [96] elles entrees, quafi &, mefme temps, dans les efprits farouches, & infolens de ces Nations, fans vne prouidence toute particu- liere? Deiis nobis Jicbc otia fecit. Difons plutoft. Di- gitiis Dei ejl hie. Ce coup, eft vn coup de la puifTance du grand Dieu. Ce qui nous confole fortement dans cette fainte prouidence eft, que fi quelqu'vne de ces Nations venoit a fe dementir, il eft bien croyable que les autres, nous ayans recherches, chacune en leur particulier, ne romperoient pas fi facilement auec nous, mais venons au detail.
Les Onnontaeronnons, s'eftans prefent6 au nombre de foixante &, Montreal, pour fonder fi les coeur des Fran9ois auoit quelque difpofition a la paix, le Gou- uerneur de la place, fe deffians deux prudemment,
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-53 163
The Onnontaeronnons, whose country and chief Village are named Onnonta6.
The Sonnontouaheronnons, of the country called Sonnonthouan.
The Onionenhronnons, whose Village is called Onneiote.
[95] Who prompted all these Nations to adopt sentiments of peace independently of one another? We have learned, on good authority, that the Sonnon- touaheronnons, who constitute the most extensive and populous Iroquois nation, were thinking of peace as far back as last Spring, planning to induce the Onioenhronnons, their next neighbors, to join in it.
We saw in the second Chapter how the Onnontae- ronons, and afterward the Onneiohronnons, came to ask it from the French at Montreal.
There remained no longer any save the Annie- hronnon Iroquois who, puffed up with his victories, wished to persevere in his desires for war; but he has yielded as well as the others. Did all these thoughts of peace and of alliance [96] come, almost at the same time, into the fierce and insolent minds of those Nations, without a very special providence? Deus nobis hcec otia fecit. Let us say rather, Digitus Dei est hie. This stroke is a stroke of the might of the great God. A consideration which, in this holy providence, greatly reassures us is, that if any one of these Nations should forfeit its word, it is very easy to believe that the others, inasmuch as they each sought us individually, would not so easily break with us. But let us come to details.
The Onnontaeronnons having presented them- selves at Montreal, to the number of sixty, in order to ascertain whether the hearts of the French were
164 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.40'
leur dit, que leurs [97] defloyautez paff6es, rendoi[en]t leurs proportions fort fufpedtes, & que s'ils auoient quelque amour pour noltre alliance, qu'il falloit le t^moigner "k Monfieur de Laufon Gouuerneur de tout le pais, qui eftoit k Quebec. Le Capitaine r6pondit, qu'il falloit bien diftinguer, entre Nation & Nation, que les Onnontaeronnons n'eftoient pas infideles, comme les Iroquois Anniehronnons, qui recuifent leur fiel, & ramertume de leur coeur, au milieu de leur poitrine, quand leur langue profere quelques bonnes paroles. Que pour luy, a qui toute la Nation auoit fait entendre fes intentions, qu'il parloit de toutes les parties de fon corps, depuis fes plus petits orteils, iufques au fommet de la tefte; & qu'il n'y auoit rien dans fon coeur, ny dans le refte [98] de fes membres, qui dementit ce qui efloit forty de fa bouche, Qu'il iroit voir le grand Onontio, le Gouuerneur des Frangois, & qu'il luy feroit fes prefens, dans lefquels eftoient renfermez, les deQrs de toute fa Nation.
En effet, il defcendit de Montreal iufques k Que- bec, faifant foixante lieues fur le grand fleuue. La premiere affembl6e fe tint en I'lfle d' Orleans, en la Bourgade des Hurons, a deux lieues de Quebec. Ce Capitaine fit Staler fes prefens, qui feruent parmy tous ces peuples Barbares, comme parmy nous, les ef crits, «& les Contrats. Tout le monde eftant alTis : il fe leua, inuoquant premierement le Soleil, comme vn temoin fidele, de la fmcerite de fes penfees, comme vn flambeau, qui banniffoit la nuit, & les tenebres [99] de fon coeur: pour donner vn iour veritable ^ fes paroles.
\
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-33 165
in any wise inclined to peace, the Governor of the place, prudently distrusting them, told them that their [97] past acts of treachery rendered their proposals highly suspicious, and that, if they had any desire for an alliance with us, they must make it evident to Monsieur de Lauson, Governor of the whole country, who was at Quebec. The Captain replied that a careful distinction must be made be- tween Nation and Nation ; that the Onnontaeronnons were not faithless, like the Anniehronnon Iroquois, — who cherish, deep in their breast, their rancor and bitterness of heart, while their tongues are uttering fair words. He said that, as for him, whom the whole Nation had acquainted with its sentiments, he spoke with every part of his body, from his little toes up to the top of his head, and that there was nothing in his heart, or in any of his other [98] members, that gave the lie to what had come out of his mouth ; and that he would go and see the great Onontio, Governor of the French, and would offer him his presents, in which were enclosed the wishes of his entire Nation.
In fact he did go from Montreal down to Quebec, voyaging sixty leagues upon the great river. The first assembly was held on the Island of Orleans, in the Village of the Hurons, two leagues distant from Quebec. This Captain displayed his presents, which, among all these Barbarous tribes, have the same use that writings and Contracts have with us. When every one was seated, he arose, and first in- voked the Sun as a faithful witness of the sincerity of his intentions, and as a torch that banished the night and the darkness [99] from his heart, to let in a veritable daylight upon his words.
166 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol.40
Ces prefens confiftoient en caltors, & en porcelaine, & chacun d'eux auoit fon nom, & faifoit voir le defir de celuy qui parloit, & de ceux qui I'auoient delegue.
Le premier, fe donnoit pour effuyer les larmes, qu'on iette ordinairement, "k la nou[u]elle des braues guerriers maflacrez dans les combats.
Le fecond, deuoit feruir d'vn breuuage agreable, contre ce qui pourroit refler d'amertume, dans le coeur des Frangois, pour la mort de leurs gens.
Le troifieme, deuoit fournir vne ecorce, ou vne couuerture, pour mettre fur les morts, de peur que leur regard, ne renouuellat les anciennes que- relles.
[loo] Le quatrieme, eftoit pour les enterrer, & pour fouler bien fort, la terre deffus leurs foffes: afin que iamais rien ne fortit de leurs tombeaux qui put attrifter leurs parens, & caufer dans leurs efprits, quelque Amotion de vengeance.
Le cinquieme, deuoit feruir d'enueloppe, pour fl bien empaqueter les amies, qu'on n'y touchaft plus d'orefnauant.
Le fixieme, pour nettoyer la riuiere, foiiillee de tant de fang.
Le dernier, pour exhorter les Hurons d'agreer ce qu'Onontio, grand Capitaine des Fran9ois, deuoit conclure touchant la paix.
Comme il fe faut accouftumer, aux couftumes, & aux fa9ons de faire, des peuples qu'on veut gagner, quand elles ne font pas eloignees de la raifon : Mon- fieur le [loi] Gouuerneur, rendit parole pour parole, & prefens pour prefens.
Le premier fut donne, pour faire tomber la hache d'armes, des mains de I'lroquois Onnontaeronnon.
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-53 167
These presents consisted of beaver-skins and por- celain; and each of them had its name, and testified the desire of the speaker and of those who had dele- gated him.
The first one was given to wipe away the tears that are commonly shed upon hearing of the brave warriors killed in battle.
The second was intended to serve as a pleasant draught to counteract whatever of bitterness might remain in the hearts of the French, because of the death of their people.
The third was to furnish a piece of bark, or a blanket, to put over the dead, for fear the sight of them might renew the old-time dissensions.
[100] The fourth was to bury the dead and tread down the earth very hard over their graves, in order that nothing might ever issue from their tombs that could sadden their relatives, and arouse any feeling of revenge in their bosoms.
The fifth was to serve as a wrapping for packing away the implements of war so securely that they would never be touched again in the future.
The sixth, to make clear the river, stained with so much blood.
The last, to exhort the Hurons to accept whatever decision Onontio, the great Captain of the French, should choose to make concerning peace.
As one must needs adapt himself to the customs and methods of procedure of those whom he wishes to win, when those customs are not unreasonable, Monsieur the [loi] Governor gave back speech for speech and present for present.
The first was given to make the war-hatchet fall from the hands of the Onnontaeronnon Iroquois.
168 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
Le fecond, pour brifer la chaudiere, ou il faifoit cuire les hommes, qu'il prenoit en guerre.
Le troifieme, pour leur faire quitter les couteaux, qui feruoient ^ cette boucherie.
Le quatrieme, pour leur faire mettre bas leurs arcs, & leurs fleches, & autres armes.
Le cinqui6me, pour effacer les peintures, & les couleurs rouges, dont ils fe barboiiillent le vifage, quand ils vont en guerre.
Le fixieme, pour cacher fi bien les canots, ou les batteaux qu'ils font pour les combats, qu'ils ne puiffent iamais plus les retrouuer.
[102] Ces Contradts palTez: tout le monde s'en r6joiiit. Ces Ambaffadeurs, ou ces Deleguez pour la paix, emporterent leurs Capots, leurs couuertures, leurs chaudieres, & autres femblables denr6es, en quoy, ^ mon auis, confiftoient leurs prefens. Ils promirent que dans quelque temps, ils rapporteroient des nouuelles, de la ioye vniuerfelle de toute leur Nation. Venons maintenant aux Iroquois Annie- hronnons, les plus orgueilleux, «& les plus fuperbes, de toutes ces Contr6es. Ce font eux, qui ont maf- facre le P. Ifaac logues, bruflez le P. lean de Bre- beuf, & le P. Gabriel Lallemant, & plufieurs autres Frangois.
Ces Thrafons, ayans pris refolution de furprendre, & de mettre k feu, & ^ fang, le Bourg des Trois Riuieres, comme nous auons veu [103] cy-defCus: & trouuans plus de refiflance qu'ils n'auoient penfe, furent changez quafi en vn moment. Dix ou douze d'entr'eux, parurent auec vn Guidon blanc, fur le grand fleuue, s'approchans du fort, & crians, qu'ils vouloient parlementer, & traiter de paix: & qu'on
lfio3] RELATION OF i6s2 -S3 169
The second, to break the kettle in which he cooked the men whom he captured in war.
The third, to make them throw down the knives used in this butchery.
The fourth, to cause them to lay down their bows and arrows and other arms.
The fifth, to wash off the paint and the red dyes with which they besmear their faces when they go to war.
The sixth, to hide so carefully the canoes or boats that they make for use in war, that they shall never be able to find them again.
[102] These Agreements exchanged, everybody rejoiced over the event; and the peace Ambassadors, or Delegates, carried away their Cloaks, their blan- kets, their kettles, and other like commodities, — in which, I believe, their presents consisted. They promised that they would, in a short time, bring back news of the universal joy of their entire Nation. Let us come now to the Anniehronnon Iroquois, the proudest and most arrogant people of all these Regions. It was they who murdered Father Isaac Jogues, and burned Father Jean de Brebeuf , Father Gabriel Lallemant, and several other Frenchmen.
These Thrasos, after resolving to surprise and put to fire and sword the Village of Three Rivers, as we have seen [103] above, and finding more resistance than they had expected, were changed almost in a moment. Ten or twelve of their number appeared on the great river with a white Flag, approaching the fort, and calling out that they wished to parley and to treat of peace, and that some one should be sent to them for the purpose of hearing what they had to say. The one who presented himself, on the part
170 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.40
leur enuoyaft quelqu'vn pour les ecouter. Celuy qui fe prefenta, de la part des Frangois, commen9a par des inuedtiues, leur reprochant leurs fourbes, & leurs perfidies. Tu es vn ieune homme, repondit le Capitaine de ces Iroquois, nous auons demande quel- qu'vn qui nous ecoutaft, & non pas vn ieune homme pour nous venir parler. Vas t'en voir tes vieillards, & ceux qui determinent de vos affaires, prend langue d'eux, & puis tu parleras. le f9ay, repart le Fran- gois, leurs fentimens: ils [104] croyent tons, que vous efles des trompeurs, qui ne f9auez que c'eft de tenir voftre parole. Va les confulter, & dis leur, que nous auons de bonnes penfees: & que noftre coeur n'a plus de venin. Le Frangois remonta au fort; on s'affem- bla en la maifon de Ville, & on creut, que ces Barbares, n'auoient aucune volonte de la paix: mais qu'ils cherchoient les occafions de nous furprendre. C6t homme les retoume voir. le vous auois bien dit, leur fit-il, que i'auois connoiffances des penfees de nos Anciens. lis vous prennent tous pour des fourbes, & pour des gens auec lefquels il ne faut point parler, que par la bouche de nos canons. Si vous auiez des penfees de paix, vous parleriez de nous rendre vn de nos Peres, & vn Francois, que vos gens ont pris de- puis [105] peu, es enuirons de Quebec. Ce Capitaine fut furpris k cette nouuelle, n'ayant point de con- noiffance de cette prife. le n'ay pas fceu, repart-il qu'on ait pris des Fran9ois: mais ie m'en vay pre- fentement enuoyer deux canots en diligece en noftre pais; afin d'empefcher qu'on ne leur faffe aucun mal, & ie te donne parole, que s'ils font encor viuans, tu les verras bien-toft das vos habitations.
Cet homme parloit d'vn tel accent, que fon cceur
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-53 171
of the French, began with invectives, reproaching them with their acts of knavishness and perfidy. " Thou art a young man," returned the Captain of these Iroquois ; * ' we asked for somebody to listen to us, and not for a young man to come and talk to us. Off with thee, to see thy elders and those that have the direction of your affairs ; take thy speech from them, and then thou shalt speak." " I know their sentiments," replied the Frenchman; "they [104] all think you are deceivers who know not what it is to keep your word." " Go and consult them, and tell them that we have good intentions, and our hearts have no more venom." The Frenchman went up to the fort again; there was an assembly at the Town hall, and it was the opinion that these Barbarians had no peaceful intentions, but were seeking oppor- tunities to surprise us. The man went back again to see them, and said to them: " I had told you plainly that I was acquainted with the thoughts of our Elders : they take you all for knaves, and for people with whom no communication must be held except by the mouths of our cannon. If you had thoughts of peace, you would speak of restoring to us one of our Fathers and a Frenchman, whom your people captured [105] a short time ago in the vicinity of Quebec." That Captain was surprised at this news, having no knowledge of the capture. " I did not know," returned he, " that any Frenchmen had been captured; but I will go at once and send two canoes with all haste to our country, in order to pre- vent any harm being done them ; and I give thee my word that, if they are still alive, thou shalt soon see them in your settlements."
This man spoke in such a tone that his heart
172 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
parut s'accorder auec fes paroles. Mais vn rencontre arriua fur ces entrefaites, qui fit iuger, que ce petit rayon de paix, qui commencoit k poindre, s'alloit 6teindre des fa premiere naillance. Nos Fran9ois s'imaginoient, que ces Barbares, ayans appris, que nos Hurons tenoient quelques-vns de leurs gens prifonniers, [io6] demandoient la paix pour leur fauuer la vie : & par ie ne f 9ay quel malheur, dif ons pluftoft par vne fecrette prouidence, ces prifon- niers tomberent en leurs mains, en la fagon que ie vay dire.
Vn Capitaine Huron allant en guerre, fut auerty par les Fran9ois qui font a Montreal, qu'il y auoit des ennemis dedans leur Ifle; ce Capitaine, comme nous auons defia remarque, les cherche, les trouue k la pifte, les pourfuit, les attaque, & les ayant deffaits, il prit leur Capitaine, & quatre des principaux de fes gens; or comme il ne ffauoit pas, qu'il y eut vne arm6e d' Iroquois aux Trois Riuieres, & qu'il falloit palTer par Yk, pour defcendre a Quebec: oil il vou- loit mener fes prifonniers, il alia iuftement donner dans les [107] panneaux, comme on dit. Car lors qu'il y penfoit Ie moins, & qu'il defcendoit douce- ment fur Ie grad fleuue; s'entretenant de la paix, & de la guerre, auec fes prifonniers, il apperceut de loin, I'armee Iroquoife: & il fe vid, quafi en vn moment, de vidtorieux, vaincu: & de triomphant, captif. Vne partie de fes gens, toumant Ie cap de leurs petits batteaux vers la terre, fe fauuet au plu- floft vers les bois : les autres, ne voulans pas reculer, furent fur Ie point de mallacrer leurs cinq captifs, pour mourir plus glorieufemet, felon les idees du pais dans Ie fang de leurs ennemis, Mais Dieu retint
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-53 173
seemed to be in accord with his words. Meanwhile, however, an incident took place which made us think this little ray of peace that was beginning to dawn was going to be extinguished at its very birth. Our French people imagined that those Barbarians, upon learning that our Hurons were holding some of their men as prisoners, [106] were asking for peace in order to save the lives of the latter; and, by some misfortune or other — or let us rather say, by an inscrutable providence — these prisoners fell into their hands in the manner I am about to describe.
