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N

VOL. XX

THE JESUIT RELATIONS

AND

ALLIED DOCUMENTS

The edt:tion consists of SNJ-

n hundred and fifty sets
all numbered

No. LJ1J. . _
H1J1!

/f
.

I. ;ti If
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents

TRAVELS AND EXPLORATIONS
OF THE JESUIT MISSIONARIES
IN NEW FRANCE

1610- 1 79 1

THE ORIGINAL FRENCH, LATIN, AND ITAL-
IAN TEXTS, WITH ENGLISH TRANSLA-
TIONS AND NOTES; ILLUSTRATED BY
PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND FACSIMILES

EDITED BY

REUBEN GOLD THW AITES
Secretary of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin

Vol. XX
HURONS AND QUEBEC: 1640- 1641

CLEVELAND: ttbe 3!3urrowø 3!3rotbetø
<Iompan12, PUBLISHERS, M DCCCXCVIII

COPYRIGHT, 1898
BY
THE BURROWS BROTHERS Co

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Imþerial Press, Cleveland

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor

REUBEN GOLD THWAITES
r FINLOW ALEXANDER
PERCY FAVOR BICKNELL

WILLIAM FREDERIC GIESE
CATHARINE S. KELLOGG
CRAWFORD LINDSAY
WILLIAM PRICE
l HIRAM ALLEN SOBER
Assistant Editor EMMA HELEN BLAIR

Translators.

Bibliographical Adviser VICTOR HUGO PALTSITS

CONTENTS OF VOL. XX

PREFACE TO VOLUME XX 9
DOCUMENTS :-
XLI. Relation de ce qvi s'est passé en la Nov-
velIe France, en l' année 1640. [Chaps.
ix., x. of Part II., and postscript, com-
pleting the document.] Jerome Lale-
man!; Des Hurons, May 27 and August
3, 16 4 0 1 7
XLII. Lettre à son Frère. Charles Gar1lier;
Sainte-Marie aux Hurons, June 23,
16 4 1 88
XLIII. Excerpta Epistola ad R. P. Mutium
Vitelleschi, Præpositum Generalem
Societatis J esu, Romæ. Joa1l1leS de
Brébeuf; Kebec, August 20, 1641 . 102
XLIV. Relation de ce qvi s'est passé en la Nov-
velIe France, és années 1640. et 16 41.
[Introduction, and Chaps. i.- viii. of
Part I.] Paul Ie JeU1ze; Kebec and
Paris, undated . 10 7
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: VOLUME XX . . 3 01
NOTES . 3 0 5

ILLUSTRATION TO VOL. XX

1. Photographic facsimile of title-page, Relation
of 16 4 0 -4 1 . 110

PREFACE TO VOL. XX

Following is a synopsis of the documents contained
in the present volume:
XLI. The Relation of 1640 is the joint product of
Le Jeune, who wrote at Quebec (under date of Sep-
tember 10) the portion dealing with the field of the
lower St. Lawrence, and of Jerome Lalemant, who
wrote from the Huron country (under date of May
27) of the year's work in that far-away mission. In
Vol. XVIII., we gave the first ten chapters of Le
Jeune's narrative (Part I. of the document); in Vol.
XIX. this part was concluded, and eight chapters
were published of Lalemant's report (Part 11.). We
herewith give Chapters ix. and X., thus closing the
document.
In Chapter ix., Lalemant describes the founding of
the mission of St. Jean Baptiste. At first, the Fa-
thers are welcomed; but soon their troubles begin,-
the demons prompt the na ti ves to perform all their
customary superstitious rites more freely than ever,
and to drive out the strangers. A friendly chief calls
8. council at which the missionaries may refute the
slanders spread about them; fortunately, Joseph
Chihwatenhwa arrives in time to speak at this con-
clave, and his eloquence appeases the tumult for a
season. As usual, most of their converts are among
the dying; of these, is an Algonkin whose tribe are
wintering with the Hurons.

10

PREFACE TO VOL. XX

The final chapter of this Relation describes the
new mission to the Tobacco Nation, conducted by
Garnier and J ogues ; "this mission has been the
richest of all, since crosses and sufferings have been
most abundant therein." There the Fathers are per-
secuted on every side,-they can with difficulty obtain
sufficient food to support life; they are feared and
reviled by almost all the people; they are driven
from village to village, sometimes forced to leave a
house in the middle of the night; and are repeatedly
threatened with death. Many bands from the Neu-
tral Nation flee hither for refuge from the famine
that prevails in their own country, and many die of
hunger; but the Fathers succeed in baptizing nearly
all of these unfortunates, thus ensuring their future
blessedness. While thus wandering through the
villages of the Tobacco Nation, the missionaries re-
ceive an unexpected reinforcement in the good Chih-
watenhwa, who leaves his own family to God's care,
that he may join and aid the Fathers in their itiner-
ancy. While the smallpox epidemic was at its height,
these Jesuits were in excellent health; but, now that
it is decreasing, they are attacked by scurvy, but
fortunatel y recover.
Lalemant had closed his narrative May 27, and,
according to custom, sent it to his superior (Vimont)
by the spring fleet of canoes which proceeded down
the Ottawa River to the great fur market at Three
Rivers. He was able, this year, to send a postscript
dated August 3, which reached Quebec before the
Relation for the year had been forwarded to France
(in September). This letter relates the sad death of
Joseph Chihwatenhwa, who had been killed and
scalped by the Iroquois. This is a grief to the mis-

PREFACE TO VOL. XX

11

sionaries, but they console themselves by saying:
" Since the Saints have more power when they are
in heaven than here below on earth, we are bound
to believe that we have gained more than we have
lost by his death. .,
XLII. This is a letter written by Father Charles
Garnier, from the mission of Ste. 11arie, in the Huron
country, under date of June 23,1641, to one of his
brothers in France. After many pious exhortations
and reflections, and a reference to another brother,
" a prodigal, " the writer describes missionary work
among the savages, mentioning the frequent hard-
ships and dangers to which the Jesuits are exposed.
He closes with a request that his brother will send
him some medicinal seeds, with instructions as to
their use and culture.
XLIII. This is a letter by Brébeuf to the Father
General, written at Quebec, August 20, 1641. Only
fragments thereof have been preserved to us, and
these chiefly relative to the Huron mission. He
praises the peace, strict discipline, and order that pre-
vail in the missionary household, especially among
their donnés. The Huron church contains about
sixty members,-a number slowly increasing. The
two new missions - to the Algonkins and the Neutral
Nation -are mentioned; and the writer praises
Chaumonot's zeal, and his ability in learning the
native tongues.
XLIV. Although Vimont is now superior of the
Jesuit missions in New France, the Quebec portion
(Part I.) of the Relatz:on of 1640-41 is written by Le
Jeune, and the Huron narrative (Part II.) by Jerome
Lalemant,- the same as with the preceding Relatt'01l,

12

PREFACE TO VOL. XX

of 16 4 0 . In the present volume, we give the first
eight chapters of Part I., leaving the document to be
concluded in our V 01. XXI.
Le Jeune's narrative is without date; Lalemant's
was concluded May 16, 1641, and sent down by the
spring fleet to Quebec. Le Jeune was despatched to
Paris in the autumn, as an envoy from the governor
and colonists, on various matters touching their in-
terests, and took with him the MS. of the Relatt"on of
1 6 4 0 -41. In an introductory note, written in Paris,
he explains this circumstance. In the Relatz"on prop-
er, he begins by describing the work of the Ursulines;
they not only teach the French girls of the colony, but
have a little seminary of young Indian girls. One of
these has married, and was given her clothes and
furniture by the nuns; four others are nearly ready
to marry, and donations are needed for aiding them.
Two more nuns, who could furnish some funds for
the support of the convent, would be welcomed. Ex-
tracts from the letters of the nuns are given, showing
the intelligence, amiability, and piety that character-
ize these Indian girls. They are quite weaned from
savage customs, and even from their own mothers.
Madame de la Peltrie sustains this enterprise with
undiminished ardor, and does all she can for the
Indian families as well.
Le Jeune then narrates the progress of affairs at
St. Joseph de Sillery, the new settlement of Indian
converts. The Christians are zealous, and resolve
(unknown to the Fathers) that any Indian in this
village who commits a fault, however slight, shall be
punished by imprisonment and fasting. Several
instances are given of their enforcement of this rule,-
sending the offender to Quebec, with a request to the

PREFACE TO VOL. XX

13

governor that he be placed in a dungeon. Some,
indeed, are so eager to defend the faith before unbe-
lievers, that they provoke the latter to rage; and the
Fathers find it necessary to recommend to them more
discretion and mildness. The Algonkins of the Island
endeavor to beguile these Christians away from St.
Joseph, but they refuse to leave the place. One
young woman is full of grief because she had chosen
marriage, instead of becoming a nun. A man, who
has not yet received instruction, abandons the use of
tobacco, and the" eat-all" feasts and other supersti-
tions; he also begins to preach to his countrymen that
they must believe in God and listen to the mission-
aries. He induces the Tadoussac Indians to send to
Quebec for Jesuit teachers; and when one is sent
there, "this good Neophyte," armed with a pistol,
stands guard over the Father when he goes for a
walk, lest some harm should befall him. He is, after
a time, duly instructed and baptized; and Charles
Meiachkawat becomes a notable and influential
Christian.
Le Jeune proceeds to give detailed accounts of
various conversions, baptisms, and pious acts among
the neophytes both at Sillery and Three Rivers.
One of these, named Achilles, " was very haughty
before his baptism, but God has changed him into a
little lamb." He refuses to leave St. Joseph with
:Makheabichtichiou,- a quasi convert, mentioned in
earlier Relations; the latter "is wretchedly slain
in the country of the Abnaquiois, and his family
is ruined." Another notable convert is a Huron,
who has come down to Quebec with Brébeuf and Du
Peron; he is baptized at Sillery with great ceremony,
as Charles Sondatsaa. Montmagny, who acts as his

14

PREFACE TO VOL. XX

sponsor, presents to him a handsome arquebus, and
exhorts him to spread the faith among his country-
men; while the Sillery converts give him powder to
use with his gun. He is very grateful, and avers
that he will never give up the faith he has professed.
" We have nothing," he says, "so precious as our
porcelain collars; if I were to see a score of them
glittering before me, to entice me into sin, I would
turn away my eyes, and my heart would loathe them.
In our Villages, we value highly certain garments
and robes; if what we call beauty should present me
with one of these robes, in order to corrupt me, I
would say to her, ' If the God whom I adore wishes
me to use these garments, he will cause me to find
them by other ways,-sin is banished from my heart;
it must never reënter there.' "
The narrator, commenting on the influence of these
converts, says: "Indeed, I have observed that one
truly Christian Savage, who is zealous for the faith,
accomplishes more among his people than do three
Jesuits." He next describes the good work that the
Hospital nuns are performing, at their house near
Sillery. They not only aid the savages in illness,
but through this are doing much to keep them seden-
tary, as the missionaries desire. Aid has generously
been given to the hospital by a lady of rank in
France, by the Hundred Associates, and by another
friend. The Sisters gather in old persons who have
been abandoned by the savages; they care for all
who are sick, both French and Indians; they succor
many needy poor; and even instruct several children
who are too far away to go to the Ursulines at Que-
bec. They have cared for sixty-eight sick persons
during the past year, of whom only four have died,

PREFACE TO VOL. XX

15

and seven have been baptized. The Indians show in
sickness astonishing patience and gentleness, and
often most pious devotion. The Sillery savages are
in many w'ays under the care of the nuns; and vari-
ous instances of their simplicity and naïveté are
recounted. Accustomed to divide with one another
their food, they also think it necessary to share the
medicines prescribed,- all impartially drinking from
the cup allotted to one. A portrait of the Duchess
d' Aiguillon is sent to the hospital, and the women
and children all imitate the posture of pra yer in
which the lady is depicted; then, bowing low to her
picture, they kiss it " with more simplicity and can-
dor than grace. It is not the custom of the savages
to salute one another with a kiss; but as :Madame de
la Peltrie often em braces and kisses these poor girls
on meeting them, these good creatures imagine that
they must imitate her, in order to do right." The
death of one of the nuns is recorded-Mother de
Sainte Marie, " a dear dove," whose health has been
frail during all her stay in Canada; she dies (March
5) apparently from consumption, but her physician
states that " she had three mortal diseases."
The writer proceeds to relate the history of the
mission at Three Rivers, which" has been beaten
this year by more kinds of winds than pilots and
mariners have marked on their wind roses or on their
charts. " Three Rivers is a rendezvous for all the
tribes of the upper St. Lawrence and Ottawa region,
who are not only often ignorant of the missionaries and
their designs, but are usually involved in jealousies
and quarrels with one another. They also practice
the pagan superstitions and customs that the Fathers
have labored to suppress among their neophytes, and

16

PREFACE TO VOL. XX

thus greatly disturb the little church at this place.
Father Buteux, in attempting to stop one of these
heathen rites, is roughly treated, and threatened with
death. The church now numbers about eighty per-
sons, many of whom console the Fathers by their
steadfastness in the truth. On the whole, " in spite
of the attacks of the Devil, the Unbelievers are open-
ing their eyes by degrees, so that they are becoming
softened and tamed, giving us hopes of their con-
version. ' ,
A beginning is made in reaching the Attikalnègues,
a peaceful tribe, who occasionally" make their ap-
pearance like flashes of lightning" at Three Rivers,
for trading. Some of these Indians are baptized,
and thus carry news of the faith to their tribesmen.
Detailed accounts are given of various baptisms at
Three Rivers; among these is Pieskars (Piescaret), a
chief of the Island tribe, a man of much influence
and ability.

The following have recently rendered valuable
assistance to the editor, in addition to those already
men tioned: Mgr. C. A. Marois, vicar-general of the
archdiocese of Quebec; Rev. B. Th. Garneau, secre-
tary to the archbishop of Quebec; Rev. A. Lalle-
mand, S.J., Société des Bollandistes, Brussels, Bel-
gium; Rev. Dr. S. H. Frisbee, S.]., of Woodstock
College, Woodstock, }Vld.; Rev. T. Charaux, S.].,
Sault-au-Récollet, P. Q.; Rev. C. M. Widman, S.].,
of St. Charles College, Grand Coteau, La.; Hon.
John Russell Young, librarian of Congress, Washing-
ton; and Richard R. Elliott, Esq., Detroit.
R. G. T.

MADISON, WIS., April. 1898.

XLI (concluded)

RELATION OF 1640

PARIS: SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, 1641

Chaps. ix., x. of Part II., completing the document. The
earlier portions of this document will be found in Volumes
XVIII. and XIX.

18

LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

[145J CHAPITRE IX.

DE LA MISSION DE SAINCT lEAN BAPTISTE AUX
ARENDARONONS.

L ES Arendaronons font vne des quatre nations qui
compofent ceux qu'à proprement parler on
nomme Hurons: elle eft la plus Orientale de
toutes, & eft celle qui la premiere a découuert les
Francois, & à qui en fuite appartenoit la traitte felon
les loix du pays. I1s en pouuoient iouïr feuls, neant-
moins ils trouuerent bon d'en faire part aux autres
[14 6 J nations, fe retenant toutefois plus particuliere-
ment la qualité de nos aliez, & fe portans en cette
confideration à la proteétion des François, lors que
quelque malheur eft arriué. C' eft où feu monfieur
de Champlain s'arrefta plus long temps au voyage
qu'il fit icy haut, i1 y a enuiron 22. ans, & où fa
reputation vit encore dans l'efprit de ces peuples
barbares, qui honorent mefme apres tant d'années
plufieurs belles vertus qu'ils admiroient en luy, &
particulierement fa chafteté & continence enuers les
femmes. Pleuft a Dieu que tous les François qui
les premiers font venus en ces contrées luy euffent
efté femblables: nous n'en rougirions pas fi fouuent
aupres de nos Sauuages, qui nous obieétent les impu-
dicitez & les desbauches de plufieurs, comme fi c'eftoit
vne marque infaillible que ce dont nous les menaçons
de renfer ne foient rien que des fables, puis que ces
premiers François qu'ils ont cogneu n'en auoient
point de crainte.

1640-41]

RELA TION OF I640

19

[145J CHAPTER IX.

OF THE MISSION OF' SAINT JEAN BAPTISTE TO THE
ARENDARONONS.

T HE Arendaronons are one of the four nations
which compose those whom, properly speaking,
we call Hurons; it is the most Eastern nation of
all, and is the one which first encountered the French,
and to which, in consequence, the trade belonged,
according to the laws of the country. They could
enjoy this alone; nevertheless, they found it good to
share it with the other [146J nations,-retaining for
themselves, however, more especially the character
of our allies; and on this account inclining to protect
the French when some disaster has happened. This
is where the late monsieur de Champlain stopped
longest on the voyage that he made up here, about
22 years ago; and where his reputation still lives in
the minds of these barbarous peoples,-who honor,
even after so many years, many excellent virtues
which they admired in him, and in particular his
chastity and continence with respect to the women.
Would to God that all the French who first came to
these regions had been like him! we would not so
often blush for them in the presence of our Savages,
who oppose to us the immodesties and the debauches
of several, as if this were an infallible proof, that
what we threaten them with, concerning hell, is
nothing but fables,- inasmuch as those first French-
men whom they knew had no fear thereof.

20

LES RELA TIONS DES jÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

Cette alliance fi particuliere que ces peuples Aren-
daronons ont auec les François no us auoit fouuent
donné la penfée [147J de leur aller communiquer les
richeffes de l'Euangile, mais Ie deffaut de langue
nous auoit toufiours empefché de pouffer iufques là,
nous eftant trouuez engagez de premier abord à
noftre premiere demeure, qui eftoit fituée à l'autre
extremité du pays toute oppofée.
Cette année nous eftant trouuez affez forts pour
cette entreprife, nous yauons commencé vne million,
qui a eu dans fon reffort trois bourgs: de S. lean
Baptifte, de S. loachim, & de Sainéte Elizabeth. Les
Peres Antoine Daniel & Simon Ie Moine en ont eu Ie
foin.
Ils firent leur premiere demeure & la plus ordinaire
dans Ie bourg plus peuplé de S. lean Baptifte, yayant
plus à trauailler: D' abord ils expoferent en plein
confeil Ie deffein de leur venuë, qui fut approuué
& receu vniuerfellement de tout Ie monde: on ne
parloit rien que de croire & d'embraffer la Foy, les
cabanes leur eftoient ouuertes, & mefme à l'enuy l'vn
de l'autr[eJ: ces bonnes gens les venoient inuiter,
& leur prefentoient auec vn cæur d'amy toutes les
douceurs dont ils peurent s'imaginer.
[148] La maladie qui auoit defia commencé dans ce
bourg, fe rengregea apres l'arriuée de nos Peres:
l'affeétion & la confiance de ces pauures barbares fem-
bloit en mefme temps f'accroiftre en leur endroit: vn
ou deux grains de raifins fecs, plein Ie paulme de la
main d'eau à demy fucrée, l'affiftance qu'on tafchoit
de donner aux malades foit par confeil, foit allant
demander l'aumofne dans les cabanes des plus riches
pour ceux qui eftoient dans la pauureté, c'eftoient

1640-41]

RELATION OF I640

21

This so special alliance which these Arendaronon
peoples have with the French had often given us the
thought [147J of going to impart to them the riches
of the Gospel; but our deficiency in the language
had always prevented us from advancing to that
point,- having found ourselves occupied from the
outset in our first abiding place, which was situated
at the other end of the country, quite opposite to
these.
This year, having found ourselves strong enough
for this enterprise, we began a mission there, which
has had three villages in its department,- St. Jean
Baptiste,l St. Joachim, and Sainte Elizabeth. 2 Fa-
thers Antoine Daniel and Simon Ie Moine have had
the care of them.
They made their chief and most usual abode in
the more populous village of St. Jean Baptiste, hav-
ing most work to do there. At the first, they set
forth in open council the purpose of their coming,
which was approved and universally received by
everyone: people spoke of nothing but believing,
and embracing the Faith; the cabins were open to
them, and even emulously so: these good people
came to invite them, and offered them with a friend-
ly heart all the kindnesses they could imagine.
[148J The disease,-which had already begun in this
village, increased after the arrival of our Fathers:
the affection and the confidence of these poor barba-
rians seemed at the same time to increase toward
them; one or two raisins, the palm of the hand full
of half-sweetened water, the assistance which they
tried to give the sick, either by counselor by going
to ask alms in the cabins of the more wealthy for
those who were in poverty ,- these were the charms

22

LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

des charmes d'vne charité qui iamais n' auoit efié veuë
dans ces bourgs.
Cependant on faifoit doucement les affaires de
Dieu, les enfans eftoient baptifez lors qu' on les
iugeoit en danger, les adultes receuoient à cæur
ouuert les paroles du ciel, & à peine s'en trouuoit-il
qui dans Ie peril de la mort ne voulut fonger au falut
de fon ame: les parens mefmes lors qu'ils auoient
quelque malade venoient en aduertir nos Peres.
Quelques effects de la bonté de Dieu fur ces
pauures barbares leur redoublerent encore l'affeétion
qu'ils auoient pour nous. Vn ieune homme des plus
grands [149] chaffeurs & guerriers du pays, & des
mieux aparentez de tout ce bourg, fuft mis fi bas par
la maladie qu'on defefperoit entierement de luy; il
fuft inftruit & baptifé par vn de nos Peres, qui fit là
vne courfe fur la fin du mois de Septembre: peu
apres il retourne en fanté contre toute efperance:
mais il demeure aueugle, & il luy refie vne fluxion
infuportable qui luy gafie les yeux. Vn mois apres
nos deux miffionnaires efiant arriuez en ce bourg vifi-
terent ce Neophyte, il benift Dieu d'efire guery,
mais il deplore fa mifere d' auoir perdu la veuë, fans
laquelle il ne peut plus aymer la vie: on l'exhorte à
efperer en Dieu à qui rien n'eft impoffible; il pro-
tefte qu'il croit, en preuue de fa croyance i1 fe defait
d'vne tortuë, qui eft comme Ie luth & Ie viol on de
leur concerts, dont il fe feruoit a la chaffe pour inuo-
quer l'affifiance de fon demon: on luy applique fur
les yeux de l'eau benifie auec vn figne de croix. pro-
ferant ces paroles: Celuy que tu as pris pour maiftre,
Nofire Seigneur, Ie Pere, Ie Fils, & Ie S. Efprit te
gueriffe: II pleufi à Dieu benir fa Foy, la fluxion

1640-41]

RELA TION OF I640

23

of a charity which had never been seen In these
villages.
Meanwhile, the affairs of God were quietly man-
aged; the children were baptized when they were
considered in danger; the adults received with open
heart the words of heaven, and hardly \vas one found
who in the peril of death would not think of the sal-
vation of his soul; even the relatives, when they had
some sick patient, would come to notify our Fathers
thereof.
Some effects of God's goodness over these poor
barbarians increased still more their affection for us.
A young man,-one of the greatest [149J hunters
and warriors in the country, and one of the best
connected in all this village,- was brought so low
by the disease that they wholly despaired of him; he
was instructed and baptized by one of our Fathers,
who made a journey thither toward the end of the
month of September. Shortly after, he returns to
health, contrary to all hope; but he remains blind,
and there stays with him an intolerable inflammation
which spoils his eyes. A month later, our two mis-
sionaries, having arrived in this village, visited this
Neophyte: he blesses God that he is cured, but he
bewails his misery for having lost his sight, without
which he can no longer love life. They exhort him
to hope in God, with whom nothing is impossible; he
protests that he believes; in proof of his belief, he
gives up a tortoise shell,- which is, as it were, the
lute and the violin of their concerts,-which he used
in hunting, in order to invoke the aid of his demon. 8
They apply to his eyes some holy water, with a sign
of the cross, uttering these words: ":May he whom
you have taken for master, Our Lord,-the Father,

24

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

Ie [lsOJ diffippe, la douleur ceffe, i1 n'y a plus d'aueu-
glement, la veuë retourne en fon entier. 11 luy
reftoit encore quelques fifiules fur Ie vifage & fur Ie
corps: on luy laiffa quelque peu de cette eau benifie
pour s'en feruir de temps en temps, inuoquant Noftre
Seigneur, l'efpace de neuf iours, en l'honneur des
neuf chæurs des Anges, auec promeffe d'en venir
rendre grace à Dieu dans la Chappelle que nos Peres
auoient dreffé dans la cabane du principal capitaine
de ce bourg chez lequel ils eftoient logez. Le ciel
continua fes faueurs fur ce pauure ieune homme, il
Ie trouua du tout guary auant Ie temps, & pour n' en
eftre pas ingrat il fit vn feftin folemnel, où Ie monde
eftant affemblé, i1 protefta publiquement qu'il tenoit
du Dieu des croyans la veuë, la fanté, & la vie. Ce
ieune homme s'appelle Ononrouten, & fut nommé
Charles en fon baptefme.
Les faueurs de Dieu n' en demeurent pas là; vne
fienne petite fille tomba malade & en danger de mort,
pour vn certain charbon qui la mangeoit iufques aux
os: il prie qu'on la baptife, on ne peut pas [15 1 J luy
refufer, elle fe trouue apres fon baptefme entierement
guerie.
Vne autre femme de la mefme cabane eftoit fuffo-
quée d'vne cholique furieufe qui luy fit rendre par
des vomiffemens eftranges tout ce qu'elle auoit dans
Ie corps: apres cela elle perdit Ie fentiment, & defia
fes parens la comptoient pour morte. Nos Peres y
accoururent & luy mirent deuant les yeux vne image
de N oftre Seigneur; on eft tout eftonné que les fens
luy reuiennent, elle parle & entend, on la baptife
auec toute forte de fatisfaétion. Apres cela on luy
donne vn peu d'eau benifte, & on l'exhorte à mettre

1640-41]

Rh'LA TION OF I640

25

the Son, and the Holy Ghost, cure you." It pleased
God to bless his Faith; the inflammation [150J is scat-
tered, the pain ceases, there is no more blindness,
sight returns entire. There still remained to him
some sores on the face and on the body; they left with
him a little of that holy water to use from time to
time,-invoking Our Lord for the space of nine days,
in honor of the nine choirs of Angels,- with the
promise to come and render thanks to God in the
Chapel which our Fathers had erected in the cabin of
the principal captain of that village, with whom they
were lodged. Heayen continued its favors upon this
poor young man; he found himself altogether cured
before the time, and, in order not to be thankless, he
made a solemn feast, at which, the company being
assembled, he openly declared that he had from the
God of the believers his sight, his health, and his
life. This young man is called Ononrouten, and he
was named Charles at his baptism.
The favors of God do not stop there. A little girl
of his fell sick, and into danger of death, from a cer-
tain carbuncle which was consuming her even to the
bone; he begs them to baptize her - they cannot
[15 1 J refuse him; after her baptism she finds herself
entirely cured.
Another woman of the same cabin was oppressed
by a violent colic, which made her yield up, by
strange vomitings, everything that she had in her
body: after that, she lost feeling, and her kinsmen
already accounted her dead. Our Fathers hastened
thither, and put before her eyes an image of Our
Lord; they are utterly astonished that her senses
come back to her,-she speaks and hears; they bap-
tize her with entire satisfaction. After that, they

26

LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

fa con fiance en Dieu. Le lendemain elle eft fur pied,
elle trauaille comme auparauant, & dit tout haut à
tout Ie monde que c'efi Dieu feul qui l'a guerie.
Elle fut nommée Marie en fon baptifme, fon nom
Huron eft Atatafé,
Chez l'hofte où logeoient nos Peres, deux y receu-
rent vne femblable guerifon, & pour aétion de grace
les parens firent deux feftins publics à la Chreftienté,
où au lieu de leurs chanfons de guerre ou de fonges,
Ie Pater nofler en Huron y [152] fut chanté, & quel-
ques autres prieres, qui rauirent en admiration toute
l'affiftance. Vne voix Françoife qui a de l'harmonie
l'emporte au deffus de tous leurs heurlemens.
Quelques autres coups du ciel femblables à ceux
cy, retentirent bien haut par toutes les cabanes, où
en fuitte nos Peres eftoient receus & veus d'vn reil
qui n'auoit du tout rien de Sauuage.
La maladie ne laiffe pas d'y faire fes rauages, tout
ce beau & grand bourg deuient vn hofpital funefte.
C' euft efté bien merueille fi les puiffances de I' en-
fer n'euffent point trauerfé les affaires de Dieu: i1
faut bien que Ie diable deffende fon royaume qu'il a
poffedé de tout temps, & ce n'eft pas fans refiftance
qu'il en doit eftre expu1fé.
Vn homme de ce mefme bourg eftoit durant tout
ce temps là occupé à la pefche, vn demon s'apparut
à luy fous la fonne d'vn beau & grand ieune homme:
Ne crains point, dit cet efprit fuperbe, ie suis Ie
maifire de la terre que vous autres Hurons honorez
fous Ie nom de loufkeha, c'eft moy que les François
[153] appellent mal à propos lefus, mais ils ne me
cognoiffent pas. I'ay pitié de voftre pays que i'ay
pris foubs m'a proteétion, ie te viens enfeigner & les

1640-41]

RELA TION OF z640

27

give her a little holy water, and they exhort her to
put her trust in God. The next day she is on her
feet,- she works as before, and says aloud to every
one that it is God alone who has cured her. She was
named Marie at her baptism; her Huron name is
Atatasé.
With the host with whom our Fathers lodged, two
received a similar cure, and by way of thanksgiving
the parents made two public feasts in the Christian
sty le,- at which, instead of their war songs or songs
of dreams, the Pater noster in Huron [152] was sung,
and some other prayers, which carried away all those
present, in admiration. A French voice with har-
mony in it excels all their howlings.
Some other acts of heaven, similar to these, were
loudly sounded through all the cabins,- where, in
consequence, our Fathers were received and regarded
with an eye which had no Savage aspect whatever.
The disease, nevertheless, makes its ravages there;
this entire village, flourishing and large, is becoming
a woeful hospital.
It would have been a wonder indeed, if the powers
of hell had not crossed the affairs of God; the devil
must needs defend his kingdom which he has pos-
sessed from all time, and it is not without resistance
that he is to be expelled from it.
A man of this same village was, during all that time,
engaged in fishing; a demon appeared to him under
the form of a tall and handsome young man. "Fear
not, ., said this haughty spirit; "I am the master of
the earth, whom you Hurons honor under the name
of Iouskeha;4 I am the one whom the French [153]
wrongly call Jesus, but they do not know me. I have
pity on your country, which I have taken under my

28

LES RELATIONS DES/ÉSUITES

[V OL. 20

caufes & les remedes de vofire mal-heur: ce font les
efirangers qui feuls en font la caufe; ils courent
main tenant deux à deux par tout Ie pays auec deffein
de refpandre Ie mal par tout: ils n'en demeureront
pas là, apres cette verole qui maintenant depeuple
vos cabanes, fuiurõt de certaines choliques qui en
moins de trois iours emporteront tous ceux que cette
maladie n'aura pas enleué. Vous pouuez preuenir ce
mal-heur; chaffez de vofire bourg les deux robes
noires qui y font. Pour ceux qui maintenant font
attaquez de la verole, ie veux que tu me ferue à les
guerir: fais quantité d'vne telle eau, cours au plufiofi
au bourg, & dis aux anciens qu'ils portent & difiri-
buent cette potion pendant toute la nuid, & alors
toute la ieuneffe & les Capitaines de guerre iront fai-
fant les furieux par toutes les cabanes: mais ie veux
qu'on continuë iufques à l'aube du iour: apres cela
Ie demon dif paroifi.
[154] Ce pauure homme accourt incontinent au
bourg, donne aduis de tout ce qu'il fçait: là deffus
les Anciens affemblent deux & trois fois Ie confeil:
ces ceremonies diaboliques font receuës auec appro-
bation; fur Ie foir on n'entend par toutes les ruës que
Ie cry des Capitaines, qui exhortent la ieuneffe à faire
brauement les fols. Ce fut alors que cét efprit de
trouble triompha dans fon regne: Comme nos mif-
fionnaires efioient logez dans la cabane du principal
Capitaine, ce fut là que commença le premier aéte de
cette comedie, i1 falut que nos Peres rompiffent leur
petite retraitte pour la fainde Meffe, afin de preue-
nir ce qu'euffent fait ces fols: car on iuge Ie plus
vaillant celuy qui fait mieux l'enragé. Ce n'efioient
qu'heurlemens par tout, rien que trouble & folie:

1640-41]

RELA TION OF z640

29

protection; I come to teach you both the reasons and
the remedies for your misfortune. It is the stran-
gers who alone are the cause of it; they now travel
two by two throughout the country, with the design
of spreading the disease everywhere. They will not
stop with that; after this smallpox which now depop-
ulates your cabins, there will follow certain colics
which in less than three days will carry off all those
whom this disease may not have removed. You can
prevent this misfortune; drive out from your village
the two black gowns who are there. As for those
who are now attacked by the smallpox, I wish you to
serve me in curing them; prepare a quantity of such
a water, run as fast as possible to the village, and
tell the elders to carry and distribute this potion dur-
ing the whole night. Then all the youth and the
war Captains will go acting like madmen through all
the cabins; but I wish them to continue even till the
dawn of day,- after that, the demon disappears."
[154] This poor man straightway hastens to the
village, and gives warning of all that he knows;
thereupon the Elders twice and thrice assemble the
council. These diabolical ceremonies are received
with approbation; toward evening, one hears in all
the streets nothing but the shout of the Captains, who
exhort the youth to act bravely as madmen. Then it
was that this spirit of trouble triumphed in his reign.
As our missionaries were lodged in the cabin of the
principal Captain, it was there that the first act of this
comedy began; our Fathers were obliged to break up
their little retreat for the holy Mass, to the end of
preventing what these mad fellows would have done,
for he is judged the most valiant who best acts the
maniac. Everywhere were heard only howlings,-

30

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

mais la rigueur du froid f'acroifi, ces mafcarades fe
retirent vn peu apres my-nuiét, qui fut caufe que ces
nouueaux Apothiquaires (c'efioient fix des Anciens
qui portoient en filence vne grande chaudiere pleine
de cette eau diabolique, dont ils faifoient boire tous
les malades.) Ces medecins [155] d'enfer cefferent
de faire leur ronde, pource que les folies des ieunes
gens auoient ceffé. La nuiét du lendemain il falut
fatisfaire au diable, & recommencer tout de nouueau.
Cette nuiét fut celIe de Noel, durant laquelle Ie
demon fut obey punétuellement.
En fuite de cela ce Prince de luxure commanda
des danfes & des fefiins infames durant tous ces
fainéts iours confacrez à la memoire du petit IE S V S,
Roy de pureté, & de fon cher difciple Ie bien aimé
pour fa virginité.
Voila les ames de ces pauures barbares poffedées
du demon, les ver[i]tez de nofire Foy ne trouuent
plus paffage en leur efprit, leur affeétion pour nous
fe change en haine. Cét efprit de menfonge qu'ils
honorent comme Ie maifire de leur terre les ayant
affeurez que nous feuls efiions la caufe de leur ruine,
les portes des cabanes commencêt à eftre fermées à
nos Peres, on- redoute leur veuë, comme fi vn feul de
leurs regards faifoit mourir tous les enfans, on les a
en horreur, & à peine trouuent-ils quelqu'vn qu[i les
fup ]porte.
[156] De iour en iour les efprits f' aigriffent dauan-
tage, les faux bruits qui venoient des nations voifines
augmentent leurs foupçons, efiant receus pour veri-
tables: & de certains fuppofis du diable confirmoient
toutes ces medifances, affeurant auoir veu en fonge
des robes noires, maintenant hors la paliffade du

1640-41]

RELA TION OF I640

31

nothing but agitation and madness; but the rigor of
the cold increases,-these masqueraders withdraw a
little after midnight. On that account these new
Apothecaries (they were six of the Elders who bore
in silence a great kettle full of that diabolical water,
whereof they made all the sick people drink), these
physicians [155] of hell, ceased to make their round,
because the follies of the young men had ceased. The
morrow night it was necessary to satisfy the devil,
and begin again, quite afresh. This night was that
of Christmas, during which the demon was punctu-
ally obeyed.
In consequence thereof, this Prince of wantonness
ordered infamous dances and feasts during all those
holy days, consecrated to the memory of the infant
J E S US, King of purity, and of his dear disciple, the
well- beloved for his virginity.
Behold, then, the souls of these poor barbarians
possessed by the demon; the truths of our Faith no
longer find access to their mind; their affection for
us is changed into hatred. This spirit of deceit,
whom they honor as the master of their land, having
assured them that we alone were the cause of their
ruin, the doors of the cabins begin to be closed to our
Fathers; the sight of them is dreaded, as if a single
one of their looks caused all the children to die; they
are held in abomination, and they hardly find any
one who tolerates them.
[156] From day to day, their minds become further
embittered; the false reports which came from the
neighboring nations augment their suspicions, being
received as true; and certain tools of the devil con-
firmed all these slanders,- declaring that they had
seen black gowns in a dream, -now without the

32

LES RELA l'IONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

bourg, ores fur Ie bord du lac; qui déueloppoient de
certains liures d'où fortoiet des efteincelles de feu
qui fe refpandoient par tout, & fans doute caufoient
cette maladie peftilentielle.
II n'y a pas iufques dans Ia cabane où nos deux
miffionnaires fe retiroient qu' on ne Ies regarde de
mauuais æil, que nuiét & iour on leur obieéte Ies
bruits qui courent d' eux, que tout Ie monde, & prin-
cipalement vne megere, qui eft Ia maiftreffe de Ia
maifon, ne les traitte de pis en pis, afin de Ies obliger
de fortir au pluftoft: leur hofte eft feul qui Ies fup-
porte: mais il les prie en amy de fe tenir c10s &
couuerts pour la crainte qu'il a de quelque mauuais
coup.
Vn fi grand & fi fubit changement n'eft pas dificile
à comprendre à qui fongera [157] que Ie Sauueur du
monde fut blaf phemé de tous les I uifs, & traitté
comme vn mal-faiéteur, qui peu de iours auparauant
l'auoient receu dedans leur ville, & auoient recogneu
vne partie de fes grandeurs.
Au refte c' eft vne chofe efirange que mefme ceux
qui peu auparauant auoient receu leur guerifon du
ciel, & qui n'ofoient pas Ie nier, fe refroidiffent dans
la Fay apres toutes ces menées de fatan, & perdent
les idées de Dieu & des obligations qu'ils ont en fa
bonté. Comme vn de nos Peres en faifoit vn iour des
reproches à celuy qui auoit fi heureufement recouuré
la veuë par la force de l'eau benifie: Mais, luy dit
ce barbare, comment luy ay-ie vne fi grande obliga-
tion? que luy a-il coufié à me rendre la veuë? tu ne
t'es feruy que d'eau froide: ce n'eft pas là vn remede
bien difficile. C'efi pour cela mal heureux, Iuy dit-
on que tu deurois admirer fon pouuoir, & aimer fa

1640-41]

RELA TION OF z640

33

palisade of the village, now on the shore of the
lake,-who were unfolding certain books, whence
issued sparks of fire which spread everywhere, and
no doubt caused this pestilential disease.
Even in the cabin whither our two missionaries
retreated, they are looked upon with an evil eye;
night and day they are confronted with the rumors
which are current about them. Everyone, and
especially a Megera who is the mistress of the house,
treats them worse and worse, in order to oblige them
to leave as soon as possible; their host is the only
one who tolerates them, but he begs them, as a
friend, to remain shut in and concealed, because of
the dread which he feels, of some evil deed.
So great and sudden a change is not difficult to
understand, if one will reflect [157] that the Savior
of the world was blasphemed by all the Jews, and
treated like a malefactor,- although a few days
before they had received him in their city, and had
acknowledged a part of his dignities.
Howbeit, it is a strange thing that even those who
shortly before had received their cure from heaven,
and who dared not deny it, grow cold in the Faith
after all these intrigues of satan, and lose their ideas
of God and of the obligations which they are under
to his goodness. vVhen one of our Fathers was one
day reproaching with this the man who had so hap-
pily recovered sight by the virtue of holy water, this
barbarian said to him: " But how am I so greatly
obliged to him? what did it cost him to restore my
sight ? You used nothing but cold water: that is not
a very difficult remedy to obtain. " "That, wretched
man," he says to him, " is why you ought to admire
his power and love his goodness, which has rendered

34

LES Rl'..'LA TIO.NS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

bonté, qui t'a rendu fi facile ta guerifon, fans te com-
mãder comme font vos demons, qui toutefois font
impuiffans, des cerfs, des chiens & des ours en facri-
flce. [158J Sçache donc que s'il a tant de pouuoir à
te faire du bien, i1 n'en aura pas moins à te chafiier,
fi tu ne Ie fers fuiuant ta promeffe. A cela point de
repartie: vn efprit dont Ie diable a repris poffeffion,
n'eft plus capable d'eftimer les grandeurs de Dieu,
qu'auparauant il adoroit.
Nonobftant tout cela nos miffionnaires fuiuent leur
pointe Atironta leur hofte qui les ayme, & qui
portant Ie nom du premier Capitaine Huron qui ait
rencontré les François, en a auffi la charge & Ie pou-
uoir; les affifte de tout ce qu'il peut pour affembler
vn confeil des Anciens du bourg, où ils puiffent
publiquement faire paroiftre leur innocence, & refuter
ces calomnies,
Par vn heureux rencontre Iofeph Chihouatenhoua,
cét excellent Chreftien dont nous auons parlé au
chapitre precedent, arriue en ce mefme bourg pour
affifter nos Peres en ce dont ils voudront fe feruir de
luy pour la publication de l'Euangile: Ie confeil fe
tient, Ie P. Antoine Daniel refute les calomniateurs,
& parle d'vn accent fi fort, que pas vn ne luy ofe ref-
pondre. Iofeph Chihouatenhoua [159J prend apres
la parole, & paffe plus de deux heures entieres à
parler des In yfteres de noftre Foy. Ces anciens
Capitaines fe trouuent tout furpris de voir vn ieune
homme parler en maiftre vn langage nouueau: ils ne
peuuent que l'admirer, ils approuuent les veritez de
noftre Foy, tous les commandemens de Dieu leur
femblent raifonnables: en vn mot ils fe condamnent
eux-mefmes, & d'aucuns f'écrioient qu'il faudroit

1640-41]

RELA TION OF z640

35

your cure so easy, without commanding you - as do
your demons, who nevertheless are impotent-the
sacrifice of stags, dogs, and bears. [158] Know,
then, that if he has so much power to do you good,
he will not have less power to chastise you if you do
not serve him according to your promise." To that,
no reply; a mind whereof the devil has regained
possession is no longer capable of estimating the
greatness of God, whom he before adored.
Notwithstanding all that, our missionaries pursue
their point; Atironta, their host, who loves them,-
and who, bearing the name of the first Huron Cap-
tain who met the French, has also his charge and his
power,5- ass ists them as far as he can to assemble a
council of the Elders of the village, at which they
can publicly demonstrate their innocence and refute
these calumnies.
By a happy coincidence, Joseph Chihouatenhoua-
that excellent Christian of whom we spoke in the
preceding chapter-arrives in this same village, to
assist our Fathers in such manner as they shall
choose to employ him for the publication of the Gos-
pel. The council is held; Father Antoine Daniel
refutes the slanderers, and speaks with so much em-
phasis that not one dares to answer him. Joseph
Chihouatenhoua [159] afterward begins to speak, and
passes more than two entire hours in discoursing on
the mysteries of our Faith. Those old Captains are
great! y surprised to see a young man speak like a
master, in a new language; they can but admire him.
They approve the truths of our Faith, all the com-
mandments of God seem reasonable to them,- in a
word, they condemn themselves; and some exclaim
that all the earth ought to heed such great concerns,

36

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

que toute la terre écoutafi de fi grandes affaires, &
des difcours d'vne telle importance. Mais au bout,
quel aueuglement! pas vn n'embraffe les veritez
qu'il recognoifi, pas vn ne prend pour luy Ie confeil
qu'il approuue.
Toutefois cette affemblée & Ie fuccez qui en fut
fauorable pour nous, appaifa quelque peu les efprits;
les ombrages qu'ils auoient contre nous fe diminueret
de beaucoup: on commence à receuoir nos Peres
affez paifiblemet dans la plufpart des cabanes, & eux
continuent à annoncer Ie nom de Dieu aux fains &
aux malades. Quelques efprits de ceux qui ne font
point en maladie Ie goufient, & [160] mefmes quel-
ques-vns defirent Ie baptefme: mais nous n'y allons
pas fi vifie, il faut les efprouuer, autrement nous
nous mettrions en danger de faire plufieurs baptifez,
mais bien peu de Chrefiiens.
La mifericorde de Dieu parut dauantage fur les
malades, dans Ie feul bourg de fainét lean Baptifie
plus de 140. y furent baptifez, dont la plufpart font
morts, & entr' autres 40. petits enfans, dont Ie falut
efi hors de doute. Les iugemens de Dieu font tou-
fiours adorables. Voicy ce que m'en efcriuent les
Peres de cette million.
Ð'aucuns reçoiuent Ie baptefme auec vne ioye indi-
cible, & ne fçauent c'omme exprimer la grace qu'ils
reffentet par des coloques amoureux, tantofi à no fire
Crucifix, tantofi à l'lmage du Sauueur du monde.
Helas! (difoit entr' autres vn ieune homme de 25.
ans) ô! Ie maifire de nos vies, tu voy que ie n'ay
point d'efprit, & que ie ne puis parler: dy moy donc
ce qu'il te plaifi que ie te die. Et d'autres quafi en
mefme temps blafphement contre Dieu, ayant leur

1640-41]

RELATION OF I6<1o

37

and speeches of such importance. But, at the end,
what blindness! not one embraces the truths which
he acknowledges, not one adopts for himself the
advice which he approves.
Nevertheless, this assembly and its result, which
was favorable to us, appeased their minds somewhat;
the grievances which they had against us, greatly
diminished; they begin to receive our Fathers quite
peaceably in most of the cabins, and the latter con-
tinue to announce the name of God to them, to the
whole and to the sick. Some minds, of those who
are not in disease, relish this, and [160] some even
desire baptism; but we do not proceed so fast,- they
must be tried; otherwise we should run the risk of
having many people baptized, but very few Chris-
tians.
The mercy of God further appeared over the sick;
in the single village of saint Jean Baptiste, more than
140 were baptized, most of whom are dead,-and
among others, 40 little children, whose salvation is
beyond doubt. The judgments of God are always
adorable. Here follows what the Fathers of this
mission write to me in the matter.
e( Some receive baptism with an unspeakable joy,
and know not how to express the grace that they
experience, by means of loving colloquies, now be-
fore our Crucifix, now before the Image of the Savior
of the world. 'Alas!' (said, among others, a young
man of 25 years) , O! thou master of our lives! thou
seest that I have no sense, and that I cannot speak;
tell me, then, what it would please thee that I should
say.' And others, almost at the same time, blas-
pheme against God, having their souls on their lips.
Lately, a war Captain, when we spoke to him of hell,

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[VOL. 20

ame fur leurs leures. Dernierement vn Capitaine
de guerre, lors que nous luy parlions de l'enfer, fe
[161J mocquoit de ces feux. Ces flammes là ne bru-
Dent pas pour moy, difoit ce brauache, la mort me
redoute, ie la cherche partout, & elle me fuit: ma
plus ordinaire prouifion eft la chair de nos ennemis.
Ce pauure mal-heureux fut bien toft emporté de la
mort, fans iamais fe vouloir recognoiftre. Vn pau-
ure enfant eft mort au milieu de noftre cabane, fans
que iamais nous ayons pû Ie baptifer. Plufieurs
autres bien eloignez de nous en des cabanes efcartées
au milieu des campagnes, n'attendoient que noftre
venuë pour expirer quafi entre nos mains, & font allez
ioüir au Ciel de celuy qui ne les auoit fait que pour
les fauuer. D'aucuns nous fermant leurs cabanes
nous contraignent d'entrer en vne autre ou nous ne
pretendions pas d'aller: nous y trouuons vne ame à
qui rien ne manque finon Ie baptefme pour qu'elle
foit Ie mefme iour en paradis. D'autres que nous
ne cherchions pas nous appellent chez eux, & fans y
penfer nous donnent Ie moyen de procurer Ie falut
d'vn pauure homme qui defia auoit vn pied dedans
l'enfer. En vn mot, les Anges [162J nous affiftent à
acroifire Ie nombre des bien-heureux. Nous ne
pouuons attribuer à d'autre puiffance qu'a des efprits
tutelaires des hommes Ie cas qui fuit.
Pendant que Ie fonge ou pluftoft Ie diable fe fait
obeyr dans noftre propre cabane par vn defordre ou
folie vniuerfelle de tout Ie peuple, & qu'en fuitte i1
nous interromp[ e J Ie cours de noftre exercice, vn capï-
taine des Algonquins qui hiuernent à vn demy quart
de lieuë d'icy, nous vient chercher en hafte: vn mien
frere, nous dit-il, fe meurt de la contagion, venez ie

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39

[161J mocked those fires. 'Those flames do not burn
for me,' said this braggart; 'death dreads me; I seek
it everywhere, and it shuns me; my most usual pro-
vision is the flesh of our enemies. ' This poor wretch
was soon carried off by death, without ever consent-
ing to acknowledge himself in error. A poor child
died in the midst of our cabin, and we were never
able to baptize it. Several others, far removed from
us, in isolated cabins in the midst of the fields, await-
ed only our coming in order to expire almost in our
hands; and they have gone to enjoy in Heaven him
who had made them only to save them. Some, clos-
ing their cabins to us, constrain us to enter another,
into which we were not intending to go; we find
there a soul which lacks nothing but baptism, in
order to be the same day in paradise. Others, whom
we were not seeking, call us to their house, and,
without realizing it, give us the means to procure
the salvation of a poor man who already had one foot
in hell. In a word, the Angels [162J assist us to in-
crease the number of the blessed. We cannot attrib-
ute to other power than to guardian spirits of men,
the following occurrence:
"While the dream, or rather the devil, is being
obeyed in our own cabin by a tumult or general mad-
ness of the whole people, and while he consequently
interrupts the course of our exercise, a captain of
the Algonquins, who are wintering an eighth of a
league from here, comes to seek us in haste. 'A
brother of mine,' he tells us, 'is dying of the con-
tagion; come, I beg you, and visit him while he is
still alive; come and teach him the way to heaven,
for he desires it. ' We hasten thither; we instruct
him. more from the heart than from the lips; his

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[VOL. 20

vous prie Ie vifiter tandis qu'il eft encore en vie:
venez luy enfeigner Ie chemin du ciel, car ille defire.
Nous y courons, on rinfiruit plus de cæur que de
bouche: fon frere voyant qu'il ne nous entendoit
qu'à demy, fe met de la partie, (car il en tend paffable-
ment Ie Huron) & nous fert d'interprete. Nous nous
feruons de quelques prieres Algonquines que nous
auions par efcrit de nos Peres qui font aux Trois
Riuieres, & entre autres de l'aéte de contrition, que
ce moribond repetoit de fi bon cæur, qu'enfin nous
l'appellons Felix au baptefme, [163J de fait i1 mourut
peu d'heurés apres. Ces bonnes gens nous parlerent
de I' enterrer à noftre mode, comme nos Peres font
aux Trois Riuieres: mais la faifon n'en eft pas
encore venuë. Iufques icy la lettre.
I'efpere que dans quelque temps nous aurons icy
haut des ouuriers qui fçauront la langue Alguonquine,
& qui pouront non feulement affifter quelques bandes
d' Algonquins qui viennent hyuerner chaque année
proche de nos Hurons: mais paffer outre à deux &
trois cens lieuës d'icy, où la langue des Algonquins
fe fait entendre.
Les deux bourgs de fainét Ioachim & de fainéte
Elizabeth donnerent auffi de l'exercice à nos ouuri-
ers euangeliques, la maladie ayant regné efgalement
par tout. La plus gran de peine que nous y auons,
m'efcrit vn de nos Peres, n'eft pas à deuorer les pau-
uretez de ces miferables: mais c'eft d'entrer dans
leurs efprits, que nous voyons manifeftement eftre
la plufpart poffedez de quelque demon: iufques la
que d'aucuns à noftre abord heurlent par fois cõme
des loups; [164J lefquels i'ay experimenté fe taire
court lors qu' exterieurement nous les exhorcifons per
Domillum llOflrum Iefum Cilriflum.

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41

brother, seeing that he only half understood us, joins
the party (for he passably understands Huron), and
serves us as interpreter. We use some Algonquin
prayers that we had in writing from our Fathers who
are at the Three Rivers,-and, among others, the
act of contrition, which this dying man repeated with
so good a heart that at last we called him Felix, in bap-
tism: [163J in fact, he died a few hours later. These
good people spoke to us of burying him in our man-
ner, as our Fathers do at the Three Rivers: but the
time for that has not yet come." Thus far the letter.
I hope that after a while we shall have workmen
up here who shall know the Alguonquin language,
and who will be able not only to assist some bands
of Algonquins "\y ho come to winter each year near
our Hurons, but to pass beyond, two and three
hundred leagues from here, where the language of
the Algonquins is generally understood.
The two villages of saint Joachim and sainte Eliza-
beth also gave exercise to our evangelistic workers,
the disease having prevailed in all places alike.
" The greatest difficulty we have," one of our Fathers
writes to me, " is not that of consuming the poverty
of these wretches, but that of entering into their
minds, which we see manifestly possessed, for the
most part, by some demon,- even to the extent that
some, at our approach, sometimes howl like wolves:
[164] these, as I have proved, quickly become silent
when we outwardly exorcise them per ÐomÙzum
nostrum Jesum Christum.

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CHAP. X.

DE LA MISSION SURNOMMÉE DES APOSTRES AUX
KHIONONT A TERONONS.

L ES K[h]ionontater[on]ons, qu'on appelle la na-
tion du Petun, pour l'abondance qu'il y a de
cette herbe, font eloignez du pays des Hurons,
dont ils parlent la langue, enuiron douze ou quinze
lieuës tirant à l'Occident: ils ont eu autresfois de cru-
elles guerres les vns contre les autres; mais ils font
maintenant en tres-bonne intelligence, & de puis peu
ont renouuellé leur alliance, & fait nouuelle confede-
ration contre quelques autres peuples leurs ennemis
communs.
N ous auons pris cette occafion pour y annoncer
l'euangile, & yarborer fi nous pouuons Ie drappeau
de lefus-Chrift. [165] C'a efté la cinquiefme de nos
miffions, que nous auons nommé la miffion des
Apoftres. Le fort en eft efcheu au Pere Charles
Garnier, & au P. Ifaac lacques [sc. logues]. Voicy
les noms qu'ils ont donné à neuf bourgs qu'ils y
ont rencontré, fainét Pierre & fainét Paul, fainét An-
dré, fainét lacques, fainét Thomas, fainét lean, fainét
lacques & fainét Philippe, fainét Barthelemy, fainét
Matthieu, fainét Simon & fainét I ude.
Cette million a efté la plus riche de toutes, puis
que les croix & les fouffrances y ont efté plus abon-
dantes. Voicy ce que m'efcriuirent nos Peres des
commencemens qu'ils y eurent.
Enfin nous voila arriuez, Dieu mercy, au dernier

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43

CHAP. X.

OF THE MISSION SURNAMED "OF THE APOSTLES," TO
THE KHIONONT A TERONONS.

T HE Khionontateronons, who are called "the na-
tion of the Tobacco," from the abundance of
that plant there, are distant from the country
of the Hurons-whose language they speak-about
twelve or fifteen leagues toward the West. These
nations formed y waged cruel wars against one an-
other; but they are now on very good terms, and have
recently renewed their alliance, and made a new
confederation against some other peoples, their com-
mon enemies.
We have taken this opportunity to announce the
gospel to them, and to plant there, if we can, the
standard of Jesus Christ. [165] This, which we have
named the mission of the Apostles, has been the fifth
of our missions. The lot for it fell to Father Charles
Garnier and to Father Isaac J ogues. Here are the
names which they have given to nine villages that
they have encountered there: saint Pierre and saint
Paul,6 saint André, saint Jacques, saint Thomas, saint
Jean, saint Jacques and saint Philippe, saint Barthe-
lemy, saint Matthieu, saint Simon and saint Jude.
This mission has been the richest of all, since the
crosses and the sufferings have been most abundant
therein. Here is what our Fathers write to me of
their beginnings in it.
" Here we have at last arrived, thank God, at the

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[VOL. 20

& principal bourg de nofire difiriét, auquel nous
auons donné Ie nom de fainét Pierre & fainét Paul.
N'ayant peu trouuer aucun Sauuage au bourg de la
Conception pour venir auec nous, les chemins efians
alors trap mauuais pour des gens qui ne cherchent
pas Dieu; nous fufmes contraints de partir feuls pre-
nant nos bons Anges pour guides. Sur Ie milieu du
chemin, n'ayant [166J pû trouuer vn certain defiour
qui nous eufi conduit à quelques cabanes qui font vn
peu à l'efcart, nous fufmes furpris de la nuiét dans
vne fapiniere: nous efiions en vn lieu humide & ne
pouuions en aller chercher vn plus fec: nous eufmes
affez de peine à nous amaffer quelques morceaux de
bois pour faire vn peu de
eu, & quelques branches
feiches pour nous coucher deffus: la neige nous
menaçoit d'efieindre nofire feu, mais elle ceffa incon-
tinent. Dieu foit beny, nous paffafmes la nuiét fort
doucement. Le Iendemain matin nous rencontrafmes
quelques pauures cabanes dans les champs, mais ils
n'auoient point de bled. Y trouuant compagnie
pour venir dans Ie pays nous ne la voulufmes perdre,
pource que les chemins efioient fort difficiles à raifon
des neiges nouuellement tombées qui auoient effacé
les pifies, Nous partifmes donc & allafmes par de
bien mauuais chemins en vn bien mauuais temps à
vn petit village que nous nommafmes S. Thomas;
nous fifmes bien vne lieuë à la feule c1arté de la
neige, & arriuafmes vers les huiét heures du foir
auec bon [167] appetit, n'ayant pas mangé en toute
la iournée que chacun vn morceau de pain. Nous
n'auions aucun deffein fur ce bourg là plufiofi que
fur vn autre: mais ayant pris la compagnie des Sau-
uages qui fe prefenta, & les ayant fuiuis, nous arri-

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45

farthest and principal village of our district, to which
we have given the name of saint Pierre and saint
Paul. Not having been able to find any Savage at
the village of la Conception to come with us,- the
roads being then too bad, for people who are not
seeking God,- we were constrained to start alone;
taking our good Angels for guides. About the mid-
dle of the journey, not having [166] been able to find
a certain detour which would have led us to some
cabins which are a little isolated, we were surprised
by night in a fir grove. \Ve were in a damp place,
and could not go from it to seek a drier one; we had
trouble enough to pick up some pieces of wood to
make a little fire, and some dry branches to lie down
upon: the snow was threatening to put out our fire,
but it suddenly ceased. God be blessed, we spent
the night very quietly. The next morning we came
across some poor cabins in the fields, but they had
no corn. Finding company there to come into the
country with, we were not wining to lose it, because
the roads were very difficult on account of the new-
ly-fallen snows, which had obliterated the trails.
Accordingly, we set out, and went by many bad
roads, at a very bad season, to a little village which
we named St. Thomas; we made easily a league by
the mere light of the snow, and arrived about eight
o'clock in the evening, with good [167] appetite,-
not having eaten all day, save each a morsel of bread.
We had no design on that village, rather than on
another: but having taken what company of Savages
there offered, and having followed them, we arrived,-
no doubt, where God was leading us, for the salva-
tion of a predestined soul which awaited nothing
but our coming, in order to die to all its miseries.

