The Jesuit relations and allied documents : travels and explorations of the Jesuit missionaries in New France, 1610-1791

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THE JESUIT RELATIONS

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ALLIED DOCUMENTS

VOL. XIX

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The edition consists of sev-
en hundred and fifty sets
all numbered

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£#3.

The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents

Travels and Explorations

of the Jesuit Missionaries

in New France

1610-1791

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

EDITED BY

REUBEN GOLD THWAITES
Secretary of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin

Vol. XIX
Quebec and Hurons : 1640

Cleveland: XLbe burrows JBrotbets
Compartg, publishers, mdcccxcviii

Copyright, 1898

BY

The Burrows Brothers Co

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Imperial Press, Cleveland

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor

Translators

Assistant Editor
Bibliographical Adviser

Reuben Gold Thwaites
Finlow Alexander
Percy Favor Bicknell
William Frederic Giese
Crawford Lindsay
William Price
Hiram Allen Sober
Emma Helen Blair
Victor Hugo Paltsits

CONTENTS OF VOL. XIX

Preface to Volume XIX . . i

Document: —

XLI. Relation de ce qvi s'est passe en la Nov-
velle France, en l'annee 1640. [Chaps,
xi.-xiii. of Part L, and Chaps, i.-viii.
of Part II.] Paul le Jeune; K6bec,
September 10, 1640. Jerome Lalemant;
Des Hurons, May 27, 1640 . . 7

Notes ...... 269

ILLUSTRATION TO VOL XIX

I. Sketch map of Ste. Marie-on-the-Wye, by

A. F. Hunter . . . .270

PREFACE TO VOL. XIX

The entire volume is devoted to a continuation of
the Relation of 1640 (Document XLL), which is the
joint product of Le Jeune and Jerome Lalemant. In
Vol. XVIII. we presented the first ten chapters of
Part L, which is by Le Jeune (dated at Quebec, Sep-
tember 10); this part is concluded in the present vol-
ume, and eight chapters are given of Part II. (by
Lalemant, dated in the Huron country, May 27).

Following is a synopsis of the portion of the Rela-
tion herewith printed :

Le Jeune continues his report from Quebec, by
describing the noble work of the Hospital nuns.
From August to May, they have had more than a
hundred patients, and have, besides, given aid to over
two hundred Indians. Nearly all the sick whom
they have nursed had the smallpox, which caused an
almost insupportable stench ; and the nuns, despite
what aid could be given them, are exhausted by their
incessant labors and the horrors of the epidemic.
They note with surprise the patience and fortitude
of the Indians, notwithstanding their pains, sores,
and fever. Father Pijart gives religious instruction
to all the inmates, many of whom show most edify-
ing devotion ; and twenty of the sick have been bap-
tized. Among all these sick Indians, not one dispute
has arisen, — much to their praise, as compared with
the patients in a hospital in France. On Holy Thurs-

PREFACE TO VOL. XIX

day, the feet of the poor patients are washed, accord-
ing to French custom; in this ceremony all the
leading French people take part, headed by Mont-
magny and Madame de la Peltrie. Le Jeune de-
scribes the virtuous life and pious death of a young
Iroquois woman who had been sent (1636) to France
and educated in a Paris convent.

The labors of the Ursulines are then recounted.
Now eight in number, they are lodged in two small
rooms, where also they must teach their pupils and
receive visitors. But they are full of enthusiasm and
joy in their work, and find in the Indian girls won-
derful docility, obedience, and intelligence, — not to
mention the piety and love for religion that these
children display. The girls delight in attending
mass, and are much more attentive and quiet than
children in France; " they compose their faces, and
regulate their actions by ours, except that in their
reverences they imitate Madame de la Pelletrie."
They love and obey the nuns more than their own
mothers.

Le Jeune next recounts various events of the past
year. On the first journey from Quebec of the new
superior, Vimont, his vessel is wrecked, and he is
compelled to return home. The missionaries meet
serious losses, — two of their workmen are drowned;
their house, the chapel, and the church at Quebec,
are destroyed by fire, and they thus lose all their
supplies for outlying stations and even for the Huron
mission. The governor loans them a house, and, for
the time, they hold religious services at the hospital.
Le Jeune ends his report by describing some abo-
riginal superstitions. A piece of burned leather is
rubbed upon a sick man's head, to drive away the

PREFACE TO VOL. XIX

manitou. The Iroquois sometimes use the calcined
bones of a newly born infant, sacrificed by them, for
charms, especially to secure success in battle.

Part II. of the general Relation consists of Jerome
Lalemant's report made to Vimont, his superior,
upon the concerns of the Huron mission for this
year. The harvest of last autumn was unusually
abundant, says Lalemant, but the Indians, instead
of thanking God for this, devote themselves more
than ever to feasts. They have also had numerous
fights with the Iroquois, but have lost therein more
than they have gained. They depend on the medi-
cine men to predict for them the coming of the ene-
my, and the outcome of the contest, but in this are
sometimes disappointed. There are two classes of
these wizards — " magicians," who are greatly feared
and honored; and " sorcerers," who are held in
abomination, and who may, on suspicion alone, be
slain with impunity.

Lalemant describes the outbreak of smallpox
among the Hurons, and the resulting persecutions
against the missionaries. He recounts the sufferings
of one of their donnes, who, attacked on the Ottawa
River by the disease, was abandoned by the natives ;
after lying on the rocks for four days, exposed to
storms, he was at last rescued by a Huron to whom,
a year before, he had shown like kindness and com-
passion. Even his recovery does not relieve the
missionaries from the suspicions and hatred of the
ignorant Hurons, who tear down the crosses above
the Fathers' cabins, threaten them, beat one of them
with clubs, and even lie in wait to murder them.

During the year, the missionaries, in the Huron
country, have baptized over a thousand persons; but

PREFACE TO VOL. XIX

most of these were thus received at the point of
death, the majority being children. The decision is
made by the Fathers, to go from their residences on
missions to the various tribes, — a more difficult
method, but, as they think, more efficacious in reach-
ing the savages. They have taken a census, not
only of the villages, but of the families in each, and
even of nearly all the persons in the country ; this
shows a population, in thirty-two villages, of about
12,000 souls.

After giving a general outline of the hardships
and dangers experienced in carrying on these mis-
sions, the writer relates in more detail the progress
and condition of each. The residence at Ste. Marie
has now become their only fixed and permanent
station, — those of St. Joseph and Ossossane" having
been removed thither. One object in building the
house at Ste. Marie was to furnish a suitable place
for the rest and spiritual refreshment of the mission-
aries ; but the first to make retreat therein was ' ' the
Christian," Joseph Chihwatenhwa. His pious senti-
ments on this occasion are related at length. A
speech of his, defending the missionaries, causes the
conversion of another Indian, " who is likely to be
one of the pillars of this rising Church." This new
convert, named in baptism Louis, tries to persuade
his relatives to embrace the new faith, but, despite
his eloquence, with little success; " the words which
issued all on fire from the lips of this Christian were
received in hearts colder than marble." Various
baptisms, occurring in the villages near Ste. Marie,
are recounted. It is but a little time since a general
council of all the clans was held, at which the mis-
sionaries were denounced — most of those present

PREFACE TO VOL. XIX

demanding their death; but an old man, who is
friendly to them, finally suggests that his countrymen
first seek out and slay their own sorcerers, and then,
if their afflictions still continue, they may kill the
Frenchmen. This, for the time, quiets their minds.

Lalemant then narrates the course of events at St.
Joseph, — largely in extracts from the letters of Chas-
tellain and Brebeuf , who have labored at that resi-
dence. This village has been especially the theatre
of persecutions against the " black robes; " yet they
have there baptized, during the year, nearly 300 per-
sons, many of whom are now in heaven. The de-
tails of some notable conversions are recounted. One
woman, baptized while dying, sees " at her side a
company, with unknown faces of rare beauty ; these
beings offer her very handsome cloth, with which to
cover her. " Nevertheless, the missionaries find, in
the course of the epidemic, that ' ' their Church mili-
tant has been built mostly on sand, — the winds and
storms have almost thrown everything to the ground ; "
many converts have returned to their old supersti-
tions, and even publicly renounced the new faith.
Some, however, remain faithful through all persecu-
tion, and thus greatly console their teachers. One
of these experiences a sort of miracle, while yet a
catechumen; not showing sufficient respect toward
God, in his prayers, he sees one day " a picture of
Our Lord move itself, look at him with an eye of
anger, and stir its lips in a manner which horrified
him. . . . Four of our Fathers, who afterward
examined this affair, were led to believe that this
thing was real. ' ' Another is no longer subject to
vertigoes, after her baptism.

Lalemant proceeds to describe the work at the mis-

PREFACE TO VOL. XIX

sion of La Conception (Ossossane), up to the time of
its cessation; it has been in charge of Ragueneau,
assisted by Du Peron or Chaumonot. " Thence have
come the worst reports and the most pernicious
designs against us." Unfortunately, it is the Chris-
tians there who have been most severely afflicted by
the epidemic; hence the unbelievers say that the
faith profits them nothing, and "it is now in dis-
grace ' among them. The Fathers are therefore
threatened, driven away, and even in danger of
death at the hands of the infuriated savages. Not-
withstanding, they have baptized, "in spite of the
demons and hell," over 250 persons. Various in-
stances are enumerated, of persons who, " inspired
by the devil," refuse baptism. In this mission also,
many of the converts have fallen away; but some
show most edifying zeal and devotion, even in the
midst of afflictions. One of these is for a time, like
many of his townsmen, beguiled by the fair prom-
ises of a certain ' ' magician ' ' into permitting him to
treat the sick; but when these patients die, the de-
luded neophyte has his eyes opened, and returns to
the true faith. The chapter on this mission of La
Conception (which also closes the present volume)
ends with many details of the piety and devotion of
' the pearl of our Christians," Joseph Chihwatenhwa.

R. G. T.

Madison, Wis., March, 1898.

XLI (continued)

Relation of 1640

Paris: SEBASTIEN CRAMOISY, 1641

Chaps, xi.-xiii. of Part I., and chaps, i.-viii. of Part II.
The remainder of this document will appear in Volume XX.

LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

[146] CHAPITRE XL

DE L'HOSPITAL.

LES Religieufes hofpitalieres arriuerent a Kebec
le premier iour du mois d'Aouft de Tan paffe,
a peine eftoient elles defcendiies du vaiffeau,
[147] qu' elles fe virent accablees de malades, la fale
de l'Hofpital eftant trop petite, il falhit dreffer des
cabanes en leur iardin, a la facon des Sauuages, n'ay-
ans pas de meubles fuffifammet pour tant de monde,
il leur fallut coupper en deux & en trois vne partie
des couuertures & des draps qu' elles auoient apporte
pour ces pauures malades, en vn mot, au lieu de
prendre vn peu de repos, & de fe rafraichir des
grandes incommoditez qu' elles auoient fouffertes fur
la mer, elles fe virent fi chargees & fi occupies, que
nous eufmes peur de les perdre, & leur hofpital d6s
fa premiere naiffance, les malades abordoient de tou^
coftez en tel n ombre, leur puanteur eftoit fi infu-
portable, les chaleurs fi grandes, les rafraichiffemens
fi courts & fi pauures, dans vn pays fi neuf & fi nou-
ueau, que ie ne fgay comme ces bonnes filles, qui
n'auoient quafi pas le loifir de prendre vn petit de
fommeil, refifterent a tous ces trauaux. Noftre R.
P. Superieur auoit vn foing tres-particulier de ces
pauures Sauuages, le P. de Quen fe ioignoit a luy auec
vne charite' incomparable, fa fante en fut endomma-
g6e [148] pour quelque temps, car l'air eftoit fi cor-
rompu & fi infect, qu'a peine les poulmons pouuoient

1640] RELA TION OF 1640

[146] CHAPTER XI.

OF THE HOSPITAL.

THE hospital Nuns arrived at Kebec on the
first day of the month of August of last year.
Scarcely had they disembarked [147] before
they found themselves overwhelmed with patients.
The hall of the Hospital being too small, it was neces-
sary to erect some cabins, fashioned like those of the
Savages, in their garden. Not having enough furni-
ture for so many people, they had to cut in two or
three pieces part of the blankets and sheets they had
brought for these poor sick people. In a word, instead
of taking a little rest, and refreshing themselves after
the great discomforts they had suffered upon the sea,
they found themselves so burdened and occupied
that we had fear of losing them and their hospital
at its very birth. The sick came from all directions
in such numbers, their stench was so insupportable,
the heat so great, the fresh food so scarce and so
poor, in a country so new and strange, that I do not
know how these good sisters, who almost had not
even leisure in which to take a little sleep, endured
all these hardships. Our Reverend Father Superior
took very special care of these poor Savages, and Fa-
ther de Quen joined him in this work with an incom-
parable charity. His health was injured by it [148]
for some time, for the air was so impure and so
tainted that the lungs could scarcely inhale without
the heart being thereby affected. All the French

10 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

ils refpirer fans que le cceur s'en reflentit, tons les
Francois nez fur le pays, furent attaquez de cette
contagion auffi-bien que les Sauuages ; ceux qui font
venus de voftre Frace en furent exempts, exceptez
deux ou trois, defia naturalifez a l'air de cette con-
tr6e.

Bref depuis le mois d'Aouft iufques au mois de
May, il eft entre" plus de cent malades a 1'hofpital,
plus de deux cens pauures Sauuages y ont efte fou-
lagez, foit en paffant, foit en y couchant vne nuit ou
deux ou dauantage, on en a veu iufques a dix, douze,
vingt, trente a la fois, vingt pauures malades y ont
receu le faindt Baptefme, & enuiron vingt-quatre
fortant de cette maifon de mifericorde, font entrez
dans le feiour de la gloire. Tout cecy eft deu a la
charite" & liberalite de Madame la Ducheffe d' Aiguil-
lon, qui procure auec des foins & des affections toutes
d'or, cet ouurage. Que ce grand courage qu'elle a
conceu dans le fang du Fils de Dieu, prenne fes ac-
croiilemens [149] dans ce mefme fang adorable.
Mais voyons en detail ce qui s'eft paffe dans la maifon
de cette Dame, ou pluftoft dans celle qu'elle a erige-
a Dieu.

Le bel ordre qui fe garde au feruice des pauures
malades en la maifon de mifericorde de Dieppe, fe
faidt voir icy en la nouuelle France, auec vne grande
ediffication de nos Francois & des Sauuages, ie ne le
coucheray point fur ce papier, puis que vous le pou-
uez voir de vos yeux en voftre France. Le Pere
Claude Pijard, lequel a eu foin tout l'hiuer de l'in-
ftrudtion des pauures de cette maifon, m'a donne vn
petit memoire couch 6 en ces termes: Le matin on
faifoit faire les prieres aux Sauuages, & quelque temps

1640] RELATION OF 1640 11

born in the country were attacked by this contagion,
as well as the Savages. Those who came from your
France were exempt from it, except two or three,
already naturalized to the air of this region.

In brief, from the month of August until the
month of May, more than one hundred patients en-
tered the hospital, and more than two hundred poor
Savages found relief there, either in temporary treat-
ment or in sleeping there one or two nights, or more.
There have been seen as many as ten, twelve, twenty,
or thirty of them at a time. Twenty poor sick people
have received holy Baptism there ; and about twenty-
four, quitting this house of mercy, have entered the
regions of glory. All this is due to the charity and
liberality of Madame the Duchess d'Aiguillon, who
accomplishes this work with a care and affection
truly golden. May this great courage, that she has
conceived in the blood of the Son of God, receive its
increase [149] in this same adorable blood. But let
us see in detail what has taken place in the house of
this Lady, or rather in that which she has erected to
God.

The excellent order observed in the service of the
poor patients in the house of mercy at Dieppe is
seen here in new France, to the great edification of
our French and the Savages. I will not set it down
upon this paper, since you can see it with your own
eyes in your France. Father Claude Pijard, who
has had charge of the instruction of the poor of this
house, during the entire winter, has given me a little
relation, couched in these terms: " In the morning,
we had the Savages say prayers, and, some time after,
the holy Mass was celebrated, at which those who
had been baptized were present ; after dinner, we had

12 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

apres fe difoit la faindte Meffe, ou ceux qui efloient
baptifez affiftoient : apres le difner on faifoit reciter le
catechifme, & en fuite on en donnoit vne petite expli-
cation, adioutant pour 1' ordinaire quelque hifloire
pieufe qu'vn des Sauuages repetoit. Le foir ils fai-
foiet leur examen de confcience, ils fe confeffoient
& communioient tous les quinze iours, & l'auroient
fait plus fouuent fi [150] on leur eut permis, leur
deuotion s'efl fait voir a viliter fouuent le tres-faindt
Sacrement, a dire plufieurs fois le iour leur chappe-
let, a chanter des cantiques fpirituels, qui ont fucce-
de" a leurs chanfons barbares, bref a ieufner la faindte
quarentaine, pour ceux qui le pouuoient faire, vn pau-
ure boiteux & deux femmes aueugles nouuellement
baptifees, comme on leur parla du carefme non pour
les induire a le ieufner tout entier, mais quelques
iours feulement, refpondirent qu'ils vouloient faire
tout ce que faifoient les Chrefliens, en effet ils ont
ieufne comme nous.

Vne bonne vieille entendant parler que les per-
fonnes de fon age efloient exemptes de cette loy, dit
qu'elle auoit affez de force pour la garder, & la peur
qu'elle eut qu'on ne la fit point ieufner auec les
autres, luy fit commancer le carefme deux iours de-
uant le Mercredy des cendres, les Religieufes auoient
beau luy dire qu'il n'eftoit pas encor temps de ieufner,
fi le Pere ne Ten eufl affeure, elle ne vouloit manger
qu'a midy, nonobftant qu'elle ne fut pas encor forti-
fied [151] d'vne maladie qui l'auoit fort affoiblie.

Ie diray icy en paffant que l'vne de ces deux fem-
mes aueugles, dont ie viens de parler, auoit vne petite
fille agee de deux ans feulement, cette enfant condui-
foit fa mere, & l'aduertiffoit en fon petit iargon des

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 13

them recite the catechism, and then gave them a
little explanation of it, usually adding some pious
story that one of the Savages repeated. In the even-
ing, they made their examination of conscience ; they
confessed and received communion every two weeks,
and would have done so oftener if [150] we had per-
mitted them. They showed their devotion by often
visiting the most holy Sacrament, by saying their
rosary several times a day, by singing spiritual can-
ticles, which have succeeded their barbarous songs, —
in short, by fasting throughout the sacred forty
days, for those who could do so. A poor lame man
and two blind women recently baptized, when we
told them about Lent, — not to induce them to fast
during the whole period, but only a few days, — re-
sponded that they wished to do all that the Christians
did ; in fact, they fasted as we did.

11 A good old woman, hearing that persons of her
age were exempt from this law, said that she had
enough strength to keep it ; and her fear that we
might not have her fast like the others made her be-
gin Lent two days before Ash Wednesday. In vain
the Nuns told her that it was not yet time to fast ;
if the Father had not assured her of it, she would
not have eaten except at noon, although she had not
yet regained her strength [151] from a sickness that
had greatly weakened her.

t( I will say here, by the way, that one of these
two blind women, whom I have just mentioned, had
a little daughter only two years old. This child led
her mother, and warned her in her childish jargon
of the rough places where she might stumble."

What I am about to tell is taken from the letters
that the Mother Superior has written me.

14 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

endroits raboteux ou elle auroit peu faire quelque
faux pas.

Ce que ie vay dire eft tire" des lettres que la Mere
Superieure m'a efcrites.

Tous nos malades ont vn grand foin de prier Dieu,
ils nous prefTent fouuent de prier pour eux, ce nous
eft vne grande confolation de les voir affidus aux pri-
eres foir & matin, ils fe refueillent les vns les autres
fi-toft que le temps des prieres approche, il y en a
qui fe tiennent long-temps feuls en la chappelle
deuant le S. Sacrement, les deux femmes aueugles
font deuenues fort deuotes depuis leur baptefme,
Heleine me fembloit fort ftupide auant que d'eftre
Chreftienne, ie n'euffe iamais creu la voir fi zelee
come elle eft, elle employe beaucoup de temps a prier
Dieu, elle fe tient dans vn grand filence deuant la
Meffe le iour qu'elle [152] veut communier, ie leur
ay demande" affez fouuent ce qu'elles penfoient les
voyant fort attentiues & recueillies, nous penfons a
Dieu difoient elles, & a ce que le Pere nous enfeigne.

Pierre Trigatin continue dans les deuotions def-
quelles ie vous ay defia refcry, paffant beaucoup de
temps en oraifon dans noftre chappelle.

La patience de nos malades m'eftonne, i'en ay veu
plufieurs couuerts de la petite verolle par tout le
corps, auec vne fieure tres-ardente, ne fe plaindre non
plus que s'ils n'auoient point de mal, obeir pon(5tu-
ellement au medecin, fe monftrer recognoiflant des
moindres feruices qu'on leur rendoit.

Entre autres Lazare Petikovchkaovat, nous a laiffe
l'vn des plus rares exemples de patience qu'on puifle
voir, vous l'auez veu fouuent dans fon infirmity, il a
efte" fept mois entier dans noftre hofpital, afflige de

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 15

" All our sick are very careful to pray to God.
They urge us often to pray for them. It is a great
consolation to us to see them attentive to prayers
evening and morning. They waken one another as
soon as the time for prayers draws near. There are
some who remain alone a long time in the chapel,
before the Blessed Sacrament. The two blind wom-
en have become very devout since their baptism.
Heleine seemed to me very stupid before she became
a Christian ; I would never have expected to see her
so zealous as she is. She spends a great deal of time
praying to God ; she maintains a strict silence before
Mass, on the day when she [152] wishes to receive
communion. I have often asked them, when I saw
them very intent and meditative, of what they were
thinking. ' We are thinking of God,' they would
say, ' and of what the Father has taught us. '

" Pierre Trigatin continues in the devotions of
which I have already written you, passing much
time in prayer in our chapel.

" The patience of our sick astonishes me. I have
seen many whose bodies were entirely covered with
smallpox, and in a burning fever, complaining no
more than if they were not sick, strictly obeying the
physician, and showing gratitude for the slightest
service that was rendered them.

" Among others, Lazare Petikouchkaouat has left
us one of the rarest examples of patience that it is
possible to see. You have often seen him in his in-
firmity. He was seven whole months in our hospital,
afflicted with very painful sores in several parts of
his body, with a fever that continually preyed upon
him and so parched him that he could not quench
his thirst. He was seized by a ravenous hunger,

16 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

playes tres-fenfibles en plufieurs endroits de fon
corps, auec vne fieure qui le minoit continuellement,
& qui le brufloit fi fort, qu'il ne pouuoit etancher fa
foif, il fut pris d'vne faim canine, [153] en forte qu'il
ne pouuoit fe raffafier, il mangeoit inceilamment, &
plus il mangeoit & plus il defeichoit, il vint en tel
eftat que les os luy percoient adtuellement la peau,
la pourriture fe mit & dans fes os & dans fa peau, on
eut mis vne groffe noix dans quelques vns de fes os
decouuerts & tout cauez de pourriture, fes vlceres
eftoient grands & profonds, il fouffroit eftrangement,
mais auec vne patience encor plus eftrange, il fe fai-
foit leuer tous les iours vne fois, apres vn cry qu'il
iettoit par la violence des douleurs qu'on luy faifoit
en le touchant, il encourageoit ceux qui le portoient,
& puis les remercioit auec beaucoup de douceur, il
aymoit notamment ce ieune homme qui s'eft donne"
a noftre hofpital pour fecourir les pauures malades,
auffi faut il confeffer que ce bon ieune homme l'a fe-
couru auec vne charite qui ne fe peut affez loiier, il
appelloit ce malade fa confolation, vous fcauez com-
bien il eftoit puant, ie n'ay iamais fenty rien de fi
infedt, cependant fon corps refta dans [sc. fans] au-
cune mauuaife odeur apres fa mort, ce qui nous
eftonna, il fe [154] confeffoit & communioit affez
fouuet, il l'a fait encor depuis que vous luy auez
donne l'extreme-ondtion, bref il eft mort auec ces
paroles en la bouche, Iefus chaverimir, Iefus ayez
pitie de moy, Iefus ayez pitie de moy. Iufqu'icy la
Mere.

Les fecrets de Dieu font des abyfmes, ce grand &
puiflant Sauuage auoit efte fort fuperbe & defbau-
che, au commancement qu'il fut en l'hofpital il eftoit

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 17

[153] which he could not satisfy; he ate continually,
and the more he ate the more he wasted away. He
reached such a state that his bones actually pierced
through his skin. Putrefaction took place, both in
his bones and in his skin ; a large walnut could have
been put in some of his bones, uncovered and all
hollowed out by putrefaction ; his sores were large
and deep ; he suffered strangely, but with a patience
still more strange. He had himself raised once every
day; and, after one cry that he uttered through the
violence of the pain caused by touching him, he
spoke encouragingly to those who held him, and then
thanked them with great gentleness. He particu-
larly loved the young man who offered himself to
our hospital to assist the poor patients ; but then it
must be confessed that this good young man succored
him with a charity that cannot be sufficiently praised.
He called this patient his consolation. You know
how offensive to smell he was — I have never known
anything so tainted ; yet after his death no bad odor
arose from his body, which astonished us. He [154]
confessed and received communion frequently, doing
so even after you gave him extreme unction. In
short, he died with these words upon his lips : ' Jesus
chauerimir,' ' Jesus have pity upon me; Jesus, have
pity upon me.' " Thus far the Mother.

The secrets of God are unfathomable. This large
and powerful Savage had been very proud and dis-
solute. When he first entered the hospital he was
still full of self, — he tried to kill himself, to be freed
from the torments that he was suffering ; but Father
Pijard related, every day of Lent, some story of the
Passion in the hall of the poor ; this wretched man
was touched and piously fell into the line of duty.

18 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

encor plain de foy-mefme, il fe vouloit faire mourir
pour fe deliurer des tourmens qu'il fouffroit, mais le
P. Pijard racontat tons les iours du carefme quelque
hiftoire de la Paffion en la fale des pauures, ce refe-
rable fut touche, & fe rangea faindtement a fon
deuoir, les Religieufes ont exerce vne charite tres-
fignalee enuers ce cadavre viuant, c'eft l'vn de ceux
que Dieu a voulu fauuer, par la mifericorde qui s'ex-
erce en leur hofpital.