A Huron Captain, upon starting out to war, was warned by the French at Montreal that there were some enemies within the confines of their Island. This Captain, as we have already noted, hunted for them, and traced, pursued, and attacked them; and after defeating them, he captured their Captain and four of his principal followers. Now, as he did not know that there was an army of Iroquois at Three Rivers, and as he was obliged to pass by that place in going down to Quebec, whither he wished to con- duct his prisoners, he fell right into the [107] trap, as the saying is. For, when he was least expecting such a thing, and was quietly proceeding down the great river, talking with his prisoners about peace and war, he caught sight of the Iroquois army from a distance, and saw himself changed, almost in a moment, from victor to vanquished, and from being triumphant to being himself a captive. Part of his men, turning the prows of their little boats toward the land, ran away as fast as they could toward the w^oods; the others, not wishing to retreat, were on the point of butchering their five prisoners, — that they might die the more gloriously, according to the
174 LES RELATIONS DES JJ^SUITES [Vol.40
leur bras, defia leu6 pour ramener le coup. II leur donna des penfees de vie, & de paix, a la veue de la mort, & dans les apparences de la continuation d'vne cruelle guerre. [io8] Aaoueate Capitaine des Hu- rons, s'addrelTant au Capitaine Iroquois fon captif, nomme Aronhieiarha, luy dit: Mon neueu, (c'eft vn terme d'amiti^ vfit^ parmy ces peuples) ta vie eft entre mes mains, ie te peux tuer, & me fauuer auCTi bien que les autres, ou me ietter au milieu de tes gens, pour en maffacrer autant qu'il me feroit poffible : mais ton fang, & celuy de tes gens, ne nous retireroit pas des malheurs, oii vos armes nous ont iettez. Nous auons parle d'alliance, puis que la paix eft plus precieufe que ma vie, i'aime mieux la rif- quer, dans le deflein de procurer vn fi grand bien "k mes petits neueux, que de venger par I'effufion de ton fang, la mort de mes Anceftres. Au moins mour- ray-ie honorablement, fi on me tue, apres t'auoir donne la vie. [109] Et toy, fi tu me laiffe m'alTacrer par tes parens, le pouuant empefcher, tu pafTeras le refte de tes iours, dans le deshonneur ; tu feras tenu pour vn lafche, d'auoir fouffert qu'on mit k mort, celuy qui venoit de te donner la vie. Le Capitaine Iroquois repartit : Mon oncle, tes penfees font droites. II eft vray, que tu me peux ofter la vie : mais donne la moy, pour te la conferuer. La gloire que i'ay acquife a ma Nation, par mes vi(5toires, ne me rend pas fi peu cofiderable, das I'efprit de mes Compatri- otes, que ie ne puiffe t'affeurer de la vie, toy & tes gens. Si les miens te veulent attaquer, mon corps te feruira de bouclier. Ie fouffrirois pluftoft, qu'ils me brulafCent k petit feu, que de me rendre m6pri- fable iufques k ce point, de ne pas honorer voftre
1653] RELA TJON OF 1632-53 175
notions of the country, in their enemies' blood. But God stayed their arms, already raised to deal the blow, and gave them thoughts of life and of peace, at the sight of death and when there were indications of the continuation of a cruel war. [108] Aaoueate, Captain of the Hurons, addressing his captive — the Iroquois Captain, Aronhieiarha — by name, said to him: "My nephew" (that is a term of friendship used among these tribes), " thy life is in my hands: I can kill thee and make my escape with the others, or rush into the midst of thy people and kill as many of them as possible. But thy blood and that of thy people would not deliver us from the ills into which your arms have thrown us. We spoke of alliance. Since peace is more precious than my life, I choose to risk the latter, for the sake of insuring so great a blessing to my grandnephews, rather than to avenge the death of my Ancestors by shedding thy blood. At least I shall die honorably, if I am killed, after having given thee thy life. [109] And if thou, on thy part, suffer me to be killed by thy kinsmen, being able to prevent it, thou shalt pass the rest of thy days in dishonor and shalt be deemed a dastard for having allowed to be put to death one who had just given thee thy life." The Iroquois Captain made answer: " My uncle, thy thoughts are right. It is true, thou canst take my life; but give it to me, in order that I may save thine own. The glory that I have won for my Nation by my victories does not render me of so little consequence in the minds of my Compatriots that I cannot secure to thee thy life, and that of thy people as well. If my people wish to attack thee, my body shall serve thee as a shield. I would rather suffer them to burn me by a slow fire
176 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
bien-fait, [no] & mon retour, par voftre deliurance. Les Onnontaeronnons, qui portoient les prefens, dont nous venons de parler, "k Onnontio, c'efl ^ dire k Monfieur le Gouuerneur, pour difpofer fon efprit k la paix, s'eftans embarquez k Montreal, auec ces deux Capitaines vidtorieux, & vaincu, voyans la medaille tourn^e, & la face des affaires bien cbang^e, par le rencontre de cette armee Iroquoife, fe mirent du cofte des Hurons, & protefteret, tout haut, que fi on attaquoit leurs condudleurs, car c'efhoient les Hurons qui les auoient embarqu6s, qu'ils expoferoient leur vie pour eux. Aronhieiarba Capitaine Iroquois leur dit, ne craignes point. le vous donne parole, que nous ferons receus fauorablement. lis [m] auoient fait alte pendant ce difcours. lis pouffent leurs canots vers I'Armee qui les ayant reconnus enuoie dix-buit grands canots au deuant deux. lis fe virent inueftis de tons coftes en vn moment, ces canots venoient tous auec vn efprit de paix : iufques la, que celuy qui les commandoit, ayant parle en peu de mots au Capitaine Iroquois captif, fon compatriote, enuoia du monde k terre, pour cbercber les Hurons fuyards, & leur donner affurance de la vie, & de la paix. Aaoueate Capitaine Huron, fe voyat au milieu de fes Ennemis, dont les t6moignages de bienueillance, luy paroiffoient des marques de trabifon : & leurs careffes, des indices de fa mort, ou pluftofl de mille morts, auant que de mourir: fe leue, & pour f'animer aux fouffrances, [112] cbante d'vn ton tout martial, fes anciens proiieffes; II rapporte le nombre d' Iroquois qu'il a tu6s, les cruautes qu'il a exerce fur eux, & celles dont il efpere, que fes neueux vengeront quelque iour, les tourmens qu'il va fouffrir.
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-53 177
than to render me contemptible to the extent of not honoring your benefaction [no] and my return, by- setting you free."
The Onnontaeronnons who were bearing the pres- ents which we have just mentioned, to Onnontio, — that is, to Monsieur the Governor, — in order to incline his heart to peace, after embarking at Mont- real with these two Captains, victor and vanquished, and seeing the tables turned and the aspect of affairs reversed by meeting with this Iroquois army, put themselves on the side of the Hurons, and stoutly maintained that, if any one attacked their escort, — for it was the Hurons who had taken them into their boats, — they would risk their own lives for them. Aronhieiarha, the Iroquois Captain, said to them: * * Fear not ; I give you my word that we shall be favorably received." They [in] had halted during this conversation, after which they urged their canoes toward the Army, which, after reconnoitering them, sent eighteen large canoes to meet them. They saw themselves surrounded on all sides in a very short time; but these canoes all came with peaceful in- tent,— so entirely so, that their commander, after holding a brief interview with the captive Iroquois Captain, his countryman, sent some men ashore to look for the runaway Hurons and give them assurance of life and peace. Seeing himself in the midst of his Enemies, whose testimonials of good will seemed to him signs of treachery, and their caresses signs of his death, — or, rather, of a thousand deaths before the final one, — Aaoueate, the Huron Captain, arose and, in order to give himself courage for suffering, [112] sang, in a martial tone, his former deeds of prowess. He related the number of Iroquois he had
178 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
Tu n'es ny captif, ny en danger de mort, luy r^pon- dent les Iroquois, tu es au milieu de tes freres, & tu f9auras que le Frangois, le Huron & 1* Iroquois, quitte la chanfon de guerre, entonne vne chanfon de paix, qui commence auiourd'huy pour ne finir iamais.
Vous eftes des perfides, repart le Capitaine Huron, voflre coeur eft enuenim^, voftre efprit eft remply de fourbes, fi vous paries de paix, ce n'eft que pour vfer d'vne [113] trahifon plus funefte, & pour nous & pour les Fran9ois. le ne connoy que trop vos rufes. Contentes vous maintenant, de manger la tefte des Hurons: mais fgach^s que vous ne ten^s pas encor les autres membres. Mes gens ont encor des pieds, & des mains ; des iambes & des bras : cela dit, il tend le col pour eftre coup6 : mais voyant que perfonne ne mettoit la main au coufleau, brufles moy done, leur dit-il, n'epargn^s point vos fupplices: aufll bien fuis-ie mort. Mon corps eft deja deuenu infenfible, ny vos feux, ny vos cruaut^s n'eftonnent point mon coeur, i'ayme mieux mourir auiourdhuy, que de vous eftre redeuable d'vne vie, que vous ne me donnas, qu'k dellein de me I'ofter par vne trahifon funefte.
Tu paries trop rudement k tes [114] Amis, r6pon- dent les Iroquois, noftre coeur s'accorde auec nos paroles.
le vous connoy bien, repart Aoueat6, voftre efprit eft gamy de fept doublures, quand on en a tir6 vne, il en refte encor fix. Dites-moy de grace, fi cette trahifon que vous machinez fi adroitement, eft la der- niere de vos malices? Vous vous eftes oubliez des
1653J RELA TION OF 1652-33 179
killed, the cruelties he had perpetrated upon them, and those with which he hoped his nephews would some day avenge the torments he was himself about to endure.
" Thou art neither a captive nor in danger of death," the Iroquois answered him; "thou art in the midst of thy brothers ; and thou must know that the Frenchman, the Huron, and the Iroquois are dropping the war-song and are beginning a song of peace, which begins to-day, to last forever."
" You are faithless rogues," rejoined the Huron Captain; " your hearts are full of venom, and your minds of knavishness ; if you talk of peace, it is only to employ a [113] treachery more baleful both for us and for the French. I know your wiles only too well. Content yourselves now with eating the head of the Hurons ; but know that you do not yet hold the other members. My people still have feet and hands, legs and arms." Saying this, he offered his throat for them to cut ; but seeing that not a man put his hand to his knife, " Burn me, then," he said to them; " do not spare your tortures, — all the more, as I am a dead man. My body has already become insensible ; and neither your fires nor your cruelties will shock my courage. I would rather die to-day than be indebted to you for a life which you give me only with the intention of depriving me of it by some dire treachery."
" Thou speakest too harshly to thy [114] Friends," returned the Iroquois; " our hearts are in accord with our words."
"I know you well," rejoined Aoueate; "your minds are furnished with seven linings, and when one of them is taken away, there are still six remain-
180 LES RELATIONS DES jf.SUITES [Vol.40
paroles mutuelles, que s'eftoient donn^es nos An- ceftres, lors qu'ils prirent les armes les vns centre les autres. Que fi vne fimple femme, fe mettoit en de- uoir de d^couurir la Su[e]rie, d'arracher les baftons qui la fouftiennent, que les vidlorieux poferoient les armes, & prendroient les vaincus k mercy. Vous auez viole cette loy : car non f eulement vne femme ; mais le grand Capitaine des Frangois, a [115] d^cou- uert cette Suerie funefte, ou fe prennent les conclu- fions de la guerre ; il a par fes prefens, arracli6 les baftons qui la fouftiennent, tafchant de gagner les Nations que vous appuyez, & vous meprifans fa bonte, vous auez foule aux pieds les ordres, & la parole de vos Anceftres. lis en rougiffent de bote au pays des Ames, voyans que vous violez, auec vne perfidie infupportable, les loix de la nature, le droit des Gens, & toute la fociete humaine.
Get homme preffa ce point fi fortement, que le Gapitaine Iroquois, fut cotraint d'auoiier qu'ils auoient tort, & que dorefnauant les cbofes pafferoient d'vn autre air.
lis furent long-temps dans cette contefte. Le Hu- ron ne pouuant croire ce qu'il voyoit; & les Iroquois [i 16] ne pouuant luy perfuader, que c'eftoit vrayemet tout de bon, qu'ils auoient des penf^es de la paix.
Quoy qu'il en foit, les Iroquois, non feulement ne firent aucun mal aux Hurons, mais ils ne parlerent plus que de feftins, & de rejoiiilTance, tant la face des affaires fe vit chang6e en vn moment.
Enfin, apres quelques entretiens d'amiti^, vn Gapitaine Iroquois s'addreffant au Gapitaine Huron, & le congediant auec honneur, luy dit, Mon Frere,
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-33 181
ing. Tell me, I beg you, whether this treachery that you are devising with such skill is the last of your knavish tricks. You have forgotten the exchange of promises that took place between our Ancestors, — when they took up arms, the one side against the other, — to the effect that if a mere woman should undertake to uncover the Sweat-house and take away the stakes supporting it, the victors should lay down their arms and show mercy to the van- quished. You have violated this law ; for not merely a woman, but the great Captain of the French has [115] uncovered this ill-omened Sweat-house where decisions of war are adopted. By his presents he has taken away the stakes that support it, trying to win the Nations which you are upholding; and you, scorning his kindness, have trampled under foot the orders and the promise of your Ancestors. They blush with shame, in the land of Souls, at seeing you violate, with an unbearable perfidy, the laws of nature, the law of Nations, and all human society."
That man pressed this point so urgently that the Iroquois Captain was forced to admit that they were in the wrong, promising that in the future things should go differently.
They were a long time engaged in this altercation, the Huron being unable to believe what he saw, and the Iroquois [116] unable to persuade him that they were really in earnest in entertaining thoughts of peace.
But, whatever the state of affairs, the Iroquois not only did no harm to the Hurons, but they also talked of nothing but feasting and rejoicing, — so greatly was the aspect of affairs changed in a moment.
At length, after some interchange of friendly
182 Ll::5 RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.40
Et Sagon, prens courage, vas faire reuerdir les cam- pagnes des Frangois, par les bonnes nouuelles de la paix, que nous voulons auoir auec eux, & auec tous leurs Alliez. On luy rend tout fon bagage, & celuy de fes gens, k la referue d'vne arquebufe qui s'eftoit egar^e. Ce Capitaine Huron, ne penfant pas encor [117] eftre en affurance, s'ecrie, Quoy done, ofte-t'on les armes h. vn homme, qui fe trouue feul entre cinq cens? A mefme temps on iette h. fes pieds, cent arquebufes, pour en choifir vne, en la place de la Cenne, que quelque foldat auoit enleuee. Cela fait, il s'embarque, auec le peu de fes gens qui luy reftoient ; & auec les Ambaffadeurs d'Onnontae, pour voguer droit a la Bourgade des Trois Riuieres.
Ce Capitaine, qui eft Chreftien, a dit depuis k vn de nos Peres, qu'il ne creut point auoir la vie fauue, iufques a ce qu'il vit fon canot, hors la port6e des moufquets de I'arm^e ennemie: c'eft pour lors qu'il s'^cria auec S. Pierre, le f9ay maintenant que Dieu m'a deliur6 de la main des Iroquois.
Nos Frangois qui ne f9auoient [118] rien, de ce qui fe pafloit dans le camp des Ennemis, furent bien eftonnez, apprenans ces nouuelles. lis ne fgauoient quafi, s'ils les deuoient croire: mais enfin ils fe ren- dirent, quand ils eurent auis, qu'vn Capitaine Iroquois Anniehronnon, nomme Andioura, vouloit defcendre ^ Quebec, pour porter des prefens a Onnontio, & I'allurer des volotez qu'ils auoient tous de faire vne vraye paix.
C6t homme partit des Trois Riuieres, au commen- cement du mois de Septembre, & auffi-toft qu'il fut arriue h. Quebec, ayant rendu fes premieres vifites, il expofa fes prefens, dont voicy la fignification.
i
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-53 183
words, an Iroquois Captain, addressing the Huron Captain and dismissing him with honor, said to him : " My Brother, Et Sagon, cheer up, go and make the fields of the French green again with the good news of the peace that we wish to have with them and with all their Allies." All his baggage was restored to him, together with that of his followers, with the exception of an arquebus which had been lost. The Huron Captain, not yet believing [117] that he was in safety, cried out : ' ' How is this, do you take away a man's arms when he is alone among five hundred ? " Immediately a hundred arquebuses were thrown down at his feet, for him to choose one in place of his own, which some warrior had carried away. That done, he embarked with the few of his people who were left him, and with the Ambassadors from Onnontae, to proceed directly to the Village of Three Rivers.
This Captain, who is a Christian, has since told one of our Fathers that he did not regard his life as out of danger until he saw his canoe beyond the range of the hostile army's muskets; then he cried out with St. Peter: " I know now that God has deliv- ered me from the hand of the Iroquois."
Our French, who knew [118] nothing of what was going on in the Enemy's camp, were greatly aston- ished at learning this news. They scarcely knew whether to believe it, but finally allowed themselves to do so, when they received word than an Annie- hronnon Iroquois Captain, Andioura by name, wished to go down to Quebec, in order to carry some presents to Onnontio and assure him of the desires they all felt to conclude a genuine peace.
This man set out from Three Rivers in the begin-
184 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.40
Le premier efloit, pour ^claircir le Soleil, obfcurcy par les nuages, & par les troubles de tant de guerres.
[119] Le fecond eftoit vn mets, qu'il prefentoit ^ Onnontio, Gouuerneur des Frangois: afin qu'eflant repeu, il ^coutaft plus facilement les paroles de la paix, puis que les longs difcours, ne font pas agre- ables, k ceux qui font k ieun.
Le troifieme deuoit feruir de cure oreille : afin que les harangues fur vn fujet fi aimable, entraflent plus nettement dans fon efprit.
Le quatrieme fe donnoit pour dreffer vne Habita- tion Fran9oife dedans leurs terres, & pour y former, auec le temps, vne belle Colonie.
Le cinquieme, pour faire qu'vn mefme coeur, & vn mefme efprit, animaft dorefnauant, tons ceux qui feroient compris dans ce traite de paix.
Le Cxi6me efloit vn canot, ou [120] vn batteau, pour porter Onnontio en leur pays, quand il voudroit donner vne vifite ^ fes Alliez.
Le fepti^me portoit vne priere, ^ ce qu'on les laiflaft rembarquer en paix, pour retourner en leur pays, lors qu'ils viendroient vifiter leurs amis Fran- cois, Algonquins, & Hurons.
Le huitieme, demandoit que la chaffe fut commune, entre toutes les Nations confeder^es, & qu'on ne fit plus la guerre qu'aux Elans, aux Caftors, aux Ours, & aux Cerfs, pour goufler tons enfemble les frians mets, qu'on tire de ces bons animaux.