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uafmes fans doute où Dieu nous conduifoit, pour Ie
falut d'vne ame predefiinée, qui n'attêdoit rien que
nofire venuë pour mourir à toutes fes miferes. Lors
que nous efiions en peine de fçauoir f'il n'y auoit
point quelque malade qui preffat, vn ieune homme
nous vint prier d'aller dõner quelque douceur à
vne de fa cabane; nous y allons, & trouuons vne
pauure femme qui n'en peut plus; elle fut infiruite,
& receut heureufement auec la Foy la grace du Bap-
tefme, peu apres elle fe vit dans la gloire. II n 'y
auoit dans tout Ie village que celle-Ià qui eufi befoin
de noftre fecours. N ous courufmes à quelques autres
petits bourgs, où on nous dit qu'il y auoit des ma-
lades: nous en auons baptifé quelques-vns: les brebis
de Nofire Seigneur font bien efgarées çà & là. Nous
auons rencontré quelques perfonnes qui d' abord gou-
fient bien I' euangile, [168] Dieu leur faffe la grace
de l'embraffer tout à fait. Nous receufmes de la con-
folation il ya deux ou trois iours, voyant qu'vne fi11e
qui fe venoit engager de parole à vn ieune garçon,
ayant vn peu apres entendu parler de Dieu & des
peines d'enfer, Calla coucher feule, difant: II nous
void mefme la nuiét.
Arriuant en ce bourg nous ne fçauions pas qu'il y
auoit vn petit enfant de la nation neutre, aagé de
cinq ans, que fes parens ont apporté fraichement icy,
où la faÜn les fait refugier; il yauoit long temps
que chaque iour on croyoit que ce feroit Ie dernier de
fa vie: de 45. ou 50. cabanes, fans penfer à luy, nous
vifitafmes d'abord celle où eftoit ce petit eftranger,
& Ie baptifafmes: il fe vit incontinent hors de ban-
niffement, & heureux dedans fa patrie. Ce font là
les premices de cette nation neutre & celuy qui tout
Ie premier a efié arroufé du fang de Iefus-Chrifi.

1640-41]

RELATION OF z640

47

While we were at a loss to know whether there was
not some person critically ill, a young man came to
beg us to go and give some relief to one in his cabin.
We go thither, and find a poor woman at the last
pass: she was instructed, and happily received with
the Faith the grace of Baptism; shortly after, she
beheld herself in glory. In the whole village there
was only that one who had need of our help. We
ran to some other little villages, where they told us
that there were sick people: we baptized some of
them,-Our Lord's sheep are much scattered, hither
and yon. "VVe have met some persons who at first
indeed relished the gospel: [I 68J God grant them the
grace to embrace it altogether. We received conso-
lation two or three days ago, seeing that a girl, who
came to pledge herself to a young man, having a little
later heard mention of God and the pains of hell,
went to lie down alone, saying, , He sees us even at
night. '
"On arriving in this village, we knew not that
there was a little child of the neutral nation, aged
five years, whom its parents have recently brought
here, where hunger causes them to take refuge; for
a long time, it was each day believed that that would
be the last of its life. Out of 45 or 50 cabins, with-
out thinking of it, we first visited the one in which
was this little stranger, and baptized him; he straight-
way saw himself out of exile and happy in his native
land. Those are the first fruits of this neutral nation,
and this was the very first one to be sprinkled with
the blood of Jesus Christ.
"This whole country is filled with evil reports
which are current about us. The children, seeing
us arrive at any place, exclaim that famine and dis-

48

LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

Tout ce pays eft rem ply de mauuais bruits qui
courent contre nous, les enfans nous voyant arriuer
quelque part, f' efcrient que la famine & la maladie
[169] viennent: quelques femmes f'enfuyent, d'autres
nous cachent leurs enfans, quafi tous nous refufent
l'hofpitalité, qu'ils accordent à des peuples les plus
incogneus. Nous n'auons pû trouuer maifon pour
N oftre Seigneur, n' ayant pû trouuer aucun lieu où
nous puiffions dire la Meffe. Noftre hofte qui eft Ie
premier Capitaine de ce pays, & qui par vne prudence
naturelle auoit paru affez paifible, nous voyant prier
Dieu les matins & les foirs à genoux, en fin ne pût
fe tenir vne fois de nous faire paroiftre ce qu'il auoit
fur Ie cæur. II commence done à parler, mais d'vne
voix de confeil, c'eft à dire haute & intelligible. C'efi
veritablement maintenant que ie crains & que ie
parle: Que font maintenant ces demons autre chofe
que des forts pour nous faire mourir, & acheuer ce
que la maladie a laiffé de refte en cette cabane: on
me l'auoit bien dit que c'eftoient des forciers, mais ie
Ie croy trop tard: c'eft vne chofe que l'on ne voit point,
que des perfonnes qui viennent loger chez quel-
qu'vn, paffent la nuict: dans des poftures aufquelles
nos yeux ne font aucunement accouftumez. [170]
Iugez de quel æil on nous voit en vne cabane où on
a de fi belles idées de nous? à peine peufmes nous
remettre cét efprit. On nous traitte tres-mal pour
nous obliger de fortir. C'eft bien tout fi nous auons
ce qui fuffit à viure: noftre faim nous accompagne
d' ordinaire depuis Ie matin iufques au foir: mais ces
bonnes gens ne voyent pas que ce qui nous arrefte
eft plus precieux que tout ce qu'ils conçoiuent de
douceurs en ce monde. II n'ya point prefque de

1640-41]

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49

ease [169] are coming; some women flee, others hide
their children from us; almost all refuse us the hos-
pitality which they grant even to the most unknown
tribes. "\Ve have not been able to find a house for
Our Lord,- not having been able to find any place
where we can say Mass. Our host,- who is the chief
Captain of this country, and who through a natural
prudence had appeared quite peaceable,-on seeing
us pray to God mornings and evenings on our knees,
finally could not refrain, on one occasion, from reveal-
ing to us what he had on his heart. He begins,
therefore, to speak, but in a council voice,- that is
to say, loud and distinct: 'Truly, it is now that I
fear and speak. What are now these demons but
spells to make us die, and finish what the disease has
left over, in this cabin? They had told me, indeed,
that these were sorcerers, but I believe it too late.
This is a thing unknown-that persons who come to
lodge at one's house pass the night in postures to
which our eyes are nowise accustomed.' [170] Imag-
ine with what looks they regard us in a cabin where
they have such fine ideas of us! - we could hardly
tranquilize this mind again. They treat us very ill,
in order to oblige us to leave. It is, in sooth, all, if
we have what suffices for life,-our hunger usually
attends us from morning till evening; but these
simple people do not see that what retains us here is
mùre precious than all that they conceive in the way
of pleasures in this world. There is hardly any corn
in this village, and, nevertheless, every day some
Attiouandarons arrive (they are those of the neutral
nation),- bands of men, women, and children, all
pale and disfigured, whom famine drives hither.
Fleeing famine, they here find death, or rather a

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[VOL. 20

bled en ce bourg, & neantmoins tous les iours arri-
uent des Attiouandarons (ce font ceux de la nation
neutre) des bandes d'hommes, de femmes & enfans,
tous haures & defigurez, que la famine chaffe icy:
fuyant la famine ils trouuent icy la mort, ou plufiofi
vne vie bien-heureufe; car nous auons l'æil que pas
vn ne meure fans baptefme. Entre ceux-Ià a efié vn
petit enfant d'vn an, qui fembloit plufiofi vn monfire
qu'vn homme: il fut heureufement baptifé, Dieu ce
femble ne luy conferuoit la vie que par miracle, afin
qu'efiant laué dans Ie fang de Iefus-Chrifi il benifi à
iamais fes mifericordes.
[171] Tandis que nous tafchons de rendre quelque
honneur à Dieu, Ie diable continuë de fe faire adorer:
encore hier dans nofire cabane on luy fit vn facrifice
folennel: tout Ie monde y efiant affemblé, on ietta
plufieurs fois du petun & de la graiffe dans Ie feu,
faifant plufieurs inuocations: & tout cela pour la
guerifon d'vn malheureux que fon demon priué affiige
d'vne certaine maladie, pource qu'il ne luy a pas
obey en quelques fefiins qu'illuy auoit ordonné.
Efi-ce merueille qu' on nous ait en horreur dans vn
lieu où les diables font recogneus pour maifires.
Nofire hofie veut qu'on y baricade fa porte tous les
foirs, crainte que de nuiét on ne nous faffe quelque
violence: car fi on nous tuoit dans fa maifon il en
auroit les reproches, mefme de ceux qui ne fouhai-
tent que nofire mort. Ce n'efi pas ce qui nous
affeure: nous auons vne proteétion plus puiffante,
quoy que moins vifible à ces pauures infideles
Iufques icy les Peres.
Ce ne furent là que les commencemens de leurs
fouffrances: dans les autres [172] bourgs comme les

1640-41]

RELATION OF z640

51

blessed life, for we see to it that not one dies with-
out baptism. Among those people was a little child
of one year, who seemed rather a monster than a
human being. It was happily baptized; God, it
seems, preserved its life only by miracle, so that,
being washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, it might
bless his mercies forever.
[17 I] While we try to render some honor to God,
the devil continues to be adored; even yesterday, in
our cabin, they made him a solemn sacrifice. All
the people being assembled there, they repeatedly
threw tobacco and fat into the fire, making several
invocations; and all that for the cure of a wretch
whom his private demon afflicts with a certain dis-
ease, because he has not obeyed him in the matter of
some feasts which he had commanded him.
" Is it a wonder that we are held in abomination
at a place where the devils are acknowledged as mas-
ters? Our host orders that his door be barricaded
every evening, fearing lest they do us some violence
by night; for, if they killed us in his house, he would
have the reproaches to bear for it, even from those
who desire naught but our death. It is not this
which assures us; we have a more powerful protec-
tion, although less visible to these poor infidels. "
Hitherto the Fathers.
Those were only the beginnings of their sufferings:
in the other [172] villages, since the rumors were
continually increasing, they had more to endure; they
had not been two days in a place before people could
no longer suffer them, and it was necessary to change
their location. Some Hurons, who went thither from
time to time to effect some trades, incensed minds
against them, and even did their utmost to the end

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bruits alloient toufiours f'augmentant, ils eurent plus
à endurer: ils n'auoient pas efté deux iours en vn
lieu qu'on ne pouuoit plus les fouffrir, & qu'il falloit
changer de place. Quelques Hurons qui alloient là
de fois à autres y faire quelques traittes animoiêt les
efprits contre eux, & mefme firent leur poffible afin
que l'on Cen deffift au pluftoft. Tantoft vn homme
qui fe refueille auec effroyau milieu de la nuiét, leur
commande de fortir hors de fa cabane: tantoft on
vient de dehors auffi en pleine nuiét crier à leur porte
que Ie lendemain matin iis ne paroiffent pas dans Ie
bourg: comme ils fortent d'vn bourg prenant la route
de quelque autre, on les preuient, & on va donner
aduis aux vilages prochains qu'on ait à leur en refu-
fer l'entrée: Ies Capitaines viennent qui leur defen-
dent d'y mettre Ie pied, & les menacent qu'on leur
fendroit la tefte fi feulement iis en approchoient.
Leur plus grand crime eft qu'ils portent la Foy &
Ie nom de Iefus par tout, qu'ils defendent les cere-
nlonies diaboliques; que faifant leurs prieres ils
enforcellent [173J les villages. Mais leur ioye & con-
folation eft celle-Ià mefme, de fe voir ainfi rebutez
pour Ie nom de Iefus, non feulement dans les con-
feils, mais des bourgs & des maifons particulieres,
de fe voir en l'horreur de ceux dont ils recherchent
Ie falut au peril de leur vie, endurant la faim, Ie
froid, les pluyes & les neiges: en vn mot toutes
les iniures des faifons & des temps: de fe voir
menacez quafi à tout moment de mourir comme des
malfaiéteurs. Non ejl feruus mat'or domino fuo. Si Ie
Sauueur du monde a efté traitté de la forte, les
feruiteurs n'ont-ils pas fujet de fe glorifier felon Dieu
portant les liurées de leur maiftre.

1640-41]

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53

that they be got rid of as soon as possible. At one
time a man who awakens with terror in the middle of
the night, commands them to go forth from his cab-
in; again, some one comes from outside,- also in
the dead of night,-to shout at their door that the
next morning they shall not appear in the village.
As they leave one village, taking the way to some
other, they are forestalled, and one goes to give
warning to the next villages that they are to refuse
them entrance; the Captains come to forbid them to
set foot there, and threaten them that their heads
would be split if they so much as approached.
Their greatest crime is that they carry the Faith
and the name of Jesus everywhere; that they forbid
the diabolical ceremonies; that while saying their
prayers they bewitch [173] the villages. But their
joy and consolation is that very thing,-to see them-
selves thus repelled for the name of Jesus, not only
in the councils, but also by the villages and private
houses; to see themselves the abomination of those
whose salvation they seek, at the peril of their own
lives; enduring hunger, cold, the rains, and the
snows,- in a word, all the inclemencies of the seasons
and weather: to see themselves threatened, almost at
every moment, with dying as malefactors. Non est
servus major domino suo. If the Savior of the world
was treated like that, have not his servants cause to
glorify themselves in God, while bearing their mas-
ter's livery?
Thereupon, one of our missionaries falls sick,- the
fever seizes him, and some other inconveniences;
God must indeed be their physician, their food, and
their all, on these occasions, - since everything fails
them therein.

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Là deffus vn de nos miffionnaires tombe malade, la
fieure Ie faifit, & quelques autres incommoditez: il
faut bien que Dieu foit leur medecin, leur nourriture,
& leur tout en ces rencontres, puis que là tout leur
manque.
A peine efi-il aucunement foulagé de fon mal,
qu'il faut partir à ieun dés les trois heures du matin,
pour aller à vn autre bourg à vnze & douze lieuës de
là, [174] où les affaires de Dieu les appellent. Vn
peu de pain du pays, fi toutefois c'efi pain vne maffe
de farine de bled d'lnde detrempée dedans l'eau fans
Ieuain, qui ne vaut pas Ie pain qu'on fait en France
pour les chiens, queIque nom qu'on luy donne: ce
peu qu'ils portent de nourriture fe gelle en chemin,
& toutefois il faut f'en contenter, & faire par neceffité
onze Iieuës n' ayant pas mangé en toute Ia iournée
gros comme Ie poing de ce manger fi delicat: peu
s'en faut qu'ils ne demeurent de foibleffe: mais
N ofire Seigneur les affifie, & enfin ils fe traifnent
parmy les neiges, & arriuent bien tard au lieu qu'ils
pretendoient, remplis de fueur d'vn cofié, & de
l'autre plus qu'à demy gelez. Quelques ames efga-
rées çà & là qu'on met dans Ie chemin du ciellors
qu'elles font fur Ie poind d'efire abyfmées dedans
l'enfer, meritent mille fois plus que ces trauaux, puis
qu'elles ont couíté plus cher au Sauueur du monde.
Lors que nos Miffionnaires efioient dans ces perfe-
cutions, lofeph Chihouatenhoua, dont nous parlons
fouuent, [175] parce que fon zele & fon courage luy
ont fait prendre bonne part en toutes nos fouffrances;
ce bon Chrefiien voulant efire de Ia partie quitte fa
femme & fes enfans, abandonne entre les mains de
Dieu Ie foin de fa maifon au temps que tout leur

1640-41]

RELATION OF z640

55

Hardly is he somewhat relieved from his sickness,
when it is necessary to start,-fasting, as early as
three o'clock in the morning,-in order to go to
another village eleven or twelve leagues thence, [174]
whither the affairs of God call them. A little bread
of the land,- if. however, that be bread; a mass of
Indian corn meal soaked in water without leaven,
which is not worth the bread which in France they
make for the dogs; whatever name one give it,- this
little food which they carry freezes on the way; and
yet they must be content with it, and of necessity
-make eleven leagues without having eaten in the
whole day a lump as large as the fist, of this so deli-
cate fare, They almost stop, from weakness, but
Our Lord assists them; and finally they drag them-
selves through the snows, and arrive very late at the
place whither they are bound-on the one hand, cov-
ered with sweat, and, on the other, more than half
frozen. Some souls gone astray here and there,
which are put in the way to heaven when they are
on the point of being swallowed up in hell, deserve
a thousand times more than these labors; since they
have cost the Savior of the world dearer than that.
While our Missionaries were under these persecu-
tions' Joseph Chihouatenhoua,-of whom we often
speak, [175] because his zeal and his courage have
caused him to take a good share in all our suffer-
ings,- this good Christian, wishing to be of the par-
ty, leaves his wife and his children, and gives over
into the hands of God the care of his house at the
time when all their village was most afflicted with
disease. This poor family was every day expecting
the visitation of Our Lord; the poor mother, in par-
ticular was in apprehension for her children,- well

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bourg efioit plus affiigé de maladie. Cette pauure
famille attendoit tous les iours la vifite de N ofire
Seigneur: la pauure mere particulierement efioit
dans l'apprehenfion pour fes enfans, voyant bien que
fon mary efiant eloigné elle demeuroit priuée d'vn
fort appuy, & fpirituel & tempore!. Vn de nos Peres
qui efioit là voulant la confoler luy dit que ce voyage
feroit court, de douze ou quinze iours au plus. He-
las, dit-elle, nos enfans feront morts dans cét efpace
de temps fans qu'il ait appris la nouuelle de leur ma-
ladie. Ma femme, refpondit Ie mary, pour qui me
prenez-vous? ie ne fuis rien du tout, hé de quoy fer-
uiroit icy ma prefence? Quand mes enfans feroient
malades tout ce que ie pourrois faire ce feroit d'en
auoir du reffentiment, & donner de la peine à mon
efprit pour tafcher de les [176] foulager: mais cela
& rien c'en tout vn: c'eft à Dieu feul qu'il appar-
tient de conferuer ou rendre la fanté à qui illuy
plaifi; pour nous nous n'auons qu'à tafcher de luy
plaire en toutes nos aétions: c' efi ce qui me fait
feparer main tenant d'auec vous; i1 me fuffit que ce
foit fa volonté: pour ce qui eft de nofire famille, i1
en aura Ie foin, s'illuy plaifi: & puis voila mes freres
les Iefuites qui demeurent auec vous; quand ie ferois
icy, Ie meilleur que ie peuffe faire ce feroit de fuiure
leur confeil: tenez vofire efprit en repOSe Deuant
que de partir i1 fe confeffa & communia, & fur Ie
poind de la feparation il fe mit à deux genoux dans
fa cabane, pour offrir à Dieu & luy recommander fa
famille.
II partit là deffus, lors qu'il faifoit vn temps ter-
rible, Ie froid fendoit les arbres, vn vent furieux luy
donnoit en face, mais Ie feu de fa charité fut plus

1640-41]

RELA TION OF I640

57

seeing that, her husband being at a distance, she
would remain deprived of a strong support, both
spirit:1al and temporal. One of our Fathers who was
there, wishing to console her, said to her that this
journey would be brief,- twelve or fifteen days at
most. "Alas, ,. she said, "our children will have
died in that space of time, without his having learned
the news of their illness." "M y wife," answered
the husband, " whom do you take me for? I am noth-
ing at all, and what would my presence avail here?
Should my children be sick, all that I could do would
be to feel distressed for them, and grieve my spirit,
in order to try to [I 76J relieve them; but that and
nothing are all one. To God alone it belongs to
preserve or to restore health to whom he pleases; as
for us, we have only to try to please him in all our
actions. That is what makes me leave you now; it
is enough for me that it is his will. As for our fam-
ily, he will take care of it, if he please: and then
here are my brothers the Jesuits who remain with
you. Even if I were here, the best that I could do
would be to follow their advice; keep your mind at
rest." Before starting he confessed and received
communion; and at the moment of the separation he
knelt down in his cabin, to offer and commend his
family to God.
Thereupon he went away, while it was terrible
weather; the cold was cracking the trees; a furious
wind was blowing in his face; but the fire of his
charity was stronger than all these inclemencies.
Having joined our missionaries, they begin to scour
the hamlets and villages; having arrived at the first
one, very weary and fatigued, they present them-
selves to enter a [177J cabin, but the door is shut on

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[VOL. 20

fort que toutes ces froidures. S'efiant joint à nos
miffionnaires ils commencent à parcourir les bourgs &
vilages; efians arriuez au premier, bien las & fati-
guez, ils fe prefentent pour entrer en vne [177]
cabane, on leur ferme la porte: ils f'addreffent à vne
autre, ils y recoiuent vn pareil refus: enfin ce Chre-
fiien les mene chez quelques fiens parens, mais ils
font contrains de defioger Ie ledemain, apres auoir
fait en ce bourg quelques baptefmes. Efians abor-
dez en vne autre bourgade, la porte du Capitaine
leur efi incontinent fermée; il falut que ce bon Chre-
fiien eufi encore recours chez vn de fes parens: ce
ne fut pas fans des reproches qu' on luy fit de íe ran-
ger auec des gens qui efioient les plus grands forciers
de la terre: mais il íceut bien les releuer. Cela
n'empefcha pas que la nuiét efiant venuë vn ieune
homme de la cabane ne íe mit en furie, foit qu'il fut
poffedé du diable, foit qu'il Ie contrefit. 11 iette les
tiíons des feux de cofié & d'autre, il brufie ce qu'il
trouue, mefme de plus precieux; les barbares íe
cachent où ils peuuent. Ce phrenetique vient iufie-
ment fe ietter en la place où font nos miffionnaires:
mais parbon-heur ils venoient de s'en retirer. Comme
ce fol efioit là à faire mille tours d' enragé, cherchant
des yeux ceux à qui il en vouloit, [17 8 ] on l' aduertit
doucement du lieu où ils s'efioient retirez. Nofire
Iofeph ayant eu affez bonne oreille pour entendre cét
aduis: Quoy done, s'efcria-il, ce fol à de l'efprit, &
vous confpirez auec luy? Nonobfiant ce frenetique,
foit vray, íoit contrefait, va de fureur au lieu où
efioit vn de nos Peres, qui fe retire en mefme temps,
& íort de la cabane pour trouuer quelque gifie ail-
leurs au milieu de la nuiét. Dieu fçait quels efioient
les deffeins de ce fol: mais il fut incontinent guery.

1640-41]

RELA TION OF I640

59

them; they apply at another, they receive there a
like refusal. Finally, this Christian leads them to
some relatives of his, but they are constrained to
dislodge the next day, after having effected some
baptisms in this village. Having reached another
village, the Captain's door is immediately closed to
them; this good Christian is again obliged to have
recourse to one of his kinsmen. This was not without
reproaches which they administered to him for tak-
ing the part of people who were the greatest sorcerers
on earth; but he knew well how to meet them. That
did not prevent, when night had come, a young man
of the cabin from falling into a fury; either he was
possessed by the devil, or he pretended to be. He
throws all the firebrands hither and thither; he burns
what he finds, even things most precious; the bar-
barians hide themselves where they can. This fren-
zied man then comes, to fall upon the very place
where our missionaries are; but by good fortune
they had just withdrawn from it. As this lunatic
was in the act of performing a thousand mad freaks
there, looking for those against whom he had a
grudge, [178] he is quietly informed of the place
whither they had withdrawn. Our Joseph, having
had good enough ears to hear this information, ex-
claimed: "What, then? this lunatic has his senses,
and you are conspiring with him!" Nevertheless
this madman, true or counterfeit, goes in fury to the
place where one of our Fathers was, who at the same
time withdraws and leaves the cabin, in order to find
some shelter elsewhere, in the middle of the night.
God knows what were this crazy man's designs: but
he was forth with cured.
In another village, where some days before our

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En vn autre bourg, où quelques iours auparauant
nos Peres auoient efté affez bien accueillis, tout Ie
monde leur refufoit Ie gifte, & toutefois la nuiét
eftoit bien proche: lors qu'ils ne fçauoient où aller,
eftant tous tranfis de froid & tous nlouïllez, vn bon
vieillard qu'ils auoient autrefois inftruit, & qui auoit
goufté la parole de Dieu, í' approche d' eux: & quoy
ta porte nous fera elle auffi fermée, luy dirent-ils?
Venez, à la bonne heure, refpondit ce vieillard.
C'eftoit vn eftranger d'vne nation ennemie, qu'ils
appellent Atfiftaehronons, Nation du feu, qui [179J
ayant efté pris captif dés fon bas aage, receut la vie,
& f'habitua parmy eux. Non eft inuentlls niji hz:c alie-
nigena qui dare! laudoJl Deo. Ce bon homme receut
auidemment les paroles de falut, toutesfois comme
nous ne nous preffons pas tant pour les baptefmes,
on Ie remit à vne autre fois.
Ce fut dans Ie bourg principal de fainét Pierre &
{ainét Paul où eftans retournez y faire vne feconde
vifite, ils ne peurent trouuer aucun qui voulut les
admettre: les portes leur font fermées d' abord, mefme
de ceux qui du commencement auoient tefmoigné
quelque pieufe affeétion pour la Foy: ils n' entendent
que des menaces & des malediétions; les femmes s'ef-
crient tout haut, où font maintenant ceux qui difoient
que fi ces habillez de noir retournoièt ils leur fen-
droient la tefte. Les heures fe paffent, & plus ils Ie
prefentent à de cabanes, plus ils {ont refufez. Les
enfans crient apres eux comme apres des forders:
enfin la nuiét s'approche & les oblige de fortir de ce
bourg, où pas vn n'auoit efté trouué digne de les
receuoir; ils n'eftoient pas bien [180J loin, qu'vne
trouppe infolente de ieunes gens les fuit la hache

1640-41]

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61

Fathers had been quite well received, everyone
refused them shelter; and yet the night was very
near, while they knew not where to go, being chilled
through with cold, and all wet. A good old man
whom they had formerly instructed, and who had
relished the word of God, approaches them. "How
now, " they said to him, "will your door be closed
to us also?" "Come, and be welcome," answered
this old man. He was a stranger,-from a hostile
nation which they call Atsistaehronons, " Nation of
fire,"7- w ho, [179] having been taken captive in his
early years, received his life, and came to be at home
among them. Non est inventus nisi hie alienigena qui
daret laudem Deo. This good man eagerly received
the words of salvation; however, as we make no great
haste about baptisms, he was put off till another
time.
It was in the principal village of saint Pierre and
saint Paul, where, having returned to make a second
visit, they could find no one who would admit them.
The doors are at first closed to them, even by those
who at the start had shown some pious affection for
the Faith: they hear naught but threats and maledic-
tions. The women exclaim aloud, " Where are now
those who said that, if these black-robed men returned,
they would split their heads?" The hours pass, and
the more they appear before the cabins, the more
they are refused; the children scream after them, as
after sorcerers. Finally, night comes on, and obliges
them to leave this village, where not one had been
found worthy to receive them; they were not very
[1801 far when an insolent band of young men pur-
sues them, hatchet in hand, to massacre them. The
captain of this village had exhorted them to that at a

62

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(VOL. 20

en main pour les maffacrer. Le capitaine de ce bourg
les auoit exhorté à cela dans vn fefiin où ils efioient
tous affemblez. Ie ne fçay fi ce fut vn bon-heur ou
mal-heur pour nous, que ces barbares fe mirent vn
peu trop tard en chemin, & ne peurent pas les attein-
dre: peut-efire nofire fang feroit plus pour la con-
uerfion de ces peuples, que toutes nos fueurs.
Le lendemain Ie capitaine de ce mal-heureux bourg
vint trouuer nos Miffionnaires au vilage où ils s'efioi-
ent retirez pour faire fes excufes: mais i1 auoit bien de
la peine à fe purger. Ce fut lors que nofire Iofeph
Chiouatenhoua fit plus paroifire fon courage, & rele-
ua bien ce capitaine, qui s'efionnoit de ce que nous
appellions les chofes de la Foyaffaires d'importance.
Ce Chrefiien donc prenant la parole, luy dit: C'efi
bien vous autres capitaines qui ignorez ce que c'eft
qu'affaires d'importance; c'efi vous qui auez ren-
uerfé nofire pays nous feparant des maximes & bons
reglemens de nos anceftres; ce font ces robes noires
icy [181] que vous mefprifez qui fçauent ce que c'eft
qu' affaires d'importance, & qui viennent pour nous
l'apprendre. Ie veux bien que tu fçache que c'eft
moy que par derifion on appelle partout Le croyant:
on penfe me maudire, & c'eft là ma plus gran de
gloire: ie fuis vn tel, i'ay tels & tels parens en ton
bourg, ie fais profeffion de fuiure les bons enfeigne-
mens que ces miens maifires me donnent: nous n'a-
uons point d'efprit tous tant que nous fommes; nous
[sc. nos] penfées ne s'efiendent pas plus loing que
cette vie; ceux qui croyent iettent leurs efperances
fur vne eternité de biens qui affeurement les atten-
dent; pour vous autres qui efies toufiours infidelles,
vous n'attendez pas des miferes apres vofire mort, &

1640-41]

RELA TION OF I64.o

63

feast where they were all assembled. I know not
whether it was a good fortune or a bad fortune for
us, that these barbarians set forth a little too late,
and could not overtake them; perhaps our blood
would do more for the conversion of these peoples
than all our sweat.
The next day, the captain of this wretched village
came to find our l\1issionaries in the village whither
they had retreated, in order to make his excuses; but
he had much difficulty in clearing himself. Then it
was that our Joseph Chiouatenhoua most revea led
his courage, and finely criticized this captain, who
was astonished that we called the things of the Faith
matters of importance. This Christian, then taking
up the matter, said to him: " It is really you cap-
tains, who know not what are matters of importance;
you are the ones who have overturned our country
by separating us from the maxims and good regula-
tions of our ancestors; it is these black gowns here,
[181] whom you despise, who know what matters of
importance are, and who come to teach us the same.
I would have thee know that I am the one who am
everywhere, in derision, called' The believer:' they
think to curse me, and that is my greatest glory. I
am that man; I have such and such kinsmen in thy
village; I make profession of following the good
instructions which these my teachers give me. We
have no sense, as many as we are; our thoughts
extend no further than this life. Those who believe
found their hopes upon an eternity of good things
which assuredly await them; as for you who are
always infidels, you do not expect miseries after your
death, and yet they will be inevitable for you unless
you open your eyes to your wretchedness. You

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[VOL. 20

toutefois elles vous feront inéuitables fi vous n'ouurez
les yeux à vofire mal-heur: vous chaffez ceux qui
vous ayment plus qu'eux mefmes, puis que leur vie
leur efi moins precieufe que vofire falut qu'ils vien-
nent procurer de fi loing auec tant de trauaux. Nos
ancefires ont efié en quelque façon excufables s'ils
n'ont pas adoré ce grand maifire qui a-creé Ie monde,
pas vn ne [182] leur enfeignoit: mais vous ferez cent
mille fois plus punis qu'eux, puis que vous voulez
demeurer dedans vofire mifere, quoy qu'on tafche
à vous en retirer. Tout ce que pût refpondre ce
capitaine fut de dire, Cela efi vray, & defiourner Ie
propos ailleurs.
Voila comme I' Euangile a efié receuë de ces pau-
ures barbares: Ce n'efi pas qu'on ne trouue quafi
toufiours en quelque bourg qu'on ai1Ie quelque ame
à retirer du precipice, & dont Ie falut qu'on procure
rend pleines de douceur toutes les amertumes qu'il
faut par neceffité deuorer: & en cela ce qui confole
dauantage efi qu'on y void fenfiblement la main de
Dieu.
Entrant dedans vn bourg (m'efcrit Ie Pere Garnier)
i'apprens qu'on preparoit fefiin en vne cabane, au
nom d'vn enfant qui fe meurt, ie m'y prefente, i 'y
trouue auffi-tofi mon refus; ie me retire & recom-
mande à N o fire Seigneur ce petit innocent: queIque
temps apres fes parens m'enuoyent inuiter au fefiin,
& ce auant qu'on allafi_ jnuiter Ie commun: i'entre,
ie trouue place tout proche du [183] malade: faifant
femblant de luy tafier la veine de la tempe pour re-
cognoifire l'efiat de fa fanté, i'arroufe heureufement
fon ame du fang de Iefus-Chrifi, qui l'appella à foy
pour affifier au banquet eternel.

1640-41]

RELATION OF I640

65

drive out those who love you more than themselves,
since their lives are less precious to them than your
salvation, which they come to obtain, from so great
a distance, with so many labors. Our ancestors have
been in some sort excusable if they have not adored
this great master who has created the world, for no
one [182J taught them; but you will be a hundred
thousand times more severely punished than they,
since you choose to remain in your misery, although
one try to draw you out of it." All that this captain
could answer was to say, "That is true," and turn
the subject of conversation elsewhere.
You see how the Gospel has been received by these
poor barbarians. Not that we do not almost always
find, in whatever village we go to, some soul to draw
away from the precipice, and whose salvation, which
we procure, fills with sweetness all the bitterness
which must needs be swallowed. And what further
consoles us in that is, that we see manifestly the
hand of God therein.
" On entering a village" (Father Garnier writes to
me) "I learn that a feast is being prepared in
a cabin, in the name of a dying child. I present
myself there; I straightway meet with a refusal.
I withdraw, and recommend this little innocent to
Our Lord; some time after, his parents send to invite
me to the feast; and that before they went to
invite the public. I go in, and find a place quite
near the [183J patient; pretending to feel the vein
of his temple, in order to ascertain the state of his
health, I fortunately sprinkle his soul with the blood
of Jesus Christ, who called him to himself to be pres-
ent at the feast everlasting.
"In another village, shortly after I had arrived, I

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Dans vn autre vilage, peu apres y efire arriuez, ie
fais rencontre d'vn petit enfant de dix iours; ie voy
bien qu'il n'eft pas pour cette vie mortelle, ie Ie
baptife Ie Iendemain i1 eft au ciel.
Faifant vne excurfion en vn autre petit bourg, ie
trouue vn enfant de deux iours, dont la mere efioit
venuë d'vn autre bourg faire fes couches en celuy-
cy: cét enfant n'eftoit né que pour eftre heureux, car
i1 mourut bië toft apres Ie fainét baptefme que ie luy
conferay à la faueur d'vne bonne femme, qui a de
bonnes inclinations pour la Foy, & que Dieu en
mefme temps n'auoit ce femble amené de dix lieuës
loin pour autre fujet que pour me rendre cette afsi-
fiance. Iufques icy Ie Pere.
Ces prouidences fi aimables de Dieu, & plufieurs
autres femblables coups de falut pour quelques ames
predeftinées, [184] nous font bien recognoiftre que
nous ne fommes pas tout feuls, & qu'il y a mille per-
fonnes dans la France qui leuent les mains au ciel,
tandis que nous fommes au combat: Ce fera dans
l'eternité où nous verrons à qui appartiennent les def-
poüilles que nous emportons icy fur les puiffances de
l'enfer. Tant de væux & tant de fainéts defirs pour
la conuerfion de ces peuples, des mortifications fi fre-
quentes & fi continuës qui fe font à cette intention,
& particulierement trois mille Meffes qui fe difent
pour Ie mefme fujet Ie fecond Dimanche de chaque
mois, & des communions innombrables qui fe font à
mefme iour: (faueur qui nous a efté fainétement moy-
ennée par vne perfonne de grand merite, qui femble
n'efire au monde que pour obliger Ie ciel & la terre.)
c'eft fans doute ce qui flechit Ie cæur de Dieu, & luy
fait verfer deffus no us tant de graces. II eft ce fem-

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67

run across a little child of ten days; I well see that
it is not for this mortal life; I baptize it, and the
next day it is in heaven.
" Making an excursion to another little village, I
find a child of two days, whose mother had come
from another village to be confined in this one. This
child had been born only to be happy, for it died
soon after holy baptism, which I conferred on it by
the favor of a good woman who is well disposed
toward the Faith, and whom God, it seems, had at
the same time brought from ten leagues' distance,
for no other purpose than to render me this assist-
ance." Thus far the Father.
These so gracious providences of God, and several
other like acts of salvation for some predestined
souls, [184] cause us plainly to discern that we are
not all alone, and that there are a thousand persons
in France who lift their hands to heaven while we are
in the fight. In eternity we shall see to whom the
spoils belong which we conquer here from the powers
of hell. So many vows and so many holy desires
for the conversion of these peoples; so frequent
and so continuous mortifications, which are borne
for this object; and especially three thousand Masses
which are said for the same purpose on the second
Sunday of each month, and countless communions
which are received on the same day (a favor which
has been devoutly obtained for us by a person of
great merit, who seems to be in the world only to
oblige heaven and earth),-all this, no doubt, is what
moves God's heart, and causes him to pour upon us
so many graces. He is, it would seem, gently com-
pelled,- this great God,- not to refuse to so power-
ful an effort of prayers, a number of souls. Who.

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LES RELATIONS DESjÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

ble doucement forcé ce grand Dieu à ne pas refufer
à vn fi puiffant effort de prieres vn nombre d'ames.
Qui fçait fi voyant que ces peuples n'euffent pas fait
profit dans la fanté des paroles de [185J leur falut, it
n'a point permis toutes ces maladies, pour attirer à
foy par cette voye ceux qu'il auoit choifis? N'eft-il
pas raifonnable de croire que 450. enfans qui font
morts apres Ie baptefme, ont efté rauis de ce monde,
crainte que la malice n'alteraft la blancheur de leur
innocëce: & pourquoy ne penferons nous pas que des
peuples eftrangers où iamais no us n'auons mis Ie
pied, qui cette année font venus mourir entre nos
mains, chaffez de leur pays par la famine, n'ayent
efté conduits fans qu'ils y penfaffent du fainét Efprit,
qui a voulu part ce moyen fournir & accomplir ce
nombre d'ames qu'it deuoit mettre au ciel en vertu
de toutes ces prieres.
II faut confeffer que nous ne pouuons pas refpondre
du futur, & qu'enuifageant ces affaires des yeux de
la chair, on n'y voit pas Ie iour que plufieurs y defire-
roient. Mais quoy, c'eft l'ouurage de Dieu, c'eft luy
feul qui en voit Ie terme, & qui en cognoift les moy-
ens: c'eft à nous à Ie fniure, & non pas à Ie preuenir.
II faut feruir vn maiftre felon fa volonté, & quoy
qu'arriue, eftre content pourueu [186J qu'il Ie foit:
c' eft la gloire de Dieu que les chofes; aillent comme
ille veut. Souuent no us auançons Ie plus lors que
nous croyons eftre bien reculez: nous auons veu en
plufieurs malades que nous auons beaucoup gaigné à
les inftruire lors qu'ils eftoient en fanté, quoy qu'a-
lors il nous fembloit auoir perdu tout noftre temps:
plufieurs ont adoré à l'heure de la mort celuy qu'ils
blafphemoient durant leur vie. La parole de l'Euan-

1640-41]

RELATION OF I640

69

knows whether - seeing that these peoples would
not have profited in health by the words of [185]
their salvation - he has not permitted all these dis-
eases in order to draw to himself in this way those
whom he had chosen? Is it not reasonable to believe
that 450 children, who have died after baptism, have
been snatched from this world for fear that mischief
should alter the whiteness of their innocence? And
why shall we not think that strange tribes, among
whom we have never set foot,-who this year have
come to die in our hands, being driven from their
country by famine,-have been led, without their
thinking of it, by the holy Ghost, who has wished by
this means to furnish and complete that number of
souls which he was destined to put in heaven by
virtue of all these prayers?
It must be acknowledged that we cannot answer for
the future, and that by contemplating these affairs
with eyes of the flesh, one does not see the light in
them which many would desire therein. But what
then? this is God's work; he alone sees the end of it
and knows the means for it; it is for us to follow
him, and not to anticipate him. One must serve a
master according to his will, and, whatever betides,
be con ten t, provided [186] that he be so: it is the
glory of God that things go as he wills. Often we
advance the most when we think we are far behind;
we have seen, in the case of several sick people, that
we have gained much by instructing them when they
were in health, although at the time it seemed to us
that we had lost all our labor; several have adored,
at the hour of death, him whom they blasphemed dur-
ing their lives. The word of the Gospel germinates
when the holy Ghost wills to render it fruitful; it is

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gile germe quãd Ie fainét Efprit la veut rendre feconde:
e'eft a nous feulement à la femer auec fidelité, & at-
tendre les mom ens du ciel. Plufieurs qui ne voyent
nos Hurons que de quinze cens lieuës d'icy, s'impa-
tientent qu'ils ne foient defia tous conuertis, & pen-
fent qu'it ne faut que parler des grandeurs de la Foy
pour les rendre adorables: d'autres defefperent quafi
du falut de ces pauure barbares, voyant qu'ils font fi
ef10ignez des fentimens non feulement de la Foy,
mais mefme de la raifon, Ie prierois volontiers les
premiers de fonger qu'il n'ya point de pays fur la
terre qui fe foit fi toft conuerty. Si des peuples ciui-
lifez ont efté des fiecles [I87J en tiers à recognoiftre
IESVS CHRIST, peut-on raifonnablemêt exiger vne
plus prompte obeïfíance des peuples qui font nez dans
la barbarie? S'ils les confideroient de pres, ils pren-
droient pour vn vray miracle que mefme vn feul euft
efté conuerty: car il femble que ny l'Euangile, ny
l'Efcriture fainéte n'ayent efté compo fez pour eux.
Non feulement les mots leur manquent pour expri-
mer la fainéteté de nos myfteres, mais mefme les
paraboles & les difcours plus familiers de Iefus-Chrift
leur font inexplicables: ils ne íçauent ce que c'eft
que fel, leuain, chafteau, perle, prifon, grain de
moutarde, tonneaux de vin, lampe, chandelier, flam-
beau: ils n'ont aucune idée des Royaumes, des Roys,
& de leur majefté: non pas mefme de pa1l:eurs, de
troupeaux & de bergerie: en vn mot l'ignorance
qu'ils ont des choíes de la terre íemble leur fermer
Ie chemin du ciel. Les motifs de credibilité pris de
l' accomplifíement des propheties, des miracles, des
Martyrs, des Conciles, des fainéts Doéteurs, des
hiftoires tant facrées que profanes, de la fainéteté de

16-10-4]]

RELATION OF I640

71

for us merely to sow it with fidelity, and await
heaven's moments. 1Iany who only see our Hurons
fifteen hundred leagues from here are impatient that
they are not already all converted, and think that one
must simply speak of the grandeur of the Faith in
order to render it adorable; others almost despair of
the salvation of these poor barbarians,-seeing that
they are so removed from the sentiments not only of
the Faith, but even of reason. I would earnestly
entreat the former to reflect that there is no country
on earth which has been converted so soon. If civi-
lized peoples have been whole centuries [187] in
acknowledging JESUS CHRIST, can one reasonably
demand a readier obedience from the peoples who
have been born in barbarism? If they considered
them closely, they would accept for a real miracle
the fact that even a single one had been converted;
for it seems that neither the Gospel nor holy Scrip-
ture has been composed for them. Not only do words
fail them to express the sanctity of our mysteries,
but even the parables and the more familiar discourses
of Jesus Christ are inexplicable to them. They know
not what is salt, leaven, stronghold, pearl, prison,
mustard seed, casks of wine, lamp, candlestick, torch;
they have no idea of Kingdoms, Kings, and their
majesty; not even of shepherds, flocks, and a sheep-
fold,- in a word, their ignorance of the things of the
earth seems to close for them the way to heaven.
The grounds for credence, taken from the fulfill-
ment of the prophecies; from miracles, 1Iartyrs,
Councils, holy Doctors, histories both sacred and
profane; from the holiness of [188] the Church, and
from the external
splendor which renders it vener-
able to the greatest Monarchs of the world,-all that

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[V OL. 20

[188] l'Eglife, & de l'éclat exterieur qui la rend vene-
rable aux plus grands Monarques du monde; tout
cela n'a point icy de lieu: par où la Foy peut-elle
entrer dans leur efprit?
Mais toutefois ce feroit impieté de defefperer du
falut de ces peuples, Ie fang de Iefus-Chrift a efté
refpandu pour eux: la main de Dieu n'eft pas racour-
cie; fi des pierres il en peut fufciter des enfans
d' Abraham, s'il peut rendre les fteriles fecondes, pour-
quoy ne pourra-il pas tirer de ces deferts, & du pro-
fond de cette barbarie des hommes qu'il formera felon
fon cæur, & qu'il placera parmy les Chæurs des
Anges? Ce qu'on a veu dans les autres contrées du
monde, ce que nous mefmes nous voyons icy de nos
yeux doit animer nos efperances, & faire que nous
prenions des fentimens dignes de la bonté de Dieu.
11 eft vray que la plufpart de ces pauures barbares
s'endurci:ITent dans leurs pechez, & fe rendent de
iour en iour plus indignes des graces de Dieu; il eft
vray qu'ils fe mutinent à toute occafion contre la main
du medecin qui veut guerir leur [189] mal, nous pre-
nant pour la caufe de toutes leurs miferes, & s'exci-
tant les vns les autres à nous faire mourir; il eft fans
doute que toutes les raifons humaines nous font pa-
roiftre de plus en plus de nouuelles difficultez en cét
ouurage: mais c'eft de cela mefme que nous tirons
nos plus pui:ITans motifs pour efperer contre toute
efperance, auffi bien que faifoit Abraham. Nous
recognoi:ITons euidemment que c'eft Dieu qui conduit
nos affaires, & pas vn ne Ie peut nier qui ouurira les
yeux [aux] chofes que nous voyons iournellement.
Ces barbares defiroient quafi to us nofire mort, auffi
paffionnément qu'ils fouhaittent la conferuation de

1640-41]

RELA TION OF I640

73

has no place here; where can the Faith enter their
minds?
But, nevertheless, it would be impiety to despair
of the salvation of these peoples,- the blood of Jesus
Christ has been shed for them; the hand of God is
not shortened. If from stones he can raise up
children to Abraham, if he can render the barren
fruitful, why will he not be able to draw from these
deserts, and from the depth of this barbarism men
whom he will train according to his heart, and whom
he will place among the Choirs of Angels? What
has been seen in the other regions of the world, what
we ourselves see here with our own eyes, should
animate our hopes, and cause us to entertain senti-
ments worthy of the goodness of God.
It is true that most of these poor barbarians grow
hardened in their sins, and become from day to day
more unworthy of God's graces; it is true that they
rebel, on every occasion, against the hand of the
physician who wishes to cure their [189] disease,-
taking us to be the cause of all their miseries, and urg-
ing one another to make us die. It is beyond doubt
that all human reasons more and more disclose to us
new difficulties in this work: but from that very thing
we derive our most powerful motives for hoping
against all hope, as well as did Abraham. We mani-
festly discern that it is God who guides our affairs,
and not one can deny this who will open his eyes to
things which we see daily. These barbarians near-
ly all desired our death as passionately as they
craved the preservation of their own lives; in their
speeches they talked of nothing but slaughtering
us,- that was an ordinary theme of their councils;
nothing in the world is so easy to them, and even

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[VOL. 20

leur vie; ils ne parloient dans leurs difcours que de
nous mafíacrer, c'eftoit vn fujet ordinaire de leurs
confeils: rien au monde ne leur eft fi facile, & mefme
ils euffent pû Ie faire fans que deuant les hommes on
leur euft imputé ce crime. Nous ne viuons que de
ce qu'eux mefmes nous vendent & nous viennent
apporter en noftre maifon: qui les a contraint de Ie
faire? lIs ont l'vfage du poifon; ne pourroient-ils
pas [190] chaque iour en mefier dans ce qu'ils nous
apportent? lIs fe tuent affez fouuent les vns les
autres, & ces meurtres s'imputent aux ennemis, qui
tout Ie long de l'efté & de l'automne font aux
embufches fur les chemins; qui les retient de nous
maffacrer durant ces temps, que nous courons de
bourg en bourg fans armes ny defenfe, quelquefois
feuls, & au plus deux de compagnie? N'eft-ce pas
Dieu qui leur ferme les yeux? n'eft-ce pas luy qui
nous protege, & qui veut que nous ne doutions pas
du foin qu'il a de nous; & que luy feul eft noftre
fortereffe, nos canons, nos armées, noftre pouruoy-
eur, noftre tout. Nous voyons qu'il prend fon temps
& fes momens à l'heure mefme qu'ille faut: il nous
donne l'accez au pres de ceux qu'il veut tirer à foy,
quoy que la terre & l'enfer s'y oppofe, & cela fe fait
auec tant de fuauité & d'efficace, qu'il eft aifé de
iuger que c'eft vn coup de cette main qui touche for-
tement d'vne extremité à vne autre, & va difpofant
de tout auec douceur.
Lors que la maladie rauageoit ce pays, nos ouuriers
Euangeliques iouyffoient [191] d'vne fanté plus
robufte que iamais en leur vie ils n'auoient eu: la
maladie ayant ceffé, & par confequent la neceffité
n'efiant plus de courir de bourgade en bourgade pour

1640-41]

RELA TION OF 1640

75

they might have done it without having had this
crime imputed to them before men. We live only
on what they themselves sell us, and come to bring
us in our house: who has constrained them to do
this? They have the use of poison; could they not
[19 0 ] each day mix some in w hat they bring us?
They kill one another quite frequently, and these
murders are imputed to the enemies, who through-
out the summer and autumn are in ambushes along
the roads; who restrains them from slaughtering us
during those times when we journey from village to
village,- without arms or defense, sometimes alone,
and, at most, two together? Is it not God, who
shuts their eyes? is it not he who protects us, and
who wills that we shall not doubt the care that he
has for us; and that he alone is our fortress, our can-
nons, our armies, our purveyor, our all? We see
that he takes his opportunity and his moments at
the very hour when there is need of it; he gives us
access to those whom he wishes to draw to himself,
though earth and hell oppose; and that is done with
so much ease and effectiveness that it is easy to
judge that this is an act of that hand which strongly
influences from one extremity to the other, and
continues to arrange everything quietly.
While the disease was ravaging this country, our
Evangelistic workers enjoyed [191] a more robust
health than they had ever had in their lives; the
disease having ceased,- and consequently there
being no longer necessity to hasten from village to
village, in order to succor those poor infidels at the
hour of death,- we saw ourselves caught by the legs,
and attacked by the land disease [scurvy]. Did not
that adorable providence thus ordain? In a word, we

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[VOL. 20

fecourir ces pauures infideles à l'heure de la mort,
nous nous fommes veus arreftez par les jambes, &
attaquez du mal de terre. N'eft-ce pas cette adorable
prouidence qui en a ordonné de la forte? En vn mot
nous ne fommes que les inftrumens de ce bras tout-
puiffant, c'eft Dieu qui eft Ie maiftre, fes deffeins ne
demeurent iamais imparfaits: puis donc que iufques
icy les commencemens font de luy, ne deuons nous
pas efperer qu'il accomplira fon ouurage. Et ainfi
que les Hurons confpirent noftre mort, que les moyens
humains nous manquent pour fouftenir icy nos vies,
que les ennemis de ces peuples f'accroiffent comme
ils font toutes les années, leur coupent Ie chemin
qu'ils tiennent pour defcendre à Kébec, & en ce fai-
fant nous priuent du peu de fecours que nous tirons
de là. Que tout l'enfer & les demons fe foufieuent
contre la Foy & contre ceux qui la publient, nos con-
fiances & nos [192] penfées de pafíer plus auant n'en
diminueront pas d'vn poind, puis qu'elles ont pour
appuy la Croix de Iefus-Chrift, qui do it en fin fub-
iuguer tout Ie monde, & fe faire adorer des Anges,
des hommes & des enfers.

Depuis la Relation, voicy vne lettre venuë des
Hurons, addreffée au R. P. Vimont, qui merite de
faire partie de ce prefent narré.

M ON REVEREND PERE,
Pax ChrijH.
11 femble que les derniers canots qui doiuent def-
cendre n'attendent à partir que pour nous donner
moyen de faire fçauoir à V. R. vne nouuelle qui ie
m'affeure la furprendra aut ant qu'elle nous a furpris:

1640-41]

RELATION OF I640

77

are but the instruments of that almighty arm: God
is the master; his designs never remain unperfected.
Since, then, hitherto the beginnings are from him,
should we not hope that he will complete his work?
And thus, while the Hurons conspire for our death;
while human means fail us to maintain our lives
here; while the enemies of these peoples increase as
they do, every year; while they cut off for them the
way, which they hold, for going down to Kébec, and
by so doing deprive us of the little aid which we
derive thence; while all hell and the demons rise up
against the Faith and against those who announce
it; our confidence, and our [192J thoughts of passing
on beyond, will not diminish by one jot, since they
have for support the Cross of Jesus Christ, who must
finally subjugate all the world, and be adored by
Angels, men, and the regions of hell.

Since the Relation, here follows a letter which has
come from the Hurons, addressed to Reverend Fa-
ther Vimont; which deserves to go with the present
narrative.