I'ay veu, pourfuit la Mere, en quelques vns vne
grande conflance a la mort, & vne ioye fondee fur
l'efperance qu'ils auoient d'aller au ciel, entre autres
efperance Itavichpich nous a grandement confolees,
au commencement qu'elle [155] entra en noftre hofpi-
tal, elle auoit grand defir de recouurer fa fante, elle
paroiffoit fort ennemie de la mort, & cependant auffi-
toft qu'on luy eut dit que fa maladie eftoit mortelle,
que c' eftoit fait de fa vie, elle ne s'en eftonna point,
elle pria qu'on luy fit venir le Pere, s'eftant confeffee
deux ou trois fois, en peu de temps elle paroiffoit
refolue & ferme comme vn rocher, elle voyoit deuant
fes yeux quatre petits enfans qu'elle laiffoit fort pau-
ures & fort ieunes, & fon mary grandement defole,
& tout cela ne l'efbranloit point, la foy opere forte-
ment dans ces nouueaux Chreftiens, vous diriez qu'ils
font affeurez qu'en fortans de cette vie, ils vont droit
en Paradis.

I'ay remarque* vne honeftete tres-grande dans tous
les Sauuages que nous auons eu a 1' hofpital, notam-
ment aux filles & femmes Chreftiennes, comme nous
dilions certain iour par recreation a. nos malades, que
nous irions au pays des Hurons pour les fecourir, ils
nous dirent que ces peuples eftoient fort diffolus, &

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 19

The Nuns have exercised a most signal charity
towards this living skeleton; he is one of those
whom God has willed to save through the mercy that
is exercised in their hospital.

" I have seen in some of them," continues the
Mother, " a great steadfastness at death, and a joy
founded upon their hope of going to heaven. Among
others, esperance Itauichpich greatly consoled us.
When she first [155] entered our hospital, she had an
eager desire to recover her health. She seemed very
averse to dying; and yet, as soon as she was told
that her sickness was mortal, that it was all over
with her, she was not at all shocked ; she begged that
the Father be sent for, and, having confessed two or
three times, in a little while she appeared as resolute
and firm as a rock. She saw before her eyes four
little children that she was leaving, very poor and
very young, and her husband exceedingly disconso-
late ; and all this did not make her waver. The faith
operates strongly in these new Christians. You
would say that they are sure that, in leaving this
life, they go straight to Paradise.

" I have noticed a very great chastity in all the
Savages that we have had in the hospital, especially
in the Christian girls and women. When we said
one day, to divert our patients, that we were going
to the country of the Hurons to succor them, they
told us that those peoples were very dissolute, and
that we, who so loved purity, could not endure them ;
[156] in short, they prayed you Fathers to dissuade
us from this plan, for the sake of our love of chastity.
But when we told them that we had only said this
in jest, they replied that we must confess, and that
God forbade lying. This made us smile, and greatly

20 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

que nous autres qui aymions tat la purete ne les pour-
rions fupporter, [156] bref ils prieret vos Peres de
nous diffuader ce deffein, par 1' affection que nous
portios a 1'honeft.ete, mais comme nous leurs eufmes
dit que nous n'auions dit cela qu'en riant, ils nous
repartirent qu'il falloit nous confeffer, & que Dieu
deffendoit de mentir, cela nous fit rire & nous edifia
fort, voyant la tendreffe de leur confcience.

Vn de nos malades ayant fait quelque action de de-
pit, en demanda pardon de luy mefme auec beaucoup
d'humilite, il s'en confeffa le mefme iour, & deux ou
trois iours apres il paroiffoit encor tout confus de fa
faute, il tafchoit d'amadouer la perfonne qu'il auoit
offence, il prioit Dieu pour elle, & luy offroit quelque
petite chofe qu'il auoit pour l'appaifer.

I 'ay fouuent admire, dit la Mere, comme ces per-
fonnes fi differentes de pays, d'age, & de fexe s'ac-
cordent fi bien. II faut qu'vne Religieufe veille tous
les iours en France dans nos maifons, pour obuier
aux difputes de nos pauures, ou pour les affoupir, &
tout l'hiuer nous n'auons pas remarque* le moindre
difcord [157] parmy nos Sauuages malades, il ne s'eft
efleue pas vne petite querelle.

Les remedes que nous auons apporte" d' Europe font
fort bons pour les Sauuages, lef quels n'ont point de
dimculte a prendre nos medecines, ny a fe faire fei-
gner, la charite des meres enuers leurs enfans eft fort
grande, car elles prennent dans leurs bouche la me-
decine qu'on donne a leurs enfans, & puis la font
paffer dans la bouche de leurs petits. Voila ce que
m'efcriuit cette bonne Mere.

Meffieurs de la nouuelle France, ay at defire que
les Religieufes hofpitalieres fiffent celebrer le facri-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 21

edified us, seeing the tenderness of their consciences.

" One of our patients, having committed some
vexatious act, asked pardon for it of his own accord
with great humility. He confessed, the same day;
and, two or three days later, he appeared still very
much embarrassed by his fault. He tried to soothe
the person whom he had offended ; he prayed to God
for her, and offered her some little article that he
had, to appease her.

" I have often wondered," says the Mother, " how
these persons, so different in country, age, and sex,
can agree so well. In France, a Nun has to be
on her guard every day in our houses, to prevent
disputes among our poor, or to quell them ; and all
winter we have not observed the least discord [157]
among our sick Savages, — not even a slight quarrel
has arisen.

" The remedies that we brought from Europe are
very good for the Savages, who have no difficulty in
taking our medicines, nor in having themselves bled.
The love of the mothers toward their children is very
great, for they take in their own mouths the medi-
cine intended for their children, and then pass it into
the mouths of their little ones." Thus the good
Mother wrote to me.

The Gentlemen of new France, having desired
that the hospital Nuns celebrate the sacrifice of the
holy Mass, to draw down the blessing of God upon
their holy enterprises, this was solemnly done on
the thirtieth day of November ; and, to honor them
more, Monsieur Gand was godfather in their name
to a worthy young Savage, who was baptized in the
chapel of the hospital, and named Francois.

On holy Thursday, as it is the custom of well-

22 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

fice de la faindte Meffe, pour attirer la benediction
de Dieu fur leurs fainctes entreprifes, cela fe fit
folemnellement le trentiefme iour de Nouembre, &
pour les honorer dauentage, Monfieur Gand fut par-
rin en leur nom d'vn braue ieune Sauuage, qui fut
baptife dans la chappelle de l'hofpital, & nomm6
Francois.

Le Ieudy fainct, comme c'eft la couftume des hof-
pitaux bien regies, de lauer les pieds des pauures,
Monfieur noftre Gouuerneur fe voulut trouuer a cette
[158] faincte ceremonie; le matin on dit la Meffe
dans la fale des malades, ou les Religieufes & les
Sauuages malades communierent, en fuitte on rangea
tous les hommes d'vn cofte, & les femmes & filles
de l'autre, Monfieur le Gouuerneur commanca le
premier a lauer les pieds des hommes, Monfieur le
Cheualier de l'lfle & les principaux de nos Fraeois
fuiuirent apres, les Religieufes auec Madame de la
Pelletrie, Mademoifelle de Repentigny; & plufieurs
autres femmes lauerent les pieds des femmes Sau-
uages auec vne grande charite & modeftie, Dieu fcait
fi ces pauures barbares voyans des perfonnes de tel
merite a leur pieds, eftoient touchez, nous leurs expli-
quafmes pourquoy nous exercions ces actions d'hu-
milite, ils font tres capable de cette instruction, la
conclufion leur fut bien agreable, car on leur fit apres
vne belle collation, vn honnefte homme habitant du
pays, ne s'eftant peu trouuer a cette faincte action
affembla le foir fes domeftiques, & fit le mefme en
leur endroit.

Les Sauuages qui fortent de l'hofpital [159] & qui
nous viennent reuoir a S. Iofeph, ou aux trois Riui-
eres, difent mille biens de ces bonnes Religieufes, ils

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 23

regulated hospitals to wash the feet of the poor,
Monsieur our Governor wished to be present at this
[158] holy ceremony. In the morning, Mass was said
in the hall of the sick, where the Nuns and the sick
Savages received communion. Then all the men
were ranged on one side, and the women and girls
on the other. Monsieur the Governor began first
to wash the feet of the men, Monsieur the Chevalier
de l'lsle and the principal men of our French people
followed; the Nuns, with Madame de la Pelletrie,
Mademoiselle de Repentigny, and several other wom-
en, washed the feet of the Savage women, very lov-
ingly and modestly. God knows whether these poor
barbarians were touched, at seeing persons of such
merit at their feet. We explained to them why we
performed these acts of humility; they are very
capable of understanding this instruction. The
conclusion was very agreeable to them, for a fine
collation was afterward offered them. A worthy man,
a resident of the country, not being able to be pres-
ent at this holy act, assembled his domestics in the
evening, and did the same thing to them.

The Savages who leave the hospital, [159] and
who come to see us again at St. Joseph, or at the
three Rivers, say a thousand pleasant things about
these good Nuns. They call them " the good," " the
liberal," "the charitable." The Mother Superior
having fallen sick, these poor Savages were very
sorry, the sick blaming themselves for it. " It is we
who have made her sick, ' ' they said ; ' ' she loves us
too much ; why does she do so much for us ? ' When
this good Mother, having recovered, entered the
hall of the poor, they knew not how to welcome her
enough . They have good reason to love these good

24 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.19

les appellent les bonnes, les liberates, les charitables,
la Mere Superieure eftant tombee malade, ces pau-
ures Sauuages en eftoient tous trifles, les malades
s'accufoient eux mefmes, c'eft nous qui l'auons fait
malade, difoient-ils, elle nous ayme trop pourquoy
trauaille elle tant pour nous? Quand cette bonne
Mere fut guerie, & qu'elle entra dans la fale des pau-
ures, ils ne fcauoient quelle chere luy faire, ils ont
bien raifon d'aymer ces bonnes Meres, car ie ne croy
pas que les parens ayent des affections fi douces, fi
fortes & fi conftantes pour leurs enfas, que ces bonnes
filles en ont pour leurs malades, ie les ay veu fouuent
fi accablees qu'elles n'en pouuoient plus, cependant
ie ne les ay iamais ouy plaindre, ny du trop grand
nombre de leurs malades, ny de leur infedtion, ny de
la peine qu'ils leur donnoient, elles ont vn cceur fi
amoureux & fi tendre pour fes pauures gens, que fi
par fois on leur faifoit quelque petit prefent, on pou-
uoit bien [160] s'affeurer qu'elles n'en goutteroit pas
quelque befoin qu'elles en euffent, tout eftoit dedie
& confacre pour leurs malades, il a fallu moderer
cette charite, & leur faire vn commandement de man-
ger du moins vne partie des petits dons qu'on leur
feroit, lors principalement qu'elles eftoient infirmes,
ie ne m'eftonne pas fi les Sauuages qui recognoiffent
fort bien ce grand amour, les ayment, les cheriffent
& les honorent.

Le P. Buteux refcriuoit il y a quelques iours au
R. P. Superieur, qu'vne femme qui auoit demeure
long-temps a l'hofpital, faifoit beaucoup de fruict
parmy les Sauuages de fa nation, les inftruifans auec
vne grande ferueur, cela eft ordinaire a tous ceux
qui ont paffe" l'hiuer dans cette faindte maifon, ils

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 25

Mothers; for I do not know that parents have so
sweet, so strong, and so constant an affection for
their children as these good women have for their
patients. I have often seen them so overwhelmed
that they were utterly exhausted ; yet I have never
heard them complain, either of the too great num-
ber of their patients, or of the infection, or of the
trouble they gave them. They have hearts so lov-
ing and so tender towards these poor people that, if
occasionally some little present were given them,
one could be very [160] certain that they would not
taste it, however greatly they might need it, every-
thing being dedicated and consecrated to their sick.
This charity had to be moderated, and an order was
given them to eat at least a part of the little gifts
that were made to them, especially when they were
not strong. I am not surprised if the Savages, who
recognize very clearly this great charity, love, cher-
ish, and honor them.

Father Buteux wrote, some days ago, to the Rev-
erend Father Superior that a woman who had re-
mained a long time at the hospital did a great deal
of good among the Savages of her nation, instruct-
ing them with much fervor. This is the common
practice of those who have passed the winter in this
holy house; they afterwards preach to their com-
patriots with great zeal.

In conclusion, I do not know which of the two
feels more satisfaction, — Madame the Duchess d'Ai-
guillon in having founded and built a house to our
Lord in new France, or her nuns in finding them-
selves in this new world.

[161] Here are the words of a letter from Mother de
St. Ignace, Superior:1 " My satisfaction is so great

26 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

prefchent par apres leur compatriotes auec vn grand
zele.

Pour conclufion ie ne fcay qui des deux a plus de
contentement, ou Madame la Ducheffe d'Aiguillon
d'auoir fonde & bafty vne maifon a noftre Seigneur
en la nouuelle France, ou fes filles de fe voir en ce
nouueau monde.

[161] Voicy les paroles d'vne lettre de la Mere de
S. Ignace Superieure, mon contentement eft fi grand
de me voir en Canada, que ie n'ay peu m'empefcher
defcrire a V. R. que ie fay plus d'eftat de m'y voir
que d'eftre Emperiere de tout le monde.

Pour Madame la Ducheffe d'Aiguillon, fa ioye fe
produit & fe fait paroiftre par des paroles & par des
effects tout d'amour, i'ay veu icy plufieurs lettres
efcrites de fa main dont elle a honore diuerfes per-
fonnes, il n'y en a pas vne qui ne m'ait touche le cceur,
car tous les articles portent coup, il me femble qu'ils
vont tous donner dans le cceur de Dieu, n'enuifageans
que fon pur amour dans cette grande entreprife, pour
laquelle Dieu la choifie, & qu'elle va accompliffant
de iour a autre auec fuccez & liberalite, par la grace
du mefme Dieu infpirateur des cceurs.

Ie penfois finir ce chapitre, mais il faut que ie dife
deux mots d'vne ieune femme Hiroquoife, qui fut
enuoyee en France il y a quelques annees.

Madame la Ducheffe d'Aiguillon [162] l'ayant fait
receuoir au nombre des enfans de Dieu par le faindl
baptefme, la fit loger au grand Conuent des Meres
Carmelites au fauxbourg S. Iaques de Paris, ces
bonnes Meres me voulant faire goufter des fruic5ts
qu'vn fauuageon de ces contrees tranfplante en
l'Eglife de Dieu auoit porte en voftre France, m'ot

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 27

at seeing myself in Canada, that I cannot refrain
from writing to Your Reverence that I think more of
being here than of being Empress of the whole
world."

As for Madame the Duchess d'Aiguillon, her joy-
appears and shows itself in very loving words and
deeds. I have seen here, written by her own hand,
several letters with which she has honored various
persons. There is not one of them which has not
touched my heart, for every sentence strikes home;
it seems to me that they will all reach the heart of
God, considering only her pure love in this great
enterprise, for which God chooses her, and which she
continues to carry on from day to day, with success
and liberality, by the grace of the same God, the
inspirer of hearts.

I thought I had finished this chapter; but I must
say a few words about a young Hiroquois woman
who was sent to France some years ago.2

Madame the Duchess d'Aiguillon [162] having
had her received into the number of the children of
God through holy baptism, had her lodged in the
great Convent of the Carmelite Mothers, in the faux-
bourg St. Jacques, at Paris. Those good Mothers,
wishing to have me taste some of the fruits that a
wild plant of these countries, transplanted into the
Church of God, had borne in your France, have sent
me a paper, unsigned, which speaks of her virtues
and her death. Mother Magdelaine de Jesus, very
zealous for the conversion of these peoples, has also
written me fully about her. I will give two or three
extracts from these letters, to show that there is
no heart so barbarous that it cannot receive Jesus
Christ.

28 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

enuoye* vn papier, fans nom, qui parle de fes vertus
& de fa mort, la Mere Magdelaine de Iefus, tres-
zel£e pour la conuerfion de ces peuples, m'en a aum
amplemet refcrit, ie tireray deux ou trois mots de
ces lettres, pour faire voir qu'il n'y a coeur fi barbare
qui ne foit capable de Iefus-Chrift.

I'ay remarque, dit la Mere Magdelaine de Iefus;
qu'Anne Tlierefe, c'eftoit le nom de cette bonne
Hiroquoife, auoit vn defir tout a fait extraordinaire
d'eftre inftruidte, elle ne fe laffoit iamais d'entendre
parler de Dieu, ny de le prier les Feftes & les Di-
manches, elle demandoit par fois cong6 de s'aller
pourmener, mais fa recreation eftoit d'aller entendre
Vefpres en vne Eglife, & Complie en vn autre, elle
auoit vne puret6 & vne tendreffe [163] de confcience
admirable, elle aymoit extremement la frequentation
des Sacremens, quand elle voyoit parer 1' Eglife elle
en demandoit la raifon, & on n'auoit point de paix
auec elle qu'on ne luy eut explique le myftere de la
fefte qu'on deuoit celebrer, l'efcoutant auec vne
grande auidite\ fon cceur fcauoit bie s'entretenir auec
Dieu. Ay ant remarque certain iour qu'vne fille for-
tant de la Communion, s'occupa incontinent en pri-
eres vocales recitant fon chappelet, elle luy dit au
fortir de 1' Eglife, ma fceur quand vous auez commu-
nie il faut regarder Iefus-Chrift dans voftre cceur fans
parler, il le faut adorer en filence, & luy dire du
fond de voftre ame, Monfeigneur ie me donne a vous,
prenes mon cceur, poffedes voftre pauure creature, &
quand vous luy aurez parle quelque teps du cceur,
alors vous pourrez remuer vos levres.

Elle eftoit d'vn bon naturel, fort charitable & fort
recognoiffante, eftant vne fois auec la Mere Magde-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 29

" I noticed," said Mother Magdelaine de Jesus,
" that Anne Therese " — the name of this good Hiro-
quois woman — ' ' had a most extraordinary desire to
be instructed. She never wearied of hearing about
God, nor of praying on Feast days and Sundays.
She sometimes asked leave to go for a walk, but
her recreation was to go to hear Vespers in one
Church, and Compline in another. She had a purity
and a tenderness [163] of conscience that were admir-
able. She liked exceedingly to frequent the Sacra-
ments; when she saw the Church decorated, she
asked the reason for it, and gave us no peace until
we explained to her the mystery of the feast that
was about to be celebrated, to which she listened
with great eagerness; her heart knew well how to
commune with God. One day, having noticed that
a sister who was going away from Communion sud-
denly began to pray aloud while reciting her rosary,
she said to her, as they were leaving the Church,
' My sister, when you have received communion,
you must look at Jesus Christ in your heart, without
speaking ; he must be adored in silence, and you must
say to him, from the depths of your soul, " My Lord,
I give myself to you ; take my heart, possess your
poor creature ; ' and, when you have spoken to him
for some time in your heart, then you can move your
lips.'

" She had a good disposition, very charitable and
very grateful. Once when she was with Mother Mag-
delaine, some one came and told her that a person
who came to teach her to read was dead. She [164]
was touched at this, and entreated me and all the
sisters to commend her soul to our Lord. ' '

If some poor person presented himself, she was

30 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

laine, on luy vint dire qu'vne perfonne qui luy venoit
monftrer a lire eftoit morte, elle en [164] fut touched,
& me pria & tontes les foeurs de recommander fon
ame a noftre Seigneur.

Quand il fe prefentoit quelque pauure, elle ne vou-
loit pas qu'on le fit attendre, elle mefme luy donnoit
fon difner s'il venoit en ce temps-la, fe paffant a du
pain feul; la nuit qu'elle mourut elle tefmoigna
qu'elle auoit de grandes obligations aux Peres Iefuites,
elle en nomma trois ou quatre par leurs noms, elle fe
tefmoigna auffi fort redeuable a la Mere Magdelaine,
& a la Mere Prieure de l'auoir receue en leur maifon.

Quelques perfonnes eftant en noftre tour, elle les
fit rire par quelques paroles Francoifes qu'elle pro-
nonca mal, cela l'emeut vn peu & la fit fortir brufque-
ment, pour fuir la confufion, mais vn remords la fai-
fiffant tout fur l'heure, elle rentra dans la chambre,
fe mit a genoux, baifa la terre, & demanda pardon
de fa promptitude & de fon defaut d'humilite.

Voyant vn homme s'impatienter pour s'eftre bleffe
elle s'efcria, eft il poffible qu'vn Chreftien fouffre
auec impatience, [165] puis qu'on luy promet le Para-
dis ou il fait fi beau, pour payement de fa patience,
nous autres difoit elle, nous n'auons pas l'efperance
ny la promefle de ces biens, & cependant nous ne
nous fafchon point dans les douleurs horribles qu'on
nous fait fouffrir, quand nous fommes pris en guerre
par nos ennemis.

Elle ne s'impatienta point en fa maladie, quoy
qu'affez longue, elle difoit qu'elle eftoit bien ayfe
de fouffrir, penfant bien fouuent a ce que noftre
Seigneur Iefus-Chrift auoit endur6 pour elle, fL-toffc
qu'elle fut baptise elle voulut ieufner tout le Carefme

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 31

unwilling that lie should be kept waiting ; she her-
self gave him her dinner if he came at that time,
contenting herself with bread alone. The night on
which she died, she testified that she was under great
obligations to the Jesuit Fathers, mentioning three
or four of them by their names ; she declared herself
also greatly indebted to Mother Magdelaine, and to
the Mother Prioress, for having received her in their
house.

" Some people being at our house, she made them
laugh by incorrectly pronouncing some French words.
This touched her a little, and caused her to go out
abruptly, to escape embarrassment; but, being im-
mediately seized with remorse, she reentered the
room, fell upon her knees, kissed the ground, and
asked for pardon for her hastiness and lack of
humility.

" Seeing a man lose his temper because he had
hurt himself, she exclaimed, 'Is it possible that a
Christian should feel pain with impatience, [165]
when he has the promise of Paradise, where it is so
beautiful, as a reward for his patience? We people,'
said she, ' have not the hope nor the promise of these
blessings ; and yet we do not become angry in the
horrible pains that we are made to suffer when we
are captured in war by our enemies. '

" She was not impatient in her sickness, although
it was rather long. She said that she was very glad
to suffer, thinking very often of what our Lord Jesus
Christ had suffered for her. As soon as she was
baptized, she wished to fast all the following Lent,
bravely overcoming the difficulty that those of her
nation have in abstaining from food when they are
hungry. Having gone to some house at this holy

32 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

fuiuant, furmontant genereufement la peine qu'ont
ceux de fa nation de s'abftenir de manger quand ils
ont appetit. Eftant all6e pendant ce faindt temps en
quelque maifon, on luy prefenta a manger, peut eflre
quelques fruidts, iamais elle n'en voulut goufter.

Elle auoit vne honeftete & vne purete admirable,
vn homme de qualite, qu'elle honoroit & qu'elle auoit
fouuent veu chez Madame la Ducheffe d'Aiguillon,
[166] venant des champs s'approcha d'elle pour la
faluer, elle fe retira bien vifte difant, Iefu, c'eft vn
homme ie ne le puis faluer, iamais elle ne parloit a
aucun feul a feul, s'il venoit en la maifon quelque
Religieux ou quelque feculier, elle alloit auffi-tofi
querir vne tourriere pour luy tenir compagnie.

Comme ie luy parlois, m'efcrit la Mere Magde-
laine, du deffein que vous auiez de la rappeller en
la nouuelle France, pour luy faire epoufer quelque
Sauuage Chreftien, elle me dit qu'elle ne vouloit point
d'autre epoux que Iefu-Chrift. Luy en parlat vne
autrefois, elle fe fafcha fi fort, qu'elles s'en alia fur
l'heure & on ne la put faire reuenir qu'on ne luy eut
promis que iamais plus on ne luy parleroit de mariage.

Eftant malade elle demanda pardon a toutes les
fceurs auec beaucoup de deuotion, elle auoit quelque
repugnance a mourir, mais ayant demande fi la Vierge
eftoit morte, comme on luy eut dit que cette Prin-
ceffe auoit paye cette debte commune a tous les
hommes, elle tefmoigna [167] qu'elle eftoit fort con-
tente de mourir, vn peu deuant que de rendre l'ef-
prit, elle appella vne tourriere & luy dit, fi vous
fcauiez ma fceur que ie fuis ayfe la dedans, en luy mon-
ftrant fon cceur, ie fuis fi contente que ie ne vous le
puis dire, elle pria qu'on recitaft les Litanies de la

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 33

time, she was offered something to eat, perhaps fruit,
but she would not taste it.

" She was possessed of wonderful modesty and
purity. A man of rank, whom she respected, and
whom she had often seen at the house of Madame
the Duchess d'Aiguillon, [166] coming- from the coun-
try, approached to salute her. She drew back very
quickly, saying, ' Jesus ! it is a man ; I cannot salute
him ! ' She never spoke to any man alone ; if any
Monk or layman came into the house, she went
straightway in quest of an attendant to keep her
company.

" When I spoke to her," Mother Magdelaine writes
me, " of your intention to recall her to new France,
to have her marry some Christian Savage, she told
me that she desired no other spouse than Jesus
Christ. Speaking to her of this at another time, she
became so vexed that she immediately went away ;
and we could not have induced her to come back if
we had not promised that we would never speak to
her again of marriage.

" In her sickness, she asked pardon of all the sis-
ters, with great devoutness. She had some repug-
nance to death ; but, having asked if the Virgin had
died, and being told that this Princess had paid the
debt common to all men, she declared [167] that she
was well satisfied to die. A little while before ren-
dering up her soul, she called an attendant, and said
to her, ' If you knew, my sister, how glad I am in
here ' — pointing to her heart; ' I am happier than I
can tell you.' She entreated that the Litanies of the
blessed Virgin be recited; when she responded to
them very attentively, she was told that she would
make herself worse. But it was necessary to grant

34 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

faindte Vierge, comme elle y repondoit auec grande
attention, on luy dit qu'elle fe feroit mal, mais il
fallut accorder a la deuotion de fon efprit, ce qui
pouuoit vn pen nuire a la fante de fon corps.