Monfieur le Gouuerneur r^pondit par d'autres prefens, qu'il fit expliquer par fon Interprete, k la fa9on de ces peuples.
Le premier fe donnoit, pour redreffer 1' efprit d'Andioura, c'efl le [121] nom du Capitaine Iroquois,
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-53 185
ning of the month of September, and as soon as he arrived at Quebec, after paying his first visits, he displayed his presents, their meaning being as follows:
The first was to make bright the Sun, darkened by the clouds and the disturbances of so many wars.
[119] The second was a dish which he presented to Onnontio, Governor of the French, in order that, after satisfying his hunger, he might listen more readily to the words of peace, as long speeches are not pleasing to those who are fasting.
The third was to serve as an ear-pick, in order that the harangues upon so pleasant a theme might enter his mind more distinctly.
The fourth was given for the building of a French Settlement within their territory, and for the forma- tion there, in course of time, of a fine Colony.
The fifth, to cause that one and the same heart and spirit should, in the future, animate all those who should be embraced in this treaty of peace.
The sixth was a canoe or [120] boat, for carrying Onnontio to their country when he wished to pay a visit to his Allies.
The seventh bore a petition that they be allowed to embark again in peace and return to their coun- try, when they came to visit their French, Algonquin, and Huron friends.
The eighth asked that the hunting might be shared by all the confederated Nations, and that there might be no more war except on the Elks, Beavers, Bears, and Deer, — in order that all might enjoy together the dainty dishes that are obtained from these good animals.
Monsieur the Governor made answer by means of
186 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.40
qui venoit d'expofer fes prefens. Si ton efprit eft encor tortu, luy dit le Truchement, voicy dequoy le redrelTer, afin que tes penf^es foient droites.
Le fecond, eftoit pour I'alTurer, que nous n'auios plus qu'vn coeur auec luy, & auec tous ceux de fa Nation.
Le troifi6me, pour concourir auec eux, k drefler & applanir les chemins d'vn pays k 1' autre: afin de fe vifiter les vns les autres, auec plus de facility.
Le quatrieme, pour eftendre vn tapis, ou vne nappe aux Trois Riuieres, ou fe tiendroient les confeils, & les affemblees de toutes les Nations.
Le cinquieme, pour difpofer vn lieu dans leur pays, oil feroient expofez, les prefens d'Onnontio.
[122] Le fixieme, eftoit pour rompre les liens, qui tenoient captif en leur pays le Pere lofeph Poncet, que tous les Fran5ois honoroient, & qu'ils deman- doient auec inftance.
Le feptieme, pour le releuer de la place, oil il eftoit couch6, 116, & garotte.
Le huitieme, pour luy ouurir la porte de la cabane, oil il eftoit log6.
Le neufi^me, pour adoucir les fatigues, qu'il deuoit fouffrir en fon chemin, ^ fon retour.
Le dernier prefent, eftoit compofe de fix capots ou efpeces de cafaques, de fix tapabors, & de deux grands colliers de porcelaine, qui furent offerts aux fix Ambaffadeurs, pour les defendre contre les iniures du temps, dans leur voyage, & pour foulager les peines, [123] qu'ils deuoient fouffrir en chemin.
II fe fit quelques harangues, apres la diftribution de ces prefens. Noel Tekouerimat Algonquin, inuec5tiua puiffamment contre la perfidie des Iroquois,
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-53 187
other presents, which he caused to be explained by his Interpreter, after the manner of these peoples.
The first was to set aright the mind of Andioura, — the [121] name of the Iroquois Captain who had just displayed his presents. " If thy mind is still twisted," said the Interpreter to him, " here is some- thing with which to straighten it, in order that thy thoughts may be right. ' '
The second was to assure him that we had thence- forth only one heart with him and with all the people of his Nation.
The third, to unite with them in straightening and clearing the roads from one country to the other, in order that visits might be exchanged with greater ease.
The fourth, to spread a carpet or mat at Three Rivers, on which might be held the councils and assemblies of all the Nations.
The fifth, to prepare a place in their country for displaying the presents from Onnontio.
[122] The sixth was to break the bonds that held captive, in their country. Father Joseph Poncet, whom all the French honored and asked for with urgency.
The seventh, to raise him from the place where he was lying bound and tied fast.
The eighth, to open for him the door of the cabin where he was lodged.
The ninth, to mitigate the fatigues that he must suffer on his return journey.
The last present was composed of six hooded cloaks, or cassocks of a certain kind, six riding-caps, and two large porcelain collars; these were pre- sented to the six Ambassadors to protect them against
188 LES RELATIONS DES JASUITES [Vol.40
leur reprochant qu'ils auoient tue par cinq ou fix fois de leurs Anceflres, "k I'heure mefme qu'ils remenoiet des prifonniers Iroquois en leur pays, pour recher- cher la paix. Que les Algonquins auoient receu auec honneur, tous les Iroquois qui les efloient venus vifjter en leur pays. Qu'au refte, que s'ils auoient delTein de contradter vne veritable alliance, ils ren- uoyroient plufieurs femmes, qu'ils retenoient dans la captiuite; que fi elles efloient marines, leurs maris les pourroient fuiure, pour demeurer auec elles au pays des Algonquins; [124] & que fi ce pays ne leur eftoit pas agreable, qu'ils les pourroient remener au lieu d'ou ils les auroient amen^es: que c'eft ainfi qu'en vfoient leurs Alliez, qui demeurent fur les riuages de la mer, en I'Acadie.
Vn Capitaine Huron repartit, qu'il falloit mainte- nant oublier les anciennes querelles, & que fi 1' Iro- quois auoit mal traite les Algonquins, qu'il leur rendoit la pareille, ayant rabaiffe leur infolence, par vne autre infolence: & que le Ciel punit ordinaire- ment au double, ceuxqui abufent de fes faueurs dans leurs vidtoires.
Monfieur le Gouuerneur fit dire par fon Truche- ment, qu'il auoit toufiours defir6 d'eftre le Mediateur de la paix publique. Qu'il n'auoit point encor pris les armes contre les Iroquois, & que [125] s'il eut donne liberty "k fes gens de les attaquer, qu'il y a long-temps que leurs Bourgades feroient reduites en cendre. Qu'ils auoient tres-bien fait de recher- cher fon alliance: pource qu'il fe laffoit de crier fl fouuent; la paix, la paix. Que fi prefentement, on ne la faifoit pas auec fmcerite, que les perfides 6prou- ueroient la colere des Frangois. Qu'au refte Annon-
',1
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-53 189
the inclemency of the weather on their journey, and to lighten the fatigues [123] which they must undergo on the way.
After the distribution of these presents, a number of speeches were made. Noel Tekouerimat, an Algonquin, inveighed forcibly against the perfidy of the Iroquois, — reproaching them with having killed, on five or six occasions, some of the Algonquins' Ancestors at the very time when the latter were con- ducting some Iroquois prisoners back to their own country, in order to seek peace ; while the Algon- quins had received with honor all the Iroquois who had come to their country to visit them. Besides, he said, if they purposed the formation of a genuine alliance, they would send back a number of women whom they were holding in captivity ; if these were married, their husbands could follow them, to dwell with them in the country of the Algonquins; [124] and if this country did not please them, the Iroquois could take them back to the place whence they had brought them. Such, he said, was the usage of their Allies who dwelt on the sea-coast in Acadia.
A Huron Captain made answer that the old disputes must now be forgotten; that, if the Iroquois had treated the Algonquins ill, he was paying them back like for like, in humbling their insolence by another insolence; and that Heaven generally punishes in tv/ofold measure those who abuse its favors in their victories.
Monsieur the Governor made reply through his Interpreter, to the effect that he had always desired to be the Mediator of public peace ; that he had not yet taken up arms against the Iroquois ; and that, [125] if he had permitted his people to attack them,
190 LES RELA TIONS DES /£SUITES [Vol. 40
hiaf6, c'eft Monfieur de Maifonneuue, Gouuerneur de Montreal, deuoit aborder au plutoft, & qu'il amenoit quantity de foldats, pour ranger nos ennemis h. leur deuoir.
Vn Capitaine Huron conclud le confeil, par vne petite harangue fort 61oquente, preffant les Iroquois, de ramener au pluftoft le Pere Poncet. S9achez, leur difoit-il, qu'il eft le Pere des Fran9ois, des Algonquins, & des Hurons; [126] & qu'il nous en- feigne a tous le chemin du Ciel, chacun en noftre langue. Soyez afleurez que la paix, qui fera con- firmee par la deliurance d'vn tel perfonnage, fera inuiolable de noftre cofte ; & que vous la cimenterez plus fortemet, en le rendant aux Frangois, que fi vous nous rameniez vn monde entier de Hurons, voire mefme d'autres Frangois, fi vous les teniez dans la captiuite.
Les harangues finies, & les prefens donnez, & acceptez de part & d' autre: on t^moigna quelques r^jouiffances de tous coftez, & en fuite les Ambaffa- deurs Onnontaeronnons, & Anniehronnons, s'en ji
retournerent en leur pays. . ^
Tout cela fe paffa au mois de Septembre: mais enfin, le Pere lofeph Poncet paroiffant k Quebec, le cinqui6me de Nouembre, [127] remplit tous les coeurs ;
des Frangois, de ioye, & d'allegrelle. Les lettres & ;
les memoires, qui parloient de fon arriu^e, & des confeils tenus pour la conclulion de la paix, ont efte perdus, dans le vaiffeau pris par les A.nglois. Voicy deux petits mots, tirez d'vne lettre ecrite k vne perfonne de condition, qui difent beaucoup en peu de paroles. II a done pleu h. Dieu, d'exaucer nos prieres, & de nous rendre le bon Pere Poncet. Sept ,
1653] RELATION OF 1652-53 191
their Villages would have been long ago reduced to ashes. He said they had acted very wisely in seek- ing an alliance with him, because he was tired of so often crying, " Peace, peace! " And, if now it were not made with sincerity, the faithless ones would feel the wrath of the French. Furthermore, Annon- hias6 — that is. Monsieur de Maisonneuve, Governor of Montreal — was expected to arrive very soon; and he was bringing with him a large force of soldiers to impose respectful behavior upon our enemies.
A Huron Captain closed the council with a short harangue of great eloquence, in which he urged the Iroquois to bring back Father Poncet at the earliest moment. " Know," he said to them, " that he is the Father of the French, of the Algonquins, and of the Hurons, [126] and that he teaches us all, each in his own language, the way to Heaven. Be assured that the peace which shall be confirmed by the deliv- erance of such a personage will be inviolable on our side, and that you will seal it more firmly by restoring him to the French than if you brought back to us a whole world of Hurons or even of other Frenchmen, — supposing them to be in captivity."
The harangues concluded and the presents inter- changed, rejoicing was manifested on all sides; and then the Ambassadors, Onnontaeronnon and Annie- hronnon, returned to their own country.
All this occurred in the month of September; but at length Father Joseph Poncet, appearing at Quebec on the fifth of November, [127] filled the hearts of all the French people with joy and gladness. The letters and memoirs which told of his arrival and of the councils held for the establishment of peace, were lost in the vessel taken by the English.^ Here
192 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol 40
Iroquois I'ont ramene auec huit prefens; qui font les premices, de ceux que leurs Anciens doiuent apporter au Printemps, pour eftablir la paix gene- rale, qui femble conclue. Le Pere Poncet affure fur fa vie, de la fmcerite des intentions des Ennemis. Dieu veiiille qu'il ne fe trompe pas. Amen, Amen. [128] Ces derniers Ambaffadeurs, voyans que la faifon s'auangoit, & que les glaces les pourroient arrefter en cbemin dans vn long voyage, expoferent bri^uement leur legation, donnerent leurs prefens, auec affurance, que la paix qu'ils faifoient feroit inuiolable de leur coft6, & apres auoir pris cong6, & receu des temoignages reciproques de la bonne volont^ des Frangois, ils leur laifferent le plaifir & la ioye, qu'apporte vne paix fi long-temps defir^e. Bon-heur que ie fouhaitte k la France, de toute I'eftendue de mon coeur.
1653J RELA TION OF 1652-53 193
are two short extracts taken from a letter written to a person of quality; they say much in a few words: " God has, then, been pleased to answer our prayers and give back to us the good Father Poncet, Seven Iroquois escorted him home with eight presents, which are an earnest of those which their Elders are to bring in the Spring for the establishment of the general peace, which seems to be decided upon. Father Poncet pledges his life for the sincer- ity of the Enemy's intentions. God grant he may not be deceived. Amen, Amen."
[128] " These last Ambassadors, seeing that the season was advancing, and that the ice might bar their way on a long journey, briefly stated the pur- pose of their embassy, and gave their presents with the assurance that the peace they were making would be inviolable on their side. Then, after taking leave, and receiving reciprocal testimonials of the good-will of the French, they left with the latter the pleasure and joy resulting from a peace so long desired, — a happiness which I wish to France with all my heart."
192
LES RELA TINS DES j£SUITES
Iroquois I'ont ramene les premices, de ceu>: apporter au Printei r* rale, qui femble con*, fa vie, de la fmcerite Dieu veiiille qu'il ne [128] Ces derniers faifon s'auan9oit, & arrefter en chemin d;i bri^uement leur lega auec alTurance, que inuiolable de leur c< & receu des t^moij^n volont^ des Franfois. la ioye, qu'apporte \ Bon-heur que ie foi Tellendue de mon ccl-
Luec huit prefen- que leurs Ancii pour eftablir la
Le Pere For .es intentions trompe pas. nbaiTadeurs. e les glace
vn long V( n, donner-
paix qu" i, & aprt- es recipr s leur ; paix ! litte h
I
(frf
t m
r»ii
r
1653J
HELA T/OA
197
are two short extracts taken a person of quality; they >, . " God has, then, been please and give back to us the go Iroquois escorted him h* which are an earnest of are to bring in the S^ of the general peace, wh. upon. Father Poncet plede^ ity of the Enemy's int^ not be deceived. Amen, >
[128] " These last Am" season was advancing, their way on a long i pose of their embas the assurance that be inviolable r leave, and re
good-will of pleasure desired, all mv
f
^ at this , a part ^ave the oelabored d some of .ed to their ike Savages imat, a good sidence, after phatically that doubted very latter. " They bors and friends , when he was in , on the last [132] of the Abnaquiois, those faces. This on, but did not ap- ing enraged against heir vengeance upon order to make them they said an assembly pon their life or death, passion and not reason Lild not attend it. The ise its proceedings, but ms to the flames. Our I s lawless conduct, made their lives. Again an 3] four of the men were i it was desired to burn the g t t these assemblies were :he itions interested in the gene il council of all the chief
1
M
194
LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 40
[129] CHAPITRE VI.
DE LA PAIX FAITE AUEC VNE NATION QUI HABITE DU COSTE DU SUD A L'EGARD DE QUEBEC.
IL femble que Dieu ait voulu donner, vne paix vniuerfelle, h. la Nouuelle France. Plaife k fa Bonte, de la rendre flable, & folide. Neuf Al- gonquins, de la Refidence de faindt lofeph k Sillery, eftans allez, au mois de Nouembre, a la chaffe du Caftor, s'ecarterent de quatre iournees, des riues du grand fleuue, du cofte du Sud-efl, c'efl k dire, entre rOrient & le Midy. Comme ils marchoient, k la pointe du iour, dans ces grandes forefts : cherchans quelques lacs, ou quelques riuieres, oil les Caftors baftirent leurs maifons: [130] ils rencontrerent les piftes de quelques hommes. Ils crurent auffi-toft, que c'eftoient des Iroquois. lis marchent fur leurs brifees, & fur leurs traces, quittans la chaffe des Caftors, pour chaffer aux hommes. Ils doubloient le pas, mais fans bruit, pour n'eftre decouuerts. Enfin ils trouuerent, deuant que le Soleil parut, cinq hommes endormis, dans vne cabane paffagere, qu'ils auoient dreffee, h. la fa9on des chaffeurs. lis fe iettent auCQ-toft fur leur proye. L'vn d'iceux voulat vfer de refinance, fut arrefte par vn coup de fufil, qu'vn Algonquin luy tira dans la cuiffe. En vn mot, ils fe virent dans les liens des hommes, quafi deuant que d'eftre deliurez des liens du fommeil.
Auffi-toft que nos gens eurent fait cette prife, ils
1653] RELATION OF I652-S3 195
[129] CHAPTER VI.
OF THE PEACE MADE WITH A NATION DWELLING IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION FROM QUEBEC.
IT seems to have been God's will to give a universal peace to New France; may it please his Good- ness to render it stable and lasting. Nine Al- gonquins of the Residence of saint Joseph at Sillery, going to hunt Beaver in the month of November, turned aside from the banks of the great river and went four days' journey toward the Southeast, that is, in a direction between the East and the South. While they were proceeding at daybreak through those vast forests, seeking some lakes or rivers where the Beavers built their houses, [130] they came upon the trail of some men. They immediately thought that these were Iroquois, and they followed close upon their heels, leaving the hunting of Beavers in order to hunt men. They quickened their pace, but noiselessly, in order not to be discovered. At length they found, before the Sun rose, five men asleep in a temporary cabin, which they had erected after the manner of hunters. They immediately pounced upon their prey, one of whom, wishing to use resist- ance, was quieted by a musket-shot delivered him in the thigh by an Algonquin. In a word, they saw themselves in the bonds of men, almost before they were delivered from the bonds of sleep.