M y REVEREND FATHER,
Pax Christl".
It seems that the last canoes which are to go down
are waiting to start, only to give us means of acquaint-
ing Your Reverence with a piece of news which I
am sure will surprise you as much as it has surprised
us,-and will cause you to put in the number of the
profound secrets and of the adorable dispensations
of the divine providence, that which we cannot
consider without astonishment.
I was preparing to write to Your Reverence for

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[VOL. 20

& luy fera mettre au nombre des fecrets profonds &
des difpofitions adorables de la diuine prouidence, ce
que nous ne pouuons confiderer fans eftonnement.
Ie me difpofois à efcrire à V. R. pour la derniere
fois de cette prefente année, [191 i.e., 193J par la
voye de Iofeph Chihouatenhoua noftre bon Chreftien,
& voila que Ie mefme papier dont il deuoit eftre Ie
porteur, eft employé pour porter à V. R. la nouuelle
de fa mort.
Hier fur Ie foir, deuxiefme du courant, lors qu'il
trauailloit en fon champ à couper quelques arbres,
deux Hiroquois, ennemis des Hurons fortirent du
bois prochain ou ils fe tenoient en embufche, & s'e-
ftans ruez deffus luy, Ie percerent d'vne longue efpée,
puis 1'ayãt abbattu de deux coups de hache fe retire-
rent promptement à la fuite, apres luy auoir enleué
fa cheuelure felon leur couftume, pour l'emporter en
triomphe dans leur pays. Comme on vit en fa mai-
fon qu'il tardoit à reuenir, on Ie douta de ce qui eftoit
arriué; & en effeét ayant efté pour Ie chercher, on
trouua au lieu mefme Ion cadaure eftendu roide mort,
& enIeuely dans Ion fang. 11 ya de l'apparence qu'ils
ne l'eurent pas fans refiftance, & les anciens du bourg
apres la vifite du lieu, ont iugé par Ie foulement de
la place & Ie p[i]etillement du bled, qu'il auoit rendu
du combat, & [192 i.e., 194] que les ennemis n'en
fuffent venus à bout s'ils n'eufíent eu vne longue
efpée dont ils l'atteignirent. Sans doute que cette
mort, quoy que fubite à ce bon & excellent Chreftien,
ne Ie prit pas à l'impourueu: car outre qu'il eftoit
continuellement en la grace de Dieu, comme affeu-
rent ceux qui ont eu íoin de íon arne, & entendu íes
confeffions, qui d'vn cofté f' eftonnoient des lumieres

1640-41]

RELA TION OF I640

79

the last time in this current year, [191 i.e., 193] by
the hand of Joseph Chihouatenhoua, our good Chris-
tian; and now the same paper of which he should
have been the bearer is used to carry to Your Rever-
ence the news of his death.
Yesterday, toward evening, the second of this
month, while he was working in his field to cut down
some trees, two Hiroquois, enemies of the Hurons,
issued from the neigh boring wood, where they lay in
ambush, and having rushed upon him, pierced him
with a long javelin. Then, having felled him with
two blows of a hatchet, they promptly retreated in
flight, after having removed his scalp according to
their custom, in order to carry it away in triumph to
their country. When it was seen, in his house, that
he was late in coming back, they suspected what had
happened; and in fact, having gone to look for him
they found at the very p1ace his body outstretched,
stone-dead, and covered with his blood. There are
indications that they did not take him without re-
sistance; and the elders of the village, after visiting
the place, have inferred by the marks of feet round
about, and from the trampling of the corn, that he
had shown fight, and [192 i.e., 194] that the enemies
would not have succeeded if they had not had a long
javelin with which they reached him. No doubt this
death, although sudden for this good and excellent
Christian, did not take him unprepared: for, besides
the fact that he was continually in the grace of God,-
as those affirm who had charge of his soul and heard
his confessions, who on the one hand were astonished
at the enlightenment which God gave him concern-
ing his least failings; and on the other hand admired
the tenderness of his conscience and his fidelity in

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[VOL. 20

que Dieu luy donnoit de fes moindres deffauts: &
d' autre part admiroient la tendreffe de fa confcience,
& fa fidelité à refpondre aux graces de Dieu. Ce iour
là mefme dés Ie matin il s'efioit mis à deux genoux à
fon ordinaire au milieu de la cabane, recommendant
fon ame à Dieu, & s' offrant auec toute fa famille à
tout ce qu'il plairoit à Nofire Seigneur difpofer de
luy ou des fiens. Sur Ie midy efiant forty de fa
cabane auec trois de fes petits niepces pour aller en
fon champ, il ne fifi que Ies infiruire par Ie chemin,
puis efiant arriué fur Ie lieu, & y voyant les fruiéts
de la terre extraordinairement beaux; Mettons nous
à genoux, dit-il, & remercions Dieu de ces biens qu'il
nousdonne: [193 i.e., 195] c'efi bien Ie moins que
nous puiffions faire, puis que fans ceffe il continuë
fes benediétions deffus nous. Apres qu'ils eurent
prié Dieu illeur fifi cueillir quelques citroüilles, & au
plufiofi les renuoya toutes trois chargées à la maifon,
leur difant qu'ils n'efioient pas en lieu affeuré; que
pour luy il alloit dans les bois coupper quelques
bafions de Cedre pour acheuer Ie canot qui Ie deuoit
porter à Kébec, & qu'au retour il continueroit à tra-
uailler dans fon champ Ie refie de la iournée, ce tra-
uail efiant neceffaire. Mais quoy! c'efioit là mefme
où quelques heures apres la mort Ie deuoit trouuer.
Dimanche dernier il efioit venu en no fire maifon,
eíloignée main tenant de Ia fienne d'enuiron trois
lieuës, auec fa femme & fes deux enfans, pour y faire
fes deuotions à fon ordinaire. Apres s'efire confeffé
& communié il auoit fait venir & auoit offert à Nofire
Seigneur Ies premiers fruiéts de ce mefme champ OÙ
depuis il a efié tué: & Dieu fans doute accepta dés
lors & Ie don & celuy qui faifoit l'offrande, l'ayant

1640-41]

RELATION OF I640

81

responding to the graces of God,-on that very day,
promptly in the morning, he had knelt as was his
wont in the middle of the cabin, commending his
soul to God and offering himself, together with his
whole family, to whatever it should please Our Lord
to dispose for him or his. Toward noon, having left
his cabin with three of his little nieces, to go to his
field, he did nothing but instruct them by the way;
then having reached the place, and seeing there the
fruits of the earth, uncommonly flourishing: " Let
us kneel, It he said, "and thank God for these good
_ things which he gives us; [193 i.e., 195] it is the
very least that we can do, since he continues his
blessings upon us without ceasing." After they had
prayed to God, he had them gather some squashes;
and, as soon as possible, he sent them back, all three
burdened, to the house,- telling them that they were
not in a secure place; that, as for him, he was going
into the woods to cut some sticks of Cedar to finish
the canoe which was to carry him to Kébec; and that
on his return he would continue to work in his field
for the rest of the day, this work being necessary.
But what! there it was, in fact, where death was to
find him several hours later.
Last Sunday, he had come to our house,-now
distant about three leagues from his,-with his wife
and his two children, in order to offer his devotions
there as usual. After having confessed and received
communion, he had sent for and had offered to Our
Lord the first fruits of that same field in which he
has since been killed; and God no doubt even then
accepted both the gift and him who was making the
offering,-having found him ripe [194 i.e., 196] for
heaven,- inasmuch as so few days later he has willed

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

trouué meur [194 i.e., 196] pour Ie ciel; puis que fi
peu de iours apres i1 a voulu Ie cueillir du parterre
de fon Eglife militante pour Ie mettre dans la triom-
phante. Ceux qui auront leu les Relations prece-
dentes, & celles de cette année n'auront pas de la
peine à Ie croire; Dieu n' auoit pas commence & con-
duit fi auant vn ouurage fi rare pour ne pas continuer
deffus luy fes mifericordes autant & plus à l'heure de
la mort qu'i1 n'auoit fait pendant fa vie. Ceux qui
ont cogneu de plus prés ce bon Chreftien, & qui l'ont
pratiqué eux mefmes, me rendent tefmoignage qu'il
auoit vne prefence de Dieu quafi continuelle, qu'il
agiffoit en tout auec des intentions dignes d'vn cæur
vrayement Chreftien: & que fi quelquesfois fon efprit
s'efgaroit Ie moins du monde hors de la voye des
Sainéts, i1 fe retrouuoit incontinent, & fe confondoit
de fes fautes legeres comme d'autant de crimes qu'il
commettoit dans l'amour de celuy fans lequel il
n'eufi pas voulu refpirer vn moment. Pour moy ie
puis dire en verité, que i'admirois en luy de iour en
iour les puiffans effeéts de la grace qui poffedoit
entierement [195 i.e., 197] fon cæur, & que ie ne fou-
haitte point d'autre recompenfe apres cette vie, que
Ie lieu où ie crois affeurément que foit fon ame.
n eft vray que nous efperions beaucoup de Iuy pour
Ia conuerfion de ces peuples, dont i1 s' eftoit rendu
Apofire durant Ie cours de cette année; mais puis
que les Sainéts ont plus de pouuoir lors qu'i1s font
dans le ciel qu'icy bas fur terre, nous deuons croire
que nous auons plus gaigné que perdu à fa mort.
Nous verrons en fon temps ce qu'elle produira.
Puis que le temps me preffe, & que les canots font
fur Ie point de partir, ie fuis contraint de rompre icy,

1640-41]

RELA TION OF r640

83

to gather him from the garden of his Church militant,
in order to put him in the one triumphant. Those
who may have read the preceding Relations and the
ones for this year will have no difficulty in believing
this; God had not begun and conducted so far for-
ward so rare a work not to continue upon him his
mercies as much and more, at the hour of death, than
he had done during his life. Those who have been
most closely acquainted with this good Christian, and
who have themselves tested him, render me the evi-
dence that he had an almost continual sense of the
. presence of God, that in everything he acted with
intentions worthy of a truly Christian heart. They
say that if, at times, his mind strayed in the least
from the way of the Saints, he straightway recovered
himself, and was confounded by his slight faults as
by so many crimes that he was committing against
the love of him without whom he would not have
wished to breathe a moment. As for me, I can say
in truth that I admired in him from day to day the
powerful effects of the grace which wholly possessed
[195 i.e., 197] his heart; and that I desire no other
recompense after this life than the place in which I
certainly believe his soul is.
It is true that we hoped much from him for the
conversion of these tribes, whose Apostle he had
made himself during the course of this year; but
since the Saints have more power when they are
in heaven than here below on earth, we are bound
to believe that we have gained more than lost at
his death. We shall see in due time what it will
produce.
Since time presses me, and as the canoes are on
the point of starting, I am constrained to stop here,

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LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

& n'en pas dire dauantage, quoy qu'il y ait des chofes
qui n'ayant deu efire pub1iée d'vn homme auant fa
mort, couronnée du bon de perfeuerance, meriteroient
d' eftre icy adiouftée, pour faire aduoüer à tout Ie
monde que Dieu eft admirable dans fes Sainéts,
autant en cette barbarie qu'en autre lieu du man de:
mais fi eUes ne font cogneuës en terre eUes Ie feront
dans le ciel: c' eft là où fans ceffe nous benirons
[19 6 i.e., 198] Dieu de fes mifericordes qu'il va exer-
çant fur cette pauure barbarie, & fur ceux qu'il veut
y employer. V. R. continuë, s'illuy plaift, par fes
fainéts facrifices & prieres de nous ayder à ne nous
en pas rendre indignes.
De V. R.
Tres-humble & obeïffant feruiteur, felon
Dieu, HIEROSME LALEMANT.

Des Hurons, ce 3.
d' Aoufi 1640.

1640-41]

RELATION OF I640

85

and say no more; although there are things which-
though not proper to publish of a man before his
death, crowned with the good of perseverance - would
deserve to be added here, in order to cause all the
world to admit that God is admirable in his Saints,
no less in this land of barbarism than in any other
place in the world. But, if these things are not
known on earth, they will be in heaven: there we
shall ceaselessly bless [196 i.e., 198] God for his
mercies which he continues to exercise over this poor
barbarous people, and over those whom he wills to
employ for them. Your Reverence will continue, if
.you please, by your holy sacrifices and prayers to aid
us to render ourselves not unworthy thereof.
Your Reverence's
Very humble and obedient servant in
God, HIEROSME LALEMANT.
From the Hurons, this 3rd
of August, 1640.

XLH-XLIlI

Two LETTERS OF 16 4 1

XLII.- Lettre du P. Charles Garnier à son Frère; Sainte-
Marie aux Hurons, 23 juin, 16 4 1
XLHl.- Excerpta Epistola Patris Joannis de Brébeuf ad
Præpositum Generalem; Kebec, August 20, 1641

SOURCE: Document XLII. is from a contemporary copy
of the original letter, in French, made by a member of the
Garnier family, in France. Document XLlll. consists of
extracts from Brébeuf's letter in Latin, made from the
original in 1858, by Father Felix Martin; this apograph is in
the archives of St. Mary's College, Montreal; an indorse-
ment thereon, by Father Martin, shows that the letter was
written at Quebec, August 20, 1641.

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LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

lettre du P. Charles Garnier à son Frère.

M ON TRES CHER FRERE
Notre Sgr. Vous remplisse Ie Cæur de son
St. amour
Jay de la Consolation õ [sc. non] seulement a reçeuoir
de Vos letres mais aussya vous enuoyer des miennes.
Cest pour quoy Ce ma eté vne Mortification que vous
nayez reçu celles que Je vous auois ecrites il y a deux
ans je Croy queUes auront ete perdues dieu soit beni
de tout j aurois sans doute bien plus de Consolation a
vous ecrire si j auois a võ [sc. vousJ mander quelque
Notable auancemt. que j eusse fait ou põ [sc. pour]
ma perfection particuliere ou pour la Conuersion des
Sauuages Cõe [sc. comme] Vous Croyez que jay fait,
mais patience ma Consolation est que de tout Ce que
je võ manderay vous entirerez sujet de louer honorer
et aymer Dieu dauantage. Je suis dans vn employ
tout diuin Benissez en dieu a jamais et de tout
votre Cæur son Infinie misericorde me fait mil et mil
graces põ me Conduire a la perfection que requiert
Cet Employ qe V otre Cæur defaiUe dans les Elans d' a-
mour qe võ jettez vers Cette souueraine bonté Je suis
tres Infidel a Correspondre a Ces graces Innombrables
fachez võ Contre moy auec Dauid admirez la patience
de Dieu et Consolez V ous de Ce qe nõ auons a faire
a vn si bon Mr., qui ne se lasse point et nõ appeUe a
soy II ne se rebute point de Nos stupidites Imperti-
nences et Malices Courage mon tres cher frere si

1640- 41]

GARl\TIER TO HIS BROTHER

89

Letter from Father Charles Garnier to his Brother.

M y DEAREST BROTHER,-
May Our Lord fill Your Heart with his
Holy love.
I feel Consolation not only in receiving Your let-
ters, but also in sending you my own. Therefore It
was a :Mortification to me that you did not receive
those that I had written to you two years ago: I Sup-
pose they may have been lost; God be blessed in
all. I would, no doubt, have much more Consolation
in writing to you if I had some Notable progress to
announce to you that I might have made,-either
toward my individual perfection, or toward the
Conversion of the Savages,-As You Think I have
done. But patience! my Consolation is that from
Whatever I shall communicate to you, you will de-
rive reason to praise, honor, and love God the more.
I am in an occupation wholly divine: Bless God for
it forever, and with all your Heart; his Infinite mer-
cy shows me a thousand, thousand favors to Lead me
unto the perfection which This Occupation requires.
Let Your Heart break in the Transports of love that
you pour forth toward That sovereign goodness. I
am very Faithless in Responding to These Innumer-
able favors; be angry At me, with David admire the
patience of God, and Console Yourself That we have
to deal with so good a Master, who wearies not, and
calls us to himself. He is not repelled by Our stu-
pidities, Impertinences, and Evil actions. Courage,

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LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

nous auons passé deux ans Voir six Voir trente a
faire 1a sourde Oreille, Croyons et Esperons qe demain
nous Commençerons a ouvrir l' oreille a Cette V oix si
aymable et si patiente Et pour quoy je V ous prie ne
1e Croyrions nõ pas aynsy puisque nõ voyons et sca-
uons que Ie patient IESUS nõ appelle encore Mais
d'un appel amoureux et qui l'emportera mais nous ne
scauons pas quand esperons tousjours que Ce sera au
plutost ô je ne Croy pas que nõ fassions plus grande
faute au seruice de Dieu que de perdre Courage que
de 1aisser a battre nõ Cæur par la deffiance et la pusil-
lanimité tous les autres pechez ne sont rien au prix
de Celuy la au moins i1 ny en a point qui empesche
tant nõ [sc. notreJ auançemt que Ces bas sentimens
de 1a Bonte de Dieu enuers nõ, et bien souuent Cest
par Ce péché que Ie Diable Ce [sc. SeJ saisit de Notre
Cæur põ y faire entrer par apres tous les autres mon
Cher frere nõ [n'Jeffrayons point põ n'auoir auançé
ny meme põ auoir reculé il nya presque point d'ame
a qui Cela n'arriue quelque fois mais Courons aux
desseins que Dieu a detirer sa Gloire de Ces Infideli-
tez Vos souffrances et Incommoditez purgeront võ [sc.
votreJ Cæur Esperez Ie ainsy quoy quil Vous sem-
ble que VÕ les preniez bien mal Je prie dieu qu'il
nõ façe 1a grace de trouuer par tout la paix de Votre
Cæur J e Croy que võ deuez auoir de la Consolation
a lire les autres de Mr. de Salles J e ne sçay si vous
auez veu vn Certain petit liure lntitulé . . . .
. . . . . . . . . C est V n petit tresor de Consolation
que Ce Petit Eure mais la source de toutte douceur
et tout Ie soutien de Nos Cæur C est JESVS au st.
sacremt. et ne dittes point qe V ous ne s auouerez point
Ce pain de Vie tenez seulemt. bon a võ entretenir

1640-41]

GARNIER TO HIS BROTHER

91

my dearest brother; if we have spent two years-
Even six, Even thirty-in turning a deaf Ear, let us
Believe and Hope that to-morrow we shall Begin to
open our ears to This V oice, so gracious and so
patient. And why, I beg You, should we not thus
Believe, since we see and know that the patient JESUS
still calls us? But with a loving call, and one which
will gain the day, only we know not when; let us hope,
at all events, that It will be as soon as possible. Oh,
I do not Believe that we can commit a greater fault
in the service of God, than to lose Courage, and to
allow our Hearts to be cast down by distrust and
pusillanimity. All the other sins are nothing in
comparison with That one,- at least, there is none
which so much impedes our progress as These low
opinions of the Goodness of God toward us; and very
often It is by That sin that the Devil seizes Our
Hearts in order to let into them afterward all the
others. My Dear brother, let us not be alarmed for
not having advanced nor even for having receded;
there is hardly any soul to which That does not
sometimes happen. But let us Hasten to the pur-
poses which God has for deriving his own Glory from
These Unfaithful acts; Your sufferings and Incon-
veniences will purge your Heart. Hope this, there-
fore, although it seem to You that You take them
very ill. I pray God to grant you the grace to find
everywhere the peace of Your Heart. I Think that
you must find Consolation in reading the other
[works] of :Monsieur de Salles. 8 I know not whether
you have seen a Certain little book Entitled. . . .
. . . . . . . .. It is A little treasure of Consolation,
This Little book; but the source of all sweetness,
and the whole support of Our Hearts is JESUS in the

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

quelque temps apres la St. Messe et a quelques Visites
du st. sacremt. auec Cet Hoste tout aymable selon
que Vos occupations Vous Ie permettent adorons Ie
et Embrassons Ie protestons luy que nõ sommes a luy
malgre nõ meme, et quil fasse de N ous ce quil luy
plaira pardonnez moy mon Cher frere prenez que
Cest a moy seul que je parole en Cette lettre et non
a vous et ainsy prenez moy põ vn fol Car il est vray
que jextrauague mais priez dieu quil me change et
alors Comme je Croy je võ ecriray quelque chose de
bon tel que je suis je ne laisse pas de prier dieu põ
võ et põ notre pauure frere prodigue et je Ie fais sou-
ueñt Je ne scay si võ auez reçu tous deux l'an passe
mes letres par Iesquelles je võ mandois qe J e priois
N. S. d'auoir põ agreable l'lntention que j'auois que
Certain nombre de messes que je dirois au temps de
V otre mort a to us deux si d auanture võ partez de-
uant moy V oUS fussent appliquez Helas Ce pauure
prodigue ne rentrera til point dedans soy prions Ie
Pere et la Mere des misericordes d'auoir pitie de luy.
PÕ võ dire quelques nouuelles de Ce pays võ scau-
rez que nõ auons eté Cette année treize prestres de
Notre Compagnie scauoir est les R. P. hierosme LaI-
lemant N. superieur Le P. Brebeuf Ie P Lemercier
Le P. Daniel Le P. Raimbault et Ie P. Claude Pijart
qui vinrent I' an passé de Quebec põ lnstruire quel-
ques Nations Algonquinnes et non huronnes qui sont
en Ces quartiers Cy Ie P. J ogues Le P Le Moyne Le
P. du Peron Le P. Chaumonot Le P. Chastelin Le P.
Pierre Pijart et moy qui nõ sommes partages l'hiuer
dernier en six Missions Le P. brebeuf et Le P. Chau-
monet sont allez a la Nation Neutre nation ou on n'a-

1640-41]

GARNIER TO HIS BROTHER

93

blessed sacrament. And say not that You do not
relish This bread of Life: deem it only good to con-
verse for some time after the Holy Mass, and at some
Visits to the blessed sacrament, with This whol1y
gracious Host, according as Your occupations allow
You this. Let us adore and Em brace him; let us
protest to him that we are his in spite of ourselves,
and let him do with Us what he shall please. Par-
don me, my Dear brother,- assume that It is myself
alone to whom I speak in This letter, and not to you,
and thus take me for a lunatic; For it is true that
I rave; but pray to God to change me, and then, As
I Believe, I shall write to you something good. Such
as I am, I do not fail to entreat God for you, and for
our poor prodigal brother; and I do so often. I
know not whether you both received my letters last
year, by which I informed you that I was entreating
Our Lord to accept the Intention which I had, that a
Certain number of masses that I would say at the
time of Your death,- in case of you both, if per-
chance you depart before me,- should be applied to
You. Alas, will This poor prodigal not return to
himself? Let us pray the Father and the Mother of
mercies to have pity on him.
To tell you some news of This country, you shall
know that we have been thirteen priests of Our So-
ciety This year: to wit, the Reverend Father hierosme
Lallemant, Our superior; Father Brebeuf, Father
Lemercier, Father Daniel; Father Raimbault, and
Father Claude Pijart, who came from Quebec last
year to Instruct some Algonquin and non-Huron
Nations in These quarters; Father J ogues, Father
Le Moyne, Father du Peron, Father Chaumonot,
Father Chastelin, Father Pierre Pijart, and myself,-

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LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

uoit point en cor eté porter I Euangile qui est Eloi-
gnee de Notre Maison de Cinq ou six J ournées de
Chemin dont il en faut coucher 4 dans la Campagne
Cette nation Comprend enuiron 40 bourgs nos peres
en ont parcourus enuiron vne douzaine, mais auec
bien des souffrances et des Calomnies, qui produiront
quelques jõ [sc. jour] leurs fruits C'est nõ Esperance
Cette Mission a põ Patrons les SSe Anges. Ie P.
Daniel et le P. Ie Moyne ont Continué la mission
qu'ils auoient Commençé l'an passe aux Arendaen-
hronon et de plus ont pris charge du bourg de st.
Joseph ou ils ont entretenus quelques bons chrestiens
quy y sont Le RP. lalemant auec Ie P. LeMercier
on[t] pris põ partage la mission de la Conception qui
tire son nom du bourg de la Conception que les sau-
uages appelle Ossossaiié ou nõ auons eu autre fois
vne Cabanne et maintenant ny auons plus q'une
petitte chapelle ou nõ assemblons quelques bons
chrestiens que nõ auons dans Ce bourg. Cest a leur
Instruction que s' est occu pé Cette h yuer Le R. P.
Lal1ement auec Le P. Le 110ine auec bien de la Con-
solãon. Vous auez appris par la Rellation que l'an
passé Ie bon Joseph Chiohoarehra qui a eté Notre
premier et notre bon Chrestien demeurant en Ce
bourg fut tué I' Esté passé par les Ennemis dans son
Champ Cestoit dans Ce Chrestien que nõ auions notre
Esperance apres Dieu et si nous n'auions l'Experi-
ence de la prouidence particuliere dont dieu nõ Con-
duit icy nõ eussions pensé que l'Eglise naissante de
Cette pauure barbarie, alloit etre estoufé par la mort
de son fils ainé mais dieu nous Conduit icy par la
V oye aymable du depouillem t . des Creatures et II veut
que notre apuy soit en luy seul. II a donc suscité Ie

1640-41]

GARNIER TO HIS BROTHER

9.')

who distributed ourselves last winter among six Mis-
sions. Father brebeuf and Father Chaumonet went
to the Neutral Nation,-where we had not yet been
to carry the Gospel,-which is Five or six Days'
Journey Distant from Our House; on 4 of which
one must sleep in the Field. This nation Includes
about 40 villages; our fathers have made the round
of about a dozen of these, but with many sufferings
and Calumnies, which will some day produce their
fruits,- such is our Hope. This Mission has for
Patrons the Holy Angels. Father Daniel and Father
Ie Moyne have Continued the mission which they
had Begun last year among the Arendaenhronon,
and have furthermore taken charge of the village of
St. Joseph, where they have sustained some good
Christians who are there. The Reverend Father
lalemant and Father Le Mercier have taken for their
portion the mission of la Conception, which takes its
name from the village of la Conception, which the
savages call Ossossaiié, w here we formed y had a
Cabin; now we have there only a little chapel, where
we assemble some good Christians that we have in
That village. It is in their Instruction that The
Reverend Father Lallement has been occupied This
winter, with Father Le Moine, to their great Con-
solation. You have learned by the Relation that
last year the good Joseph Chiohoarehra, who was
Our first and our good Christian, dwelling in This
village, was killed the past Summer by the Enemies,
in his own Field. It was in This Christian that we
had our Hope, after God; and if we had not Experi-
ence of the special providence with which God Guides
us here, we might have thought that the incipient
Church of This poor barbarian land was about to be

96

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

frere de ce ch. Chrestien qu'il nõ a esté põ prendre
sa place et se faire bon Chrestien; toutte leur famille
nõ donne bien de la Consolãon Cest au bout de leur
Cabanne que nõ auons fait vne petitte chapelle ou nõ
allons de temps en temps leur dire la messe.
Le P. Jogues et Le P. du Peron ont eu põ partage
la mission de Ste. Marie qui Comprend 5 bourgs dicy
alentour, ou ils ont travaille auec bien de la peine et
de la patience. Le P. Raimbaut et Ie P. Pierre Pi-
jart demeurant a la maison alloient tous les jours
Voir les nipissiriniens C est une nation Algonquine
qui etoit Venu passer l'hiuer en Ce pays a Cent pas
de Notre Maison. ils y alloient pour apprendre leur
langue et leur donner 1 Instruction quils pouuoient
en Ce Commençem t d estude qu'ils font de leur
langue ils leur ont apprise a chanter quelques belles
prieres, que les bonnes gens ont appris fort V olon-
tiers quelquns d'entre eux tesmoignent auoir quel-
ques dispositions a la foy, les deux Peres s'en sont
allez auec eux en leur pays quy est a Cinq Journees
d'icy ou y passerent leté ales Instruire Le P. Pierre
Pijart et Moy auons eté enuoyés a la mission des
Apostres Cest a La Nation du Petun ou jauois desja
passé I 'hyuer precedent nous y auons eté fort mal
reçus la I ere. année la seconde nous y auons ete vus
d'assez bon reil dieu mercy nous en trouuons qui nõ
ecoutent. la patience et la perseuerence l'emporte-
ront Dieu aydant il est vray que Ces Missions sont
rem plies de Croix et dans la difficulté des Chemins
pendant l'hyuer et põ Ie viure Ie vestir Ie logem t . la
fumée &c mais la principalle peine Cest la Captiuite
dans laquelle on est põ faire ses prieres et prendre
un peu de repos hors Ie tracas, outre la priuation de

1640-41]

GARNIER TO HIS BROTHER

97

smothered by the death of her eldest son; but God
Guides us here through the gracious Way of depriv-
ing us of Creatures, and He desires that our support
be in him alone. He has therefore raised up the
brother of this dear Christian,- as he was to us,- to
take his place, and become a good Christian; their
whole family gives us much Consolation. In the end
of their Cabin we have made a little chapel, whither
we go from time to time to say mass for them.
Father Jogues and Father du Peron have had for
their portion the mission of Ste. Marie, which
Comprises 5 villages hereabout, where they have
labored with much difficulty and patience. Father
Raimbaut and Father Pierre Pijart, remaining at the
house, went every day to See the nipissiriniens-
This is an Algonquin nation which had Come to
spend the winter in This country, a Hundred paces
from Our House. They went thither to learn their
language, and give them what Instruction they could
at This Beginning of their own study of their lan-
guage; they have taught them to chant some excel-
lent prayers, which the good people have learned
very Willingly. Some among them bear witness of
having some inclination for the faith; the two
Fathers have gone with them to their own country,
which is Five Days' Journey from here, where they
spent the summer in Instructing them. Father
Pierre Pijart and I have been sent to the mission of
the Apostles; This is in The Tobacco Nation,
where I had already spent the preceding winter. We
were received very ill there the 1st year; in the sec-
ond, we have been regarded in a tolerably favorable
manner; thank God, we find some who listen to us.
Patience and perseverance will win the day, God

98

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

la messe qu on ne dit point ou fort rarem t . nõ auons
pensé mourir deux fois dans les chemins vne fois Ce
fut sur Vn lac glacé ou Ie soir meme que nõ l'auons
passe deux sauuages moururent de froid 0 Mon
cher frere priez pour nõ q u' il nõ Conserue et fortifie
Ie Courage qu il nõ donne nõ en auons bien besoin
nõ auons par sa Bonte anoncé son nom cet hyuer a
quinze mil sauuages et il y en a eu fort peu de Con-
uertis on en a bâtisé en tout enuiron vne Centaine
presque tous dans la Maladie mais Cependant nõ voy-
ons Ie progrez qui se fait nõ sommes assurez que
dieu est auec nõ nõ Ie voyons Clairem t . mais il nous
Conduit pas a pas il nõ a donne beaucoup de benedic-
tions sur nõ Maison ou nous sommes trente francoise.
il y a de la Consolation auoir nos domestiques secu-
liers d'habit mais religieux de Cæur sa prouidence
nõ paroist bien particuliere a nõ faire trouuer Ce qui
nõ est necessaire põ la viure Ie jr. de St. Joseph notre
bon patron nõ visme dans notre maison notre proui-
sion de Bled põ vn An esperons esperons mon cher
frere que Ces benedictions seront suiuies de la grande
benediction que nõ attendons sur Ces terres maudites
priez põ nõ et priez tous Ceux quy ayment J. C. de
l'Interesser dans l'affaire qu'il nõ amise entre leur
mains nõ remercions entre autres bien particulierem t .
Ie R P. Prosper de Sa charité nõ Ie prions de Conti-
nuer, nos PP. m'ont promis de prier pour võ Comme
vous les en priez je võ remerçie du memoir que võ
maués enuoyé des remedes les plus faciles vous ne
Croyez pas qui ne laisent pas de nõ etre difficiles põ
la plus part dans la disette de Ce pays neamoins je
võ en remercie d'aussy bon Cæur que si nõ les
pouuions pratiquer mais je vous prie de m'enuoyer

1640-41]

GARNIER TO HIS BROTHER

99'

helping. It is true that These Missions are filled
with Crosses,- both in the difficulty of the Roads
during the winter, and as regards food, clothing,
lodging, the smoke, etc.; but the chief trouble is the
Bondage that one is in with reference to saying one's
prayers and taking a little rest away from the bustle,
besides the privation of mass, which is said not at
all, or very seldom. We ha ve twice come near
dying in the roads: once It was on A frozen lake,
where two savages died from cold on the very even-
ing when we passed. 0 My dear brother, pray for
us that he may Preserve us and strengthen the Cour-
age which he gives us; we have much need of it.
We have, through his Goodness, announced his name
this winter to fifteen thousand savages, and there
have been very few Converted; we have baptized in
all about a Hundred,-nearly all during the Disease.
But Yet we see the progress which is being made;
we are assured that God is with us,- we see it Clear-
ly,- but he Guides us step by step. He has given
us many blessings upon our House in which we
have been thirty Frenchmen: there is Comfort in
having our domestics,-laymen in dress but reli-
gious in Heart. His providence appears to us very
special in causing us to find What is necessary to us
for living; on the day of St. Joseph, our good
patron, we saw in our house our provision of Corn
for a Year. Let us hope, let us hope, my dear broth-
er, that These blessings will be followed by the great
blessing which we expect upon These accursed lands.
Pray for us, and entreat all Those who love Jesus
Christ, to Interest him in the matter which he has
placed for us in their hands; among others, we very
especially thank the Reverend Father Prosper for

100

LES RELA TIONS DES /ÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

quelques graines medicinales Cõme les purges, et
quelques autres semblables si võ en Cultiuez les
plantes chez vans et me mendez la Culture et l'usage
je termine ora pro me sine fine qui suis &c

de St
Marie aux hurans ce 23
juin 1641.

c. G.

1640-41]

GARNIER TO HIS BROTHER

101

His charity; we beg him to Continue. Our Fathers
have promised me to pray for you As you beseech
them to. I thank you for the memorandum which you
have sent me of the easiest remedies: you do not
Realize that they are nevertheless, for the most part,
difficult for us, in the dearth of This country; how-
beit, I thank you for them with just as good a Heart
as if we could employ them. But I beg you to send
me some medicinal seeds, As the purgatives, and
some other like sorts; if you Cultivate the plants at
home, please inform me of their Cultivation and
use. I close: ora pro me sine fine, who am, etc.
C. G.

From Ste. Marie, of the hurons, this 23rd
of June, 1641.

102

LES RELA TIONS DES J
SUITES

[VOL. 20

Excerpta Epistola Patris Joannis de Brébeuf ad
Reverendissimum Patrem Mutium Vitel-
leschi, Præpositum Generalem
Societatis Jesu, Romæ.

Q UOAD nostros qui apud hurones degunt magna
pax et unio inter eos viget. . . . Dis-
ciplina religiosa non solum ut in magnis
collegiis profecto observatur, augetur q. in dies regu-
larum omnium exacta custodia.
N ostri etiam domestici omnes ad perfectionem pro
viribus contendunt, maxime vero qui se socios dede-
runt. Cæterum quod ad id genus hoûm omnino
hisce in regionibus non solum utile sed necessari-
um
habemus apud hurones ecclesiam 60 circiter capiti-
bus constantem et quorum virtute et fervore magnam
consolationem accipimus. crescit autem paulatim
numerus, et perget, ut speramus, in dies si modo
constantes fuerimus.
Præterea major quotidie campus sese aperit in quo
-excurrat nostrorum zelus et industria. Duas hoc
anno de novo instituimus missiones unam ad eos
Algonquinos quos Nipissirini nominamus quorum
ingenia satis videntur: alteram ad earn
nation em quam Neutram vocamus in qua magna est

1640-41]

BRÉBEUF TO THE GE
VERAL

103

Extracts from a Letter of Father Jean de Brébeuf
to the Very Reverend Father Mutius Vi-
telleschi, General of the Society
of Jesus, at Rome.

C ONCERNING ours who live with the Hu-
rons, great peace and union prevails among
them. Religious discipline is not
only observed, in fact, as in the great colleges,- but
the punctual 0 bservance of all the rules is also
increased from day to day.
Indeed all of our household strive toward perfec-
tion according to their powers,- chiefly, of course,
those who have given themselves to be associates
[Fr. donnés]. For the rest, as for this class of men,
who in these regions are certainly not only useful,
bu t necessary
We have among the Hurons a church consisting
of about 60 members, whose virtue and fervor give
us great consolation.
10reover, the number increases
little by little, and will continue, as we hope, from
day to day,-if only we are steadfast.
Besides, a greater field opens daily, wherein the
zeal and acti vi ty of ours may exercise itself. We
have established two new missions this year,-one
among those Algonquins whom we name Nipissirini,
whose native qualities seem sufficiently
the other, in that nation which we call Neutral, in
which there is a great harvest: for there are in it

104

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOl- 20

messis sunt enim in ea fere 40 pagi frequentibus in-
colis referti. Postrema aut em hæc missio P. Calmo-
nota mihiq. obtigit. Quinque menses in ea degimus
et sane multa passi sumus, a paucis quidem bene au-
diti, a pluribus vero moleste, et calumniis et injuriis
affecti, sed tam en digressi a primoribus ad reditum
invitati. Egregiam ut spero Xo navabit operam P.
Calmonotus in has regiones magnos enim jam fecit
progressus in lingua hujus gentis non parum diversa ab
lingua huronica. Vir est om nino egregius.

1640-41]

BRÉBEUF TO THE GENERAL

105

almost 40 villages, filled with many inhabitants.
Now this last mission fell to the portion of Father
Calmonotus [Fr. Chaumonot] and me. We spent
five months therein, and in truth we suffered much.
Few, indeed, lent us a willing ear; many vexed,
calumniated, and wronged us; yet, when we left
them, we were invited by the principal men to return.
Father Calmonotus will, I hope, render distinguished
service to Christ in these regions: for he has already
made great progress in the language of this people,-
not a little different from the Huron language. He
is altogether a superior man.

XLIV

RELATION OF 1640-41

PARIS: SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, 164 2

SOURCE: Title-page and text reprinted from a copy of the
original Cramoisy edition, in the possession of The Burrows
Brothers Company, Cleveland.
The document consists of two parts: Part I. (with an
introduction written in Paris) is by Le Jeune, and the first
eight chapters thereof are herewith given; Part II. (the
Huron report) is by Jerome Lalemant, and will be given in
Volume XXI., together with the remainder of Part I.

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M. D C. X L I I.
ArEC PRIYIL;eGB 1)Y. ROT.

L

RELA TION

OF WHAT OCCURRED
IN
NEW FRANCE,
IN THE YEARS 1640 AND 1641.

Sent to the Reverend Father Provincial of
the Society of J E S US, of the
Province of France.

By FATHER BARTHELEMY V I M 0 NT of the same
Society, Superz"or of the Residence of Kebec.

PARIS,

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

M. DC. XLII.
BY ROYAL LICENSE.

112

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

Table des Chapitres contenvs en cette Relation.

D E la Rejidence de Nojlre Dame de Recouurance
à Kebec, & du Scmz"naz"re des Vrfulines,
Chapitre I. page 5
De la Rejidence de Sainfì Iofeplt, Chap. II. I7
Continuatz"on de ce qui s' ejl pafté entre les Sauuages
de la Rejide1zce de S. Io.fepll, Ch. III. 34
De quelques bapte/JIles plus jignalés, en la Rejidence
de S. Iofepk, Chap. IV. 49
Du baptefme d'vn Huron en la Rejidence [de] S.
Iofeph, proche Kebec, Chap. V. 7 2
De l' Hofpital, Chap. VI. 85
De la Rejidence de la Conception, aux Trois Riuieres,
Ch. VII. I06
De quelques baptef'JJZes en la Rejidence de la Concep-
tion, aux TroÙ RiuÙres, Chap. VIII. III [i.e., I22]
De la prife de deux Frallfois, conduits au pais des
Hiroquois, & de leur retour aux Trois RiuÙres,
Chap. IX. I3 6
De la deliurance des prz/onniers François, & du pour-
parler de paz"x, auec les HiroquoÙ, Chapit. X. I53
De la guerre des Hiroquois, Ch. XI. I67
D'vne Mißion faite à Tadouffac, Chap. XII. I82
Des bonnes efPerances, & des objlacles, de la con-
uerjion des Sauuages, Ch. XIII. 202

1640-41]

R
LATION OF I640-4I

113

Table of Chapters contained in this Relation.

O F the Residence of Nostre Dame de Recouvrance
at Kebec, and the Sel1l'Ùlary of the UrsuÜ:nes,
Chapter I. page 5
Of the Residcnce of Saint Joseph, Chap. II. I7
C011tÙluatz"on of what occurred among the Savages
of the Residence of St. Joseph, Ch. III. 34
Of some 'lHry rcmarkable baptisms at the Residence
of St. Joseph, Chap. IV. 49
Of thc baptzSlIl of a Huron at the Residence of St.
Joseph, near Kebec, Chap. V. 72
Of the Hosp'ital, Chap. VI. 85
Of the Residcllce of la Conception at the Three
Rz.vers, Ch. VII. I06
Of some baptisms at the Residence of la Conception
at tile Three Rivers, Chap. VIII. I I I [i.e., I22]
Of the capture of two Frenchmen, who were taken
to the country of the Hiroquois, and their return
to the Three Rivers, Chap. IX. I36
Of tIle deliverance of the French przSoners, and the
parley concernz.ng peace with the HiroquozS,
Chapter X. I53
Of the war with tlze Hiroquois, Ch. XI. . I67
Of a MzSsion held at Tadoussac, Chap. XII. I82
Of the good prospects for the conversion of the
Savages, and obstacles thereto, Ch. XIII. 202

114

LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[V OL. 20

Table des Chapitres contenus en la Relation, de
ce qui s'eft paffé dans Ie paÏs des Hurons, de-
puis Ie mois de Iuin de I'année 1640.
iufques au mois de Iuin 1641.

D EI' eflat general du Chriflianifme en ces con-
tries, Ch. I. . . . . 5
De la Refidence fixe, & Miß'ion de Sainfìe
Marie, Ch. II. I2
De la Mzßz.on de la Conception aux A ttignaNantans,
ou Nation des Ours, Ch. III. I7
Des Mzßiolls de S. Iojepll aux Attingueellongnahak,
& de S. Iean Baptifle aux Arenderonons,
Ch. IV. 33
De la Mißion des Apoflres aux Khionontatehronons,
ou Nation du petun, Ch. V. 39
De la Mißi01z des Anges aux AttiNandarons, ou
Nation neutre, Ch. VI. . [46]
De la Mißion du SaÙzfì Ejprit aux Nipijiriniens,
Ch. VII. [86]

1640-41]

RELA TIOlV OF I640-4I

115

Table of Chapters contained in the Relation of
what occurred in the country of the Hurons,
from the month of June, in the year 16 4 0 ,
to the month of June, 16 41.

O F the general condition of Chrt"stianity t'n these
countrÙs, Ch. 1. . . . 5
Of the permanent Resz"dcnce and Mission of
SaÙlte lJEarÙ, Ch. II. I2
Of tIle Mt"ssion of la Conception, to the Attigna-
wantans, or Natz"on of tIle Bear, Ch. III. I7
Of the Missions of St. Joseph to the A ttillgueenongna-
hak, and of St. Jean Baptt"ste to the Aren-
deronons, Ch. IV. 33
Of the Missl"on of the Apostles to the Khionontatehro-
nons, or tobacco Nation, Ch. V. 39
Of the Mission of the Angels to the Attiwandarons,
or neutral Nation, Ch. VI. . [4 6 J
Of the Mission of the Holy Ghost to the Nipisiri-
niens, Ch. VII. . [86J

116

LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

[V OL 20

Permiffion d'imprimer.

N ODS Iacques Dinet, Prouincial de la Compagnie
de IEsvs, en la Prouince de France, fuiuant Ie
Priuilege qui nous a efté oétroyé par les Roys
Tres Chreftiens Henry III. Ie 10. May 1583. Henry
IV. Ie 10. Decembre 1605. & Louys XIII. à prefent
regnant, Ie 14. Fevrier 1612. par lequel i1 eft defendu
à tous Libraires & Imprimeurs, de n'imprimer aucun
Lil1re de ceux qui font compofés par quelqu'vn de
noftre Compagnie, fans permiffion des Superieurs
d'icelle: Permettons à Se baftien Cramoif y Marchand
Libraire, & Imprimeur ordinaire du Roy, d'imprimer
la Relation de ce qui s' eft pafté en la Nouuelle France, és
annés 1640. & 1641. tant de fois, & en telle forme &
caraétere que bon luy femblera, auec pouuoir auffi
d'imprimer toutes autres Relations de ladite Nouuelle
France, qui feront enuoyées de par deça. En foy
dequoy nous auons figné la prefente: A Paris ce 20.
Decem bre 1641.

IAcQvES DINET.

1640-41]

RA"'LA TION OF I640-4I

117

Permission to print.

W E, Jacques Dinet, Provincial of the Society of
JESUS, in the Province of France, pursuant to
the Privilege which has been granted to us
by the Most Christian Kings, Henry III., May 10,
15 8 3; Henry IV., December 10, 1605; and Louys
XIII., now reigning, February 14, 1612, by which
all Booksellers and Printers are forbidden to print
any of those Books which are composed by anyone
of our Society, without permission from the Supe-
riors of the same,-permit Sebastien Cramoisy,
Bookseller, and Printer in ordinary to the King, to
print the Relation de ce qui s' est passl en la Nouvelle
France, Is annés 1640. et 1641., as many times, and
in such form and type as shall seem good to him;
with power also to print all other Relations of the
said New France, which shall be sent therefrom.
In testimony of which we have signed the present:
At Paris, this 20th of December, 16 41.
JACQUES DINET.

118

LES RELATIONS DESJÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

[I] Relation de ce qvi s'eft paffé en la Nouuelle
France, és années 1640. & 1641.

M ON R. PERE,
Ie fais quafi comme celuy, qui ayant efcrit
fes lettres, en efioit luy-mefme Ie porteur:
ray tracé en la Nouuelle France les Chapitres fui-
uans, & ie les viens moy-mefme prefenter à V. R.
La flotte qui a fait trauerfer l'Ocean à ce peu de
lignes, nous a embarqués trois de nofire Compagnie,
Ie Pere Nicolas Adam, que la charité de V. R. a r'ap-
pel1é pour fes infirmités; Ie Pere Claude [2] Quentin,
qu'el1e a auffi mandé pour trauailler aux affaires de
la Miffion: Et moy qui parois fans efire attendu,
mais non pas fans efire enuoyé. Monfieur Ie Cheua-
lier de Montmagny nofire Gouuerneur, les princi-
paux François de nofire Colonie, Ie R. P. Vimont
nofire Superieur, & tous nos Peres; les Sauuages
mefmes m'ont condamné d'entreprendre ce voyage
pour Ie bien public & commun. Nous efiions quatre
vaiffeaux de compagnie commandés par Ie fieur de
Courpon, homme vaillant & bon nauigateur: Vne
tempefie nous fepara au fortir du golfe de faind
Laurens, de forte que nous ne nous fommes point
veus depuis, ny rencontrés en mer. Le vaiffeau qui
portoit Ie Pere Claude Quentin ayant pris la manche
de fainét Georges pour celle qui fepare l' Angleterre
de la France, a demeuré longtemps fans paroifire;
mais enfin Dieu l'a conduit à bon port. Nous ren-

1640-41]

RELA TI01V OF I640-4I

119

[I] Relation of what occurred in New France, in
the years 1640 and 1641.

M y REVEREND FATHER,
I do almost as he who, having written his
letters, should be himself the bearer of them.
I sketched in New France the following Chapters, and
I come myself to present them to Your Reverence.
The fleet which conveyed these few lines across the
Ocean took on board three of our Society,- Father
Nicolas Adam, whom the kindness of Your Rever-
ence has recalled on account of his infirmities; Father
Claude [2] Quentin, whom you have also summoned
that he may labor in the affairs of the Mission; and
myself, who appear without being expected, but not
without having been sent. Monsieur the Chevalier
de Montmagny, our Governor, the principal French-
men of our Colony, the Reverend Father Vimont, our
Superior, and all our Fathers,-the Savages, even,-
have sentenced me to undertake this voyage for the
public and common good. We were a company of
four vessels commanded by the sieur de Courpon, a
brave man, and a good sailor. A storm separated us
on leaving the gulf of saint Lawrence, so that we
neither saw each other afterward, nor met at sea.
The vessel which carried Father Claude Quentin,
having taken the channel of saint George for that
which separates England from France, did not appear
for a long time; but, at last, God has brought it
safely to port. Wernet on nearing land a great mast

120

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

eontrafmes aux approches des terres vn grand man,
& d'autres pieces du débris de quelques nauires per-
dus aux coftes de France ou d' Angleterre. Quoy
que e'en foit, ie ne voy qu'vn feul bien fur la mer,
e'eft que vous [3] eftes à tous moments dans vne
dependance de Dieu plus gran de & plus immediate,
pour ainfi dire; & par confequent plus douce que fur
la terre: Mais pourfuiuons noftre route, V. R. verra
dans la fuitte de ce difcours, comme Dieu va exau-
çant les grandes prieres qu' on fait pour les pauures
Sauuages, comme il va beniffant les fecours qu'on
leur donne; mais elle verra auffi comme les Demons
ne dorment pas, comme ils s'efforcent de tout perdre;
ces maudits efprits voyans que leurs anciens fujets
les quittent, que les ames faindes, & que les grands
de la terre & bien cheris du ciel, s'employent pour
faire ouurir la porte à l'Euangile dans de vaftes con-
trées que nous découurons tous les iours, remplies de
Nations bien peuplées, & toutes fedentaires, arment
tous leurs fuppofts tant qu'ils peuuent, pour détruire
ce qui eft fi fainétement commencé, pour ruiner la
Colonie Françoife, & pour fermer toutes les auenuës
de falut à toutes ces ames qui n'ont iamais ouy
parler de Iefus-Chrift. Les Chapitres fuiuans feront
voir les grandes oppofitions qu'ils nous forment.
Cependant ie confoleray voftre R. l'affurant [4] qu'elle
a des fujets en ce N ouueau Monde, qui courent à
grands pas à la fainéteté: Dieu leur depart fes
faueurs en abondance, les difficu1tés les animent, la
difette eft leur trefor, les dangers leur affurance, les
fouffrances leurs delices, la mort en la Croix leur
attente. & Ie Dieu des viuans leur grande recom-
penfe. I'efpere qu'auffi-toft que ie me feray acquitté

1640-41]

RELATION OF I640-4I

121.

and other pieces of wreckage, from ships lost on the
coasts of France or of England. At all events, I see
but one single good upon the sea, which is, that you
[3] are every moment in a dependence upon God
greater and more immediate, so to speak, and conse-
quently sweeter, than when upon land. But let us
pursue our way. Your Reverence will see in the con-
tinuation of this narrative how God continues to heed
the fervent prayers that are offered for the poor Sav-
ages, how he blesses the help that is given them;
but you will also see that the Demons do not sleep,
that they exert themselves to ruin everything. These
accursed spirits,- seeing that their old subjects are
forsaking them, that the holy souls, and the great
ones of earth, and those well beloved by heaven,
are employed in opening a door to the Gospel in the
vast regions that we discover every day, filled with
very populous and sedentary N ations,- strengthen, as
much as is possible, all their agents to destroy that
which is so devoutly begun, to ruin the French Colo-
ny, and to close every avenue of salvation to all these
souls that have never heard of Jesus Christ. The
following Chapters will show the great opposition
that they raise against us. However I will comfort
your Reverence, assuring you [4] that you have sub-
jects in this New World, who make rapid progress
in holiness; God bestows his favors upon them abun-
dantly, difficulties stimulate them, dearth is their
treasure, dangers their security, sufferings their de-
light, death for the Cross their expectation, and the
God of the living their great reward. I hope that,
as soon as I have executed my mission, Your Rever-
ence will give me my Passport, that I may return to
the New \Vorld and die in a new country, or among

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de ma commiffion, V. R. me donnera mon Paffeport
pour retourner en ce Nouueau 1'vlonde, & mourir dans
vn nouueau pais, ou parmy ces bons Neophytes qui
m'ont rauy Ie cæur par leur pieté, & par leur deuo-
tion; ie les recommande tous, & tous les ouuriers de
l'Euangile, & toute la Colonie Françoife, à fes fainds
Sacrifices, & aux prieres des ames faindes, qui hono-
rent Ie tres aimable Iefus.
De V. R.
Tres-humble & obeiffant feruiteur en
noftre Seigneur, Paul Ie Jeune.

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these good Neophytes who have ravished my heart
by their piety and their devotion. I commend them
all, and all the laborers of the Gospel, and all the
French Colony, to your holy Sacrifices, and to the
prayers of the holy souls who honor the most lovable
Jesus.
Your Reverence's
Very humble and obedient servant in
our Lord, Paul Ie J eune.

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[5] CHAPITRE PREMIER.

DE LA RESIDENCE DE NOSTRE-DAME DE RECOUURANCE
À KEBEC, & DU SEMINAIRE DES
VRSULINES.

C ' EST en ce Chapitre que ie deurois parler de la
vertu de nos François, mais il f uffi t de dire,
que la paix, Ie repos, & la tranquiUité que
nous poffedons, & Ie bon exemple de ceux qui nous
commandent, auec l'éloignement des occafions du
peché, nous mettent dans Ie chemin du Ciel fans
grande recherche: fi bien que fi quelqu'vn de ceux
qui meurent en ces contrées, fe damne, ie croy qu'il
{era doublement coupable: car tout nous porte à la
Vertu, & Ie chemin du vice eft icy tout plein de
honte, & de vergongne, c'eft affez pour cét article.
Difons deux mots du Seminaire des 1vleres Vrfulines.
Deux braues fiUes armées d'vn bon dot, [6] pour ay-
der à baftir la Maifon qu'elles font commencer cette
année à Kebec, & qui leur couftera bon, feroient bien
receües en leur Monaftere qui renferme plus de ioye
dans fon petit pourpris, que les Palais des Cefars
dans leur gran de eftenduë. On dit qu'à peine {e
trouuera-t'il des fiUes feculieres qui veüillent porter
leurs biens, & paffer leur vie en ce N ouueau Monde,
{oit parmy les Filles de la Mifericorde dans l'Hofpi-
tal, foit dans la maifon des Vrfulines. Quoy donc?
eft-il poffible que tout ce qu'il y auoit de filles gene-
reufes en l'ancienne France, foit paffé en la Nou-

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[5J CHAPTER FIRST.

OF THE RESIDENCE OF NOSTRE DAME DE RECOU-
VRANCE AT KEBEC, AND THE SEMINARY
OF THE URSULINES.

I N this Chapter I ought to speak of the virtue of
our French people; but it is sufficient to say that
the peace, the repose, and the tranquillity that
we possess, and the good example of those who rule
us, with the absence of opportunities for sin, put us
in the way to Heaven without great effort,-so that,
if anyone of those who die in these lands be lost, I
believe that he will be doubly guilty; for everything
inclines us to Virtue, and the path of vice is here
altogether full of shame and disgrace. Enough of
this matter. Let us say a few words about the Semi-
nary of the Ursuline :Mothers. Two courageous
sisters, provided with a suitable endowment,- [6J
to aid in building the House which they are com-
mencing this year at Kebec, and which will cost them
dear,-would be well received in their Monastery,
which contains more joy in its little enclosure than
the Palaces of the Cesars in their great extent. It
is said that there will scarcely be found secular sis-
ters who would consent to bring their fortunes and
spend their lives in this New World, either among
the Sisters of :Mercy in the Hospital, or in the house
of the U rsulines. Indeed! is it possible that all the
generous sisters that were in old France have come
over into the New? and that there are no longer

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uelle? & qu'it ne fe trouue plus de cæurs affés hardis,
pour fuiure les vefiiges de ces premieres Amazones?
c'efi ce que ie ne puis croire; du moins puis-je affurer
que fi on vouloit des Religieufes profeffes, qu'on en
trouueroit dix pour vne: Ouy, mais elles manque-
roient d'employ; non pas fi les Sauuages s'arrefient,
comme ils s'y prennent fort bien, Dieu mercy. 1vla-
dame de la Pelterie qui a vn cæur vrayement gene-
reux, & toutes fes filles font leur poffible pour
auancer ce deffein, auffi me femble-t'il que nofire [7]
Seigneur les fauorife: car il fe trouue quelques per-
fonnes en France de merite & de vertu, qui prennent
cette deuotion, vrayement chrefiienne, de marier
quelques Seminarifies; ils enuoyent, par exemple,
cent efcus pour luy faire vne petite maifonnette, &
voila vne famille arrefiée, auec quelque autre aide
qu'on luy donne, de cultiuer vn peu de terre pour
fon viure. I1s ont quatre Seminarifies quafi toutes
prefies à marier, ie prie Dieu qu'il les fauorife d'vn
heureux rencontre. Si cette pieté touche Ie cæur de
plufieurs, les Sauuages quitteront les bois pour nous
venir ioindre, & les parens donneront leurs enfans
au Seminaire, pour pouuoir entrer dans ces maifons,
& pour ioüyr de cette aumofne enregifirée dans les
cahiers du grand Dieu.
Au refie, l'occupation de ces bonnes Meres eft
tres-vtile, & Ie fera en cor plus dorefnauant, quand
elles feront bafiies. Outre les petites Françoifes
qu'elles infiruifent, elles ont de petites Seminarifies
fedentaires; ces enfans feront bien plus fermes en la
foy que les autres/ car elles font dans vne continu-
elle infiruétion, elles [8] ne voyent rien qui ne les
porte à la vertu. Nous auons marié cette année Mag-

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found hearts brave enough to follow the footprints
of these first Amazons? That is what I cannot be-
lieve; at least, I can affirm that if we wished professed
Nuns, we could find ten for one. ' , Yes, but they
would lack employment." Not if the Savages become
sedentary, to which they are very well disposed,
thank God. 11adame de la Pelterie, who has a truly
generous heart, and all her sisters, do their best to
advance this plan; also it seems to me that our [7J
Lord favors them; for there are found in France
some persons of merit and virtue, who perform this
truly christian office of providing for the marriage
of some Seminarists. They send, for instance, one
hundred écus to build one of them a little house: and
behold a household established, with some other help
that may be given it, to cultivate a little land for its
support. There are four Seminarists, very nearly
ready to marry. I pray God that he will favor them
with a fortunate opportunity. If such piety touch
the hearts of many, the Savages will quit the forests
to come to us; and the parents will give their chil-
dren to the Seminary, that they may be able to enter
these houses, and to enjoy this charity recorded in
the books of the great God.
1Ioreover, the work of these good Mothers is very
useful, and will be still more so hereafter, when they
shall be established. Besides the little French girls
whom they teach, they have the little permanent
Seminarists; these children will be much firmer in
the faith than the others: for they are under con-
tinual instruction, they [8] see nothing that does not
influence them to virtue. We have married this year
Magdeleine de saint Joseph Amiskweian, who was
taken from their Seminary; this young woman went

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deleine de fainét Iofeph AmifKHeian, tirée de leur
Seminaire; Cette ieune femme fortit bien couuerte
de leur maifon, les Meres luy donnerent fon petit
ameublement: bien-tofi apres elle donna des preuues
d'vne foy viue & animée de la charité, efiant aux
trois Riuieres elle fut recherchée & follicitée de plu-
fieurs ieunes hommes pa yens; mais fa confiance les
rebutta, & fit voir que Iefus-Chrifi a des graces plus
fortes que la nature: comme elle vit que certains Ion-
gleurs fouffioient & chantoient vn fien frere malade,
elle ne fit que pleurer: fi tofi qu'on eut chaffé ces
Charlatans, la pauure enfant fe mit à rire, témoignant
par fes larmes l'horreur qu'elle auoit de leurs an-
ciennes fuperfiitions, & monfirant par fa ioye Ie plai-
fir qu'elle prenoit de voir fon frere dans les penfées
d' auoir recours à Dieu. Elle porte Ie nom de la B.
Mere Magdeleine de fainét Iofeph Carmelite, cette
ame fainéte honorée de Dieu par plufieurs miracles,
a procuré fur la terre Ie dot du mariage de cette ieune
Neophyte, ie ne doute nullement [9J qu' elle ne parle
puiffamment pour elle dedans les cieux, & pour ceux
qui trauaillent en cette vigne, qu'elle a tant cherie.
Outre ces Sen1Ínarifies arrefiées, nous en enuoyons
d'autres paffageres, vefiuës à la Sauuage, qui demeu-
rent quelque temps en cette petite maifon, pour y
efire infiruites fur les Myfieres de nofire creance.
Ces ieunes filles ayant pris quelque bonne teinture en
cette Maifon, s'en retournent par apres chés leurs pa-
rens. Quand ces bonnes Meres feront logées plus au
large, elles auront encor vne autre occupation, les
filles & les femmes qu' on voudra baptifer, iront paffer
quelque iours deuant leur baptefme en leur 110na-
fiere, pour yapprendre auec plus de repos la doétrine

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out from their house well clothed, and the Mothers
gave her her little furniture. Very soon after, she
gave proofs of a faith strong and animated by love;
while she was at the three Rivers she was courted
and entreated by several young pagans, but her con-
stancy repelled them, and showed that Jesus Christ
has attractions stronger than nature. When she saw
certain Jugglers breathe upon her sick brother, and
sing to him, she only wept; as soon as these Char-
latans had been driven away, the poor child began
to laugh, indicating by her tears the horror that she
had for their ancient superstitions, and showing by
her joy the pleasure she took in seeing her brother
inclined to have recourse to God. She bears the
name of the Blessed Mother Magdeleine de saint
Joseph, the Carmelite. That holy soul, honored of
God by many miracles, has procured upon earth the
marriage portion of this young Neophyte; I am quite
sure [9] that she speaks powerfully for her in the
heavens and for those who labor in this vineyard,
which she so greatly loved.
Besides these permanent Seminarists, we send oth-
ers, who are transient, and clothed in Savage fashion,
who remain some time in this little house, that they
ma y be instructed in the Mysteries of our belief.
These young girls, having received some good im-
pression in this House, go back afterwards to their
parents. When these good Mothers shall dwell in
more spacious quarters, they will have still another
occupation,- the girls and women who are admitted
to baptism will go to spend several days in their Mon-
astery, before their baptism, in order to learn there
with more quiet the doctrine of Jesus Christ; even
the Neophytes can go there, to prepare themselves

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de Ieíus-Chrifi; voire meíme les Neophytes y pour-
ront aller, pour íe preparer plus fainétement à la
íainéte Communion: Or encor qu'elles íoient logées
à l'efiroit, elles ne laiffent pas d efire fouuent vifitées
par de bonnes femmes Sauuages preffées de la faim,
les Meres les font prier Dieu, leur difent vn bon mot,
les font manger, puis les renuoyent auec cette double
aumofne: Mais defcendons plus [10] en particulier, &
difons deux mots des petites Seminarifies, íuiuant Ie
memoire que leurs bonnes Meres m'ont enuoyé.
Ces petites creatures ont vn fi grand defir de íe
faire infiruire, qu'elles difent par fois à leur maifireffe
qu' elle les chafiie, fi elles manquent à leur deuoir; &
fi quelqu'vne tombe en quelque faute, elle fe jette
auffi-tofi à genoux pour en demander pardon. Vn de
nos Peres efiant defcendu ce Printemps à Tadouffac,
à la requefie des Sauuages, les deux plus grandes
Seminarifies luy eícriuirent de leur propre main,
témoignant d'vn cofié vne gran de confolation de ce
qu'i1 infiruifoit leurs compatriotes; & de l'autre, vn
defir de fon retour; Ie Pere leut ces deux lettres en la
pre fence des Sauuages, leur monfirant comme leurs
en fans efioient capables du Maffinahigan auffi bien
que les nofires; ils prenoient ces lettres, les tournoient
de to us cofiés, les regardoient auec attention comme
s'ils les euffent pû lire, ils faifoient dire & redire ce qui
efioit couché dedans, bien ioyeux de voir que nofire
papier parloit leur langue, car ces enfans efcriuoient
en Sauuage. C'efi vn plaifir de voir les [I I] filles
plus grandelettes & les mieux infiruites, s'accofier
des Seminarifies paffageres, leur expliquer la doétrine
de Iefus-Chrifi, fe feruir des mefmes interrogations
qu' on leur fait, dechiffrer vne image, raconter genti-

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more devoutly for holy Communion. Now, although
they are straitened for room, they are sure to be
often visited by the simple Savage women when
goaded by hunger; the Mothers have them pray to
God, speak a good word to them, feed them, and
then send them away with this double alms. But
let us come down more [IOJ to details, and let us say
a few words of the little Seminarists, following the
account that the good Mothers have sent me.
These little creatures have so great a desire to be
instructed, that they sometimes tell their teacher that
she may chastise them, if they fail in their task;
and, if one of them commit any fault, she throws
herself immediately on her knees to ask pardon for
it. One of our Fathers having gone down to Tadous-
sac this Spring, at the request of the Savages, the
two tallest Seminarists sent letters to him in their own
writing,- expressing on the one hand a great satis-
faction that he was instructing their countrymen;
and, on the other, a desire for his return. The Fa-
ther read these two letters in the presence of the Sav-
ages, showing them that their children were capable
of Massinahigan as well as ours. They took these
letters, turned them on all sides, and looked at them
with attention, as if they had been able to read them;
they made him read over and over what was written
therein, and were very glad to see that our paper
spoke their language, for the children wrote in the
Savage tongue. It is a pleasure to see the [I IJ largest
and the best-taught girls approach the transient Sem-
inarists, explain to them the doctrine of Jesus Christ,
use the same questions that have been put to them,
study out a picture, relate prettily a story, and win
the attention of those who listen to them.