On luy demanda fi elle eftoit bien aife de mourir
Chreftienne, ouy, dit elle, de tout mon coeur, elle
paroiffoit tres ioyeufe & tres-contente. Vne bonne
foeur luy faifant faire vne adte de contrition, cette
pauure Neophite luy dit, recommances ma fceur,
encor, encor, elle le fit iufques a trois fois, fouhait-
tant qu'on luy parlaft inceffamment de Dieu. Enfin
cette ame qui a pris naiffance au milieu de la Barba-
rie, s'en alia voir celuy qu'elle n'a cognu que bien
tard, mais auec beaucoup d'ardeur & d'amour. Qu'il
foit beny [168] a iamais dans les temps & dans
1' eternite\

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 35

to the devotion of her soul what might slightly
injure the health of her body.

" She was asked if she was truly glad to die a
Christian. 'Yes,' said she, 'with all my heart.'
She appeared very joyful and very contented. While
a good sister was having her perform an act of con-
trition, this poor Neophyte said to her, ' Begin again,
my sister, — again, again.' She did it as many as
three times, desiring to be continually told of God.
At last this soul, which had its birth in the midst of
Barbarism, went to see him whom it knew only very
late, but with great ardor and love. May he be for-
ever blessed, [168] in time and in eternity."

36 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

CHAPITRE XII.

DU SEMINAIRES DES MERES VRSULINES.

IE n'ay point veu de Meres fi ialoufes pour leurs
enfans, que Madame de la Pelletrie & les Vrfu-
lines le font pour leur petites f eminariftes :
l'amour qui prend fa naiffance en Dieu eft plus gene-
reux, & plus conftant que les tendreffes de la nature,
ces bonnes filles femblent n'auoir ny bras ny coeur,
que pour cultiuer ces ieunes plantes, & les rendre
dignes du iardin de l'Eglife, pour eftre vn iour tranf-
plantees dans les facres parterres du Paradis.

Le deffein de cette bonne dame eftoit de commen-
cer vn petit feminaire de fix pauures petites orphe-
lins Sauuages, la difficulte de ioui'r de fes biens ne
luy permettant [169] pas dauantage, fon cceur eft
bien moins limite que fes forces, au lieu de fix, il en
eft entre dix-huidt dans cette petite maifon, il eft
vray qu'elles n'ont pas demeure toutes enfemble a
mefme temps, mais pour 1' ordinaire, elles eftoient
fix ou fept logees auec Madame de la Pelletrie, trois
Religieufes, & deux rilles Francoifes, & tout cela dans
deux petites chambres, oil de nouueau font encor
entrees deux Religieufes, fans compter les petites
filles Frangoifes qui vont en ce petit Monaftere pour
eftre inftruict.es, fans compter auffi les filles, & les
femmes Sauuages, qui entrent a toutes heures en la
chambre, ou on enfeigne leurs petites compatriotes,
& qui affez fouuent y paffent la nuit, eftant furprifes

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 37

CHAPTER XII.

OF THE SEMINARY OF THE URSULINE MOTHERS.

1HAVE never seen Mothers so solicitous for their
children as are Madame de la Pelletrie and the
Ursulines for their little seminarists. The love
that finds its source in God is more generous and
more constant than the tenderness of nature. These
good sisters seem to have neither arms nor hearts
except to cultivate these young plants, and to render
them worthy of the garden of the Church, that they
may be some day transplanted into the holy gardens
of Paradise.

This good lady's intention was to begin a small
seminary of six poor little orphan Savages, the diffi-
culty of getting possession of her property not per-
mitting her [169] to do more. Her heart is much
less limited than her means. Instead of six, eight-
een have entered this little house. It is true that
they have not dwelt there all at the same time ; but
usually there were six or seven lodged with Madame
de la Pelletrie, — three Nuns, and two French girls;
and all these in two little rooms, where recently, two
more Nuns have entered,3 — without counting the
little French girls who go to this small Monastery to
be instructed ; without counting, also, the Savage girls
and women who at all hours enter the room where
their little compatriots are being taught, and who
often pass the night there, when overtaken by bad
weather, or detained on some other account. I leave

38 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

de matmais temps, ou retenues pour quelque autre
fujet, ie vous laiffe a penfer combien grandes font
les incommodit6s, qui prouiennent d'vn lieu fi re-
treff y : mais apres tout cela ie puis dire, que la ioye
qu'elles recoiuent de voir le fruidt de leurs petits tra-
uaux, effuye tellement leurs ennuis, & donne vn tel
plaifir a leur cceur, que fi leurs corps font logez a
l'eftroit, [170] leur efprit ne reffent rien de cette pri-
fon Efcoutons les parler de leur threfor, c'eft a dire
de leurs enfans, fi ie voulois coucher icy toutes les
lettres de ioye qu'elles m'ont efcrites fur ce fujet, ie
ferois quafi vn liure au lieu d'vn chapitre, ceux qui
paffent icy de voftre France, font quafi tous trompez
en vn point, ils ont des penfees extremement baffes
de nos Sauuages, ils les croyent maffifs & pefans, &
fi-toft qu'ils les ont pratiques, ils confeffent que la
feule education, & non l'efprit manque a ces peuples.

La Mere Cecile de la Croix, & la Mere Marie de
faindt Iofeph, m'ont quelquefois entretenu des bonnes
qualites de leurs enfans: voicy comme celle-cy en
parle, il n'y a rien de fi docile que ces enfans, on les
plie comme on veut, elles n'ont aucune replique a
ce qu'on defire d'elles: s'il faut prier Dieu, reciter
leur catechifme, ou faire quelque petit trauail ou quel-
que ouurage, elles font auffi-toft preftes fans mur-
mure & fans excufes.

Elles ont vne particuliere inclination a prier Dieu,
outre les heures ordonn^es [171] pour le faire, &
pour les inftruire, elles nous preffent cent fois le iour
de les faire prier, & de leur enfeigner comme il faut
faire, ne fe laffant iamais de cette action vous les
verriez ioindre leurs petites mains, & donner leur
cceur a noftre Seigneur. Tous les iours elles affiftent

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 39

you to imagine how great must be the discomforts
arising from so narrow quarters. But, notwithstand-
ing all this, I can say that the joy they experience
in seeing the fruit of their little labors so mitigates
their trials and gives their hearts so much pleasure,
that even if their bodies are lodged in narrow space,
[170] their minds are not at all sensible of this prison.
Let us hear them speak of their treasure, — that is to
say, of their children. If I were to copy here all the
joyful letters they have written me upon this subject,
I would almost make a book instead of a chapter.
Those who cross over here from your France are
almost all mistaken on one point, — they have a very
low opinion of our Savages, thinking them dull and
slow-witted; but, as soon as they have associated
with them, they confess that only education, and not
intelligence, is lacking in these peoples.

Mother Cecile de la Croix and Mother Marie de
saint Joseph have sometimes entertained me with the
good qualities of their children. See how the latter
speaks of them : " There is nothing so docile as these
children. One can bend them as he will ; they have
no reply to anything one may desire from them. If
they are to pray to God, recite their catechism, or
perform some little piece of work or task, they are
ready at once, without murmurs and without excuses.

" They have a special inclination to pray to God
outside the hours specified [171] for doing so and for
their instruction. They urge us a hundred times a
day to have them pray, and to teach them how it
should be done, never wearying of this act. You will
see them clasping their little hands, and giving their
hearts to our Lord. They attend holy Mass every
day, and are so attentive — not playing and talking,

40

LES RELATIONS DES JE~ SUITES [Vol.19

a la faindte Meffe auec telle attention que nous en
fortunes rauies, ne badinant, ny ne parlant point a la
facon des petits enfans de France, elles fe compofent
& fe reglent fur nos adtions, excepte que pour les
reuerences elles imitent Madame de la Pelletrie:
elles ont fi peur de ne point affifter a ce diuin facri-
fice, qu'vn iour Madame les voulant mener a l'habita-
tion de S. Iofeph, ou font leurs parens, elles deman-
derent fi on ne leur feroit pas entendre la Meffe
deuant que de partir.

Elles ne manquent pas de reciter tous les iours
leur chappelet, fi elles appercoiuent quelque Reli-
gieufe fe retirer a part pour le reciter, elles fe pre-
fentent pour le dire auec elle : vne Religieufe leur
ayant certain iour accorde cette faueur, leur dit que
c'eftoit vne bonne deuotion [172] de proferer ces
paroles apres chaque Auc Maria, f ancle Iofeph or a pro
nobis, elles promirent qu' elles les diroient, & qu' elles
prieroient ce grand Saindt, en effedt fi-tofh qu' elles
fortoient de la Meffe, elles venoient rendre compte a
cette bonne Mere de leur petite deuotion, elles fe
gliffent par fois dans noftre chceur, & la fe placant
de part & d'autre, tenant chacune vn liure en la main,
elles fe comportent comme nous faifons pendant
noftre office, elles chantent V Aue Maris Jiella & le
Gloria Patri, faifant les mefmes inclinations qu' elles
nous voyet faire ; & comme elles ne f cauent que cet
Hymne par cceur, elles le chatent vingt, & trente
fois fans le laffer, s'imaginans qu'elles font vne priere
bien agreable a Dieu, cette innocence eft rauiffante.

Le Vendredy Saindt, comme elles virent que les
Religieufes quittoient leur chauffure, & faifoient de
grandes profternations pour adorer la faindte Croix,

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 41

like the little children in France — that we are
delighted. They compose their faces, and regulate
their actions by ours, except that in their reverences
they imitate Madame de la Pelletrie. They are so
afraid of not being present at this divine sacrifice,
that one day, when Madame wished to take them to
the settlement of St. Joseph, where their relatives
are, they asked if they would not be allowed to hear
Mass before departing.

' ' They do not fail to recite their rosary every day.
If they notice some Nun going aside to say hers,
they present themselves to say it with her. A Nun,
having granted them this favor one day, told them
that it was a suitable act of devotion [172] to offer
these words after each Ave Maria: " Sancte Joseph,
or a pro nobis." They promised that they would say
them, and that they would pray to this great Saint.
Indeed, as soon as they left the Mass they came and
rendered this good Mother an account of their little
devotion. They sometimes slip into our choir, and,
placing themselves on opposite sides, each holding a
book in her hand, they act as we do during our serv-
ice. They sing the Ave Maris stella and the Gloria
Patri, making the same inclinations that they see us
make ; and as this is the only Hymn they know by
heart, they sing it twenty and thirty times without
tiring of it, thinking that they are offering a prayer
very acceptable to God. This innocence is enchant-
ing.

" On Good Friday, when they saw that the Nuns
took off their shoes and prostrated themselves low to
adore the holy Cross, these poor children laid aside
their shoes, and observed the same ceremonies which
they had noticed in their Mothers.

42 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

ces patmres enfans poferent leurs f ouliers, & garderent
les mefmes ceremonies qu'elles auoient remarquees
en leurs Meres.

[173] Aries fouuent on les trotme feules priat Dieu,
& recitant leur chappelet, elles prennent vn grad
plaifir de ramaffer des fleurs par les bois; & d'en
faire de petites couronnes, qu'elles vont pref enter a
l'image de la faincte Vierge, qui eft dans noftre
chceur, elles l'entourent de bouquets, & luy font
toutes les careffes poffibles, ces petites deuotions pro-
uiennent d'elles mefmes, ou pluftoft de l'efprit de
Dieu: car perfonne ne les incite a les embraffer:
fuffit qu'elle voie vne action loiiable pour l'imiter
felon leur petit pouuoir.

Elles ayment grandement les images, elles en font
de petits oratoires, ou elles couchent, elles fe font
expliquer ce qu'elles reprefentent, ne fe laffant iamais
d'ouir parler des myfteres de noftre creance.

Leur plus grande recreation c'eft de dancer a la
mode de leur pays, elles ne le font pas neantmoins
fans conge; l'eftant venu demander vn iour de Ven-
dredy, on leur dit que Iefus eftoit mort vn Vendredy,
& que c'eftoit vn iour de trifteffe, il n'en fallut pas
dauantage pour les arrefter, [174] nous ne dancerons
plus ce iour la, firent elles, nous ferons trifles, puif-
que Iefus eft mort a tel iour.

Quant on eut donne efperance a trois des plus
grandes, qu'elles pourroient comunier a Pafques, ie
ne vy iamais plus de ioye, dit la Mere qui les inftruidt,
elles prenoient vn plaifir indicible quad on les inftrui-
foit fur cet adorable myftere, fe rendant extraordi-
nairement attentiues. II femble qu'elles conceuoient
cette amoureuf e verite par deffus leur age : car elles

1640] RELA TJON OF 1640 43

[173] " They are frequently found alone, praying
to God and reciting their beads. They take great
pleasure in gathering flowers in the woods, and in
making little garlands of these, which they go and
present to the image of the blessed Virgin which is
in our choir. They surround her with bouquets and
offer her all possible endearments. These little de-
votions proceed from themselves, or rather from the
spirit of God, for no one urges them to undertake
these ; it is enough for them to see a praiseworthy
action, to imitate it according to their childish ability.

" They are very fond of the images, making little
oratories for them, where they sleep. They have the
meaning of these explained to them, and never weary
of hearing about the mysteries of our belief.

"Their favorite recreation is to dance, after the
fashion of their country ; they do not do this, how-
ever, without permission. Having come one Friday
to ask this, they were told that Jesus had died on
Friday, and that it was a day of sadness. Nothing
more was needed to stop them. [174] ' We will dance
no more on that day,' they said; ' we will be sad,
since Jesus died on such a day.'

" When three of the larger girls had been encour-
aged to hope that they could receive communion at
Easter, I never saw more joy," says the Mother who
instructs them. " They take unspeakable pleasure
in receiving instruction upon this adorable mystery,
becoming unusually attentive. It seems that they
have a conception of this lovable truth beyond their
years, for they are no more than twelve years old.
They decided to fast upon the eve of their com-
munion, a custom they have observed ever since,
whenever they approach the holy table."

44 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

n'ont pas plus de douze ans, elles voulurent ieufner
la veille de leur communion, couftume qu'elles ont
garde depuis autant de fois, qu'elles fe font appro-
climes de la faindte table.

Comme le P. Pijard inftruifoit ces trois femina-
riftes, vne des plus petites agee d'enuiron fix ans, fe
prefenta demandant la faindte communion auec les
autres, le Pere luy dit qu'elle eftoit trop petite, he
mon Pere, difoit elle, ne me rebutes pas pour eftre
petite, ie deuiendray grande auffi-bien que mes com-
pagnes, on la laiffa efcouter, elle retint fi bien tout
ce [!75] qu'on expliquoit de cet adorable myftere, &
en rendoit par apres fi bon compte, qu'elle rauiffoit
ceux qui Ten interrogeoient, on ne luy accorda pas
neantmoins cette viande des forts. Sa mere l'eftant
venue voir pendant ces iours-la, cette enfant fe mit
a 1'inftruire des myfteres de noftre foy, qu'elle expli-
quoit par des images, elle la fit prier Dieu, & puis
luy monftroit les lettres alphabetiques dans vn liure,
pour luy tefmoigner le defir qu'elle auoit de fcauoir
lire: cette bonne femme eftoit fi rauie, qu'elle faifoit
l'enfant auec fon enfant, proferant les lettres apres
fa petite fille, comme fi elle eut repete" fa lecon. A
la mienne volonte difoit elle aux Religieufes, que
i'euffe cognu Dieu auffi-toft que vous, ie fuis extreme-
ment contante de voir ma fille auec vous autres,
quand nous la retirerons elle nous inftruira fon Pere,
& moy, nous auons tous deux vn grand defir d'eftre
baptifes, elle nous enfeignera a prier Dieu.

Mais voyons ce que m'efcriuit la mere Marie de
1' Incarnation touchant la [176] premiere communion;
de ces ieunes enfans. Pay efte grandemet confol6e
ayat apris que le R. P. Superieur auoit inclination

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 45

When Father Pijard was instructing these three
seminarists, one of the smallest children, about six
years old, presented herself and asked for the holy-
communion with the others. The Father told her
that she was too young. " Ah, my Father," said
she, " do not refuse me because I am little; I shall
become large, as well as my companions." She was
allowed to listen, and remembered so well all [175]
that was explained of this adorable mystery, and
afterward gave so good an account of it, that she
delighted those who questioned her. However, she
was not granted this food for the strong. Her
mother coming to see her during those days, this
child began to instruct her upon the mysteries of the
faith, which she explained by images. She had her
pray to God, and then showed her the letters of the
alphabet in a book, to prove to her the desire she had
to learn to read. This good woman was so pleased
that she acted the child with her child, saying the
letters after her little girl as if she were reciting her
lesson. " My daughter wishes," said she to the
Nuns, " that I should know God as soon as I know
you. I am very glad to see her with you ; when we
go away, she will instruct us, her Father and me.
We both have a great desire to be baptized ; she will
teach us to pray to God."

But let us see what mother Marie de 1' Incarnation
wrote me, concerning the [176] first communion
of these children. " I was greatly consoled when I
learned that the Reverend Father Superior was in-
clined to have three of our seminarists make their
first communion, if they were considered fitted for
it. Father Claude Pijard instructed them with great
care; he is much comforted at seeing them so well

46 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

que trois de nos feminariftes fiffent leur premiere
communion; fi elles en eftoient iug6es capables, le
P. Claude Pijard les inflruit auec vn grand foin, il
eft tout confole" de les voir en vne fi bonne difpofi-
tion, il eft vray mon bon Pere, qu'elle font paroiftre
tant de defir de poffeder vn fi grand bien, que vous
diri6s qu'elle vont entrer au ciel, tant elles ont de
ioye fur leur vifage: Agnes faifoit hier quelque
traict. d'enfant, on luy dit qu'elle fafchoit Dieu, elle
fe prit a pleurer luy en ayant demande la raifon,
elle rdpondit, on ne me fera pas communier a caufe
que i'ay faclie" Dieu; on ne la peut appaifer qu'on ne
l'euft affeuree, que cela ne l'empefcheroit pas de
communier, elles font fi attentiues a ce qu'on leur
enf eigne qu' outre ce que le Pere les inflruit, fi
ie leur voulois faire repeter ce qu'on leur dit, &
ce qui eft couche au catechifme depuis le matin iuf-
ques au foir, elles fi afluiettiroient volontiers; [177]
i'en fuis rauie d'eftonnement ie n'ay point veu des
filles en France ardentes a fe faire inftruire ny a
prier Dieu, comme le font nos feminariftes, ie croy
que les benediction du ciel font plainement fur ces
ames innocentes ; car elles le font vrayement. Voicy
ce que Madame de la Peltrie m'efcriuit fur le mefme
fujet.

II ne m'eft pas poffible de laiffer paffer cette occaf-
fion, fans vous racompter la ioye, que nos enfans
font paroiftre de ce qu'on leur a accorde la faindle
communion pour le Ieudy fainct: vous auriez vne
confolation bien fenfible, fi vous voy6s auec quelle
attention elles efcoutent les inftructions, que le Pere
Pijard leur fait tous les iours vne fois, & noftre Mere
deux ou trois fois, pour les bien difpofer a receuoir

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 47

inclined. Verily, my good Father, they manifest so
much desire to possess so great a blessing that you
would say they are about to enter heaven, so much
joy appears on their faces. Agnes committed some
childish fault yesterday ; she was told that she was
offending God. She began to cry, and, when asked
the reason, she replied, ' They will not let me re-
ceive communion, because I have offended God.'
She could not have been comforted, had we not
assured her that that should not keep her from com-
munion. They are so attentive to what is taught
them that, besides the instruction the Father gives
them, if I wished to have them repeat what has been
told them, and what is contained in the catechism,
from morning until night, they would willingly submit
to this. [177] I am carried away with astonishment
at them ; I have never seen girls in France so eager to
be instructed, or to pray to God, as are our semina-
rists. I believe that the blessings of heaven are fully
bestowed upon these innocent souls, for such they
certainly are." See what Madame de la Peltrie
wrote me upon the same subject.

" I cannot let this opportunity pass, without de-
scribing to you the joy our children showed at being
granted the holy communion on holy Thursday.
You would experience a touching consolation if you
could see with what attention they listen to the in-
structions that Father Pijard gives them once every
day, and our Mother two or three times, to prepare
them well for the reception of such a guest. These
are incredible fervors. When they are asked why
they have so great a desire to receive communion,
they reply that Jesus will come to kiss them in heart,
and that he will make their souls beautiful. One

48 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

vn tel hofte, ce font des ferueurs qui ne font pas
croyables, quand on leur demande, pourquoy elles
ont vn fi grand defir de communier, elles refpondent,
que Iefus les viendra baifer au cceur, & qu'il embel-
lira leurs ames, fouuent on appercoit le vifage de
ma filliole Marie Negabamat, dans vn epanouiffement
de ioye tout extraordinaire, [178] fi vous luy en de-
manded le fubiet c'efl dit elle, que ie communieray
bien-toft. Ie vous confeffe mon R. P. que i'ay le
cceur tout rauy de les voir dans de fi belles dif posi-
tions, de forte que quand il plaira a la diuine proui-
dence de me retirer de ce monde, ie fuis fatisfaidte,
puifque fa diuine mifericorde commence a reluire
fur nos petites feminarifles, & qu'il femble agreer
nos petits trauaux.

Le Pere Claude Pijard qui auoit le foin d'inftruire
ces enfans pendant cet hiuer dernier, m'a confeffe,
que les larmes luy tomboient des yeux, voyant la
modeftie de ces ieunes enfans en leur premiere com-
munion.

Reuenons aux remarques que la Mere Marie de S.
Iofeph ma mifes en main; elles font dit elle fort
recognoiffantes de l'amour qu'on leur porte, & du
bien qu'on leur procure. Voyans certain iour, que
nous auions de la peine d'apprendre leur langue 6
que volontiers nous vous donnerions nos langues
difoient elles. Si Madame de la Peltrie les mene en
quelque endroit elles la fuiuent auec plus d'amour,
que les enfans ne fuiuent [179] leur vraye mere.
I'ay admire ce que ie vay dire, quand cette honefte
Dame les amene a l'habitation de faindt Iofeph ces
enfans s'en vont voir leurs parens, qui deca qui dela,
Madame eft elle prefte de partir, vous les voyes

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 49

often perceives the face of my goddaughter, Marie
Negabamat, wonderfully lighted up with joy; [178]
if you ask her the reason for this, ' It is because I
shall soon receive communion,' she answers. I con-
fess to you, my Reverend Father, that my heart is
full of delight at seeing them so well disposed, — so
much so, that when it shall please divine providence
to take me away from this world, I shall be satisfied,
since his divine mercy begins to shine upon our little
seminarists, and seems to be pleased with our insig-
nificant labors."

Father Claude Pijard, who had charge of the
instruction of these children during this last winter,
has confessed to me that tears fell from his eyes
when he saw the modesty of these children at their
first communion.

Let us come back to the observations that Mother
Marie de St. Joseph has placed in my hands. " They
are," says she, " very grateful for the love we bear
them, and for the blessings we procure for them.
Seeing one day that we had difficulty in learning
their language, 'Oh, how willingly we would give you
our tongues,' they said. If Madame de la Peltrie
takes them to any place, they follow her more lovingly
than children follow [179] their real mother. I have
wondered at what I am about to tell. When this
worthy Lady takes them to the settlement of saint
Joseph, these children go to see their relatives, some
here and some there. Let Madame be ready to
depart, — you see them leave their relatives, and
take their places at her side, embracing her with
more affection than they do their own parents.

' ' Three new girls entering the seminary some time
ago, the older girls brought various articles — one

50 LES RELA TIONS DES J ^SUITES [Vol. 19

quitter leurs parens pour fe ranger aupres (Telle,
l'embraffant auec plus d' affection que leurs propres
parens.

II y a quelque temps que trois filles entrant de
nouueau au feminaire, les plus anciennes s'en allerent
querir, qui l'vne de fes robes, qui vn bonnet pour
reueftir leurs nouuelles compagnes, en attendant
qu'on leur eut fait des habits.

Elles font fi honneftes, que fi quelqu'vne a la gorge
tant foit peu defcouuerte, les autres luy difent qu'elle
chaffera f on bon Ange : cela eft maintenant 11 receu
parmy elles, que pour auertir vne fille qu'elle fe
tienne dans la bien-feance, elles luy difent prenez
garde que voftre bon Ange ne vous quitte, auffi-toft
celle a. qui on tient ce langage iette la veue fur foy,
pour voir s'il n'y a rien de mefeant. [180] Magde-
laine Amiskoveian agee d'enuiron dix-fept a dix-
huict ans, eft fmgulie[re]ment pudique, iamais on
ne luy a veu rien faire qui foit tant foit peu blaf-
mable en ce point: c'eft elle qui recommande aux
autres l'honeftete, les corrigeant quand elles font
quelque adtion d'enfance; mais auec tant d'adrefle
que pas vne ne s'en fafche. Agnes ay ant prononce
quelque parolle mefeante par megarde, s'en voulut
confeffer tout fur l'heure, & le fit a la venue du Pere.

Au refte ces enfans ont le corps bien fait, elles font
tres-capables de ciuilite. Elles font grandement
adroites a faire tous les petits ouurages, & les autres
petites fondtions du menage, qu'on leur enfeigne.
Voyons encor vne lettre ou deux fur le mefme fub-
jedt.

Voicy comme la Mere Superieure m'en efcrit, il
me feroit impoffible de vous dire la confolation qu'a

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 51

bringing one of her dresses, another a hat — for their
new companions to wear, until clothes could be made
for them.

" They are so modest that, if one of them has her
throat even a little uncovered, the others tell her
that she will drive away her good Angel. This is
now so accepted among them that, to warn a girl to
keep within the bounds of decorum, they say to
her, ' Be careful that your good Angel does not
leave you ; ' and the girl to whom this remark is
made looks herself over, to see that there is nothing
unseemly. [180] Magdelaine Amiskoueian, about
seventeen or eighteen years old, is singularly mod-
est. She has never been seen to do anything in the
least culpable, in this respect. It is she who recom-
mends modesty to the others, correcting them when
they do something childish, but with so much tact
that no one gets angry with her. Agnes, having
used some improper word through inadvertence,
wished to confess it immediately, and did so at the
coming of the Father.