As soon as our party had made this capture, they lost all thought [131] of Beavers, and brought their
/
196 LES RELATIONS DES jtSUITES [Vot . 40
perdent la penf6e [131] des Caftors, ramenans ces captifs k Sillery. Or comme il y auoit en cette Reli- dence, vn ramas de diuerfes Nations, dont vne partie n'eftoient pas encor Chreftiens: ils receurent ces captifs d'vne eftrange fa9on. On les charge de coups de baftons, on leur arrache les ongles, on leur coupe quelques doigts, on leur applique des tifons de feu: bref on les traite en Sauuages, & comme des ennemis des Sauuages. Noel Tekouerimat, bon Chreftien, & Capitaine de cette Refidence, ayant ouy parler ces prifonniers, dit tout haut, qu'ils n'eftoient pas Iroquois, & qu'il doutoit fort, qu'ils fuflent de leurs Alliez. lis font, difoit-il, Abnaquiois ou voifins, «& amis des Abnaquiois. II ajouftoit, qu'eftant vers les coftes de la Nouuelle Ang[l]eterre, au dernier [132] voyage qu'il auoit fait, au pais des Abnaquiois, il croyoit auoir veu quelqu'vn de ces vifages. Cela arrefta le coup de leur mort: mais il n'appaifa pas la fureur de ceux, qui eftans en- ragez contre les Iroquois, fouhaitoient d'aifouuir leur vengeance fur ces pauures miferables. Et pour les faire mourir auec quelque luftice, ils dirent, qu'il fe falloit affembler pour deliberer de leur vie, ou de leur mort.
Noel, qui vit bien que la paffion, & non la raifon, affembloit ceconfeil, ne s'y voulut pas trouuer. Les fadtieux ne laiff ent pas de paff er outre ; ils condam- nent au feu ces pauures vi(5times. Noftre Capitaine Chreftien voyant ce defordre, fait des prefens pour rachepter leur vie. On fait derechef vne aff emblee : on donne la [133 J vie a quatre, & on veut brufler le \
cinquieme. Mais Noel, voyant que ces affembl^es 'j'
n'eftoient pas de toutes les Nations interreff6e& %
1663] RELATION OF i6s2 -S3 197
captives back to Sillery. Now, as there was at this Residence a gathering from different Nations, a part of whom were not yet Christians, they gave the prisoners a strange reception. They were belabored with blows; their nails were torn out, and some of their fingers cut off ; firebrands were applied to their bodies; and, in short, they were treated like Savages and enemies of Savages. Noel Tekouerimat, a good Christian and the Captain of this Residence, after hearing these prisoners talk, said emphatically that they were not Iroquois, and that he doubted very much whether they were Allies of the latter. " They are," said he, " Abnaquiois, or neighbors and friends of the Abnaquiois." He added that, when he was in the neighborhood of New England, on the last [132] journey he had made to the country of the Abnaquiois, he thought he had seen one of those faces. This statement arrested their execution, but did not ap- pease the fury of those who, being enraged against the Iroquois, wished to wreak their vengeance upon these poor wretches. And in order to make them die with some show of Justice, they said an assembly must be held to deliberate upon their life or death. Noel, seeing plainly that passion and not reason was calling this council, would not attend it. The factious element did not cease its proceedings, but condemned these poor victims to the flames. Our Christian Captain, seeing this lawless conduct, made presents for the ransom of their lives. Again an assembly was called, and [133] four of the men were given their lives, while it was desired to burn the fifth. But Noel, seeing that these assemblies were not composed of all the Nations interested in the war, exclaimed that a general council of all the chief
198 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.40
dedans la guerre; s'ecrie, qu'il faut tenir vn confeil vniuerfel, de tous les principaux, qui fe trouuoient pour lors au pays, & qu'il ne falloit pas proceder k la legere, dans des affaires fi importans: oil il s'agif- foit de la vie des hommes, & peut-eftre d'vne nou- uelle guerre. C^t auis fut fuiuy. On s'affemble, les Capitaines haranguent h. leur tour. L'auis commun, & le plus vniuerfel, fut, qu'ils eftoient tous cou- pables, ou tous innocens, & par confequent qu'ils deuoient tous mourir, ou qu'il leur falloit donner la vie k tous. La deffus, comme la paix n'eftoit pas encor faite auec les Iroquois, Noel Tekouerimat parle fortement, difant [134] que nous auions affez d'enne- mis fur les bras, qu'il ne falloit pas en multiplier le nombre ; que ces pauures gens ne venoient point en guerre; que c'eftoient des Chaffeurs, & qu'il les falloit renuoyer en leur pays.
Les principaux du Confeil, fuiuans cette penfee, conclurent qu'il n'en falloit faire mourir aucun: & qu'il eftoit a propos d'en renuoyer deux en leur pays: pour donner auis h. leur Nation, de ce qui s' eftoit paff6. On les fit venir fur I'heure mefme dans railemblee: ou ils parurent liez, & tous nuds, excepte leur brayer. Ils s'affirent a platte terre, pour entendre leur fentence, qui les rejouyt fort. Vn Capitaine prenant la parole, fit vne petite haran- gue, leur difant, qu'ils auoient tous la vie: que pas vn d'eux ne mourroit: [135] qu'ils eftoient libres. A mefme temps, on coupe leurs liens, qu'on iette au feu, on les fait leuer debout: on leur donne ^ chacun dequoy fe couurir: & on les exborte a chanter, & h. danfer, & k fe rejouyr, puis qu'ils eftoient parmy leurs amis. Ce commandement fut execute fur
w
1653] RELATION OF i6s2-33 199
men then in the country must be held; and that they must not proceed lightly in affairs of such importance, wherein human life, and perhaps a new- war, were concerned. This advice was followed, a meeting was held, and the Captains made speeches, each in his turn. The common and most general opinion was that the prisoners were all guilty or all innocent; and that, consequently, they ought all to die, or all be given their lives. Thereupon, as peace had not then been made with the Iroquois, Noel Tekouerimat spoke in emphatic terms, saying [134] that we had enough enemies on our hands, and their number must not be multiplied ; that these poor men did not come to make war on us, but were Hunters ; and that they must be sent back to their own country.
The chief men of the Council, in accordance with this sentiment, decided that not one of them should die ; and that the fitting course was to send back two of the number to their own country for the purpose of informing their Nation of what had occurred. Forthwith they were made to enter the assembly, where they appeared bound and wearing nothing except around their loins. They squatted on the ground to hear their sentence, which rejoiced them greatly. A Captain took the word, and made them a short harangue, — telling them that they were all given their lives, that not one of them should die, [135] and that they were free. At the same time their bonds were cut, and thrown into the fire ; they were raised from the ground, and each was given some clothing ; and they were exhorted to sing and dance and rejoice, since they were among their friends. This order was executed on the instant, —
200 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 40
I'heure, promptement, ioyeufement, & magnifique- ment, difent les memoires, qui font venus iufques k nous.
Apres quelque temps de r^jouyffance: on en ren- uoya deux en leur pays, & on retint les trois autres en oftages. Leur commiffion contenoit trois articles, diftinguez par trois petits baftons, qu'on leur mit en main. Le premier port, qu'on les renuoyoit pour expofer aux principaux de leur Nation, comme ils auoient efte pris, & deliurez. Le fecond, [136] qu'ils retournaffent, au commencement de I'Efte fuiuant. Le troilieme, qu'ils retiraffent des mains d'vne Na- tion, qui leur eft amie, & voiGne, nomm^e Sokoueki; quelques-vns de leurs parens captifs depuis deux ans: & qu'il les amenaffent k Sillery, s'ils auoient deQr de contradter alliance, auec les peuples qui s'y retirent ordinairement : & que la veue de ces captifs, adouciroit les yeux de ceux qui ne les auoient pas regardez de bonne grace, & qu'ils feroient le noeud de I'ancienne amitie, qu'ils auoient eue autrefois par enfemble. Ces bonnes gens fe voyans declarez innocens ne demanderent point reparation des torts, qu'on leur auoit faits. lis ne fe plaignirent point, des coups de baftons, qu'on leur auoit donnez, ny des feux, qu'on auoit appliques [137] fur leurs corps, lis ne prefferent point la reftitution des ongles, qu'on leur auoit arrachez, ny des doigts, qu'on leur auoit coupez. Tous ces preludes font comptez pour neant : pourueu qu'on n'ofte point la vie; le refte pafle comme vn petit ieu. Les femmes, difent-ils, en fouffriroient bien autant fans mot dire.
lis partirent au commencement de Decembre, de I'an 1652. & ils parurent fur le grand fleuue, k la fin
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-33 201
" promptly, joyfully, and in fine style," as the account says which has reached us.
After some time of rejoicing, two of them were sent back to their own country, and the three others were retained as hostages. Their commission em- braced three articles, distinguished by three little sticks that were put into their hands. The purport of the first was, that they were sent home to describe to the chief men of their Nation how they had been captured and delivered. The second said [136] that they must come back again, at the beginning of the following Summer. The third was a petition that they should rescue from the hands of a Nation called Sokoueki, friends and neighbors of theirs, some of the petitioners' kinsfolk, who had been two years in captivity ; and that they should bring them to Sillery, if they desired to form an alliance with the peoples who commonly resort thither. The sight of these captives would, it was urged, soften the looks of those who had not regarded them favorably; and they would serve to tie the knot of the old-time friendship that had once been maintained between them. These simple souls, finding themselves declared innocent, demanded no reparation for the injuries done them. They did not complain of the blows inflicted, or of the fire that had been applied [137] to their bodies. They did not urge the restitu- tion of nails torn out, or of fingers cut off. All these preliminaries are accounted as nothing; provided life is not taken, the rest passes for a little sport. Even women, they say, would endure as much without a murmur.
They departed in the beginning of December of the year 1652, and made their appearance on the
202 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 40
du mois de May, de I'an paff6 1653. Si toft qu'ils apperceurent la demeure des Fran9ois, & des Sau- uages de Sillery, ils firent refonner leurs tambours, en figne de paix, & de r^jouyffance. Ils amenoient deux vieillards, des plus confiderables de leur pays, chargez de prefens, qui eftoient comme les ordres, & les commiffions, [138] qui leur auoient efl6 donn^es. Les Algonquins accourans fur les riues du grad fieuue, & ne voyans point les captifs, qu'ils auoient deman- dez, furent d'abord m^contens: mais ces AmbalTa- deurs fgachans bien, qu'ils manquoient au point le plus important, rendirent de li fortes raifons de leur proced6: qu'ils calmerent les efpris des mecontens. Peut-eftre que ces captifs eftoient morts. Les memoires, & les lettres que i'ay receues, n'en difent rien.
Les efprits eftans appaifez. Ces nouueaux hoftes furent appellez au confeil, le lendemain de leur arri- u6e. L'allemblee fe tint en vne fale de noftre petite maifon, oil nous receuons, & ou nous inftruifons les fauuages. On commen9a par 1' exhibition des pre- fens, qu'on eftendit fur vne corde, qui trauerfoit [139] toute la fale. Ce n'eftoient que des coliers de porcelaine fort larges, des bracelets, des pendans d'oreilles: & des calumets, ou petunoirs. Chacun ayant pris fa place : le plus ancien de ces Ambafla- deurs, prit la parole, difant k toute I'affiftance, qu'il venoit de d^plier raffe(5tion, & I'amiti^ de ceux de fa nation, figuree fur ces coliers ; que leur coeur eftoit tout ouuert, qu'il n'y auoit aucun ply, qu'on voyoit dans fes paroles, le fond de leurs ames. Et Ik-deffus, tirant vn autre grand collier, il 1' eftendit au milieu de la place, difant. Voila le chemin, qu'il faut
1653] RELATION OF ib32-S3 203
great river at the close of the month of May of last year, 1653. As soon as they caught sight of the settlements of the French and the Savages of Sillery, they had their drums beaten, in sign of peace and rejoicing. They escorted two of the most influential elders of their country, laden with presents represent- ing the orders and commissions [138] that had been given them. The Algonquins, hastening to the banks of the great river, and not seeing the captives whom they had asked for, were displeased at first ; but the Ambassadors, well aware of their negligence in the most important point, gave such forcible rea- sons for their conduct as to appease all dissatisfaction. Perhaps those captives were dead; the memoirs and letters which I have received say nothing about it.
Displeasure being allayed, these new guests w^ere summoned to the council on the day after their arrival. The assembly was held in a hall of our little house, where we receive and instruct the savages. It was opened by the exhibition of the presents, which were stretched upon a cord extending [139] quite across the hall. They consisted merely of porcelain collars of great size, of bracelets, and ear-rings ; and of calumets, or tobacco-pipes. When each one had taken his place, the oldest of these Ambassadors began to speak, and said to all present that he came to manifest the affection and friendship of the people of his nation, as symbolized by these collars; that their hearts were entirely open, and there was not a single fold in them ; and that in his words were seen their inmost thoughts. Thereupon, taking another large collar, he stretched it out in the middle of the room, and said: " Behold the route that you must take to come and visit your friends. ' '
204 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
tenir, pour venir vifiter vos amis. Ce colier ei?toit compofe de porcelaine blanche, & violette, en forte qu'il y auoit figures, que ce bon homme expliquoit "k fa mode. Voila, difoit-il, les lacs, [140] voila les riuieres, voila les montagnes, & les vallees, qu'il faut paller; voila les portages, & les cheutes d'eau. Re- marquez tout; afin, que dans les vifites, que nous nous rendrons les vns aux autres, perfonne ne s'e- gare. Les chemins feront maintenant faciles: on ne craindra plus les embufcades. Tous ceux qu'on ren- contrera, feront autant d'amis.
Cela fait, il fe leue, & s'approchant des prefens eftendus, comme i'ay defia dit, il en donna I'explica- tion, comme on feroit d'vn enigme, touchant les perfonnages du tableau, les vns apres les autres. Voila, faifoit-il, monflrant le premier prefent, le liure, ou le papier, ou font peints les ordres, & les commiffions, que i'ay receues de mon pays, & les affaires que i'ay "k vous communiquer. [141] Quiconque meprifera, ce que porte cette peinture, ou c6t 6crit, merite qu'on luy caffe la tefte.
Touchant le fecond prefent, qui faifoit vne grande ceinture de porcelaine. Allons mes freres, leuez- vous, & ceignez-vous de cette ceinture, & allons de compagnie k la chaCfe de I'Elan, & du Caflor.
Le troifieme, eftoit compofe de quelques baftons de porcelaine, qu'ils portent "k leurs oreilles, fi prodi- gieufement percees, qu'on y paffe aifement vn gros baflon de cire d'Efpagne. Voila, s'ecria-il, pour percer vos oreilles : afin que nous puifiions nous parler les vns les autres, comme font les amis, & que nous alTiflions aux confeils les vns des autres.
J
J
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-53 205
This collar was composed of white and violet-colored porcelain, so arranged as to form figures, which this worthy man explained after his own fashion. " There," said he, "are the lakes, [140] there the rivers, there the mountains and valleys that must be passed; and there are the portages and waterfalls. Note everything, to the end that, in the visits that we shall pay one another, no one may get lost. The roads will be easy now, and no more ambuscades will be feared. All persons who are met will be so many friends."
That done, he arose ; and, approaching the pres- ents as they hung there, in the manner I have already described, he gave an explanation of them, as one would of an enigma, regarding the personages of the picture, one after the other. " There," said he, pointing to the first present, " is the book, or the paper, wherein are painted the orders and commis- sions that I have received from my country, and the matters that I have to communicate to you. [141] Whoever shall lightly esteem the purport of this painting or writing, deserves to have his head broken."
Concerning the second present, composed of a large belt of porcelain, he said: ''' Come, brothers, arise and gird yourselves with this belt; and let us go together to hunt the Elk and the Beaver. ' '
The third was composed of some sticks of porce- lain, worn by them in their ears, which are pierced with such very large holes as easily to receive a great stick of Spanish wax. ' ' Those, ' ' he exclaimed, " are for piercing your ears, in order that we may speak to one another as friends are wont to do, and that we may take part in one another's councils."
206 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.40
Le quatrieme, compofe de fix grands coliers, pour les fix Nations, [142] auec lefquelles ces Ambaffa- deurs renouuelloient leurs alliances, reprefentoit les robes, dont elles fe deuoient reueflir. . Comma nous n'auons plus qu'vn coeur, il ne faut plus qu'vne fa9on d'habits, ou de robes: afin que tous ceux qui nous verrot, croyent que nous fommes tous freres, veftus de mefme parure ; & que celuy qui en offenfera I'vn, offenfera I'autre.
Cela fait: ce bon homme s'affit au milieu de la place. II prend deux grands petunoirs, faits d'vne pierre verte, belle, & fort polie, longs d'vne coudee, c'eftoit le cinquieme prefent. II en remplit vn de tabac, il y met le feu, & en fucce, ou en tire la fumee fort grauement. Toute I'affembMe le regardoit, ne f9acliant pas ce qu'il vouloit dire. Enfin apres auoir [143] bien petune k fon aife. Mes freres, dit-il, ces deux pipes, ou ces deux petunoirs, font a vous. II faut dorefnauant, que nous n'ayons plus qu'vn fouffle, & qu'vne feule refpiration, puis que nous n'auons plus qu'vne mefme ame.
Et venant au fixieme prefent, qui confiftoit en des liens de porcelaine, enfilez en braffes, & en quelques coliers. Ah! mes freres, s'ecria-t'il, que les liens de ces pauures prifonniers, nous ont mis en grand dan- ger de tous coftez ! mais enfin les voila bas ; le danger eft paff6. Vos Peres, ont autrefois contradle alliance, auec nos Anceftres: cela s'eftoit mis en oubly: vn manuals rencontre, a fait du mal k nos gens, & du bien k toutes nos Nations: car nous ne nous connoiffions plus : nous eftions 6garez, & nous voila reiinis. Ouy, [144] mais nos pauures gens, ont les doigts coupez? on les a baltonnez? on les a tourmen-
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-33 20'!
The fourth, comprising six large collars, for the six Nations [142] with whom these Ambassadors were renewing their alliances, represented the robes with which these nations ought to reclothe them- selves. "As we have henceforth only one heart, we need only one kind of coat or robe, in order that all who shall see us may understand that we are all brothers, clothed in the same costume, and that he who shall offend one of us will offend the others."