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ment vne hifioire, & fe concilier 1'attention de celles
qui les écoutent.
Si les aétions exterieures font des indices des mou-
uemens & des affeétions du cæur, ces enfans croiffent
tous les iours en la deuotion & en la vertu, elles font
tous les foirs l'examen de leur confcience, & s'entr'ad-
uertiffent auec paix de leurs petits defauts; elles ont
vn tres-grand foin de rechercher leurs offenfes quand
il fe faut confeffer; i1 y en a vne qui n'a pas plus de
huiét ans, qui parle aux plus petites, les aide à s'exa-
miner, & leur recommande fur tout de ne cacher au-
cun peché. Ie puis rendre bon témoignage de leur
confcience; mais ie puis affurer auec fincerité, que ie
n'ayentendu aucun enfant François de leur âge, ny
deça ny dela l'Ocean, qui ouurit fon cæur plus nette-
ment, & qui en reconnût mieux les petits plis & replis;
en vn mot, les Sauuages fe confeffent parfaitement
bien; c'efi chofe admirablë [12] comme ils conçoi-
uent l'importance de ce Sacrement, cela m'a par fois
donné de l' étonnement, de voir que les barbares
connoiffent ce que les heretiques ignorent, ou veulent
Ignorer.
La veille de l'Affomption de la fainéte Vierge, vn
Pere ayant ouy en confeffion la petite Anne Marie
Negabamat, cette enfant luy dit apres l'abfolution,
N
/aZ: eapitclz nZ:-
Z:ch ttffaraYZ:; 110n pere, ie veux tou-
fiours efire vierge, ne me faites point fortir de cette
11aifon, ie defire d'y demeurer toute ma vie; fes pa-
roles toucherent Ie Pere, fe reffouuenant des refifian-
ces qu'elle luy auoit faites, iufques là qu'il la prit
vne fois, & fit femblant de la jetter dans la riuiere,
voyant qu'elle ne vouloit pas obeïr à fes parens, qui
luy commandoient de demeurer auec ces bonnes
Filles.

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If outward acts be an index of the motions and
affections of the heart, these children are growing
every day in devotion and in virtue; they make
every evening their examination of conscience, and
quietly warn one another of their little faults.
They take great care to search out their offenses,
when they must confess; there is one who is no more
than eight years old, who speaks to the smallest
ones, helps them to examine themselves, and charges
them above all not to conceal any sin. I can render
good testimony to their conscientiousness; and in-
deed I can affirm with sincerity, that I have heard no
French child of their age, either on this side of the
Ocean, or on the other, who opens the heart more
frankly, and who knows better its most hidden
recesses. In a word, the Savages make a thoroughly
good confession; it is admirable, [12] their appre-
hension of the importance of this Sacrament. I am
sometimes amazed to see that barbarians know what
heretics ignore or wish to ignore.
On the eve of the Assumption of the blessed Vir-
gin, a Father having heard the confession of little
Anne 11arie N egabamat, this child said to him after
absolution: Noltsai eapitcll ni-wich tissarawi. "M y
father, I wish to be always a virgin; do not make
me leave this House, I wish to live here all my
life." Her words touched the Father, as he remem-
bered the opposition that she used to make to him,
until he took her once and pretended to throw her
into the river, seeing that she was not willing to
obey her parents, who bade her remain with these
good Sisters.
Agnes Chabwekwechich, hearing the Mother Su-
perior speak of the great sufferings of our Lord,

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Agnes Chab
ek
echich entendant parler la 11ere
Superieure des grandes fouffrances de noftre Sei-
gneur, s'écria; helas! s'il n'euft payé pour nous, nous
ferions tombées au feu apres nofire mort, en verité
ie l'aime plus que moy-mefme; les autres témoigne-
rent auffi qu'elles l'aimoient: [13] quelqu'vne s'en-
.quefta fi Dieu n' eftoit pas affés bon pour pardonner
aux méchans 1Ianit
s, la 11ere leur répondit, que les
Demons eftoient fuperbes, & que s'ils fe pouuoient
humilier que Dieu leur feroit mifericorde.
Les grandes neiges & les froids tous glacés ne font
pas capables d'éteindre l'ardeur d'vne ame qui aime
Iefus-Chrift; Madame de la Pelterie, qui n'a point
de confolation plus fenfible que de vifiter les Sau-
uages, s'en vint à S. lofeph au trauers des neiges
pour affifter à la Meffe de minuiét auec les nouueaux
Chreftiens, elle amena auec foy deux ou trois Semi-
nariftes; ces enfans eftans de retour en la :Maifon,
Agnes fe mit à raconter ce qu'vn Pere auoit dit de
la Naiffance du petit lefus, en la Predication qu'i1 fit
aux Sauuages fur ce 1Iyftere; elle exprimoit les
geftes, difoit la 11ere Superieure, monftroit Ie rebut
que les Bethleemites fai[oient de la fainéte Vierge,
auec vne indignation contr'eux, & vne compaffion
pour la 11ere & pour l'Enfant, elle décriuoit Ie petit
lefus dedans fa creiche auec des paroles qui atten-
driffoient les bonnes Meres.
[14J On auoit dreffé dans Ie Seminaire vne petite
creiche, les enfans ne ceffoient d'aller voir Ie petit
Iefus qui y repofoit, elles fe tenoient à genoux
aupres de luy, portoient de petites écorces allumées,
faute de chandelles de cire; fouuent e1les font des
bouquets & des chappeaux de fleurs qu'elles vont

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exclaimed: "Alas! if he had not atoned for us, we
would fall into the fire after our death; truly, I love
him more than I do myself." The others also de-
clared that they loved him. [I 3J Some one inquired
if God were not good enough to pardon the wicked
Nlanitous; the Mother answered that the Demons
were proud, and that, if they could humble them-
selves, God would be merciful to them.
Heavy snows and freezing cold are not able to
extinguish the ardor of a soul which loves Jesus
Christ. 11adame de la Pelterie, who has no greater
solace than to visit the Savages, went to St. Joseph
through the snows, so as to be present at the mid-
night Mass with the new Christians; she took with
her two or three Seminarists. When these children
had returned to the House, Agnes began to relate
what a Father had said of the Birth of the little Jesus,
in the Sermon that he preached to the Savages on
this Mystery. "She reproduced his gestures," said
the Mother Superior, "and showed how the Bethle-
hemites repulsed the blessed Virgin, with indigna-
tion against them and compassion for the Mother
and for the Child; " she described the little Jesus in
the manger, with words which moved the good
1fothers.
[14J They had set up in the Seminary a little man-
ger: the children went incessantly to see the little
Jesus that was lying there, they remained upon their
knees near him, and carried little pieces of lighted
bark, for want of wax candles. They often make
bouquets and garlands of flowers which they offer to
the image of the blessed Virgin, upon whom they
call with the most tender love.
One day, having met together, they made a little

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prefenter à l'image de la fainéte Vierge, qu'elles
apofirophent auec des affeétions fort tendres.
S'efiant vn iour raffemblées elles firent vne petite
cabane de feüillages, la tapifferent de verdare, à leur
façon, puis allerent demander congé à la Mere Supe-
rieure dy paffer la nuiét, la ]Vlere les en voulant
defiourner, leur dit qu'elles auroient peur, & que la
porte de cette cabane ne fermoit point. Nous ne
craignons rien, firent-elles, nous porterons auec nous
l'Image de Iefus & de la fainéte Vierge, & Ie mef-
chant 11anit
ne nous pourra aborder; nous n'auons
pas peur des ames des trefpaffez; car ceux qui meu-
rent, s'ils font bien bons, s'en vont au Ciel; s'ils
n' ont pas payé & fatisfait pour leurs offenfes, ils
vont en Purgatoire, s'ils font bien mefchans, ils vont
en Enfer; ils ne fortiront pas de là [15] pour nous
venir trouuer, fi Ie Diable s'approche de nofire cabane
nous prierons Dieu, & il Ie fera fuir: la Mere
adjoufie dans fon memoire, cette refponfe m'efionna,
il s'en faut beau coup que nos petites Françoifes
foient fi prefentes à elles, quay qu'on les infiruife
fans ceffe.
II y a vne petite Huronne parmy les Algonquines,
efiant interrogée fi elle auoit encor fa mere, celle
que i'ay en mon païs n'efi plus ma chere mere, ref-
pond cét enfant, parce qu'elle ne croit point en Dieu,
c'efi vous qui efies mes vrayes Meres puis que vous
m'infiruifés, cette petite Neophyte fut long-temps
auec Ie bon Charles Sondatfaa la veille de fon Bap-
tefme, elle Iuy parloit des biens qu' on reçoit dans
ces eaux facrées, des grandes recompenfes que Dieu
donne à ceux qui luy obeïffent, des horribles chafii-
mens qu'il exerce fur les fuperbes, & fur les rebelles;

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cabin of boughs, lined it with green leaves, in their
own fashion, and then went to ask leave of the Mother
Superior to spend the night there. The 110ther,
wishing to dissuade them from it, told them they
would be afraid, and that the door of this cabin did
not shut. "We fear nothing," said they, " we shall
carry with us the Images of Jesus and the blessed
Virgin, and the wicked Manitou will not be able to
come near us. We do not fear the souls of the
departed; for those who die, if they are truly good,
go to Heaven; if they have not expiated their sins
- and atoned for them, they go to Purgatory; if they
are very wicked, they go to Hell,- they will not
leave that place [ISJ to come to us. If the Devil
come near our cabin, we will pray to God, and he
will make him flee." The Mother adds in her ac-
count: "This reply astonished me; our little French
girls are far from being so self-possessed; although
they are continually instructed."
There is a little Huron girl among the Algonquins;
on being asked if she had still her mother, "She
whom I have in my country is no longer my dear
mother," answered the child, " because she does not
believe in God; it is you who are my true Mothers,
since you instruct me." This little Neophyte was
a long time with the good Charles Sondatsaa, the
night before her Baptism; she spoke to him of the
benefits that are received from the holy water, the
great rewards that God gives to those who obey him,
and the horrible chastisements that he visits upon
the proud and upon the rebellious; she urged him
strongly to induce the little Huron girls to come and
stay at the Seminary; she said a thousand good
things of it. "These virgin Sisters love us so

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elle Ie preffe fort d' exciter les petites H uronnes de
venir demeurer au Seminaire, elle en difoit mille
biens: Ces Filles vierges no us ayment tant, difoit-
elle, ce font vrayement nos meres, nous ne manquons
de rien auec [16] elles; Cét homme fage & ferieux
fe plaifoit fi fort au difcours & à la conuerfation de
cette ieune fille, âgée d'enuiron douze ou treize ans,
qu'il y paffa plus de deux heures & demie.
Si queIque perfonne de fon païs la vient vifiter,
elle ne s'enquefte point de fes parens, ny de ce qui
Ie paffe parmy fes proches, mais elle demande fi les
Hurons n'ont point enuie de croire en Dieu, s'ils ne
quittent point leurs dances & leurs chants fuperfti-
tieux, s'ils confultent toufiours les Diables.
Vn fien parent l'interrogeant, fi elle ne vouloit
point retourner en fon païs: Non, dit-elle, ie n'y
penfe plus, ie me trouue fort bien où ie fuis: Ma
fille tu ne fais pas bien, luy dit-il, il ne faut pas que
tu penfes à toy feule quand tu feras bien inftruite, it
faut venir inftruire tes compatriotes: voila comme
les enfans les plus Sauuages deuiennent enfans de
Dieu; qu'il foit beny à iamais par toutes les nations
de la terre.
La bonne Madame de la Pelterie qui a ietté les
fondemens de ce petit Seminaire, a fujet de benir
Dieu de ce qu'il l'a [17] choine pour vn ouurage qui
luy eft fi agreable: Mais fon cæur eft grand, les de-
firs qu'elle a de raffembler les peres & meres, encor
errants, pour ayder à fauuer les enfans, luy font fou-
haitter vn trefor deffus fes forces; elle ne ceffe de
vifi ter ces bonnes gens, elle leur parle des yeux, ne
pouuant leur parler de la langue, elle leur parleroit
bien plus volontiers des mains; Et fi elle pouuoit

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much," said she; "they are truly our mothers, we
lack for nothing with [16J them." This wise and
serious man was so extremely pleased with the dis-
course and the conversation of this young girl, about
twelve or thirteen years old, that he spent more than
two hours and a half with her.
If anyone from her own country comes to see her,
she does not inquire for her parents, nor about what
happens among her relatives; but she asks if the
Hurons have no desire to believe in God, if they do
not give up their dances and their superstitious
chants, and if they still consult the Devils.
When one of her relatives asked her if she did not
wish to return to her own country. "No," said she,
" I no longer think of it, I am very well satisfied
where I am." "
iy daughter, you are not doing
right," said he to her; "you must not think only of
yourself; when you are well instructed you must
come and teach your countrywomen." Behold how
the most Savage children become the children of
God; may he be blessed forevermore among all the
nations of the earth!
Good 1'Yiadame de la Pelterie, who laid the founda-
tion of this little Seminary, has cause to bless God
that he has [17 J chosen her for a work which is so
acceptable to him. But her heart is large; the wish
that she has to gather together the still wandering
fathers and mothers, in order to aid in saving the
children, makes her long for a treasure beyond her
own means. She does not cease to visit these poor
people; she speaks to them with her eyes not being
able to speak to them in their language. She would
speak to them much more willingly with her hands:
and if she were able to practice the trades of a mason

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exercer Ie meftier de maffon & de charpentier pour
leur dreffer de petites demeures, & de laboureur pour
les ayder à cultiuer la terre, elle s'y employeroit auec
autant d'ardeur qu'elle voit de bonnes difpofitions en
ces peuples pour s'arrefter; mais fes bras font foibles
auffi bien que les noftres. Deus Domz"nus fortitudo
noflra in æternum.

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and of a carpenter, so as to erect for them little
dwellings, and to plough, in order to aid them in cul-
tivating the land, she would exert herself therein
with an ardor in proportion to the good disposition
she sees in these peoples to settle down; but her
arms are weak, as well as ours. Deus Dominus fortz"-
tudo nostra in æternum.

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CHAPITRE II.

DE LA RESIDENCE DE SAINCT IOSEPH.

L E nom bre des Chrefiiens croifi tous les iours, Ie
refie de ceux qui ne font [I 8J point baptifés, &
qui fe retirent en cette Bourgade encomman-
cée, n'ont point d'alienation de la foy, les prieres fe
font publiquement, & dans les cabanes, & dans les
maifons, & dans la chapelle, les Sacremens font en
honneur, & plufieurs ne fçauroient garder aucune
offenfe qu'ils croyent tant foit peu griefue, fur leur
cæur, fi tofi qu'ils penfent efire bleffés, quoy que
legerement, ils ont recours aux remedes facrés, que
Dieu a laiffés en fon Eglife. On ne fouffre aucun
deffaut public, les Neophytes font fortement liés
par enfemble, auec vn zele qu'on n'auroit iamais
ozé efperer des Sauuages: car c' efi chofe efirange
comme ces peuples font froids, & efloignés de nofire
chaleur, & de no fire promptitude; mais defcendons
plus en particulier: à fruélibus eorum cogno.fcetis cos.
Les Chrefiiens plus zelés s'affemblerent à nofire
defceu durant cét hyuer, pour traiter par entr'eux,
des moyens de fe conferuer en la foy; l'vn d'eux
hara[n]guant, dit, qu'il faifoit plus d'efiat des prieres,
c'efi ainfi qu'ils parlent, que de la vie, & qu'il mour-
roit plutofi que de les quitter; [19] l'autre dit, qu'il
defiroit qu'on Ie punifi & qu'on Ie chafiiafi, en cas
qu'il fe dementHt de la parole qu'il auoit donnée à
Dieu; vn troifiefme s'efcria, qu'il falloit mettre en
prifon celuy qui tomberoit dans quelque faute, &

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CHAPTER II.

OF THE RESIDENCE OF SAINT JOSEPH.

T HE number of Christians is increasing every day;
the rest of the people, who are [18] not bap-
tized, and who have taken refuge in this Vil-
lage just started, have no alienation from the faith.
Prayers are offered publicly; also in cabins, and in
houses, and in the chapel the Sacraments are honored.
Many are unable to bear upon their hearts any trans-
gression that they consider in the least serious; as
soon as they think that they have offended, even
slightly, they have recourse to the sacred remedies
which God has left to his Church. No public fault
is allowed; the Neophytes are strongly bound to-
gether with a zeal that one would not have dared to
hope for from Savages,-for it is strange how cold
these peoples are, and how far removed from our
warmth and hasty disposition. But let us come down
to more details: à fructibus eorum cognosatis cos.
The most zealous Christians met during this win-
ter, unknown to us, in order to confer together upon
the means of keeping themselves in the faith. One
of them, in making an address, said that he thought
more highly of prayers-it is thus that they speak-
than of life, and that he would rather die than give
them up; [19] another said that he wished he might
be punished and chastised in case he forfeited the
word he had given to God; a third exclaimed that
he who should fall into any error must be put into

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qu 'i1Ie falloit faire ieufner quatre iours fans boire
ny manger: Ies aétions de iuftice, qu'ils voyent par
fois exercer contre Ies delinquans, leur donnent ces
penfées: Charles MeiachKa
at tout nouuellement
baptifé fe trouua dans cette affemblée, non feulement
cela ne l'épouuenta point, ains au contraire i1 en fut
confolé: ie fuis des voftres, leur dit-il, tout ce que
vous conc1üerés m' aggréera, c' eft tout de bon que ie
croy en Dieu, & fi vous aués quelque croyance, que
ie doiue perdre cæur, ie vous donne dés à prefent la
liberté de me lier, & de me tenir en prifon: mais
mon cæur me dit que ie marcheray droit, & que ce
que i'ay embraffé auec tant d'affeétion, ne fortira
iamais de ma penfée.
Cette affemblée fe fit dans Ie filence de la nuiét: &
Ie matin ils nous en vindrent donner aduis; nous re-
partifmes qu'ils procedoient auec trop de feuerité, que
la douceur [20J auoit plus de pouuoir fur les efprits,
que la force; qu'vne femme tout fraichement nous
auoit dit, que ce qui la retardoit de preffer fon bap-
tefme eftoit, qu'elle ne croyoit pas pouuoir viure fi
fainétement que les Chreftiens, & qu'elle ne fçauroit
venir tous les iours à la Meffe, comme ils faifoient
dans les rigueurs de l'hyuer, eftans par fois affés
eí10ignés de I' Eglife; & la neige, & la greí1e, & Ie
froid, affiegeant Ie chemin; Que fera-ce done, leur
difions nous, fi on parle de prifon à des gens foibles,
& non encor éc1airés du flambeau de la foy; ils ne
laifferent pas de pourfuiure leur pointe, & de dire tout
haut, qu'ils auoient fait vn complot par entr'eux,
que Ie premier de leur nombre qui tomberoit dans
quelque faute, tant foit peu notable, fubiroit la pri-
ion & Ie ieufne: cela épouuenta les foibles, & Ie

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prison, and made to fast four days without eating or
drinking. The acts of justice that they see from
time to time exercised on delinquents, give them
these ideas. Charles Meiachkawat, who was very
recently baptized, was in this assembly; not only did
that not frighten him, but, on the contrary, he was
comforted by it: "I am one of you," said he to
them; "all that you shall decide upon will please
me. It is in earnest that I believe in God; and if
you have any conviction that I shall lose courage, I
now give you liberty to bind me and to hold me in
prison; but my heart tells me that I shall walk
straight, and that what I have embraced with so
much affection will never leave my mind."
This meeting took place in the silence of the night,
and in the morning they came to give us information
of it. We answered that they proceeded with too
much severity; that mildness [20] had more power
over souls than force; that a woman had very recent-
ly said to us that what hindered her from urging her
baptism was, that she did not believe she could live
so devoutly as did the Christians, and she would not
be able to come every day to Mass as they did, in all
the severity of the winter, when they were some-
times rather far from the Church, and snow, hail,
and cold besetting the way. "What will happen,
then, .. we said to them, " if you speak of prisons to
people who are weak, and not yet enlightened by the
torch of faith? JJ They did not cease to pursue their
point, and to say resolutely that they had formed a
plan among themselves, that the first of their number
who should commit any fault, however inconsider-
able, should suffer imprisoRment and fasting. This
frightened the weak, and the report spread among

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bruit courut parmy Ies infidelles, que les Sauuages
Chreftiens auoient des chaifnes, & des liens tout
prefts pour garotter les refraétaires. Quelques Pay-
ens nous dirent qu'on ioüoit a tout perdre, & que les
Sauuages fe tueroient les vns les autres; tout cela nous
confoloit fort: car nous [2 I] prenions plaifir de voir
l'vnion des Chreftiens; i1 eft bien plus aifé de tem-
perer la ferueur que de l'allumer: II eft bon que les
Sauuages fentent ces feux, mais il ne faut pas con-
defcendre à tous leurs defirs, les façons de faire d'vn
peuple ne fe changent pas fi toft, i1 faut proceder
auec dexterité, douceur, & patience.
Quelque temps apres ces refolutions prifes, vn de
nos Peres eftant entré dans la cabane d'vn des princi-
paux Sauuages qui les auoient receuës & approuuées;
ce bon-homme enuifagea Ie Pere d'vn æil trifte, &
luy dit, NiKanis, ie fuis en cholere, i'ay fafché Dieu,
i'ay penfé m'en aller rendre prifonnier à Kebec,
pour paffer quatre iours fans boire ny manger, fui-
uant ce que nous auons refolu, mais i'attens que tu
m'y enuoyes; Ie Pere à ces paroles fut furpris, ne
fçachant que refpondre; cét homme Ie voyant penfif,
luy dit, tu n'as point de cæur, tu te deffies de nous
autres, tu ne tiens pas affés ferme; tu t'imagines que
fi tu nous enioignois ces penitences, que nous ne Ies
ferions pas; éprouue-Ie tout maintenant en ma per-
fonne, commande moy d'aller en prifon, donne moy
[22] vn mot d'efcrit afin que la porte me foit ouuerte,
& tout à l'heure ie parts en ta prefence. Le Pere
luy demande, fi fa faute meritoit bien vn tel chafti-
ment: ouy, dit-il, i'ay fafché Dieu, mon peché eft
grand, i'ay frappé ma femme auec cholere, i1 eft vray
qu' elle m' a irrité; car ce matin m' en allant à la

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the unbelievers that the Christian Savages had chains
and bonds all ready to bind the refractory. Some
Pagans told us that they were risking the ruin of
everything, and that the Savages would kill one an-
other. All this consoled us much, for we [2 I] took
pleasure in seeing the union of the Christians; it is
much more easy to temper fervor than to kindle it.
lt is well that the Savages feel these ardors, but we
must not yield to all their desires; the customs of a
people do not change so soon,- it is necessary to
proceed with skill, gentleness, and patience.
Some time after these resolutions were taken, one
of our Fathers having entered the cabin of one of
the chief Savages who had received and approved
them, this simple man looked at the Father with a
sad eye, and said to him: " Nikanis, I am angry, I
have grieved God. I have thought of going to Kebec
to surrender myself as a prisoner, that I may spend
four days without food or drink, according to that
upon which we resolved; but I am waiting for thee
to send me there. " The Father was surprised at these
words, not knowing what to reply; this man, seeing
him thoughtful, said to him: "Thou hast no cour-
age; thou art distrustful of us all; thou art not firm
enough; thou imaginest that if thou enjoinest these
penances upon us, we would not do them. Make the
trial now, in my case,-command me to go to prison;
give me [22] a note, so that the door may be opened to
me, and this instant I will set off in your presence. "
The Father asked him if his fault really merited
such a chastisement. "Yes," said he, "I have
grieved God; my sin is great. I struck my wife in
anger; it is true that she irritated me, for, this morn-
ing, in going to Mass, I told her that she should fol-

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Meffe, ie luy ay dit qu'elle y vint apres moy, ne
l'ayant point veuë, ie l'ay frappée à mon retour; ie
ne veux perfonne auec moy, difoit-il, qui ne prie
Dieu: ouy mais, luy fit Ie Pere, tu fçais bien qu'il
n'eft pas iour de fefte, & qu'elle n'a point d'obligation
d'affifter auiourd'huy à la fainéte Meffe? 11 eft vray,.
refpond-il, mais puis que c'eft mieux fait d'y affifter,
elle Ie deuoit faire, veu mefme que ie l'y auois inui-
tée, & que c'eft noftre couftume de l'entendre tous
les iours, ie merite neantmoins chaftiment, car ie me
fuis laiffé emporter à ma cholere, donne moy vn mot
de lettre afin que ie faffe penitence de mon peché; Ie
Pere fe mit là-deffus à excufer cette faute, & à temoi-
gner que cette bonne femme eftoit bien marrie d'a-
uoir defobey, qu'elle aimoit fon mary, & que iamais
chofe femblable ne luy arriueroit: [23J Cette pauure
creature prenant la parole, dit, d'vne voix pleine de
douceur & de regret, mon Pere, i'ay en mon cænr ce
que vous aués en la bouche, & puis fe teut: La con-
clufion fut, que dés Ie lendemain au poinét du iour,
ils fe vindrent confeffer to us deux: mais ce qui nous
eftonna fort, fut que cette bonne femme iamais ne
s'excufa, quoy que fon mary luy dit ou reprochaft,
& cependant elle auoit vn grand fujet d'excufe; car
elle nous dit depuis que quand fon mary l'appella
pour aller à la Meffe, qu' elle ne I' auoit pas entendu,
neantmoins de peur de Ie fafcher, elle aima mieux
fe rendre coupable, que de s' excufer.
A quelque temps de là, vn ieune homme eftant
tombé dans vne faute affés lourde, car i1 s'eftoit eny-
uré, vn Chreftien fon parent delibera de Ie faire
mettre en prifon: comme on en demandoit aduis à
celuy dont ie viens de parler, il repliqua, ie n'ay

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low me; not having seen her, I struck her on my
return. I wish no person with me, II said he, " who
does not pray to God." , , Yes," the Father answered
him, "but you know well that it is not a holy day
and that she is under no obligation to be present to-
day at holy 1iass." "It is true," he replied, " but,
since it is better to be present there, she ought to
have gone-considering too that I had invited her,
and that it is our custom to hear it every day.
Nevertheless, I merit chastisement, for I have let
myself be carried away by my indignation; give me
a note, so that I may do penance for my sin." The
Father thereupon began to excuse this fault, and to
show that this good woman was indeed grieved at
having disobeyed, that she loved her husband, and
that a similar thing would never happen to her
again. [23J This poor creature, beginning to speak,
said, with a voice full of mildness and regret: " 11y
Father, I have in my heart what you have on your
lips;" and then she was silent. The conclusion
was that the very next day at dawn they both came
to confession; but what extremely astonished us was
that this good woman never excused herself, what-
ever her husband said to her, or however he re-
proached her. Notwithstanding, she had an excel-
lent reason for excuse; for she told us afterwards
that when her husband called her to go to 1iass, she
did not hear him; nevertheless for fear of offending
him, she had preferred to appear guilty, rather than
to excuse herself.
Some time thereafter, a young man having fallen
into a somewhat gross fault, for he became intoxicated,
one of his Christian relatives resolved to have him
put into prison. When they asked the opinion of

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point de parole fur ce fujet, i'ay merité chaftiment,
on ne me l'a pas donné, ie n'y puis condamner vn
autre. En effet, il ne voulut iamais declarer fon
aduis; on ne laiffa pas d'enuoyer ce ieune étourdy à
[24] Kebec, monfieur Ie Gouuerneur Ie fit mettre
dans vne ba[fe foffe, à la requefte des Sauuages, il y
fut mis iuftement la veille de N oël, & Ie lendemain
de cette grande fefte, cinq des principaux Chreftiens
allerent trouuer monfieur de Montmagny, & l'vn
d'eux luy tint ce difcours: Voila les deux plus pro-
ches parens du prifonnier, fçauoir eft Noël Negaba-
mat, & Charles 1'leiachKa
at, il y a long-temps que
Ie premier eft déliuré des chaifnes du Diable; pour
Ie fecond, il a efté mis tout recemment en liberté
par Ie fainét Baptefme; mais quant à celuy que vous
aués fait emprifonner, il eft garotté de tous coftés,
Ie Diable Ie tient fortement lié, car il n'eft pas encor
baptifé, & fon peché merite vne double prifon; au
refte, fes parens vous prient d'en faire iuftice, car
eftans Chreftiens ils veulêt garder toutes les loix de
Dieu, ils fe departent entierement de fa parenté.
Voila vn coup capable d'étonner tous ceux qui con-
noiffent les façons de faire des Sauuages, lefquels ne
íçauroient fouffrir qu' on touche leurs alliés/ mais
Dieu a plus de force que la nature: lvlonfieur Ie Gou-
uerneur repartit, qu'ille [25] feroit venir deuant foy,
qu'illuy donneroit de bons aduis, & de la terreur; &
que s'il retomboit dans fa faute, qu'il ne manqueroit
pas de Ie faire reprendre vne autre fois; tout fe paffa
auec prudence, & auec fruiét: Ce pauure homme
eftant forty de prifon, nous vint auffi-toft trouuer à
íainét Iofeph, il nous dit, qu'il n'improuuoit point ce
que les François & les Sauuages auoient fait, qu'au

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him whom I have just mentioned, he replied: "I
have not a word to say on the subject. I merited
chastisement, it was not given to me; I cannot con-
demn another to it." Indeed, he was never willing
to declare his opinion; however, they sent the
thoughtless young man to [24] Kebec. :Monsieur the
Governor had him put in a dungeon, at the request
of the Savages: he was put there on the very eve of
Christmas, and the day following that great festival
five of the principal Christians went to monsieur de
1Iontmagnyand one of them made this speech to
him: " Here are the two nearest relatives of the pris-
oner, that is to say, Noël Negabamat, and Charles
Meiachkawat; it is a long time since the first one was
delivered from the chains of the Devil; as for the sec-
ond one, he has been very recently set at liberty by
holy Baptism. But as for him whom you have had
imprisoned, he is pinioned on all sides,- the Devil
holds him fast bound, for he is not yet baptized, and
his sin merits a double prison; nevertheless, his rela-
tives pray you to do justice to him, for, being Chris-
tians, they wish to keep all the laws of God; they
entirely renounce his relationship." This is an act
fit to astonish all those that know the customs of the
Savages, who cannot endure that anyone should
touch their kinsmen; but God has more power than
nature. :Nlonsieur the Governor replied that he [25]
would have him brought before him, and that he
would give him good advice, and would frighten
him; and that, if he should again commit the fault,
he would not fail to have him again arrested. All
went on with discretion and profit. This poor man
having left the prison, came immediately to us at
saint Joseph; he said to us that he did not disap-

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commencement cela l'auoit fort irrité, mais qu'ayant
connu que c'eftoit pour fon bien, qu'il s'eftoit appai-
fé; ie m'amenderay, difoit-il, Ie Capitaine m'a donné
de bons aduis, ie les garderay; il m'a fait entendre
qu'il auoit de longs bras, & qu'encor que i'allaffe à
Tadouffac ou aux Trois Riuieres, qu'il atteignoit
iufques là, & encor plus loing; ie luy ay promis que
ie ne Ie mécõtenterois plus, & que ie me rendrois
obeïffant, c'eft la parole que ie vous donne auffi, &
que ie garderay; mais haftés-vous de me baptifer,
afin que ie deuienne plus fage.
Eftant de retour en fa cabane, les principaux Sau-
uages l'allerent trouuer fur la nuiét, & luy parlerent
en cette forte: Tu fçais bien que tu t'es meílé de for-
tileges, [26] mais comme nous fommes maintenant
Chreftiens, nous ne craignons plus tes inuocations de
Demon, tes menaces & tes forts ne no us donnent
plus l'épouuante; au refte, il faut que tu fçaches que
c'eft no us qui t'auons fait mettre en prifon, c'eft nous
qui auons prié noftre Capitaine de t'arrefter, fois
maintenant plus fage, quitte tes façons de faire; fi
tu veux croire en Dieu & receuoir fa Loy, nous t' ai-
merons, & te protegerons par tout; finon, dés à pre-
fent nous renonçons à ta parenté, & à ton amitié: fi
tu veux perfeuerer en ta malice, tu feras bien de
t'éloigner; car fi quelqu'vn te met à mort, comme
tu en as efté defia dans les dangers, no us ne ven-
gerons point ta mort. A ces paroles, cét hOlnme
qui auoit coûtume de donner de la terreur aux autres
par fes iongleries, & par fon impudence, fe trouua
bien eftonné: V ous m'aués fait plaifir, refpondit-il,
ce que vous aués fait ne tend qu'à mon bien, ie l'ay
defja dit à noftre Capitaine, ie feray plus retenu &

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prove of what the Frenchmen and the Savages had
done,- that in the beginning it had greatly irritated
him, but, having known that it was for his good, he
was appeased. "I shall improve," said he; "the
Captain has given me good advice, and I shall pay
attention to it. He has made me understand that
he has long arms, and that, although I might go to
Tadoussac or to the Three Rivers, he could reach as
far as there, and still further; I have promised him
that I would no longer displease him and that I would
become obedient. That is the word I give you also,
and which I shall keep; but hasten to baptize me,
so that I may become wiser.'.
Having returned to his cabin, the chief Savages
went to him toward night, and spoke to him in this
manner: "Thou knowest well that thou hast meddled
with sorcery; [26J but as we are now Christians, we
no longer fear thy invocations of the Demon,- thy
threats and thy charms no longer give us dismay.
Besides, thou must know that it is we who have had
thee put in prison, it is we who have begged our
Captain to arrest thee; be wiser now, abandon thy
usages. If thou wilt believe in God, and accept his
Law, we will love thee and protect thee everywhere;
if not, from this time forth we renounce thy kinship
and thy friendship. If thou wilt persist in thy wick-
edness, thou wouldst do well to go away; for, if any
one put thee to death, of which thou hast been already
in danger, we will not avenge thy death." At these
words, this man, who was wont to give terror to
others by his deceit and by his impudence, was quite
confounded. "Y ou have done me a kindness, " he
responded; "what you have done tends only to my
good. I have already said this to our Captain. I

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plus difcret d'orefenauant, la refolution en eft prife;
pour mes fortileges, c'eft vne chofe que i'ay defia
abandonnée, & que ie ne reprendray iamais: Voila Ie
[27J premier coup de iuftice que les Sauuages ayent
fait exercer; il les faut petit à petit, & auec adreffe,
ranger dans la foufmiffion.
V oicy d' autres aétions auffi remarquables que les
precedentes, quelques Sauuages de l'Ifle, & autres
endroits, eftans defcendus à fainét Iofeph, les Chre-
ftiens voyans que ces nouueaux hoftes n'auoient pas
dequoy difner, firent vne cueillette par entr'eux, &
fournirent iufques à douze cens anguilles boucannées,
diuifées en douze gros pacquets; ayans raffemblé
cette aumofne ils nous enuoyent querir, pour fçauoir
fi elle feroit agreable à Dieu; les pauures gens n'a-
uoient pas trop de viures pour eux; mais comme on
leur recommande les aétions de charité, ils fe cottife-
rent ioyeufement les vns les autres: Ayans donc
enuoyé querir quatre des principaux Sauu[aJges nou-
uellement venus, ils leur mirent cette aumofne entre
les mains, pour eftre diftribuée à tous ceux qui en
auoient befoin; nous approuuafmes fort cette bonté,
elle ne fera pas fans recompenfe, Dieu la benira au
centuple.
[28J Cette chari té n' em pef cha pas, que ces nou-
ueaux hoftes, naturellement fuperbes & orgueilleux,
n'euffent diuerfes prifes auec les Chreftiens de fainét
Iofeph, & quafi toufiours pour la Religion; voicy
trois ou quatre paroles qui donnent à connoiftre la
grande vanité, & l'infuportable fuperbe du Capitaine
de ces Infulaires. Nous eftant venu voir pendant Ie
fejour qu'il fit à St. Iofeph, il nous tint ce difcours:
l'auois quelque deffein de paffer icy l'hyuer, mais on

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shall be more restrained and more discreet hereafter;
my resolution is made. As for my sorcery, it is a
thing that I have already abandoned, and which I
shall never take up again. This is the [27J first act
of justice that the Savages have administered; little
by little, and with tact, they must be brought into
submission.
Here are other deeds as remarkable as the preced-
ing ones. Some Savages of the Island, and of other
places, having come down to saint Joseph, the Chris-
tians, seeing that the new guests had nothing for
dinner, made a collection among themselves, and
furnished as many as twelve hundred smoked eels,
divided into twelve large packages; having gathered
together this alms, they sent for us to know if it
would be acceptable to God. The poor people had
not too many provisions for themselves; but, as acts
of charity are recommended to them, everyone con-
tributed joyfully. Having then sent for four of the
chief of the recently-arrived Savages, they put this
gift into their hands, to be distributed to all those
who were in need. We greatly approved this kind-
ness; it will not be without reward,- God will bless
it a hundredfold.
[28J This charity did not prevent these new guests,
naturally haughty and proud, from having several
quarrels with the Christians of saint Joseph, and
almost always on account of Religion. The few fol-
lowing words reveal the great vanity and insupport-
able pride of the Captain of these Islanders. Having
come to see us during the stay that he made at St.
Joseph, he held this discourse with us: "I had some
intention of spending the winter here, but I am told
that neither your Captain loves me nor do you. Per-

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me dit que voftre Capitaine, ny vous autres auffi, ne
m'aimés pas; peut-eftre ne fçaués vous pas que ie
commande dés ma ieuneffe, que ie fuis nay pour
commander, fi toft que i'ouure la bouche, tout Ie
monde m' écoute; auffi eft-il vray que ie fouftiens, &
que ie conferue tout Ie païs pendant la vie de mes
petits enfans, & de mes neueux, c'eft ainfi qu'il
nomme fes gens, les Hurons mefmes me preftent
l' oreille, & ie commande parmy eux, ie les regIe,
comme eftant Capitaine, ie ne dy mot ça bas, les
autres parlent, mais il ne fe fait rien que ce que i'ay
dans la penfée; ie fuis comme vn arbre, les hommes en
font les branches, [29] aufquelles ie donne la vigueur:
Voir vn homme tout nud, qui n'a ny chauffure aux
pieds, ny autre habit qu'vn méchant bout de peau,
qui n'abrie que la moitié de fon corps, difgracié de
la nature n'ayant que la moitié de fes yeux, car il eft
borgne, fec cõme vn vieil arbre fans feüilIes; voir,
dif-je, vne fquelette, ou plutofi vn gueux, marcher
en Prefident, & parler en Roy, c' eft voir l' orgueil &
la fuperbe fous des haillons: Ce Thrafon, & vne par-
tie de fes gens eftans dans cette difpofition, furent
bien-toft aux prifes auec nos Chrefiiens, ils leur
reprochoient que la foy & les prieres faifoient mou-
rir les hommes; que depuis que quelques-vns s'e-
ftoient fait baptifer; que les maladies auoient regné
parmy eux; & qu'à mefme temps qu'on leur a enfei-
gné vne autre croyance que celIe de leurs peres, à
mefme temps la mort les a exterminés; qu'vne partie
de ceux qui fe font faits Chreftiens, s' entendent auec
les François pour perdre tout Ie païs des Sauuages;
ils apportent des exemples qu'ils croyent fort puif-
fans: Vn tel, difoit-il, ayant deux femmes, & n'ay-

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haps you do not know that I have ruled from my
youth, that I was born to rule. As soon as I open
my mouth, everyone listens to me; it is also true
that I bear up and maintain the whole country during
the life of my grandchildren and my nephews, "-it
is thus he calls his people. "Even the Hurons give
ear to me, and I command among them; I rule them, as
if I were Captain. I say not a word over there,- the
rest speak; but there is nothing done except that
which I have in my mind. I am like a tree,-men
are the branches thereof, [29] to which I give vigor."
To see a man wholly nude, who has neither covering
for the feet, nor other raiment than a wretched bit
of pelt, which screens only the half of his body; ill-
favored by nature, having only half his eyes, for he
is blind in one, and dried-up like an old tree without
leaves,-to see, I say, a skeleton, or rather a raga-
muffin, bear himself like a President, and speak like
a King, is to see haughtiness and pride under rags.
This Thraso and part of his people being in this
mood, very soon came to disputing with our Chris-
tians. They taunted them, saying that faith and
prayer made men die; that since some had been bap-
tized, maladies had prevailed among them, and that,
when they were taught another belief than that of
their fathers, at that very time death exterminated
them; that a part of those who have become Chris-
tians are concerting with the French to ruin the
whole country of the Savages. They cite examples
that they consider very forcible. "Such a one,"
they said, " having two wives, and not being inclined
to obey the Captain of the French, fell [30] sick im-
mediately; others died suddenly, who had abandoned
their ancient customs." The Christians thereupon

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ant pas voulu obeïr au Capitaine des François, eft
tombé [3 0 J malade tout fur l'heure, d'autres font
morts fubitement ayans quitté leurs anciennes façons
de faire; Les Chrefiiens là-defíus fe defendent, quel-
ques- vns auec trop de zele; fi les prieres vous tuent,
allés vous-en ailleurs, & ne demeurés point auec
nous, chacun fe trouue bien icy de croire en Dieu, &
d'auoir quitté fes vieilles malices. Ce n'efi pas la
fay qui nous extermine, mais nos pechés, & notam-
ment vofire infidelité; c' efi vous qui vous faites
mourir, retenans les Demons au milieu de vous par
vos méchantes aétions; fçachés que nous ne vous crai-
gnons nullement, & que nous ne quitterons iamais la
croyance que nous auons embraffée. L'affaire en
vint à tel point fans que nous en euffions connoiffance,
que les Infidelles parlerent d'affommer quelques-vns
des croyans: Ce qu'efiant venu aux oreilles d'vn des
principaux Chrefiiens, i1 s'en alIa fur la nuiét trouuer
les ieunes gens baptifés, & leur dit; on parle de
meurtre, tenés ferme en la foy, fi on veut mafíacrer
quelqu'vn pour fa croyance, il ne faut point mettre
la main aux armes, fouffrons la mort pour Iefus-
Chrifi nofire Capitaine: [31J mais fi on nous veut tuer
par inimitié particuliere, ou par enuie, i1 fe faut
defendre courageufement: Nous ne fceûmes point ce
procedé que long-temps apres, & encor par accident;
ie vous laiffe à penfer fi la refolution des Chrefiiens
nous confola. BeJled'iflus Deus in æterJlU1n, les Sau-
uages paroifíent froids comme la glace, mais Dieu ne
laiffe pas d' échauffer & de bruíler leur cæur quand it
luy plaifi.
Dans ces entrefaites, vn Chrefiien ayant parlé fort
hautement, les autres nous en vindrent donner aduis,

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defended themselves, some with too much zeal: "If
prayers kill you, go away elsewhere, and do not
remain with us; everyone here finds his advantage
in believing in God, and in having forsaken his old
wickedness. It is not faith that exterminates us, but
our sins, and especially your unbelief; it is you who
cause your own death, retaining the Demons in your
midst by your wicked acts; know that we do not fear
you at all, and that we shall never forsake the faith
that we have embraced." The matter came to such
a point, without our having knowledge of it, that
the Infidels spoke of beating to death some of the
- believers. \Vhen this was heard by one of the lead-
ing Christians, he went towards night to the baptized
young men, and said to them: "They are talking of
murder; keep firm in the faith. If they wish to
massacre anyone for his belief, he must not touch
his arms,-let us suffer death for Jesus Christ our
Captain. [3 I] But if they try to kill us from indi-
vidual enmity, or from envy, we must defend our-
selves courageously." \Ve knew this proceeding
only a long time afterwards, and even then by acci-
dent; I leave you to imagine how much the firmness
of the Christians consoled us. Bellcdl:ctus Deus 'in
æternum J' the Savages appear as cold as ice, but God
is sure to warm and fire their hearts when it pleases
him.
In the meantime, a Christian having spoken very
boldly, the others came to inform us of it, saying
that he provoked the Unbelievers too much; we sent
for him that we might recommend to him mildness
and discretion. He said these words to us: "Are
you now teaching us another doctrine than that which
you taught us formerly?" "N 0, indeed," said we

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difans qu'il prouoquoit trop les InfidelIes: nous Ie
fifmes venir pour luy recommander la douceur & la
difcretion: II nous dit ces paroles; Enfeignés-vous
maintenant vne autre doétrine que celIe que vous
nous aués enfeignée par cy-deuant? Non pas, luy
difmes-nous; N e nous aués-vous pas dit, repliqua-t'il,
que quand il s'agiffoit de la foy, il falloit tenir bon,
& parler hardiment, & monftrer qu'on ne craignoit
point la mort; & que fi on mourroit pour fa creance,
qu' on iroit tout droit au ciel; C' eft cela, adioutta-t'il,
qui m'a fait parler haut, ils nous reprochent que nous
les faifons mourir, [32] quittans les couftumes de nos
anceftres, & que nos prieres tuent les Sauuages, &
là-deffus ils nous menacent; ie leur ay dit que ie ne
les craignois pas, ny tous leurs Demons, que ie les
deffiois de me tuer, que ie croirois malgré qu'ils en
euffent, & qu'ils s'en allaffent d'auec nous, s'ils auoient
peur de nos prieres : Son zele nous pleut; mais nous
luy recommandafmes de l'affaifonner de douceur, &
que cette rigueur n'attiroit pas des efprits aigris par
leurs malheurs.
A quelques mois de là, Ie mefme Chreftien ayant
fçeu que fa liberté en auoit fortement irrité quelques-
vns, & qu'ils machinoient fa mort, à ce qu'on luy rap-
portoit, il s'en alla trouuer Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur,
pour luy demander vn cas de confcience, car comme
il s'agiffoit de mort, & qu'il fçait bien que nous ne
portons point les armes, il s'imagina que c'eftoit à
celuy qui commande aux foldats, & qui fait profeffion
des armes, de fatisfaire à fa demande, vn de nos
Peres de fainét Iofeph, fe trouua par rencontre ce
iour là à Kebec, l'ayant apperceu ille pria de l'intro-
duire chés Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur, [33] auquel i1

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to him. "Did you not tell us," he replied, " that
when it was a question of faith, we must stand fast,
and speak boldly, and show that we did not fear
death? and that if we died for our belief, we should
go straight to heaven? It is that," added he, " which
made me speak boldly. They reproach us with caus-
ing their death [32] by forsaking the customs of our
ancestors, and with killing the Savages by our pray-
ers; and for that reason they menace us. I told
them that I did not fear them, nor all their Demons,-
that I dared them to kill me; that I should believe,
however much they might dislike it; and that they
should go away from us, if they feared our prayers."
His zeal pleased us, but we exhorted him to temper
it with mildness, and told him that this severity
would not attract hearts embittered by their misfor-
tunes.
Some months after, the same Christian-having
learned that his freedom had greatly irritated some
of them, and that they were plotting his death, as he
had been told - went to :Monsieur the Governor to
ask him about a case of conscience; for, as it was a
question of death, and knowing well that we do not
carry arms, he imagined that it belonged to him who
commands soldiers, and has a military profession, to
answer his question satisfactorily. One of our Fa-
thers of saint Joseph was present by chance that day
in Kebec, and this man, seeing him, begged to be
conducted to the residence of Monsieur the Governor,
[33] to whom he had a few words to say. Being in
his presence, he asked how he ought to comport him-
self in case anyone attacked him and wished to put
him to death. "Since I am a Christian," said he,
" I wish to do all that a good Christian should do; if

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auoit vn petit mot à dire; eftant en fa prefence illuy
demanda comme il fe deuoit comporter, en cas que
quelqu'vn l'attaquaft, & Ie vouluft mettre à mort:
Puis que ie fuis Chreftien, difoit-il, ie veux faire tout
ce que doit faire vn bon Chr[e]ftien; s'il fe faut
defendre, ie me defendray; s'il faut pofer les armes,
ie les poferay: Monfieur Ie Cheualier de Montmagny
luy demanda s'il auoit des ennemis, & à quel propos
il faifoit cette demande: ie fuis Ie premier de ma
nation, refpondit-il, qui me fuis fait Chreftien, ceux
de mon païs, voyant que i'ay quitté leur party, croy-
ent que les prieres & la foy que i'ay embraffée leur
caufe les grandes maladies qui les ont quafi tous
exterminés, voyla pourquoy ils me haïffent à mort:
:Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur luy ayant donné Ia refolution
de fon doute, ce bon homme Iuy dit: tous Ies iours,
fi toft que ie fuis Ieué ie dy à Dieu, fi on me tuë pour
ce que ie croy en toy, i' en feray bien aife, ie feray
bien content de mourir, ie Iuy dy Ie mefme à Ia
Meffe tous les iours, & ie fens dans mon cæur que ie
ne les crains pas tous tant qu'ils font; car ils ne fçau-
roient [34] toucher à mon arne, leur rage ne peut
tomber que fur mon corps; fi quelqu'vn m'attaque
pour quelque autre fujet que pour la foy, il ne fera
pas Ie bien venu. II difoit cela d'vne façon fi gaye
& fi refoluë, qu'il recrea 110nfieur Ie Gouuerneur,
lequel admirant fon courage & fa bonne difpofition,
Iuy tefmoigna que fi on l'attaquoit pour Ia foy, qu'on
s'attaquoit à fa propre perfonne, n'ayant qu'vne
mefme creance & qu'vn mefme Dieu auec luy: cela
refioüit merueilleufement ce pauure Neophyte, qui
s'en alla auffi content que s'il euft gaigné vn grand
Empire. En voyla fuffifamment pour ce Chapitre.

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he must defend himself, I will defend myself; if he
must lay down arms, I will lay them down." Mon-
sieur the Chevalier de Montmagnyasked him if he
had any enemies, and why he made this inquiry.
U I am the first of my nation," he answered, " to
become a Christian; those of my country, seeing that
I have left their party, believe that the prayers and
the faith which I have embraced cause the great dis-
eases that have almost exterminated them; this is
why they hate me unto death." Monsieur the Gov-
ernor having given him the solution of his doubt,
this good man said to him: " Every day, as soon as
I have risen, I say to God, ' If they kill me because I
believe in thee, I shall be very glad,- I shall be well
pleased to die.' I tell him the same every day at
Mass; and I feel in my heart that I do not fear the
whole of them however many there be, for they will
not be able [34] to touch my soul,- their rage can
fall only upon my body. If anyone attack me for
other cause than for the faith, he will not be received
with open arms." He said this in so cheerful and
determined a manner, that he delighted :Monsieur the
Governor, who, admiring his courage and his good
disposition, let him know that, if he were attacked
for the faith, he himself, in his own person would be
attacked,- since he had the same faith and the same
God as he. That wonderfully cheered this good
Neophyte, who went away as content as if he had
gained a great Empire. Enough of that for this
Chapter.

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CHAPITRE III.

CONTINUATION DE CE QUI S'EST PASSÉ ENTRE LES
SAUUAGES DE LA RESIDENCE DE SAINCT IOSEPH.

L E Diable qui voit bien que l'arreft des Sauuages
errans, eft Ie plus court chemin, & Ie plus
affuré de leur falut, ban de toutes fes forces
pour détruire ce [35J que Dieu a fi heureufement
commencé. Les Sauuages de l'Iile dont i'ay parlé
cy-deffus, eftans fur Ie point de fe retirer de Sainét
Iofeph, où Us efioient venus pour vn peu de temps,
ne vouloiet pas Ie feparer auec aigreur de nos Chre-
ftiens, & de nos Catechumenes: Ils firent ioüer vn
reffort qui auroit bien fait du mal, fi Dieu n'euft don-
né de la conftance à ces bons Neophytes: ils les inui-
tent donc à vn feftin, & leur difent, que la priere eft
bonne, qu'il eft vray que noftre doétrine eft vn peu
rude, notamment touchant les Mariages, mais qu'e-
{tant receuë de quelques vns, les autres la pouuoient
auffi embraffer auec Ie temps, & que pour faciliter
l'affaire, & pour vne plus grande vnion des vns auec
les autres, il feroit à propos qu'ils demeuraffent tous
enfemble, qu'il falloit choifir quelque lieu plus éIoi-
gné de Kebec, que n'eftoit Sainét Iofeph pour mille
raifons qu'ils alleguoient, que les Peres feroient auec
eux pour les inftruire, & que petit à petit chacun fe
rendroit aux façons de faire des François: bref ils
tefmoignerent vne gran de amitié, & vn grand defir
que les Chreftiens quittaffent leur demeure [3 6 J pour

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CHAPTER III.

CONTINUATION OF WHAT OCCURRED AMONG THE
SAVAGES OF THE RESIDENCE OF SAINT JOSEPH.