" I will add that these children are very well
formed, are very ready in politeness, and are won-
derfully clever in performing all their little tasks
and the small household duties that we teach them."
Let us see another letter or two upon the same
subject.

The Mother Superior thus writes me about them :
1 ' It would be impossible for me to tell you the con-
solation my mind has experienced in having had the
good fortune to see, this week, so many souls who
have received holy Baptism; and in knowing that
our Lord has done us this favor, that they have been
[181] instructed in our little Chapel. To-day our joy

52 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

receu mon efprit, d'auoir eu le bon-heur de voir cette
fepmaine tant d'ames, qui ont receu le faindt Bap-
tefme, & que noflre Seigneur nous ait fait ce bien
qu'elles ayent efte [181] inftruictes en noftre petite
Chappelle. Auiourd'huy noftre ioye a recommance,
lors que nous auons veu chez nous les filles & les
femmes Chreftiennes, qui doiuent partir pour fuiure
leurs parens a la chaffe, nous les auons traictees trois
fois cette fepmaine, mais de bon cceur, mon R. P. il
femble que ces bonnes gens portent le Paradis auec
eux, aufii font ce des ames fraichement lauees dans
le fang de l'agneau: mais que vous diray-je de nos
feminariftes, Magdelaine Amifkoveian, eft en fes
mceurs comme fi elle auoit efte efleuee parmy nous,
il ne fe peut voir vne humeur plus douce & plus flex-
ible: elle fait tenir toutes fes compagnes en leur
deuoir, elle goufte grandement bien les chofes de
Dieu. Marie Negabamat: deuient tous les iours
plus accomplie, cette fille eft tellement craintiue des
iugemens de Dieu, que l'vn de ces iours comme i'in-
ftruifois les deux qui ne font pas encor baptifees,
elle auoit les larmes aux yeux elle entend fort bien
les myfteres de noftre foy, le plus grand plaifir qu'on
luy puiffe faire, [182] c'eft de luy expliquer ces veri-
ties par des images, elle a tant de deuotion enuers
la faindte Vierge, qu'elle treffaillit de ioye a la veue
de fon pourtraidt, elle l'appelle fa mere, la baife, &
la cherit vniquement, elle ne peut fouffrir aucune
indecence en fes compagnes, quand on la fait prier
Dieu en fa langue auec fes compagnes, elle s'en va
encor auec les petites Francoifes pour le prier. On
ne prendroit pas la petite Magdelaine pour vne Sau-
uage, il ne fe peut voir vn enfant plus obei'ffant, ny

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 53

began anew when we saw at our house the Christian
girls and women who must go away to follow their
relatives to the hunt. We have entertained them
three times this week, but with willing hearts. My
Reverend Father, it seems as if these good people
carry Paradise with them ; but then, they are souls
freshly washed in the blood of the lamb. But what
shall I say to you about our seminarists? Magde-
laine Amiskoueian is, in her manners, like one who
has been brought up among us ; you could not find a
disposition sweeter or more pliable. She keeps all
her companions to their duty and greatly enjoys
whatever pertains to God. Marie Negabamat be-
comes more accomplished every day. This girl is
so fearful of the judgments of God, that one day,
when I was instructing the two who are not yet
baptized, there were tears in her eyes. She under-
stands very well the mysteries of our faith; the
greatest pleasure one can give her [182] is to explain
these truths to her by images. She feels such devo-
tion towards the blessed Virgin, that she trembles
with joy at the sight of her picture. She calls her
her mother, kisses her, and loves her dearly. She
cannot tolerate any immodesty in her companions.
When we have her pray to God in her own language,
with her companions, she goes also and prays with
the little French girls. One would not take little
Magdelaine for a Savage ; a more obedient or more
affectionate child could not be found, — we can make
her do whatever we like. She is a little Angel in
innocence, and so is little Ursule.

" The last three children whom you gave us have
left their Savage nature at the door; they have
brought no part of it with them. It seems as if they

54 LES RELATIONS DES J ^SUITES [Vol.19

plus affedtueux, on luy faidt faire ce qu'on veut, c'eft
vn petit Ange en innocence, & la petite Vrfule auffi.

Les trois dernieres que vous nous aues donne, ont
laiff6 leur humeur Sauuage a la porte, elles n'en ont
rien apporte chez nous, il femble qu' elles y ayent
efte' touiiours efleuees, elle ne font point emeue's pour
voir entrer, & fortir des filles, ou femmes Sauuages,
elles ne font paroiftre aucun defir de les fuiure, elles
les faluent a la Francoife, & les quittent en riant, il
femble que nous f oyons leurs meres naturelles ; elles
fe viennent ietter [183] entre nos bras, comme a leur
refuge, quand elles ont quelque petite affliction.
L'vn de ces iours ayant quelque douleur de tefte, on
leur dit que i'eftois malade, que ie mourrois fi elle
faifoient du bruit, a ce mot de mourir elles fe mirent
a pleurer, & a garder parfaidtement le filence, que
defireries vous dauantage, ne femble il pas que les
threfors du ciel fe verfent fur ce pauure peuple.

Difons encor deux mots des affedtions de Madame
de la Pelletrie, & puis nous conclurons ce Chapitre,
elle me parle en ces termes de fes enfans.

Ie ne ferois pas fatisfaite fi ie ne vous entretenois
de la confolation que ie recois iournellement de nos
petites filles, i'en ay tous les plaifirs qu'vne mere
pourroit fouhaitter de fes bons enfans, tant en l'obe-
lffance qu'elles me rendent, qu'en vn amour tendre
& filial, qu'elles me portent. I'auois commiffion
durant la retraidte de nos meres de les faire prier
Dieu, de leur faire reciter leur catechifme, & de leur
faire dire leur lecon, ie reffentois [184] en faifant
cette adtion vne ioye dans mon cceur, qui ne fe peut
dire ie ne manque point de leur faire exercer tous
les iours les adtes, que vous me donnaftes derniere-

1G40] RELA TION OF 1640 55

had always been reared here. They are not moved
at seeing the Savage girls or women come and
go, — they show no desire to follow them, they salute
them in the French way, and leave them smilingly;
it seems as if we were their natural mothers. They
come and throw themselves [183] into our arms, —
their refuge, as it were, — when they have any little
grievance. One day, when I had a pain in my head,
they were told that I was sick, that I might die
if they made a noise. At this word ' die,' they
began to weep, and kept perfect silence. What
more could you wish? Does it not seem that the
treasures of heaven are being poured down upon
this poor people?"

Let us say a few words more of Madame de la
Pelletrie's love for them, and then we will conclude
this Chapter. She speaks to me of her children in
these terms:

" I would not be satisfied if I did not tell you of
the comfort that I daily experience in our little girls.
I have all the pleasure that a mother can wish from
her good children, — both in the obedience they render
me, and in the tender and filial love they bear me.
It was my duty during the retreat of our mothers to
hear them pray to God, recite their catechism, and
say their lessons. I felt, [184] in doing this, a joy
in my heart which I cannot express. I do not fail
to have them practice daily all the acts that you last
gave me, and the seminary prayer that you have
arranged very conformably to my desires. Having
made them understand that our mothers were with
God, I had them observe a week's silence, which
astonished me, for I succeeded in it much more easily
than with the French children. Having kept my

56 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

ment, & l'oraifon du feminaire que vous auez faire
tres conforme a mes defirs, leur ayant fait entendre
que nos meres eftoient auec Dieu ; ie leur fi [sc. fis]
garder vn filence de huidt iours, qui m'eftonna i'en
venois bien plus ayfement a bout, que des Fracoifes.
L'vn de ces iours ayant garde le lidt vne matinee
pour quelque indifpofition, comme ie vins a paffer
dans leur chambre l'aprefdinee, ce furent des cheres
& des careffes, qui ne font pas croyables; elles s'e-
crioient Ningue, Ningue, ma mere, ma mere, elles fe
iettoient a mon col, fi bien que i'eu de la peine de
m'en defaire, ie vous confeffe mon cher Pere, que
cela me rauit le cceur de voir vn fi grand naturel en
des enfans barbares ; auffi eft-il vray que s'ils eftoient
mes enfans propres, ie ne les pourrois pas aymer
dauantage. Vous allant voir dernierement a l'habita-
tion de faindt Iofeph, ie laiffay deux de mes [185]
enfans a la maif on ; elles ne firent que lamenter en
mon abfence, on en trouua vne toute eploree en vn
petit coing s'efcriant daiar Ningue daiar, venez ma
mere, venez, daiar Madame, venez Madame; elle
m'appelloit tantoft. d'vne facon, tantoft d'vne autre,
penfant que ie luy repondrois pluftofi ; ie ne vous
parle point des careffes qu'elles me firent a mon re-
tour, de fi loing qu'elles m'apperceurent a trauers la
palliffade de pieux qui nous ferment, elles euffent
volontiers faute par deffus, pour me venir a la ren-
contre. I'ay commence a leur monftrer a trauailler
a 1' aiguille: mais mon principal exercice c'eft de les
habiler, de les pigner & de les accouftrer, ie ne fuis
pas capable de chofe plus grande. Helas mon cher
Pere ! encor trop heureuf e de leur pouuoir rendre ce
petit feruice.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 57

bed one morning, on account of some indisposition,
when I chanced to pass into their room after dinner
there were incredible welcomes and caresses; they
cried out, Ninque, Ninque, ' My mother, my mother ! '
They threw their arms around my neck so that I had
difficulty in disengaging myself. I confess to you,
my dear Father, that it delighted my heart to see
such strong feeling in barbarous children ; and, in-
deed, if they were my own children I could not love
them more. When I last went to the settlement of
saint Joseph to see you, I left two of my [185] chil-
dren at home. They did nothing but lament in my
absence. One of them was found bathed in tears in
a little corner, crying, daiar Ninque daiar, ' Come, my
mother, come;' daiar, Madame, 'Come, Madame.'
She called me now in one way, now in another,
thinking I would respond sooner. I will say nothing
about the caresses they showered upon me at my
return ; as far away as they could see me through the
palisade of stakes that encloses us, they would have
willingly leaped over them to come and meet me.
I have begun to show them how to use the needle ;
but my principal occupation is to make their clothes,
comb their hair, and dress them ; I am not capable
of anything greater. Ah, my dear Father! I am
only too happy to be able to render them this little
service."

See how far this Lady's affection carries her, who
increased the number of her children, or little semi-
narists, when she saw the help that was given her in
France. Her heart is so good and so great, that if
she had as much strength as she has good will, she
would have [186] little lodgings constructed for the
Savages, to render them stationary ; and her happi-

58 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.19

Voila iufques ou fe porte l'affection de cette Dame,
qui a augmente le nombre de fes enfans, ou de fes
petites feminariftes, voyant le fecours qu'on luy
donnoit en France, fon cceur eft fi bon & li grand,
que li elle auoit autant de force que de bonne volon-
te, elle feroit conftruire [186] des petits logemens aux
Sauuages pour les arrefter, & fon contentement feroit
d'aller inftruire les nouuelles Chreftiennes, & leur
apprendre a dreffer & tenir net leur petit menage, de
leur faire a manger de fes propres mains, la charite
a la vertu qu'auoient les mains de ce fabuleux Midas,
elle change tout ce qu'elle touche en or, ou pluftoft
en vne beaute du Paradis, elle releue les plus petites
actions, & les fait monter bien-haut.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 59

ness would consist in going to instruct the new Chris-
tians, in teaching them how to arrange their little
homes and keep them clean, and in offering them
food with her own hands. Charity has the virtue
possessed by the hands of the fabulous Midas, — it
changes everything that it touches into gold, or
rather into a beauty of Paradise; it dignifies the
smallest actions, and exalts them.

60 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

CHAPITRE XIII.

DIUERSES CHOSES QUI N'ONT PEU ESTRE RAPPORTEES
AUX CHAPITRES PRECEDENS.

ENCOR que nous viuions icy dans vn fiecle de
paix, l'afflidtion ne laiffe pas de penetrer par
fois dedans nos grandes forefts, auffi-bien que
dans vos grandes villes : le R. P. Vimont noftre Supe-
rieur, [187] ayant pris auec foy le P. Raimbault, &
moy, pour monter aux trois Riuieres, la barque qui
nous portoit fe penfa brifer au port, la nuit fuiuante
comme nous voguions heureufement, nous echou-
afmes dans des roches, la maree fe retirant, noftre
barque f e couche fur le cofte : la maree retournant
elle fe redreffe; mais elle eftoit fi offenfee qu'elle
faifoit eau de tous coftez, nous tirafmes a l'autre
bord du grand fieuue pour la radouber, fi nous euffions
tarde vn quart d'heure a trouuer terre, elle fe fut
abyfm6e fans refource: nous l'allafmes 6choiier der-
riere le platon de faindte Croix, la maree montant la
renuerfa en forte qu'elle ne paroiffoit plus: mais en-
fin s'eftant releuee contre noftre attente, on la racom-
moda promptement: le vent & la tempefte s'efieuant
la deffus, la ietterent contre vne roche, & la creuerent
derechef, fi bien qu'on la penfoit toute brif6e: on la
radouba encor vne autrefois, & la mit on en rade:
mais auec vne grand perte : car tout ce qui put depe-
rir a l'eau fut gafte, le fecours que nous portions aux
[188] pauures Sauuages fut tout perdu; fi toft que la

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 61

CHAPTER XIII.

VARIOUS THINGS WHICH COULD NOT BE REPORTED
IN THE PRECEDING CHAPTERS.

ALTHOUGH we live here in an age of peace,
affliction sometimes penetrates, nevertheless,
into our great forests as well as into your great
cities. The Reverend Father Vimont, our Superior,
[187] having taken Father Raimbault and me with
him to go up to the three Rivers, the bark which
carried us was almost wrecked in the harbor. The
next night, while we were making a prosperous voy-
age, we ran against some rocks, and, the tide receding,
our bark lay upon its side; the tide returning, it
righted itself, but it was so damaged that every part
of it leaked. We turned to the other bank of this
great river, in order to repair it ; if we had delayed
a quarter of an hour in reaching land, it would have
been irretrievably engulfed. We proceeded to beach
it behind the plateau of sainte Croix.4 The tide,
rising, overturned it in such a way that it was no
longer visible ; but having finally righted, contrary
to our expectations, it was promptly repaired again.
The wind and tempest then arising hurled it against
a rock and split it again, so that we thought it en-
tirely shattered. Once more we repaired it, and
put it in the roadstead, but with great loss, — for
all that could perish in water was spoiled, and the
relief we were bearing to the [188] poor Savages
was all lost. As soon as the bark touched bottom

62 LES RELATIONS DES JJESUITES [Vol.19

barque trouua fond on nous mit a terre, ou nous
prifmes logis a 1 enf eigne de la Lune du froid, & de
la pluye Voila le premier voyage que noflre R. P.
Superieur comenca, & qu'il ne put acheuer pour
lors ; car il f ut contraindt de retourner a Kebec.

Qui n'auroit qu'vne affliction en vne annee, ne
pourroit quafi dire de quel gouft font les frui(5ts de la
Croix; nous n'auions que quatres hommes de trauail
en noftre maifon de noftre Dame des Anges, deux fe
noyerent le premier iour de May, le P. Claude Pijard
fe penfa perdre auec eux, voicy comme il en parle en
vn papier qu'il m'a mis entre les mains. Ie retour-
nois de noftre Dame des Anges, ou i'allois ordinaire-
ment dire la faindte Meffe, les Feftes & les Diman-
ches, trauerfant la riuiere faindt Charles, fort rapide
par les grandes criies d'eau au Printemps, le Nordeft
foufflant auec violence, le canot dans lequel deux de
nos hommes me paffoient renuerfa, l'vn des hommes
enfonfa incontinent, & ne [189] parut plus, 1' autre
fut emporte aflez loing par le courant de la maree, &
apres s'eftre debattu quelque temps contre la mort fe
noya, ie me trouuay bien en peine auffi bien que ces
deux ieunes hommes : car ie ne f ?ay no plus nager
qu'vne pierre, Dieu me conferua le iugement fain &
entier, i'eu recours a la mere de mifericorde la faindte
Vierge, ie fit vceu de ieufner trois Samedis a fon
honneur; i'y adiouftay l'interceulon de fon tres-pur
6poux faindt Iofeph, auffi-toft ie me fenty ayd6; i'al-
lois dans l'eau tout debout ou i'efiois iufques a la
tefte bien loing du fond ; enfin ie me fenty douce-
ment porte vers le bord, oil ie commencay a toucher
la terre des pieds, ie fors le plus vifie qu'il me fut
poffible, ie remercie la diuine bont£, la faindte Vierge

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 63

we were put ashore, where we took lodging at the
sign of the cold and rainy Moon. Such was the
first voyage that our Reverend Father Superior un-
dertook, and this he could not finish then, for he
was obliged to return to Kebec.

He who has only one affliction in a year could
hardly tell what is the taste of the fruits of the
Cross. We had only four workingmen in our house
of nostre Dame des Anges; two were drowned on
the first day of May, and Father Claude Pijard almost
perished with them. He thus relates the event, in a
paper which he has placed in my hands. " I was
returning from nostre Dame des Anges, where I
usually went to say holy Mass on Feast days and
Sundays. Crossing the river saint Charles, — very
rapid on account of the great flood of water in Spring,
the Northeast wind blowing with violence, — the
canoe in which two of our men were passing me
upset; one of the men sank immediately, and [189]
did not appear again. The other was carried
some distance away by the current of the tide, and,
after struggling for some time against death, was
drowned. I found myself indeed in danger, as well
as these two young men ; for I knew no more than a
stone about swimming. God kept my judgment clear
and sound. I had recourse to the mother of mercy,
the blessed Virgin ; I made a vow to fast three Sat-
urdays in her honor, and added the intercession of
her most pure spouse, saint Joseph. I immediately
felt myself aided; I went into the water, standing
upright, submerged to my head, and very far from
the bottom; finally I felt myself gently borne to-
wards the shore, where I began to touch the ground
with my feet. I emerged as quickly as I could ; I

64 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

& fon cher efpoux les larmes aux yeux, & le regret
au coeur de la perte de ces deux pauures hommes,
qui venoient de perir deuant moy.

A quelques iours de la deux foldats firent vn fem-
blable naufrage dans la grande riuiere, leur canot
tournant ils fe virent emportes au gre de la maree,
tenant [190] des mains leur petit batteau d'efcorce.
L'vn deux qui ne fcauoit point nager fe fouuenant de
la faueur que le P. Pijard auoit receue par l'entremife
de la faindte Vierge, luy promit par vceu de ieufner
trois Samedis au pain, & a l'eau, & d'aller en pele-
rinage a noftre Dame des Anges a pieds nuds : cette
bonne Mere luy fauua la vie, & ce bon ieune homme
accomplit fon voeu, fe confeffant & communiant a
pieds nuds, en action de grace d'vne faueur fi
fignalee.

On arreftoit pluftoft vn torrent que le cours d'vne
affliction, quand il plaift a Dieu de l'enuoier; apres
ces pertes le feu fe mit en noftre maifon de Kebec,
qu'il a reduite en poudre, & la Chappelle de Mon-
fieur le Gouuerneur, & l'Eglife publique: tout a efte
confomme: cela fe fit fi foudainement, qu'en moins
de deux ou trois heures on ne vit de tous ces bafti-
mens & de la plufpart de tous nos meubles, qu'vn
peu de cendres, & quelques pans de murailles qui
font reftees, pour publier cette defolation, comme il
n'y a point icy de boutiques de marchans d'ou on
puiffe tirer fes befoins; [191] nous faifons venirde
France tout ce qui nous eft neceffaire pour fubfifter
en ce nouueau monde : & comme Kebec eft le port
d'ou on tranfporte aux autres demeures, tout ce que
les vaiffeaux y dechargent: nous auions ramaffe en
cette maifon, comme en vn petit magazin tout Tap-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 65

thanked the divine goodness, the blessed Virgin, and
her dear spouse, with tears in my eyes, and regret
in my heart at the loss of those two poor men, who
had just perished before my eyes."

A few days after this, two soldiers were similarly
wrecked in the great river. Their canoe turning
round, they found themselves carried away at the
will of the tide, grasping [190] with their hands
their little boat of bark. The one who did not know
how to swim, remembering the favor that Father
Pijard had received through the mediation of the
blessed Virgin, promised her by a vow to fast three
Saturdays on bread and water, and to go barefooted
on a pilgrimage to nostre Dame des Anges. That
kind Mother saved his life for him; and this good
young man fulfilled his vow, confessing and receiv-
ing communion, barefooted, in thanksgiving for so
signal a favor.

One can check a torrent sooner than the course of
an affliction when it pleases God to send it. After
these losses, our house at Kebec took fire and was
reduced to ashes, as was also the Chapel of Monsieur
the Governor, and the public Church, — all was con-
sumed. It took place so suddenly, that in less than
two or three hours nothing was to be seen of all
these buildings and the greater part of all our furni-
ture, but a few cinders, and some large pieces of the
walls which remained, to proclaim this desolation.
As there are no shops here where one can supply his
needs, [191] we bring from France all we need for
subsistence in this new world ; and as Kebec is the
port whence everything that the ships unload there
is transported to the other settlements, we had col-
lected in this building, as in a small storehouse, all

66 LES RELATIONS DES JE'SUITES [Vol.19

puy, & le fupport de nos autres refidences, & de nos
miffions: Dieu a reduit tout cela au neant le linge,
& les habits & les autres meubles neceffaires pour
vingt-fept perfonnes, que nous auons aux Hurons,
eftoient tout prefts d'eftre portes par eau dans ces
pays fi efloignes, & noftre Seigneur les a fait paffer
par le feu. Ce qui eft neceffaire pour entretenir
felon noftre petit pouuoir la refidence de S. Iofeph
ou fe raffemblent les Sauuages. La refidence des
trois Riuieres ou pareillement les Algoquins s'ar-
reftent, la maifon de N. D. des Anges & la propre
maifon de Kebec, tout s'eft confomme dans les flam-
rnes : le vent aff ez violent la f eichereffe extreme, les
bois ondtueux de fapin, dont ces edifices eftoient con-
ftruidts allumerent vn feu fi prompt & fi violent, qu'on
lie put quafi rie fauuer, toute la vaifelle & les cloches
[192] & calices fe fondirent, les etoffes que quelques
perfones de vertu nous auoiet enuoiees pour habiller
quelques feminariftes ou quelques pauures Sauuages,
furent confomm^es dans ce mefme facrifice. Ces
habits vrayement Royaux que fa Majefte auoit enuoie
a nos Sauuages, defquels ils fe feruoient aux actios
publiques, pour honorer la liberalite d'vn fi grand
Roy, furent abyfmes dans ce naufrage de feu, qui
nous reduifit a l'hofpital: car il fallut aller prendre
logis a la fale des pauures, iufques a ce que Monfieur
noftre Gouuerneur, nous preftat vne maifon das
laquelle eftans loges il fallut chager cette fale des
malades en vne Eglife. Voila vne perte dont nous
reffentirons long-temps.

Quelque temps apres ce grad brafierd Monfieur le
Cheualier de Montmagny noftre Gouuerneur, aflem-
blant les principaux Sauuages des trois Riuieres, &

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 67

supplies and assistance for our other residences and
for our missions; God reduced it all to nothing.
The linen, clothing, and other articles necessary for
the twenty-seven persons whom we have among the
Hurons, were all ready to be conveyed by water to
those so distant countries, and our Lord made them
pass through the fire. What was needed to maintain,
according to our limited resources, the residence of
St. Joseph, where the Savages are assembling; the
residence of three Rivers, where likewise the Algon-
quins are settling; the house of Nostre Dame des
Anges, and this same house of Kebec, was all con-
sumed in the flames. A rather violent wind, the
extreme drouth, the oily wood of the fir, of which
these buildings were constructed, kindled a fire so
quick and violent that hardly anything could be
saved. All the vessels and the bells [192] and
chalices were melted ; the stuffs some virtuous per-
sons had sent to us to clothe a few seminarists or
poor Savages, were consumed in this same sacrifice.
Those truly Royal garments that his Majesty had
sent to our Savages, to be used in public functions,
to honor the liberality of so great a King, were
engulfed in this fiery wreck, which reduced us to
the hospital ; for we had to go and take lodgings in
the hall of the poor, until Monsieur our Governor
loaned us a house, and, after being lodged therein,
this hall of the sick had to be changed into a Church.
This was a loss that we shall feel for a long time.

Some time after this great fire, Monsieur the
Chevalier de Montmagny, our Governor, assembling
the principal Savages of the three Rivers and of the
residence of saint Joseph, — to praise the former for
the courage they show for the faith, and to encour-

68 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

de la refidence de faindt Iofeph, pour louer les vns
du courage qu'ils font paroiftre pour la foy, & pour
animer les autres a l'embraffer, l'vn de ceux qui par-
ticipoit le plus a ces riches prefes, voyat que Mr.
[193] le Gouuerneur eftoit fur le poindt de congedier
l'affemblee, luy addreffa ces paroles: Noflre Capi-
taine vous fcauez bien l'eftime que nous faifions des
prefens de voftre grand Roy, nous les logions bien
haut, arm que le monde les vift ; nous les conferuions
expres pour conferuer la memoire de fes liberalitez,
& de f on amour en noftre endroit : maintenant que le
feu nous les a rauis, efcriuez, s'il vous plaift, au Roy
que ce n'eft point noftre faute : nous les auions mis en
garde en la maifon de nos Peres, le feu s'y eftat pris
nous n'en fommes point coupables. Ces bonnes gens
qui ne fe font que rire dans leur pertes, nous por-
toient compaffion dans la noftre: auffi eft-il vray
qu'ils y ont de l'intereft que Dieu foit beny a iamais.
Fuft-il ainsi que ce brafier euft confomme toutes mes
offenfes.

Puis que ie ne fais icy qu'vn ramas de chofes 6.6-
coufues, ie toucheray vne ou deux couftumes de ces
peuples, que i'ay apprifes de nouueau.