That done, this good man seated himself in the middle of the room and took two large tobacco-pipes, a cubit in length and made of a beautiful, highly- polished green stone; these constituted the fifth present. He filled one of them with tobacco, applied fire to it, and sucked or drew the smoke from it with great gravity. All the assembly looked at him, not knowing what he meant. At length, after he had [143] smoked very much at his ease, " My brothers," said he, " these two tobacco-pipes are yours. We must in the future have only one breath and a single respiration, since we have only one and the same soul."
And coming to the sixth present, which consisted of porcelain strung in brasse-lengths, and in a number of collars, " Ah, my brothers," he cried, " in what great dangers on all sides have we been placed by the bonds of those poor prisoners ! But at length they are loosed, and the danger is past. Your Fathers formerly contracted an alliance with our Ancestors. That had been forgotten, and an unlucky event caused harm to our people and good to all our Nations ; for we had ceased to know one another, we had gone astray, and lo! we are reunited. Yes, [144] but have not our poor people had their fingers cut off? have
208 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 4a
tez? ce n'efl pas vous, mes freres, qui auez fait ce coup. Ce font ces mefchans Iroquois, qui vous ont tant fait de mal. Volire veue bleff6e par ces mal- heureux, nous a pris pour des ennemis: vous nous auez frapez, croyans f rapper des Iroquois. C'eft vne m^prife: nous n'en difons mot.
Son difcours finit. Noel Tekouerimat, Capitaine de Sillery, prit la parole, au nom de tous les autres Capitaines. II remercia fort humainement ces Am- baffadeurs, les loiiant de ce qu'ils auoient de 1' amour pour la paix, & pour la bonne intelligence, auec les Alliez de leurs Anceftres. Et pourfuiuant fon difcours, il fit voir ^ toute I'affemblee, & notamment [145] aux Hurons, qui s'eftoient monftrez fort con- traires aux penfees de la paix, prenans ces prifonniers pour de vrais ennemis, combien il eftoit important, de ne fe point precipiter, en des affaires de telle confequence : combien il efloit "k propos, de renoUer I'ancienne amitie, qu'ils auoient eue auec ces peuples.
Pour conclufion: les Ambaffadeurs, voyans qu'ils auoient efte ecoutez fauorablement, qu'on auoit agree leurs prefens, & relafche leurs prifonniers, fe mirent a danfer, & k entonner vne chanfon, de toute I'eften- due de leur voix, & de toute la force de leur poulmon : leur chanfon ne portoit que ces trois mots: C'eft maintenant qu'il fe faut rejouyr, puifque nos prefens sot acceptez. La ieuneffe, par le comandement [146] des Capitaines, fe mit de la partie, pour rendre la ioye publique : les ieunes homes dangans k part, & les filles "k part, fe fuiuans neantmoins les vns les autres, a la mode du pays. Ainfi fe termina toute cette ceremonie.
1653] RELATION OF i6s2-S3 209
they not been beaten and tortured ? It is not you, my brothers, who dealt this blow ; it is those wicked Iroquois, who have done you so much harm. Your eyes, injured by those wretches, took us for enemies, and you struck us, thinking you were striking Iro- quois. It was a mistake ; we will say nothing about
it."9
His speech ended, Noel Tekouerimat, Captain of Sillery, took the word, in the name of all the other Captains. He thanked these Ambassadors very kindly, praising them for entertaining a love for peace and a good understanding with their Ancestors' Allies. And, continuing his speech, he made it manifest to all the assembly, and especially [145] to the Hurons, — who had shown themselves much opposed to thoughts of peace, taking these prisoners for real enemies, — how important it was not to act with precipitation in affairs of such consequence; and how fitting it was to reestablish the old-time friendship they had had with these peoples.
In conclusion, the Ambassadors, seeing that they had been heard with favor, that their presents had been accepted, and their prisoners set free, began to dance, and to sing a song with the full volume of their voices and all the strength of their lungs. Their song contained only these few words: " Now is the time to rejoice, since our presents are accepted. By order of the Captains, the young people [146] joined them, in order to render the joy public, — the young men dancing by themselves and the girls by themselves, following one another, however, after the manner of the country. Thus ended that whole ceremony.
210 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 40
CHAPITRE VII.
LA PAUURETE & LES RICHESSES DU PAYS.
JAMAIS il n'y eut plus de Caflors dans nos lacs, & dans nos riuieres: mais iamais il ne s'en eft moins veu dans les magafms du pays. Auant la defolation des Hurons, les cent canots venoient en traite, tons chargez de Caftor. Les Algonquins en apportoient de tons coftez, & chaque annee, on en auoit pour deux cens & pour [147] trois cens mil liures. C'eftoit-1^ vn beau reuenu, dequoy contenter tout le monde, & dequoy fupporter les grandes charges du pays.
La guerre des Iroquois a fait tarir toutes ces fources. Les Caftors demeurans en paix, & dans le lieu de leur repos. Les flottes de Hurons ne defcen- dent plus a la traite. Les Algonquins font depeu- plez: & les Nations plus efloignees, fe retirent encore plus loin, craignans le feu des Iroquois. Le magafm de Montreal, n'a pas achepte des Sauuages vn feul Caftor, depuis vn an. Aux Trois Riuieres, le peu qui s'y efl veu, a efte employe pour fortifier la place, ou on attendoit I'ennemy. Dans le magasin de Que- bec, ce n'eft que pauuret6; & ainfi tout le monde a fujet d'eftre m6content, n'y [148] ayant pas de quoy fournir, au payement de ceux, a qui il eft deu: & mefme n'y ayant pas de quoy fupporter vne partie des charges du pays, les plus indifpehfables.
Les riuieres les plus profondes, & les plus riches
I
1653] RELATION OF 1652-53 211
CHAPTER VIL
THE POVERTY AND THE RICHES OF THE COUNTRY.
NEVER were there more Beavers in our lakes and rivers, but never have there been fewer seen in the warehouses of the country. Be- fore the devastation of the Hurons, a hundred canoes used to come to trade, all laden with Beaver-skins; the Algonquins brought them from all directions; and each year we had two or [147] three hundred thousand livres' worth. That was a fine revenue with which to satisfy all the people, and defray the heavy expenses of the country.
The Iroquois war dried up all these springs. The Beavers are left in peace and in the place of their repose; the Huron fleets no longer come down to trade ; the Algonquins are depopulated ; and the more distant Nations are withdrawing still farther, fearing the fire of the Iroquois. For a year, the warehouse of Montreal has not bought a single Beaver-skin from the Savages. At Three Rivers, the little revenue that has accrued has been used to fortify the place, the enemy being expected there. In the Quebec warehouse there is nothing but pov- erty ; and so every one has cause to be dissatisfied, there [148] being no means to supply payment to those to whom it is due, or even to defray a part of the most necessary expenses of the country.
The deepest and most abundant rivers of the earth
212 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
de la terre, feroient bien-toll k fee, fi leurs eaux s'ef- coulans dans la Mer, les fourees n'en fournilToient plus de nouuelles. Les Villes, & les Prouinces plus proches de la Mer, qui en auroient eft6 autrefois les plus richement arrouf^es, auroient tort de fe plaindre, des Prouinces plus voifmes des fourees, comme fi elles retenoient toutes les eaux pour elles, & les enuoyoient au public.
Ce font les Iroquois, dont il f e faut plaindre : car ce font eux, qui ont arrefte les eaux dedans leurs fourees. le veux dire, que ce font eux qui empef- chent tout le commerce [149] des Caftors, qui ont toujours efte les grandes richeffes de ce pays.
Mais maintenant, fl Dieu benit nos efperances, de la paix auec les Iroquois, on fera bonne guerre aux Caftors, & ils trouueront le chemin des magaCns de Montreal, des Trois Riuieres, & de Quebec, qu'ils ont oublie depuis ces dernieres annees. Les Nations fuperieures defcendront auec ioye, & apporteront les Caftors, dont ils ont fait amas depuis trois ans.
Ce Printemps, trois canots arriuerent aux Trois Riuieres, de I'ancien pays des Hurons, ou plutofl du profond des terres, les plus cach6es de ces coftez-lk: oil diuerfes families fe font retirees hors le commerce de tout le refte des hommes, crainte que les Iroquois [150] ne les y allaffent trouuer.
Ces trois canots, conduits par vn Sauuage Chre- ftien, eftoient de quatre Nations differentes, qui nous ont apport6 d'excellentes nouuelles. Sgauoir, qu'ils s'affemblent, en vn tres-beau pays, enuiron "k cent cinquante lieues, plus loin que les Hurons, tirans vers rOccident, au nombre de deux mille hommes,
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-33 213
would soon be dry if, when their waters ran into the Sea, the springs ceased to furnish fresh supplies. The Cities and Provinces nearer the Sea, and for- merly the most abundantly watered by it, would be wrong to complain of the Provinces nearer the water- sources, as if they retained all the water for them- selves and sent it out to the public.
It is the Iroquois of whom complaint must be made, for it is they who have stopped the water at its fountainhead. I mean, it is they that are preventing all the trade [149] in Beaver-skins, which have always been the chief wealth of this country.
But now, if God bless our hopes of peace with the Iroquois, a fine war will be made on the Beavers, and they will find the road to the warehouses of Mont- real, Three Rivers, and Quebec, which they have forgotten during these later years. The upper Nations will come down with joy, and will bring the Beaver-skins which they have been amassing for the past three years.
This Spring, three canoes arrived at Three Rivers from the former country of the Hurons, — or, rather, from the depths of the most hidden recesses of those regions, whither several families have withdrawn, out of all communication with the rest of mankind, for fear lest the Iroquois [150] might go and find them there.
These three canoes, led by a Christian Savage, contained people from four different Nations, who brought us excellent news. This was, that they were gathering together, to the number of two thousand men, in a very fine country about a hundred and fifty leagues farther away than the Hurons, toward the West; and that they were to come the next
■214 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol 40
& qu'ils doiuent venir de compagnie le Printemps prochain, apporter grand nombre de Caftor, pour faire leurtrafic ordinaire, &ponr fe fournir de poudre & de plomb, & d'armes k feu ; afin de fe rendre plus redoutables aux ennemis.
De plus, toute noftre ieuneffe Frangoife, efl en delTein d'aller en traite, trouuer les Nations difper- fees, gk «fe Ik, & ils efperent d'en reuenir chargez, des Caflors de [151] plufieurs ann6es.
En vn mot, le pays n'eft pas depeupl6 de Caflors, & ce font fes mines d'or, & fes richeffes; qu'il n'y a qu'k puifer dans les lacs, & dans les ruifCeaux : ou il y en a d'autant plus, qu'on en a moins pris ces der- nieres annees, craignant de s'ecarter, & d'eftre pris des Iroquois. Ces animaux d'ailleurs fe multiplians en grande abondance.
Pour ce qui eft de la fertilite des terres, elles font icy de bon rapport. Les grains Francois y viennent heureufement : & nous pouuons en cela, nous paffer des fecours de la Frace, quelque nombre que nous foyons icy. Plus qu'il y aura d'habitans, plus ferons- nous dans 1' abondance.
Le beftail, & les lards, font vne douceur au pays, qu'autrefois on [152] n'ofoit efperer. Le gibier y foifonne ; & la chaffe des Orignaux, n'eft pas pour y manquer.
Mais I'anguille y eft vne manne, qui furpafle tout ce qu'on en pent croire. L'experience & I'induftrie nous y a rendus fi fgauans, qu'en vne feule nuit, vn ou deux hommes, en prendront des cinq, & fix mil- liers: & cette pefche dure deux mois entiers; dont on fait prouifion abondamment pour toute I'ann^e : car I'anguille eft icy d'vne excellente garde, foit
1653] RELATION OF i6s2-53 215
Spring in company, to bring a large number of Beaver-skins, for the purpose of doing their ordinary trading and furnishing themselves with powder, lead, and firearms, in order to render themselves more formidable to the enemy.
Moreover, all our young Frenchmen are planning to go on a trading expedition, to find the Nations that are scattered here and there ; and they hope to come back laden with the Beaver-skins of [151] several years' accumulation.
In a word, the country is not stripped of Beavers; they form its gold-mines and its wealth, which have only to be drawn upon in the lakes and streams, — where the supply is great in proportion to the small- ness of the draught upon it during these latter years, due to the fear of being dispersed or captured by the Iroquois. These animals, moreover, are extremely prolific.
Concerning the fertility of the soil, it is here very productive. The French grains yield excellent crops, and in that respect we can do without aid from France, however numerous we may be here. The more settlers there shall be, the greater plenty shall we enjoy.
Beef and bacon are here delicacies, which formerly we [152] did not dare to hope for. Game is abun- dant, and there is no lack of Moose-hunting.
But the eel constitutes a manna exceeding all belief. Experience and ingenuity have rendered us so expert in catching them that one or two men will take five or six thousand in a single night ; and this fishing lasts for two whole months, in which an ample provision of them is made for the whole year; for the eels here have excellent qualities for keeping,
216 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
fech6e au feu, foit fal6e: & elles font beaucoup meilleures, que toutes les anguilles de la France.
La pefche du Saumon, «& de I'Efturgeon, y eft tres- abondante en fa faifon. Et k vray dire, c'eft icy, le Royaume des eaux & des poiffons.
Le pays eft tres-fain, on y voit [153] fort peu de maladies. Les enfans y font & tres-beaux, & tres faciles k eleuer. C'eft vne benedidtion particuliere.
I
1653] RELATION OF ib52-53 217
wiiether dried by fire or salted, and are much better than any eels in France.
Salmon and Sturgeon are very plentiful in their sea- sons; to tell the truth, this country is the Kingdom of water and of fish.
The country is very healthful, [153] remarkably few diseases being seen here; and children are very comely and easy to rear. That is an especial blessing.
218 LES RELA TIONS DES J ^SUITES [Vol. 40
CHAPITRE VIII.
LA PORTE FERMEE A L'EUANGILE, SEMBLE S'OUURIR PLUS GRANDE QUE JAMAIS.
LE plus grand mal qu'ait fait la guerre des Iroquois, c'eft d'auoir extermin6 nos Eglifes naiffantes, defolant le pays des Hurons, d6peu- plant les nations Algonquines ; faifant mourir cruelle- ment & les Pafleurs, & le troupeau : & empefchant qu'on ne paffafl plus outre, aux Nations eloignees, pour en faire vn peuple Chreftien.
Maintenant, cette paix nouuelle, nous ouurira vn grand chemin, [154] vers les Nations fuperieures, dont la guerre nous auoit chaffe. Le zele de nos Peres, les y porte defia auec amour, & auec ioye, comme au centre de leurs defirs.
Mais ce qui les anime dauantage, & ce qui fera vn moyen bien puiffant, pour conferuer la paix auec les Iroquois, c'eft I'ouuerture que Dieu nous donne, pour aller faire vne Refidence au milieu du pays ennemy, fur le grand lac des Iroquois, proche des Onnontae- ronnons. Le chemin en eft tres-aif6, n'y ayant que deux cheutes d'eau, ou il faut mettre pied k terre, & faire vn portage qui n'eft pas long : ou il feroit facile de faire quelque petit reduit, pour auoir le commerce %
libre, & pour fe rendre maiftres de ce grand lac: u
d'oii par apres on pent aller aux Nations eloign6es, & mefme [155] dans I'ancien pays des Hurons; fans i
nous voir obligez a ces peines inconceuables, que
1653] RELA TION OF 1632-53 219
CHAPTER VIII.
THE DOOR CLOSED TO THE GOSPEL SEEMS TO OPEN
WIDER THAN EVER.
THE greatest evil wrought by the Iroquois war is the ruin of our infant Churches; for it laid waste the Huron country, depopulated the Algonquin nations, cruelly put to death both Pastors and flock, and prevented any farther passage to the remote Nations, in order to make of them a Chris- tian people.
Now, this new peace will open for us a highroad [154] to the upper Nations, whence the war has driven us away. The zeal of our Fathers already impels them thither with love and joy, as toward the object of their desires.
But what still more animates them, and what will be a very effectual* means of maintaining the peace with the Iroquois, is the opening which God gives us for establishing a Residence in the midst of the enemy's country, on the great lake of the Iroquois, near the Onnontaeronnons. The route thither is very easy, there being only two waterfalls where it is necessary to land and make a portage, — a short one at that ; and there it would be easy to construct a small redout for the purpose of maintaining free communication and of making ourselves masters of this great lake. Thence, we can afterward make journeys to the distant Nations, and even [155] into the former country of the Hurons, without being
220 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
nous auons pris autrefois, de porter & canots, & bagage fur nos 6paules, pour Suiter les precipices d'eau, & les torrens itnpetueux, qui ne font pas nauigables.
Les Iroquois Onnontaeronnons, nous inuitent eux- mefmes, & nous attirent par prefens: ils nous ont defign6 la place, & nous en ont fait vn recit, comme d'vn lieu le plus heureux qui foit en toutes ces con- tr6es. II le fera, plus mille fois qu'ils ne le croyent, £i Dieu acheue c6t ouurage, & fi les Anges tutelaires des peuples qui font k conuertir, nous aident en ce deffein. Car k vray dire, ce feroit-la le coeur d'vne terre, qui doit deuenir fainte, puis qu'elle eft rachep- t€e du fang du Fils de [156] Dieu, & qu'il eft temps qu'il y foit ador6. Nous demandons pour ce fujet des ouuriers, que nous attendons par le premier embarquement.
1653] RELATION OF i6s2-S3 221
obliged to undergo those inconceivable fatigues of former times, when we had to carry both canoes and baggage on our shoulders in order to avoid the waterfalls and impetuous floods which are unnaviga- ble.i"'
The Onnontaeronnon Iroquois invite us of their own accord, and solicit our coming by presents; they have assigned a place to us, and have described it to us as the finest spot in all those regions. It will be a thousand times more so than they think, if God complete this work, and if the guardian Angels of the peoples to be converted aid us in this project. For, in truth, that spot would be the heart of a land destined to become holy, since it has been ransomed with the blood of the Son of [156] God, and since it is time he were worshiped there. For this purpose we ask for laborers, and we expect them by the first ship that sails.