T HE Devil, who sees well that the settling down
of the roving Savages is the shortest and sur-
est way of their salvation, bends all his ener-
gies to destroy that [35] which God has so happily
begun. The Savages of the Island, of whom I have
spoken above, being upon the point of withdrawing
from Saint Joseph, whither they had come for a
little time, did not wish to depart on bad terms with
our Christians and our Catechumens. They put in
operation a scheme which would have done much
harm, if God had not given constancy to these good
Neophytes; they invited them to a feast, and said to
them, that prayer was good, that our doctrine was
indeed rather harsh, particularly touching Mar-
riages,- but, as it had been received by some of
them, the others might also embrace it in time.
They said that, in order to facilitate the matter, and
to bring about a closer union with each other, it
would be fitting that they should all live together,
and that they must choose some place more distant
from Kebec than Saint Joseph was, for a thousand
reasons which they pleaded; that the Fathers should
be with them, to instruct them; and that, by degrees,
each one would yield himself to the customs of the
French. In short, they expressed a great friendship
and a great desire that the Christians should aban-

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s'en aller loger auec eux en quelque autre endroit;
c'eftoit vn coup fourré de l'Ennemy de Dieu & des
hommes, qui fe feruoit de la bouche de l'eloquence
d'vn miferable borgne, qui ne voit que la moitié de la
terre, & rien du tout de la beauté du ciel. Nos Neo-
phytes ayans entendu ce difcours, nous en vindrent
faire Ie rapport: 11 ne fut pas difficile de leur faire
voir la malice de Satan, & l'inconftance de ceux qui
les inuitoient; c'eft pourquoy l'vn d'eux dans vne
affemblée qu'ils firent fur ce fujet, leur dit ces pa-
roles: Si ie ne croyois pas en Dieu ie vous pourrois
fuiure, mais Ie coup eft donné; i'ay refpondu à Dieu,
& luy ay dit, que ie luy obeïrois; & ainfi ie ne puis
m'éloigner du lieu où nous fommes inítruits de fes
v010ntés: \Tn autre adioufta, vous dites que vous tien-
drés ferme au lieu que vous voulés choifir, & ie vous
auife que la foy feule vous donnera de la conftance,
ie vous connois bien, vos teftes, ny vos pieds n'auront
point d'arreft iufques à ce que vous croyés en Dieu.
Ces Algonquins eftans retournés aux trois Riuieres,
enuoyerent inuiter les Sauuages [37] de Sainét lofeph
d'aller à 1a guerre auec eux: celuy qui porta la pa-
role, vfa de ces termes: \Toicy vn coup d'Eftat pour
les prieres & pour la foy que vous aués embraffée, les
Algonquins de 1'lile, & de 1a petite Nation, difent
que fi YOUS les voulés accompagner à la guerre, qu'ils
fe feront tous baptifer au retour, & qu'ils embraffe-
ront les prieres. lean Baptifte Etinechka
at refpon-
dit au nom de tous; voftre harangue n' eft pas dans
fon luftre, vous l'aués mife à l'enuers: vous dites,
allons à 1a guerre, & puis nous nous ferons baptifer;
renuerfés voftre parole, & dites; Faifons nous bapti-
fer, & puis allons to us de compagnie à la guerre; fi

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don their abode [36J and go to dwell with them in
some other place. It was an underhand thrust of
the Enemy of God and man, who used the eloquent
speech of a wretched one-eyed man, who sees only
half of the earth, and nothing at all of the beauty of
heaven. Our Neophytes, having heard this dis-
course, came to give us an account of it. It was not
difficult to make them see the malice of Satan, and
the instability of those who invited them; that is
why one of them, in a council they held concerning
this matter, said these words to them: "If I did not
believe in God, I might follow you, but the step is
taken,- I have responded to God, and told him that
I would obey him; and thus I cannot leave the place
where we are taught his will." Another added:
" You say that you will remain firm in the place that
you shall choose; but I warn you that faith alone
will give you steadfastness. I know you well; nei-
ther your head nor your feet will have any check
until you believe in God."
These Algonquins having returned to the three
Rivers, sent to invite the Savages [37J of Saint
Joseph to go with them to war: he who brought the
word, used these terms: " Here is a Masterly stroke
for the prayers and the faith that you have chosen;
the Algonquins of the Island and of the petite Nation
say that, if you will accompany them to the war,
they will all be baptized on their return, and they
will adopt the prayers." Jean Baptiste Etinechka-
wat responded in the name of all: "Your argument
is not properly stated, -you have inverted your
words: you say, , Let us go to the war, and then we
will be baptized;' reverse your language, and say:
, Let us be baptized, and then let us all go together

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vous parIés ainfi, vofire difcours ira droit, vous ne
vous mettrés pas en danger de vous perdre; & Dieu
nofire pere voyant fes enfans enfemble, aura de
bonnes penfées pour nous: Ce difcours en fon Ian-
gage n'a rien de barbare, & ces fentimens ne fe
trouuent que dans vn cæur vrayement Chrefiien.
Quelques vns de nos Neophytes ne laifferent pas
de les accompagner, quoy qu'auec peine, à caufe de
leurs fuperfiitions: Voicy ce que l'vn d'eux no us en
racontoit [38] à fon retour. Partant de Saind Iofeph:
nous allafmes prier Dieu à la Chapelle: paffant par
les trois Riuieres nous confeffafmes nous autres qui
efiions baptifés, & vn peu au delà les mefcroyans
firent vn fefiin de deux chiens, ils chanterent &
hurlerent felon nos anciennes coufiumes, & tout celà
pour tuer des ennemis. Ie leur difois prou que cela
ne feruoit de rien, mais ils s'en mocquoient; ils con-
fulterent cinq fois les Diables dans leur tabernacles,
pendant tout ce temps là nous nous retirafmes à part
faifant nos prieres à genoux, vn Sauuage non encor
baptifé fe mit de nofire cofié, renonçant au Sabbat
des infideles. A la derniere confulte les ennemis
nous enuironnerent, fi tofi que nous en eufmes Ie
vent mes Iongleurs quittent leurs tabernacles, &
gaignent au pied; Ie leur criay tout haut, & leur de-
man day ce que leur auoient feruy leurs demons; mon
difcours ne fut pas long, car i1 fe fallut fauuer auffi
bien que les autres, les vns gaignent les bois, les
autres les eaux, nous nous embarquafmes fur Ie grand
lac, fur lequel voguoit l'Ennemy, nous paffafmes &
repaffafmes [39] dans les dangers fans efire defcou-
uerts; Ie priois Dieu dans mon ame de tout mon
cæur, i1 me fembloit que ie fentois dans moy ie ne

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to the war. ' If you speak thus, your speech will be
straightforward; you will not put yourselves in dan-
ger of being lost, and God our father, seeing his
children together, will have favorable opinions of
us. ,. This speech, in his own language, was not at
all barbarous; and these sentiments are found only
in a truly Christian heart.
Some of our Neophytes, however, accompanied
them,-although with sorrow, on account of their
superstitions. This is what one of them related to
us [38] on his return: "Setting ou t from Saint Joseph,
we went to the Chapel to pray to God; passing
through the three Rivers, we who were baptized con-
fessed; and a little further on the unbelievers made
a feast of two dogs; they chanted and howled accord-
ing to our old customs, and all that for the sake of
killing the enemy. I said plainly to them that that
would avail nothing, but they mocked at it; five
times they consulted the Devils in their tabernacles.
During all that time we withdrew apart, kneeling in
prayer; a Savage not yet baptized sided with us,
renouncing the Sabbat of the infidels. At the last
consultation, the enemies surrounded us; as soon as
we had wind of it, my Jugglers quitted their tents,
and took to their heels. I cried aloud to them and
asked them of what use their demons had been to
them; my speech was not long, for I had to escape,
as well as the others. Some made for the woods,
others for the water; we embarked upon the great
lake, on which the Enemy was paddling; we passed
and repassed each other [39] in these dangers, with-
out being discovered. I prayed to God in silence
with all my heart; it seemed to me that I felt within
me an unknown power which sustained me, and

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fçay quel1e force qui me fouítenoit, & qui me
donnoit l'efperance de mon falut. Voila comme fe
termina no fire guerre difoit ce bon Neophyte. Mais
touchons quelques aétions particulieres des plus
fermes Chreftiens.
Vn ieune homme nous parlant d'[eJfpoufer vne fil1e
Chreftienne, nous luy confeil1afmes de prendre aduis
de fon frere aifné, homme de confideration parmy les
Algonquins: II n'eft pas Chrefiien, refpondit iI, il eft
ennemy des prieres, ie ne Ie reconnois point pour
mon frere, s'il croyoit en Dieu ie luy obeïrois de tout
mon cæur.; quel bon aduis me pourroit donner vn
homme, qui ne prend pas pour foy les bons aduis
qu'on luy donne de fon faIut? c'efi à vous de me con-
feil1er, vous m'aués donné la vie de l'ame, ie fuiuray
auffi voftre direétion pour Ie bien de mon corps. Sa
mere s'efiant mife vn iour en cholere, luy dit, qu'el1e
vouloit fe retirer de Sainét Iofeph pour demeurer
ail1eurs où el1e efperoit plus grand fecours: Son fils
[4 0 ] luy repliqua; Ma mere, nous n'auons pas receu
la foy pour les biens de la terre, quand tout Ie monde
s'en iroit ie demeurerois toufiours aupres de ceux qui
nous enfeignent Ie chemin du del; c' eft tout de bon
que ie croy en Dieu, ie tiendray ferme iufques à la
mort. Vn fien parent Ie voulant enleuer apres fon ma-
riage, luy dit, qu'il s' embarquaft au plutoft pour em-
pefcher Ie defordre de fa femme, laquel1e eftant al1ée
voir fes parens aux trois Riuieres, s'y gouuernoit mal,
au dire de cét impofteur: Ce bon ieune homme nous
vint trouuer là-deffus, & nous dit; Ie viens d'ap-
prendre des nouuel1es qui affligent mon cæur, on m'a
rapporté que ma femme n'obeïffoit pas à Dieu; mais
i1 n'importe, qu'el1e quitte Dieu fi el1e veut, que tous

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which gave me hope for my safety. So this is the
way our war ended," said this good Neophyte. But
let us touch upon some special actions of the most
steadfast Christians.
A young man spoke to us of marrying a Christian
girl and we counseled him to take advice of his elder
brother, a man of consideration among the Algon-
quins: " He is not a Christian," he responded, " he
is an enemy of prayer; I do not acknowledge him
for my brother. If he believed in God, I would obey
him with all my heart: what good advice could a
man give me who does not accept for himself the
good counsels that are given him for his salvation?
It belongs to you to counsel me; you have given me
the life of my soul,- I will also follow your direc-
tion for the good of my body." His mother, losing
her temper one day, said to him that she wished to
leave Saint Joseph, and dwell in some other place
where she hoped for more assistance. Her son [4 0 J
replied to her: " :My mother, we have not received the
faith for the sake of earthly riches; though every
one should go away, I shall always remain with those
who have taught us the way to heaven; I believe
earnestly in God,- I shall hold fast even to death."
One of his relatives, wishing to take him away after
his marriage, told him that he should set out as soon
as possible in order to prevent the ill conduct of his
wife,- who, having gone to visit her parents at the
three Rivers, was behaving badly, according to the
report of this impostor. Thereupon this good young
man came to us, and said: "I have just heard news
that afflicts my heart,- I have been told that my wife
has disobeyed God. But no matter,-let her forsake
God if she will, let all my relatives leave and abandon

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roes parens me quittent & m 'abandonnent, ie ne quit-
teray iamais la foy; ce qui m'attrifte dauantage,
c'eft l'offenfe qu'elle commet, & Ie peu d'efiat qu'elle
fait de fon ame. De bonne fortune nous venions de
receuoir des lettres des Peres qui font aux trois Ri-
uieres, qui rendoient vn grand témoignage de I 'hon-
nefieté, & de la conftance en la foy, de cette ieune
femme; [4 1 ] fon mary entendant la leéture de ces
lettres s'écria: Ah! ie voy bien maintenant Ie deffein
de mes parens, ils ont forgé cette calomnie pour me
perdre; ils s'imaginent que s'ils me tenoient parmy
eux qu'ils me feroient quitter la foy, ils font bien
loin de leur conte, ie ne la quitteray qu'auec la vie;
La refolution de ce ieune homme me toucha Ie cæur.
I'entendois certain iour vn Sauuage Chrefiien pref-
cher dans vne cabane, où vn ieune homme baptifé
mouroit, les raiíons que l'Efprit de Dieu luy fugge-
roit, m'efionnoient, il ne me voyoit pas, car i'efiois
derriere la cabane où ie m'arrefiay pour l'efcouter: 11
parloit du mefpris de la terre, & du bon-heur du Ciel,
auec des paroles de feu; ce que nous croyons eft
vray, difoit-il, c'efi porter enuie à ceux qui vont en
Paradis, de s' attrifier de leur mort: V ne autre fois
preffant vn infidele de fe rendre à Dieu; Ie n'ay pas
afíés d'efprit, luy dit cét homme, pour efire baptifé,
ie ne fçaurois retenir tout ce qu'on m'enfeigne, ie
fuis muet deuant Dieu, ie ne fçay que luy dire. II
n'efi pas befoin, luy fit ce Neophyte, de beaucoup
parler [4 2 ] des lévres, fuffit que ton cæur foit à Dieu;
quand i' efiois encor petit garçon, & que mon pere
s'en allant à la chaffe où en quelque autre endroit, me
laiffoit en la cabane, ie ne faifois que penfer à luy,
i'y penfois Ie foir en me couchant, & Ie matin en me

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me, I will never renounce the faith. What saddens
me more, is the fault she commits, and the little
regard that she has for her souL" Fortunatel y, we
had just received lett
rs from the Fathers who are
at the three Rivers, which bore full proof of the
modesty, and the constancy in the faith, of this young
woman; [41] her husband, hearing these letters read,
exclaimed: "Ah! now I see well the design of my
relatives; they have forged this calumny to ruin
me,- they imagine that, if they keep me among
them, they will make me forsake the faith. They
are far from their reckoning, I will give it up only
with my life." The firmness of this young man
touched me to the heart.
One day I heard a Christian Savage preach in a
cabin where a baptized young man was dying; the
arguments that the Spirit of God suggested to him
astonished me. He did not see me, for I was behind
the cabin, where I had stopped to listen. He spoke
of contempt for earth, and of the happiness of Heav-
en, with words of fire: "That which we believe is
true," said he; "it is envying those who go to Para-
dise, to be saddened by their death. " Another time
he urged an unbeliever to give himself up to God,
and the man said to him: "I have not mind enough
to be baptized. I cannot retain all that they teach
me, I am dumb before God, I do not know what to
say to him." "There is no need," said the N eo-
phyte to him, " of much speaking [42] with the lips,
it is enough that your heart belongs to God. When
I was still a little boy, and my father, going to the
chase or somewhere else, left me in the cabin, I did
nothing but think of him; I thought of him at night
on lying down, and in the morning on rising up;

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leuant, & ie difois en mon cæur, quand Ie verray-ie;
ma bouche ne parloit point, tout ce paffoit dans ma
penfée; voila comme il te faut comporter, difoit-il,
enuers Dieu; il importe peu que tu parIes, fuffit que
ton cæur penfe à luy, Ie foir deuant que prendre ton
repos, Ie matin à ton réueil, penfe à luy, & luy dy
feulement ces quatre paroles; fi ie fçauois ce qu'il te
faut dire, ie te Ie dirois, cela fuffit, il n'en demande
pas dauantage. La langue du cæur eft la plus intel-
ligible en Paradis. Noël Negabamat voguant ce
printemps dans vn canot auec vn de nos Peres, luy
raconta ce que ie yay dire: 11 y a deux hyuers que ie
penfay perdre la vie en ce lieu cy, Ie Pere demandant
la raifon, il pourfuit, comme ie trauerfois Ie grand
fleuue auec mes gens pour aller à la chaffe de I' autre
bord, nous fufmes enuironnés d'vn grand banc de
glaces, qui fe fracaffoient [43] d'vne telle impetuofité
dans la rencontre de deux courans d'eaux, que nous
penfions tous efire perdus: V oyant Ie danger éui-
dent, nous montafmes fur vne glace, fur laquelle
nous tirafmes auffi nos canots, Ie malheur efi qu'elle
efioit fi petite, qu'à peine y pouuions nous efire
debout: Nous voila tous fur vn pont flottant, mais fi
efiroit, & fi volage, qu'au moindre heurt nous atten-
dions vne mort fans reffource; ie m'écriay, c'efi fait
de nous, prions Dieu pour la derniere fois: Toy qui
as tout fait, tu es tout-puiffant, fauue nous fi tu nous
veux fauuer; fi tu veux que nous mourions, nous Ie
voulons bien; puis que nous croyons en toy, nous
irons au ciel, & nous te verrons, nous ne croyons pas
en toy pour viure long-temps fur la terre: ayant fait
ma priere tout haut, ie dis à mes gens; N e craignons
point, mourons courageufement, nous fommes bapti-

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and I said in my heart, '\Vhen shall I see him?'
My mouth did not speak, all this went on in my
mind. It is thus, JJ said he, " that you must conduct
yourself towards God. It matters little what you
say,-it is sufficient that your heart should speak to
him: at night before taking rest, in the morning on
awaking, think of him, and say to him only these few
words: ' If I knew what I ought to say to thee, I
would say it; , that is enough, he asks no more." The
language of the heart is the most audible in Para-
dise. Noël Negabamat, while sailing in a canoe this
spring with one of our Fathers, related to him what
I am going to mention: "Two winters ago I thought
I should lose my life in this place. JJ The Father
asking the reason, he continued: "While I was
crossing the great river with my people, going to
hunt on the other shore, we were surrounded by a
great bank of ice, which broke to pieces [43] with
such impetuosity. from the meeting of two currents
of water, that we thought we were all lost. Seeing
danger imminent, we climbed upon a cake of ice, upon
which we also drew our canoes; unfortunately, it
was so small that we could scarcely stand thereon.
There we all were on a floating bridge, but so narrow
and wavering, that at the least shock, we expected
death without resource. I exclaimed: 'It is all over
with us, let us pray to God for the last time.' 'Thou
who hast made all things, thou art all-powerful, save
us if thou will to save us; if thou will that we
should die, we are indeed willing; since we believe
in thee, we shall go to heaven, and we shall see thee;
we do not believe in thee in order to live a long time
on earth.' Having offered my prayer aloud, I said to
my people: ' Let us not fear, let us die courageous-

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fés: Courage, nous irons au ciel: Au commencement
du peril, i'eus grand peur, mais ayant fait ma priere
ie ne craignois plus la mort: Ie n'auois pas acheué la
parole qu'il fe fit vne grande éc1aircie deuant nos
yeux, les glaces s'êcartans pour [44] nous faire paf-
fage; auffi-tofi nous mettons nofire canot à l'eau,
nous fautons dedans plus vifie que Ie vent, nous
voguons fans fçauoir où nous allions, car les glaces
nous déroboient la veuë des bords de la riuieres, en
fin cette éc1aircie nous conduifit iufques aux riues où
nous defirions aller, nous fufmes fi épouuantés de
cette merueille, que fans nous dire mot les vns aux
autres, chacun fe mit à genoux fur Ie bord du fleuue,
pour remercier Dieu du peril que nous venions d'eui-
ter par fa faueur. Ce bon homme ne nous auoit
point en cor raconté ce grand benefice de nofire Sei-
gneur, les Sauuages parlent peu de ce qui fe pafíe
chés eux, fi les occafions ne s'en preíentent.
Vne pauure femme efiant venue deux ou trois fois
pour fe confeffer, & n'ayant peu Ie faire pour l'ab-
fence du Pere qui la pût entendre, elle s'en retourna
fi trifie qu'elle paffa vne grande partie de la nuiét,
en larmes; Ie matin efiant retournée, elle dit au
Pere, ie n'ay point eu de repos depuis mon offence,
ie ne m'en retourneray plus que ie ne fois confeffée,
i'ay defia remarqué que quelques vns ne fçauroient
[45] fouffrir fur leur cæur aucune offenfe qu'ils
ayent commife volontairement, quoy que fort legere.
Vn ieune Sauuage Chrefiien s' efiant éueillé la nuicl,
& voyant vne femme indecemment couuerte dans fon
fommeil, fut faifi de frayeur, tant l'occafion de pecher
touche ces bonnes gens, ne fçachant comme aduertir
cette femme, de peur de luy donner de la confufion,

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ly. We are baptized; be of good cheer, we shall go
to heaven.' In the beginning of the danger, I was
much afraid; but, having said my prayer, I no
longer feared death. I had not finished the sentence,
when a great opening was made before our eyes,-
the ice scattering to [44J open a way for us; imme-
diately we put our canoe in the water, and leaped
into it more swiftly than the wind. We paddled
without knowing whither we went, for the ice pre-
vented our seeing the banks of the river; in short,
this opening led us up to the shores which we desired
to reach. "\Ve were so appalled by this wonder that,
without speaking to one another, each one knelt
on the bank of the stream to thank God that we had
escaped from this peril by his favor." This good
man had not before related to us this great mercy of
our Lord; the Savages speak little of what happens
among them, if opportunities are not offered for it.
A poor woman, having come two or three times to
confess, and not having been able to do so, on account
of the absence of the Father who could hear her,
went away so sad, that she passed a great part of the
night in tears. Having returned in the morning,
she said to the Father: " I have had no rest since
my transgression; I will not go back until I have
confessed." I have already observed that some of
them cannot [45] bear upon their hearts any offense,
however trifling, which they have voluntarily com-
mitted. A young Christian Savage having awaked
in the night, and seeing a woman immodestly cov-
ered in her sleep, was seized with fright,- so much
does the opportunity for sinning affect these good
people. Not knowing how to warn this wom
n, for
fear of putting her to confusion, he bethought him-

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it s'aduifa de battre rudement vn chien, & de Ie faire
crier bien haut, afin que cette femme s'éueillant fe
remit dans la bienfeance. Si ie dy que des filles &
des femmes & des ieunes hommes folicités au mal
iufques aux menaces, ont imité Ie Saind Iofeph & la
chafie Sufanne, i'vferay de redites, ces adions efiant
reïterées meritent d'efire publiées, car en verité elles
font heroïques.
Vn ieune payen s'efiant glifIé la nuid dans vne
cabane, s'adrefIa à vne ieune fille Chrefiienne, & luy
dit ces quatre paroles: Crois-tu en Dieu; Ouy, dit-
elle, i'y croy: y crois-tu tout de bon? c'efi tout de
bon, refpond la fille: adieu donc, dit ce frippon, ie
n'ay rien à te dire.
Vn bon Neophyte nous difoit vn iour, [46] qu'it
s'ennuyoit de cette vie, qu'it fentoit bien maintenant
qu'it efioit prifonnier, & qu'il penfoit incefIamment
à la vie qui ne meurt iamais; que fon cæur efioit
toufiours en Dieu.
Vn de nos Peres ayant parlé de nofire Seigneur
dans vne maifon de Sauuages, & recommandé l'hon-
nefieté, vne ieune femme mariée depuis peu, Ie fui-
uit, & luy demanda en fecret, fi elle ne pouuoit pas
bien fe feparer de fon mary, & coucher auec vne
fienne parente: Le Pere luy demanda fi elle haïfIoit
fon mary, & s'il la traitoit mal: Non pas, fit-elle,
mais ie voudrois bien me fauuer.
La mefme efiant allée communier aux Vrfulines
auec fes compagnes, les Meres leur firent vn petit
fefiin: celle-cy ne fit que pleurer pendant que les
autres mangeoient: On la prefIe d'en donner la rai-
fon, mais iamais elle n'en voulut parler; Cela efiant
venu à nos oreilles, nous luy demandafmes Ie fujet

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self of roughly beating a dog, and making it yelp
aloud, so that the woman on awaking should again
cover herself properly. If I told you how many
girls and women and young men, entreated to evil
even by menaces, have imitated Saint Joseph and
the chaste Susanna, I should use repetitions; these
acts, being reiterated, deserve to be published, for,
in truth, they are heroic.
A young pagan, having stolen by night into a cab-
in, addressed a young Christian girl, and said these
four words to her: "Believest thou in God?" "Yes, "
said she, " I do believe in him." "Dost thou believe
in him in earnest?" "In earnest," answered the
girl. "Good-bye, then," said the rogue, "I have
nothing to say to thee. "
A good Neophyte said to us one (tay, [46J that he
was weary of this life, and felt that now indeed he
was a prisoner,- that he thought incessantly of the
life that never ends; that his heart was always with
God.
One of our Fathers having spoken of our Lord in
a household of Savages, and recommended modesty,
a young woman, recently married, followed him and
asked him in private, if she could rightly be sepa-
rated from her husband and lodge with a female
relative. The Father asked her if she hated her
husband, and if he treated her ill: "By no means,"
said she, "but I would gladly be saved."
The same person, having gone with her compan-
ions to receive communion at the house of the Ursu-
lines, the Mothers made them a little feast; this one
only wept while the others ate. They urged her to
give the reason for doing so, but she would in no
wise speak of it. This having come to our ears, we

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de fes larmes; enfin apres vn long filence: I'efiois
trifie, refpondit-elle, de ce que vous m'auiés mariée,
ie voyois ces bonnes Religieufes auec lefquelles i'ay
demeuré, & i'eufIe bien voulu [47] viure comme elles,
& ie ne fçaurois plus maintenant: Mais ne vous ay-je
pas demandé, luy dit vn de nous, fi vous defiriés efire
Religieufe? ne m' aués vous pas refpondu que vous
vouliés efire mariée? Vous m'aués bien denlandé,
fit-elle, fi ie voulois efire Religieufe: Ie ne vous ay
pas refpondu que ie voulois efire mariée; mais bien
que ie ne penfois pas pouuoir faire comme ces bonnes
Filles, & voila Ie fujet de ma douleur, de ce que ie
n'ay pas afIés d'efprit pour viure comme elles.
V ne ieune femme Chrefiienne penfant mourir en
fes couches, & fa petite fille nouuellement née, efiãt
fi malade que les femmes Sauuages difoiët qu'elle
s' en alloit expirer; Ie pere & la mere de l' enfant
promirent à Dieu qu'elle feroit toufiours vierge, c'efi
à dire, qu 'its la feroiêt Religieufe quãd elle feroit
grande, fi elle Ie vouloit efire: Dieu fauua la mere
& la fille: Maintenant ces bonnes gens offrent fou-
uent leur fruit à nofire Seigneur, & Ie fupplient de
l'aggréer pour fa Maifon. Le fieur Giffard fauua la
vie à la mere; & nofire Seigneur refufcita, pour ainfi
dire, Ie petit enfant.
V ne bonne Chrefiienne efiant accouchée [48] dans
les bois, voyant fon enfant nouuellement né bien nla-
lade, & ne fçachant que luy faire, confulta quelques
autres Chrefiiennes; mais comme ces bonnes gens
ne fçauoient pas la formule du Baptefme, its s'aduife-
rent de pendre leurs chappelets au col du petit en-
fant,' & peut-efire que nofire Seigneur aggreant leur
foy & leur fimplicité a conferué cette petite creature,

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asked her the cause of her tears; at length, after a
long silence, " I was sad," answered she, " because
you had married me; I saw those good Nuns, with
whom I had lived, and I would indeed have wished
[47J to live as they do, and now I no longer can."
" But did I not ask you, Jt said one of us to her, " if
you desired to be a Nun? did you not answer that
you wished to be married?" "Y ou did indeed ask
me, " said she, " if I wished to be a Nun; I did not
reply that I wished to be married, but, really, that I
did not think I was able to do as these good Sisters
do; and this is the cause of my grief, that I had not
enough spirit to live like them. "
A young Christian woman thinking she would die
in her confinement, and her little newborn girl being
so sick that the Savage women said she was about to
expire, the father and mother of the child promised
God that she should always be a virgin,-that is,
that they would make her a Nun when she was
grown up, if she wished to be one. God saved the
mother and the child. N ow these good people often
present their offspring to the Lord, and beg him to
accept it for his House. The sieur Giffard 9 saved
the life of the mother; and our Lord resuscitated, so
to speak, the little child.
A good Christian woman having been confined [48]
in the woods, seeing her newly-born child very sick,
and not knowing what to do for it, consulted some
other Christian women; but as these good people did
not know the formula of Baptism, they bethought
themselves of hanging their rosaries on the neck of
the little child; and perhaps our Lord, accepting
favorably their faith and their simplicity, preserved
that little creature, who since has received holy Bap-

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qui depuis a receu Ie faind Baptefme, & fe porte fort
bien: l'aurois quantité d'autres aétions femblables à
dire de nos Neophytes, mais il faut éuiter la lon-
gueur. En verité, Dieu eft bon, & fa Bonté n'a
point de limites: Le Scythe & Ie Tartare font auffi
bien à luy que les Grecs, ie voudrois que toutes les
langues du ciel & de la terre Ie benifIent pour les
merueilles qu'il a operé, & qu'il opere tous les iours
deuant nos yeux, au milieu de la Barbarie: qui n' ad-
mire point ces Metamorphofes, ne les voit pas; ou qui
les voit, & ne les admire pas, n'a point de cæur, ne
conceuant pas ce qu'il a coufté à Iefus-Chrift pour
changer des enfans de Sathan des enfans du grand
.Dieu.

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tism and is very well. I would have many other
like acts to relate of our Neophytes, but I must avoid
tediousness. Truly, God is good, and his Goodness
has no bounds. The Scythians and the Tartars be-
long to him as well as the Greeks; I would that all
tongues in heaven and on earth might bless him for
the wonders that he has worked and is working every
day before our eyes, in the midst of Barbarism. He
who does not wonder at these Metamorphoses does
not see them; or he who sees them, and does not
wonder at them, has no heart,- not apprehending
what it cost Jesus Christ to change the children of
Satan into children of the great God.

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[49] CHAPITRE 1111.

DE QUELQUES BAPTESMES PLUS SIGNALÉS EN LA RESI-
DENCE DE SAI
CT IOSEPH.

L E nombre de ceux qu'on a fait Chreftiens cette
année, és Refidences de la Conception & de S.
Iofeph, n'eft pas moindre que celuy des années
precedentes; nous auons maintenant cette confola-
tion qu'on ne baptife pas feulement les enfans & les
malades, mais encor les adultes qui font pleins de
vie & de fanté; les graces que Dieu fait à quelques
vns de ces bons Neophytes font fignalées; i'en touche-
ray quelques-vnes en ce chapitre, que ie prefenteray
comme vne riche recompenfe à tous ceux qui procu-
rent deuant Dieu & deuant les hommes, la conuerfion
de ces peuples.
N ous baptifafmes à mefme iour trois chefs de
familles qui fe retiroient ordinairement à TadoufIac,
mais Ie defir de leur falut leur a fait prendre party
auec leEs] [so] Chreftiens de la Refidence de Saind
Iofeph, Ie plus fignalé des trois fe nomme Charles
MeiachKa
at. Monfieur Ie Cheualier de Montmagny,
noftre Gouuerneur Ie voyant fi zelé pour noftre croy-
ãce, voulut eftre fon parrain: Ie dirois volontiers de
luy ce que noftre Seigneur difoit de Nathanaël: Ecce
verè I.fraëlita in quo dolus non ejl, ce bon homme eft vn
vray Ifraëlite, i1 n' eft compofé ny de fraude ny de
fupercherie, c'eft la mefme candeur i1 a toufiours
efté porté au bien, mais depuis enuiron deux ans
Dieu l'a fortement touché; 11 nous a raconté, qu'e-

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[49] CHAPTER 1111.

OF SOME VERY REMARKABLE BAPTISMS AT THE RESI-
DENCE OF SAINT JOSEPH.

T HE number of those who have become Chris-
tians this year, at the Residences of la Con-
ception and of St. Joseph, is not less than that
of previous years; we have now this consolation that
not only children and the sick are baptized, but even
adults who are full of life and health. tO The mercies
that God shows to some of these simple Neophytes
are striking; I shall touch upon some of them in this
chapter, which I shall offer as a rich recompense to
all those who procure, before God and before men,
the conversion of these peoples.
We baptized on one day three heads of families
who generally have withdrawn to Tadoussac, but the
desire for their salvation made them join the [5 0 J
Christians of the Residence of Saint Joseph. The
most remarkable of the three is named Charles Mei-
achkawat; 1vlonsieur the Chevalier de Montmagny,
our Governor, seeing him so zealous for our belief,
wished to be his godfather. I would willingly say
of him what our Lord said of Nathanaël: Eae verè
Israë/z"ta 1."11 quo dolus non est; this good man is a true
Israelite,- he is made up neither of fraud nor deceit,
he has the same candor, he has always been inclined
to good; but about two years ago God touched him
mightily. He related to us that, being one day in
the woods, he saw a man clothed like us, and he

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fiant certain iour dans les bois, it vit vn homme
vefiu comme nous, & qu'il entendoit vne voix qui
luy difoit: Quitte tes anciennes façons de faire,
pre fie l' oreille à ces gens la, & fais comme eux; &
quand tu feras infiruit, enfeigne tes Compatriotes:
Ie ne fçay, difoit-it, fi c'efioit la voix du grand Capi-
taine du ciel, mais ie voyois & conceuois des chofes
grandes; ie tins au commencement tout ce difcours
pour vne réuerie de Sauuage, & i'ay paffé plus d'vn
an fans y faire autre reflexion que celle que ie ferois
fur vn fonge: :Mais enfin [S IJ voyant que ce bon-
homme s'efforçoit de nous imiter Ie plus prés qu'it
luy efioit poffible, felon fa condition, voyant fa fer-
ueur à embraffer & publier la foy, quoy qu'il en foit
de cette vifion ou de ce fonge, i'ay creu que ces bons
effets ne pouuoient prouenir que de la grace de Iefus
Chrifi: Si tofi qu'il eut entendu cette voix, il quitta
de foy-mefme fans nous parler, car it efioit bien loin
de nous, toutes les folies de fa Nation, les fefiins à
tout manger, les chants fuperftitieux; it quitta mefme
les chofes indifferentes, com me de fe peindre Ie
vifage, de s' oindre & de fe graiffer les cheueux & la
face, à la façon des autres Sauuages, it quitta Ie
petun, dont les Sauuages font paffionnés au delà de
ce qui s'en peut dire: II fe mit à prefcher fes gens,
difant, qu'it falloit croire en Dieu, qu'it nous falloit
prefter l'oreille, qu'it falloit faire Ie figne de la
Croix; c' eft, difoit-it, tout ce que ie fçay; it Ie fai-
foit à tous propos fans prononcer aucune parole,
n'ayant pas encor efté inftruit: II parla fi bién aux
Sauuages de Tadouffac, & à quelques-vns du Sagné,
qu'ils Ie deleguerent à Kebec pour venir querir quel-
que [52 J Pere de noftre Compagnie, afin de leur

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heard a voice which said to him: " Forsake thine old
ways; lend an ear to these people, and do as they
do; and, when thou shalt be instructed, teach thy
Countrymen." "I do not know," said he, "if it
were the voice of the great Captain of heaven, but I
saw and conceived great things." In the beginning,
I took all this talk for the reverie of a Savage; and I
passed more than a year without giving any other
thought to it than that which I would have given to
a dream. But, at length,- [5 I] seeing that this art-
less man exerted himself to imitate us, as nearly as
was possible for him according to his nature, and
seeing his ardor in espousing and proclaiming the
faith, whatever it might be, of that vision or dream,-
I believed that these good effects could only proceed
from the grace of Jesus Christ. As soon as he had
heard that voice, he abandoned of his own accord-
without speaking to us, for he was far distant from
us - all the follies of his Nation, the eat-all feasts,
and the superstitious chants; he even gave up indif-
ferent things, like painting his visage, anointing his
body, hair, and face, after the manner of other Sav-
ages; he left off tobacco, to which the Savages are
devoted beyond all that can be said. He began to
preach to his own people, saying that they must
believe in God, that they must give ear to us, and
must make the sign of the Cross,-" This," said he,
"is all that I know." He did this at every turn,
without pronouncing another word, not having yet
been instructed. He spoke so well to the Savages
of Tadoussac and to some of the Sagné region, that
they commissioned him to come to Kebec for some
[52] Father of our Society, "that he might teach
them the prayers," - it is thus that they spoke.

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en feigner les prieres; c' eft ainfi qu'Ïls parloient: Ce
bon-homme voyant que Ie Pere qu'il demandoit n'y
pouuoit aller, fe tourmentoit: Ie penfe, faifoit iI,
qu' on s'imagine que ie fuis vn menteur; il s' adreffe
au fieur Oliuier, & Ie coniure de faire en forte aupres
de Monfieur noftre Gouuerneur, qu'on enuoyaft ce
Pere à Tadouffac, affurant que les Sauuages qui
eftoient là, vouloient croire en Dieu; il n 'y eut point
moyen de luy fatisfaire pour lors: II s'en retourne
donc porter refponfe, qu' on ne les pourroit aller
vifiter; qu'au Printemps Ie Pere quils demandoient les
iroit voir: Ayant fait fon meffage il s'en reuint en la
Refidence de Sainét Iofeph, amenant auec foy deux
famines: N ous prenions plaifir de voir la naïfueté de
ce bon Neophyte, i1 ne iettoit point les yeux fur les
autres François, mais fur nous, tafchant de nous imi-
ter felon fes forces; il nous vint demander vn papier,
nous priant d'y marquer tous les iours: Marqués,
difoit-il, les iours de fefie, les iours de trauail, les
iours qu'on ne mange point de chair, les iours de
ieufne, les iours que [53] vous ieufnés vous autres, &
non pas les Compagnés, c'eft ainfi qu'ils nomment
les hommes de trauail, car ie veux faire entierement
comme vous: Luy ayant donné ce papier, il remar-
quoit fort bien la difference des iours. V n honnefte
Frãçois ayãt fait quelque voyage auec luy, nous a
rapporté, qu'il fe contentoit les iours de poiffon d'vn
peu de galette boüillie dedans de I' eau pure; il s' eft
comporté fi religieufement en ce point que Ie pauure
homme a quelquefois paffé deux iours fans manger,
n'ayant autre chofe que de la chair, ne voulant pas
violer Ie Cornman dement de l'Eglife, auquel il n'eft
nullement obligé dans la neceffité de leurs viures:

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This simple man, seeing that the Father for whom
he asked could not go, was distressed. "I think,"
said he, " that they imagine I am a liar." He made
application to sieur Olivier, and conjured him so to
arrange with Monsieur our Governor, that this Father
should be sent to Tadoussac,-- affirming that the
Sa vages who were there wished to believe in God.
There was no way of satisfying him at that time.
Accordingly, he returned home, bearing the answer
that we could not visit them, but that in the Spring
the Father for whom they asked would go to see
them. Having given his message, he came back to
the Residence of Saint Joseph, bringing with him
two families. We took pleasure in seeing the artless-
ness of this good Neophyte; he did not cast his eyes
upon the other Frenchmen, but upon us, trying to
imitate us according to his power. He came to ask
us for a paper, begging us to mark all the days upon
it. "Mark, " said he, " the feast days, the working
days, the days when meat is not eaten, the fast days;
the days when [53] you yourselves fast, and not the
Companions," - it is thus they call the workmen;
" for I wish to do exactly as you do." Having given
him this paper, he observed very wel] the difference
of the days. A worthy Frenchman having made a
journey with him, told us that on fish days he was
contented with a little sea biscuit boiled in clear
water; he conducted himself so religiously in this
respect that the poor man sometimes passed two days
without food, having nothing but meat, and not wish-
ing to violate the Command of the Church, to which
he was by no means bound in the destitution of his
provisions. Being invited to feasts on days when
meat was not eaten, he kept his portion for his fam-

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Eftant inuité au feftin les iours qu' on ne mangeoit
point de viande, il gardoit fon mets pour fa famille,
fans y toucher; mais comme nous luy auions dit
feulement qu'on ne mangeoit point de chair les iours
marqués dans fon papier; Luy prenant cela au pied
de la lettre, fans philofopher plus auant, ne mangeoit
point de chair, mais ne laiffoit pas de boire du boüi1-
Ion où la viande auoit cuit: N ous en eftans apperceus,
nous ne luy voulufmes [54J point defendre, ayans
cõpaffion de fa pauureté; car i1 n'auoit Ie plus fou-
uent ces iours là qu'vn morceau de galette, ou vn
morceau de pain pour tout mets, & encor bien petit.
11 a tellement dans l'efprit d'imiter nos façons de
faire, qu'il nous demanda fi nous Ie voudrions bien
receuoir parmy nous, qu'auffi bien il vouloit quitter
fa femme, puis qu' elle ne preffoit point fon bap-
tefme; la voix que i'ay entendüe difoit-il, m'exhorte
à vous imiter, ie ne me foucie point d'eftre marié, ie
donneray ma petite fille aux Vrfulines, & ie demeure-
ray auec vous; ce deffein nous fit rire: Com me i1
nous voit par fois retirer feuls à l'efcart, pour nous
entretenir auec Dieu, il fait Ie mefme, fe promenant
tout feul, contre la couftume de fa nation, recitant
fon chappelet, ou ruminant quelque point de la
doétrine qu'on luy a enfeignée.
Vn Pere de noftre Compagnie, eftant defcendu ce
Printemps à Tadouffac, comme il s'éloignoit tous les
iours des cabanes, pour fe recueillir quelque temps,
ce bon-homme Ie fuiuoit fans mot dire, fe promenant
à part fans l'interrompre: [55J Enfin Ie Pere s'eftant
apperceu qu'il portoit vn piftolet fous fa robe, luy
demanda ce qu'il venoit faire, & ce qu'il vouloit faire
de ces armes: I'y viens, fit-iI, pour faire mes prieres,.

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ily, without touching it; but as we had simply said
to him that meat was not eaten on the days indicated
upon his paper, he-taking this literally without
reflecting further-ate none, but did not fail to drink
the broth in which the meat had been cooked. We,
having perceived this, did not wish [54] to forbid it
to him, having compassion on his poverty; for very
often on those days his only food was but a bit of
biscuit or bread, and even that very scanty.
He had it so much in his heart to imitate our cus-
toms, that he asked if we would really receive him
among us; for he would like to leave his wife, since
she did not urge her baptism. "The voice that I
heard, " said he, " exhorted me to imitate you. I do
not care to be married; I will give my little girl to
the U rsulines, and I will stay with you." This pro-
posal made us laugh. As he saw us sometimes with-
draw apart to commune with God, he did the same,-
walking alone, contrary to the custom of his nation,
reciting his rosary, or revolving in his mind some
point of doctrine, that he had been taught.
A Father of our Society having gone down to
Tadoussac this Spring, as he withdrew eyery day
from the cabins, in order to meditate a while, this
artless man followed him without speaking, walking
apart without interrupting him. [55] At length the
Father, perceiving that he carried a pistol under his
robe, asked for what he came, and what he intended
to do with those arms: " I am come," said he, " to
say my prayers, and to watch over thee. This place
to which thou retirest is dangerous,-some Etechi-
min or other evil-minded Savage may come even
here, and kill thee without our perceiving him; if
that should happen thou wouldst sadden all the Sav-

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

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& pour te garder, ce lieu où tu te retires eft dange-
reux, quelque Etechimin ou autre Sauuage mal
affedionné peut venir iufques icy, & te tuer fans que
nous nous en apperceuions; fi cela arriuoit tu attri-
fterois tous les Sauuages, voila pourquoy ie viens
armé pour te proteger, tu ne deurois pas t'éloigner
des cabanes iufques à la venuë des nauires, qui nous
mettront en affurance.
On l'entend affés fouuent exhorter les Sauuages à
fuiure nos façons de faire: Iettés les yeux, leur fait-
il, fur les principaux François, fur les Capitaines,
fur les Peres, ce font ceux-Ia qu'il faut imiter, s'il y
a quelque Compagnés qui ne marche pas droit, il n'y
faut pas prendre garde, ils ne fçauent pas tous Ie
Maffinahigan, c' eft à dire Ie Liure qui enfeigne
comme il fe faut bien com porter : Si toft qu'il fut
touché de Dieu, voyant des Sauuages du Sagné arri-
uer à Tadouffac, il les alIa vifiter, les exhorta à em-
braffer la foy dont il [56J n' auoit quafi aucune co-
gnoiffance, & pour ce que les prefents font les paroles
de ce païs-cy, i1 leur offre vn grand collier de porce-
laine, pour les en gager à croire en nofire Seigneur,
ie n'appris cela qu'vn an apres & encor par accident.
Ces trois chefs de familles dont i'ay parlé, efioient
fi ardens à fe faire infiruire, qu'ils nous laffoient.
Ayans efié certain iour long temps auec nous, on les
vint inuiter au fefiin, ils fe dirent l'vn l'autre, n'y
allons pas, nous voicy en repos au pres des Peres qui
nous inftruifent, efcoutons les pendant que nous
auons Ie temps. Qui a connoiffance du genie des
Sauuages, iugera que cette aétion efi remarquable en
eux, i'ay veu entr'autres Charles dont ie parle main-
tenant, fe bander fi fort pour retenir les prieres, qu'il

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ages. This is why I come armed to protect thee;
thou oughtst not to go far from the cabins until the
coming of the ships, which will give us confidence."
He was not un frequently heard exhorting the Sav-
ages to follow our customs: "Cast your eyes," he
said to them, "on the principal Frenchmen, on the
Captains, on the Fathers,- they are the ones we
must imitate. If there is any Companion who does
not walk straight, we must beware of him; they do
not all know the Massinahigan," that is, the Book
which teaches how one must conduct himself prop-
erly. As soon as he was touched by God, seeing the
Savages of the Sagné come to Tadoussac, he went to
visit them, and exhorted them to embrace the faith,
of which he [56J had scarcely any knowledge; and
since presents are the language of this country, he
offered them a great porcelain collar, that he might
win them to believe in our Lord. I learned this
only a year afterward, and even then by accident.
These three heads of families of whom I have
spoken, were so zealous to be instructed that they
wearied us. On a certain day when they had been a
long time with us, they were invited to a feast; they
said to one another: "Let us not go; here we are
in quiet with the Fathers who instruct us, let us listen
to them while we have the time." He who has a
knowledge of the nature of the Savages, will deem
that this action was remarkable in them. I have
seen, among others, Charles, of whom I am now
speaking, struggle so hard to remember his prayers,
that it caused him great drops of sweat, in rather
cold weather. He had himself taught by children;
he wrote, or rather he made marks upon bark, to
impress upon his mind what he had been taught.

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en fuoit à groffes gouttes en vn temps affés froid: II
fe faifoit infiruire par des enfans, efcriuoit, ou plutofi
faifoit des marques fur de l'efcorce, pour s'imprimer
dans l'efprit ce qu'on luy enfeignoit; ils ont tous
trois paffé plufieurs nuiéts, ou peu s'en falloit, pour
fe faire dire & redire Ie Pater & l' Aue, & Ie Credo en
leur langue, afin de pouuoir reciter [57] leur chap-
pelet; iis eurent de grands fentimens en leur bap-
tefme, ie m'efionnay du courage de l'vn d'eux; car
deuant qu'il fufi Chrefiien il auoit de gran des craintes
que fa femme ne Ie quittafi: efiant baptifé, non
feulement il perdit cette crainte, mais voyant qu'elle
ne preffoit pas fon baptefme affés fortement à fon
gré, i1luy dit nettement, que fi elle ne fe hafioit de
croire en Dieu, qu'i1 la banniroit de fes cofiés, &
qu'il efpouferoit vne C[h ]refiienne: Ces trois familIes
font pour Ie prefent regenerées dans Ie Sang de
l'Agneau, il n'y a que la femme de Charles qui fe fait
maintenant infiruire, quoy qu'affés Ientement; c' efi
vn naturel brufque & agard, qui donne bien de l'exer-
cice à ce pauure homme: II nous vint trouuer certain
iour tout affiigé; Vous m'aués dit que ceux qui font
du mal y font bien fouuent incités par les Demons,
helas! faifoit-il, ie fuis done toufiours auec quelque
Demon, car ma femme efi inceffamment en cholere...
i'ay peur que les Demons qu'elle retient en ma
cabane ne faffent tort au bien que i'ay receu dans Ie
fainét Baptefme; & là deffus mettant Ies bras fur fon
cæur: Ie [58] vous affure, difoit-il, que c'efi tout de
bon que ie croy en Dieu, & que ie luy veux obeïr; &
comme i' ay appris que Ie peché chaffoit Dieu de
nofire arne, quand vn autre fait mal en ma prefence,
ie crains que cela ne porte dommage à mon cæur.

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All three have several times passed the night, or
little short of it, in being told and retold the Pater,
Ave, and the Credo in their own language, so that
they could recite [57] their rosary. They had
deep feeling at their baptism; I was amazed at the
courage of one of them, for before he was a Christian
he had great fears that his wife would leave him.
When he was baptized, he not only lost this fear,
but - seeing that she did not urge her own baptism
quite strongly enough, in his opinion - he told her
plainly, that if she did not hasten to believe in God,
he would banish her from his side, and would marry
a Christian. These three families are for the pres-
ent regenerated in the Blood of the Lamb; the wife
of Charles is the only one who is now being in-
structed, although rather slowly; she is a rough and
wild creature, who gives a great deal of trouble to
the poor man. He came to us one day quite dis-
tressed. "You have told me that those who do evil
are very often incited to it by Demons; alas!" said
he, "then I am always with some Demon, for my
wife is always angry; I fear that the Demons she
keeps in my cabin are perverting the good that I
received in holy Baptism." And thereupon, folding
his arms over his heart, " I [58] assure you," said he,
" that I earnestly believe in God and I wish to obey
him; and, since I have learned that sin drove God
from our hearts, when another does evil in my pres-
ence, I fear that may bring loss to my souL"
Another time his wife aimed a knife at his thigh,
and he, evading the blow, had only his robe injured,
in which this Megera made a great slash. There-
upon he came to us; meeting some Savages on the
way, he began to laugh. " See," said he, "the

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Vne autre fois fa femme luy portant vn coufieau
dans la cuiffe, luy efquiuant Ie coup, il n'y eufi que fa
robe offenfée, à laquelle cette Megere fit vne gran de
efiafilade; là deffus il nons vint trouuer, rencontrant
des Sauuages en chemin il fe mettoit à rire: Voila
difoit-il, la cholere de celle qui me tient pour fon
valet, elle penfoit me pouuoir fafcher, mais i'ay plus
de pouuoir fur moy que d'entrer en fureur pour la
cholere d'vne femme; & regardant fa robe toute
defchirée: En verité, difoit-il, cette femme n'a point
d'efprit, c'efi chofe efirange comme les Sauuages font
ennemis de la cholere, & comme ce peché les choque.
Ie ne fçay ce que ce bon-homme n'a point fait pour
la gaigner à Dieu: fi tu veux croire, luy difoit-il, ie
t'aymeray vniquement, ie te feruiray à to us tes be-
foins, ie feray mefme les petits offices que [59J font
les femmes, i'iray querir de l'eau & du bois, ie te
cheriray plus que moy-mefme; il fe pinçoit Ie bras,
& luy difoit: V ois-tu cette chair, ie ne l' aime pas,
c'efi Dieu que i'aime, & ceux qui croyent en luy; fi
tu ne luy veux pas obeïr, il te faut éloigner de moy,
car ie ne puis aimer ceux qui n'aiment pas Dieu.
Sa femme fe mocquoit de luy.; Ne vois-tu pas que
nous mourons tous depuis qu'on nous a parlé de prier
Dieu; où font tes parens, où font les miens, la
plufpart font morts, il n'efi plus temps de croire.
Tu n'as pas d'efprit, Iuy repartoit-il, celuy qui
nous a donné la vie, & qui nous Ia conferue lors que
nous ne croyons pas en luy, nous l'ofiera-t'il mainte-
nant que nous voulons luy obeïr? & quand il nous
l'ofieroit ie ne laif{erois pas de l'aimer; car ie ne
l'aime pas pour viure long-temps ça bas en terre,
mais pour Ie voir au ciel: fi tu ne veux croire en luy,

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anger of her who considers me her servant; she
thought she would be able to irritate me, but I have
more power over myself than to fall into a passion at
the anger of a woman." And looking at his badly-
torn garment. "Truly," said he, " that woman has
no sense." It is strange what enemies the Savages
are of anger, and how this sin shocks them.
I know not what this simple man has not done to
win her over to God. "If thou wilt believe," he
said to her, " I will love thee above all things; I will
wait upon thee in all thy needs, I will even perform
the little duties that [59] the women do,- I will go
for water and wood; I will love thee more than my-
self." He pinched his arm and said to her: "Dost
thou see this flesh? I do not love it; it is God whom
I love, and those who believe in him. If thou art
not willing to obey him, thou must go away from
me; for I cannot love those who do not love God."
His wife derided him: " Dost thou not see that we
are all dying since they told us to pray to God?
\Vhere are thy relatives, where are mine? the most
of them are dead; it is no longer a time to believe."
II Thou hast no sense," he replied; I' he who has
given us life, and who preserves it when we do not
believe in him, will he take it away now when we
wish to obey him? And even should he take it away,
I would not cease to love him; for I do not love him
in order to live a long time here on earth, but to see
him in heaven. If thou art not willing to believe in
him, leave me; if my Father who has instructed me
tells me to live alone, I shall obey him; if he allows
me to be married again, to a Christian, I shall take
her." When he had been given a list of feast days,
and when he [60] observed them in the woods, his

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retire toy d'aupres de moy; fi mon Pere qui m'a
inftruit, dit que ie viue feul, ie luy obeïray, s'il me
fait remarier à vne Chreftienne, ie la prendray.
Comme on luy auoit donné vn catalogue des iours de
feftes, & qu'il [60] les gardoit dans les bois, fa femme
luy reprochoit qu'i1 eftoit pareffeux, qu'il ne chaffoit
point, qu'il ne feroit qu'vn gueux, qu'il n'auroit pas
dequoy viure, ny dequoy fe couurir. Tes paroles,
luy difoit-il, ne m'eftonnent pas, quand tout ce que
tu dis deuroit arriuer ie ne laifferois pas d' obeïr à Dieu,
ie n'attens pas de luy des richeffes en terre, i'efpere
neantmoins qu'il m'affiftera, & quoy que l'on me die,
ie luy obeïray: Quelques Sauuages voyans qu'it jet-
toit aux chiens les os de caftor qu'il prenoit, l'accu-
foient de follie, difant qu'il n'en prendroit plus: C'eft
l'vne de leurs fuperftitions anciennes de jetter dans
la riuiere ou dans Ie feu les os de certains animaux,
afin qu'ils ayent bonne chaffee Luy leur reprochoit
leur ignorance: Ces animaux font faits pour nous,
difoit-il, c'eft vne trõperie du Diable de s'arrefter à
ces fuperftitions, vous vous arreftés à des menfonges,
& vOus fermés les yeux à la verité.
Si on l'incitoit à embraffer quelque chofe où il dou-
taft qu'il y eût peché; ie ne fçay pas, faifoit-il, fi
cela m' eft permis, ie Ie demanderay à mon Pere, &
ie feray ce qu'il me dira fur ce fujet.
[61] Quand i1 s'en aHa faire fa chaffe pendant l'hy-
uer, nous luy donnafmes, comme i'ay remarqué cy-
deffus, vn petit calendrier, où il marquoit tous les
iours; nous l'exhortafmes auffi de fe trouuer Ie iour
du grand .Vendredy à Kebec, s'il y auoit moyen, il
n'y manqua pas, il s'y trouua parmy les François,
& fut plus de trois heures à l'Eglife, affiftant au

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wife reproached him for being lazy, and for not
hunting,- telling him he would be only a beggar,
and that he would have neither food nor raiment.
I I Your words, " said he to her, " do not shake me;
though all you say should happen, I would not cease
to obey God. I do not expect from him riches on
earth; nevertheless, I hope that he will aid me, and,
whatever may be said to me, I shall obey him. JJ
Some Savages, seeing that he threw to the dogs the
bones of a beaver that he had caught, accused him
of folly, saying that he would catch no more; it is
one of their ancient superstitions to throw into the
river or into the fire the bones of certain animals, in
order that they may have a successful hunt. n He
reproached them for their ignorance: I I These ani-
mals are made for us," he said; " it is a deception
of the Devil to remain in these superstitions; you
are dwelling in falsehoods, and you shut your eyes
to the truth. "
If he were urged to undertake anything in which
he suspected there might be sin, " I do not know,"
he would say, II if that be permitted me; I will ask
my Father, and I will do what he tells me in the
case."
[61] When he went to hunt during the winter, we
gave him, as I stated above, a little calendar, on
which he marked all the days; we exhorted him also
to be in Kebec on good Friday, if it were possible.
In this he did not fail; he was there with the French,
and was more than three hours in the Church, being
present at the Service and at the Passion, although
he understood nothing of it. After dinner, he came
to confess; and, after his confession, he was still an
hour and a half in the chapel. He had eaten noth-

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Seruice & à la Paffion, quoy qu'il n 'y entëdît rien;
apres Ie difner il fe vint confeffer, & apres fa con-
feffion il fut encor vne heure & demie à la chappelle,
i1 n'auoit mãgé pendãt Ie Carefme qu'vn peu de
galette, & vn peu d'huile de loup-marin, qu'il auoit
expreffement conferuée pour ce temps-Ià: s'eftant
confeffé & communié, il s' en retourna à la chaffe;
Ie temps Iuy eftant encor fauorable, il fit bonne
prouifion de chair d'Eílan, mais ayant donné charge
à fes gens de l'aller requerir auec fa chalouppe, &
les vents eftans contraires, i1 fut long-temps comme
prifonnier dans ces grands bois, fans nous pouuoir
venir voir; à fon retour i1 nous tira quafi les larmes
des yeux, nous racontant comme il íe comportoit
dans ce petit banniffement.
[62J Ie difois à Dieu, faifoit-il, toy qui commandes
aux vents, arrefte-Ies, afin que ie puiffe aller en ta
Maifon, ie m'ennuie d'eftre fi long-temps íans me
confeffer, & fans voir la Maifon de priere. Quand il
faifoit quelque choíe qu'il penfoit eftre peché, auffi-
toft i1 fe mettoit à genoux, en demandoit à Dieu par-
don, & íe frappoit foy-mefme, pour tirer vengeance
de ce qu'il peníoit eftre faute, & qui bien fouuent ne
l'eftoit pas, prenant la crainte du peché pour Ie peché
mefme.
Sa petite fine eftant tombée malade, en forte qu'il
penfoit qu'elle en deuft mourir; fa femme ne man-
qua pas de luy reprocher que Ie baptefme la faifoit
mourir; ce bon homme mettant fon efperance en
Dieu, prend fon chappelet, Iuy pend au col, & la pre-
íente à Dieu auec ces paroles; cét enfant eft à toy,
tu me l'as donnée, & ie te l'ay renduë, determine
de fa vie comme tu voudras, tu en es Ie maiftre; fi

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ing during Lent but a little biscuit, and a little seal
oil, which he had kept specially for that season.
Having confessed and received communion, he went
away to hunt; the weather being still favorable to
him, he laid in a good supply of Elk meat, but, hav-
ing given his people orders to come back for him
with his shallop, the winds being contrary. he was
for a long time, as it were, a prisoner in those
great forests, without being able to come to us; on
his return, he almost drew tears from our eyes, relat-
ing to us how he bore himself in that short banish-
ment.
[62] "I said to God," declared he, '" Thou who
command est the winds, stay them, that I may go to
thy House; I am weary of being so long without con-
fessing, and .without seeing the House of prayer. · "
When he did anything he thought a sin, he immedi-
ately fell upon his knees, asked pardon of God for it,
and smote himself, in order to take vengeance upon
what he thought a fault, and which very often was
not,- taking the fear of sin for the sin itself.
His little girl having fallen ill, so that he thought
she must die, his wife reproached him, saying that
baptism was making her die; this good man, put-
ting his hope in God, took his rosary, hung it on her
neck, and presented her to God with - these words:
" This child is thine, thou gavest her to me, and I
have returned her to thee. Decide upon her life as
thou wilt,- thou art the master of it; if thou will
that she die, I will submit to it; if thou wilt give
her to me again, I will thank thee,- and, as soon as
she is grown, I will give her to the virgin Sisters,
that she may be instructed. Do as thou [63J wilt;
whatever may happen, I shall not cease to believe in

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tu veux qu'elle meure, ie l'aggréeray, fi tu me la
veux en cor donner vne fois, ie t'en remercieray, & fi
toft qu'elle fera grande, ie la donneray aux Filles
vierges, pour la faire inftruire, fais-en comme tu [63]
voudras, quoy qu'il arriue, ie ne laifferay pas de
croire en toy, l'enfant guerit auec l'eftonnement, &
auec la confolation de fes parens.
Ayant appris qu'vn certain homme parloit mal de
luy, illuy vint quelque penfée de Ie payer en mefme
monnoye, & de diuulguer quelque mal qu'on luy
auoit appris de cette perfonne; faifant reflexion fur
fa penfée, il deuint tout confus, & fe mit à genoux,
demanda pardon à Dieu, difant en foy mefme: fi
ceux qui ne font pas baptifés font du mal, il ne faut
pas que ceux qui Ie font; les imitent, & là deffus il
fe mit à prier pour celuy qui Ie calomnioit, la nature
ne va pas fi auant, ces fruiéts ne fe cueillent qu'au
iardin de la grace, au milieu duquel eft planté l'arbre
de la fainéte Croix, íur lequel Ieíus-Chrift prioit pour
fes ennemis.
Exhortant vn malade, & luy reprefentant les biens
de l'autre vie; ne penfe pas, difoit-il, que les eaux
du Baptefme fe verfent pour guerir ton corps, c'eft
pour purifier ton arne, & te donner vne vie qui ne
peut mourir, Ie Baptefme n'eft pas inftitué pour vne
chofe fi baffe que noftre vie, [64] noftre Pere qui eft
dans les deux, ne nous tient pas au rang des chiens
pour ne nous donner que la vie commune aux beftes.
De verité, ie luy ay ouy dire tant de biens de la
foy, & tenir des difcours fi deuots & fi tendres, que
i'en eftois tout eftonné; ie me veux mal, d'auoir
laiffé efchapper de ma memoire, les bons íentimens
que Dieu luy donne, & à plufieurs autres, mais comme

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thee." To the astonishment and the consolation of
her parents, the child recovered.
Having heard that a certain man spake ill of him,
the thought came to him of paying this person off in
his own coin, and of divulging some evil that he had
learned of him. Upon reflecting over this idea, he
became quite confused, and kneeling down, he asked
pardon of God, saying within himself: "If those
who are not baptized do evil, those who are must not
imitate them:" and thereupon he began to pray for
the one who calumniated him. Human nature does
not go so far as this; these fruits are gathered only
in the garden of grace, in the midst of which is
planted the tree of the holy Cross, upon which Jesus
Christ prayed for his enemies.
When he was exhorting a sick man, and pointing
out to him the blessings of the other life, " Do not
think," said he, " that the water of Baptism is poured
out to heal thy body: it is to purify thy soul, and to
give thee a life which cannot die. Baptism was not
instituted for a thing so low as our life; [64] our Fa-
ther who is in heaven does not place us in the rank
of dogs, that he should give us only the life common
to the beasts."
Truly, I have heard him say so much about the
blessings of faith, and speak in so devout and tender
a manner, that I have been greatly astonished; I am
vexed with myself, that I have let escape from my
memory the good sentiments that God gives him,
and many others; but as these good people expose
the impulses of their hearts only when opportunities
are offered, and as we then have neither pen nor ink
to note them down, we let slip away many of the
holy affections of these good Neophytes without

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ces bonnes gens ne decouurent les mouuements de
leur cæur, que dans les occafions qui fe prefentent, &
que nous n'auons pour lors, ny plume, ny encre, pour
les remarquer, nous laiffons écouler quantité de
fainétes affeétions de ces bons Neophytes, fans les
remarquer; Adiouftés que la reffemblance de fes
aétions, me fait craindre Ie dégouft, pour ce que cela
femble des redites.
L'vn de ces trois chefs de famille fut nommé
Achilles par Monfieur Ie Cheualier de l'Ifle, lequel
prend grand plaifir de voir ces bonnes gens fe ranger
au bercail de l'Eglife: Tant que des hommes de ver-
tu & de merite tiendront icy Ie timon, la foy y florira:
Si ceux qui doiuent eftre [65J comme les yeux, s'a-
ueuglent iamais dans les vices, Ie beau iour dont
maintenant nous ioüiffons, fera bien-toft changé en
des tenebres. Mais pour parler de noftre Neophyte,
ie ne fais pas moins de cas de celui-cy que de Charles;
il eft vray qu'il n'a pas fi grande authorité, qu'il a
moins de parole, mais ie croy que fon cæur n' eft pas
moins touché; il eftoit fort orgueilleux deuant fon
baptefme, nous en efperions peu de chofe, Dieu l'a
conuertyen vn petit agneau; fon pere eftoit Capi-
taine, plus aimé des François qu'il ne les aimoit, il a
efté miferablement maffacré par les Hiroquois; fon
fils a maintenant autant de bonnes qualités que fon
pere en auoit de mauuaiíes: 11 fut baptifé en No-
uembre, & tomba malade au mois de Decembre; on
Ie tenoit pour mort: La crainte que nous auions qu'il
n'attribuaft fa maladie à fon baptefme cõme font les
infideles, nous portoit à Ie vifiter fouuent, nous en
retournions toufiours tres-confolés: Ie ne m' attrifte
point de ma maladie, ie ne crains point la mort; ie

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noticing them. Add to this, that the similarity of
these acts makes me fear being tiresome, because
they seem repetitions.
One of these three heads of families was named
Achilles by Monsieur the Chevalier de l'Isle, who
takes great pleasure in seeing these good people come
into the fold of the Church. While men of virtue and
merit shall hold the helm here, the faith will flourish:
if those who should be [65] eyes, as it were, are ever
blinded by vice, the glorious day we now enjoy will
soon be changed into darkness. But, speaking of
our N eoph yte, I do not think less of him than of
Charles. It is true, he has not so much influence, he
has less eloquence, but I believe his heart to be no
less touched; he was very haughty before his bap-
tism, and we did not hope much from him, but God has
changed him into a little lamb. His father was a
Captain, more beloved by the French than they were
by him, and was wretchedly massacred by the Hiro-
quois; the son has now as many good qualities as
the father had bad ones. He was baptized in N ovem-
ber, and fell sick in the month of December; they
gave him up for dead. The fear we had that his
malady would be attributed to baptism, as it is by
the unbelievers, induced us to visit him often; we
always came away much consoled. "I am not sad
on account of my sickness; I do not fear death. I
think continually of God, " said he; "I rejoice that
my sins are blotted out; if I die, [66] I hope that I
shall go to heaven; this is what consoles my heart."
He had only one little girl, whom God took from
him some time after his baptism; this blow did not
unsettle him, nevertheless he avowed to us that he
had suffered from it. "My sickness," said he,

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penfe inceffamment à Dieu, faifoit-il, ie me réjouys
de ce que mes pechés font effacés; fi ie meurs, [66]
i'efpere que i'irayau del, voila ce qui confole mon
cæur.
11 n'auoit qu'vne petite fiUe, Dieu luy rauit que1-
que temps apres fon baptefme; ce coup ne l' efbranla
point; il nous aduoüa neantmoins qu'ill'auoit reffen-
ty: Ma maladie, difoit-il, ne m'a caufé aucune trifteffe,
mais la mort de mon enfant m'a vn peu touché; Dieu
luy a rendu depuis vn beau fils.
Pendant la Meffe de minuiét, comme il eftoit ma-
lade, il demeura dans fa cabane, mais il ne voulut
iamais dormir; il paffa tout ce temps-1a en prieres,
faÏfant fes plaintes à noftre Seigneur de ce qu'il ne
pouuoit point aller à l'Eglife comme les autres.
Vn Sauuage me menant de grand matin à Kebec,
fon canot faÏfant eau, il defcend deuant l'Hofpital
pour demander vn peu de feu afin de radouber fon
petit vaiffeau; i'entray cependant à 1a Chappelle, i'y
trouuay noftre nouueau Chreftien à deux genoux, les
mains iointes, & les yeux au del; mais fi attentif à
fa priere qu'il ne m'apperceut point, quoy que ie
demeuraffe là quelque temps, & que i'en [67] fortiffe
auec affés de bruit; fon attention m'attendriffoit; en
effet, fes deportemens font voir que fon cæur eft à
Dieu.
11 nous a dit par rencontre, ce qui l'auoit porté à
embraffer la foy: vn Chreftien parlant hardiment de
Dieu deuant les infidelles, & priant publiquement,
quoy qu'on l'improuuaft, & qu'on fe mocquaft de luy,
fut caufe qu'il conclud quelque chofe de grand de
noftre creance, puis qu'vn homme la defendoit fi-
courageufement aux dépens de fon honneur.