Les ieunes gens qui fe marient viuent quelquefois
deux ou trois mois auec [194] leurs efpoufees fans
les toucher. Nous auons appris cette couftume a l'oc-
cafion de quelques ieunes Chreftiens nouuellement
mariez: car comme on les inftruifoit fur l'honneftete
& fur la chaftete coniugale, quelques- vns nous dirent,
ne vous mettez pas en peine, noftre couftume eft de
refpedter celles que nous aimons, & de les tenir vn
long temps comme nos parentes fans les toucher.

Vn Sauuage eftant fort malade on nous appella

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 69

age the others to embrace it, — one of them who
participated most in these rich gifts, seeing that
Monsieur [193] the Governor was upon the point of
dismissing the assembly, addressed these words to
him: " Our Captain, you know very well in what
esteem we held the presents of your great King, —
we placed them very high, in order that the world
might see them; we carefully kept them, expressly
to preserve the memory of his liberalities and of his
love towards us. Now that fire has snatched them
away from us, write to the King, if you please, that
it is not our fault. We had placed them for safe-
keeping in the house of our Fathers, and, as this
took fire, we are not to blame in the matter. " These
good people, who only laugh at their own losses,
felt compassion for us in ours ; but then it is true
that they had some interest therein. May God be
forever blessed. Would it were thus that this fire
had consumed all my sins !

Since I am only gathering here various desultory
matters, I will touch upon one or two customs of
these peoples which I have recently learned.

Young men who marry sometimes live two or
three months with [194] their wives, without ap-
proaching them. We have learned this custom in
regard to some young Christians lately married ; for,
as we were instructing them upon modesty and con-
jugal chastity, some said to us, " Do not trouble
yourselves; our custom is to respect the women
whom we love, and to regard them a long time as
our relatives, not approaching them."

A Savage being very sick, we were called to see
him. His wife waited upon him with great kind-
ness ; when she saw that he was struggling and be-

70 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

pour le voir ; fa femme l'affiftoit auec vne grande cha-
rite: comme elle vit qu'il fe debattoit, entrant en
frenefie, elle prend vn bout de peau qu'elle fit brufler,
puis luy en frotte la tefte pour empuantir par cette
mauuaife odeur le Manitou, c'eft a dire le diable,
afin qu'il n'approchaft de fon mary.

Voicy vne chofe que plufieurs ont tenu pour remar-
quable : Vne femme qui a eu neuf enfans, dont le
dernier efhoit marie, & auoit des enfans. Ie veux
dire en vn mot que cette femme eftoit fort aagee, ie
croy qu'elle auoit plus de 60. ans, cependant vne
lienne fille venant de mourir, & laiffant vn enfant au
maillot, [195] cette bonne vieille prit l'enfant, luy
prefenta fa mammelle toute feiche; l'enfant a force
de la tirer fit reuenir le laidt en telle forte que fa
grade mere la nourry plus d'vn an: nous auons veu
cela de nos yeux. La nature a d'eftranges inuentions
pour fe conferuer, ou pluftoft celuy qui la conduit
eft vn grand Maiftre.

Voicy vne eftrange couftume des Hiroquois. On
nous a raconte qu'ils prennent par fois vn enfant
nouueau ne, le lardent de filches, le iettent au feu,
la chair eftant confommee ils prennent les os qu'ils
mettent en poudre, & quand ils veulent aller en
guerre ils boiuent vn peu de cette poudre, croyans que
ce breuuage leur augmente le cceur. Ils fe feruent
auffi de ces cendres pour leurs forts & pour leurs
fuperftitions : la mere qui donne fon enfant pour c6t
abominable facrifice eft recompenfee de quelque beau
prefent. Cela n'eft-il pas horrible?

II eft temps de fonner la retraitte, i'ay mille adtions
de graces a rendre a toutes les perfonnes qui coope-
rent au falut [196] de ces pauures peuples, foit par

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 71

coming frantic, she took a piece of skin and set fire
to it, then rubbed it upon his head, that she might
by this foul odor disgust the Manitou, — that is to
say, the devil, — so that he should not approach her
husband.

Here is an occurrence which many have considered
remarkable. There was a woman who had had nine
children, the last of whom was married, and had
children ; I mean to say, in a word, that this woman
was very old, — I believe that her age was more than
60 years; yet, one of her daughters happening to
die, and leaving a child in arms, [195] this good old
woman took the child, and offered it her withered
breast. The child, by dint of pulling at it, caused
the milk to return, so that the grandmother nourished
it for more than a year. We saw this with our own
eyes. Nature uses strange devices to preserve itself;
or, rather, he who guides it is a great Master.

Here is a strange Hiroquois custom: We have
been told that they sometimes take a newborn child,
stick arrows into it, and throw it into the fire ; when
the flesh is consumed, they take the bones and
crumble them to powder ; and when they intend to go
to war they swallow a little of this powder, believ-
ing that this beverage increases their courage. They
also use these ashes for their charms and supersti-
tions. The mother who gives her child for this
abominable sacrifice is rewarded with some valuable
present. Is not this horrible?

It is time to sound the retreat. I have a thousand
thanksgivings to offer to all the persons who cooper-
ate in the salvation [196] of these poor peoples, either
through the affection of their hearts or through the
good deeds of their hands. We are obliged even to

72 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

l'affection de leurs coeurs, foit par les bonnes actions
de leurs mains. Nous fommes obligez iufques a
ceux qui enuoyent quelques chapelets pour nos nou-
ueaux Chreftiens, & a ceux encore qui enuoyent quel-
que morceau d'eftoffe pour faire des habits aux plus
pauures. Dieu foit leur recompenfe a tous.

Nos Neophytes prient Dieu pour tous. Nous ne
baptifons ny ne faifons communier perfonne qu'on
ne le faffe prier pour ceux qui nous preftent la main
dans ces grandes entreprifes: Mais puis qu'on ne
s'acquitte iamais de 1' obligation que nous auons tous
contradtee dans le fang de Iefu-Chrift, de nous aimer
les vns les autres, nous auons droit de rechercher le
reciproque, coniurans V. R. tous nos Peres, & nos
Freres de fa Prouince, & toutes les perfonnes auec
lefquelles nous fommes affociez & alliez en Noftre
Seigneur de fe fouuenir de nous deuant Dieu, de
noftre Colonie Francoife, de tous nos pauures Sau-
uages, notamment des ieunes plantes nouuellement
[197] inferees au iardin de l'Eglife, en vn mot d'vn
pauure pecheur qui auec fa permiifion fe dira ce qu'il
eft de cceur.

De V. R.

Tres-humble & tres-oblige
feruiteur en Noftre Seigneur,
Pavl le Ievne.

A Kebec, en la nouuelle France.
ce 10. de Septembre 1640.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 73

those who send rosaries for our new Christians, and
to those also who send a little piece of stuff to make
clothes for the poorest ones. May God be the recom-
pense of all !

Our Neophytes pray to God for all. We do not
baptize or grant communion to any one whom we
do not cause to pray for those who lend us their
hands in these great enterprises. But as one never
acquits himself of the obligation that we all have
contracted in the blood of Jesus Christ, — that of lov-
ing one another, — we have a right to seek a recip-
rocal kindness, conjuring Your Reverence, all our
Fathers and our Brethren of your Province, and all
the persons with whom we are associated and allied
in Our Lord, to remember us before God, our French
Colony, all our poor Savages, especially the young
plants lately [197] placed in the garden of the
Church, — and, in a word, a poor sinner, who with
your permission, will call himself what he is from
his heart,

Your Reverence's

Most humble and greatly obliged
servant in Our Lord,

Paul le Jeune.

At Kebec, in new France,
this 10th of September, 1640.

74 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.19

Relation de ce qvi s'eft paffe dans

le pays des Hvrons pays

de la novvelle

France.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 75

Relation of what occurred in the

country of the Hurons, a

country of new

France.

76 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

[i] Relation de ce qui s'eft paffe en la Miff ion

des Hvrons, depuis le mois de Iuin de

l'an 1639. iufques au mois de

Iuin de l'annee 1640.

Enuoyie a Kdbec, au R. P. Barthelemy Vimont, Superieur des
mifsions de la Compagnie de Iesvs en la nouuelle Erance.

Mon Reverend Pere,
Pax Chrifti.
Voicy la rente que ie dois a V. R. le narre
de ce qui s'eft paffe de plus confiderable depuis la
derniere Relation, touchant l'employ des Peres de
noftre Compagnie qui font icy.

[2] Nous nous trouuafmes au milieu de cette barba-
rie au commencement du mois d'Odtobre de Pan
1639. vingt-fept Francois, & entre autres treize de
nos Peres : La bonne volonte, le zele & le courage
que ie remarque tant aux vns comme aux autres, me
font beaucoup efperer cette annee pour le feruice de
Dieu, & pour la confolation de voftre Reuerence, elle
verra cy-apres ce qui en eft.

Que fi par aduance elle defire fcauoir en peu de
mots le fruidt de cette annee, voicy ce que i'en puis
dire: On a fait retentir le fon de l'Euangile aux
oreilles de plus de dix milles barbares, non tant en
public & en commun comme en particulier dedans
les cabanes, & aux feux de chaque famile. On en
a baptize plus de mille, la plufpart dans la maladie
de la petite verolle, qui s'eft attacbee indifferemment

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 77

[1] Relation of what occurred in the Mission of

the Hurons, from the month of June in

the year 1639, until the month

of June in the year 1640.

Sent to K~e"bec, to the Reverend Father Barthelemy Vimont, Su-
perior of the missions of the Society of Jesus in new France.

My Reverend Father,
Pax Christi.
Here is the rent which I owe to Your Rev-
erence,— the narrative of what has occurred of most
moment since the last Relation, with reference to
the occupation of the Fathers of our Society who
are here.

[2] We found ourselves in the midst of this bar-
barism at the beginning of the month of October in
the year 1639, — twenty-seven Frenchmen, and among
others, thirteen of our Fathers. The good will, the
zeal, and the courage which I remark in all alike,
cause me to hope much this year for the service of
God, and for the consolation of your Reverence, — you
will see below how this is.

But if beforehand you desire to know in few words
the result for this year, here follows what I can say
of it: The sound of the Gospel has been caused to
resound in the ears of more than ten thousand bar-
barians,— not only in public and in common, but
also in private, within the cabins and by the fires of
each family. We have baptized more than a thou-
sand,— most of them during the malady of the small-

78 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

a toute forte de perfonnes, dont vne bonne partie eft
fortie de ce monde auec de grandes marques de pre-
deftination ; & entre-eux plus de trois cens foixante
enfans au deffous de fept ans; fans conter plus d'vne
centaine d'autres petits enfans, qui ayant efte bap-
tizez les annees precedentes, ont efte moiffonnez par
cette mefme maladie, [3] & recueillis des Anges
comme des fleurs du Paradis.

Et quoy que pour le regard des perfonnes adultes
en bonne fante il y ait fort peu de f ruict qui paroiff e :
au contraire qu'il n'y ait eu qu'orages & tourbillons
de ce cofte la ; li ne mettons-nous pas au rang des
peines perdues ce que nous auons fait en leur en-
droit ; ayant diftribue nos ouuriers Euangeliques en
cinq miffions, par toute l'eftendue du pays ou nous
auons pu aller: puis que tant plus qu'ils fe font oppo-
fez aux deffeins que nous auions de leur falut, & ont
paru coniurer noftre ruyne ; tant plus ils ont rehauff e
l'eclat & le retentiffement du fon de l'Euangile: &
feruirot au moins vn iour, a iuftifier la mifericordi-
eufe prouidece de Dieu en leur endroit.

Voila, mon Reuerend Pere, en peu de mots ce qui
en eft, & qui fuffit pour faire voir a V. R. le befoin &
la neceffite- que nous auons plus que iamais de fa cha-
rite, & fur tout de fes SS. SS. & prieres, aufquelles
nous nous recommandons tous de cceur & d'affedtion.
De V. R.

Tres-humble, & tres-obeiffant feruiteur
felon Dieu, HIEROSME LALEMANT.

Des Hurons, ce 27. de May 1640.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 79

pox, which fastened itself indifferently upon all sorts
of persons, — a goodly number of whom went out of
this world with clear marks of predestination ; and,
among them more than three hundred and sixty chil-
dren under seven years, — without counting more
than a hundred other little children, who, having
been baptized in the preceding years, have been
harvested by this same disease, [3] and gathered by
the Angels like flowers of Paradise.

And although, as regards adult persons in good
health, there is very little apparent fruit — on the
contrary, there have been only storms and whirl-
winds in that quarter — yet we do not reckon to the
account of lost pains what we have done in their be-
half, having distributed our Evangelistic laborers in
five missions over all the extent of the country whither
we could go ; since the more they have resisted the
plans that we had for their salvation, and have
appeared to plot our destruction, the more have they
heightened the sound and the resonance of the tone
of the Gospel ; and will serve, at least some day, to
justify the merciful providence of God with respect
to them.

Such, my Reverend Father, in a few words, is the
situation ; and this is enough to show Your Rever-
ence the need and the necessity that we are in, more
than ever, of your charity, — and especially of your
Holy Sacrifices and prayers ; whereto we all heartily
and affectionately commend ourselves.
Your Reverence's

Very humble and very obedient servant
in God, HIEROSME LALEMANT.

From the Hurons, this 27th of May, 1640.

80 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

[4] CHAPITRE I.

DE L'ESTAT DU PAYS.

DE long temps nos Hurons n'ont eu vne ann6e
plus fertile & plus abondante que la derniere
1639. Nous y vifmes pour lors en vn coup
tout ce que la nature luy a laiffe de beau & de meil-
leur; Ie dis laiffe, car en comparaifon de noftre
France & des autres quartiers du monde, toutes leurs
richeffes n'eftant que pauurete, il femble que la
nature ait trafporte" ailleurs le plus precieux de fon
bien, & n'ait prefque laiffe icy que le rebut : Mais
ce qui eft deplorable, c'eft qu'au lieu de recognoiftre
la principale main qui leur fait ces biens, la plus
grande part & le meilleur s'en eft alle, felon leurs
anciennes couftumes, en feflins ordinaires & extra-
ordinaires, ou pour mieux dire en veritables facrifices
au diable.

Quant a la guerre, leurs pertes ont efte plus gran-
des que leurs aduantages ; car le tout confiftant en
quelques teftes caffees fur les chemins, ou quelques
captifs amenez [5] dans le pays pour les y brufler &
manger, fans autre intention que de ruiner & exter-
miner leurs ennemis en les tuant, & les intimider de
venir a la guerre contre eux, en les traittant cruelle-
ment dans leurs f upplices ; en tout cela ils y ont plus
perdu que gaigne.

Nous remarquons icy l'accompliffement de la parole
du Prophete, que l'impie s'enfuit quoy que perfonne

1640] RE LA TJON OF 1640 81

[4] CHAPTER I.

OF THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY.

IN a long time, our Hurons have not had a more
fertile and more plenteous year than the last,
1639. We then saw there, all at once, every-
thing beautiful and excellent which nature has left
them: I say left, because in comparison with our
France and with the other quarters of the world, all
their riches being only poverty, it seems that nature
has carried elsewhere the most precious of her good
things, and has left here scarcely anything but the
refuse. But what is deplorable is that, instead of
acknowledging the principal hand which gives them
these goods, the greatest part and the best of the
people have gone away, according to their former
customs, into ordinary and extraordinary banquets :
or to speak more properly, into veritable sacrifices
to the devil.

As for the war, their losses have been greater than
their advantages; for, the whole matter consisting
of a few broken heads along the highways, or of
some captives brought [5] into the country to be
burned and eaten there, — without other purpose than
to ruin and exterminate their enemies by killing
them, and to frighten them from coming to war
against them, by treating them cruelly in their tor-
tures,— in all that, they have lost more than they
have gained.

We note here the fulfillment of the word of the

82 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

ne coure apres : Ces patmres mif erables eftans dans
des frayeurs & alarmes prefque cotinuelles, que leurs
ennemis font a leurs portes, & qu'ils viennent enle-
uer leurs bourgs.

Ce a quoy trauaillent les principaux miniftres de
Satan, ou les Magiciens du pays, c'eft a predire les
fuccez de la guerre, a defcouurir par leurs fortileges
les troupes ennemies qui fe mettent en campagne, &
le nombre qu'ils font, les endroits ou ils font cachez:
intimidant par leurs menaces ceux qui n'ont pas
recours a leur art : & au contraire donnant des affeu-
rances de proteger puiffamment ceux qui recognoiff ent
par quelque prefent le demon qu'ils adorent. Ces
impofleurs leuent la tefte, & fe font recognoiftre [6]
publiquement comme des Anges de lumiere, & les
protedteurs du pays, on les ayme & honore en cette
qualite, on leur obeyt en tout ce qu'ils commandent,
quand vne f ois ils fe font donne du credit : mais il y
en a d'autres qui fe cachent comme des Anges de
tenebres, & n'ofent pas paroiftre, eftans tenus le mal-
heur du pays, & les inftrumens du demon, pour pro-
curer la mort de ceux qu'on croit qu'ils enforcellent.
Ceux-cy font en horreur, & lors mefme qu'on les
foupconne, on les maffacre impunement. II eft bien
affeure que les vns ne font pas plus blancs que
les autres, eftant tous des fuppots de fatan: mais
toutesfois pour ne pas les confondre, nous appellerons
les premiers Magiciens, d'vn nom plus honorable par-
my les puiffances d'enfer; & les feconds Sorciers,
qui ne font que les valets du diable.

A propos de cecy arriua vne chofe remarquable au
Bourg de la Conception, enuiron la fin du mois de
Iuillet. Vn Magicien eftant enquis fur les craintes

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 83

Prophet, that the wicked flee, though no man pur-
sue,— these poor wretches being in almost continual
terrors and alarms, lest their enemies be at their
gates, and come to carry off their villages.

What the principal ministers of Satan, or the
Magicians of the country work for, is to predict the
results of war, to discover by their spells the hostile
bands which take the field, and the number of the
same, with the places where they are concealed, —
intimidating by their threats those who have not
recourse to their art, and on the contrary giving
assurances of powerfully protecting those who ac-
knowledge by some gift the demon that they adore.
These impostors hold up their heads, and are acknowl-
edged [6] in public as Angels of light, and the coun-
try's defenders; they are loved and honored in this
capacity; they are obeyed in all that they command,
when they have once obtained credit. But there are
others of them who conceal themselves like Angels of
darkness, and dare not appear, — being accounted the
country's misfortune, and the instruments of the
demon for procuring the death of those whom they are
supposed to bewitch. These are in abomination, and,
even when they are only suspected, they are slain
with impunity. It is quite assured that the one set
is not whiter than the other, all being imps of satan ;
but yet, in order not to confound them, we will call
the first set, by a name more honorable among the
powers of hell, Magicians; and the second, Sorcerers,
who are merely the valets of the devil.

In this connection, something remarkable hap-
pened at the Village of la Conception, about the end
of the month of July. A Magician — being consulted
about the fears which prevailed, lest some enemies

84 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.19

dans lefquelles on eftoit que quelques ennemis ne
fuffent en campagne, apres auoir fait force ceremo-
nies, dit qu'il en voyoit [7] tant, de telle & telle
parure, & que dans tant de iours ils arriueroient au
pays. Ie ne fcay ce qui fe paffa, mais il fe comporta
de la forte, qu'on n'euft pas de creance en luy. Ce
mal-heureux ne trouuant meilleur moyen de faire
valoir fon meftier, & de fe maintenir en credit, s'ad-
uifa vn foir de fuiure fa femme qui alloit aux bois,
& la prenant a l'efcart il luy fendit la tefte, puis
pour mettre l'effroy dans le bourg, il y accourt tout
hors d'haleine, faifant le cry d'vne perfonne qui auoit
defcouuert l'ennemy: les ieunes gens fe mettent en
armes, tout le monde eft dans l'efpouuante & dans
la crainte que quelqu'vn n'ait efte tue; on vifite par
les cabanes, & en effedt on recognoift bien toft celle-
la qui manquoit: mais la frayeur & l'obfcurite de la
nuidt empefche de courrir fus a l'ennemy, & de cher-
cher cette pauure femme : Le lendemain matin on
trouua fon cadaure baigne dedans fon fang: mais
n'ayant apperceu aucune pifte d'ennemy, on fe douta
bien-toft du coup, & tant de circonftances augmente-
rent fi fort le foupcon qu'on n'en doutoit plus: toutes-
fois ceux du bourg n'oferent defcouurir le fecret
de 1' affaire, [8] dans la crainte qu'ils eurent que fi
elle 6clatoit, il leur fallut felon les loix, fatisfaire pour
ce meurtre aux parens de la defundte qui eftoit d'vn
autre bourg. Mais cet ceil adorable qui voit tout, &
dont la iuftice fe fait fentir quelquesfois des cette
vie, ne permift pas que ce mal-heureux la portaft plus
loin : vingt iours apres allant par les bourgs faire le
cry d'vn autre maffacre, commis en effect par les
ennemis, il fut attaque par vn du pais, qui l'accufant

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 85

were in the field, — after having enacted many cere-
monies, said that he saw [7] so many, of such and
such guise, and that in so many days they would
arrive in the country. I know not what took place,
but he acted in such a way that they had no faith in
him. This wretched man, finding no better means
for utilizing his trade and for maintaining his credit,
bethought himself one evening to follow his wife,
who was going to the woods, and taking her aside,
he split her head. Then, to inspire terror in the vil-
lage, he hastens thither all out of breath, uttering
the cry of one who had discovered the enemy ; the
young men rush to arms, everybody is in awe and
in the dread lest some one has been killed. There
is visiting through the cabins, and, in fact, they soon
ascertain the missing one; but the fright and the
darkness of the night prevent them from pursuing
the enemy, and from seeking this poor woman. The
next morning they found her corpse bathed in her
blood; but, having perceived no trail of an enemy,
they soon suspected the assault, and so many circum-
stances so greatly increased the suspicion that they no
longer doubted it. Nevertheless, those of the village
dared not reveal the secret of the matter, [8] in their
fear lest, if it came to light, they would be obliged,
according to the laws, to make satisfaction for this
murder to the relatives of the deceased, who was from
another village. But that adorable eye which sees
everything, and whose justice sometimes makes it-
self felt even in this life, did not permit this wretched
man to proceed further; twenty days later, while
going through the villages to raise the cry of another
massacre, committed in fact by the enemies, he was
assailed by a man of the country, — who, accusing

86 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

d'eftre forcier, luy fendit la tefte, fans qu'il en ait
efte" fait aucune plainte ny recherche.

Puis que i'en fuis fur ces minifires d'enfer, i'ad-
joufteray encore icy la fuiuante histoire, Vn nou-
ueau magicien denrant fe donner a cognoiftre, fit fea-
uoir partout le pays que les bourgs qui luy feroient
certains petits prefens, & qui au commencement de
leur pefche, & de fois a autres pendant qu'elle dure-
roit, s'affembleroient en corps, feroient vn feu public
pour y jetter en facrifice quelques pains de petun en
fon honneur & de fon demon, l'inuoquant a haute
voix, retourneroient heureufement auec quantite de
poiffon: mais que ceux qui mepriferoient [10 i.e., 9]
cet aduis s'en trouueroient mal. Plufieurs bourgs
accepterent fon off re, & luy enuoyerent les prefens
qu'il auoit defire, auec affeurance d'accomplir les
autres conditions, ce qui en eff et leur a bien reuffi :
vn feul bourg refufa de luy obei'r, auec quelque mef-
pris. Eft-il vray qu'ils fe moquent de moy, dit-il?
qu'ils foient affeurez que tous ceux d'entre-eux qui
s'embarquent pour aller a la pefche n'en reuiendront
pas. II faut bien que le diable fuft d' intelligence
auec luy, car au bout de deux ou trois mois, les deux
principaux Capitaines de ce bourg retournans de leur
pefche en compagnie de deux autres de leurs parens,
furent furpris de la tempefte dans le milieu du lac,
vn orage vint fondre fur eux, & prefque en vn mo-
ment ils furent tous abifmez dans les eaux.

Venons a la maladie, qui ayant tout mis en defola-
tion, nous a donne beaucoup d'exercice, mais auffi
nous a efte vn fujet de beaucoup de confolation, Dieu
ne nous ayant donne quafi autre moiffon que de ce
cofte" la.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 87

him of being a sorcerer, split his head, without any
complaint or investigation having been made.

Since I am discussing these ministers of hell, I
will still add here the following story. A new ma-
gician, desiring to have himself recognized, published
throughout the country that the villages which would
make him certain little presents, — and which at the
beginning of their fishery, and from time to time
while it lasted, should assemble in a body, and should
make a public fire for casting into it, by way of sacri-
fice, some cakes of tobacco in his honor and his
demon's, invoking him aloud, — would return pros-
perously, with many fish; but that those who should
despise [10 i.e., 9] this advice, would be badly off.
Several villages accepted his offer, and sent him the
gifts which he had desired, with promise of making
good the other conditions, — which, in fact, succeeded
well with them: a single village refused to obey
him, with some contempt. "Is it true that they
are mocking me?" he said; "let them be assured
that all those among them who embark to go fishing
will not return." It must indeed be that the devil
was in league with him ; for, at the end of two or
three months, the two principal Captains of this vil-
lage, returning from their fishery, in company with
two others of their relatives, were surprised by the
tempest in the midst of the lake, — a thunderstorm
burst upon them, and almost in a moment they were
all swallowed up in the waters.

Let us come to the disease which, having put
everything in desolation, gave us much exercise, but
was also an occasion of much consolation to us, —
God having given us hardly any other harvest than
from that quarter.