222 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [\^ol. 40
CHAPITRE DERNIER.
RECUEIL TlKt DE DIUERSES LETTRES APPORTEES DE LA NOUUELLE FRANCE.
LE pais des Hurons, qui nourrifCoit trente h. trente- ^ cinq mille ames, dans ^I'eftendue de dix-fept h. dix-huit lieues feulement, ayant efte pill6, mine, brufle: ceux qui font echappez de ce grand naufrage, fe font retirez en diuerfes Nations. Vn bon nombre s'eft venu ietter entre les bras des Fragois, & notamment des Peres de noftre Compagnie, qui les ont fi fortement fecourus, qu'on ecrit, [157] qu'ils auoient, cet Ete dernier, enuiron trois cens arpens de terre, enfemenc^ de leurs bleds d'Inde, c'efl ^ dire, qu'il a fallu abbattre trois cens arpes de bois : pour faire cette grande explanade, tres-vtile k cette nouuelle Colonie, qui a maintenat dequoy fe nourrir: mais non pas encor dequoy fe couurir. II eft vray, que Dieu qui a foin des petits oyfeaux, ne les a pas mis en oubly: car des perfonnes de piet6, & de vertu, leurs ayans enuoye, par aumofnes, quel- ques couuertures, on les a diuifees en quatre : pour couurir quatre petits orphelins de chacune. D'autres fouhaittans de faire porter leurs noms, a quelques nouueaux conuertis, leur ont fait tenir quelques prefens, qui ont feruy d'habits, au pere, & ^ la mere, & quelquefois k tous leurs enfans.
[158] I'ay leu ce qui fuit, dans vne lettre, ^crite par vne bonne Mere Vrfuline. Nous auons appris,
1653] RELATION OF 1652-53 223
CHAPTER THE LAST.
EXTRACTS FROM VARIOUS LETTERS BROUGHT FROM
NEW FRANCE.
THE country of the Hurons, which sustained from thirty to thirty-five thousand souls within a stretch of territory of only seventeen or eight- een leagues, having been pillaged, laid waste, and burned, those who escaped this general wreck took refuge among various Nations. A large number came and threw themselves into the arms of the French, and especially of the Fathers of our Society. The latter gave them such substantial aid that, as we learn by letter, [157] they had this last Summer about three hundred arpents of land planted with their Indian corn, — that is, it was necessary to fell three hundred arpents of timber in order to make that great esplanade, a work of much utility to this new Colony, which has now the means of feeding itself, but not yet the means of providing itself with clothing. It is true, God, who cares for the little birds, has not forgotten it; for certain persons of piety and virtue sent it, out of charity, some blankets, which were cut into quarters, that with each blanket four little orphans might be clothed. Others, wishing to have their names borne by some new converts, have caused presents to be given them, which have served to clothe the father, the mother, and sometimes even all their children.
[158] I read the following in a letter written by a
224 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
que noftre Seminarifle Huronne, qui fut prife, il y a enuiron dix ans, par les Iroquois: eftoit marine en leur pays. Qu'elle eftoit la maiftrelle dans fa cabane, compofee de plulleurs families. Qu'elle prioit Dieu tous les iours, & qu'elle le faifoit prier par d'autres: ce qui paroift d'autant plus eftonnant, qu'elle n'auoit qu' enuiron treize, ou quatorze ans, quand elle fut enleu6e par ces Barbares. Nous auons fa foeur en noftre maifon, qui eft vne ieune vefue, d'vne mo- deitie rauilTante, fort addonnee ^ I'oraifon: elle en fait tous les iours autant que les Religieufes: elle eft dans vne prefence de Dieu, quafi continuelle : & fon efprit eft fi eclaire, & fi remply de lumieres, [159] & de raifons, pour I'exercice de la vertu: qu'on void bien qu'elle eft gouuernee, par vn Efprit plus haut, & plus fublime, que I'efprit humain.
Les pere, & mere, de I'vne de nos Seminariftes (que la pauuret^, nous contraint, de tenir en vn fort petit nombre) eftans venus voir leur fille, ag6e d' en- uiron dix ans, luy dirent, que la paix fe faifant auec les Iroquois, ceux qu'il auoit connu en ce pays-Ik, o^ il auoit efte captif, I'inuitoient d'y aller demeurer, auec toute fa famille: & Ik-delTus, ils luy deman- derent, fi elle ne feroit pas bien aife d'eftre de la partie, & de fuiure fon pere, & fa mere. Comment done, repondit-elle, n'eftes-vous point honteux, de vouloir quitter le pays de la priere, pour aller en vn lieu, ou vous ferez en danger, de [160] perdre la Foy? Ne fgauez-vous pas bien, que les Iroquois ne croyent pas en Dieu, & qu' eftans parmy eux, vous viuerez comme eux? Allez, fi vous voulez, en ce miferable pays: mais ie ne vous fuiuray pas, ie ne quitteray iamais les filles faintes, fi vous m'abandonnez. Ses
1653]] RELA TION OF 1632-53 225
good Ursuline Mother: " We learned that our Huron Seminarist, who was captured about ten years ago by the Iroquois, was married in their country ; that she was the mistress in her cabin, which con- tained several families ; that she prayed to God every day ; and that she induced others to pray to him. This appears the more wonderful, as she was only about thirteen or fourteen years old when she was carried away by those Barbarians. We have in our house her sister, who is a young widow of charming modesty, and greatly given to prayer. She prays every day, as long as do the Nuns themselves; she lives almost constantly in the presence of God; and her soul is so illuminated, and so filled with light [159] and with motives for the exercise of virtue, that, plainly, she is governed by a Spirit more exalted and sublime than that of man.
' * The father and mother of one of our Seminarists (our poverty compels us to maintain them in very small numbers) came to see their daughter, who was about ten years old. They told her that, as peace was being made with the Iroquois, those whom her father had known in that country, where he had been a captive, were inviting him to go and dwell there with all his family; and, thereupon, they asked her whether she would not like to be one of the party and follow her father and mother. 'What?' she rejoined ; ' are you not ashamed to wish to leave the country of prayer, and go to a place where you will be in danger of [160] losing the Faith? Are you not well aware that the Iroquois do not believe in God, and that, being among them, you will live as they do? Go, if you will, to that wretched country, but I shall not follow you; I will never leave the holy
226 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
parens, honorans fon courage, raflurerent qu'ils ne s'^loigneroient pas de la maifon de priere.
Les faints Peres, parlans de la chaftete, la font palTer, pour vne vertu def cendue des Cieux : pour vne beaut6, inconnue h. la nature: & pour I'vne des plus belles filles, ou des plus beaux fruits de la grace. Ce fruit commence k paroiftre, dans les vergers de ces nouuelles Eglifes. I'apprends qu'vn ieune Huron, ag6 d'enuiron trente ans, fortement follicit6, depuis [i6i] quatre ans, de fe marier: a tou jours refifte. Enfin, comme fes proches, le prelloient extraordinairement, par des confiderations puifTantes : il alia trouuer I'vn des Peres, qui ont foin de cette Eglife, & luy dit ce peu de paroles. Mon Pere, on me dit tous les iours, marie toy; quelle eft ta penfee? determine moy. Le Pere luy repartit, qu'il n'efloit pas defendu de fe marier: qu'il le pouuoit faire. Oiiy, mais repart le ieune homme, lequel des deux eft plus agreable ^ Dieu ; de f e marier, ou de ne fe pas marier? Le Pere luy r^pondit, que ceux qui renon9oient aux plaifirs de la terre, pour mieux feruir Iesvs-Christ, luy eftoient plus agreable. C'eft affez, replique ce bon Neophyte, il ne faut plus me parler de mariage. [162] Adieu mon Pere, ie n'auois que ce mot k te dire.
Le Pere, qui nous a fait part de c6t entretien, adjoufte, qu'ayant, certain iour, rencontre vne vefue affez ieune, venant du trauail : luy dit, la voyant fort mal veftue, marchant pieds nuds, k caufe de fa pauurete. leanne, (c'eft le nom qu'elle a receue au Baptefme) la peine que tu prends, pour nourrir tes pauures enfans, me fait croire, que tu ferois bien foulagee, fi tu prenois quelque bon mary, qui te
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-33 227
maidens if you forsake me.' Her parents respected her courage, and assured her that they would not go away from the house of prayer.
" The holy Fathers, in speaking of chastity, affirm it to be a virtue descended from Heaven, a beauty unknown to nature, and one of the fairest daughters, or one of the finest fruits, of heavenly grace. This fruit is beginning to appear in the orchards of these new Churches. I learn that a young Huron, who is about thirty years old, and has been for the past four years strongly urged [161] to marry, has always resisted. At length, when his relatives, by weighty arguments, pressed him with unusual persistence to take this step, he went in quest of one of the Fathers who have charge of that Church, and thus briefly addressed him : ' My Father, I am told every day to marry; what is thy opinion? Decide for me.' The Father answered him that it was not forbidden to marry, and that he could do so. * Yes,' returned the young man ; ' but which of the two is more pleasing to God, to marry or not to marry?' The Father replied that those who renounced the pleasures of earth, for the sake of serving Jesus Christ better, were more acceptable to him. ' That is enough,' rejoined this good Neophyte ; * there must be no more talk of marriage to me. [ 1 62] Good-bye, Father ; that is all I had to say to thee. '
' ' The Father who communicated this conversation to tis adds that, meeting one day a widow, still quite young, on her way from work, and seeing that she was very poorly clad, — she was walking barefoot because of her poverty, — ^he said to her: * Jeanne' (that is the name which she received at Baptism), ' the trouble thou takest to feed thy poor children
228 LES RELATIONS DBS j£SUITES [Vol.40
fecourlit. La pauure femme r6pondit par les yeux,
verfant beaucoup de larmes. Helas, fit-elle, oh. trou-
ueray-ie vn mary, femblable k celuy que i'ay perdu?
II faut confeffer, luy dit le Pere, que c'eftoit vn
grand homme de bien: mais il n'eft pas itnpoffible
d'en trouuer vn femblable, qui te [163] fecoure autant
que celuy que Dieu t'auoit donn6. II n'importe,
r6pond-elle, ie ne veux pas me remarier. II y a
long-temps, que i'aurois vefcu comme fceur, auec
mon mary, li on m'eut permis de faire ma volonte.
Le delir que i'ay de me fauuer, m'eloigne du mari-
age. Oiiy, mais tu ne laifferas pas de te fauuer
eflant mariee ? II eft vray : mais ie ne f erois pas fi
agreable k Iesvs-Christ. Luy as-tu promis, de
ne te plus remarier? non pas: mais i'ay delTein la
premiere fois que ie me communieray, de luy dire
ces paroles. Mon Dieu, ie renonce aux plaifirs du
mariage. Ie prefere ton plaifLr au mien. Les
plaifirs d'icy bas font courts, ceux du Ciel font
eternels. Ceux qui ne gouftent pas, les bons fenti-
mens des Sauuages, [164] diront que celuy-cy, vient >,
plutoft de I'efprit de Dieu, que de I'efprit d'vn \
Sauuage.
Comme les bons arbres, produif ent de bons frui<5ts : cette genereufe Chreftienne a vne fiUe, qui fuit les faintes inclinations de fa bonne mere. Cette enfant demeure auec les Religieufes hofpitalieres, feruant d'lnterprete aux pauures Hurons malades; dont il y en a eu bon nombre toute I'annee, dans cette maifon de mifericorde, EUe a I'efprit fi bon, qu'elle a appris en moins de deux ans, la langue Frangoife, & en fuitte, ^ lire & k ^crire: en forte, qu'elle deuance les petites Fran9oifes. EUe eft d'vn fi bon naturel,
1653] RELATION OF 1652-S3 22&
makes me think that thy lot would be much lighter if thou wouldst take some good husband to help thee.' The poor woman made answer with her eyes, shedding many tears. ' Alas ! ' said she ; * where shall I find a husband like the one I have lost?' ' It must be admitted, ' replied the Father, * that he was a very excellent man ; but it is not impossible to find one like him, to [163] aid thee as much as did he whom God had given thee.' ' It makes no differ- ence, ' she answered ; ' I am determined not to marry again. If I had been permitted to do as I wished, I would, long ago, have lived with my husband as a sister. Regard for my salvation estranges me from the thought of marriage.' ' Yes, but wilt thou not be saved just the same, even if thou art married?' ' It is true, but I would not be so acceptable to Jesus Christ.' ' Hast thou promised him not to marry again ? ' ' No ; but I intend, the first time I receive communion, to say these words to him: " My God, I renounce the pleasures of marriage. I prefer thy pleasure to my own. The pleasures here below are short; those of Heaven are eternal."' Those who take no delight in the Savages' good impulses, [164] will say that this one was rather inspired by the spirit of God than that it originated in the mind of a Savage.
" As good trees bring forth good fruit, this noble Christian woman has a daughter who inherits the holy inclinations of her good mother. This child lives with the hospital Nuns, acting as Interpreter for the poor Huron patients, of whom there has been a goodly number all the year in that house of mercy. She is so intelligent that she mastered the French language in less than two years; and then
230 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.40
que iamais elle ne s'excufe, dans la correction de fes petits deffauts: & li on accufe quelqu'vne [165] de fes compagnes, elle dit, pour I'ordinaire, que c'eft elle qui a fait la faute: & qu'elle n'a point d'efprit. II n'y a pas long-temps, qu'elle a fait fa premiere Communion; & pour preuue, qu'elle connoiffoit celuy qui la venoit vifiter, elle s'offrit d'elle-mefme k luy, le fuppliant de la retenir en fa maifon, & de luy faire la grace d'eftre Religieufe. Elle a vne li forte creance, qu'il luy accordera cette faueur, qu'elle ne veut iamais fortir du Monaftere, oil elle eft : pour aller voir fa bonne mere, & fes parens, qui ne font qu'^ deux lieues de Quebec. Et s'ils la viennent voir, elle a fi peur, qu'ils ne luy parlent, de mettre le pied hors de cet Hofpital, qu'elle les expedie en quatre paroles. Ce qui eft peu ordinaire a des enfans: mais [166] celuy qui done le poids aux vens, & qui fe plaift dans I'innocence, rend leurs coeurs folides, & leurs langues difertes, quand il luy plaift.
Difons en paffant, puis que nous parlons de 1' Hof- pital, ce que i'ay leu dans vn bout de lettre, qu'vn Sauuage fort opiniaftre, & fort eloign6 de la Foy, ayant efte porte en cette maifon de Dieu, pour y eftre penf6, fut fi furpris, & fi eftonne, voyant la douceur, la bonte, la modeftie, & la charite de ces bonnes Meres, qu'il ne faifoit autre chofe, que de reiterer ces paroles; Mais, que pretendent ces filles, qu'at- tendent-elles de ces malades qui n'ont rien? elles donent leurs viures, leurs moyes, leur trauail. auec tant de bont6, & on ne leur donne rien ! II faut [167] bien, qu'elles efperent d'autres biens, apres cette vie? ces penf6es liquefierent ce coeur de fer, qui fe
1653J RELA TION OF 1652-53 231
learned to read and write, so that she outstrips the little French girls. She is of so excellent a disposi- tion that she never excuses herself when her little faults are corrected ; and if any one of her companions is accused of error, [165] she is wont to say that it was she who committed the offense, and that she has no sense. Not long ago she made her first Communion ; and, in proof that she knew him who had just visited her, she voluntarily offered herself to him, implor- ing him to retain her in his house and graciously permit her to become a Nun. She has so strong a faith that he will grant her this favor, that she is determined never to leave the Convent where she is, for the purpose of going to see her good mother and her relatives, who live at a distance of only two leagues from Quebec. And, if they come to see her, she is so afraid that they will speak to her of leaving this Hospital, that she dismisses them with very few words — an unusual thing for children to do. But [166] he who gives force to the winds, and who takes pleasure in innocence, m.akes their hearts strong and their tongues eloquent when he chooses. ' '
Let us relate in passing, since we are on the sub- ject of the Hospital, what I read in a scrap of a letter. A Savage who was very headstrong and much opposed to the Faich, upon being carried to that house of God for the purpose of having a wound dressed, was so filled with surprise and wonder at seeing the gentleness, the goodness, the modesty, and the charity of those good Mothers, that he did nothing but exclaim over and over again: " Why, what do these girls mean ? What do they expect from those sick people who have nothing? They give their food, their means, their labor, with so much kind-
232 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol, 40
rendit, & s'eftant fait Chreftien, il fit paroiftre, que la charity eftoit vn bon Predicateur.
Mais pour dire encor deux mots de la purete, qui s'eftablit dans quelques ames d'^lite. Vne autre ieune veufue, paroift fi retiree, depuis la mort de fon mary, que mefme, elle ne repond aucun mot aux hommes, qui feroient capables de luy parler de man- age. Le Pere, qui a foin de fon ame, en voulant f9auoir la raifon: elle la rendit en ces termes. II y a long-temps, que i'ay promis k Dieu, que iamais plus ie ne me marierois. C'eft pour fon honneur, & non pour mon contentement, ce que i'en fay. C'efl affez vefcu auec les [i68] hommes, ay-je dit en moy- mefme : Ie fgay bien que je fuis encor ieune, & que ie fuis capable d'auoir des enfans, qui feroient mon foutien: ie me priue volontiers de cet appuy. II n'importe que ie fois pauure: mais il importe que i'ayme Dieu. Ie n'ay qu'vne petite fille, c'eft mon enfant vnique: i'ay dit fouuent k Noftre Seigneur, la voila : fi tu me la veux ofter, ie ne laiff eray pas de t'aymer: ie ne fouhaite fa vie que pour te feruir. Qu'on en die ce que Ton voudra, ce langage du coeur, eft eloquent deuant Dieu. Si quelques hommes ne le gouftent pas, quantity d'Anges y prennent plaifir.