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"caused me no sadness, but the death of my child
somewhat affected me." God has since given him
a fine son.
During the midnight Mass, as he was sick, he
remained in his cabin, but was not at all willing to
sleep; he passed all that time in prayer, making his
laments to our Lord that he could not go to Church
as the others did.
A Savage was taking me to Kebec very early in
the morning, and, his canoe springing a leak, he
landed in front of the Hospital to ask for some fire,
that he might repair his little vessel. Meantime, I
entered the Chapel, and found there our new Chris-
tian on his knees,- his hands joined, and his eyes
raised to heaven, but so attentive to his prayer, that
he did not perceive me, although I remained there
some time, and [67] went out with considerable noise.
His devotion moved me; truly, his conduct shows
that his heart belongs to God.
He told us, by chance, what had led him to em-
brace the faith,- a Christian speaking boldly of God
before unbelievers, and praying publicly, although
disapproved and derided by them, was the cause of
his inferring our belief to be a wonderful thing, since
a man defended it so courageously at the expense of
his honor.
Another man,- his relative, not yet baptized,-
being sick unto death, sent for his friends and said
to them: " I have been to Kebec; I heard such a
Father speak concerning the things of the other life,
and all that he said seems to me true. I greatly
regret dying before being instructed; go, all of you,
to this Father after my death; listen to him, believe
what he will tell you, and be baptized: for what those

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Vn autre homme fon parent, non encor baptifé,
efiant malade à la mort, fit venir fes amis, & leur
dit: I'ay efié à Kebec, i'ay entendu parler vn tel
Pere, des chofes de l'autre vie; tout ce qu'il dit me
femble veritable, i'ay vn grand regret de mourir
deuant que d'efire infiruit; vous autres, allés trouuer
ce Pere apres ma mort, écoutés-Ie, croyés ce qu'il
vous dira, & vous faites baptifer; car ce que ces
gens-Ia enfeignent, eft bon: Ce pauure homme meurt
là-defíus; & noftre Neophyte defja tout difpofé dans
l'ame, ayant fait rencontre de Charles fon Compatri-
ote, qui l'inuitoit à croire en Dieu, fe ioint auec [68]
luy pour venir faire fa refidence à Sainét Iofeph.
Dieu luy a rendu la fanté, mais il ne l'a pas forte, &
s'il peine beaucoup, il n'eft pas pour viure long-
temps.
Charles l'emmenant ce Printemps à Tadoufíac, i1
me difoit en fecret: 0 que i'ay eu de peine à me
refoudre à ce voyage, il me fembloit quand ie quit-
tay la Chappelle pour m'embarquer, qu'on m'arra-
choit Ie cæur, & iamais ie ne m' eufíe pû refoudre à
partir, n'eftoit que i'efperois de te trouuer à Tadoufíac,
& que i'aurois Ie moyen de me confefíer & commu-
nier.
II difoit vn iour apres auoir receu noftre Seigneur:

fon cæur eft plein de ioye, ie ne fçay ce qu'il dit, ie
fçay bien qu'il parle, mais ie ne l'entens pas, il va
plus vifte que ma penfée; il me femble que ce que
Dieu me fait, eft admirable, ie tremble tant i'ay peur
de fallir ce qui eft en moy, il m'efi auis qu'on me dit
dans l'ame, qu'il faut que ie fois bon, puis que ie croy
en luy, & que ie ne commette plus aucun mal: Si
vous fçauiés, difoit-il, combien i'aime mon baptefme,

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people teach is good. " Then this poor man died;
and our Neophyte, already quite willing in his
heart,- having met Charles, his Countryman, who
invited him to believe in God,- joined [68J him to
come and dwell at Saint Joseph. God has restored
his health, but it is not strong; and, if he becomes
greatly fatigued, he has not long to live.
After Charles brought him away this Spring to
Tadoussac, he said to me privately: "Oh, what diffi-
culty I had in resolving upon this voyage! It seemed
to me when I left the Chapel to go on board, that
my heart was being torn out, and I never could have
resolved upon starting, had it not been that I hoped
to find you at Tadoussac, and that I should be able
to confess and receive communion."
One day after having received our Lord, he said:
" My heart is full of joy; I do not know what it says,
I know well that it speaks, but I do not understand
it,- it goes faster than my thought. It seems to me
that what God does for me is wonderful; I tremble,
so greatly do I fear to soil what is within me. I
think some one tells me within my heart that it must
be that I am good, since I believe in him, and no
longer commit any evil. If you knew," said he,
" how much I delight in my baptism, and what great
joy I experience from it in my heart! it seems to me
that I have no longer anything to fear." As soon as
he had a desire [69J to be converted, the Devil laid
a great snare for him. The wretched :Makheabichti-
chiou 12 of whom I have often spoken in preceding
Relations, ashamed to remain among the Christians,
who put him out of countenance by their example,
resolved to go away with his two wives, whom he
could not give up. He used every endeavor to take

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& combien i'en reffens de- ioye dans mon cæur, il me
femble que ie n'ay plus rien à craindre. Si toft qu'il
eut enuie [69J de fe conuertir, Ie Diable luy dreffa
vne forte embufche, Ie miferable :Mathembichtichid
[sc. MakheabichtichiouJ, dont i'ay fouuent parlé és
Relations precedentes, honteux de demeurer parmy
les Chreftiens, qui Ie confondoient par leurs exempIes,
prit refolution de s'éloigner auec fes deux femmes,
qu'il ne pouuoit quitter; il fit fes efforts pour emme-
ner ce bon-homme auec luy dans Ie pais des Abna-
quiois, luy promettant monts & merueÌlIes, comme
on dit: mais ce braue Neophyte Iuy refpondit, qu'ay-
ãt ouy parler d'vne autre vie, il vouloit aller voir
ceux qui en ouuroient Ie chemin, que la chofe eftoit
de trop grande confequence pour la negHger: peut-
eftre que ie n'auray pas affés d'efprit, difoit-il, pour
comprendre ce qu'on me dira, mais toufjours eft-il
bon d'oüir parler de ces merueilIes; II s'en vint à
Sainét Iofeph, & Mathembichtichid s'en alIa au pais
des Abnaquiois, où il a efté miferablement tué cét
hyuer, fes femmes font reuenuës fort miferables, fon
:fils aifné mort comme vn chien, fans baptefme, fa
famille renuerfée; voila la fin de ceux qui fennent
l'oreille à la voix de Dieu qui les appelle.
[70 J Ie voy bien que ie diray la mefme chofe, fi ie
veux rapporter les bons fentimens des autres que
nous auons baptifés; car noftre Seigneur leur donne
les mefmes affeétions, & les mefmes volontés. Ie
diray feulement en paffant, que deux ieunes hommes
à marier nous preffant fort pour leur baptefme; enfin
comme nous les remettions apres leur mariage, à
caufe que nous auons de la peine à marier les ieunes
Chreftiens, dautant que Ie mariage des Sauuages ne

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this artless man away with him, into the country of
the Abnaquiois, promising him mountains and mar-
vels, as they say; but this worthy Neophyte re-
sponded to him that, having heard of another life,
he intended going to see those who were opening the
way to it,-that the thing was of too great conse-
quence to be neglected. "Perhaps I shall not have
enough intelligence," said he, " to comprehend what
they shall tell me; but, at least, it is good to hear of
these wonders." He came to Saint Joseph, and
Makheabichtichiou went away to the country of the
Abnaquiois, where he was wretchedly slain this win-
ter; his wives have returned very poor, his eldest
son died like a dog, without baptism,- his family is
ruined. Behold the end of those who shut their ears
to the voice of God who is calling them.
[7 0 ] I see well that I shall say the same things, if
I endeavor to report the good thoughts of others whom
we have baptized; for our Lord gives them the same
affections and the same inclinations. I will only say,
by the way, that two marriageable young men urged
us strongly to baptize them; finally when we put
them off until after their marriage, because we have
trouble in marrying the young Christians,- inas-
much as the marriage of Savages generally becomes
confirmed only by a similarity of dispositions, or by
the children whom God gives them, or by a lapse of
time and long-continued and reciprocal intercourse
with each other,-so when we put off our young peo-
ple, promising them baptism when they should be
married, they often came to us and said: " Either
baptize us without marrying us, or else find maidens
suitable for us. Dost thou wish to cause our perdi-
tion? If we should die in the woods, or if some acci-

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s'affermit pour l'ordinaire que par vne reffemblance
d'humeurs, ou par les enfans que Dieu leur donne,
ou par vn long-temps, & par vne longue & mutuelle
conuerfation par enfemble: Comme done nous rejet-
tions nos ieunes gens, leur promettant Ie baptefme
quand ils feroient mariés; ils nous venoient fouuent
trouuer & nous difoient: Ou baptife nous fans nous
marier, ou nous trouue des filles propres pour nous,.
veux-tu nous perdre, fi nous mourions dans les bois,
s'il nous arriue quelque accident allans à la chaffe,
que deuiendront nos ames, tu nous fais trembler par
Ie recit des feux & des tourmens de l'Enfer, & tu ne
[7 I] veux pas nous déliurer de ce peril: Enfin, comme
il falloit ce Printemps partir pour aller à la guerre,
ils dirent tous deux à leurs Capitaines, qu'ils ne mar-
cheroient point s'ils n'eftoiët baptifés, & qu'ils crai-
gnoient de mourir deuant que de receuoir ce Sacre-
ment, ils promirent de plutoft iamais ne fe marier,
s'ils ne trouuoient des Chreftiennes: Ie me foucie
bien de mariage, difoit l'vn d'eux, vous ne procedés
pas bien, nous difoit-il, ie vous parle du ciel & du
Baptefme, & vous me parlés de me marier; Vne
femme effacera-t'elle mes pechés? II fe fafcha fi bie
qu'il nous dit: Ie voy bien ce que c'eft, vous voulés
que ie fois damné, vous me faites perdre cæur: mais
vous refpondrés de mon ame. Enfin nonobftant les
peines que nous apprehendons pour leurs mariages,
nous les baptifafmes à leur grand contentement: Le
plus ieune a efté eileu Capitaine; & noftre Seigneur
depuis qu'il eft Chreftien, luy a donné vne ieune
femme Chreftienne, qui ne Ie pouuoit aimer deuant
qu'il fuft enfant de Dieu; ils ont efté mariés publique-
ment à Ia venuë des Vaiffeaux.

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dent should happen to us in hunting, what will be-
come of our souls? Thou makest us tremble by thy
account of the fires and torments of Hell, and thou
[71] wilt not deliver us from this peril. JJ Finally,
this Spring, when they were obliged to set out for
the war, they both told their Captains they would
not march unless they were baptized, and that they
feared they might die before receiving this Sacra-
ment; they declared they would not marry at all,
unless they found Christian wives. "Much do I care
about marriage! .. said one of them. "You are not
conducting yourselves well," said he to us; " I speak
to you of heaven and of Baptism, and you talk to me
of my marrying: will a wife blot out my sins?" He
was so thoroughly irritated that be said to us: "I
see well how it is, you wish that I may be lost, you
make me lose courage; but you shall answer for my
soul." At last, notwithstanding the troubles that
we dread on account of their marriages, we baptized
them, to their great joy. The younger one has been
chosen Captain; and, since he has become a Chris-
tian, our Lord has given him a young Christian wife,
who could not love him before he became a child of
God. They were married publicly, on the arrival of
tbe Ships.

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[72] CHAPITRE V.

DU BAPTESME D VN HURON EN LA RESIDENCE DE
SAINCT IOSEPH PROCHE DE KEBEC.

L E Pere lean de Brebeuf eftant defcendu des Hu-
rons auec Ie Pere François du Peron, fut con-
duit iufques à Kebec par des Sauuages, en par-
tie Chreftiens, en partie Catechumenes, i1 y en auoit
vn de confideration, homme de bon fens, fils du Capi-
taine de fa Bourgade; mais comme en ces quartiers
là, les enfans ne fuccedent pas à leurs peres dans ces
charges honorables, fi bien les neueux du cofté de la
fæur: cét homme mene vne vie priuée en fon païs,
neantmoins comme i1 eft adroit, & reconnu pour vn
homme d'efprit, il eft écouté & bien voulu de fes
Compatriotes. Monfieur Ie Cheualier de Montmagny
ayant appris de la bouche du Pere de Brebeuf, les
belles qualités de ce bon Catechumene, demanda fi
on ne [73] Ie pouuoit pas bien baptifer deuant fon de-
part, Ie Pere repartit que ce bon-homme n'auoit pas
de plus ardens defirs, qu'on ne Ie retardoit que pour
l'éprouuer dauantage: lamais, difoit Ie Pere, il n'a
combatu formellement la foy. Au plus fort de nos
perfecutions, lors qu'on nous banniffoit de tous cofiés,
& que les portes des cabanes, & l'entrée des Bour-
gades nous efioient fermées, i1 nous receuoit chari-
tablement, & nous permettoit de faire baptifer, non
pas feulemet fes pares, mais encor fes propres en fans ;
ce Printemps dernier, il a ietté au feu les forts qu'i1

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[72] CHAPTER V.

OF THE BAPTISM OF A HURON AT THE RESIDENCE OF
SAINT JOSEPH, NEAR KEBEC.

F ATHER Jean de Brebeuf having come down
from the country of the Hurons with Father
François du Peron, was conducted as far as
Kebec by the Savages, partly Christians, partly
Catechumens. There was among them a man of
importance and of good sense, a son of the Cap-
tain of his Village; but, since in those regions chil-
dren do not succeed their fathers in these honorable
posts as regularly as do nephews on the sister's side,
this man leads a private life in his own country.
Nevertheless, as he is clever, and recognized as a
man of ability, he is listened to and is much beloved
by his Countrymen. Monsieur the Chevalier de
1Iontmagny having learned from the lips of Father
de Brebeuf the fine qualities of this good Catechu-
men, asked if they [73] could not properly baptize
him before his departure; the Father answered that
this worthy man had not the most ardent desires for
it, that they delayed it only to test him further.
" He has never," said the Father, " positively opposed
the faith. In our severest persecutions,-when on
all sides they were banishing us, and the doors of the
cabins and admission to the Villages were being
closed to us, he received us charitably. and permitted
us to baptize not only his relatives. but even his own
children. This last Spring, he cast into the fire the

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auoit pour la chaffe, declarant tout haut qu'il vouloit
croire en Dieu, mais tout de bon, & fans feintife;
renonçant publiquement à toutes les anciennes cou-
fiumes, & à toutes les fuperfiitions de fes ancefires.
Efiant allé en guerre, il s'accofia de deux Chrefiiens,
& les voyant retirer dans Ie bois, pour fuir les fuper-
fiitions de leurs Compatriotes, & faire à part leur
petites prieres, il les fuiuoit & prioit comme eux.
Dans tout Ie voyage depuis les Hurons iufques à
Kebec, qui eft fort long, il n'a paffé iour qu'il n'ait
inuoqué Ie fainét Nom de Dieu, [74J & iamais il ne
s'engageoit, dans aucun faut, & dans aucun danger,
qu'il n'euft fait fa priere & qu'il ne fe fût armé du figne
de la fainéte Croix; II difoit par fois au Pere, que s'il
s'en retournoit en fon pais fans eftre baptifé, qu'il
apprehendoit l'abord de fa femme: elle ne manquera
pas, faifoit iI, de me faire ce reproche, on voit bien
qu'il y a quelque chofe qui manque en ta foy, fi les
Peres auec lefquels tu as efté fi long temps, pendant
vn fi grand voyage, t'auoient iugé digne du baptefme,
ils ne te l'auroient pas refufé? Peut-eftre que l'a-
mour de quelque autre femme, t'a empefché de pour-
fuiure vn fi grand bien; Voila, difoit-il, Ie premier
falut que i'attens de ma femme, à mon arriuée au
pais. Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur voyant vne ame fi bien
difpofée, dit pour ce bon Neophyte, ce que I'Eu-
nuque de Ia Reine de Candace difoit à fainét Phi-
lippe. Ecce aqua quid prohibet eU11l baptzYari. II y a
tant d'eau fur Ie pais, qu'y a-t'il done, qui puiffe
retarder fon baptefme? Puis qu'il croit de tout fon
cæur en Iefus Chrift? Les Peres y condefcendent
aifement, Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur voulut eftre fon
Parrain, Ie [75J iour eft pris au vingt-fixiefme de Iuin,

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charms which he had for hunting,- declaring aloud
that he would like to believe in God, but earnestly,
and without pretense,- renouncing publicly all his
old customs and all the superstitions of his ancestors.
Having gone to the war, he became acquainted with
two Christians; and, seeing them retire to the woods
to flee the idolatrous rites of their Countrymen, and
offer up apart their little prayers, he followed them
and prayed as they did. In all the voyage from the
country of the Hurons to Kebec, which is very long,
he passed no day without invoking the holy Name
of God; [74] and he never undertook any rapid, or
any dangerous effort, without offering up a prayer
and being armed with the sign of the holy Cross.
He said sometimes to the Father, that if he returned
to his own country without being baptized, he would
dread meeting his wife. "She will not fail," said
he, "to cast at me this reproach: ' It is easily seen
that there is something lacking in thy faith; if the
Fathers with whom thou hast been a great while,
during so long a journey, had judged thee worthy of
baptism, they would not have refused it to thee,
Perhaps the love of some other woman has hindered
thee from pursuing so great a good. ' This," said he,
" is the first salutation that I expect from my wife
on arriving at home." :Monsieur the Governor see-
ing a soul so well disposed, said for this good N eo-
phyte what the Eunuch of Queen Candace said to
saint Philip: Ecce aqua: qldd pro/libet eum baptisari.'l
" There is sufficient water in the country, what then
should hinder his baptism since he believes with all
his heart in Jesus Christ?" The Fathers readily
acquiesced; Monsieur the Governor wished to be his
Godfather, and the [75] day was fixed for the twen-

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[VOL. 20

on en porte la nouuelle à ce bon Catechumene, on
luy dit que Ie grand Capitaine des François a inter-
cedé pour fon baptefme, il eft tout raui, la ioye
pofIede fon cæur tout entier, la ceremonie fe pafIa
en l'Eglife de fainét Iofeph, où fe retirent les Sau-
uages, il y en auoit pour lors vn bon nombre, chacun
accourt pour voir vn Sauuage de trois cens lieuës, fe
venir prefenter au baptefme en vne Eglife de nou-
ueaux Chreftiens: Ces bons Neophytes prennent vn
fouuerain plaifir à ce doux fpeétac1e, & pour marque
de leur ioye ils font retentir l'air de leurs Cantiques
Spirituels: de forte que ce bon Catechumene s' efcria:
Si vous chantiés ces Airs en mon païs, vous enleue-
riés tous les cæurs de mes Compatriotes. Enfin Ie
Reuerend Pere Vimont commence les fainétes cere-
monies, & Ie Pere de Brebeuf l'interroge fur fa cre-
ance, & fur fes volontés: comme i1 eft homme de
iugement, il ne fe troubla point, il repondit pofé-
ment, & refolument à toutes les demandes, proteftant
tout haut qu'il vouloit viure & mourir Chreftien, dans
l'obferuance des volontés [76J & des Commandemens
de Dieu, & de fon Eglife, Monfieur de Montmagny
Ie nomme Charles, luy faifant porter fon nom il fe
nommoit en fa langue Sondatfaa, du Bourg d'Ofo-
fanë, fi toft que les eaux facrées eurent touché fon
corps, & purifié fon arne, fon parrain Ie carefIe, &
luy dit: Ie me refiouis de vous voir main tenant au
nom bre des enfans de Dieu.; puis que vous eftes
affranchy des liens des Demons, combattés genereufe-
ment, tenés la parole que vous aués donnée à Dieu,
Ie Baptefme vous a donné des armes & des forces
contre vos ennemis inuifibles, ferués-vous-en cou-
rageufement; Et pour ce que les peuples qui vous

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ty-sixth of June. The news was carried to this good
Catechumen, and he was told that the great Captain
of the French had interceded for his baptism; he
was enraptured,- joy wholly possessed his heart.
The ceremony took place in the Church of saint
Joseph, to which the Savages go; there was, at the
time, a goodly number of them. Each one ran in
haste, to see a Savage from three hundred leagues
away come to offer himself for baptism in a Church
of the new Christians. These good Neophytes took
supreme delight in this pleasing spectacle, and as a
mark of their joy they made the air resound with
their Spiritual Songs,- so that this good Catechumen
exclaimed: " If you should sing these Airs in my
country, you would captivate the hearts of all
my Countrymen." At length, Reverend Father
Vimont began the holy ceremonies, and Father de
Brebeuf questioned him upon his belief and upon his
desires; as he is a man of judgment, he was not con-
fused, but responded sedately and firmly to all ques-
tions, avowing distinctly that he wished to live and
die a Christian, in the observance of the will [76]
and of the Commandments of God and of his Church.
Monsieur de Montmagn y named him Charles, mak-
ing him bear his own name; he was called in his
own language Sondatsaa, of the Village Ososane. As
soon as the sacred waters had touched his body, and
purified his soul, his godfather caressed him, and
said to him: "I rejoice to see you now in the num-
ber of God's children; inasmuch as you are freed
from the bonds of the Demons, fight valiantly, and
keep the word that you have given to God. Baptism
has given you arms and strength against your unseen
enemies,-use them courageously; and since the

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font la guerre defirent de vous détruire, ie vous veux
armer contre eux: là-deíIus il luy fait prefent d'vne
belle arquebufe, qui efionna ce bon Neophyte, car
ces armes leur font toutes nouuelles: Allés, luy dit-
iI, exhortés vos Compatriotes à embraffer la foy que
vous aués receuë, & les afIurés de ma part, que ie les
protegeray, s'ils fe rangent au giron de l'Eglife: Ce
difcours finy, Ie Capitaine de nos Chrefiiens de Saind
Iofeph fe leue, & [77J apofirophant ce nouueau Chre-
fiien, luy dit.
Mon frere, tous les Sauuages que tu vois icy à l'en-
tour de toy font Chrefiiens, nous auons tous quitté
nos vieilles coufiumes, nous auons jetté bas les fot-
tifes & les fuperfiitions de nofire Nation, tu ne fçau-
rois conceuoir la ioye de nos cæurs, voyans que tu
embraffes nofire creance, & que tu as choifi cette pe-
tite Eglife pour y efire fait nofire frere: oüy, tu l'es
maintenant, nous il'auons plus qu'vn Pere, qui efi
Dieu, & qu'vne Mere commune, qui efi l'Eglife; voi-
cy donc tes freres qui te dec1arent, que tes amis font
leurs amis, & que tes ennemis font leurs ennemis;
& pource que nofire Capitaine t'a fait prefent d'vne
arme à feu, tes freres te prefentent par mes mains de
la poudre pour t'en feruir dans les befoins, en ton
retour.
A ces harangues Ie bon Charles Sondatfaa refpon-
dit: Onontz"o grande Montagne, (c'efi ainfi que les
Hurons & les Hiroquois nomment Monfieur nofire
Gouuerneur, à caufe qu'il s'appelle de Montmagny)
Ie nom que vous m'aués donné efi vn riche prefent,
c'efi vne obligation [78J qui m'efi particuliere, de la-
quelle ie me reffentiray toute ma vie, ce canon que
vous aués adjoufié, fera vn grand bruit dedans nofire

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221

people that make war upon you desire to destroy you,
I will arm you against them." Thereupon he pre-
sented him with a handsome arquebus, which aston-
ished this good Neophyte, for these arms are wholly
new to them. "Go, " said he to him, " exhort your
Countrymen to embrace the faith which you have
received; and assure them, for me, that I will pro-
tect them if they put themselves within the pale of
the Church. II This speech being finished, the Cap-
tain of our Christians of Saint Joseph stood up, and,
[77] addressing this new Christian, said to him:
" My brother, all the Savages whom thou seest
around thee here are Christians; we have all forsak-
en our old customs, we have thrown off the follies
and the superstitions of our Nation. Thou canst not
imagine the joy of our hearts in seeing that thou hast
adopted our belief, and hast chosen this little Church
in which to be made our brother. Yes, thou art so
now,-we have henceforth but one Father, who is
God, and but one common Mother, which is the
Church; behold, then, thy brothers who declare to
thee, that thy friends are their friends, and that thy
enemies are their enemies. And, since our Captain
has made thee the gift of a firearm, thy brothers
present thee by my hands with powder, that thou
mayst use it in thy needs, on thy return. "
To these harangues the good Charles Sondatsaa
responded: "OnonÛo, great Mountain" (it is thus
that the Hurons and the Hiroquois call Monsieur our
Governor, because his name is de Montmagny), " the
name you have given me is a rich present,- it is an
obligation [78J that is peculiar to me, and which I
shall feel all my life. This gun which you have
added will make a great talk in our country,- it will

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[VOL. 2()

païs, it fera voir l' efiime que vous faites des croyans;
cét affaire efi important, vofire authorité en touchera
plufieurs, & vofire prefent ne fera iamais mis en ou-
bly: Puis fe tournant vers les Sauuages; Mes freres,
fi vofire cæur a de la ioye me voyant fait enfant de
Dieu, Ie mien en do it reffentir dauantage, vous voy-
ant tous dans la poffeffion de ce bon-heur; vous m'a-
ués deuancé & ie vous veux fuiure & imiter: fi vous
defirés d'aller au del, i'ay les mefmes volontés; fi
vous faites profeffion de garder les Commandemens
de Dieu, c'efi ce qu'auiourd'huy i'ay publiquement
promis & protefié, i' ef pere que iamais ie ne me dé-
mentiray de ma parole: Nous n'auons rien de fi
precieux que nos colliers de porcelaine, fi i'en voyois
briller vne vingtaine deuant mes yeux pour m'allecher
au peché, ie détournerois ma veuë, & mon cæur
auroit du dégoufi de ce qu'il a tant aimé. Nous
faifons efiat dans nos Bourgades de quelques habits,
& de quelques robes qui font en efiime parmy [79]
nous; fi ce que nous appellons beauté me prefentoit
vne de ces robes pour me corrompre, ie luy dirois:
Si Ie Dieu que i'adore veut que ie me ferue de ces
habits, it m'en fera trouuer par d'autres voyes, Ie
peché efi banny de mon cæur, i1 n'y doit iamais ren-
trer; & fi par les mefmes attraits on m' offroit vn ba-
ril de poudre, & des armes toutes de feu pour defiruire
nos ennemis, ie refpondrois; celuy qui a purifìé mon
ame ne veut pas que ie la falliffe de rechef, i1 a bien
d'autres moyens de me proteger, i'aymerois mieux
perdre la vie que de l' offen fer ; Voila, mes freres, les
refolutions que ie prens dans mon baptefme, au refte
ma famille efi defia toute baptifée, mes enfans & mes
neueux font Chrefiiens, i1 ne refie plus que ma

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show the regard that you have for believers; this affair
is important, your power 'will touch many, and your
present will never be forgotten." Then turning
around to the Savages: "11 Y brothers, if your heart
has joy in seeing me made a. child of God, mine ought
to have more, seeing you all in possession of this
happiness. You have preceded me, I wish to follow
and imitate you; if you desire to go to heaven, I
have the same desire; if you make profession of keep-
ing the Commandments of God, that is what I have
to-day publicly promised and vowed; I hope I shall
never belie my word. We have nothing so precious
as our porcelain collars; if I were to see a score of
them glittering before me, to entice me into sin, I
would turn away my eyes, and my heart would have
loathing for that in which it has so much delighted.
In our Villages, we value highly certain garments
and certain robes, which are in favor among [79] us;
if what we call beauty should present me with one
of these robes, to corrupt me, I would say to her: 'If
the God whom I adore wishes me to use these gar-
ments, he will cause me to find them by other ways:
sin is banished from my heart, it must never reënter
there.' And if with the same allurements one offered
me a barrel of powder, and plenty of firearms, to
destroy our enemies, I would reply: ' He who has
purified my soul does not wish that I should sully it
anew; he has surely other ways of protecting me; I
would prefer losing life to offending him.' These,
my brothers, are the resolutions that I take in my
baptism. Moreover, my whole family is already
baptized, my children and my nephews are Chris-
tians,-there remains but my wife. Not only will
she follow my example, but, as I am of some impor-

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femme, laquelle non feulement fuiura mon exemple,
mais comme ie fuis en quelque cõfideration dans mon
pais, i'efpere que d'autres encor prendront enuie de
m'imiter, notamment quand ie leur auray fait Ie recit
de l'honneur que Ie grand Capitaine des François
fait aux Croyans, & que ie leur parleray de la con-
uerfion des peuples qui nous font femblables.
[80J Apres ces harangues on fait feftin, chacun pre-
nant part à cette ioye, beniffoit Dieu, de voir de fes
yeux des changemens fi eftranges; que l' on en die ce
qu' on voudra, mais ie croy que quelques Sauuages
s'énoncent mieux en leur langue, que ie ne fais en la
noftre, & leurs fentimens de Dieu, font par fois fi
tendres que Ie cæur les goufte mieux, que Ie papier
ne les exprime, Ie mal eft qu'il n'y a que ceux qui
les entendent, qui connoifíent plus particulierement
ces merueilles du grand Dieu.
Quelque temps apres ce bon Neophyte parlant
familierement au Pere de Brebeuf, luy difoit: Si ma
femme retarde tant íoit peu fon baptefme, ie luy
feray Ie meíme reproche que i' attendois d' elle, ie la
piqueray iufques au vif, i'aduoüe qu'elle eft plus
fage, & plus iufte que moy, il ya long-temps que i'ay
des preuues de la fidelité qu'elle m'a gardée: mais
comme ie la defire voir au plutoft dans Ie bon-heur
d'ont i'ay fait rencontre; Si elle ne pre fIe fon
baptefme, ie luy diray que la veue des ieunes hõmes
l'aueugle, & l'empefche de voir la beauté de la loy
de Dieu: [8 I] ie ne croy pas que i' en vienne là, car
elle eft plus portée au bien que moy.
A peine eftoit-il baptifé qu'il fe mit dans 1'exercice
du Chriftianifme, & dans la frequentation des Sacre-
mens, i1 fe confefIa trois fois deuant que de remonter

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tance in my own country, I hope that others also
will be seized with the desire of imitating me,-
especially when I shall have related to them the
honor that the great Captain of the French pays to
Believers, and when I shall tell them of the conver-
sion of peoples who are like us."
[80] After these harangues they made a feast; each
one taking part in this joy blessed God for seeing
with his own eyes transformations so strange. The
world may say what it will of them, but I believe
that some Savages express themselves better in their
own language than I do in ours; and their thoughts
of God are sometimes so tender that the heart enjoys
them more than pen can express. The thing to be
regretted is, that it is only those who hear them,
who know most fully these wonders of the great
God.
Some time after, this good Neophyte, speaking
familiarly to Father de Brebeuf, said to him: "If
my wife put off, ever so little, her baptism, I shall
cast at her the same reproach that I expected from
her; I shall sting her even to the quick. I confess
that she is wiser and more correct than I; long ago
I had proofs of her fidelity to me; but since I desire
to see her as soon as possible in the happiness which
I have encountered, if she do not urge her bap-
tism, I shall say to her that the sight of the young
men blinds her, and hinders her from seeing the
beauty of the law of God; [81] I do not believe that
I shall come to that, for she is more inclined to the
right than 1."
Hardly was he baptized when he began the prac-
tice of Christian living, and the frequent receiving of
the Sacraments; he confessed three times before

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en fon pais. Arant fait vn tour aux trois Riuieres,
comme i'eftois fur Ie point de mettre Ie pied dans Ie
canot, pour defcendre à Sainét Iofeph, ce bon N eo-
phyte s'adrefIa au Pere de Brebeuf, & Ie pria de me
dire ce qui fuit, ie prie Ie Pere de dire à Onontio
grand Capitaine des François, que ie n'ay point de
paroles pour Ie remercier, mais que i'en trouueray
pour publier dans mon pais, les riches obligations
que ie luy ay, il eft vray que l'honneur qu'il m'a fait,
& fes riches prefents me touchent au cæur, mais tout
cela n'approche de la ioye, & du contentement que ie
refIens d'eftre Chreftien, il m'a recommandé de pu-
blier cette faueur, ie ne la fçaurois taire, ie reporte
ma langue toute entiere, voire elle eft accreüe de
beaucoup en ce voyage, ie l'employeray toute, & en
tous lieux, à publier les verités de nofire creance.
Ce difcours m'attendrit, [82J ie l'embraffay là-deffus,
& m'embarquay auec vn Nocher Chreftien, & vn
autre Catechumene, bien édifiés de la foy de ce bon
Neophyte. II adjoufta au Pere, qu'il eftoit bien mar-
ry, de ce qu'il ne pouuoit reconnoiftre par quelque
prefent reciproque, les faueurs de Monfieur Ie Gou-
uerneur, l'amitié des François, & la charité des
Sauuages Chreftiens: mais Ie Pere luy ayant reparty,
que Monfieur Ie Gouuerneur n'attendoit autre chofe
de luy qu'vne con fiance en la foy, & vne fidele obe-
ïffance aux Commandemens de Dieu: I'efpere, repli-
qua-t'il, que ie luy donneray toute fatisfaétion en ce
point; car il me fembIe, felon la difpofition de mon
cæur, que rien ne me peut efbranler: neantmoins,
comme ie fuis fragile, fi ie venois à chopper, Ie fou-
uenir de la proteftation publique & folennelle que
i'ay faite à mon baptefme, de vouloir viure & mourir

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going up to his own country. Having made a trip
to the three Rivers, just as I was setting foot in the
canoe, to go down to Saint Joseph, this good N eo-
ph yte spoke to Father de Bre beuf and begged him
to tell me this which follows: " I pray the Father to
tell Onontio, the great Captain of the French, that I
have no words to thank him, but that I shall find
some to declare in my own country the great obliga-
tions under which I am to him. It is true that the
honor he has done me, and his valuable presents,
touch my heart; but all that does not approach the
joy and contentment which I experience in being a
Christian; he has charged me to make known this
favor, and I would not know how to be silent. I
take back my own language all entire, it has even
improved much in this journey, I shall use it all, and
in all places, to publish the truths of our belief."
These words touched me, [82] whereupon I embraced
him, and set out with a Christian Pilot and another
Catechumen; we were much edified by the faith of
this good Neophyte. He added to the Father, that
he was truly grieved at not being able to acknowledge,
by some present in return, the favors of Monsieur the
Governor, the amity of the French, and the love of the
Christian Savages. But the Father having replied
to him that Monsieur the Governor expected from
him nothing but constancy in the faith and steadfast
obedience to the Commandments of God, " I hope,"
responded he, "that I shall give him complete satis-
faction on this point; for it seems to me, from the
state of my heart, that nothing can shake me. N ev-
ertheless, as I am frail, if I should happen to stumble,
the remem brance of the public and solemn profes-
sion which I made at my baptism, of wishing to live

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dans l'obferuance des Commandemens de Dieu, me
rappelleroit à mon deuoir; & vous mon Pere, faiíoit
ce bon Neophyte, fi iamais vous me voyés chanceler
tant foit peu, remettés moyen memoire cette promeffe
faite à Dieu, & vous [83] me verrés bien-tofi dans
mes premieres refolutions, comme i' ef pere.
11 diíoit que trois chofes I' auoient fortement tou-
ché à Kebec: Premierement, la prompte obeïffance,
& Ie grand refpeét qu'on rendoit à Monfieur nofire
Gouuerneur: Cét éc1at & cette bonté n'efi point chés
les Sauuages; les Capitaines ont beau commander,
les Sujets n'en font pas plus obeïffans, s'ils ne
veulent.
Secondement, la pieté & la charité des Religieufes
Ie rauiffoit; en effet c'efi l'vn des puifíans motifs que
nous ayons, pour faire paroifire l'efiime que nous fai-
fons de Dieu, & des adions qui luy font agreables,
de monfirer comme de ieunes Filles, tendres & deli-
cates, ont quitté leurs parens & leurs amis, & leur
patrie fi douce & fi agreable, pour venir en vn païs
pauure & fafcheux, fous l'efpoir d'vne vie eternelle,
& pour agréer à celuy qui la leur doit donner; cela
leur fait croire qu' en effet cette autre vie doit efire,
puis que fans attendre autre recompenfe, ces bonnes
Filles cheriffent, medicamentent, & nourriffent leurs
malades, auec vne netteté & vne charité admirable,
infiruifent leurs [84J enfans auec des affeétions de
vrayes :Meres. Les Sauuages nous demandent afíés
fouuent, fi ces filles de Capitaines, car c'efi ainfi que
par fois ils les appellent, ont encor leurs peres &
leurs meres; & quand on leur en monfire quelques-
vnes dont les parens font encor viuans, ils s' efion-
nent comment elles ont pû prendre la refolution de

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and die in the observance of the Commandments of
God, will recall me to my duty; and you, my
Father," said this good N eoph yte, " if you ever see
me wavering in the least, put me in mind of this
promise made to God, and you [83] as I hope, shall
soon see me with my former firmness."
He said that three things had deeply affected him
at Kebec, first, the prompt obedience and the great
respect that was paid to Monsieur our Governor.
This splendor and this attention do not exist among
the Savages; it is in vain that the Captains com-
mand,- the Subjects are not for that more obedient,
unless they choose to be.
Secondly, the piety and the charity of the Nuns
charmed him. In fact, one of the most powerful
motives we have, in manifesting our esteem for God
and for the acts which are pleasing to him, is to show
how young :Maidens, tender and delicate, have for-
saken their parents, and their friends, and their coun-
try so mild and pleasant, to come into a barren and
rugged land, through the hope of an eternal life,
and in order to please him who is to give it to them.
This makes them believe that the other life must really
exist; since, without expecting any other recom-
pense, these good Sisters nurse their sick, give them
remedies and food, with wonderful neatness and
love, and instruct their [84J children with the affec-
tion of true Mothers. The Savages not unfrequently
ask us, if these daughters of Captains,- for it is thus
they sometimes call them,- have still their fathers
and mothers; and, when some of them are pointed
out whose parents are yet living, they marvel how
these could have resolved upon leaving them. There-
upon they are made to see that Grace has more power

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les quitter: Là-defíus on leur fait voir que la Grace a
plus de force que la Nature; & que les feux d'vn
cæur qui aime Dieu, font plus ardens que leurs
grandes glaces, & leurs profondes neiges, n'ont de
froideur.
La troifiéme chofe, qui a grandement edifié ce
bon Neophyte & fes Compatriotes, c'eft la deuotion
& la charité des nouueaux Chreftiens, les Sauuages
ne s'eftonnent pas tant de voir des François portés au
bien, & croire fortemêt en Dieu, ils penfent que cela
nous eft acquis dés noftre naifíance: mais de voir des
Sauuages qui leur font femblables, accouftumés à
leurs fuperftitions, plongés dans les vices de leur
N atiõ, fortir du Baptefme tous purs & tous nets, em-
brafíer la foy & la publier fans crainte, detefter ce
qu'ils ont aimé, & fouler [85J aux pieds ce que les
autres adorêt; c'eft ce qui les eftonne, & qui leur fait
dire: Si ceux-Ia qui nous reffemblent, fe paffent
d'vne feule femme, s'ils font fermes & conftans dans
leurs mariages, s'ils aiment ceux mefme qui ne font
pas de leur Nation; s'ils prient Dieu, & fi les prieres
ne leur font point de mal, pourquoy ne les imiterons
nous pas: En effet, i'ay remarqué qu'vn bon Sau-
uage Chreftien, & zelé pour la foy, fait plus parmy
ies gens que trois lefuites.

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than Nature, and that the fires of a heart which loves
God are more ardent than their great fields of ice
and their deep snows are frigid.
The third thing which extremely edified this good
Neophyte and his Countrymen was the devotion and
the love of these new Christians. The Savages are
not so much astonished to see the French inclined to
virtue and to believe firmly in God,-they think
that is secured to us even at our birth. But to see
Savages who are like themselves,- accustomed to
their own superstitions, and plunged into the vices
of their own Nation,-come forth from Baptism
every one pure and clean; embrace the faith, and
publish it without fear; detest that which they have
loved, and trample [85J under foot that which others
adore,-that is what amazes them, and makes them
say: "If those who are like us are content with one
wife only, if they are firm and constant in their mar-
riages, if they love those even who are not of their
own Nation, if they pray to God, and if prayers do
them no harm, why should we not imitate them?"
Indeed, I have observed that one truly Christian
Savage, who is zealous for the faith, accomplishes
more among his people than do three Jesuits.

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CHAPITRE VI.

DE L'HOSPITAL.

I ' A Y creu que ce chapitre deuoit eftre placé en
fuitte de ce que nous auons dit de la Refidence
de S. Iofeph, non feulement pour ce que cette
Maifon efi bafiie auprés des Sauuages, mais auffi pour
autant que la charité de ces bonnes Filles coopere
puiffammet à l'arrefi de ceux qui fe retirent en cette
Bourgade encommancée. [86] C' eft chofe efirange,
comme ces peuples font froids, & comme ils paroiffent
exempts des admirations qui nous efionnent, ils ne
Ie font pas neantmoins, leur cæur efi touché auffi
bien que Ie nofire, mais il ne fe produit pas tant: ray
par fois ouy des Sauuages tenir ce langage.; NiKanis
nous nous efionnons comme ces bonnes Filles fi deli-
cates ont quitté vn fi bon pais comme tu nous Ie
depeins, comme elles ont abandonné leurs parens
pour venir demeurer auprés de nous, & ce qui eft plus
admirable, elles nous donnent à manger, & nous
penfent dans nos maladies, CheKher. c'eft à dire fans
attente d'aucune recompenfe.
N o fire Seigneur qui a donné les penfées à Madame
la Ducheffe d' Aiguillon, de fonder vne Maifon de
Mifericorde en ce bout du Monde, luy auoit auffi
infpiré Ie lieu où elle deuoit efire bafiie: or comme
elle s'eftoit prudemment r'apportée de cét affaire, à
ceux qui font fur Ie pais: Ils prirent au commence-
ment des penfées contraires à fes inclinations, mais
apres auoir confideré meurement l'affaire deuant

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CHAPTER VI.

OF THE HOSPITAL.

I HAVE thought that this chapter ought to be put
next to what we have said concerning the Resi-
dence of St. Joseph, not only because this House
is built in the neighborhood of the Savages, but also
because the charity of these good Sisters coöperates
powerfully with the settling down of those who with-
draw to this newly-begun Village. [86J It is a
strange thing how cold these people are, and how
exempt they appear from marveling at those things
which astonish us; however they are not so, their
heart is touched as well as ours, but does not betray
itself so much. I have sometimes heard Savages use
this language: "Nikanis, we are amazed that these
good Sisters, so delicate, have left so goodly a coun-
try as you have described to us; that they have aban-
doned their parents to come and dwell among us;
and, what is more wonderful, that they give us food,
and take care of us in our sickness, Chekher," that
is to say, without expectation of any recompense.
Our Lord, who has given to Madame the Duchess
d' Aiguillon the thought of founding a House of :Mer-
cy at this end of the Wodd, also suggested to her the
place where it ought to be built. Now, as she had
wisely referred the matter to those who were in the
country, they, in the beginning, conceived thoughts
contrary to her inclinations; but, after having care-
fully considered the affair before God, they judged

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[V OL. 20

Dieu; ils iugerent que les raHons, [87] que ces bonnes
Filles alleguoient, pour auoir quelque demeure au-
pres des Sauuages, l'emportoient par deffus ces pen-
fées contraires. En effet, fi elles euffent efté éloi-
gnées des Sauuages, ces pauures gens ne fe fuffent
iamais fait porter à l'Hofpital, qu'à l'extremité de
leur vie; & ainfi les Barbares auroient appellé cette
MaHon, la MaHon de mort, & non la MaHon de fan-
té, ou de MHericorde, comme quelques-vns l'appel-
lent. Cette grande Dame écriuant fur ce fujet parle
en ces termes: I' a y vne ioye bien grande de ce qu' on
a refolu que la MaHon de ces bonnes Filles s' eftabli-
roit à Sainét Iofeph, fans doute Ie fruiét en fera plus
grand: car i1 me femble que les conuerfions qui fe
font au commencement des maladies, font plus affeu-
rées que celles qui arriuent fi proches de la mort; &
fi la fatisfaétion qu'en auront les pauures Sauuages,
contribuera fans doute beaucoup à leur falut, cela eft
tres-veritable.
Ces bonnes gens furent tellement épris, quand ils
fçeurent Ie iour que les Religieufes deuoient venir
en leur nouuelle 1IaHon, que les principaux d entre
eux [88] monterent incontinent en leurs canots, pour
les aller querir eux-mefmes: ils prirent noftre Reue-
rend Pere Superieur, & quelques autres de nos Peres
dans vn de leurs petits vaiffeaux, & ces bonnes Filles
dans vn autre, & les rendirent bien-toft où eftoient
defia leurs fouhaits: Si toft que les Sauuages qui
eftoient reftés à S. Iofeph apperceurent les canots, ils
accourent au deuant, témoignent des ioyes tres-fenfi-
bles, emportent en vn inftant tout leur petit bagage;
c'eftoit à qui leur rendroit quelque petit feruice, Dieu
fçait quelles eftoient les penfées & les affeétions de

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that the reasons [87] which these good Sisters ad-
vanced for having some dwelling place near the Sav-
ages, would outweigh those contrary opinions. In
fact, if they had been sent away from the Savages,
these poor people might never have had themselves
carried to the Hospital, but in their last moments;
and thus, the Barbarians would have called this
House" the House of death," and not " the House
of health," or "of :Mercy," as some call it. This
great Lady, writing upon this subject, speaks in these
words: " I am indeed very glad because they have
decided that the House of these good Sisters shall
be established at Saint Joseph. Without doubt, the
fruit thereof will be greater, for it appears to me
that can versions which take place in the beginning
of sicknesses are more assured than those which take
place so near death;" and as the comfort which the
poor Savages have therein will doubtless contribute
much to their recovery, that is very true.
These good people were so overjoyed when they
knew the day the Nuns were to come into their new
House, that the chief men among them [88] leaped
forthwith into their canoes, to go themselves and
bring them. They took our Reverend Father Supe-
rior, and some of our other Fathers, in one of their
little boats, and these good Sisters in another, and
soon brought them to the place where their desires
already were. As soon as the Savages who had
remained at St. Joseph perceived the canoes, they
ran to meet them, expressed the most lively joy, and
carried away in an instant all their little baggage;
everyone was eager to render them some slight serv-
ice. God knows what were the thoughts and feel-
ings of these good Mothers, when they saw that

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ces bonnes Meres, voyans que des Barbares, dont Ie
feul nom fait peur, & Ie regard épouuante, au com-
mencement couroient deuant elles auec leurs robes
faites à la Sainét lean Baptifte, pour marque de leur
bien-veillance, plus remplis d'affeétion & de candeur
que de politeffe.
Elles entrerent en cette nouuelle Maifon Ie pre-
mjer de Decembre de l'an paffé; fi elles n'euffent efté
fortement íecouruës, cette Maiíon, dans vn fi pauure
païs, euft traifné bien plus long-temps, elle n'eft
pas encor acheuée; qui commence à baftir [89] n' eft
pas fi toft au bout; on a beau faire comme cét homme
qui vouloit baftir vne tour: Sedells computabat j"ump-
tus j"uos. On a beau conter íon fonds & íes reuenus,
on íe trouue toufiours court en ces entrepriíes, notam-
ment en vn païs où tout eft cher au double de la
France, où les Ouuriers qui s'y rencontrent en petit
nombre, ne íe loüent pas à prix d'argent, mais au
poids d' or.
Ie íçay bon gré à vne Dame de merite & de condi-
tion, dont la vertu eft bien connuë par íes effets, d'a-
uoir donné la premiere aumoíne à cét Hoípital apres
ía fondation, elle íçait bien que Madame la Ducheffe
d' Aiguillon a vn grand cæur; mais elle n'ignore pas
auffi que ce cæur aime & cherit l'vne & l'autre
France; & que les miíeres qui frappent íes yeux
dans vn temps fi deplorable, luy íont auffi íenfibles,
que celles qui paffent l'Ocean pour venir iuíques à
íes oreilles; elle a tant de modeftie & d'humilité:
diíons plutoft de charité, qu'elle tient à faueur que
Ies ames d'eílite fafíent des biens iuíques au bout du
Monde. Ie me íuis trompé en mon calcul, ce íont
Meffieurs de la N ouuelle France [90] ce qui ont les

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Barbarians, whose very name causes fear, and whose
gaze, at first, appals, were running to meet them,-
in raiment fashioned like that of Saint John the Bap-
tist,- as a sign of their good will, more replete with
affection and sincerity than with politeness.
They entered into this new House on the first of
December, last year. If they had not been vigor-
ously assisted, this House, in so destitute a country,
would have dragged on for a much longer time; it
is not yet finished. He who begins to build [89]
does not so soon come to the end. It is useless to do
as did that man who wished to build a tower: Sed ens
computabat sumptus suos; it is useless to count one's
principal and income; one always finds himself short
in these undertakings,- especially in a country where
everything is twice as dear as in France, and where
the few Workmen who are to be found, do not hire
themselves for a price in silver, but for loads of gold.
I am grateful to a Lady of merit and rank, whose
goodness is well known by its effects, for having
given the first alms to this Hospital since its founda-
tion. She knows well that Madame the Duchess
d' Aiguillon has a large heart; but she is also not
ignorant that this heart loves and cherishes both the
new and the old France; and that the distress which
in so deplorable a time meets her eye, is as grievous
to her as that which crosses the Ocean to come to her
ear. She has so much modesty and humility-rath-
er let us say charity - that she considers it a favor
that the elect souls should accomplish good even at
the ends of the \V orld. I am mistaken in my reck-
oning, it was the Gentlemen of New France [90J who
first coöperated in this great Work, notwithstanding
the slight success of their temporal affairs.

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premiers cooperé à ce grand Ouurage, nonobftant Ie
peu de fuccés de leurs affaires temporelles.
I'apprens qu'ils ont encor aumofné cette année
quelques toiles pour les pauures Sauuages de Sainét
Iofeph, & pour les malades de I' Hofpital, ie prie
Dieu qu'il foit leur grande recompenfe. Vne per-
fonne de vertu leur a enuoyé cette année vn beau
Soleil & vn beau Ciboire d'argent doré pour leur
Chappelle. Ie croy que tous ceux qui aiment les
æuures de Mifericorde, {eront confolés, lifant ce que
ie vais dire de cette petite Maifon.
Premierement, ces bonnes Filles accouftumées à
exercer les æuures de charité les plus repugnantes
au fens & à la nature, recueillent tous les pauures
Sauuages abandonnés: 11 y a peu de iours que Ie
Pere de Quen efcriuoit en ces termes au R. P. Supe-
rieur: I'enuoye à I'Hofpital Adam ce bon vieillard,
Ie plus aagé des Sauuages, ie l'ay retiré de la mort,
que ces Barbares luy vouloient caufer par vn cordeau,
pour fe defaire d'vn fardeau qui les charge fort; I'ay
prié nos François qui defcendoient là-bas de Ie met-
tre dans leur barque: [91] Ie ne doute pas que les
Meres ne Ie reçoiuent volontiers; elles l'ont defia
nourry & fecouru tout l'hiuer paffé; ce bon-homme
n'a point d'autre maladie que celIe qu'il a commen-
cée de contraéter il y a plus de cent ans.
Secondement, tous les malades François & Sau-
uages font bien venus en cette Maifon, & Ie feu I
regret des Meres en leurs fonétions, eft l'impuiffance
qu' e1les ont de les fecourir auec la mefme affiftãce
qu'elles auroient en France, Ie païs eftant encor tout
neuf, & tout pauure, & deftitué de biens, dont regorge
l'Europe.