88 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

Ce fut au retour du voyage que les Hurons auoient
fait a Kebec, qu'elle fe [10] mit dedans le pays, nos
Hurons en remontant icy haut, s'eftans inconfidere-
ment meflez auec les Algonquins qu'ils rencontrerent
par le chemin, dont la plufpart eftoient infedtez de
la petite verole. Le premier Huron qui l'apporta
vint aborder au pied de noftre maifon, nouuellement
baftie fur le bord d'vn lac, d'ou eftant porte a fon
bourg, eloigne de nous enuiron vne lieue, il en mou-
rut incontinent apres. Sans eftre grand prophete on
pouuoit s'affeurer que le mal feroit bien toft refpandu
par toutes ces contrees: car les Hurons, quelque
pefte ou contagion qu'ils ayent, viuent au milieu de
leurs malades, dans la mefme indifference & commu-
nication de toutes chofes que fi on eftoit en pleine
fante : en effet dans peu de iours, quafi tous ceux de
la cabane du defunt fe trouuerent infectez, puis le
mal fe refpandit de maifon en maifon, de bourg en
bourg, & enfin fe trouua diffipe par tout le pays.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 89

It was upon the return from the journey which the
Hurons had made to Kebec, that it [10] started in
the country, — our Hurons, while again on their way
up here, having thoughtlessly mingled with the
Algonquins, whom they met on the route, most of
whom were infected with smallpox. The first Huron
who introduced it came ashore at the foot of our
house, newly built on the bank of a lake, — whence
being carried to his own village, about a league dis-
tant from us, he died straightway after. Without
being a great prophet, one could assure one's self
that the evil would soon be spread abroad through
all these regions : for the Hurons — no matter what
plague or contagion they may have — live in the
midst of their sick, in the same indifference, and
community of all things, as if they were in perfect
health. In fact, in a few days, almost all those in
the cabin of the deceased found themselves infected ;
then the evil spread from house to house, from vil-
lage to village, and finally became scattered through-
out the country.

90 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

[ii] CHAP. II

DES PERSECUTIONS EXCITEES CONTRE NOUS.

LES bourgs plus proches de noftre nouuelle mai-
fon ayant efte les premiers attaquez, & de plus
affligez, le diable ne manqua pas de prendre
fon temps pour reueiller toutes les vieilles imagina-
tions, & faire renouueller les anciennes plaintes de
nous & de noftre demeure en ces quartiers, comme fi
elle eftoit l'vnique caufe de tous leurs mal-heurs, &
fur tout des malades. On ne parle plus d'autre
chofe, on crie tout haut qu'il faut maffacrer les Fran-
cois. Ces barbares s'y animent les vns les autres, la
mort de leurs plus proches leur ofte la raifon, acroift
leur rage contre nous li fortement dans chaque bourg,
que les plus auifez ont de la peine a croire que nous
puiffions furuiure a vne fi horrible tempefte. lis
remarquoient auec quelque forte de fondement, que
depuis noftre arriu£e dedans ces terres, ceux qui [12]
auoient efte les plus proches de nous, s'eftoient trou-
uez les plus ruynez des maladies, & que les bourgs
entiers de ceux qui nous auoient receu fe voyoient
maintenant du tout exterminez: & affeur6ment,
difoient-ils, le mefme en arriueroit de tous les autres
fi on n'arreftoit le cours de ce mal-heur par le maffacre
de ceux qui en eftoient la caufe. C eftoit vn fenti-
ment commun, non feulement dans les dif cours parti-
culiers, mais dans les confeils generaux tenus fur ce
fujet, oii la plurality des voix alloit a noftre mort,

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 91

[II] CHAP. II.
OF THE PERSECUTIONS EXCITED AGAINST US.

THE villages nearer to our new house having been
the first ones attacked, and most afflicted, the
devil did not fail to seize his opportunity for
reawakening all the old imaginations, and causing
the former complaints of us, and of our sojourn in
these quarters, to be renewed ; as if it were the sole
cause of all their misfortunes, and especially of the
sick. They no longer speak of aught else, they cry
aloud that the French must be massacred. These
barbarians animate one another to that effect; the
death of their nearest relatives takes away their rea-
son, and increases their rage against us so strongly in
each village that the best informed can hardly believe
that we can survive so horrible a storm. They
observed, with some sort of reason, that, since our
arrival in these lands, those who [12] had been the
nearest to us, had happened to be the most ruined by
the diseases, and that the whole villages of those who
had received us now appeared utterly exterminated ;
and certainly, they said, the same would be the fate
of all the others if the course of this misfortune were
not stopped by the massacre of those who were the
cause of it. This was a common opinion, not only in
private conversation but in the general councils held
on this account, where the plurality of the votes
went for our death, — there being only a few elders

92 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

n'y ayant que quelques anciens qui croyoient nous
bien obliofer de conclure au banniffement.

Ce qui confirmoit puiffamment cette fauffe imagi-
nation eftoit qu'en mefme temps ils nous voyoient
difperfez par tout le pays, cherchans toutes fortes de
voyes pour entrer dedans les cabanes, inflruire & bap-
tifer les plus malades auec vn foin qu'ils n'auoient
iamais veu. Sans doute, difoient-ils, il falloit bie
que nous euffions vne fecrette intelligence auec la
maladie (car ils croyent que ce foit vn demon) puis
que nous feuls eflions tous pleins de vie & de fante,
quoy que fans [13] ceffe nous ne refpiraffions qu'vn
air tout infedte, nous tenant les iournees entieres at-
tachez au cofte des malades les plus puants, dont tout
le monde auoit horreur: fans doute nous portions
auec nous le malheur, puis que par tout oil nous met-
tions le pied, ou la mort, ou la maladie nous fuiuoit.

En fuite de tous ces dif cours plufieurs nous auoient
en horreur, ils nous chaffoient de leurs cabanes, &
ne permettoient pas que nous approchaffions de leurs
malades, & principalement des enfans, non pas mefme
que nous peuffions ietter la veue fur eux : en vn mot
on nous redoutoit comme les plus grands forciers de
la terre.

En quoy veritablement il faut auoiier que ces pau-
ures gens font aucunement excufables; car il eft
arriue tres-fouuent, & on l'a remarque plus de cent
fois, qu'ou nous eftions les mieux venus, ou nous
baptifions plus de monde, c' eftoit la en effect oil on fe
mouroit dauantage ; & au contraire dans les cabanes
dont on nous deffendoit l'entree, quoy qu'ils fuffent
quelquefois malades a l'extremite, on voyoit au bout
de quelques iours tout le [14] monde heureufement

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 93

who thought they greatly obliged us by resolving
upon banishment.

What powerfully confirmed this false imagination
was that, at the same time, they saw us dispersed
throughout the country, — seeking all sorts of ways
to enter the cabins, instructing and baptizing those
most ill with a care which they had never seen.
No doubt, they said, it must needs be that we had
a secret understanding with the disease (for they
believe that it is a demon), since we alone were all
full of life and health, although [13] we constantly
breathed nothing but a totally infected air, — staying
whole days close by the side of the most foul-smell-
ing patients, for whom every one felt horror; no
doubt we carried the trouble with us, since, wher-
ever we set foot, either death or disease followed us.

In consequence of all these sayings, many had us
in abomination ; they expelled us from their cabins,
and did not allow us to approach their sick, and
especially children : not even to lay eyes on them, —
in a word, we were dreaded as the greatest sorcerers
on earth.

Wherein truly it must be acknowledged that these
poor people are in some sense excusable. For it has
happened very often, and has been remarked more
than a hundred times, that where we were most wel-
come, where we baptized most people, there it was in
fact where they died the most ; and, on the contrary,
in the cabins to which we were denied entrance,
although they were sometimes sick to extremity, at
the end of a few days one saw every [14] person
prosperously cured. We shall see in heaven the
secret, but ever adorable, judgments of God therein.
Meanwhile, it is one of our most usual astonishments

94 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol.19

guery. Nous verrons dans le ciel les fecrets, mais
toufjours adorables iugemens de Dieu la deffus. Ce-
pendant c'eft vn de nos eftonnemens des plus ordi-
naires, & vn de nos plaifirs des plus folides, de confi-
derer parmy tout cela les amables bontez de Dieu fur
ceux qu'il veut a foy, & de voir plus que tous les
iours fes faindtes & emcaces prouidences, qui vont
difpenfant tellement les affaires, qu'il fe trouue que
pas vn des efleus ne fe perd, quoy que l'enfer & la
terre s'y oppofe. Nous le verrons dans la fuite de
cette Relation. Seulement diray-je en paffant pour
ce qui touche les petits enfans qui eftoient en danger
de mort, & qui n'eftoient aucunement coupables du
refus que fouuent leurs parens nous faifoient de les
approcher, qu'a peine en efl-il mort vne douzaine
qui n'ait receu fon paffe-port pour aller au ciel, du-
rant le temps que nous auons eu libre accez dans les
bourgs. Le zele & la charite de nos ouuriers euan-
geliques ayant efte" plus induftrieufe & plus adtiue a
leur procurer ce bon-heur, que la rage & la haine
du diable a les empefcher.

[15] Les raifons que iufques icy nous auons apporte
pourquoy les barbares nous foupgonnent d'eftre la
caufe de leurs maladies, femblent auoir quelque fon-
demet: mais le diable n'en demeura pas la; ce feroit
vn miracle s'il ne baftiffoit le plus fort de ces calom-
nies fur de purs menfonges.

Robert le Coq, vn de nos domeftiques eftoit retour-
ne" de Kebec dans vn eftat de maladie qui donnoit
autat d'horreur que de compaffion a tous ceux qui
auoient affez de courage pour confiderer les vlceres
dont tous fes membres eftoiet couuerts : Iamais Hu-
ron n'euft creu qu'vn corps fi remply de miferes euft

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 95

and one of our most solid pleasures, to consider, in
the midst of all those things, the gracious bounties of
God in the case of those whom he wishes for him-
self; and to see oftener than every day his sacred
and efficacious acts of providence, which so arrange
matters that it comes about that not one of the elect
is lost, though hell and earth oppose. We shall see
as much, in the course of this Relation. I will only
say in passing, — with reference to the little children
who were in danger of death, and who were nowise
guilty of the refusal which their parents often made
us, to approach them, — that hardly did a dozen of
them die without receiving their passport for going
to heaven, during the time when we had free access
to the villages, — the zeal and the charity of our evan-
gelistic laborers having been more industrious and
more active to procure them this happiness than the
rage and the hatred of the devil to hinder them.

[15] The reasons which we have thus far adduced,
on account of which the barbarians suspect us of
being the cause of their diseases, seem to have some
foundation; but the devil did not stop there, — it
would be a miracle if he did not build the worst of his
calumnies on sheer lies.

Robert le Coq,5 one of our domestics, had returned
from Rebec in a state of sickness which caused as
much horror as compassion to all those who had cour-
age enough to examine the ulcers with which all his
limbs were covered. Never would a Huron have be-
lieved that a body so filled with miseries could have
returned to health ; regarding him then as good as
dead, there were found slanderers so assured in their
falsehood that they publicly maintained that this
young Frenchman had told them in confidence that

96 LES RELATIONS DES J ^SUITES [Vol.19

pu retourner en fante : le iugeant done pour mort, il
fe trouua des calomniateurs fi affeurez en leur men-
fonge, qu'ils maintenoient publiquement que ce ieune
Francois leur auoit dit en confiance que les Iefuites
eftoient feuls les autheurs & les caufes des maladies
qui d'annee en annee alloient depeuplant le pays;
qu'il auoit defcouuert nos myfteres, & les fecrets
les plus cachez de nos forcelleries. Les vns difoient
que nous nourriffions en vn lieu retire de noftre mai-
fon vn certain ferpent [16] duquel leurs fables font
mention, & que e'eftoit la maladie : D'autres difoient
que e'eftoit vne efpece de crapau tout marque de
verole, & que mefme on l'auoit apperceu. Quelques
vns faifoient cette maladie vn demon vn peu plus fub-
til, & a leur dire nous le tenions cache dans le canon
d'vne arquebufe, & de la il nous eftoit facile de l'en-
uoyer la part ou nous voulions. On rapportoit mille
femblables fables, & tout cela eftoit tenu pour vray,
puis qu'il partoit, difoit-on, de la bouche mefme d'vn
Francois, qui auant fa mort auoit rendu ce bon office
a tout le pays des Hurons, de les aduertir d'vne ma-
gie fi noire, dont en effedt tous leurs bourgs fe voy-
oient defolez. C eftoient la les plus puiff antes armes
dont on nous combattoit, e'eftoit la raifon peremp-
toire qui nous faifoit tous criminels. Les nations
circonuoifmes en furent bien toft informees, tout le
monde en eftoit imbu, & mefme les enfans auffi bien
que les peres, en quelque lieu que nous peuffions
aller, portoient la deffus l'arreft certain de noftre
mort.

Auant que nous pafiions plus outre, ie croy que
e'eft vne chofe qui merite [17] d'eftre remarquee, que
la maladie & la fante de ce ieune homme. Ce feroit

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 97

the Jesuits alone were the authors and the cause of
the diseases which from year to year kept depopulat-
ing the country; that he had discovered our mys-
teries, and the most hidden secrets of our enchant-
ments. Some said that we nourished, in a retired
place of our house, a certain serpent [16] of which
their fables make mention, and that this was the dis-
ease. Others said that it was a kind of toad, all
marked with pits, and that somebody had even per-
ceived it. Certain ones made out that this disease
was a somewhat more crafty demon ; and, by what
they said, we kept it concealed in the barrel of an
arquebus, and thence it was easy for us to send it
wherever we would. They reported a thousand like
fables, and all that was held to be true, since it pro-
ceeded, they said, from the very lips of a French-
man, who before his death had rendered this good
office to the whole country of the Hurons, — of ap-
prising them of so black a magic, by which in fact
all their villages appeared to be desolated. Those
were the most powerful weapons with which they
combatted us ; this was the imperative reason which
made us all criminals. The surrounding nations
were soon informed of this; everybody was imbued
with it, and even the children, as well as the fathers,
in whatever place we might go to, favored in that
matter the definite decree for our death.

Before we pass on, I think that it is a thing which
deserves [17] to be remarked, — the sickness and the
health of this young man. It would be in some sort
to slight the providence of God, not to bless him
therefor, since that has greatly shone forth in it.

This good young man, returning here from Kebec
in a company of several canoes of Hurons, who had

98 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

faire tort en quelque facon a la prouidence de Dieu
de ne Ten pas benir, puis qu'elle y a grandement
e elate.

Ce bon ieune homme remontant icy de Kebec en
troupe de plufieurs canots de Hurons, qui luy auoient
promis toute affiftance par le chemin, fe vid bien toft
abandonne de ces barbares, qui luy faufferent la foy,
incontinent qu'ils furent hors la crainte des ennemis,
& au deca des lieux ou la chaff e n'eftant plus heu-
reufe, ils ne iouyffoiet plus des fruidts d'vne harque-
bufe qu'il portoit. II refta feul, accompagne de deux
Sauuages das vn petit canot qu'il auoit achepte.
Eftant dans les faults il les veut foulager, il fe
charge dans les portages de quelques paquets fi
pefans que fuccombant deffous le faix il s'en enfuiuit
vne entorfe & vne rupture de reins fi douloureufe
qu'a peine croyoit-il pouuoir auancer plus outre, &
defia ces Sauuages parloient de le quitter, mais Dieu
lui referuoit vne croix plus pefante. II fut bien toft
faifi d'vne violente fievre, & en fuite la maladie du
temps, la [18] petite verole couurit tout fon corps
d'vne facon fi extraordinaire, que fur tous fes mem-
bres il ne paroiffoit qu'vne croute de puanteur. Au
lieu de ramer & foulager fes matelots dans les por-
tages, le voila devenu luy-mefme vne nouuelle charge
a des gens qui ont incontinent horreur de luy, ny
mefme n'ont pas affez de coeur pour arrefter leurs yeux
fur fon corps, tant il eft hideufement difforme, bien
loin de le foulager dans le plus fort de fes douleurs,
& de compatir a fon mal; tant s'en faut, ils parlent
a tous momens de s'en deffaire, & de le ietter fur le
riuage comme vn cadaure qui eftoit defia confifque a
la mort: Ils en viennent a l'execution, mais ce pau-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 99

promised him every assistance by the way, soon saw
himself abandoned by those barbarians, who broke
faith with him as soon as they were past fear of the
enemies, and within a region where, the chase being
no longer successful, they no longer enjoyed the
effects of an arquebus which he carried. He re-
mained alone, accompanied by two Savages, in a
small canoe that he had bought. While in the rap-
ids, he wishes to relieve them ; he loads himself at
the portages with some bundles so heavy that, suc-
cumbing beneath the burden, there followed a sprain
and a rupture in the loins so painful that he hardly
believed he could proceed further. Those Savages
were already speaking of leaving him ; but God was
reserving for him a heavier cross. He was soon
seized with a violent fever, and thereafter the cur-
rent malady, [18] smallpox, covered his whole body
in a manner so extraordinary that on all his members
there appeared but one crust of foulness. Instead
of paddling, and relieving his boatmen at the port-
ages, he has himself become a new burden to people
who straightway feel horror for him ; nor have they
even sufficient courage to fix their eyes on his body, —
so hideously disfigured is he. Far, indeed, from
relieving him at the height of his pains, and from
sympathizing with his trouble, — on the contrary,
they speak at every moment of getting rid of him,
and of throwing him on the shore like a corpse which
was already confiscated by death. They come to the
point of execution ; but this poor sick man, to whom
nothing was left intact but sense and speech, effected
so much by dint of reasons, prayers, threats, prom-
ises, and especially by inordinate gifts, that they
promised him not to abandon him. That was all the

100 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

ure malade a. qui rien ne reftoit d'entier que le iuge-
ment & la langue, fit tant a force de raifons, de pri-
eres, de menaces, de promeffes, & fur tout de prefens
exceffifs, qu'ils luy promirent de ne le point abandon-
ner. Ce fut la toute la faueur qu'il put efperer
d'eux : car d'ailleurs ils le traittoient auec moins de
refpeCt & de companion que nous ne ferions vn
cadaure ; iufques la mefme qu'ils auoient honte d'eftre
[19] chargez de luy, en forte qu'au rencontre qu'ils
faifoient de quelques canots, ils le cachoient comme
vne charogne puante, & vn fumier qu'on n'ofe pas
expofer en veue.

II fut 12. ou 13. iours a traifner de la forte vne fi
miferable vie, & fe voyoit en fin dans l'efperance de
pouuoir en deux bonnes iournees arriuer en cette
maifon, ou fa confolation feroit de mourir affifte de
nous, & encore vne fois iouyr de la douceur des Sa-
cremens au milieu d'vne compagnie qui ne luy ferui-
roit pas peu a luy procurer les fentimens de piete,
dans lefquels il euft voulu rendre fon ame a Dieu.
Mais quoy, vn Huron infidele eft toufiours barbare.

Ces malheureux l'abandonnent tout feul fur vne
longue roche qui eft fur le bord du grand lac qui
vient baigner ces coftes : ils luy emportent fon canot,
& tous les prefens qu'ils auoient tire de luy par le
chemin, fans luy laiffer non pas mefme vne ecorce
pour fe couurir, ny aucun viure dont il peuft foufte-
nir ce peu qui luy reftoit de vie. Sans doute fi les
rochers mefmes fur lefquels il fut expofe, [20] euffent
eu quelque fentiment, ils auroient pris compafsion
de voir ce pauure ieune homme abandonne de tout
fecours humain, tout charge de playes & d'vlceres,
couuert d'vne maladie fi pleine de douleur, fans feu,

1640] RELATION OF 1640 101

favor that he could hope from them; for in other
matters they treated him with less respect and com-
passion than we would show to a dead body, — even
to the pass that they were ashamed to be [19] charged
with him, so that, when they encountered some ca-
noes, they hid him like foul carrion and a dunghill,
which one dare not expose to view.

He was 12 or 13 days dragging out in this way
such a wretched life, and at last saw himself in hopes
of contriving, within two good days, to reach this
house, where it would be his consolation to die as-
sisted by us, and to enjoy once again the pleasure of
the Sacraments in the midst of a company which
would serve him not a little to obtain for him the
feelings of piety in which he would have desired to
render his soul to God. But what? an infidel Huron
is always a barbarian.

These wretches forsake him, all alone on a long
rock which is on the shore of the great lake that
comes to bathe these shores ; they carry off his canoe,
and all the gifts which they had extracted from him
by the way, without leaving him even a piece of bark
to cover himself with, nor any food wherewith he
could sustain the meagre life which he had left. No
doubt, if the very rocks on which he was exposed
[20] had had any feeling, they would have taken pity
to see this poor young man forsaken by all human
aid, — wholly burdened with sores and ulcers, covered
with a disease so full of pain, without fire, without
provisions, and without shelter; lying on a naked
rock, — which had nothing smooth about it, any more
than his body, — and wet from head to foot with a
furious rain, which fell upon him almost an entire
day. Notwithstanding all that, his courage does not

102 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

fans viures, & fans abry ; couche fur vne roche nue,
qui n'auoit rien d'egal auffi peu que fon corps, &
moui'lle depuis les pieds iufques a la tefte d'vne
pluye furieufe qui tomba deffus luy quail vn iour en-
tier. Nonobftant tout cela fon courage ne cede pas
a fa mifere, il a recours a Dieu, & traifnant fon mife-
rable corps fur f es coudes & fur f es genoux ; (car il
ne pouuoit fe tenir fur fes pieds, ny s'appuyer fur
autre chofe,) les yeux tout bouchez de verole, il s'en
va dans les buiffons & parmy les broffailles chercher
a taftons s'il ne trouuera point quelque racine ou
quelque fruict. pour raffafier la faim qui le preffe
autant & plus que tous fes maux enfemble.

II falloit que Dieu le conduififl, car fes mains tom-
boient fi heureufement fur ce qu'il cherchoit, qu'en
peu de temps il trouua vne certaine efpece de
grozeilles affez pour foulager aucunement fa faim
[21] Iugez quelle fut la nuidt de ce pauure malade.

Le lendemain comme il eftoit couche quafi. tout
nud fur le riuage, quelques canots Hurons qui l'a-
uoient apperceu de loin, croyant que ce fufk quelque
corps mort, f approcherent pour le recognoiftre :
mais luy s'eftant vn peu leue au bruit pour leur crier
mifericorde, leur donna tant d'horreur, que n'ofans
aborder plus pres, ils le laifferent impitoyablement
fans luy prefter aucun fecours, non pas mefme d'vne
poignee de bled ou de farine. Vn peu de temps
apres quelques autres pafferent, qui en fin s'eftans
laiffe flechir par les prefens qu'il leur offrit, fe refo-
lurent de s'en charger: mais helas cette ioye fut bien
courte, a peine l'eurent-ils porte enuiron vne demie
lieue, que ne pouuans plus le fouffrir, ils le remirent
a bord auec fes hardes, & vn paquet d'enuiron 50. ou

1040] RELA TION OF 1640 103

give in to his misery; he has recourse to God, and, —
dragging his miserable body on his elbows and on
his knees (for he could not stand on his feet, nor lean
on anything else), with his eyes all stopped up with
sores, — he goes into the bushes and among the bri-
ars, to seek by feeling about whether he will not find
some root or some fruit to satisfy his hunger, which
oppresses him as much as and more than all his
troubles together.

It must be that God was guiding him, for his
hands so fortunately fell on what he sought, that in
a little while he found a certain kind of currants, —
enough to relieve his hunger to some extent. [21]
Judge what this poor sick man's night was.

The next day, while he lay almost naked on the
shore, some Huron canoes, which had perceived him
from a distance, thinking that he was some dead
body, drew near to make him out; but he, having
risen a little at the noise, in order to cry them
mercy, gave them so much horror that, not daring to
approach nearer, they pitilessly left him, without
lending him any assistance, — not even a handful of
corn or meal. A little while after, some others
passed, who finally having suffered themselves to
be swayed by the gifts which he offered them, re-
solved to take charge of him : but alas, this joy was
very brief; — hardly had they carried him about half
a league when, unable to endure him longer, they
put him ashore again with his clothing, and a bundle
of about 50 or 60 pounds, — more faithful in that
than the first ones, who carried off his presents.

So there was this poor fellow again abandoned to
all these miseries, but worse than before, — for, his
strength [22] being diminished for want of food, and

104 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

60. liures ; en cela plus fideles que les premiers qui
luy emporterent fes prefens.

Voila done ce pauure garcon de rechef abandonne
a toutes ces miferes, mais pis qu'auparauant: car fes
forces [22] eftant diminu6es manque de nourriture,
& la maladie ayant creu, il fe vit enfin quafi dans
l'impuiffance de plus fe remuer. Ce fut alors qu'il
eut plus a patir, car vn grand orage de pluye eftant
furuenu & fe trouuant couche au milieu de deux
roches par ou fe defchargeoient les eaux des colines
& des butes voifines, il ne peuft pas s'en retirer, &
fut contraint de croupir la dedans autant que 1' orage
dura. Ce fut bien pis au retour du beau temps : car
alors les moucherons venans a trouppe s'attachoient
au pus qui fortoit de fes playes; d'ou s'enfuiuit vne
fourmiliere de vermine & de vers vniuerfelle par
tout le corps.

A moins que cela on en meurt, auffi ce bon ieune
homme defefperant tout a fait de fa vie, ne fongea
plus qu'au Ciel. II regardoit la mort d'vn ceil auffi
paifible que font ceux qui enuifagent leur bon-heur.

II s'eftoit charge partant des Trois Riuieres d'vn
paquet qu'il nous apportoit, ou eftoient plufieurs
reliques affez notables. C'eftoit la l'vnique fupport
qui luy reftoit en terre: & du moins ne pouuant [23]
pas venir mourir entre nos bras, il fe confoloit que
fon corps repoferoit en paix aupres des reliques des
Saindts: mais Dieu le vouloit voir dans vn abandon
plus entier.

Ceux qui l'auoient quitte racontoient aux autres
Hurons dont ils faifoient rencontre, le miferable eftat
de ce pauure garcon. Entre ceux qui entendirent
ces nouuelles fut vn certain barbare, auec lequel

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 105

the disease having increased, he found himself at
last almost powerless to stir further. It was then
that he had most to suffer, for a great storm of rain
having come up, and he chancing to be lying be-
tween two rocks along which the waters from the
hills and neighboring knolls poured down, he could
not withdraw from them, and was constrained to
crouch therein as long as the storm lasted. It was
much worse at the return of fair weather : for then
the gnats, coming in swarms, attached themselves
to the matter which issued from his sores ; whence
there ensued a teeming nest of vermin and of worms,
everywhere on his body.

For less than that, one dies; accordingly this good
young man, altogether despairing of his life, now
thought of nothing but Heaven. He looked at death
with as peaceful a gaze as those do who contemplate
their happiness.

He had charged himself, on leaving the Three
Rivers, with a bundle which he was bringing to us,
in which were several quite notable relics. That
was the sole support which was left to him on earth :
and at least, if unable [23] to come and die in our
arms, he consoled himself that his body would rest
in peace beside the relics of the Saints; but God
willed to see him in a desolation more complete.