Voicy vne deuotion bien innocente. Quelques femmes Huronnes, font entrees dans vn combat, "k qui rendroit plus d'honneur [169] k la fainte Vierge, & par leur bonne vie, & par les prieres qu'elles luy adrefToient, notamment en recitant fon Chapelet. II y en a telle, qui s'endormant V Aue Maria en la bouche, la continue k fon reueil, comme fi le fommeil ne I'auoit point interrompue. Et afin que le nombre
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-53 233
ness ; and they are given nothing in return ! They must [167] certainly hope for other blessings after this life." These thoughts melted that heart of iron, and it yielded; and, becoming a Christian, he made it evident that charity was a good Preacher.
But, — to say a word or two more regarding the purity that has been implanted in some elect souls, — another young widow has become so reticent since her husband's death, that she does not even answer those men who, perchance, might address her on the subject of marriage. When the Father who has the care of her soul wished to know the reason of this, she gave it to him as follows: " A long time ago I promised God that I would never marry again. It is in his honor, and not for my own pleasure, that I act thus. ' Enough of living with [168] men! ' said I to myself. I am well aware that I am still young, and that I could have children who would be my dependence; but I voluntarily deny myself that support. Whether or not I be poor matters not ; but it is of importance whether I love God or not. I have only a little daughter ; she is my sole child. I have often said to Our Lord : ' There she is : if it be thy will to take her from me, I shall not cease to love thee ; I wish her to live only that she may serve thee.' " Say what you will, this language of the heart is eloquent before God. If there are men who do not appreciate it, there are many Angels who take pleasure in it.
The following is an instance of devotion of a very innocent kind. Some Huron women joined in a con- test as to who should pay the greatest honor [169] to the blessed Virgin, both by exemplary living, and by addressing prayers to her, — and this especially by
234 LES RELA TIONS DES y£SUITES [Vol. 40
de fois qu'elles le difent, foit honorable ^ leur bonne Mere: elles mettent k chaque fois, vne de leurs perles, ou de leurs diamans h. part; ce font leurs grains de porcelaine. Elles apportent tous les Di- manches, au Pere qui les conduit, le petit amas qu'elles ont fait pendant la femaine: afin de tirer de ce magafin, dequoy faire vne Couronne, & vne Echarpe, ^ la fa9on du pays, h. Timage de la fainte Vierge. Le Pere a marqu6 dans vn papier, [170] qu'il s'eft trouu6 cinq mille de ces perles, depuis rAffomption, iufques au quinzi6me d'Odtobre. le m'affure, que tous ceux qui font enrolez en la Confrairie du Rofaire, ne recitent pas li fouuent leur Chapelet, que ces bonnes Neophytes.
II faudroit maintenant parler de la Refidence de faint lofeph a Sillery. De la Refidence des Trois Riuieres. De la Miffion de fainte Croix k Tadouffac. De la Miffion de S. lean en la nation des Pores-Epics. De la Miffion des Poiffons blancs. De la Miffion des Abnaquiois. Des peuples appellez les Nipifiriniens ; les Piskitang: les Algonquins de la petite Nation, & autres, qu'on a commence d'inflruire en la foy: mais ie n'ay pas affez d'inftrudtion pour parler en [171] detail de tous ces peuples & de toutes ces Nations. Ie rapporteray quelque petite chofe, de ce qui eft venu entre mes mains.
Vne femme, nomm6e Geneuiefue, ayant vn fils malade, age d'enuiron huit h. neuf ans, fit tout fon polfible, pour luy faire recouurer la fant6, ou pour le difpofer h. vne fainte mort, en cas que Dieu le voulut retirer de ce monde. Elle follicitoit les Religieufes Hofpitalieres, & les Vrfulines, de prier inceffamment pour luy: Elle importunoit fouuent nos Peres, les
1653] RELATION OF 1652-53 235
reciting the Rosary. There are those among them who, falling asleep with the Ave Maria on their lips, continue it upon awaking, as if sleep had not inter- rupted it. And, in order that the frequency with which they repeat it may be to their good Mother's honor, they put aside, each time, one of their pearls or diamonds, — these are their porcelain beads. Every Sunday, they bring to the Father who directs them the little pile they have amassed during the week, in order to draw from this store the material for making a Crown, or Scarf, after the fashion of the country, for the image of the blessed Virgin. The Father has noted down on paper [170] that these pearls amounted to five thousand, from the day of the Assumption to the fifteenth of October. I am sure that not all those who are enrolled in the Confraternity of the Rosary recite their Chaplets as often as do these good Neophytes.
I ought now to speak of the Residence of saint Joseph at Sillery, the Residence of Three Rivers, the Mission of the holy Cross at Tadoussac, the Mission of St. Jean in the Porcupine nation, the Mission of the Poissons-blancs, the Mission of the Abnaquiois; of the people called the Nipisiriniens, of the Piskitangs, of the Algonquins of the petite Nation, and of others whose instruction in the faith has been begun. But I have not sufficient informa- tion to speak in [171] detail of all these peoples and all these Nations. I will relate a little circumstance, taken from what has come into my hands.
A woman named Geneviefve, who had a sick son about eight or nine years of age, did her utmost to make him recover his health, or to prepare him for a holy death, if God should will his removal from.
236 LES RELA TIONS DES jASUITES [Vol. 40
priant de le vifiter, & de le fortifier: en vn mot, de faire en forte, qu'il allafl droit au Ciel, fans rien rencontrer en fon chemin qui I'arreftat. Elle auoit cette penfee en I'efprit, que Dieu follicit6 par les prieres de fes amis, & touch6 [172] de compaffion, ^ la veue des bonnes difpofitions de fon enfant, luy rendroit la fante, ou s'il le vouloit appeller k foy, qu'il le deliuroit, des peines qu'on fouffre pour I'ordinaire, apres la mort. Ce motif luy donnoit vn foin fi violent, & de I'ame, & du corps de c6t enfant fort innocent, qu'elle fe rendoit importune k tout le monde, & k fon fils mefme : luy demandant, s'il n'ou- blioit rien en fes Confeffions, & s'il auoit douleur de fes pechez. Ce pauure enfant, luy difoit par fois, ne vous attriftez point, ma mere, mon coeur n'eft pas mechant, il n'y a rien qui le puiffe gafter: i'ay dit au Pere, tout ce qu'il y auoit de manuals. Or comme la maladie augmentoit tons les iours : Quelques Jon- gleurs, ou Medecins du pays, parens [173] de la mere de c6t enfant, luy dirent, qu'ils trouueroient bien le %
moyen de guerir le malade. Elle fit au commence- ment la fourde oreille: voyant bien, qu'ils fe vou- loient feruir de leurs fuperfl:itions, & de leurs badineries ordinaires: mais enfin, fe voyant preffee, le grand amour, qu'elle auoit pour la fant6 de fon fils, qui eftoit fon enfant vnique, la fit diffimuler, & ^ demy condefcendre ^ leurs volontez. lis abordent doucement c6t enfant, luy demandent s'il ne feroit pas bien aife de guerir: il repond qu'ouy; il faut done, repartent-ils, que vous permettiez qu'on vous chante, & qu'on dreffe vn Tabernacle, pour confulter les Genies de I'air, touchant voftre mal. Non pas cela, dit-il, non pas cela. Et fe tournant [174] vers
1653] RELATION OF ib52-53 237
this world. She begged the Hospital and Ursuline Nuns to pray for him without ceasing; she often importuned our Fathers, asking them to visit him, to strengthen him, and, in short, to take such measures as would insure for him a straight path to Heaven without encountering any obstacle on the way. She thought that God, solicited by the prayers of his friends, and touched [172] with compassion at the sight of her son's good qualities, would restore him to health ; or that, if it were his will to call him to himself, he would exempt him from the pains that are ordinarily suffered after death. This idea inspired her with such excessive solicitude for both the soul and the body of that innocent child, that she rendered herself troublesome to every one, — and even to her son, whom she would question whether he were forgetting anything in his Confes- sions, and whether he were sorry for his sins. That poor child would say to her sometimes: " Do not grieve, mother; my heart is not wicked, there is nothing that can spoil it ; and I have told the Father all that was evil in it. ' ' Now, as the illness increased every day, some Jugglers, the Physicians of the country, relatives [173] of this child's mother, told her that they would infallibly find a remedy to cure the patient. At first she turned a deaf ear to their words, seeing plainly that they wished to employ their superstitious rites and customary buffooneries ; but at last, seeing herself hard pressed, her great desire to restore her son to health — he was her only child — caused her to dissemble, and partially to comply with their wishes. They softly approached the child, and asked him if he would not be glad to become well again ; he replied that he would. ' * You
238 LES RELATIONS DBS /^SUITES [Vol.40
fa mere, il s'6crie, ie ne veux point aller en Enfer. Ces chofes font deffendues: en vn mot, il fit voir, par gefles, & par paroles, qu'il abhorroit toutes ces f uperftitions : mais comma ce n'eftoit qu'vn enfant, & qu'il perdoit fes forces, & fa vigueur, ces longleurs pafferent outre. lis luy pendent au col, trois petits rondeaux faits de brins de pore-epic de la grandeur d'vn petit ietton, difans que fon mal cacli6 dans les inteftins, eftoit de mefme grandeur, & qu'il le falloit faire fortir. lis luy demandoient foigneufement, s'il ne voyoit rien dans fes fonges, auquels tous ces Barbares ont grande creance. II repondit, qu'il auoit veu vn canot. Auffi-toft, on luy en fit faire vn petit, qui luy fut apporte, afin de contenter le genie, ou [175] le Demon des fonges. Remarquez que tout cela fe faifoit en cacbette, dans la profondeur de la nuit, de peur que les Peres, n'en euffent connoiffance. Enfin comme ces remedes n'auoient aucun effet, les longleurs prennent leurs tambours, ils hurlet, ils chantent, ils foufflent le malade, ils font feftin d'vn chien roux, pour arrefter le cours de fa maladie : mais au lieu de foulager ce pauure enfant, fa fievre redouble auec vne telle vehemence, qu'il s'ecrie, qu'il brule, qu'il fent defia le feu de 1' Enfer, & qu'on le tue. A ces cris, ces beaux medecins fe retirent, la mere 6pouuant6e, ouure les yeux, palle le refte de la nuit en pleurs, & en larmes, tranfperc6e de douleur, d'auoir donne quelque creance a ces charlatans, & k ces trompeurs.
[176] Le Pere qui a foin de ce quartier, arriuant le matin, pour voir le malade: cette pauure femme, I'aborde, & luy dit en pleurant. Alon Pere, allons k la Chapelle, ie defire de me confefl^er: k peine y
1653] RELATION OF 1652-53 239
iQUSt, then," they rejoined, " allow us to sing, and to put up a Tabernacle for consulting the Genii of the air in regard to your ailment." "Not that!" he exclaimed, "not that!" And, turning [174] to his mother, he cried : " I do not want to go to Hell ; those things are forbidden." In short, he showed by word and gesture that he abhorred all those super- stitions; but, as he was only a child and was losing his strength and vigor, the Jugglers continued their operations. They hung about his neck three little disks, made of porcupine quills and of the size of small counters, — saying that his ailment, hidden in the intestines, was of the same size, and must be made to come out. They carefully inquired of him whether he saw anything in his dreams, — all these Barbarians having great faith in dreams. ' He replied that he had seen a canoe. Immediately they had a small one made and brought to him, in order to satisfy the genie or [175] Demon of dreams. Note that all this took place in secret, in the dead of night, for fear lest the Fathers should gain knowledge of it. Finally, as these remedies produced no effect, the Jugglers took their drums, yelled, sang, blew upon the patient, and feasted on a red dog, in order to arrest the course of the malady. But, instead of relief, the poor child's fever redoubled, with such vehemence that he cried out that he was burning, that he already felt the fire of Hell, and that he was being killed. At these cries the worthy physicians withdrew; the mother opened her eyes in alarm, and passed the rest of the night in lamentations and tears, pierced with grief at having reposed any faith in those charlatans and deceivers.
[176] When the Father in charge of that district
240 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol. 4a
fut-elle entr6e, qu'elle fe iette par terre, verfant quantity de larmes, pouffant tout haut ces paroles entrecoupees de fanglots. C'eft moy qui fay mourir mon fils. Ce font mes pech^s qui luy oftent la vie. C'eft moy qui le tue. le fuis coupable, & il eft inno- cent, le merite la mort ; & il merite de viure, fut-il ainfi, que ie mouruffe, & non pas luy: car il eft bon, & ie fuis mefchante. I'ay facli6 celuy qui a tout fait, que feray-ie pour I'appaifer? & fe tournant vers le Pere, elle tire vn grand collier de porcelaine de fon fein, & luy dit, voila pour appaifer [177] celuy que i'ay fafcli6, offre luy ce prefent par les mains des pauures: prie pour moy mon Pere, afin que mes pecli6s, ne foient point imputes, a mon enfant: & que la porte du Ciel, ne luy foit point fermee. Ie luy preparois vne belle robe de caftor, ie te I'appor- teray mon Pere, & tu la penderas en quelque lieu, dedans I'Eglife: elle parlera pour moy, & f era voir k tout le monde, mon pecli6, & ma repentance.
Enfin fon pauure petit Eftienne, c'eft ainfi qu'il s'appelloit, mourut faindtement. Cette pauure mere le baifant apres fa mort, luy difoit, pardonne moy mon fils, c'eft moy qui t'ay fay mourir par mes pech6s, pardonne a ta mere, elle a peut-eftre, faly ta pauure [178] ame, permettant ces fotifes, & ces fuperftitions, fur ton petit corps. Ie crains que cela ne t'empefche, I'entr^e du Paradis. Et le voulant, elle-mefme enfeuelir, elle luy ioignit fes deux petites mains, comme s'il eut prie Dieu: mettant fon Chap- pelet a I'entour, & fon petit Crucifix entre fes doigts. Voila mon fils, luy difoit-elle, I'image de celuy qui a netoye tes peches. C'eft luy qui te logera dans fa maifon, oil iamais plus tu ne pourras mourir.
1653J RELA TION OF 1632-53 241
arrived in the morning to see the patient, this poor woman accosted him, and thus addressed him with tears: " Father, let us go to the Chapel; I wish to be confessed. ' ' Scarcely had she arrived there, when she threw herself on the ground, shedding many tears and exclaiming aloud, her words interrupted by sobs: " I am making my son die. My sins are taking away his life; I am killing him. I am guilty, and he is innocent. I deserve death, and he deserves to live. Would I could die in his stead; for he is good, and I am wicked. I have displeased him who made all things. What shall I do to conciliate him? " And, turning to the Father, she drew from her bosom a large porcelain collar, and said to him : " That is to appease [177] him whom I have offended. Offer him this present through the poor. Pray for me, my Father, in order that my sins may not be imputed to my child, and the door of Heaven be closed against him. I was making him a fine beaver- skin robe; I will bring it to thee, Father, and thou shalt hang it somewhere inside the Church. It will speak for me, and show to every one my sin and my repentance."
Finally, her poor little Estienne — for that was his name — died a holy death. The poor mother kissed him after his death, and said to him: " Forgive me, my son; it is I who made thee die by my sins. For- give thy mother; she has perhaps defiled thy poor [178] soul by permitting those foolish and supersti- tious rites to be performed over thy little body. I fear that may prevent thy entrance into Paradise." And, wishing to bury him herself, she joined his little hands as if in prayer to God, winding his Rosary about them and placing his little Crucifix
242 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
\
I
Voicy vne grace bien particuliere arriii6e, k vne \
bande de bons Chrefliens, qui voguoient fur le grand fleuue, fur la fin de I'Hyuer. Les glaces les entou- rans de tous coftez, «& fe jettans les vnes fur les autres: en forte [179] qii'ils ne voyoient aucun moyen ^
d'efchapper, attendans ^ tous momens vn debris, de leur petit vaiffeau: le Pere qui les accompagnoit ; voyant bien que fans vn fecours du Ciel, c'eftoit fait de leurs vies : les fit mettre en priere. Chofe eitrange, vous euffies dit, que leur oraifon 6cartoit ces grands corps de glaces, & les faifoit fuir, pour leur donner paffage: le coup fut fi foudain, qu'il les eftonna tous. Et pour marque, que c'eftoit vne faueur extraordi- naire, I'effet fut grand pour leurs ames, aulfi bien que pour leurs corps, dautant que ce prodige, les '■
rendit plus fermes a la Foy, & augmenta fortement leur confiance en Dieu.
Ce qui fuit n'eft pas moins [i8o] etonnant. Vn Chreftien malade k la mort, fut prie, follicite, & preff6, par fes parens, & par fes amis, de fe laiffer penfer a la fayon des Sauuages: c'eft "k dire, auec '■
des cris, des hurlemens, & des tambours, dont fe fer- nent les longleurs, croyans par ce tintamarre, epou- \
uanter le Manitoti, qui ofte la vie aux hommes. Ce bon Neophyte les rebuta, difant, qu'il aymoit mieux %
mourir, que de fouffrir ces badineries, & ces fuperfti- i;
tions, plus propres k faire mourir vn malade, qu'^ le rf
guerir: mais comme il vid, que ces longleurs, fe ''
difpofoient k le foufler, mal-gre fes refiftaces, il fe feruit du peu de force qui luy reftoit, pour fortir de la cabane, & pour fe traifner dans le bois. Chofe eftrange ^mefure [i8i] qu'il s'61oigne de ces Sorciers, il s'approche de la fant6: en forte qu'il fut guery
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-53 243
between his fingers. " There, my son," said she to him, " is the image of him who has washed away thy sins. He will give thee a place in his house, where thou canst never die any more."