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I learn that they have also contributed some linen
for the poor Savages of Saint Joseph, and for the sick
of the Hospital; I pray God that he may be their
great reward. A worthy person sent them this year
a beautiful Sun, and a beautiful Pyx, silver-gilt, for
their Chapel. I believe that all those who love works
of Mercy, will be consoled in reading w hat I am
going to say of this little House.
First, these good Sisters, accustomed to practice
deeds of charity most repugnant to their feelings and
to nature, gather in all the abandoned Savages. Not
many days ago, Father de Quen wrote in these terms
to the Reverend Father Superior: " I sent to the
Hospital that good old man, Adam, the most aged of
the Savages. I rescued him from the death which
these Barbarians intended to cause him by a rope, in
order to rid themselves of a burden that greatly
oppressed them. I begged our Frenchmen who were
going down there to take him in their bark: [9 I] I
do not doubt that the Mothers will receive hÜn will-
ingly; they have already fed and aided him, during
the whole of last winter. This worthy man has no
other malady than that which he began to contract
more than a hundred. years ago."
Secondly, all sick persons, both French and Sav-
age, are welcome in this House, and the only regret
of the Mothers in the discharge of their duties is
their powerlessness to relieve them with the same
ministrations that they would have in France,- the
country being still wholly new, bare, and destitute
of the wealth with which Europe overflows.
In the third place, as soon as a Savage feels ill, he
goes to the Hospital to be purged and bled; some of
them go to ask for medicine, which they take in their

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En troifiéme lieu, fi tofi qu'vn Sauuage fe trouue
mal, il fe va faire purger & faigner à l' Hofpital ;
quelques-vns vont demander medecine, qu'i1s pren-
nent en leurs cabanes: I'apprens que les 11eres en
ont fait cette année plus de cent cinquante.
En quatriefme lieu, cette MaHon n'efi pas feu1e-
ment l'appuy des malades, mais encor des pauures
neceffiteux: Quand ces bonnes Meres voient que 1a
difette preffe ces pauures gens, elles font à manger
aux plus pauures, & les font venir en la Sale des
malades, où Ie R. Pere Superieur, ou [92] quelqu'vn
de nos Peres qui fçauent la Langue, fe trouue pour
ioindre l'aumofne fpirituelle auec la corporelle.
En cinquiéme lieu, comme Sainét Iofeph efi éloi-
gné d'enuiron vne lieuë & demie de Kebec, où fe
font retirées les Meres Vrfulines, pour mieux retenir
& infiruire leurs petites Seminarifies, tant fedentaires
que paffageres, qui feroient moins foupples & plus
volages aupres de leurs parens: Les petites Sauuages
qui ne fçauroient aller fi loin trouuer ces bonnes
Meres, s'affemblent chés les Hofpitalieres pour y
efire infiruites; elles ont tant de zele pour apprendre,
qu'elles paffent iufques à l'importunité: Voila les
fruiéts que cette fainéte Maifon produit; & fi les
forces viennent à croifire, les fruiéts croifiront à pro-
portion: car les grandes aétions de charité font les
vrais Miracles qui touchent 1es cæurs des Grecs &
des Barbares; bref, on peut dire des Sauuages, ce
que difoit Iacob, parlant de Dieu: Si dederit mihi
panem ad vefcendum, & veflÙnentum ad induendum, erit
mihi Dominus in Deum. Si vous fecourés les Sau-
uages, vous les aurés tous.
[93J Voicy ce que ie ly dans vn papier que ro'a

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own cabins. I learn that the Mothers have treated
more than one hundred and fifty of them this year.
In the fourth place, this House is not only a refuge
for the sick, but also for the needy poor. \Vhen
these good Mothers see that dearth oppresses these
poor people, they provide food for the poorest, and
make them come into the sick Ward, where the
Reverend Father Superior, or [92J some one of our
Fathers who knows the Language, is found, to join
the spiritual alms to the material.
In the fifth place, as Saint Joseph is about a league
and a half distant from Kebec,-where the Ursuline
:Mothers have made their retreat, the better to retain
and instruct their little Seminarists, permanent as
well as temporary, who would be less yielding and
more inconstant if with their relatives,-the little
Savages, who would not be able to go so far to those
good Mothers, meet together at the house of the
Hospital Sisters, to be instructed there; they have so
much zeal for learning, that they even become im-
portunate. Such are the fruits that this holy House
produces, and, if their forces increase, fruits will
increase in proportion,- for great acts of love are the
true :Miracles which touch the hearts of Greeks and
of Barbarians. In short, one can say of the Savages,
what Jacob did in speaking of God: Si dederit 11Zihi
panem ad vescendum, et vestÙllentum ad induendum, erit
mihi Dominus in Deum. If you help the Savages, you
will possess them all.
[93] The following is what I read in a paper which
the :Mother Superior gave me: II We have received
and helped in our Hospital sixty-seven sick Savages,
and one Frenchman; we have maintained, during
the winter, the poor and the infirm who were not

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dõné la Mere Superieure, nous auons reçeu & affifté
foixante fept malades Sauuages en noftre Hofpital,
& vn François, nous auons nourry pendant l'hyuer
les pauures, & les infirmes qui ne pouuoient fuiure
leurs compatriotes à la chaffe, fept perfonnes ont efté
baptifées en nofire Maifon, & quatre feulement de
nos malades font paffés à l' autre vie, auec des mar-
ques plus que probables de leur falut. Le François
qui nous a quitté. pour entrer dans vn repos eternel,
auoit vne patience de lob; fes plaintes n'eftoient pas
du pauure fecours que nous luy rendions dans nos
difettes: mais de ce qu'il ne pouuoit s'acquitter de
fes deuotions ordinaires; & cependant nous remar-
quions qu'il recitoit tout les iours l'Office de Nofire
Dame, & fon chappelet; ie ne doute nuUement que
Dieu ne l'ait fait paffer en ce bout du monde, pour
Ie mettre au ciel: ce ieune homme a honoré & chery
la vertu depuis fon arriuée à Kebec, & iamais il ne
s'eft dementy depuis qu'il s'eft fortement donné à
Dieu.
lean SaKitHnegHchit n'a iamais efté [94] abbatu,
ny à la mort, ny dans fa maladie, les nouueaux Chre-
fiiens ont ie ne fçay queUe force qui les anime, &
qui les confole dans leurs affiiétions; ce bon Neo-
phyte voulant éuiter les occafions du peché parmy
ceux de fa nation, s'eftoit retiré quelques mois auec
les Peres de noftre Compagnie, qui font aux trois
Riuieres, il a rendu des preuues d'vne foy viue, &
confiance. Au point qu'on Ie vouloit marier il eft
tombé malade d'vne pleurefie baftarde, il s'eft formé
vn abcés dans fon cofté, il ne pouuoit refpirer, la
fievre Ie tounnentoit fort, tout ces maux ne l' ont
iamais ietté dans l'impatience ny dans les plaintes; on

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able to follow their tribesmen to the hunt; seven
persons have been baptized in our House, and only
four of our sick ones have passed away to the other
life,- and these, with more than probable signs of
their salvation. The Frenchman who left us to
enter into eternal rest, had the patience of Job: his
complaints were not of the paltry help that we in
our poverty gave him, but that he could not perform
his usual devotions; and notwithstanding, we observed
that he recited every day the Office of Our Lady,
and his rosary. I do not in the least doubt that God
inspired his coming to this end of the world, in order
to lead him to heaven." This young man honored
and loved righteousness from his arrival at Kebec,
and never did he belie his profession, after he gave
himself w holl y to God.
Jean Sakitounegouchit was never [94J cast down,
either at death, or in his sickness. The new Chris-
tians have an inexpressible strength which animates
them, and consoles them in their afflictions. This
good Neophyte wishing to avoid temptations to sin
among those of his nation, had gone to be for some
months with the Fathers of our Society, who are at the
three Rivers; he gave proofs of a lively faith and of
constancy. At the time they intended to marry him,
he fell sick with a sort of pleurisy,-an abscess
formed in his side, he was unable to breathe, the
fever greatly tormented him; but his troubles never
drove him into impatience, or complaints. They
often asked him if he were not sad; " Not at all, "
replied he. It is a great blessing of God, and a very
great mercy, to see a young man in the prime of life
go to the tomb with as much joy as he would go to
marriage. The Mother Superior speaks thus of him:

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luy demandoit fouuent s'il n'eftoit point trifte; point
du tout, refpondoit-il, c'eft vne grande benediétion de
Dieu, & vne grace bië particuliere, de voir vn ieune
homme à la fleur de fon âge aller au tombeau auec
autant de ioye qu'il alloit au mariage: voicy comme en
parle la Mere Superieure, c'eftoit la douceur mefme, il
ne demandoit iamais rien, il prenoit auec vne tres--
prompte obeïffance, tout ce qu'on luy donnoit, fans
s'enquerir s'il eftoit amer ou doux; il prenoit vn
tres-grand [95J plaifir d'entendre parler de Dieu, &
fouuent on Ie voyoit prier auec grande attention, il
fe confeffoit & communioit tous les huiét iours, il
affifioit tous les iours à la fainéte Meffe: bref ille
falloit moderer quelque temps deuant fa mort, pour
ce que fa ferueur augmentoit fon mal. Quand il fe
vit hors d'efperance de recouurer fa fanté, il dit qu'il
auoit laiffé quelques pelteries aux trois Riuieres, il
pria les Meres de tenir la main qu'on en payaft fes
dettes, & que du furplus on fit vne aumofne aux
pauures Sauuages de fon païs, il receut dans vne
gran de paix Ie S. Viatique, & l'Extreme Onétion

bref ny en fa maladie, ny en fa mort, il ne fit pa-
roiftre aucune crainte, paffant de cette vie comme s'il
eut efié affuré d'aller tout droit au ciel.
La petite Anne
pitaban
K
e âgée d'enuiron, 13.
ou 14. ans nous a fort confolé dans fa maladie, elle
auoit vn tres-grand defir d'eftre baptifée, fi-toft qu'on
l'inftruifoit fur ce Sacrement, elle fe monftroit atten-
tiue, & fa maladie quoy que tres-fafcheufe ne la
diuertiffoit point de prefier l'oreille, encor qu'és
autres difcours [96J elle n'eut quafi point d'attention,
efiant regenerée dans Ie Sang du Fils de Dieu, on
luy parla de receuoir fon fainét Corps, cette doétrine
luy fit redoubler fon affeétion comme elle auoit l'efprit

1640-41]

RELA TJON OF r64o-4r

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" He was meekness itself; he never asked for any-
thing, he took with a most ready obedience all that
was given him, without asking if it were bitter or
sweet. He took very great [95J pleasure in hearing
of God, and often he was seen praying with great
devotion; he confessed and received communion
every week; he was present every day at holy Mass.
In brief, it was necessary to restrain him some time
before his death, as his fervor augmented his suffer-
ing." When he saw himself without hope of recover-
ing his health, he said he had left some pelts at the
three Rivers; he begged the Mothers to see to it that
his debts should be paid from these, and that with
the surplus they should grant an alms to the poor
Savages of his country. He received in great peace
the Holy Viaticum and Extreme Unction; in a
word, neither in his sickness, nor in his death, did
he show any fear,-passing from this life as if he
had been assured of going straight to heaven.
"The little Anne Oupitabanoukwe, about 13
or 14 years old, consoled us much in her illness;
she had a great desire to be baptized. As soon
as she had been instructed in regard to this Sacra-
ment, she showed herself attentive, and her malady,
although very distressing, did not hinder her from
listening; yet to other conversation [96J she gave
almost no attention. Having been regenerated by
the Blood of the Son of God, we spoke to her of
receiving his sacred Body; this doctrine caused her
affection to be redoubled, and, as she had an excel-
lent mind, she was soon capable of receiving this
blessed food. Being in an agony she appeared neith-
er to see nor hear; but, as soon as she was spoken to
of God, she seemed to recover her senses,- showing

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excellent, elle fut bien-toft capable de receuoir cette
viande facrée; eftant à l'agonie, elle paroiffoit n'a-
uoir plus d'yeux ny d'oreilles, mais fi toft qu'on luy
parloit de Dieu, elle fembloit reuenir à foy, mon-
ftrant par figne qu'elle prenoit plaifir d'oüir parler
de celuy dont elle ioüit maintenant.
Françoife
natchiganiK
e apprehendoit grande-
ment la mort au commencement de fa maladie, fi
toft qu'elle fut baptifée; & qu'on luy eut enfeigné,
qu'apres cette vie il y en auroit vn autre pleine de
bon-heur, elle perdit cette crainte, quoy que fa ma-
ladie fut fort langoureufe, & qu'elle n'eut point de
forces, elle eftoit fi honnefte que iamais on n' a remar-
qué en elle la moindre indecence. Toutes les filles
Sauuages, dit la Mere, font tres-verecondes, & rem-
plie de pudeur, iamais on ne les voit ioüer auec les
petits garçons, & comme vn certain iour vn enfant
affés [97J ieune fut entré en la fale des malades auec
fa parëte, qui venoit pour fe faire inftruire; les autres
filles demanderent à la Mere, permiffion de Ie faire
fortir, alleguant que c'eftoit vn garçon; elles Ie
traiterent fi rudement, qu'il n'y retourna pas vne
autre fois.
L'vne des ioyes que nous auons d'eftre logées à
Sainét Iofeph, difent ces bonnes Meres, c'eft la con-
folation de voir tous les iours des Sauuages, leur
deuotion nous rauit: Ce Printemps, comme ils reue-
noient de la chaffe, tirant apres eux leurs grãdes
traifnes, ils s'arrefterent deuant noftre Hofpital, &
s'en vindrent faire leur petite priere en noftre Chap-
pelle, puis ils pourfuiuirent leur chemin; ces aétions
font pleines de ioie. 11 ne s'eft paffé aucun iour de
l'Efté, que quelqu'vn d'eux n'ait entendu la fainéte
Meffe en noftre Eglife. I'ay veu, dit la Mere Supe-

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by a sign that she took pleasure in hearing of him
whom she now enjoys."
Françoise Ounatchiganikwe feared death extreme-
ly, at the beginning of her sickness; as soon as she
was baptized, and was taught that after this life there
would be another full of happiness, she lost this fear,
although her malady was very tedious, and she had
no strength. She was so modest that they never
noticed in her the least impropriety. "All the Sav-
age maidens are very modest, " said the Mother, " and
filled with bashfulness. They are never seen play-
ing with little boys; and when, one day, a quite
young child [97] was brought into the sick ward with
its parent, who came to be instructed, the girls asked
the Mother for permission to make it go away, plead-
ing that it was a boy; they treated him so rudely
that he did not come back again.
" One of the delights that we have in dwelling at
Saint Joseph," say these good Mothers, "is the
comfort of seeing the Savages every day; their
devotion charms us. This Spring, w hen they re-
turned from the hunt, dragging after them their
great sleds, they stopped before our Hospital, and
came to offer up their little prayers in our Chapel,
then they went on their way; these acts are replete
with joy for us. No day has passed, this Summer,
without some one of them hearing holy Mass in our
Church. I have seen," said the Mother Superior,
"little girls so attentive in reciting their rosary,
that - their companions coming for them to go and
play, or to return home - they would not leave the
Chapel until they had finished them. Often these
little souls come to us [98] and say: 'My Mother,
hear us repeat what the Fathers have taught us of

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rieure, de petites filles fi attentiues à reciter leurs
chappellets, que leurs compagnes les venans appeller
pour aller ioüer, ou pour retourner à la maifon,
elles ne partoient point de la Chappelle qu'elles ne
les euffët acheués. Souuent ces petites ames nous
viennent [98] dire; Ma Mere, faites nous repeter ce
que les Peres nous ont enfeigné au Catechifme, afin
que nous fçachions bien noftre leçon. C'eft affés
pour cét article, difons deux mots de la fimplicité &
de la candeur de ces bonnes gens. Quand quelqu'vn
d'eux s'eft bien trouué d'vne medecine, tous les autres
malades en demandent vne femblable, quoy que
leur maladie foit bien differente: Vne bonne femme
s'eftant venuë rendre à l'Hofpital, auec deux de fes
enfans, dont l'vn fe portoit mal; on ordonna deux
medecines, l'vne pour l'enfant, & l'autre pour la
mere; Ie matin on prefenta les deux gobelets à la
mere: Or comme c'eft la couftume parmy eux, de fe
faire part les vns aux autres de ce qu'ils boiuent, ou
de ce qu'ils mangent; cette bonne creature prend en
main la medecine de fa fille, elle y goufte la pre-
miere, puis elle en donne à boire à fes deux enfans
1'vn apres l'autre; ayant vuidé Ie premier gobelet,
elle prend Ie fecond, & Ie diftribuë à la mefme façon,
chacun y beuuant à fon tour; voila vne bonne façon
de prendre medecine.
Madame la Ducheffe d' Aiguillon aiant [99] enuoyé
en la Chappelle de fon Hofpital vn beau Crucifix, où
d'vn cofté eft la fainéte Vierge, qui prefente à noftre
Seigneur cette bonne Dame; & de l'autre Sainét lean,
qui prefente Monfeigneur Ie Cardinal, & de petits
Sauuages peints tout à l'entour: Ces bonnes gens,
notamment les femmes & les filles, accouroient pour
voir ce Tableau viuant. Or comme les Meres leur

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the Catechism, so that we may know our lesson
well.' " That is enough of this subject; let us say a
few words about the simplicity and the candor of
these good people. When anyone of them has been
cured by a remedy, all the other sick ask for a simi-
lar one, although their disorders may be quite differ-
ent. A poor woman having repaired to the Hospital,
with two of ber children, of whom one was sick, two
medicines were ordered, one for the child, and the
other for the mother; in the morning the two cups
were offered to the mother. N ow as it is the cus-
tom among these people to share with each other
what they eat, or what they drink, this good crea-
ture took her daughter's potion in her hand, first
tasted it herself, then gave it to her two children to
drink, one after the other; having emptied the first
cup, she took the second, and distributed it in like
manner, each one drinking in turn. A fine way,
that, of taking medicine!
Madame the Duchess d' Aiguillon, having [99] sent
to the Chapel of her Hospital a beautiful Crucifix,-
on one side of which is the blessed Virgin, who
points out to our Lord this good Lady, and on the
other Saint John, who points out Monseigneur the
Cardinal, and the little Savages painted all about
him,-these good people, especially the women and
young girls, ran to see this lifelike Picture. Now,
as the Mothers had made known to them the obliga-
tions under which they were to this great Lady,
these good people were not content with simply look-
ing at this beautiful Portrait,- they were obliged to
express the actions that impressed their eyes. The
little girls said to each other, speaking of :Madame
the Duchess, " She is on her knees;" forthwith all

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declaroient les obligations qu'ils ont à cette gran de
Dame, ces bonnes gens ne fe contenterent pas de
regarder fimplement ce beau Portrait, it fallut expri-
mer les aétions qui frappoient leurs yeux. Les filles
fe difoient l'vne à l'autre, parlans de Madame la
Ducheffe: Elle eft à genoux; là-deffus elles s'y
mettoient toutes: Elle ioint les mains, toutes les
ioignoient auffi-toft: elle regarde noftre Capitaine qui
eft mort en Croix pour nous, toutes leuoient les yeux,
& regardoient attentiuement Ie Crucifix: elle prie
Dieu, elles fe mettoient auffi-toft à reciter les oraifons
qu'elles fçauent: puis aiant fait leurs prieres, elles
fe leuoient debout, & faifans vne grãde reuerence à
cette Dame, l'alloient baifer auec plus de fimplicité
[100] & de candeur, que de grace; & puis s'en retour-
noient bien contentes. Ce n'eft pas la couftume des
Sauuages de fe faluer par vn baifer: mais comme
Madame de la Pelterie embraffe affés fouuent, &
baife ces pauures filles à la rencontre, ces bonnes
creatures s'imaginêt que cette aétion eft de prix & de
valeur, comme ils parlent, & qu'illa faut imiter pour
bien faire.
Les Meres ne parlent en leur memoire que de ceux
qui font trefpaffés en leur :Maifon, elles ne voient
pas Ie fruit qui prouient de leur Hofpital: car ceux
qui recouurent leur fanté, s' en retournent dans leurs
cabanes, fans leur donner ce bien fouuent à connoiftre
que la charité a operé dans leurs ames: V ne partie
de ce que nous auons dit, au chapitre de la Refidence
de Sainét Iofeph, fe doit rapporter à cette Maifon de
Mifericorde; car les Sauuages y ayans receu du
fecours dans leurs maladies, ont efté fortement gai-
gnés à Dieu. I'en fçay vn entre autres, lequel fut
porté en cette Maifon par l'vn de nos Peres, qui l'alla

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fell upon their knees. "Her hands are folded;' t
immediately all folded theirs. "She is looking at
our Captain, who died on the Cross for us;" all
raised their eyes and looked attentively at the Cruci-
fix. "She is praying to God;" at once they began
to repeat the prayers they knew. Then, having
made their petitions, they stood up, and making a
low courtesy to this Lady, proceeded to kiss her, with
more simplicity [IOOJ and candor than grace; and
then they went away quite content. It is not the
custom of the Savages to salute each other with a
kiss; but as Madame de la Pelterie quite often em-
braces and kisses these poor girls on meeting them,
these good creatures imagine that this act is of price
and value, as they say, and that they must imitate
her, in order to do right.
The Mothers speak in their account only of those
who have died in their House. They do not see the
results that proceed from their Hospital: for those
who recover their health, go back to their cabins,
without often letting them know the good which this
charity has wrought in their souls. A part of what
we related in the chapter on the Residence of Saint
Joseph ought to be attributed to this House of Mercy;
for the Savages, having received therein help in their
sicknesses have been firmly won to God. I know one,
among others, who was taken to this House by one
of our Fathers, who went for him to the woods,
where his Countrymen had abandoned him: this good
young man, [101] having recovered his health through
the care of these good Mothers, was so deeply affected,
that he not only urgently solicited his baptism, but
resolved to remain all his life among us, in order to
be more fully instructed therein; and his relatives

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querir dans les bois, où fes Compatriotes l'auoient
abandonné: ce bon ieune homme [IOIJ aiant recouuert
la fanté par les foins de ces bonnes Meres, fut fi puif-
famment touché, que non feulement it pourfuiuit
fortement fon baptefme; mais il prit refolution de
demeurer toute fa vie aupres de nous, pour y eftre
plus pleinement inftruit; & iamais fes parens ne luy
ont pû faire quitter cette penfée; ils ont fait leur
poffible pour l'en diuertir, mais tous leurs efforts
n'ont feruy qu'à faire paroiftre fa conftance: Ce n'eft
pas tout; comme S. Bernard gaigna fes freres, qui
Ie vouloient diuertir d'entrer en Religion; de mefme,
ce ieune homme appel1era & attirera auec foy ceux
qui Ie vouloient empefcher d'écouter Iefus-Chrift; car
i'apprens, que l'vn des principaux d'entr'eux chan-
cele defia, difant, qu'il veut croire en Dieu comme
fon cadet-
Ie conc1ueray ce chapitre par la mort d'vne petite
colombe, c'eft la Mere de fainéte Marie que Dieu
nous a rauy: Pretio.fa in con.fpec7u Domini: Mors
.fanc7orum eius. 0 que la mort de cette Efpoufe de
Iefus-Chrift eft precieufe deuant Dieu: elle fe trou-
uoit vn peu mal dés la France, d'vn rheume ou d'vne
defluxion qui la faifit au [102J temps de l'embarque-
ment, Ie mal creut fur mer, & encor plus fur terre;
Depuis fon arriuée elle a prefché plus fortement les
Sauuages, par fa patience, par fa refignation, par fa
gaieté, dans vne maladie traifnante & douloureufe,
que ne fçauroient faire trois Predicateurs, auec toute
leur eloquence; elle fe traifnoit fouuent dans la fale
des malades pour auoir la confolation de les voir,
nous prenions plaifir de nous y rencontrer, auec vne
bande de ces pauures Barbares, pour leur apprendre
la refignation par l'exemple de cette pauure malade,

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were in no wise able to make him renounce this proj-
ect. They did their best to dissuade him from it,
but all their efforts only served to make his constancy
apparent. This is not all; as St. Bernard won his
brothers, who endeavored to prevent him from enter-
ing the Religious life, even so, this young man will
call and will bring with him those who wished to
hinder him from listening to Jesus Christ: for I learn
that one of the chief among them already wavers,
saying that he is inclined to believe in God as does
his younger brother.
I shall conclude this chapter with the death of a
dear dove,- this is Mother de sainte Marie, whom
God has taken from us: Pretz"osa in conspectu Domini
mors sanctorum efus. Oh, how precious before God
is the death of this Bride of Jesus Christ! She was
somewhat ill after leaving France, from a cold or
congestion which seized her at the [102] time of set-
ting sail; the illness increased upon the sea, and still
more upon land. Since her arrival here she has
preached more forcibly to the Savages by her pa-
tience, and by her resignation, and by her cheerful-
ness in a lingering and painful sickness than three
Preachers could have done with all their eloquence.
She often dragged herself into the ward for the sick,
to have the comfort of seeing them; we took pleas-
ure in meeting her there, with a group of these poor
Barbarians, in order to teach them resignation by
the example of this poor sick woman. They could
not comprehend how a young girl, so affectionate and
delicate, was able to forget her country and her par-
ents, with such cheerfulness as she showed in her
face and in her words.
Sieur Giffard, who treated her in her sickness,

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ils ne pouuoient comprendre comme vne ieune fille fi
tendre & fi delicate, pût oublier fon païs & fes parens,
auec la gaieté qu'elle faifoit paroifire en fon vifage,
& en fes paroles.
Le fieur Giffard la traittant dans fa maladie, luy
dit: que c'efioit fait de fa vie, qu'elle auoit trois ma-
ladies mortelles: cette ame innocente, fe mit à rire,
fe monfirant auffi ioieufe de la nouuelle de la mort,
qu'vn autre eût fait de la nouuelle de la vie; nous ne
manquions pas de rapporter tout cela aux Sauuages,
qui prenoient [103] vn fingulier plaifir de l'aller voir,
elle les careffoit en foufriant, ce qui les touchoit fort.
La vertu a plus d'eloquence que l' Arifiote ou Ie
Cicerone
Quelqu'vn de nous luy demandant, certain iour, fi
elle n'auoit point de regret d'auoir paffé la mer, d'a-
uoir quitté vne maifon qui la pouuoit fecourir, & qui
auroit trouué des remedes propres pour la remettre
en fanté, fi la pauureté du païs, l'incommodité du
logement, l'abfence de tant de bonnes filles, Ie de-
faut de viures, propres pour vne perfonne malade,
ne luy caufoient point quelque trifieffe; cette petite
colombe Ie regardant d'vn æil qui faifoit voir la fin-
cerité de fon cæur, luy dit; Mon Pere fi i'efiois en
France, & qu' on me prefentafi toutes les grandeurs,
capables d'allecher vn cæur, ie les quitterois toutes,
pour venir en Canada, quand mefme ie ferois affeurée
d'y trouuer la maladie qui afflige mon corps; car i1
me femble que la refignation que ie refens dans mon
cæur, & la patience que i'ay dans vne maladie bien
longue & bien douloureufe, m' a efié donnée de Dieu,
en confideration du Canada, pour m' efire offerte à fa
[104] Maiefié, fans referue, prenant plaifir de luy
venir facrifier ma vie, au feruice des pauures Sau-

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told her that there was no hope for her life,- that
she had three mortal diseases; this innocent soul
began to laugh, showing herself as joyous at the
news of death, as another would have done at the
news of life. We did not fail to report all this to
the Savages, who took [103J rare pleasure in going
to see her; she caressed them, smiling, which moved
them exceedingly. Virtue has more eloquence than
Aristotle or Cicero.
One of us asked her, one day, if she had no
regret at having crossed the sea, at having left a
house that could relieve her, and that would have
found the proper remedies to restore her health; if
the poverty of this country, the inconvenience of the
dwelling, the absence of so many good sisters, the
lack of food suitable for a sick person, did not cause
her some sadness. This dear dove, looking at him
with an eye which revealed the sincerity of her heart,
said to him: "My Father, if I were in France, and I
should be offered all the honors capable of enticing
a heart, I would leave them all that I might come to
Canada, even if I were sure of finding here the dis-
ease that afflicts my body; for it seems to me that
the resignation I experience in my heart, and the
patience that I have in a very long and very painful
sickness, have been given me by God, for the sake
of Canada, to be offered by me to his [104J Majesty,
without reserve, taking pleasure in coming to sacri-
fice my life to him in the service of the poor Sav-
ages." If an Angel were capable of our desires, he
would wish for ability to speak and to suffer like this
maiden.
At last this beautiful soul was released from its
body, on the fifth of the month of March; she filled

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

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uages: fi vn Ange efioit capable de nos defirs, il fou-
haitteroit de pouuoir parler, & fouffrir comme cette
vlerge.
Enfin cette belle ame fe detacha de fon corps Ie
cinquiefme du mois de Mars, elle remplit fes pau-
ures fæurs de douleur, & nofire cæur de ioie; elle
laiffa vne douce odeur de fes vertus aux François &
aux Sauuages; efiant à l'agonie comme la fluxion la
fuffoquoit de temps en temps, puis luy donnoit quel-
que liberté de refpirer, elle efioit fi prefente en elle
mefme, qu' elle difoit par fois; ce dernier coup tarde
bien à venir: on luy demandoit de fois à autre, fi Ie
cæur efioit en paix, mais it ne falloit que regarder
fon vifage, pour voir la paix de fon ame: Enfin fen-
tant la mort prochaine, elle s'écria; c'efi à ce coup.
Adieu ma Mere, dit-elle, à fa Superieure, & Ie refpir
ceffa auec fa vie. Quelques habitans nous dirent
apres fa mort, qu'ils tenoient à faueur que cette
fainéte eût paffé la mer, pour venir laiffer vn fi facré
depofi en leur païs, & qu'ils [IOsJ croioient que par
fes merites, & par fes prieres, nofire Seigneur beni-
roit ces contrées: Si deux braues Filles auec leur
dot, pour n'efire point à charge, venoient prendre
la place de cette colombe, elles trouueroient en cor Ie
parfum de fes vertus. Nous fommes en trop petit
nombre, difent ces bonnes Meres, pour tous les tra-
uaux qu'il faut fubir en ce bout du monde, deux
ames genereufes pourroient icy cueillir des palmes
approchantes d'vn petit Martir; car les dangers de
l'Ocean, la prifon flottante au gré des tempefies, la
pauureté d'vn païs tout neuf, la rigueur des hiuers,
font les tirans, qui n'ofient par la ioïe des ames con-
fiantes; mais qui étoffent leurs guirlandes de lis, de
rofes, & de palmes.

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her poor sisters with grief, and our hearts with joy;
she left a sweet perfume of her virtues to the French
and to the Savages. Being in an agony as the par-
oxysm suffocated her from time to time, then gave
her some freedom of breath, she was so composed
that she said, at times, " This last stroke is indeed
long in coming." She was asked now and then if
ber heart were at peace; but one needed only to look
at her face to see the peace of her soul. At length,
feeling death near, she exclaimed: "This is the
stroke! Adieu, my Mother," said she to her Supe-
rior, and with that breath her life ended. Some of
the inhabitants told us, after her death, that they
looked upon it as a favor that this saint had crossed
the sea, to come and leave so sacred a deposit in their
country; and they [105J believed that. by her merits
and by her prayers, our Lord would bless these
regions. If two brave Sisters-with their dowry, so
as not to be a burden - would come to take the
place of this dove, they would still find the perfume
of her virtues. "We are too few in number," say
these good Mothers, " for all the burdens that must
be borne at this end of the world." Two generous
souls could here gather palms that would approach
to a minor Martyrdom: for the dangers of the Ocean,
the prison floating at the will of the tempests, the
poverty of a wholly new country, the rigor of the
winters, are tyrants which do not take away the joy
of steadfast souls; but which fill their garlands with
lilies, roses, and palms.

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[106J CHAPITRE VII.

DE LA RESIDENCE DE LA CONCEPTION, AUX TROIS
RIUIERES.

I E croy que la pauure Eglife des Trois Riuieres, a
efié pI us battuë cette année de toutes fortes de
vents, que les pilotes ou nautonniers n'en mar-
quent dedans leurs rofes, ou dedans leurs cartes ma-
rines: II s'efi fait là de temps en temps, vn ramas de
diuerfes Nations, qui a bien donné de I' exercice à
nos Peres: On y a veu des Sauuages de l'Ií1e de la
petite nation des AttiKamegues, des Montagnais, des

Kotoemis, des
natchataronons, & plufieurs autres,
dans la paix, dans la guerre, dans de petites jalou-
fies les vns enuers les autres; fi bien que les mau-
uais gafioient les bons, & les Demons réueilloient
Ies fuperfiitions, qu'on ne voit plus à Sainét Iofeph,
& qui fembloient efire éteintes aux Trois Riuieres:
Mais écoutons ce qu'en efcriuent Ie Pere Iacques
Buteux & [107J Ie Pere lean de Quen, dedans les let-
tres qu'ils ont enuoïées à nofire R. Pere Superieur, &
dedans les memoires qu'ils m'ont communiqués: Les
Chrefiiens de Sainét Iofeph qui font montés icy,
font tres-bien, Ie moins qu'il en pourra venir pour Ie
prefent, ce fera Ie meilleur pour eux: car les Sau-
uages venus nouuellement des terres de diuerfes con-
trées, n'aiant encor eu aucune infiruétion, refufcitent
Ies vieilles fuperítitions; ils font bruire les tambours,
dont il n'efioit quafi plus de memoire, ils réueillent

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259

[106] CHAPTER VII.

OF THE RESIDENCE OF LA CONCEPTION AT THE THREE
RIVERS.

I BELIEVE that the poor Church of the Three
Rivers has been beaten this year by more kinds
of winds than pilots and mariners have marked
on their wind roses or on their charts. There has
occurred there, from time to time, a gathering of
different Nations, who have indeed given exercise
to our Fathers. They have seen there Savages from
the Island, those of the petite nation, of the Attika-
megues, of the Montagnais, of the Oukotoemis,13 of
the Ounatchataronons, and many others,- in peace,
in war, and in little jealousies, one toward another;
so that the bad harmed the good, and the Demons
revived superstitions that are no longer seen at Saint
Joseph, and which seemed to be extinguished at the
Three Rivers. But let us listen to what Father
Jacques Buteux and [107] Father Jean de Quen write
of this in the letters which they have sent to our Rev-
erend Father Superior, and in the accounts they have
transmitted to me. "The Christians of Saint Joseph
who have come up here are doing very well. The
fewer of them that can come, for the present, the
better it will be for them; for the Savages recently
arrived from lands of divers countries, not having
yet had any instruction, resuscitate the old supersti-
tions; they make the drums rattle, of which there was
almost no longer remembrance; they revive the be-

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Ia creance aux fonges, que l'on ignoroit quafi du
tout: Ceux qui font venus des endroits plus voifins
des Hurons, ont apporté ie ne fçay queUe dance, ou
fuperftition diabolique, qui nous a donné bien de la
peine. L'orgueil eft icy en fon regne. & Ia famine
qui preffe ces pauures miferabIes, ne Ie fçauroit ab-
batre; Ia crainte qu'ils ont de leurs ennemis, lcs
empefche d'aller à la chaffe, pour conferuer leur vie:
ils ont tous Ies iours & toutes les nuiéts des vifions;
ils voient, difent-ils, des Hiroquois derriere leurs
bleds, ils en voient dans Ies bois, ils voient des canots
vogans, ils en voient à l'ancre, ils en [108] voient
qui Ies pourfuiuent; ils remarquent Ia pifte de leurs
ennemis fur Ie fable, ils reconnoiffent Ie lieu où ils
ont couché, Ies arbres où ils ont cueilly des fruiéts,
ils Ies entendent mefme crier dans Ie profond des
bois; ils donnent mille fauffes aUarmes à nos Fran-
çois: Et dans tout cela il n'y a qu'vne feule verité,
fçauoir eft, qu'vne vaine crainte de la mort engendre
tous ces phantofmes dans leur imagination, & les dé-
tourne de la vraye peur qu'ils deuroient auoir, d'offen-
fer Celuy qui feul peut affermir leur cæur. Fugz"t
z"mpz"us lzemÙze per feque1lte. Les reproches q u' on nous
faifoit jadis, recommencent icy; ces nouueaux hoftes
nous difent que les prieres les font mourir, que
d'eftre baptifé & voir bietoft la fin de fa vie, c'eft
vne mefme chofe; fi vn Chreftien eft malade, ou s'il
vient à mourir, c'eft Ie Baptefme qui luy ofte la vie:
on a beau leur dire qu'il en meurt beaucoup plus d'In-
fideles que de Croyans, Ie Diable prend fon temps, &
leur bande les yeux contre la verité connuë. Cét
hiuer paffé, tous les Sauuages qui font icy s'eftans
ioints enfemble, & renfermés comme dans vn fort,

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lief in dreams, that had been almost wholly forgotten.
Those who have come from places nearer to the Hu-
rons have brought I know not what dance or diabolic-
al superstition, which has given us much trouble.
Pride is reigning here, and the famine which is
pinching these poor wretches will not succeed in
bringing it down. The fear that they have of their
enemies, prevents their going to the hunt so that
their lives may be sustained. Every day and every
night they have visions; they see, so they say, the
Hiroquois behind their corn, they see them in the
woods; they see canoes floating, they see them lying
still; they [108J see those that pursue them; they
observe attentively the tracks of their enemies on the
sand; they identify the place where they have slept,
the trees from which they have gathered fruit, they
even hear them yelling in the depth of the forest,-
they give a thousand false alarms to our Frenchmen.
And in all this there is but a single truth-to wit,
that a vain fear of death engenders all these phan-
toms in their imagination, and turns them from the
true fear which they ought to have of offending Him
who alone can strengthen their hearts. Fugit impius
nemine persequente. The reproaches that were former-
ly made to us are being recommenced here: these
new visitors tell us that prayers cause them to die,
that to be baptized and to see very soon the end of
life are the same thing. If a Christian be sick, or if
he happen to die, it is Baptism which has deprived
him of life; it is in vain to tell them that many more
Unbelievers die than Believers,-the Devil takes his
opportunity, and blinds their eyes to the known truth.
This last winter, all the Savages who are here hav-
ing met together, and being shut up as in a fort, the

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les pauures Chreftiens fouffroient [109] l'infolence &
les mauuais exemples des Payens. Entre leurs
fuperftitions ils en commencerent vne, tirée des pais
plus hauts, qui deuoit durer trois nuiéts, pendant lef-
queUes les Sauuages vont courans par les cabanes,
auec des cris & des hurlemens de Demons: Ie plus
bel aéte de cette tragicomedie confifte en ce point, les
fiUes & les femmes vont dançant, & quelques hommes
menent Ie Iongleur ou Ie Sorcier par defíous les bras,
& Ie font marcher par defíus des charbons ardens
fans qu'il fe bruíle. Le Pere Buteux ayant eu fecret-
tement aduis par vn Chreftien, du temps que cette
farce diabolique fe deuoit ioüer pour la guerifon
d'vne femme malade; porté d'vn zele de la gloire de
noftre Seigneur, s'en alIa dans les cabanes fur les dix
heures du foir, accompagné du Pere Poncet, crie tant
qu'il peut contre ces infolences, aborde Ie Capitaine
des Sauuages de l'Iíle, qui feul pouuoit arrefter ces
defordres, comme en eftant Ie premier autheur &
promoteur: cét homme plus fraid natureUement que
la glace, s' échauffe, reproche au Pere que Ie Bap-
tefme & les prieres faifoient mourir les [110] Sau-
uages: Le Pere luy replique, que leurs pechés &
leurs fortileges eftoient la caufe de leur mort: A ce
bruit les Sauuages accourent de tous coftés, l'alIarme
fe met dans leur camp, les Chreftiens ne difent mot,
eftant en petit nombre, les Paiens crient à pleine
tefte, ie ferois trop long de raconter tout ce qui fe
pafía pour lors: Bref, ce Ca pi taine tranf porté de cho-
lere, jette des cendres bruílantes aux yeux du Pere,
& prend vne corde, comme s'il euft voulu Ie garot-
ter, Ie menaçant de Ie tuer: Le Pere tend Ie col tout
froidement, mais ce Barbare ne parra pas plus outre:

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poor Christians suffered [109J the insolence and the
evil example of the Pagans. Among their supersti-
tions they had begun one, brought from the upper
countries, which was to last three nights, during
which the Savages run through the cabins with the
shrieks and yells of Demons. The finest act of this
tragi-comedy consists in this point,-the girls and
women begin to dance, and some men take the Jug-
gler or Sorcerer under the arms, and make him walk
over the glowing coals without being burned. Fa-
ther Buteux,- having secretly had notice, from a
Christian, of the time when this diabolical farce was
to be played for the healing of a sick woman,-
prompted by zeal for the glory of our Lord, went to
the cabins about ten o'clock at night, accompanied by
Father Poncet; and, inveighing as strongly as he
could against these insolencies, accosted the Captain
of the Savages from the Island, who alone could
check these disorders, as being the chief author and
promoter of them. This man, naturally colder than
ice, became excited, and reproached the Father, say-
ing to him that Baptism and prayers made the [I 10J
Savages die; the Father replied to him that their
sins and sorceries were the cause of their death. At
this clamor, the Savages ran in haste from all sides,
and alarm was manifest in their camp; the Christians
said nothing, being few in number, but the Pagans
yelled at the top of their voices; I would be too diffuse
in relating all that took place then. In short, this
Captain, carried away with anger, threw burning
cinders at the eyes of the Father, and took a rope as
if he intended to strangle him, threatening to kill
him. The Father very coolly presented his neck,
but this Barbarian proceeded no further. At last,

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Enfin, quelques Sauuages prierent les Peres de fe
retirer, ce qu'iIs firent, & cette fuperfiition diabo-
lique fut arrefiée pour ce coup là.
Les François ayans appris l'affront qu'on auoit fait
au Pere à leur porte, s'alterent. Monfieur de Chan-
flour commandant aux Trois Riuieres, fait venir ce
Capitaine, pour tirer fatisfaétion, contre la priere
que Ie Pere luy faifoit, de ietter tout cela dans l'ou-
bly; comme ce Barbare efi fubtil & rufé, il trouua
fa deffaite, il auoüa bien qu'il auoit ietté des cendres
fur Ie [II I] Pere, & qu'il efioit tout prefi d'en rece-
uoir autant pour reparation de fa faute; mais pour Ie
cordeau que i'ay pris en main, faifoit-il, ce n'a iamais
efié ma penfée de lier Ie Pere, beaucoup moins de
l'êtrangler: mais comme il me reprochoit que ie fai-
fois mourir les Sauuages par mes forts, & que ie luy
reprochois dans ma cholere, qu'il les faifoit mourrir
par les prieres: i'ay pris vn licol pour luy monfirer,
que fi nous difions tous deux vray, que nous meri-
tions tous deux la mort; d'auoir attenté fur fa vie,
c'efi ce qui n'efi iamais entré dans ma penfée: la
catafirophe de cette tragedie fut, que ces beaux Me-
decins ne puren t iamais guerir leur malade; voila
vne partie des bourafques & des tempefies qui font
arriuées cette année en diuers temps, aux Trois
Riuieres: Ces épines n'ont pas empefché la naiffance
des rofes, prefentons en quelques vnes fur l'autel de
no fire Seigneur.
L'Eglife qui commence à naifire en cette ReÍÌ-
dence, efioit compofée de quatre-vingt Neophytes,
au mois de lanuier; ceux qui font capables d'in-
firuétion, viennent [112] tous les iours vne fois à la
Chapelle, pour entendre la fainéte Meffe; les medi-

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some Savages begged the Fathers to withdraw, which
they did; and this diabolical superstition was stopped
for that time."
The French, having learned of the affront that had
been made to the Father at their very door, were much
troubled. I\10nsieur de Chanflour, the commandant
at the Three Rivers,14 sent for this Captain in order
to obtain satisfaction, notwithstanding the entreaty
the Father made him to cast all this into oblivion.
As this Barbarian was subtle and crafty, he perceived
his defeat; he admitted, indeed, that he had thrown
cinders at the [I I I] Father, and that he was ready to
receive the same, in reparation for his fault: " But
as for the rope which I took in my hand," said he,
" it was never in my mind to bind the Father, much
less to strangle him. But, when he reproached me
with making the Savages die by my charms, and I,
in my anger, reproached him with making them die
by prayers, I took a noose, to show him that, if we
both spoke truly, we both merited death; to have
made an attempt upon his life, that is what never
entered my head." The catastrophe of this tragedy
was, that these fine Physicians were not at all able
to cure their patient. This is one specimen of the
squalls and tempests which have occurred this year
at divers times, at the Three Rivers. These thorns
have not prevented the upspringing of roses: let us
offer some of these upon the altar of our Lord.
" The Church which is beginning to grow in this
Residence was composed of eighty Neophytes, in the
month of January. Those who are capable of instruc-
tion come [112] once every day to the Chapel to
hear holy 1\lass; the slanders of their unbelieving
Countrymen have not been able thus far to hinder

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fances de leurs Compatriotes infidelles, ne les en ont
peu empefcher iufques à prefent, la rigueur du froid,
les neiges & les glaces, & l'éloignement de leurs
cabanes ny l'heure de la Meffe, qui eft au point du
iour, ne les retiennent point; ils frequentent fouuent
les Sacremens, c'eft ce qui les nourrit & qui les entre-
tient en la foy: bref ils fe comportent fort bien, &
feroient encor mieux, fi leurs yeux n'e[ft]oient point
bleffés par Ie mauuais exemple de leurs parens & de
leurs Compatriotes infidelles: I'ay fçeu que trente
deux Neophytes s'eftoient communiés à la fefte de
S. Pierre, & Sainét Paul, ce n' eft pas peu pour vne
Eglife qui ne fait que de naiftre, & qui ne fe nourrit
encor que de pain paiftri dans les larmes; mais def-
cendons plus en particulier.
Vn ieune Chreftien fe trouuant à plus de cent
lieües des Trois Riuieres, dans vne cabane de pay-
ens, introduifoit les prieres, & les prononçoit Ie pre-
mier & tous les autres refpondoient fi quelqu'vn tuoit
quelque caftor ou quelque autre animal, [113] il fe
iettoit à genoux fur la place, & en rendoit graces à
Dieu.
Vne femme extremement fuperbe, à efté tellement
changée par Ie baptefme, qu'elle eft deuenuë docile
comme vn petit agneau, elle a vne ardeur incroyable
de fe faire infiruire, fi elle paffe quelque temps fans
frequenter les Sacremens, elle reuient alterée de ces
eaux viues, comme Ie cerf pourfuiuy des chaffeurs;
vn ieune homme de fa famille eftant tombé malade,
la pria de faire venir l'vn de leurs Iongleurs, pour Ie
faire chanter & fouffler à leur mode, cette bonne
femme fe fafcha contre luy, i'aymerois mieux, luy
fit elle, te voir mourir, que Dieu fut iamais offencé;

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them from it, neither does the severity of the cold,
the snow, the ice, the distance of their cabins, or the
hour of :Mass, which is at daybreak, keep them away.
They often receive the Sacraments; it is this which
nurtures them and sustains them in the faith; in a
word, they conduct themselves very well, and would
do better still, if their eyes were not shocked by the
evil example of their relatives and unbelieving Coun-
trymen." I have been informed that thirty-two
Neophytes received communion on the feast of St.
Peter and Saint Paul; that is not a few for a Church
which has just been founded, and which is still nour-
ished only by bread mingled with tears: but let us
come down more to details.
A young Christian, being more than a hundred
leagues from the Three Rivers, and in a cabin of the
pagans, introduced prayers; he pronounced them
first, and all the others responded. If anyone killed
a beaver, or some other animal, [113] he knelt down
on the spot, and returned thanks to God.
An extremely proud woman was so changed by her
baptism, that she has become as docile as a little
lamb: she has an incredible eagerness to be instructed.
If she goes some time without receiving the Sacra-
ments, she comes back longing for these living
waters, like a deer pursued by hunters. A young
man of her family having fallen sick, begged her to
send fOT one of their Jugglers, that he might chant
and breathe upon him, after their fashion; this good
woman was angry at him. "I would rather," said
she to him, " see thee die, than that God be offended
through my instrumentality; have recourse to him
who made thee; these deceivers could not cure thee. "
She exhorts the new Christians to give a good

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[VOL. 20

par mon entremife aye recours à celuy qui t'a fait,
ces trompeurs ne te fçauroient guerir.
Elle exhorte les nouueaux Chrefiiens, à donner
bon exemple aux Fidelles, & Infidelles, afin que Ie
fainét Nom de Dieu ne foit point blafphemé
La crainte de Dieu & du peché, fe graue fenfible-
ment dans les cæurs de ces bons Neophytes, les
enfans mefme commencent à prendre Ie party de la
vertu, [114] fi leurs peres & meres par mefgarde, ou par
vne vieille habitude, laiffent fortir de leurs bouches
quelques paroles mefchantes, ces pauures petits leurs
difent qu'ils s'en doiuent confeffer, & qu'ils offencent
Dieu, qu'ils Ie chaffent de leurs cabanes, pour y faire
entrer Ie mefchant Manit
.
Les Dimanches & les Fefies ils affifient tous en-
femble à vne Meffe, qui fe dit expreffément pour
eux: car comme la Chappelle efi trop petite pour
tenir les François & les Sauuages, on les appel1e
feparement au diuin Seruice: Au commencement on
les fait prier tout haut, puis on leur fait vne petite
infiruétion en leur langue; en fuite on chante l' eau
benifie: Pendant l'éleuation on leur fait faire quel-
ques aétes de foy, d'efperance, & d'amour; & apres
Ie facré Office on leur fait chanter quelque Cantique
fpirituel, qui nourrit en leurs cæurs la deuotion.
Vne bonne-femme nouuellement baptifée, efiant
inuitée à vn fefiin, voiant qu'on parloit de tout man-
ger, fuiuãt leur ancienne fuperfiition, fe voulut reti-
rer, difant, qu'il n'efioit pas permis aux Chrefiiens
d'entrer aux banquets, où Dieu efioit offenfé: [I 15]
CelIe qui faifoit Ie fefiin luy dit; Les Peres ne vous
defendent pas d'affifier à ces fefiins, mais bien d'en
faire: Les Peres, refpondit-elle, defendent nos excés /

1640-41]

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9

example to Believers and Unbelievers, to the end that
the holy Name of God may not be blasphemed.
The fear of God and of sin is so perceptibly im-
pressed upon the hearts of these good Neophytes that
even the children begin to take the side of virtue:
[114] if their fathers and mothers, through inadver-
tence or through old habit, let any bad words escape
from their lips, these poor little ones tell them that
they ought to confess, and that they are offending
God and chasing him from their cabins, so as to let
- in the wicked Manitou.
On Sundays and Feast days they are all present
together at a Mass, which is said expressly for them:
for, as the Chapel is too small to hold the French
and the Savages, they are called separately to divine
Service. First, they are made to pray aloud, then
they are given a little instruction in their own lan-
guage; afterward, they chant the aspersion. During
the elevation of the host they are made to perform
some acts of faith, of hope, and of charity; and, after
the holy Office, they are made to sing some spiritual
Hymn, which fosters devotion in their hearts.
A worthy woman, recently baptized, having been
invited to a feast, and seeing that they talked of eat-
ing everything, according to their old superstition,
wished to decline, saying that Christians were not
permitted to partake of feasts by which God was
offended. [115] She who made the feast said to her:
"The Fathers do not forbid you to be present at
these feasts, but forbid you to make them." "The
Fathers, " replied she, " forbid us excess." "Very
well then," said she who had invited her; "commit
no excess; eat only what you please;" the good
creature agreed to this, protesting that she would

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

Hé bien donc, fit celle qui l'auoit conuiée, ne faites
aucun excés, ne mangés que ce qu'il vous plaira; la
bonne-femme s'y accorde, protefiant qu'elle ne vou-
loit contreuenir à aucune des loix de fon baptefme.
Vne ieune fille de la Nation d'Iroquet, ayant eu
quelque infiruétion ça bas pendant I' Automne, a
paffé l'hiuer aux Hurons, & voiant que dans la Bour-
gade où elle efioit, on vomiffoit mille blafphemes
contre Dieu, & contre nous; elle prit la caufe de
Dieu en main & nofire deffence, iamais on ne la put
empefcher de faire fes prieres, fes parens nous
difoient, qu'ils auoient apris à prier Dieu par fon
moyen.

lalgré toutes les attaques du Diable, les Infidelles
ne laiffent pas d'ouurir les yeux petit à petit; En
forte qu'ils s'adouciffent & s'apriuoifent, nous don-
nans de bonnes efperances de leur conuerfion. Vn
certain qui paroiffoit autãt opiniafire, que [116] les
autres, efiant pourfuiuy des Hiroquois, eut recours à
la priere; & comme on luy demanda ce qu'il difoit,
il recita Ie Pater & l'Aue, qu'il auoit apris en deux
iours d'vne pauure femme aueugle, infiruite &
baptifée à l'Hofpital.
Ce que ie vais dire des AttiKamegues, appartient
à cette Refidence, pource que les Peres qui font là,
les infiruifent; mais fort peu: car ils ne paroiffent
que comme des éc1airs: Les Sauuages de ce pais les
nomment AttiKamegues, du mot AttiKameg
, qui
fignifie vn certain poiffon blanc: Ie n'en ay point veu
en France de femblables, il efi d'vn fort bon goufi;
& peut-efire, que s'en trouuant quantité au pais de
ces bonnes gens, on leur a fait porter Ie nom de ce
poiffon. lIs demeurent dans les terres, au Nord des

1640-41]

RELA TION OF r64o-41

2i1

never act contrary to the obligations of her baptism.
A young girl of the Iroquet Nation having had
some instruction down there during the Autumn,
spent the winter among the Hurons; and, seeing
that in the Village where she was, a thousand blas-
phemies were spit forth against God, and against us,
she took up personally the cause of God, and our de-
fense. They were never able to prevent her saying
her prayers; her parents told us, that through her
means they had learned to pray to God.
In spite of all the attacks of the Devil, the Unbe-
lievers are, however, opening their eyes by degrees,-
so that they are becoming softened and tamed, giv-
ing us hopes of their conversion. A certain man
who appeared as obstinate as [116] the others, being
pursued by the Hiroquois, had recourse to prayer;
and when he was asked what he said, he repeated
the Pater and the Ave, which he had learned in a
few days from a poor blind woman who had been
instructed and baptized at the Hospital.
What I am going to say of the Attikamegues, con-
cerns this Residence, because the Fathers who are
here instruct them,- but very seldom, for they make
their appearance only like flashes of lightning. The
Savages of this country call them Attikamegues,
from the word" Attikamegou," which signifies a
certain white fish. I have not seen in France any
like this; it has a very good flavor; and perhaps it
was through finding abundance of it in the country
of these good people, that they were given the name
of the fish. They dwell in the lands to the North of
the Three Rivers; they have dealings with other
Nations still more distant from our settlements; they
come down by the river which we call in the Savage

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

Trois Riuieres, ils ont commerce auec d'autres Na-
tions, encor plus eíloignées de nos habitations; ils
defcendent par Ie fleuue que nous appellons en Sau-
uage, Metaber
tin, en François, les Trois Riuieres,
pour venir traffiquer au magazin de Meffieurs de la
Nouuelle France. Pendant Ie fejour qu'ils font là,
nos Peres qui font en la Refidence [117] de la Concep-
tion, aux Trois Riuieres, font vn autre trafic auec
eux: lIs leur promettent, au nom de Iefus-Chrifi,
vne Eternité de grandeur, pour vne obeïffance paffa-
gere. Ces bonnes gens auoient donné parole qu'ils
s'approcheroient plus prés de nous, pour efire in-
firuits; mais la crainte des Hiroquois, ennemis com-
muns de tous les Sauuages, qui ont commerce auec
les François, leur a fait quitter cette penfée: Si bien
qu'efians defcendus au Printemps aux Trois Riuieres,
voicy comme ils parlerent au Pere Iacques Buteux.
Nous te promifmes l'an paffé, dit leur Capitaine, que
nous viendrions demeurer à vne iournée de vofire
Habitation, tant pour apprendre Ie chemin du del,
que pour cultiuer la terre; nous nous fommes affem-
blés fur ce fujet en nofire païs, tout Ie monde
approuuoit ce deffein: mais l'orgueil des Hiroquois
nous en fait fufpendre l'execution; nous ne fommes
pas gens de guerre, nous manions mieux I' auiron
que l'efpée, nous aimons la paix, c'efi pourquoy
nous nous éloignons Ie plus que nous pouuons, des
occafions de combatre; fi on pouuoit dompter [118]
ces peuples, qui nous veulent maffacrer, nous ferions
bien-tofi auprés de vous, car nous auons vn grand
defir d'efire infiruits: En effet, ces bonnes gens font
plus fouuent chés nous, qu'au magazin où ils vont
acheter leurs denrées.