Those who had forsaken him told the other Hu-
rons whom they met, the miserable condition of this
poor fellow. Among those who heard these tidings
was a certain barbarian with whom he had formerly
made several journeys in the country, and who pro-
fessed to love him. This man, who was going away
on a rather long trade, leaves his course, moves
straight to where the sick man was, to relieve him :

106 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.19

autresfois il auoit fait plufieurs voyages dans le pays,
& qui faifoit profeffion de l'aymer. Celuy-cy qui
s'en alloit en vne traitte affez longue, quitte fa route,
tire droit la part oil eftoit le malade pour le f oulager :
mais l'ayant aborde, & confidere fa mifere, & encore
plus le paquet qui eftoit pres de luy, ce barbare fit ce
iugement que c' eftoit vne perfonne dont la mort auoit
defia pris poffeffion, & qu'ainfi on le pouuoit impune-
ment piller. Toutesfois pour ne pas fi ouuertement
faire vn coup d'ennemy, il le falue a la Hurone, &
pour toute confolation luy prefentant vn morceau de
mechant pain quafi moify, il prend fon temps, & en-
leue fubtilement ledit [24] paquet. Le pauure malade
qui de temps en temps prenoit garde a ce qui luy
reftoit de confolation au monde, ne fentent plus fon
trefor, fe douta auffi-toft de ce qui eftoit arriue. Ce
coup la luy perca le cceur, fe confiderant dorefnauant
comme abandonne de l'affiftance du ciel & de la terre.
Mais c'eft la iuftement le moment que Noftre Sei-
gneur attendoit pour faire paroiftre fa gloire, & le
foin paternel qu'il a de ceux qui mettent en luy toute
leur confiance,

II y auoit vn an que retournant du mefme voyage
il auoit rencontre a cinq ou fix iourn^es au deca des
Trois Riuieres vn pauure barbare Huron, delaiffe par
fes compagnons pour vn mefme fujet de maladie. II
fut touche de compaffion, & fe refolut d'affifter ce
pauure mal-heureux, il luy dreffe vne petite cabane,
le couure d'vne robbe & de fa cafaque, il va pour luy
& a la chaff e, & a la pefche, il luy prepare fon man-
ger; bref il luy rend nuidt & iour tant de charite &
de bons offices qu'il le remet fur pied, & le rend en
eftat de prendre la premiere commodite des canots

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 107

but having approached him and considered his mis-
ery, and still more the bundle which was near him,
this barbarian came to the conclusion that he was a
person of whom death had already taken possession,
and that thus one might with impunity rob him.
Nevertheless, in order not to do so openly the deed
of an enemy, he greets him in the Huron style, and, —
for all comfort offering him a piece of sorry bread,
almost mouldy, — he takes his time, and craftily re-
moves the said [24] bundle. The poor sick man, —
who from time to time gave heed to what comfort
there was left to him in the world, — no longer feel-
ing his treasure, straightway suspected what had
happened. That blow pierced his heart, — account-
ing himself thenceforth, as it were, abandoned by
any help of heaven and earth. But that was pre-
cisely the moment which Our Lord was awaiting, in
order to manifest his glory, and the paternal care
that he has for those who put their whole confidence
in him.

A year before, while returning from the same voy-
age, he had met, five or six days' journey on this
side of the Three Rivers, a poor Huron barbarian,
forsaken by his companions for a like reason of sick-
ness. He was touched with compassion, and resolved
to assist this poor unfortunate ; he erects for him a
little cabin, and covers him with a skin and with his
jacket ; he goes both hunting and fishing for him ;
he prepares for him his food. In short, he renders
him night and day so much charity, and so many
kind offices, that he puts him on his feet again, and
restores him to a condition for taking the first oppor-
tunity, by the canoes which should pass there, to [25]
bring him back. The year had elapsed, and this

108 LES RELATIONS DES J ^SUITES [Vol.19

qui pafferoient par Ik pour [25] le ramener. L'annee
s'eftoit ecoulee fans que ce barbare euft tefmoigne a
fon bien-faidteur aucune recognoiffance : mais le Dieu
de iuftice & de bonte ne voulut pas que cette ingra-
titude durafh plus long-temps. Voicy ce barbare qui
retournant dans vn canot avec vn autre lien cama-
rade, de ie ne fcay quel voyage, aborde par vn heu-
reux rencontre au lieu oil eftoit fon ancien bien-
faicteur: ne fongeant pas a luy. II eft furpris de
voir la. vn fi hideux fpectacle, mais il n'auoit garde
de le recognoiftre. Ce pauure maladie \sc. malade]
eut de la peine a. entre-ouurir fes yeux bouchez de
verole, il fe fent tout reuiure apperceuant celuy qu'il
auoit autresfois tellement oblige. Ha! luy dit-il,
mon camarade, c'eft moy qui meurs icy malheureufe-
ment delaiffe, il eft en ton pouuoir de me rendre ce
que ie t'ay donne. Le barbare recogneuft fa voix,
& touche de compaction & de reffentiment du bien de
la vie qu'en effet l'annee precedente il auoit receu
par fon affiftance, il luy donne parole qu'il ne l'aban-
donnera point qu'il ne l'ayt mis en lieu d'afleurance,
& qu'ils courreroient mefme rifque.

[26] En effect quoy que ces deux barbares n'euilent
plus de farine que pour vn iour, & que le temps fuft
fort fafcheux, ils fe chargerent de cette carcaffe
viuante abandonnee depuis quatre iours a toutes les
iniures des temps, & nuidt & iour ils luy rendirent
toute l'afsi[f]tance dont ils fe peurent aduifer: Mais
il fembloit que les demons enuiaffent cette charite en
des perfonnes infideles; la tempefle s'acreuft, les
vents fe redoublerent, & les orages furent fi vehemens
qu'ils ne croyoient pas iamais en rechapper: toutes-
f ois leur courage f urmonta la rage des Hots ; car enfin

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 109

barbarian had shown his benefactor no gratitude;
but the God of justice and of goodness did not allow
this ingratitude to last longer. Here, then, this
barbarian — returning in a canoe with another, a
comrade of his, from I know not what journey —
approaches, by a happy coincidence, the place where
his former benefactor was, not thinking of him. He
is surprised to see there so hideous a spectacle, but
he has no thought of recognizing it. This poor sick
man could hardly open his eyes, stopped shut with
sores; he feels himself quite revived on perceiving
the one whom he had formerly so much obliged.
" Ha!" he said to him, " my comrade, it is I who
am dying here, unhappily forsaken ; it is in your
power to render me what I gave you." The barba-
rian recognized his voice, and — touched with com-
passion, and with gratitude for the boon of life which
in fact, the year before, he had received through his
assistance — he gives his word that he will not aban-
don him until he has put him in a place of safety,
and that they will run the same risk.

[26] In fact, although these two barbarians had no
more than one day's meal, and though the weather
was very irksome, they burdened themselves with
this living carcass, abandoned for four days to all
the inclemencies of wind and weather; and night
and day they rendered him all the assistance they
could think of. But it seemed that the demons en-
vied this charity in infidel persons ; the tempest in-
creased, the winds doubled their force, and the gusts
were so vehement that they thought they should
never escape from them again. Howbeit, their cour-
age overcame the rage of the waves; for finally, —
after having paddled vigorously for the space of five

110 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

apres auoir fortement rame l'efpace de cinq iours,
durant lef quels ils moururent quafi de faim, & tra-
uerfe le lac (ce qui en temps de calme n'euft efte que
le trauail de deux iournees) ils aborderent au pied de
noflre maifon, & liurerent entre nos mains celuy
dont ils s'eftoient chargez. Ie ne croy pas qu'on
puiff e voir vn corps humain plus couuert de mif eres ;
pas vn de nous n'euft iamais pii le recognoiftre ; il
n'y auoit partie fur luy qui ne reffentit fa douleur:
mais toutesfois le cceur eftant [27] re fie entier, le
mal qui le preffoit le plus efloit vne faim dereglee
qui luy auoit quafi ofte" le fentiment de tous fes autres
maux.

Dieu fcait combien fut grande la confolation qu'il
fentit : c'efloit bien a cette heure qu'il mouroit le plus
content du monde. Nous luy donnafmes les Sacre-
mens pour l'y mieux difpofer: Mais il pleut telle-
ment a Dieu benir la charite qu'on luy rendit, qu'en-
uiron quarante iours apres fon arriuee il fe trouua en
parfaite fante.

Que 11 luy fut confole en nous voyant peut-eftre
que noftre ioye ne fut pas moindre que la fienne ; car
nous l'attendions mort, & nous le vifmes en vie.
Quelques Hurons de ceux qui les derniers l'auoient
quitte, nous en apporterent des premiers nouuelles,
ceux qui tous les premiers l'auoient plus infidelement
abandonne nous en ayant cache la cognoiffance,
crainte comme on peut penfer, que fi le malade effort
fecouru, il ne leur faluft rendre les prefens & le
canot dont ils defiroient profiter. Quoy qu'il en foit
on nous l'auoit fait mort, & [28] auffi toft nous auios
equipe vn canot d'vn de nos Peres, d'vn de nos
domeftiques, & de quatre excellens Sauuages pour

1640J RELA TION OF 1640 111

days, during which they nearly died of hunger, and
having crossed the lake (which at a time of calm
would have been but the work of two days), — they
landed at the foot of our house, and delivered into
our hands the one with whom they had charged
themselves. I do not suppose that one can see a
human body more covered with miseries, — not one
of us could ever have recognized him ; there was no
part of him which did not feel his pain, but yet his
courage having [27] remained, the evil which most
oppressed him was an inordinate hunger, which had
almost taken from him the sense of all his other
troubles.

God knows how great was the consolation which
he felt : it was surely then that he could have died
the most contented man in the world. We gave
him the Sacraments to dispose him the better there-
to ; but it so pleased God to bless the charity which
was rendered him that, about forty days after his
arrival, he found himself in perfect health.

But if he was consoled by seeing us, perhaps our
joy was not less than his ; for we were expecting him
dead, and we saw him alive. Some Hurons, of those
who had last left him, first brought us news of him ;
those who first of all had most faithlessly abandoned
him having concealed from us their knowledge of
the matter, — for fear, as one may think, lest, if the
sick man were aided, they would have to give back
the presents and the canoe, by which they desired to
profit. Be this as it may, they had represented to us
that he was dead; and [28] straightway we manned
a canoe belonging to one of our Fathers, with one
of our domestics and with four excellent Savages, to
go and either assist him alive or fetch him dead.

112 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

Taller on fecourir viuant, ou querir mort, Mais
eftans arriuez au lieu qu'on auoit defigne, & apres
auoir parcouru quafi toute la cofte auec bien du trauail
fans rien trouuer, Dieu y ayant pourueu d'ailleurs,
ils ne le virent qu'a leur retour.

Or pour comble de benedidtion le iour de la Touf-
faindts comme nous eftions fur le poindt de dire
Vefpres, nos Peres de la Miffion de la Conception
arriuerent icy, & nous apporterent ce dont nous
auions perdu quafi toute efperance, les Reliques des
Saindts que ce traiftre barbare auoit enleue au pauure
malade. Ce malheureux volleur n' ayant pas trouue"
dans le paquet ce qu'il penfoit y eftre, & n'y ayat
quafi rie veu que des chofes dont il n'euft pu tirer
aucun vfage, fe refolut par ie ne fcay quel mouue-
ment fecret de cacher ledit paquet dans les bois, &
pourfuiure fa route: de forte qu'au retour de fon
voyage qui dura 40. ou 50. iours, ayant appris que
Robert le Coq efloit encore en vie, fe doutant bien
que fon vol feroit [29] cogneu, il reprit & rapporta
ledit paquet, & n'eut pas affez de front pour le nier
a nos Peres, qui s'addrefferent a luy auffi toft qu'il
fut arriue. Sans doute ces bons Saindts a qui fouuent
nous recommandions affectueufement cette affaire
qui les touchoit eux-mefmes autat que nous, auoient
ecoute nos prieres. Ils n'euffent pas pu nous donner
cette ioye en vne meilleure iourn6e : nous expofafmes
incontinent fur noftre Autel toutes ces belles & heu-
reufes Reliques, auec bon nombre d'autres qui nous
eftoient venues de France cette annee. Les Vefpres
de ce faindt iour furent chantees auec vne confolation
qu'il feroit difficile d'expliquer.

Mais reuenons a nos Sauuages animez contre nous

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 1 13

But, having reached the place which had been des-
ignated, and after having explored almost the whole
shore with much labor, without finding aught, — God
having thus provided, moreover, — they did not see
him till their return.

Now for culmination of blessing, on the day of
All Saints, as we were on the point of saying Ves-
pers, our Fathers of the Mission of la Conception
arrived here, and brought us that of which we had
lost nearly all hope, — the Relics of the Saints, which
that treacherous barbarian had taken away from the
poor sick man. This wretched robber, not having
found in the bundle what he thought to be there, and
having seen scarcely anything but articles from
which he could have derived no use, resolved, from
I know not what secret impulse, to conceal the said
bundle in the woods, and to pursue his course. The
result was that, on returning from his journey,
which lasted 40 or 50 days, having learned that Rob-
ert le Coq was still alive, — suspecting, indeed, that
his robbery would be [29] known, — he recovered
and brought back the said bundle, and had not suffi-
cient effrontery to deny it to our Fathers, who ad-
dressed themselves to him as soon as he had arrived.
No doubt these good Saints — to whom we often
affectionately commended this matter, which con-
cerned themselves as much as us — had listened to
our prayers. They could not have given us this joy
on a better day ; we forthwith exposed upon our Altar
all these glorious and auspicious Relics, with a good-
ly number of others which had come to us from
France this year. The Vespers of this holy day were
sung with a consolation which it would be difficult
to explain.

114 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

au fujet de la maladie, & a ces impofteurs qui auoient
maintenu que Robert le Coq les auoit {\. confidem-
ment aduerty des magies noires & des fortileges exe-
crables dont nous les faifions tous mourir. II ne fut
pas bien difficile de refuter ces calomnies, puis que
celuy qu'on difoit auoir efte l'vnique fource de tous
ces bruits n'eftant pas mort, comme ils auoient iuge,
mais ayant recouure" vne [30] pleine fante, put demen-
tir tous ceux qui maintenoient auparauant l'auoir
entendu de fa bouche. Mais quoy? le menfonge
l'emporte au deffus de la verite, les calomniateurs
trouuet plus de creance que celuy qui nous iuftifie.
Le diable paffe bien plus outre, car la maladie de ce
ieune Francois ayant tenu affez long temps l'efprit
de plufieurs en balance, nous voyant enueloppez dans
la mefme mifere: lors qu'ils virent en fante celuy
que tous les hommes euffent iuge pour mort, il leur
vint en penfee que tout cela n' auoit efte que collufion
auec la maladie, & qu'ayant intelligence auec elle,
nous en auions difpofe de la forte, pour leur ietter
de la pouffiere aux yeux. Quoy qu'il en foit, on crie
publiquement au meurtre, mais les demons font
comme des tonnerres, qui font plus de bruit que de
mal; car toutes ces menaces n'ont pas eu beaucoup
d'effedt. Nous viuons, Dieu mercy, tous pleins de
vie & de fante. II eft bien vray que les croix ont
eft6 abbattues de deffus nos maifons, qu'on eft entre
la hache en main dans nos cabanes pour y faire quel-
que mauuais coup; [31] on a, dit-on, attendu fur les
chemins aucuns des noftres en intention de les tuer;
on a leu6 la hache fur les autres, & ramene le coup
iufques a vn doigt pres de leur tefte nue ; les Cruci-
fix qu'on portoit aux malades nous ont efte arrachez

1640] RELA TION OF 164.0 115

But let us return to our Savages, excited against
us on account of the disease, and to those impostors
who had maintained that Robert le Coq had so con-
fidentially informed them of the black magic arts and
the execrable spells with which we were causing
them all to die. It was not very difficult to refute
these calumnies, since he who was said to have been
the sole source of all these rumors — not being dead,
as they had supposed, but having recovered [30]
perfect health — could belie all those who previously
maintained they had heard the thing from his lips.
But what? falsehood gets the better of the truth;
the slanderers find more credit than the one who
justifies us. The devil goes much further, for — this
poor young Frenchman's sickness having for quite a
long time kept the minds of several in suspense, see-
ing us involved in the same misery — when they saw
him in health whom all men would have accounted
dead, it came to their thought that the whole affair
had been only collusion with the disease ; and that,
having an understanding with it, we had disposed
of it in this way, in order to throw dust in their
eyes. However this be, they openly cry ' ' murder ; ' '
but the demons are like thunders, which make more
noise than they do harm, — for all these threats
have had but little effect. We are alive, thank God,
all full of life and health. It is indeed true that the
crosses have been stricken down from above our
houses ; that people have entered our cabins, hatchet
in hand, in order to deal some evil blow there; [31]
they have, it is said, awaited some of ours on the
roads, with the intention of killing them ; the
hatchet has been lifted above others, and the blow
brought within a finger-length of their bare heads ;

116 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

par violence, les coups de bafton ont efte defchargez
fortement fur vn de nos miffionnaires, pour rempef-
cher de conferer quelque baptefme, Scd nondum vfque
ad fangninem rejlitimus : Noftre fang & nos vies ne
font pas encore refpandues pour celuy auquel nous
deuos tous nos cceurs. Noftre ame eft entre nos
mains, & c'eft la faueur la plus grande que nous
efperions receuoir du grand Maiftre qui nous em-
ploye, que de mourir pour fon fainct nom, apres
auoir beaucoup paty.

Ce n'eft pas que ie ne loue a iamais ce grand Dieu
de bonte, de nous auoir iufques a maintenant protege"
auec tant d'amour: car c'eft veritablement vn bon-
heur indicible pour nous, au milieu de cette barbarie,
d'entendre les rugiffemes des demons, & de voir tout
l'enfer, & quafi tous les hommes animez & remplis
de fureur contre vne petite poignee de [32] gens qui
ne voudroient pas f e def endre : de nous voir renf er-
mez en vn lieu a quinze cens lieues de noftre patrie,
ou toutes les puiffances de la terre ne pourroient pas
nous garantir de la colere de 1'homme le plus foible
qui auroit deffein fur nos vies, & ou mefme nous
n'auons pas vn fac de bled qui ne nous foit fourny
par ceux qui fans ceffe parlementent de nous tuer:
Et de fentir en mefme temps vne confiance fi particu-
liere en la bonte de Dieu, vne affeurance fi ferme au
milieu des dangers, vn zele fi adtif, & vn courage fi
refolu a tout faire & pdtir pour la gloire de noftre
Maiftre, vne conftance fi infatigable dans les trauaux
qui augmentent de iour en iour. De forte qu'il eft aif6
de conceuoir que c'eft Dieu qui prend noftre caufe,
que c'eft luy feul qui nous protege, & que fa proui-
dence prend plaifir de fe faire paroiftre oil nous voyos
moins de rhumain.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 117

the Crucifixes which were carried to the sick have
been violently snatched from us ; blows with a club
have been mightily inflicted upon one of our mission-
aries, to prevent him from conferring some baptism.
Sed nondum usque ad sanguinem restitimus; our blood
and our lives have not yet been poured out for him
to whom we owe all our hearts. Our soul is in our
hands, and this is the greatest favor that we hope to
receive from the great Master who employs us, —
namely, to die for his holy name, after having suf-
fered much.

Not that I do not forever praise this great God of
goodness, for having thus far protected us with so
much love : for it is truly an unspeakable happiness
for us, in the midst of this barbarism, to hear the
roarings of the demons, and to see all hell and almost
all men animated and rilled with fury against a little
handful of [32] people who would not defend them-
selves; to see ourselves shut up in a place fifteen
hundred leagues from our native land, where all the
powers of the earth could not warrant us against the
anger of the weakest man who might have designs
on our lives, and where we have not even a bag of
corn which has not been furnished us by those who
incessantly parley about killing us ; and to feel at the
same time so special a confidence in the goodness of
God, so firm an assurance in the midst of dangers, a
zeal so active, and a courage so resolute to do all and
to suffer all for the glory of our Master, so indefati-
gable a constancy in the labors which increase from
day to day. So that it is easy to conceive that God
is the one who espouses our cause ; that it is he alone
who protects us, and that his providence takes pleas-
ure in manifesting itself where we see least of the
human.

118 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

Ie parle auec cette liberte du courage de nos ouuriers
Euangeliques dans leurs trauaux, pour n'auoir autre
part a cette gloire, que d'auoir veu & confidere de
pres ce qui en eftoit: me fentant d'ailleurs [33] oblige
de rendre ce tefmoignage a leur vertu. On en verra
les effedts plus en particulier aux Chapitres fuiuans.

1640] RELATION OF 1640 119

I speak with this freedom concerning the courage
of our Evangelistic laborers in their toils, because
I have no share in this glory, save having seen and
closely examined the situation, — feeling myself with-
al [33] constrained to render this testimony to their
virtue. We shall see the effects of it more specific-
ally in the following Chapters.

120 LES RELATIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol.19

CHAPITRE III.
DE l'estat general du christianisme en ces

CONTREES.

IE ne puis donner vne idee plus conforme a l'eftat
des affaires du Chriftianifme en ces contrees,
que difant que nous fommes icy comme ceux
qui vont cherchant les mines d'vn pays. Apres
qu'ils ont mis ordre a tout l'appareil neceffaire a leur
deffein, ils confiderent premierement & remarquent
les terres, puis en ayant recogneu quelques mines qui
femblent cacher les threfors qu'ils fouhaitent, ils
fouillent & creufent en cet endroit, & a mefure qu'ils
rencontrent quel que matiere qui a apparence du me-
tail qu'ils recherchent, ils l'epurent & l'eprouuent
au feu: cependant s'ils fe trouuent affez forts de
monde ils vont en [34] mefme teps fonder d'autres
endroits pour s' employer fortement felon leur deffein.
Dans la derniere relation on a peu remarquer trois
lieux oil nous penfions auoir trouue le metail que
nous fommes venus chercher dans cette barbarie,
fcauoir quelques ames capables de la foy, pour en
former vne couronne a Iesvs-Christ. Ce a quoy
depuis on s'eft eftudie, a efte premierement d'epurer
ce metail, puis on s'eft auance plus outre pour
defcouurir quelques nouueaux threfors dignes du ciel.
Le fruidt qui s'eft enfuiuy du premier trauail,
a efte de recognoiftre au vray dans les occafions
qui fe font prefentees, qui eftoient les folides Chre-

1640] RELATION OF 1640 121

CHAPTER III.

OF THE GENERAL CONDITION OF CHRISTIANITY IN
THESE COUNTRIES. -

I CANNOT give an idea more apposite to the con-
dition of the affairs of Christianity in these re-
gions than by saying that we are here like those
who go seeking for the mines of a land. After they
have ordered all the apparatus necessary to their
purpose, they first consider and observe the kinds of
soil ; then having ascertained some mines which seem
to conceal the treasures which they desire, they ran-
sack and dig in that place ; and, as they encounter
some substance which has the appearance of the
metal which they are seeking, they refine it and test
it in the fire. Meanwhile, if they happen to be in
sufficiently great number, they go at [34] the same
time to investigate other places, in order to busy
themselves actively, according to their design.

In the last relation, one may have remarked three
places where we thought we had found the metal
which we came to seek in this barbarism, — to wit,
some souls qualified for the faith, so as to form a
crown of them for Jesus Christ. What we have
since studied, was first to refine this metal; then we
proceeded further, in order to discover some new
treasures worthy of heaven. The result which en-
sued from the first labor was to ascertain truly, by
the occasions which arose, who were the solid Chris-
tians, who those who had embraced the faith only

122 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

ftiens, qui ceux qui n'auoient embraffe la foy que
fur de fauffes efperances de quelque bien temporel,
& fur tout d'vne longue vie. Ne faut-il pas que
cette Eglife naiffante foit efpuree comme l'or en la
fournaife?

Quant a la recherche que nous auons faite de quel-
ques autres nouueaux threfors, le fuccez en a efte
femblable a celuy de ceux qui fe meilent en effedt
des mines, qui en creufant la terre trouuent [35] fou-
uent ce qu'ils ne cherchent pas, & quelquefois plus
qu'ils n'euffent ofe efperer: car pretendant princi-
palemet trouuer des ames capables de nos inftructios,
pour en former quelque partie de 1' Eglife militante,
nous n'en auons quafi rencontre que de propres pour
la triomphante: Dieu, ce femble, par vn mefnage-
ment extraordinaire de fa prouidence nous donnant
par tout ou nous auons efte les maladies pour ma-
neuures, qui nous ont fait rencontrer ces precieux
threfors que nous ne cherchions pas, ou plufloft d'vne
facon que nous ne penfions pas. Ie veux dire que
de mille perfonnes baptifees depuis la derniere Rela-
tion, il n'y en a pas vingt de baptif6es hors du dan-
ger de la mort : dont en effect plufieurs eftans dece-
dez vn peu apres le baptefme, & entr' autres plus de
260. enfans au deffous de fept ans, & de plus vn tref-
grand nombre qui n'auoient pas encore atteint dix,
douze & quatorze ans, dont nous croyons le falut en
aff eurace : Nous nous fommes employez cette annee
a accroiftre 1' Eglife triomphante plufloft que la mili-
tante.

[36] Ie ferois bien en peine fi i'eftois oblige de deci-
der fi nous auons en cela plus ou moins d'aduantage
que ce que nous pretendions : quoy qu'il en foit, nous

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 123

upon false hopes of some temporal advantage, and
especially of a long life. Must not this incipient
Church be refined like gold in the furnace?

As for our search for some other new treasures, our
success has been similar to that of those who liter-
ally concern themselves with mines ; who while dig-
ging in the earth find [35] often what they do not
seek, and sometimes more than they would have
dared to hope. For, aiming chiefly to find souls
qualified for our instructions, in order to form with
them some portion of the Church militant, we have
scarcely found any except those fit for the Church
triumphant, — God, it seems, by an extraordinary
arrangement of his providence, giving us, every-
where that we have been, diseases for laborers, which
have enabled us to run across these precious treas-
ures which we were not seeking; or rather in a way
that we were not thinking of. I mean that, of a
thousand persons baptized since the last Relation,
there are not twenty baptized ones out of danger of
death ; several of these, indeed, having died shortly
after their baptism, and among others more than 260
children under seven years; and, further, a very
great number who had not yet reached ten, twelve,
and fourteen years, whose salvation we believe as-
sured,— we have occupied ourselves, this year, in
increasing the Church triumphant rather than the
militant.