The following is an instance of very special grace shown to a band of good Christians who were jour- neying on the great river, toward the end of Winter. They were surrounded on all sides by blocks of ice, which were dashed upon one another in such a way [179] that they saw no means of escape, but expected every moment that their little bark would be crushed. The Father who was with them, seeing plainly that without Heaven's help they would lose their lives, made them resort to prayer. Strangely enough, you would have said their prayer dispersed those great masses of ice, and put them to flight, in order to give passage to the men. This took place so suddenly as to astonish them all. And, in proof that it was an extraordinary favor, the effect upon their souls as well as upon their bodies was remark- able, inasmuch as this miracle rendered them stronger in the Faith, and greatly increased their trust in God.
The following is not less [180] wonderful. A Christian who was fatally ill was urged in the strong- est terms, by his relatives and friends, to allow himself to be treated after the manner of the Sav- ages,— that is, with shouting, yelling, and drumming, which the Jugglers employ, thinking by this din to frighten away the Manitou who deprives men of their lives. This good Neophyte repulsed them, saying that he chose to die rather than allow these apish and superstitious ceremonies, more liable to kill than to cure a patient. But, seeing the Jugglers
v
244 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.40
quafi en vn inftant, auec vne ioye de fon coeur,
& vn dtonnement de tons ceux qui le tenoient pour f
mort.
Ce que ie vay dire, efl digne d'eftre fceu. Deux ieunes filles Chreftiennes, fe voyans pourfuiuies, par |'
deux ieunes hommes, fe iettent dans les forefts, qui \-^
couurent ce grand pays: elles coururent fi fort, «& ■;
entrerent fi auant, dans ce pays perdu : qu' elles furent deux mois fans paroifkre. On les cherche, on les appelle, point de nouuelles, la peur les auoit li bien 61oign6es qu'on les tenoit pour mortes: car n'ayat port6 aucun viure, auec elles, chacun croyoit, que la faim les auroit 6gorg6es. [182] Enfin apres auoir !
bien couru, & bien marcli6 dans ces grands bois, elles 4
fe trouuerent fur les riues, de la grand' Riuiere de S. Laurens, oii ayant apperceu vn vaiffeau Fran9ois, qui montoit "k Tadouffac, elles appellerent, & firent figne, qu'on les embarquaft, ce qui fut fait.
Bref elles arriuerent en bonne fante au logis de leurs parens: n'ayans vefcu, tout ce temps-Ik, que de racines, & de petits fruidts Sauuages, qu'elles trou- uoient dans les bois. Non in folo pane viuit homo, ces paroles, pouuoient eftre prifes au pied de la lettre k leur egard.
Vne autre ieune fille, ne fe ietta pas dans ce danger, mais elle y ietta vn impudent qui la preffoit [183] auec violence : car prenant vn coufteau en main, elle luy alloit planter dans la gorge, ou dans le fein, fi fa mere accourant, n'eut retenu fon bras.
Le Pere qui a eft6 en Miffion dans le lac de S. lean, dit, qu'vne fille le vint prier, de luy donner le Baptefme. II luy demande, fi quelqu'vn de nos Peres, I'auoit inftruite; elle dit que non, & qu'elle
1653] RELATION OF I6S2-S3 245
preparing to blow upon him despite his opposition, he made use of the little strength left him to go forth from his cabin and drag himself into the woods. Strange to relate, the farther [i8i] he went from those Sorcerers, the nearer he came to health, so that he was cured almost in a moment, — to the delight of his heart, and the astonishment of all those who considered him as dead.
What I am about to relate is worthy of publication. Two young Christian girls, seeing themselves pur- sued by two young men, fled into the forests which cover this great country. They ran so hard, and penetrated so far into that wild region, that they were not seen again for two months. People searched and shouted for them, but there was no news of them. Fear had driven them so far away that they were accounted dead ; for, as they had taken no food with them, all believed that hunger must have caused their death. [182] At length, after they had run and walked a long distance in those vast forests, they found themselves on the bank of the great River St. Lawrence, where, perceiving a French vessel that was on its way up to Tadoussac, they hailed it and made signs to be taken aboard, which was done.
In brief, they arrived in good health at their parents' lodge, having lived all that time on nothing but roots and small Wild fruits that they found in the woods. Non in solo pane vivit homo, — these words admitted of a literal interpretation in their case.
Another young girl exposed to a like danger not herself, but an impudent fellow who was importuning her [183] with violence. Taking a knife in her hand, she was about to plant it in his throat or in his breast, had not her mother ran up and stayed her arm.
246 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.40
n'a iamais veu, de gens faits comme nous, portans des robes noires: mais qu'elle a demeur6 auec des Chreftiens, qui luy ont appris k prier Dieu, & qui luy ont fait connoiftre Timportance du Baptefme. Le Pere voyant fa candeur, fon zele, fon alTiduit^, & fa perfeue ranee k demander cette grace, ne luy of a refufer. On a accord6 cette mefme faueur ^ enuiron [184] vne centaine de Sauuages, de ceux qui trafiquent ordinairement en ce quartier-1^.
FIN.
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-33 'iAI
The Father who has been acting as Missionary at the lake of St. John says that a girl came and begged him to give her Baptism. Upon his asking her if any of our Fathers had instructed her, she said " No," and that she had never seen any one dressed like us, wearing a black robe ; but that she had lived with some Christians who had taught her to pray to God, and had made her understand the importance of Baptism. The Father, seeing her candor, her zeal, her assiduity, and her perseverance in asking for this grace, dared not refuse her. This same favor was granted to about [184] a hundred of the Savages ordinarily trading in that district.
END.
248 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
«
Extraid du Priuilege du Roy.
PAR Grace & Priuilege du Roy donn^ "k Paris, & fign^ Cramoisy, il eft permis k Sebas- TIEN Cramoisy, Marchand Libraire Iur6 en rVniverfite de Paris, & Imprimeur ordinaire du Roy & de la Reyne, Bourgeois, ancien Efcheuin, & ancien luge Conful de cette Ville de Paris, d'imprimer ou faire imprimer vn Liure intitule, Relation de ce qui s'ejl pafk^ en la MiJ^ion des Peres de la Compagnie de Iesvs, au Pays de la Nouuelle France, ^s ann^es 1652. & 1653. enuoy^e au R. P. Prouincial de la Prouince de France, & ce pendant le temps & efpace de neuf ann^es confe- cutiues, auec defenfes k tous Libraires & Imprimeurs d'imprimer ou faire imprimer ledit Liure, fous pre- texte de deguifement, ou changement qu'ils y pour- roient faire, k peine de confifcation, & de I'amende port^e par ledit Priuilege.
I
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-53 249
Extract from the Royal License.
BY Grace and License of the King, given at Paris and signed " Cramoisy," permission is given to Sebastien Cramoisy, Book- seller under Oath in the University of Paris, and Printer in ordinary to the King and Queen, Citizen, former Alderman, and former Judge-Consul of this City of Paris, to print or cause to be printed a Book entitled. Relation de ce qui s' est pass^ en la Mission des Peres de la Compagnie de Jesus, au Pays de la Nouvelle France, ^s ann^es 1652, et 1653. envoy^e au R. P. Pro- vincial de la Province de France. And this during the time and space of nine consecutive years, forbidding all Booksellers and Printers to print or cause to be printed the said Book, under pretext of any disguise or change that they might make therein, under penalty of confiscation and of the fine provided by the said License.
250 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.40
Permiffion du R. P. Prouincial.
NOVS Francois Annat Prouincial de la Compagnie de Iesvs en la Prouince de France, auons accord^ au fieur Sebastien Cramoisy, Marchand Libraire Iur6 en 1' Vniuerfit6 de Paris, & Impriineiir ordinaire du Roy & de la Reyne, Bourgeois, ancien Echeuin & ancien luge Conful de cette Ville de Paris, I'impreffion des Rela- tions de la Nouuelle France. Fait ^ Paris ce lo. Feurier 1654.
Francois Annat.
1653] RELA TION OF 1652-33 251
Permission of the Reverend Father Provincial.
WE, FRANgois Annat, Provincial of the Society of Jesus in the Province of France, have granted to sieur Sebastien Cramoisy, Bookseller under Oath in the Univer- sity of Paris and Printer in ordinary to the King and Queen, Citizen, former Alderman, and former Judge- Consul of this City of Paris, the printing of the Rela- tions of New France. Done at Paris, this loth of February, 1654.
Francois Annat.
i
I
I
i
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: VOL XL
LXXXIII
For a bibliographical account of this document, see Vol. XXXVIIL
LXXXIV
In presenting the text of the Relation of 1652-53 (Paris, 1654), we follow the original Cramoisy edi- tion, from the copy in the Lenox Library. The prefatory epistle of the superior, Fran§ois le Mercier, is dated on p. 4, "A Quebec ce 29. d'Octobre 1653." The " Priuilege" is not dated; but the " Permiffion," signed by the Provincial, Fran9ois Annat, was " Fait ^ Paris ce 10. Feurier 1654." This annual is no. loi, in Harrisse's Notes.
Collation: Title, with verso blank, i leaf; "Table des Chapitres," pp. (2); prefatory epistle from Le Mercier to the Provincial, pp. 1-4; text (9 chaps.) pp. 5-184; " Extraict du Priuilege du Roy," with verso blank, i leaf; "Permiffion du R. P. Prouin- cial, ' ' with verso blank, i leaf. S^'gnatures : a in two, A-L in eights, M in two, N in four.
In the Harvard copy, line 17 of p. 132 ends with " de," and line 18 begins with the same word. This duplication is removed in the Lenox copy. On p. 159, line 15, of the Harvard copy, we find " fa-famille; " but in the Lenox copy it is corrected to " fa famille." The Harvard copy is, therefore, apparently, the earlier impression.
254 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: VOL. XL
Copies of this Relation have been sold or priced as follows: Harrassowitz (1882), no. 37, priced at 120 marks; O'Callaghan (1882), no. 1233, sold to Library of Parliament of Canada for $15, and had cost him a like amount; Barlow (1890), no. 1303, sold for $27.50; Dufosse, priced, at different times, between 1891- 1893, at 200 and 265 francs. Copies are to be found in the following libraries: Lenox, Harvard, Brown (private), Marfshall (private), Ayer (private), St. Mary's College (Montreal), Laval University (Quebec), Library of Parliament (Ottawa), British Museum, and Bibliotheque Nationale (Paris).
NOTES TO VOL. XL
(Figures in parentheses^ following number of note, refer to pages
of English text.)
1 (p. 25). — Martin, who largely avails himself in the translation of these biographical sketches, of the MS. of 1652, says that this correspondent was Father Leonard Garreau. Bressani here draws freely from the Relation of 1650 (vol. xxxv.).
2 (p. 37). — "An autograph note of Father Paul Ragueneau, appended to the precious MS. of 1652, and affirmed under oath, leaves us no doubt upon this point. This missionary states that he obtained, from most trustworthy witnesses, the following details. The Huron apostate, named Louis Honareenhax, finally avowed that he had killed Father Noel, out of hatred to the faith; for, since he and his family had embraced the faith, all kinds of misfortunes had befallen them." According to this note, the murderer and his entire family were objects of " the divine vengeance, of which the Iroquois were the instruments." — Martin's Bressany, p. 276, note.
3 (p. 79). — The Father here mentioned was Joseph du Peron (vol. xxii., note 3); he sailed from Quebec Nov. 10, 1653.
4 (p. log). — The commandant of Three Rivers at this time was Pierre Boucher (vol. xxviii., note 18). After the death of Duplessis, this post was commanded by Boucher and La Poterie, in irregular alternation, until September, 1667.
5 (p. III). — Platon: a corrupt form of plateau (vol. xix., note 4).
6 (p. 131). — Carr describes the process by which the Indians made bread from com (as also from beans, acorns, or other vege- table products) ; it was baked in hot ashes, or on broad stones placed over a fire. The ash-cake, johnny-cake, and pone, still used by whites, are survivals of the aboriginal cuisine. — " Food of Ameri- can Indians," in Amer. Antiq. Soc. Proc, vol. x., part i. pp. 181, 182.
7 (p. 143). — Pierre le Petit, a settler upon the Jesuit lands at Beauport, had a wife and two infant children. The boy, Joseph, born in July, 1647, was carried away by the Iroquois when barely three years old (vol. xxxv., p. 43). In the passage here cited, enter-
i
i
266 NOTES TO VOL. XL
renient is apparently a lapsus calami for enleuement, in the light of Poncet's mention of the child's death among the Iroquois.
8 (p. 191). — Interesting contemporary documents regarding »
Canadian affairs at this juncture are the letters of Marie de 1' Incarna- tion. Writing from Quebec, Aug. 30, 1653, she mentions Poncet's capture, and the siege of Three Rivers by the Iroquois; and adds: ' ' But the reverend Father Mercier, superior of missions, has so for- tified this place that the French people here are safe. . . . Those wretches have so devastated these districts that we have sometimes believed that we would be obliged to return to France. . . . Now the harvests, which are abundant, are being gathered. With that, too, aid is coming from France, which is a consolation to all the people ; for it would have been deplorable if matters had come to the extremity of abandoning the country. More than 2,000 French settlers, who have made great outlays in order to establish them- selves here, would be destitute, having no property elsewhere."
In another letter, — dated 1653 (month and day not g^ven), and addressed to the Ursuline superior at Tours, — Mother Marie makes a statement of especial interest, in view of the credit given by most historians to Frontenac for planning the erection of the fort which bore his name: " At present, a peace is being negotiated; and there is talk of sending Gospel laborers to establish a great mission at Ontario, which is ten days' journey above Montreal. It is intended to take soldiers there also, and to build a fort, in order to make the place secure. — because, as that post will be in the midst of several important tribes, it will be a resort for those who shall go to announce the Gospel."
The name " Ontario " was not, as far as is known, applied at that early date to any fixed settlement, whether of French or Indians ; but the lake — otherwise known as Lac des Iroquois, Lac St. Louis, and Lac Catarakoui — was already called Ontario (vol. xxi., p. 191 — its first mention by that name in the Relations), and would be first reached from Montreal at the place known as Catarakoui, where Fort Frontenac was erected (July, 1673), the site of the present city of J Kingston. ^„The name Ontario means, according to many writers, "beautiful lake." Upon this rendering, Hale re- marks: "This, doubtless, is the meaning conveyed to an Iroquois of the present day, unless he belongs to the Tuscarora tribe. But there can be no doubt that the termination to (otherwise written zyo, uo, eeyo, etc. ) had originally the sense, not of ' beautiful, ' but of 'great.' It is derived from the word wiyo, which signifies in the Seneca dialect 'good,' but in the Tuscarora 'great.' . . . On- tario is derived from the Huron yontare, or ontare, ' lake ' (Iroquois, oniatare), with this termination. It was not by any
f
NOTES TO VOL. XL 257
means the most beautiful of the lakes which they knew ; but . . . it was to both of them emphatically ' the great lake.' " — Iroquois Book of Rites (Phila., 1883), p. 176.
Another letter from Mother Marie, dated Sept. 6, 1653, written to the Ursuline superior at Dijon, gives a graphic^ account of the events related in our text. After mentioning the rumors, current in the summer, of Iroquois attacks, and the belief of the French colonists that these were false reports, she adds: " But the reverend Father superior of the missions — a man very zealous for the public welfare, who considers it necessary to remain continually upon his guard — labored energetically to secure the fortification of that set- tlement of Three Rivers. This was contrary to the opinion ^of the inhabitants of the place themselves, — who, devoted to their own personal affairs, had no inclination to quit these in order to labor on the fortress. Notwithstanding the hindrances encountered by the Father in his undertaking, the fortifications were completed, and all the inhabitants were protected from sudden attacks by the enemy. Hardly three weeks had passed, when 600 Iroquois (by whom we had been threatened) appeared, with the intention of putting all to fire and sword, without sparing age or sex, — which they would cer- tainly have accomplished, if the place had been in the condition in which they expected to find it. All those who lived in the Huron village, being informed of the enemy's approach, immediately took refuge within the fort, and consequently they, as well as the French, escaped slaughter. So true is it that the Iroquois intended to exterminate all and render themselves masters of the place, that they had brought their wives and children, and all their baggage, in order to establish themselves there." — See Richaudeau's edition of the Let ires, t. ii., pp. 11-25.
9 (p. 209). — Concerning the use of wampum, see vol. viii., note 70, and vol. xxvii., note 24; of tobacco on ceremonious occasions, vol. vi,, note 25.
10 (p. 221). — This passage, and a similar statement' by Marie de VlncamaXXon (note 8, ante), would indicate that the Jesuits had anticipated by twenty years Frontenac's plan of building a fort for the control of Lake Ontario.
1
'^THT ■!%
■K-^. '
r^:
i A-^-
<%
r'"^
f^^-f^
k_M
t t 1
.mi, fi I'lJiJ
f M
^i: ^
t..#^
'j*-^ ■*• ■
tM^*:,4:m
** « c f r i 1 * *.*
r 1 I S i « »-*-•.•«*
► K^-n '-,*'• '^ « 1 I t t i *i V*«5« ***» V* I « •
u*-.i*"« . ( t L t \ '.- ■ *,-"■• *«".« i^ 1 t € '• * ■■
'^ 'M 4
i^Vll i l.^J
I.-"1 '1
*1
K
M».
•^KjftjyK
V.V.'
Ml
r '5«?'" -fj -^ ;
Mil
m
ij*
#V'%"af('
I i I ft ■ I i.
i. lit- ti
»
cut
...i^.^-.^' ' |
>"■. *•? |
yl |
|
.^4.#%- |
5 #'if |
oil |
y |
, -)*. |
^■tfrnWrn^ |
y |
|
:f arm .. ^. |
r |
||
.-#.,^^' '^ " |
mJS " - |
||
"4 ■' |
jjjflf^M ji. |
at'*' |
|
f;||.m1 |
1 |
r
m ■#
.y^'^' .i^.
srv