1640-41]

RELA TIO.J.V OF I64o-4I

273

tongue, "Metaberoutin," and in the French, " the
Three Rivers," 15 to trade at the warehouse of the
Gentlemen of New France. During the stay which
they make there, our Fathers who are at the Resi-
dence [117] of la Conception, at the Three Rivers,
carryon a different traffic with them,-they promise
them in the name of Jesus Christ an Eternity of
glory for an obedience of short duration. These
good people had promised that they would come
nearer to us, in order to be instructed; but the fear
of the Hiroquois, the common enemy of all the Sav-
ages, who have relations with the French, has made
them abandon this idea; so much so, that, having
come down to the Three Rivers this Spring, this is
what they said to Father Jacques Buteux: "We
promised thee last year," said their Captain, " that
we would come and dwell a day's journey from your
Settlement, as much in order to learn the way to
heaven as to cultivate the land. We had a meeting
concerning this subject in our country, and every
one approved of this design; but the boasts of the Hi-
roquois made us suspend its execution. We are not

en of war,- we handle the paddle better than the
javelin; we love peace; that is why we keep as far
as possible from occasions for fighting. If we could
overcome [I 18] these people who wish to massacre
us, we would very soon be near you, for we have a
great desire to be instructed." In fact, these good
people are more often with us than at the warehouse
where they buy their provisions.
After the speech of this Captain, one of his people
came to the Father in private, in order to be more
fully instructed. The Father having explained to
him at various times a good part of our belief, this

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[VOL. 20

Apres Ie difcours de ce Capitaine, l'vn de fes gens
vint trouuer Ie Pere en particulier, pour fe faire plus
pleinement inftruire: Le Pere luyayant expliqué à
diuerfes fois vne bonne partie de noftre creance: ce
bon-homme Ie pria à fon depart, de luy donner vn
chappellet, & vne Image, deuant laquelle il pût faire
fes prieres: De plus, illuy demanda vn papier où les
prieres qu'il deuoit faire, fuffent efcrites: Le Pere
voiant la naïfueté de ce bon-homme, luy accorda
tout ce qu'il demandoit; en cor bien qu'il n'ignoraft
pas, que ce pauure Sauuage ne fçauoit pas lire:
mais affés fouuent ils prennent leurs papiers, &
les prefentent à Dieu, & luy difent: I'ay enuie de
te dire tout ce qui eft là dedans, fi ie Ie fçauois, ie
te Ie dirois tout au long. A quelques mois de là,
ce bon-homme eftant de retour, vint voir Ie Pere,
luy prefente l'image qu'il luy auoit donnée: [119]
Elle n'eft pas fi blanche, dit-il, que lors que ie la
receu de ta main, c.eft la fumée de la cabane, qui l'a
noircie, ie la tirois tous les iours de mon fac, ie I' at-
tachois à ma cabane, & ma femme & moy, & toute
ma famille, nous nous mettions à genoux pour faire
nos prieres foir & matin. Ie difois fouuent à ma
femme, Ie fuis bien fâché de ce que ie ne fçay pas
tout ce qu'il faut dire, à noftre Pere qui a fait Ie ciel
& la terre: Ie n'ay point d'efprit, tu me ferois grand
plaifir, difoit-il au Pere Buteux, fi tu me donnois Ie
moyen d'en auoir, & fi tu m'enfeignois la façon de
bien retenir toutes les prieres qu'il faut faire à Dieu,
prens courage, enfeigne moy tous les iours pendant
que ie feray auprés de vous; ne me parle point d'au-
tre chofe que de mon falut; c' eft cela que ie veux
fçauoir, ce feu qui eft là bas, eft bien à craindre,

1640-41]

RELA TION OF I640-41

2ï5

worthy man at departing begged that he would give
him a chaplet and an Image, before which he could
say his prayers; besides, he asked for a paper on
which the prayers, that he ought to say, should be
written. The Father, seeing the simplicity of this
honest man, granted him all that he requested,
although he knew well that this poor Savage could
not read; but, not unfrequently, they take their
papers, offer them to God, and say to him: "I have
a desire to tell thee all that is here within; if I knew
how, I would say it to thee at full length. " Some
months afterward, this good man, having returned,
came to see the Father and showed the image that
had been given him. [119] ,. It is not as white,"
said he, 'I as when I received it from thy hand, it is
the smoke of the cabin that has blackened it. I took
it out of my pouch every day, and hung it up in my
cabin; and my wife, and I, and all my family, knelt
down to say our prayers night and morning. I
often said to my wife: 'I am very sorry that I do
not know all that ought to be said to our Father who
has made heaven and earth.' I have no understand-
ing; thou wouldst do me a great favor," said he to
Father Buteux, " if thou wouldst give me the means
of having some, and if thou wouldst teach me the
way to remember rightly all the prayers I must offer
to God. Take courage! teach me every day while I
am with you; do not speak to me about anything
but my salvation,-that is what I wish to know.
The fire that is below is much to be feared; I hope I
shall not go there, for He who is good will help me
to believe in him." Having said this, he drew forth
his paper: "Now then, my Father," said he, "see
if I have remembered well the prayers which thou

276

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[VOL. 20

i'efpere que ie n'iray pas, car Celuy qui eft bon,
m'aidera à croire en luy. Ayant dit cela, i1 tire fon
papier: Or ça mon Pere, fit-iI, regarde fi i'ay bien
retenu les prieres que tu m' as enfeignées, & que ie
t'ay fait efcrire en ce papier; regarde-Ie, & m'ef-
coute, pour voir fi ie n'ay rien oublié. Le Pere [120J
fut bien en peine, car il n'auoit mis que les lettres
initiales de plufieurs prieres, & de plufieurs ades de
vertus, qu'illuy auoit enfeignés, dont il ne fe fouue-
noit plus. 11 s'auifa de cette defaite; Mais plutoft,
commence toy Ie premier, luy dit-il, dy tout haut ce
que ie t'ay enfeigné, pour voir fi tu n'as rien changé:
Ce bon Sauuage fe mit à reciter, non feulement ce
qui eftoit marqué en fon papier. mais tout ce qu'on
luy auoit enfeigné, auec vne telle fidelité que Ie Pere
en refta tout réjoüy, & tout eftonné. 11 faut que ie
confeffe, adjoufte Ie Pere, que iamais Sauuage ne
m'a plus touché que celui-cy, foit pour la candeur &
la fimplicité auec laquelle il agiffoit, foit pour les
fentimês de deuotion qu'il faifoit paroiftre foit pour
l'attêtion qu'il apportoit à ma parole, & pour l'auidité
qu'il auoit de fçauoir Ia dodrine de falut: Si toft
que ie luy parlay du Baptefme, iI me Ie demanda auec
vne tres-grande ardeur: N e crains point, me faifoit-
iI, ie ne retourneray point en arriere, ie croy tout de
bon, mon Pere m'aidera à luy obeÏr: Ie Ie voulus
éprouuer deuant fes gens, dit Ie Pere; il fe monftra
toufiours ferme & conftant; fi [121J bien que ie Iuy
auois donné iour pour fon baptefme: mais arriuant
là-deffus vne alarme des Hiroquois, ces gens s'enfui-
rent incontinent dans les terres, & Iuy auec eux,
redoutant ces guerriers, plus que les Demons.
Les Neophytes nouuellement baptifés, aident

1640-41]

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277

didst teach me, and which I had thee write on this
paper: look at it, and listen to me, so as to see if I
have forgotten anything." The Father [120] was
quite at a loss; for he had put only the initia11etters
of several prayers and of several acts of virtue which
he had taught him, but which he no longer remem-
bered. He bethought himself of this evasion: " But
rather," said he to him, "begin first thyself; sa y
aloud what I have taught thee, that I may see if thou
hast changed anything." This good Savage began
to recite not only what was marked on his paper, but
all that he had been taught, with such fidelity, that
the Father remained much delighted, and greatly
astonished at him. "I must confess," adds the
Father, "that no Savage has ever touched me more
than this one, not only by the candor and simplicity
with which he acted, and the feeling of devotion
which he manifested, but by the attention that he
gave to my words, and the eagerness that he had to
know the doctrine of salvation. As soon as I spoke
to him of Baptism, he asked for it with the greatest
ardor. 'Do not fear,' said he to me, 'I shall not
turn back; I earnestly believe, and my Father will
aid me to obey him.' I wished to test him before
his people," says the Father; "he always proved
himself to be firm and steadfast,-so [12 I] that I had
appointed a day for his baptism; but an alarm about
the Hiroquois coming on that very day, these people
fled immediately into the country, and he with them,
fearing those warriors more than Demons."
The newly-baptized Neophytes greatly help their
Countrymen; one of those who had retired to Sillery,
being at the Three Rivers during the stay of these
Attikamegues, who are of his kindred, said to one of

278

LES RELA TIONS DES ./ÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

grandement leurs Compatriotes, l'vn de ceux qui fe
retirent à Sillery, efiant aux Trois Riuieres pendant
Ie fejour de ces AttiKamegues, qui Iuy font parens,
difoit à quelqu'vn d' eux, qui fe faifoit infiruire:
N ous ferons bientofi parens tout de bon, mes vrais
parens font ceux qui croient en Dieu, & qui font bap-
tifés; car ie feray eternellement auec eux. N ous
n'auons qu'vn Pere, qui efi Dieu, puis que tu Ie veux
connoifire, tu feras bien-tofi de mes parens. La
parenté que nous auons felon la chair, n'efi pas
grand' chofe, il faut que tu fois baptifé, pour efire
mon vray parent. La chair ne connoifi point ce lan-
gage, i1 ne fe parle point en terre, i1 vient du ciel.

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them who was being instructed: "We shall be very
soon relatives indeed; my true relatives are those who
believe in God, and who are baptized, for I shall be
eternally with them. We have only one Father,
who is God; since thou desirest to know him, thou
wilt very soon be among my relations. The kin-
ship that we have according to the flesh, is a trifling
matter; thou must be baptized, to be my true rela-
tive. " Flesh does not know this language; it is not
spoken on earth, it comes from heaven.

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[122] CHAPITRE VIII.

DE QUELQUES BAPTESMES EN LA RESIDENCE DE LA
CONCEPTION AUX TROIS RIUIERES.

I L fe trouue vn certain Apofiat dans Ie difiriét de
cette Refidence, nommé des fies
mafatik
eie,
c'eft à dire Ie crapaut, ce mefchant homme a
plus de venin en fon cæur, & en fa langue, que
cette vilaine befie n'en a en toutes les parties de fon
corps; il a efié baptifé dans vne grande maladie,
efiant guery it n'a pas imité ceux qui ont publique-
ment confeffé dans leur fanté la foy, qu'ils auoient
receuë dans leur maladie, il s'efi dec1aré publique-
ment ennemy de Dieu & du Chrifiianifme, faifant
tous fes efforts pour diuertir ceux qui Ie voudroient
embraffer: II a voulu empefcher qu'vn certain nom-
mé Piefcars, dont ie veux parler, homme affés con-
neu des fiens, ne receût Ie fainét Baptefme; mais Ie
Diable a efié vaincu dans l'vn de [123J fes plus grands
fuppots & Dieu a triomphé dans vne ame qui s'efi
renduë fidele; ce bon Neophyte a efié nommé Simon
par Monfieur de Chanflour commandant au fort des
Trois Riuieres, comme il vit que les Infidelles, &
notamment ce miferable Apofiat, Ie piquotoient fur
Ie deffein qu'il auoit de fe faire baptifer; il voulut
rendre fon baptefme Ie plus folemnel qu'il luy fut
poffible, protefiant par cette aétion toute publique,
qu'il ne vouloit point croire en cachette comme Nico-
deme propter metum /udæoru11l; mais qu'il vouloit fans

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[122] CHAPTER VIII.

OF SOME BAPTISMS AT THE RESIDENCE OF LA CONCEP-
TION AT THE THREE RIVERS.

T HERE is a certain Apostate in the district of
this Residence, called by his own people Ou-
masatikweie, that is to say, " the toad: JJ 16 this
wicked man has more venom in his heart and in his
tongue than that unsightly creature has in its whole
body. He was baptized during a severe sickness;
having recovered, he did not imitate those who open-
ly confessed in health the faith which they had
received in their sickness,- he has publicly declared
himself the enemy of God and of Christianity, using
his utmost efforts to dissuade those who would be
inclined to embrace it. He wished to prevent a cer-
tain man named Piescars, of whom I shall speak, a
man somewhat noted among his people, from receiv-
ing holy Baptism; but the Devil has been overcome
in one of [123] his most powerful instruments, and
God has triumphed in a soul which has borne faith-
ful witness; this good Neophyte was named Simon
by Monsieur de Chanflour, the commandant of the
fort at the Three Rivers. "\Vhen he saw that the
Unbelievers, and especially this wretched Apostate,
tormented him about the plan he had for being bap-
tized, he desired to make his baptism as solemn as
was possible,- protesting by this very public act
that he did not wish to believe in secret like Nicode-
mus, propter metum Judæorum, but that he wished

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crainte ef1euer 1'étendart de la Croix, par tout où i1 fe
trouueroit: quelque temps deuant fon baptefme, it
affembla les principaux Sauuages, & leur dit: I'ay
pris refolution d'efire Chrefiien, ie ne fuis pas vn
enfant, ie fçay bien ce que ie fay, ie ne doute pas
que plufieurs n'improuuent mon deffein, mais la
doétrine qu'on m'a enfeignée, me femble fi belle &
fi veritable, que quand bien tout Ie monde l'a rebute-
roit, ie l'embrafferois de tout mon cæur, deuff'ay-ie
efire feul dans mes refolutions. V oiant que quel-
ques-vns baiffoient la tefie, pour marque que ces
[124J paroles auoient bleffé leurs oreilles, Ie lende-
main il recharge de nouueau, il fort en public, s'en
va faire vn grand cry à l' entour des cabanes felon la
coufiume du pais; les Capitaines & les principaux
Sauuages, voulans annoncer quelque chofe publique-
ment, n'ont point d'autres trompettes que leurs voix,
qu'ils font retentir dans leurs Bourgades, ou dans les
lieux où ils raffemblent leurs cabanes. Celui-cy s'en
alIa crier à pleine tefie: hommes, écoutés ma parole;
auffi-tofi chacun fe taifi dans les cabanes, & pour
marque qu' on écoute, quelques vns répondent: ho
ho! i'ay defia dit à quelques-vns, que ie croiois en
Dieu, que ie voulois efire baptifé, ie Ie dy publique-
met, ie ne fais rien en cachette, la chofe efiant de
foy bonne & fainéte, il ne la faut point cacher: l'im-
prouue qui voudra, la conc1ufion en efi prife, ie feray
demain baptifé; ayant dit cela il rentre dans fa
cabane, & l' Apofiat fort de la fienne vomiffant de fa
bouche du poifon, dont il s'efforça d'empefier tous fes
Compatriotes; ie voy bien, s'écria-t'il, que celuy qui
viët de haranguer, fe veut laiffer tromper par les
François, [12 5J qu'il foit trompé, à la bonne heure,

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fearlessly to raise the standard of the Cross wherever
he might happen to be. Some time before his bap-
tism he called together the chief Savages, and said
to them: ., I have resolved to be a Christian; I am
no child,- I know well what I am doing. I do not
doubt that many will disapprove of my intèntion:
but the doctrine which has been taught me seems to
me so beautiful and so true, that, although the whole
world should spurn it, I would em brace it with all
my heart, even should I be alone in my resolve. "
Seeing that some of them bent down their heads, as
a sign that these [124J words had shocked their ears,
the next day he made a second charge upon them;
he went out in open view, and began shouting aloud
among the cabins, according to the custom of the
country. When the Captains and chief Savages wish
to announce anything publicly, they have no other
trum pets than their voices, which they make resound
through their Villages, or in the places where they
have gathered their cabins. This man went about,
shouting at the top of his voice: "Men, listen to my
words! " Immediately everyone was silent in the
cabins. and, as a sign that they were listening, some
responded" Ho, ho! n "I have already told some
of you that I believed in God, and that I wished to
be baptized: I now say it publicly. I am doing noth-
ing secretly,-the matter being of itself good and
holy, it is not necessary to conceal it. Let whoever
will disapprove, my decision is made, I shall be bap-
tized to-morrow." Having said this he reëntered
his cabin; and the Apostate came out from his, vomit-
ing from his mouth poison, with which he endeav-
ored to infect all his Countrymen. "I see indeed,"
he exclaimed, "that he who has just spoken is willing

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puis qu'i1le veut efire: mais il fera feul de fa bande,
ear perfonne n'a enuie de Ie fuiure: c'efi quelque
vain efpoir qui Ie pouffe, dont nous ne faifons point
d'eftat, on m'a baptifé lors que i'efiois malade à la
mort, fi tofi que l'efprit m'efi reuenu, i'ay defauoüé
tout ce que i'auois dit pour lors. Nofire Catechu-
mene entendant ce difcours, s'anime dauantage, il va
trouuer Ie Pere Buteux, luy raconte tout ce qui
s'efioit paffé: Allons, luy dit-il, à la Chappelle, ie
veux faire vn autre cry public contre l'impudence de
cét Apofiat: mais deuant que l'entreprendre, ie veux
recommander l'affaire à nofire Seigneur, ayant fait
fa priere, il s'en va vers les cabanes, éleue fa voix,
crie auec vn zele de feu: Ie vous ay defia dit plu-
fieu[rJs fois, que ie voulois efire baptifé, ie perfeuere
dans ma refolution; fi quelqu'vn a quelque chofe à
dire contre moy, qu'il fe hafie; car c'efi demain que
ie Ie dois efire: Ie Ie deuois efire auiourd'huy, mais
pource que la ieuneffe efi abfente, i'attens fon re-
tour, afin qu'elle apprenne par mon exemple, à ne
point redouter les langues médifantes, [126J quand i1
s'agit d'vne fi fainéte aétion.
Le lendemain il fe vint prefenter au fainét Bap-
tefme, deuant que de Ie receuoir il tint ce difcours à
ceux qui efioient prefens: Efcoutés ieuneffe, peut-
efire que quand vous me voiés à la porte de cette
Eglife, vous dites dans vos cæurs; voila qui va bien,
PiefKars va efire amy des François, i1 nous fera fauo-
rabIe, il ne manquera pas de belles robes, il aura des
viures en abondance, voila peut-efire vos penfées;
mais vous vous abufés, fçachés que PiefKars ne fe fait
pas Chrefiien pour aucune confideration humaine,
e'efi pour éuiter les feux de l'autre vie, c'efi pour

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285

to let himself be deceived by the French. [125]
Well and good; let him be deceived, since he wishes
to be, but he will be the only one of his company,
for no one desires to follow him; some vain hope
urges him, for which we care nothing. They bap-
tized me when I was sick unto death; as soon as my
mind returned to me, I disavowed all that I had then
said." Our Catechumen hearing this speech, became
the more aroused; he went to Father Buteux, and
related to him all that had taken place. "Let us go
to the Chapel," he said to him, ., I mean to make
another public denunciation of this Apostate's inso-
lence; but before undertaking it, I wish to commend
the matter to our Lord." Having offered his prayer,
he wen t toward the cabins, raised his voice, and cried
with fiery zeal: " I have already told you many times
that I intended to be baptized, I persevere in my
resolution. Whoever has anything to say against
me, let him hasten, for it is to-morrow that I shall
be baptized; I was to be to-day, but, as the young
men are absent, I am awaiting their return, so that
they may learn by my example not to fear slander-
ous tongues, [126] when so holy an act is in ques-
tion. "
The next day, he came to present himself for holy
Baptism, before receiving which, he made this ad-
dress to those who were present: "Listen, young
men! Perhaps, while you see me at the door of this
Church, you are saying in your hearts, , Here is one
who is doing well; Pieskars is going to be a friend
of the Frenchmen. He will be favorable to us, he
will not lack beautiful robes, he will have provisions
in abundance.' These perhaps are your thoughts;
but you are mistaken. Know that Pieskars does not

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LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

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efire parent de Dieu, & pour aller vn iour au ciel;
voila les deffeins de PieíKars: A yant dit cela, i1 íe
jette aux pieds du Pere, demandant Ie íainét Bap-
teíme, qui luy fut accordé auec la ioye de tous ceux
qui aitnent Ie íalut de ces peuples. Depuis íon Bap-
teíme i1 a veícu dans l'exercice du Chrifiianifme,
marchant la tefie leuée, coníolant les Chrefiiens, &
confondant les Infideles par fon exemple: Cét homme
efi de I IOe; En voicy vn autre de la petite Nation
des Algonquins, moins contrarié [127J des hommes,
mais peut-efire plus fortement attaqué des Demons.
Efiant encore Catechumene, Ie Pere Buteux luy
dit, qu'il ne faUoit iamais plus Inanier fon tambour:
car i1 efioit du mefiier des Iongleurs, ou des Charla-
tans du païs, que quelques-vns appellent Sorciers; ce
bon-homme prit refolution d'obeïr: mais il voulut
faire vn traiét de gentilleffe à la fepulture de fon tam-
bour; il pria done Ie Pere de Ie venir voir Ie iour fui-
uant, Ie Pere approchant de fa cabane, ce Charlatan
prend fon tambour, & s'anime à la façon des Ion-
gleurs, i1 Ie fait fi fortement retentir, que Ie Pere
l'ayant entendu de bien loin, s'arrefie tout court: Vn
Sauuage apofié par nofire Catechumene, l' aborde
íans faire íemblant de rien, Ie Pere luy demande qui
efioit celuy qui faiíoit ioüer ce tambour: c'efi dit-il,
vn nommé
abirini
ich qui fouffie & qui chante quel-
que malade: Le Pere entendant nommer fon Cate-
chumene, s' en va tout indigné, s'imaginant que cét
homme luy auoit donné de belles paroles: Le Sau-
uage l'inuite d'entrer, mais Ie Pere ne Ie voulut point
écouter. Le pauure Catechumene voyant [128J cela,
prend fon tambour, Ie met en pieces, & Ie jette à íes
chi ens : Ie voulois, dit-il, recréer Ie Pere, & Ie faire

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become a Christian for any human consideration,-
it is to avoid the flames of the other life; it is to be
the child of God, and to go some day to heaven: this
is the purpose of Pieskars." Having said this, he
threw himself at the feet of the Father, asking for
holy Baptism, which was granted him, to the joy of
all those who delight in the salvation of these peo-
ples. Since his Baptism, he has lived in the practice
of Christianity,- going about boldly, consoling the
Christians, and confounding the Unbelievers by his
- example. This man is from the Island. The other
one of whom I shall speak is of the petite Nation of
the Algonquins,-less thwarted [127J by men, but
perhaps more violently attacked by Demons.
While he was still a Catechumen. Father Buteux
told him he must no longer beat his drum,-for his
trade was that of the Jugglers, or Charlatans of the
country, whom some call Sorcerers. This good man
resolved to obey him, but he intended to playa wit-
ty little trick at the burial of his drum, so he begged
the Father to come and see him the following day.
As the Father was approaching the cabin, this Char-
latan took his drum, and exciting himself after the
manner of the Jugglers, he made it resound so loudly
that the Father, hearing it far away, stopped sud-
denly. A Savage, set to watch by our Catechumen,
accosted him, without seeming to notice anything
unusual; the Father asked who was beating the
drum. "It is," said he, " one named \Vabiriniwich,
who is breathing upon some sick person, and sing-
ing to him." The Father, hearing him name his
Catechumen, turned away thoroughly indignant,
imagining that this man had deceived him. The
Savage invited him to enter, but the Father would

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LES RELATIONS DES JÉSUITES

[V OL. 20

ípeétateur de 1'eftat que ie fais de mon tambour,
Ie donnant aux chiens en ía preíence: mais puis
qu'il n'a pas voulu entrer, il ne laiffera pas d'eftre
jetté dans vn oubly eternel. Le Pere ayant appris
1'hiftoire, fut bien aife d'auoir efté íainétement trompé
par ce bon Neophyte, qui fut nommé Paul en íon
bapteíme.
Si toft qu'il fut Chreftien, il inuita les principaux
Sauuages à vn banquet, pour leur rendre raiíon de ce
qui l' auoit meu à rechercher fi ardemment Ie bap-
tefme, la vie que nous menons ça bas, eft courte; on
nous eníeigne qu'il yen a vne autre remplie de biens
eternels, qu'on ne peut obtenir, qu'on ne foit laué
dans les eaux du baptefme, il faut donc que ces eaux
íoient de grande importance; on nous dit que ceux
qui les mefprifent, ne doiuent attendre qu'vn feu
eternel, fi cela eft, comme ie croy qu'il eft, car nos
ames eftans immortelles, doiuent eftre recompenfées
felon leurs æuures, il me femble que i'ay eu raifon,
de rechercher les [129] moyens d'entrer dans ces
biens, & d'euiter ces grands maux; ne penfés point
que l'intereft temporel me touche, ou que ie faffe
eftat de la parenté & de l' alliance des François, ma
penfée va plus loing que tout cela.
Au refte i'ay refolu de quitter pour iamais nos
anciennes façons de faire; ie n'ay plus de voix pour
les chants fuperftitieux, mon tambour n'a plus de
fon, & ma bouche n'a plus de fouffie, pour tromper
les malades; car toutes ces niaiferies ne leur fçau-
roient rendre la fanté, ie veux obeïr à Dieu, & tout ce
qu'il defend, me fera interdit pour toufiours.
Le Capitaine de rIfle, qui ne frappe que de tra-
uers, & à coups fourrés, voulant raualer cette fainéte

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289

not listen to him. The poor Catechumen, seeing
[128J that, took h
s drum, broke it into pieces, and
threw it to his dogs. "I wished," said he, "to
entertain the Father, and make him an eyewitness
of the value that I set upon my drum, by giving it
to the dogs in his presence; but, although he would
not enter, it shall nevertheless be cast into eternal
oblivion." When the Father heard this story, he
was really pleased at having been piously deceived
by this good Neophyte, who was named Paul at his
baptism.
As soon as he became a Christian, he invited the
chief Savages to a feast, in order to give them an
account of the motives that had induced him to seek
baptism so earnestly: "The life that we lead here
below is short; we are taught that there is another,
filled with eternal blessings, which cannot be ob-
tained unless we be washed in the water of baptism;
this water then must be of great importance,-we
are told that those who despise it must expect only
an eternal fire. If this be true, as I believe it to
be,- for our souls, being immortal, ought to be
rewarded according to their works,- it seems to me
that I have been right to search out the [129J way
of entering into these blessings, and of avoiding
those great evils. Do not think that temporal inter-
est moves me, or that I value highly the connection
and the alliance with the French, my thought goes
much farther than that.
" Besides, I have resolved to abandon forever our
old customs; I no longer have any voice for the
superstitious chants, my drum no longer has any
sound, and my mouth no longer has any breath to
deceive the sick; for all these follies cannot restore

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(VOL. 20

aétion, & monfirer qu'il n'appartenoit qu'aux vieilles
femmes & aux enfans, de fe faire baptifer, s'écria
par les cabanes: Allés bonnes vieilles, allés, & vous
petits enfans, qui n'aués pas Ie moyen de trouuer à
manger, allés vous en trouuer les Robes noires, &
vous faites baptifer, afin que vous ne mouriés pas de
faim; que ceux qui vous reffemblent, vous imitent.
Le Pere de [130] Quen voyant que ce cry fe faifoit
au mefpris de la foy, & pour éloigner les Sauuages
du Baptefme, rendit Ie change à ce miferable borgne;
car allant Ie lendemain appeller les Chrefiiens pour
venir à la Meffe, adjoufia ces paroles d'vne voix
haute: Hommes & femmes, qui n'efies pas baptifés,
allés trouuer Tef
ehat, c' efi Ie no
de ce borgne,
il vous donnera tous à manger c' efi luy qui tue
les cafiors & qui fçait bien attraper l'orignac; Cét
homme fuperbe au dernier point fe croyant offenfé,
s'en vint tout fumant de cholere, trouuer Ie fieur
Nicolet & Ie Pere Buteux fe plaignant de I' affront
qu'on luy auoit fait; mais on luy demanda fi quand
il renuoyoit les vieilles femmes & les enfans aux
Peres pour fe faire baptifer, afin d'auoir à manger,
s'il pretendoit mefprifer les prieres & Ie Baptefme:
II dit, que non; On luy repart, que Ie Pere de Quen
ne pretendoit pas auffi de l' offenfer, luy adreffant les
hommes & les femmes pour les fecourir, veu mefme
qu'il eítoit Capitaine: ce bon homme voyant bien
qu'il perdroit fon procés s'il paffoit outre, aima mieux
fe taire, que de plaider dauantage.
[13 1 ] Pour reuenir à nofire Neophyte, il a fait bap-
tifer toute fa famille; fa femme efiant bien infiruite,
fe vint prefenter au Baptefme, trois iours apres fa

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291

their health. I intend to obey God, and all that he
forbids shall be interdicted to me forever."
The Captain of the Island, who strikes only unfair-
ly, and with underhand thrusts, wishing to disparage
this holy action, and to show that it belonged only
to old women and children to be baptized, cried out
among the cabins: "Go, good old women, go; and
you, little children, who have no way of finding food,
go to the black Robes and be baptized, so that you
may not die from hunger; let those who resemble you,
imitate you." Father de [130 J Quen, seeing that
this outcry was made in contempt of the faith, and
to alienate the Savages from Baptism, paid off this
wretched one-eyed man in his own coin; for, on
going the next day to summon the Christians to Mass,
he added these words in a loud voice: ":Men and
women who are not baptized, go to Teswehat"-
that is the name of the one-eyed man; 17 - " he will
give you all food; it is he who kills beavers, and
knows well how to catch the moose." This man,
proud to the last degree, believing himself insulted,
went raging with anger to sieur Nicolet and to
Father Buteux, and complained of the affront that
he had received; but he was asked if, when he had
sent away the old women and children to the Fathers
to be baptized in order that they might have food,
he intended to set at naught prayers and Baptism;
he said, " No, indeed." They replied to him that
neither did Father de Quen purpose to offend him in
sending the men and women to him to be helped,
inasmuch as he was their Captain. This clever man,
seeing well that he should lose his case if he went
on, preferred silence to further argument.
[131J To return to our Neophyte. He had his

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couche, fans que la longueur du chemin, ny que
la rigueur du froid, l'en pufi empefcher. Si toft
que fon fils fut né, fon pere vint preffer pour fon
baptefme; ce pauure petit eftant malade, tous les
Chreftiens mirent leurs chappelets fur fon berceau,
efperant que Dieu luy rendroit la fanté par cette
deuotion; il fe porte bien à prefent, Dieu mercy.
Tous les iours on prie Dieu dans fa famille, foir &
matin, chacun fe mettant à genoux; ils frequentent
les Sacremens auec vne candeur admirable; ils obe-
ïffent aux loix de Dieu & de fon Eglife auec fidelité.
On preffoit certain iour, ce bon Neophyte, de faire
acheuer fes raquetes vn iour de fefte, la neige eftant
tres-propre pour la chaffe; il ne voulut iamais qu'on
y trauaillaft: Ie ne fuis pas, dit-il, Chreftien à demy,
il faut obeïr à tout ce qu'on nous commande.
S'en allant à la chaffe d'Eflan dans les bois, i1
demandoit auec inftance; fi quelqu'vn [132] de ceux
qui Ie pourroient inftruire & entretenir en deuotion,
ne Ie voudroit pas bien accompagner; & Simon Pief-
Kars preffoit qu'on l'inftruifift pleinement de tout ce
qu'il falloit faire, quand on eftoit éloigné de l'Eglife,
fentant vn regret de s'en abfenter, quoy que pour vn
peu de temps.
Vn certain Paien difoit vn iour, qu.il fe feroit
volontiers baptifer, fi apres eftre purifié dans les
eaux du Baptefme, on l'affuroit, qu'il iroit au ciel:
Mais vous me dites, faifoit-il, qu' on peut efire dam-
né, quoy qu'on foit baptifé; & que la recheute au
peché nous precipite dans les Enfers: Qui doute que
nous ne retombions dans nos offenfes par la violence
de nos vieilles habitudes, qui nous entrainent: II eft

1640-41]

RELA TION OF IÓ40-4I

293'

whole family baptized; his wife, having been well
instructed, came to present herself for Baptism three
days after her confinement,-neither the length of
the way, nor the severity of the cold could prevent
her coming. As soon as her son was born, his father
came to urge his baptism; the poor little fellow being
sick, all the Christians put their chaplets on his bed,
hoping that God would restore his health for the
sake of this devotion; he is very well at present,
thank God.
Prayer is offered to God in his family every day,
night and morning, each one kneeling down; they
frequent the Sacraments with an admirable sincer-
ity: they obey with fidelity the laws of God and of
his Church. One day this good Neophyte was urged
to have his snowshoes finished on a feast day, the
snow being in a good condition for hunting; he was
never willing that anyone should work on those
days. "I am not a halfway Christian," said he,
" we must obey all that is commanded."
When going to an Elk hunt in the woods, he asked
earnestly if some one [132J of those who could in-
struct him and keep alive his devotion, would not be
willing to accom pan y him; and Simon Pieskars urged
that he should be fully instructed in all that was
necessary to be done when he was remote from the
Church, as he felt regret at absenting himself, even
for a short time.
A certain Pagan said one day, that he would will-
ingly be baptized if, after having been purified by
the waters of Baptism, he could be assured that he
would go to heaven. "But you tell me," said he,
"that one may be damned, although he haye been
baptized, and that a relapse into sin plunges us into

294

LES RELATIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

vray que les habitudes ont vn poids épouuentable fur
nos cæurs: mais il eft vray auffi que Ie Baptefme eft
puiffant, & qu'il fait d'eftranges metamorphofes; ce
qui n'empefche pas que qu[e]Iques-vns ne retombent
dans les occafions puiffantes, & dans les fortes tenta-
tions: ce qui arriua à ce pauure Neophyte dont nous
parlons: car eftant tombé malade, & fe trouuant dans
des [133J douleurs tres-cruelles: 'Tn Charlatan fe
prefentant pour Ie chanter, à la façon du païs, il y
condefcendit: Le bon Charles Sondatfaa Huron, en-
cor Catechumene, voiant cette fuperftition, en vint
donner aduis à nos Peres: Auffi-toft Ie Pere de Quen
court aux cabanes, trouue Ie Charlatan en aétion, &
plufieurs Infideles à l'entour du patient; il commence
à fulminer contre ces remedes, plus propres à tuer
les malades qu'à les guerir: vn de la trouppe leue la
main pour Ie frapper; mais il fe retint: Le Pere
demande au malade, s'il auoit quelque creance à ces
badineries, qu'il auoit exercées luy-mefme, & dont il
ne connoiffoit que trop l'impuiffance, Ie pauure
homme repentant de fa faute, chaffe Ie Sorcier: A
quelques iours de là, fe trouuant mieux, il s'en vint
en l'Eglife, & en la prefence des François & des Sau-
uages, il demanda publiquement pardon, du fcandale
qu'il auoit donné, fuppliant à deux genoux tous
les Chreftiens de prier Dieu pour luy, à ce qu'il
luy pleuít oublier fon peché, promettant de iamais
plus n'y retomber. II eft bon de tenir ferme au
conlmencement, pour des fautes mefmes [I 34J affés
legeres, on ne fe relafche que trop aifément: Ce bon
Neophite eft maintenant dans l'exercice de la pa-
.tience, & de la refignation à la volonté de Dieu, aiant

1640-41J

RELA TION OF z640-4I

295

Hell. Who doubts that we may fall again into our
transgressions, through the force of our old habits
which overpower us? " It is true that habits have a
frightful influence on our hearts; but it is also true
that Baptism is powerful, and that it makes strange
metamorphoses. But this does not prevent some
from relapsing under stress of circumstances, and
under strong temptations,- which thing happened
to this poor Neophyte of whom we are speaking;
for, having fallen sick, and being in [I 33J most severe
pain, and a Charlatan offering to chant for him after
the fashion of the country, he consented thereto.
The good Charles Sondatsaa, a Huron, and at the
time a Catechumen, seeing this superstition, came to
inform our Fathers. Immediately Father de Quen
hastened to the cabins and found the Charlatan per-
forming, and many Unbelievers around the patient;
he began to inveigh against these remedies better
adapted to kill the sick than to heal them; one of
the company raised his hand to strike him, but re-
strained himself. The Father asked the sick man if
he had any belief in this trifling, which he had him-
self practiced, and of which he knew only too well
the powerlessness: the poor man, repenting of his
fault, dismissed the Sorcerer. Some days there-
after, being better, he came to the Church, and in
the presence of the French and of the Savages he
publicly asked pardon for the scandal he had caused;
and on his knees he implored all of the Christians to
pray that God might be pleased to forgive his sin,
and promised never to fall into it again. It is well
to resist firmly in the beginning, for, even [134] to
very slight faults, one gives way only too easily.
This good Neophyte is now in the practice of pa-

296

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

fait voir par plufieurs aétions, qu'il auoit la foy forte-
ment grauée au cæur.
Celuy qui auoit leué la main fur le Pere pour Ie
frapper, fut touché de Dieu à quelque temps de là;
il demanda fouuent Ie Baptefm[e]: mais comme il s'efi
monfiré contraire à la foy, on veut tirer de luy de
fortes épreuues; il en donna vne il n'ya pas lõg-
temps, qui nous réjoüit bien fort: Ayant fait affem-
bIer ceux qu'il croyoit les plus éloignés de la foy, il
leur dit, qu'il auoit pris refolution de fe faire bap-
tifer; & que la penfée d'vne recompenfe, ou d'vn
chafiiment eternel, luy touchoit Ie cæur: L' Apofiat,
dont i'ay parlé cy deffus, efiant prefent, ne put fup-
porter ce difcours; il fe leua incontinen[tJ, & fortit,
quittant la compagnie fans mot dire: Paul
abirin
ich
releua Ie courage de ce nouueau athlete: Si nous
faifons de grandes fefies lors que nous refufcitons
quelque trefpaffé, donnant fon nom à quelqu'vn des
viuans, il me femble qu'il ya bien plus [135J de fuiet
de fe réjoüir quand vn homme deuient enfant de
Dieu, & qu'on luy fait porter Ie nom de l'vn des Bien-
heureux qui font en Paradis.
Ie ne fais pas profeffion de parler de tous ceux
qu'on a baptifés, mais feulement de ceux qui font en
efiime parmy leurs Compatriotes, & qui ont Ie plus
d'empefchemens & plus d'obfiac1es, pour receuoir
nofire creance.
Ie ne parleray point d'vn certain, nommé Arim
fii-
g
an, qui fut nommé Claude en fon baptefme; il
efioit excellent Iongleur; quelque temps apres s'efire
fait Chrefiien, vn malade luyenuoya vn prefent, Ie
fuppliant de Ie venir penfer auec fes chants, & auec
ion tambour; Ie bon Neophite refpond, qu'il a quitté

1640-41]

RELA TION OF I640-4I

297

tience, and of resignation to the will of God, having
manifested by many acts that he has the faith strong-
ly impressed upon his heart.
He who had raised his hand against the Father to
strike him, was touched by God some time after
that; he often asked for Baptism. but, as he had
shown himself averse to the faith, we wished to
dra w from him strong proofs; not long ago he gave
one which rejoiced us very greatly. Having gath-
ered together those whom he believed most averse
to the faith, he said to them that he had resolved to
be baptized, and that the thought of an eternal reward
or punishment affected his heart. The Apostate of
whom I spoke above, being present, could not endure
this speech: he rose forthwith and went out, leaving
the company without speaking a word. Paul Wa-
birinwich revived the courage of this new athlete:
" If we make great feasts when we resuscitate a de-
parted one by giving his name to some one of the
living, it seems to me there is much greater [135]
cause for rejoicing when a man becomes a child of
God, and is made to bear the name of one of the
Blessed who are in Paradise."
I do not profess to speak of all those who have
been baptized, but only of those who are esteemed
among their Countrymen, and who have the most
hindrances and obstacles to receiving our belief.
I shall not speak of a certain man called Arimous-
tigwan, who was named Claude at his baptism. He
was an excellent Juggler; some time after he had
become a Christian, a sick man sent him a present,
begging that he would come and treat him with his
chants and with his drums. The good Neophyte
answered that he had forsaken these follies, never

298

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

[VOL. 20

ces folies, pour ne les iamais reprendre: Ie meffager
laiffa Ie prefent en Ia cabane du N eophite, mais voiant
que ce medecin ne venoit point, iIIe renuoya querir,
& Iaiffa en repos ce bon-homme, auquel ie prie noftre
Seigneur de donner perfeuerance.

1640-41]

RELA TION OF I640-4I

299

to take them up again. The messenger left the pres-
ent in the cabin of the Neophyte, but, seeing that
the physician did not come, the sick person sent him
back for it, and left this good man in peace. I pray
our Lord to give him perseverance.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: VOL. XX

XLI
For particulars of this document, see Vol. XVIII.
XLII

This is a letter, in French, written by Charles Gar-
nier to one of his brothers in France, and dated at
Ste. Marie, in the Huron country, June 23, 16 41.
We follow a contemporary copy presumably by a
member of the Garnier family in France, and now in
the archives of St. 1fary's College, !vIontreal. The
copy fails to intimate which of the brothers is ad-
dressed; but evidently it is one of the two who were
in holy orders - Henri, the Carmelite, or Joseph, the
Capuchin (see vol. viii., note 52).
XLIII

Jean de Brébeuf writes in Latin to the Father
General (Vitelleschi), from Quebec, under date of
August 20, 1641. The original is in the .111S5.
Soc. Jes., where Father Martin saw it in 1858, and
copied therefrom such portions as he deemed of his-
torical interest. A rather free French translation
of these extracts was made by Father Martin, and
appears as Letter XVII. in Carayon's Premz"ère Mis-
st"on, pp. 216, 2 17. \Ve follow the 1fartin apograph
in Latin, preserved in the archives of St. Mary's
College, Montreal; our translation is made directly
therefrom.

302 LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

XLIV

In reprinting the text of the Relation of 16 4 0 -4 1 ,
we follow the original Cramoisy edition, from a copy
in the possession of The Burrows Brothers Company,
Cleveland. It is generally referred to by bibliog-
raphers as " H. 77," because described in Harrisse's
Notes, no. 77. The volume purports to have been
sent to the provincial in France by Barthelemy Vi-
mont, the superior of the Society in New France.
But his part in this volume seems to have been that
only of nominal editor. Part I., undated, is by Paul
Le J eune; it was addressed to the Provincial, and
carried by Le Jeune, personally, to France. Like-
wise, Part II. (on the Huron mission) is addressed
directly to the provincial by Jerome Lalemant, who
dates his preface" De la refidence fixe de S. Marie
aux Hurons, ce 19. de May 1641." There is no
Privilege to this volume, but it contains a " Permis-
sion d'imprimer," signed "IAcQvEs DINET," and
dated at Paris, December 20, 16 41.
Collation: Title, with verso blank, I leaf; "Table
des Chapitres " to Part 1., pp. (3); "Table des Cha-
pitres" to Part II., pp. (2); "Permission d'impri-
mer," p. (I); epistle from Le Jeune to the Provincial,
pp. 1-4; text of Part 1., by Le Jeune, pp. 5 -216;
special title to Part II., with verso blank, I leaf;
epistle from H. Lalemant to the Provincial, pp. 3 and
4; text of Part II. (Lalemant's Huron Relation), pp.
5 -95; specimen prayer in Huron, with interlinear
French translation, pp. 96- 104. In Part 1., page
19 0 is misnumbered 90, and in Part II., p. 7 6 is mis-
paged 67; in some copies p. 77 is mispaged 68.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA: VOL. XX 303

Chapter vi., on p. 46 of Part II., is misprinted viii.,
but it appears correctly in the table of contents.
Copies of " H. 77" have been sold or priced as
follows: O'Callaghan (1882), no. 1220, $20, it having
cost him 830.50 in gold; Harrassowitz (1882), 100
marks; Barlow (1890), no. 1282, $22.50; Dufossé, of
Paris, priced (1891 - 1893) at 125 and 150 francs.
Copies may be found in the following libraries: Len-
ox, Harvard College, St. :Mary's College (Montreal),
Laval University (Quebec), Brown (private), and Brit-
ish Museum.

NOTES TO VOL. XX

(Figures in þarentheses,following number of note, refer to þages
of English text.)

I (p. 21).-St. Jean Baptiste was almost, if not quite, identical
with the Cahiagué described by Champlain. Du Creux places it
near a small lake,-evidently that now called Bass Lake, in the
N. E. part of Oro township, the outlet of which is North River; in the
vicinity of this lake are many remains of Huron villages. Martin
and Taché identify St. Jean Baptiste with Cahiagué, but mistake
Bass Lake and North River (as indicated on Du Creux's map) for
Lake Couchiching and the Severn. But the latter are several miles
farther east; the vicinity of those waters was less habitable, from a
Huron point of view; and they do not correspond so well with the
references in the text. Ragueneau (Huron RelatÙm of 16
8, chap.
iv,) says that the Arendaenronnons, among whom this mission
was located, were so harassed by the Iroquois (to whose attacks
they were more exposed than the other Huron clans) that in 16 47
they abandoned their territory, and withdrew to other Huron vil-
lages that were more populous and better able to resist the enemy.
One of their villages in the vicinity of Bass Lake even shows indica-
tions, in its remains, of having been attacked.-A. F. HUNTER.
Martin says of this site (in Géograþhie du Pays des Huro1ls,
18ss-a :MS. in the archives of St. Mary's College, Montreal): .. I
am inclined to place it to the south of the present village of Onllia,
but nearer to the head of Lake Simcoe than is the latter. " Father
Jones, of St. Mary's College, (vol. xix., note 9) places St. Jean Bap-
tiste in Oro township, on Mill Creek, about a mile above Hawkstone.
Champlain says of Cahiagué ( Voyages, Laverdière's ed., p. 5 18 )
that in it were 200 large cabins, and that it was the principal village
of the country.
2 (p. 21).-St. Joachim is located by Du Creux on the east side of
Sturgeon River, next to St. Jean. This is in a locality still wooded
to a considerable extent, and where the sites have not yet been
revealed by plowing.
Although Ste. Elizabeth is included among the missions to the
Arendaronons, other references to it in the Relations show that it
was a mission to Indians who spoke the Algonkin tongue. Du Creux

306

LES RELA TIONS DES JÉSUITES

places it on the west side of North River, erroneously interpreted
by Martin and Taché (see note I, ante) as Severn River; the latter,
however, have not attempted, so far as we know, to identify any
one site as that of Ste. Elizabeth. The Huron Relation of 16
4
(chap. viii.) describes it as only a quarter of a league from St. Jean
Baptiste; but Du Creux's map indicates a greater distance between
those points. So numerous are the sites west of North River, that
no one of them can as yet be certainly identified as that of Ste.
Elizabeth.- A. F. HUNTER.
The Relation of 1644, as above cited, states that many Algonkins
had been driven by the Iroquois every winter, for several years past,
from the neighborhood of the St. LawTence, and that these Algon-
kins had fled for safety to the Huron country. " Having found an
entire village of these poor wandering and fugitive Nations near the
village of Saint Jean Baptiste, we [the Jesuits] felt constrained to
give them some assistance," and thereupon Fathers Daniel and
Ménard were placed in charge of this Algonkin mission, which was
called Ste. Elizabeth. In all probability this was a different village
from the Ste. Elizabeth of 1640; it is a fair inference. from the
above-cited account, that the village of 1644 had been in large part
formed between that date and 1640. Father Jones locates the mis-
sion near the north end of Lake Couchiching, about
mile S. W.
of Washago.
3 (p. 23).- This tortoise-shell drum is described by Lalemant in
vol. xvii., p. 157. Cf. Lafitau (JI,Iæurs des Sauvages, t. i., p. 21 5),
who says their drums are made from a gourd, or from" a Tortoise
dried and neatly scooped out, without injuring the head. tail, and
feet, or the skin which unites the animal's two shells; so that it
looks as if whole. They fill the cavity of the Gourd, or Tortoise,
with some beads of their porcelain; then pierce it with a stick,"
which serves at once to hold and to shake the drum.
These drums-or more properly, tambourines- are character-
istic of the" medicine" performances among all the North Ameri-
can tribes, as indeed among many savage tribes in other parts of
the world. Mallery quotes the following statement by an Ojibwa
medicine man (Bur. Ethnol. Reþ., 1888-89, p. 492): .. When l\finabõ'-
sho, the first man, had been for some time upon the earth, two great
spirits told him that, to be of service to his successors, they would
give to him several gifts, which he was to employ in prolonging life
and extending assistance to those who might apply for it, The first
present consisted of a sacred drum, which was to be used at the
side of the sick, and when invoking the presence and assistance of
the spirits. The second was a sacred rattle, with which he was
enabled to prolong the life of a patient. The third gift was tobacco,

NOTES TO VOL. XX

307

which was to be an emblem of peace; and, as a companion, he also
received a dog. " Hoffman obtained a similar statement from the
Menomonees (I d.. 1892-93, p. 93): .. Then the good mysteries gave
him the small flat rattle, that he might invoke the good ma/nidos
when he required their assistance, or when he was fasting or dream-
ing. " He also states of the medicine men and their practices
(p. 63): .. A tambourine drum is necessary as an accompaniment to
the chant, as the personal manido is thus invoked for aid in the
accomplishment of whatever task may have been assigned to the
performer. "
4 (p. 27).-Concerning Iouskeha, see vol. viii., note 36; vol. X.,
note 12.
5 (p. 35).-This transfer of name and authority, from the dead
man to one livmg, accompanies the Indian ceremony of .. resuscita-
tion" (vol. xvii., 'Izote 7).
6 (p. ..J.3).-St. Peter and St. Paul-the headquarters of the Mis-
sion of the Apostles, to the Tobacco Nation-was located at the
village of Ehwae. the most populous in that tribe. Its exact location
has not yet been determined,-it may be anyone of several adja-
cent sites in Nottawasaga township; and there IS no map to indicate
the relative positions of the Tobacco missions, like Du Creux's of
the Huron. Sanson's map of 1656, however, shows thIS place at the
south end of the Tobacco country, and St. Simon and St. Jude at the
north end. From this circumstance, we conjecture that, at the time
of the establishment of the Apostles' Mission, the nine villages of
the text were named, beginning at the southernmost village and
ending at the northernmost, the order of the names in the text
being preserved throughout. The only objection to this hypothesis
might arise from Ragueneau's mention of St. Jean (Relation of
1650, chap. iii.) as then the most southerly or frontier village. But
Sanson's map gives the particulars as they existed about 1640; and
it ought to be remembered also that during the next ten years the
inhabitants of the frontier villages had to take refuge among those
farther north, leaving St. Jean, the fifth village on the list of 1640,
as Ragueneau's frontier village in 1650. Coyne considers the S.
Pierre of Sanson's map as .. near the south end of the county of
Bruce;" also (though with some reserve of doubt), that it might
have been intended for S. Pierre and S. Paul, of the Tobacco mis-
sion (Country of Neutrals, pp. 9, 11,44). The rudeness of Sanson's
map and the smallness of its scale make it difficult to say what part
was Bruce County, and what part Simcoe County; but it is doubtful
whether any of the nine villages were outside of Nottawasaga town-
ship. And it may also be observed that the latter part of the name,

308

LES RELA TIONS DES .IÉSUITES

.. S. Paul," is not wanting on the map, being spelled" S. Pol."
St. Jean (called by the Indians Etarita) was located among the
Wolf clan of the Tobacco Nation (Huron Relation of 1648, chap.
ix.), and was in 1650 the most southerly or frontier town of this
tribe (see preceding paragraph). It has not yet been identified.
St. Mathias (Ekarenniondi) was among the Deer clan of the tribe;
its location cannot be determined. Cf. the name Ecaregniondt:
applied to a rock which departed souls must pass, in going to their
abode (vol. x., p. 145); also Karegnondz: given to Lake Huron on
Sanson's map of 1656.
St. Simon and St. Jude appear on Sanson's map at the extreme
north end of the Tobacco country.-A. F. HUNTER.
Harris (Miss. West. Canada, p. 26) locates the Tobacco tribe
within the limits of Collingwood, Nottawasaga, and Sunnidale
townships.
7 (p. 61).-Atsistaehronolls: the Huron name of the Mascoutins
(vol. v., note 20), an Algonkin tribe. Located, on Sanson's map, in
Eastern Michigan, between Saginaw Bay and the Maumee River;
on Franquelin's (1684), in Northern Illinois, from Lake Michigan to
the Rock River,- having fled thence from their enemies. Allouez,
who conducted missionary work among them, mentions them (Rela-
tion of 1670, chap. xii.) as bemg a day's journey from the Outaga-
mies (Foxes); and, in the Relation of 1671, he describes his journey
to the Mascoutins, up the Fox River from Green Bay, as lasting
nine days. Cf. Butterfield's Disc. of Northwest, p. 6-1-, note 3.
8 (p. 91).- François de Sales was born Aug. 21, 1567, near Anne-
cy, France. His studies were pursued in that city, and m the Jesuit
college at Paris (1580-86). He then took, at Padua, a course in
civil law, his father intending that he should enter the legal profes-
sion; but a clerical kinsman secured permission for François to
become a preacher. Ordained in 1593, he spent three years in
preaching, at Geneva, and in the province of Chablais, where he is
said to have won, in that time, 800 converts; his reputation for
eloquence and piety was great. In 1602, he became bishop of Gene-
va; several other dignities were offered him, at various times, but
refused. He died at Lyons, Nov. 28, 1622, from an attack of apo-
plexy; he was canonized Jan. 29, 1665.
The most noted of De Sales's works is L'Introduction à la
Vie dévote (1608), which, it is said, was translated into nearly all
the languages of Europe, and reached its fortieth edition in 1656.
Another popular work was Traité de I' Amour de Dieu (1616).
9 (p. 181).- It will be remembered that Giffard was a physician
(vol. vi., note 8).

J.VOTES TO VOL. XX

309

10 (p. 18S).-A letter from Buteux to Vitelleschi, dated Sept. 13,
16 4 1 (of which Father Martin's apograph is in the archives of St.
Mary's College, Montreal), states that the residence of La Concep-
tion at Three Rivers (of which he was superior) then maintained
five missionaries-three priests and two brethren. He also states
that about 100 AlgoDkins had been baptized during the year, and
praises the piety and fidelity of the converts.
Of great interest, in connection with the residence of St. Joseph,
is its register of baptisms for the years 1638-40; this MS. (written
in Latin) is preserved in the archives of the archiepiscopal palace
at Quebec. It begins with the following introductory note: II The
Commander de Sillery, a knight of Malta. and not long ago ordained
a Priest, a man of notable piety, pro;,'ided for the erection, at his
own Expense, of the Reduction of Saint Joseph, a league and a half
above Kebec, on the shore of the great river St. Lawrence. He
then placed it in charge of the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, that
they might call hither the barbarous Natives, and teach them the
Law of Christ. The foundations of the house were laid on the [blank]
day of July, 1637; and, on the 14th of April of the year 16 38, two
Fathers of the Society of Jesus came here to reside, and to instruct
two families of the savages who had established here their perma-
nent abode. Another family of the Savages also built their dwell-
ings about it. asking assistance to change the wandering life they
had hitherto led, for the Christian Religion and civilized life. From
this time, those baptized are recorded below. unless they were bap-
tized at Kebec, as were Noël Tekderimar and françois Xavier nenas-
koumar, the first Dwellers in this reduction. These will be found
recorded in the Register of those baptized at Kebec."
During the entire period covered by this register, Le Jeune's
name appears frequently. Other priests officiating at these baptis-
mal rites were: 1638, De Quen, Massé, Claude Quentin, François du
Peron; 1639, Claude Pijart; 1640. Vimont and Ménard. Among
those baptized, were II a girl of ten years, daughter of the late Capi-
tenal;" Cecilia Natoukwabekwe, II wife of the late La grenouille "
(vol. ix, note 18); Jerome Oukwe, II an orphan Lad about eleven
years old;" Agatha Khisipikiwam, II daughter of the late
Iakhate-
webichtichi" (note 12, þost). In many cases, the sponsors were
Christian IndIans; but this office was often performed by French-
men. Among these, may be found the names of Montmagny, Le
Gardeur de Repentigny, Pierre de Puiseaux, and Olivier Ie Tardif.
Another is Achille de Lisle, doubtless Montmagny's lieutenant of
that name (vol. ix, note 7); others still were François Boullé and
René Goupil (Jesuit donnés), and (Christmas eve, 1639) Madame de
la Peltrie and her maid Carola. This last was Charlotte Barré,

310

LES RELATIONS DES JÉSUITES

whose name, a
well as that of her mistress, may also be found in
1640. The baptismal rite was often bestowed upon those" in dan-
ger of death;" and often is appended to the record, mortuus est,
" he is dead."
The entries, though written in the first person, are not, as a rule,
autographs of the Fathers officiating; most of them are written in
the same hand-perhaps by a brother in charge of the church. In
four places, however, the name of the priest has been cut or torn out
of the MS. ,-apparently to secure autograph signatures.
II (p. 199).-Cf. Le Jeune's statement of this superstition (vol.
vi., p. 211, 213). Brinton (lIfyths of New World, 1st ed., 1868, pp.
257- 261) thus explains this belief: "The opinion underlying all
these [burial] customs was, that a part of the soul, or one of the
souls, dwelt in the bones; that these were the seeds which, planted
in the earth, or preserved unbroken in safe places, would, in time,
put on once again a garb of flesh, and germinate into living human
beings. The Iroquois word for bone is esken-for soul, atisken,
literally that which is within the bone. Even the lower ani-
mals were supposed to follow the same law. Hardly any of the
hunting tribes, before their original manners were vitiated by for-
eign influence, permitted the bones of game slain in the chase to be
broken, or left carelessly about the encampment. They were col-
lected in heaps, or thrown into the water." James, in Long's l!-xþe-
dition to the Rocky Mountains (Phila., 1823), vol. i., p. 278, says:
" Many of the Minnetarees believe that the bones of those bisons
which they have slain and divested of flesh, rise again clothed with
renewed flesh, and quickened with life." Bnnton also says (pp. 144,
145): "As the path to a
higher ,life hereafter, the burning of the
dead was first instituted. Those of Nicaragua seemed to
think it the sole path to immortality, holding that only such as
offered themselves on the pyre of their chieftain would escape anni-
hilation at death, and the tribes of upper California were persuaded
that such as were not burned to death were liable to be transformed
into the lower orders of brutes."
12 (p. 209).-This Makheabichtichiou was an influential Algon-
kin, whose partial converSlOn is detailed by Le J eune in vol. xi., pp.
I.t9- 18 3.
13 (p. 259).-Oukotoemis: probably the Kotakouemis (vol. xviii.,
note 14). UUlwtchatarOl101zs: the Iroquet tribe (vol. v., note 52).
14 (p. 265).- François de Champflour was governor at Three
Rivers from December, 1639, to August, 16..J.2, and again from the
autumn of 1643, to October, 16..J.5-the interyening year being spent
as commandant of Fort Richelieu on the Sorel. He returned to

NOTES TO VOL. XX

311

France in October, 1645; and in the following year. at Paris, ob-
tained a grant of a fief near Three Rivers, which, however, he sold
to Le Neuf de la Poterie, three years later. He seems not to have
returned to Canada.
15 (p. 273).- Concerning the Metaberoutin River, see vol. ii.,
note 52.
16 (p. 281).-This was probably the successor of the chief men-
tioned in vol. ix., note 18. Cf. vol. xii., note 31.
17 (p. 29I).-Concerning Teswehat, see vol. viii., note 30.

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