[36] I should be much perplexed if I were obliged
to decide whether in that we had more or less
advantage than what we claimed : be this as it may,
we have reason to be content, since the grand Mas-
ter who employs us has thus disposed.

Now of the two methods by which one could pro-

124 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

auons fujet d'eftre contens, puis que le grand Maiftre
qui nous employe en a difpofe de la forte.

Or des deux facons auec lefquelles on pouuoit
paffer plus auant en la conuerfion de ces peuples, ou
par la voye des refidences, ou par celle des Miffions ;
celle des refidences nous ayant paru pleine d'incon-
ueniens, & bien moins efficace, nous nous fommes
refolus a celle des miffions, quoy que plus fafcheufe
de beaucoup, & plus penible, fur tout en ces contrees.

En fuite de ce deffein apres auoir mefure nos forces
en la langue, le departement fut fait de nos ouuriers
dans tout le pays oil nous pouuions aller, en cinq
miffions: Scauoir de faincte Marie aux Ataronchro-
nons, de fainc5t Iofeph aux Attinguenongnahac, de la
Conception aux Attignaouentan, de S. lean Baptifte
aux Ahrendaronons, & de celle a laquelle nous auons
donn6 le nom des Apoftres [37] aux Khionontatero-
nons.

Ce fut a la Touffaindts que nous nous difperfafmes,
qui eft le temps du retour des traittes, & la faifon
iufques au Printemps pour trouuer les hommes, les
femmes, & les enfans en leur cabane, quoy que la
plus incommode pour voyager.

On auoit fait pendant l'Efte vne ronde pre f que par
tout, pour pouruoir au plus preffe, & prendre quel-
que cognoiffance de la difpofition des efprits. Dans
cette courfe on donna le nom de quelque Sainct. a
tous les bourgs & villages qu'on rencontra, ce qui
depuis dans les miffions d'hyuer a efte acheue, dans
la penfee que fi iamais Dieu donnoit benediction a
nos petits trauaux, & que Ton vint a dreffer vne
Eglife ou Chapelle en ces lieux, elles feroient erigees
en l'honneur du Sainct. dont on impofoit le nom.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 125

ceed further toward the conversion of these peoples, —
either by the plan of residences, or by that of Mis-
sions,— that of the residences having appeared to us
full of inconveniences, and much less efficacious, we
have decided upon that of the missions, although
much more vexatious and more laborious, especially
in these regions.

In consequence of this design, after having meas-
ured our strength in the language, the distribution
of our workmen was made, in all the country where
we could go, into five missions, — to wit, from sainte
Marie, to the Ataronchronons ; from saint Joseph,
to the Attinguenongnahac ; from la Conception, to
the Attignaouentan ; from St. Jean Baptiste, to the
Ahrendaronons ; and, from the one to which we
have given the name of " the Apostles," [37] to the
Khionontateronons.6

It was at All Saints that we dispersed, which is
the time of the return from trading expeditions, and
the season, until Spring, for finding the men, wom-
en, and children in their cabins; though the most
inconvenient time for travel.

We had made, during the Summer, a round nearly
everywhere, to provide for what was most urgent,
and to gain some knowledge of the disposition of
minds. In this expedition, we gave the name of
some Saint to all the hamlets and villages that we
encountered, which was later completed in the winter
missions, — with the thought that, if ever God gave
his blessing to our slight labors, and any should
come to erect a Church or Chapel in these places,
such would be erected in honor of the Saint whose
name we bestowed.

Next, we have had means to take the census not

126 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

En fuite nous auons eu le moyen de faire le denom-
brement non feulement des bourgs & bourgades,
mais auffi des cabanes, des feux, & mefme a pen. pres
des perfonnes de tout le pays, n'y ayant autre moyen
de prefcher l'Euangile en ces contrees qu'au foyer
de chaque famile, [38] dont on a tafche de n'ob-
mettre pas vne. II fe trouue dans ces cinq miffions
trente-deux tant bourgs que bourgades, qui compren-
nent en tout enuiron fept cens cabanes, de feux enui-
ron deux mille, & enuiron douze mille perfonnes.

Ces bourgs & cabanes eftoient bien autrement
peuplees autresfois, mais les maladies extraordinaires
& les guerres depuis quelques annees en 5a, femblent
auoir emporte le meilleur, ne reftant que fort peu de
vieillards, fort peu de perfonnes de main & de co-
duite. II eft a craindre que le comble de leurs pechez
ne s'approche, qui porte la Iuftice diuine a les exter-
miner, auffi bien que plufieurs autres nations, dont
les reftes fe font venus refugier parmy eux. Ce qui
doit exciter plus que iamais la charite & le zele de
tout le monde pour fecourir ces pauures miferables,
crainte qu'ils ne tombent dans leur dernier mal-
heur.

Voila le champ oil ont trauaille- depuis l'Automne
nos ouuriers Euangeliques, ou il faifoit le plus chaud.
C'eft la oil premierement on a tourne la tefte, ou on
a efte a l'attaque; & iamais pour quelque [39] aduis,
menaces, ou mauuais traittement que le diable ait
pu fufciter, on n'a quitte aucun deffein, ny perdu
aucune occafion de feruir le maiftre qui nous employe.

Ie ne dis rien icy des iniures du temps qu'il a fallu
que nos ouuriers ayent fouffert pendant leurs voyages
de bourg en bourg de leur departement, voyageant

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 127

only of the villages, large and small, but also of the
cabins, the fires, and even very nearly of the persons
in all the country, — there being no other way to
preach the Gospel in these regions than at each fam-
ily's hearth, [38] whereof we tried to omit not one.
In these five missions there are thirty-two hamlets
and straggling villages, which comprise in all about
seven hundred cabins, about two thousand fires, and
about twelve thousand persons.7

These villages and cabins were much more popu-
lous formerly, but the extraordinary diseases and the
wars within some years past, seem to have carried
off the best portion : there remaining only very few
old men, very few persons of skill and management.
It is to be feared that the climax of their sins is
approaching, which moves divine Justice to extermi-
nate them as well as several other nations, whose
remnants have come to take refuge among them, —
which ought more than ever to rouse the charity and
the zeal of every one to succor these poor wretches,
for fear lest they fall into their uttermost misfortune.

Such is the field in which our Gospel laborers
have toiled since Autumn, — when it was warmest.
It is there that we first turned our minds, where we
have been making the attack; and never, for any
[39] warning, threats, or evil treatment which the
devil may have contrived to stir up, have we for-
saken any design or lost any opportunity of serving
the master who employs us.

I say nothing here of the injuries from the weath-
er, which our workmen have been compelled to suffer
during their journeys from village to village in their
territory, — always traveling on foot during the Win-
ter, laden with their little goods and chapels, through

128 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

toufiours a pied pendant l'Hyuer, chargez de leurs
petites hardes & chapelles, par de petits fentiers cou-
uerts de neige, qui difparoiffant fouuent, laiffent la
perfonne dans le doute & l'incertitude des chemins,
d'ou s'enfuiuent des efgaremens affez ordinaires.

Mais le comble de ces difgraces eft de n'auoir au-
cune hoftellerie pour retraite, & d'eftre contraint de
chercher la cabane de quelque Sauuage qui veuille
nous receuoir, ou d' ordinaire la plus grande careffe
qu'on nous ait fait cette annee, ont efte" des reproches
continuelles de la perte du pays, dont on nous tenoit
la caufe ; pour lidt, la terre couuerte d'vne mefchante
efcorce ; pour toute nourriture, vne poignee ou deux
de bled rofty, ou de farine detrempee dedans [40]
l'eau, qui bien fouuent laiffent noftre faim toute
entiere ; & apres tout cela, n'ofer faire aucune adtion,
non pas mefmes les plus faindtes, qui ne foit fou-
pconnee & prife pour des fortileges: n'eft-ce pas la
mener vne vie qui n'a rien de douceur fmon la Croix
de Iefus-Chrift? Si nous voulions ou nous mettre a
genoux, ou dire noftre Office a la lueur de cinq ou
fix charbons, c'eftoient iuftement la ces magies noires
dont nous les faifions tous mourir. Demandions-
nous le nom de quelqu'vn pour l'efcrire dans le
regiftre de nos baptifez, & n'en pas perdre la me-
moire, c'eftoit (nous difoient-ils) pour le piquer fecret-
tement, & defchirant par apres ce nom efcrit, faire
mourir d'vn mefme coup celuy ou celle qui portoit
ce nom la ; en tout nous eftions criminels. Au refte,
il a pleu a Dieu affifter les ouuriers qu'il employ oit
de faueurs extraordinaires, foit par vn don paffager
de la langue, que plufieurs ont experimente aux occa-
fions, entendant & parlant au dela de leur portee, foit

1640] RELATION OF 1640 129

narrow paths covered with snow, which, frequently
disappearing, leave the traveler in doubt and uncer-
tainty as to the ways, whence ensue quite common
bewilderments.

But the culmination of these misfortunes is to have
no hostelry to retreat to, and to be constrained to
seek the cabin of some Savage who is willing to re-
ceive us, — where, usually, the greatest affection that
has been shown us this year was in the way of con-
tinual reproaches for the ruin of the country, where-
of we were held to be the cause. To have, for bed,
the ground covered with a sorry piece of bark ; for
all food, a handful or two of parched corn, or of meal
soaked in [40] water, which very often leaves our
hunger quite undiminished ; and after all that, not to
dare to do any act, — not even the most holy ones, —
which is not suspected and mistaken for enchant-
ments,— is not that leading a life which has naught
of sweetness except the Cross of Jesus Christ ? If we
would either kneel down, or say our Office by the
light of five or six coals, those were precisely these
acts of black magic by which we were causing them
all to die. If we asked the name of some one, in
order to write it in the register of our baptized ones,
and not lose memory of it, it was (they said) that we
might pierce him secretly, and afterward, tearing
out this written name, cause the death, by this
same act, of him or her who bore that name; in
everything, we were criminals. Howbeit, it has
pleased God to assist the workmen whom he em-
ployed, with extraordinary favors, — either by a tem-
porary gift for the language, which several have ex-
perienced on occasion, — understanding and speaking
above their range ; or by the gift of healings, which

130 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

par le don de guerifons, qui fe font enfuiuies de
l'vfage & application du Crucifix & eaue [41] benite.
Mais les fouff ranees endurees pour vn Sauueur cru-
cifie font preferables a tout cela.

Voila en general quels ont efte les trauaux & les
fruidts de cette annee. Deuant que ie l'explique plus
en particulier, ie ne puis que ie ne remercie icy au
nom des bons Anges de ce pays, Meffieurs de la Com-
pagnie de la Nouuelle France, qui vont tous les ans
augmentant leurs charitez enuers ces pauures peuples,
lis fe peuuent bien affeurer qu'a proportion fe trou-
uera vn iour augmentee la part qu'ils ont fujet de
pretendre aux merites de tout ce qui fe fait & fe
paffe icy, dont ie prie Dieu de tout mon cceur de leur
donner des cette vie des gages & affeurances telles
qu'ils peuuent defirer.

Ie ne diray rien icy des obligations continuelles
que nous auons a Monfieur le Cheualier de Mont-
magny noflre gouuerneur: tout ce que i'en pourrois
dire eft au deffous de fon merite, & des reffentimens
que nous en auons. Ie prie la diuine bote d'auoir
aggreables les prieres que nous nous tenos obligez
de f aire pour fa fante & profperite ; & de celle de
tous [42] ceux de l'vne & l'autre France, a la charite
defquels cette miffion du bout du monde a de fi gran-
des & particulieres obligations.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 131

have ensued from the use and application of the Cru-
cifix and holy [41] water. But the sufferings endured
for a crucified Savior are preferable to all that.

Such, in general, have been the labors and the
fruits of this year. Before I set it forth more partic-
ularly, I can but thank here, in the name of the good
Angels of this country, Messieurs of the Company of
New France, who continue every year to increase
their charities toward these poor peoples. They
may be well assured that one day the portion will be
correspondingly augmented, which they have reason
to claim in the merits of all that is done and that
comes to pass here, — whereof I pray God with all
my heart to give them even in this life such pledges
and assurances as they may desire.

I will say nothing here of the continual obligations
under which we are to Monsieur the Chevalier de
Montmagny, our governor: all that I could say there-
of is below his merit, and the gratitude that we feel
for it. I pray the divine goodness to hold agreeable
the prayers which we deem ourselves obliged to
make for his health and prosperity ; and for that of
all [42] those of either France, to whose charity this
mission at the end of the world is under so great and
special obligations.

132 LES RELA TIONS DES JE~ SUITES [Vol. 19

CHAP. IV.
DE LA RESIDENCE FIXE DE SAINCTE MARIE.

IESCRIUOIS l'an paff6 que nous auions deux Refi-
dences dedans le pays des Hurons, l'vne de S.
Iofeph a Teanaufteiye' : 1' autre de la Conception
a Offoffane, outre cela nous eftions dans le deflein
d'en eriger d'autres nouuelles en quelques bourgs
plus eloignez: mais depuis ayant recogneu que la
multiplicite de tat de Refidences eftoit fujete a beau-
coup d'inconueniens, & que la conuerfion de ces
peuples pourroit plus s'aduancer par la voye des
miffions, nous prifmes la refolution de reiinir nos
deux maif ons en vne : & afin que dans la fuitte des
ann^es nous ne fuffions point obligez a [43] changer
de lieu, comme font les Sauuages, qui tranfportent
leur bourg d'vn endroit a vn autre apres huidt ou
neuf ans: nous choififmes vne place, ou nous iu-
geafmes nous pouuoir eftablir a demeure, d'oii nous
pourrions, felon que nous aurions de force en main,
detacher vn bon nombre de miffionnaires qui s'y
feroient formez, pour aller auec bien plus de liberte
porter aux bourgs & nations circonuoifmes le fainct,
Nom de Noftre Seigneur.

Ce lieu eft fitue' au milieu du pays, fur la cofte
d'vne belle riuiere, qui n'ayant pas de longueur plus
d'vn quart de lieue, ioindt enfemble deux lacs, l'vn
qui s'eftend a l'Occident, tirant vn peu vers le Sep-
tentrion, qui pourroit paffer pour vne mer douce,

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 133

CHAP. IV.

OF THE PERMANENT RESIDENCE OF SAINTE MARIE.

I WROTE last year that we had two Residences
in the country of the Hurons, — the one of St.
Joseph, at Teanausteiye ; the other of la Concep-
tion, at Ossossane; besides these, we were purposing
to erect other new ones in certain more distant vil-
lages. But, since then, — having ascertained that
the multiplicity of so many Residences was subject
to many inconveniences, and that the conversion of
these peoples could be further advanced through the
channel of missions, — we resolved to combine our
two houses into one. And — so that in the course of
years we should not be obliged to [43] change places,
as the Savages do, who transfer their village from
one place to another after eight or nine years — we
chose a place where we judged we could settle per-
manently ; whence we might, according as we should
have a supply at hand, detach a goodly number of
missionaries who would have been trained for the
purpose, to go with much more liberty, and convey
to the villages and surrounding nations the holy
Name of Our Lord.

This place is situated in the middle of the coun-
try, on the shore of a beautiful river which, being
not more than a quarter of a league in length, joins
together two lakes, — one, which extends to the
West, verging a little toward the North, which might

134 LES RELATIONS DES JJESUITES [Vol.19

l'autre qui eft vers le Midy, dont le contour n'a
guere moins de deux lieues.

Nous commencafmes d6s l'Efte paffe a nous y efta-
blir, & fur le milieu de l'Automne nous y tranfpor-
tafmes la refidence que nous auions a Offoffane, ayant
differe d'y reiinir pareillement celle de faindt Iofeph:
mais des le commencement [44] du Printemps l'info-
lence des Sauuages nous a oblige de le faire bien
pluftoft que d'ailleurs nous n'auions refolu. Et ainfi
nous n'auons maintenant dans tout le pays qu'vne
feule maifon qui fera ferme & ftable, le voifmage
des eaux nous eftant tres-aduantageux pour fupleer
au manquement qui eft en ces contrees de toute autre
voiture ; & les terres eftans aff ez bonnes pour le bled
du pays, que nous pretendons auec le temps y recueil-
lir nous mefmes.

II y auoit fujet d'aprehender la propofition & ouuer-
ture de cette affaire aux comunautez des Sauuages
qui en eftoient les maiftres, mais il pleut a Dieu en
cela nous affifter: car la propofition fut incontinent
agree e, & auffi toft executee, & les prefens neceff aires
a cela deliurez au temps qu'il le faloit: Si nous
eufnons tard6 deux heures, ie ne fcay fi iamais 1' affaire
euft pu reiiffir.

Nous trauaillons maintenant a nous y eftablir, & a
dreffer quelque logement raifonnable proportionne a
nos fondtions; mais cela fe fait auec des peines qu'il
feroit difficile d'expliquer, n'ayant [45] aucun fecours
ny affiftance du pays, & eftans d'ailleurs dans vne
difette prefque vniuerfelle d'ouuriers & d'outils.

Nous auons donn6 a cette nouuelle maifon le nom
de faindte Marie, ou de Noftre Dame de la Concep-
tion. Les obligations generales & particulieres que
nous auons a cette grande Princeffe du ciel & de la

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 135

pass for a fresh-water sea ; the other, which is toward
the South, the contour of which is hardly less than
two leagues.8

We began to establish ourselves there as early as
last Summer, and about the middle of the Autumn
we moved thither the residence which we had at
Ossossane, having delayed to combine with it in like
manner that of saint Joseph : but, at the beginning
[44] of Spring, the insolence of the Savages obliged
us to do so much sooner than on other accounts we
had decided to. And thus we have now in all the
country but a single house which is to be firm and
stable, — the vicinity of the waters being very ad-
vantageous to us for supplying the want, in these
regions, of every other vehicle ; and the lands being
fairly good for the native corn, which we intend, as
time goes on, to harvest for ourselves.

There was ground for apprehending the proposal
and opening of this matter to the communities of the
Savages who were the masters of it ; but it pleased
God in that to assist us, for the proposition was at
once accepted and immediately carried out, and the
presents necessary thereto delivered at the proper
time. If we had delayed two hours, I know not
whether the affair could ever have succeeded.

We are now laboring to establish ourselves there,
and to erect some abode reasonably suitable to our
functions ; but that is done with pains that it would
be difficult to explain, — having [45] no help or as-
sistance from the country, and being withal in an
almost universal dearth of workmen and tools.

We have given to this new house the name of
sainte Marie, or Nostre Dame de la Conception. The
general and special obligations that we are under to

136 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.19

terre, font qu'vn de nos plus fenfibles defplaifirs eft
de ne luy en pouuoir tefmoigner affez de recognoif-
fance. Au moins pretendons nous d'orefnauant cette
confolation, qu'autant de fois qu'on parlera de la
principale demeure de cette miffion des Hurons, la
nommant du nom de faindte Marie, ce foient autant
d'hommages qui luy feront rendus de ce que nous
luy fommes & tenons d'elle, & de ce que nous luy
voulons eftre a iamais. Ioindt que fainct Iofeph
ayant efte choifi pour le patron de ce pays, & en fuite
la premiere & principale Eglife qui fe baftira dans
les Hurons luy eftant deftinee, nous n'auons pas deu
prendre d'autre protectrice de noftre maifon que la
faindte Vierge fon efpoufe, pour ne pas feparer ceux
que [46] Dieu a liez fi eftroittement.

C'auoit bien efte vne de nos penfees faifant vne
maifon a l'efcart efloignee du voifinage des bourgs,
qu'elle feruiroit entr'autres chofes a la retraitte &
recollection de nos ouuriers euangeliques, qui apres
leurs combats trouueroient cette folitude pleine de
delices: mais iamais nous n'euffions creu que le pre-
mier a qui cette maifon feruiroit pour ce fujet, deuft
eftre vn pauure barbare, dont le genie eft fi fort efloi-
gne des idees conformes a telles occupations. Ce fut
Iofeph Chihouatenhoua, furnomme icy par excellence
le Chreftien.

A l'occafion des tempeftes que nous preuoyions,
nous iugeafmes a propos de le preuenir de quelque
initrudtion plus particuliere, afin de luy fortifier le
courage, comme a celuy qui deuoit feruir d'exemple
a. tous les autres. On luy en fit done ouuerture, &
on luy donna quelque idee des exercices fpirituels.
Helas ! dit-il, pourquoy auez vous efte fi long temps
fans me faire part d'vn fi grand bien. I'auois eu

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 137

that great Princess of heaven and earth make it one
of our keenest disappointments that we are not able
to show her sufficient gratitude. At least we claim
henceforth this consolation, that as often as people
shall speak of the principal abode of this mission of
the Hurons, calling it by the name of sainte Marie,
it will be so many homages which will be rendered
to her for what we are to her and hold from her, and
of what we wish to be to her forever. Besides, saint
Joseph having been chosen for the patron of this
country, — and consequently the first and principal
Church which shall be built among the Hurons be-
ing destined for him, — we ought not to have taken
any other protectress for our house than the blessed
Virgin, his spouse, in order not to separate those
whom [46] God has bound together so closely.

It had indeed been one of our thoughts while build-
ing a house apart, remote from the vicinity of the
villages, that it would serve, among other things,
for the retreat and meditation of our evangelistic
laborers, who after their combats would find this
solitude full of delights : but never would we have
believed that the first for whom this house would
serve for this purpose was to be a poor barbarian,
whose spirit is so far removed from the ideas answer-
ing to such occupations. This was Joseph Chihoua-
tenhoua, surnamed here par excellence ' ' the Chris-
tian."

On account of the storms which we were anticipat-
ing, we judged it proper to inform him with some
more particular instruction, so as to strengthen his
courage, as the one who was to serve as example to
all the others. We then broached the matter to him,
and gave him some idea of the spiritual exercises.

138 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

mille fois la penf£e de m'enquerir pourquoy vous ne
m'enfeigniez [47] point ce que ie voyois faire fi fou-
uent aux deux Peres qui font en ma cabane, qui
prient fi long temps Dieu fans remuer les levres : ie
m'en fuis retenu croyant que fi vous m'en euffiez iuge
capable vous me l'euffiez enfeigne, & partant qu'il
faloit attendre d'en eftre trouue digne: deflors le
temps fut pris pour ce deffein, mais des occupations
extraordinaires luy furuenant les vnes apres les
autres, la chofe tiroit en longueur. Ce bon homme
s'en apperceut, & fe doutant bien de luy-mefme qu'il
pourtoit y auoir de la rufe du diable, il quitte tout a
l'heure mefme, abandonne entre les mains de Dieu
le foin de fa famille, & en effect: nous vint trouuer
lors que nous l'attendions le moins. Peut-eftre on
fera bien aife de fcauoir quelque partie des fenti-
mens que noftre Seigneur luy donna pendant cette
faindte occupation, on verra que le S. Efprit eft par
tout le maiftre des cceurs.

1. Toute ma vie i'ay toufiours efte occupe; fi ie
mourois a cette heure, quel profit m'en refteroit-il
pour l'eternite, finon du peu que i'ay fait pour le
falut de [48] mon ame depuis que i'ay la foy: l'occu-
pation que ie vais entreprendre me fera a iamais pro-
fitable, il faut done m'y employer plus fortement que
iamais ie n'ay entrepris affaire du monde.

2 . Mon Dieu ie viens icy pour f cauoir voflre faindte
volonte, & en refolution a quelque prix que ce foit
de l'accomplir, m'en deufl-il coufler la vie. Si vous
ne me la donnez a cognoiftre, pardonnez moy mon
Dieu; vn fubjet a qui fon Capitaine ne declare pas fes
defirs, eft excufable s'il ne les fait.

3. Helas que l'appuy des hommes eit peu de

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 139

" Alas! " he said, " why have you been so long with-
out imparting to me so great a good? I had a thou-
sand times had the thought of inquiring why you
did not teach me [47] what I so often saw the two
Fathers do who are in my cabin, who pray to God so
long without moving their lips : I restrained myself,
believing that if you had judged me capable, you
would have taught me, and consequently that I must
wait to be found worthy thereof." After that, the
time was taken for this purpose ; but extraordinary
occupations coming upon him, one after the other,
the matter dragged along. This good man perceived
as much, and plainly suspecting, of his own accord,
that there might be some ruse of the devil therein,
he left in God's hands the care of his family, and
in fact came to find us when we were least expecting
him. Perhaps one will be glad to know some
portion of the sentiments that our Lord gave him
during this holy occupation ; it will be seen that the
Holy Ghost is everywhere the master of hearts.

1 . " All my life I have always been occupied ; if
I died at this hour, what profit would there be left
to me for eternity, unless from the little that I have
done for the salvation of [48] my soul since I have
had the faith ? The occupation which I am about to
undertake will be forever profitable to me ; I must
then attend to it more mightily than ever I have
undertaken any business in the world.

2. " My God, I come here to know your holy
will, and resolve, whatever cost there be, to fulfill
it, though it were to cost my life. Unless you give
me to know it, — forgive me, my God: a subject to
whom his Captain does not declare his desires, is
excusable if he do not accomplish them.

140 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

chofe ! ceux qui m'aymoient le plus au monde, & de
qui ie tiens dauantage, mon pere & ma mere font
morts: Dieu feul par fa bonte m'a feruy de pere &
de mere: lors que ie ne fongeois aucunement en
luy, il a fonge fans ceffe a moy: i'eftois come vn
enfant a la mammelle, qui mord & tormente fa mere
lors qu'elle luy fait plus de bien. Ce grand Dieu a
appelle du bout du monde & de dela les mers des
hommes qui font venus pour moy, & pour moy quafi
feul. Helas mon Dieu que voftre amour eft [49]
grand! me dois-je appuyer fur autre que fur vous?

4. Vn certain iour il fe trouua le foir dans vne
grande aridite & euagation d'efprit: quand il fut
queftion de rendre compte de fa meditation au Pere
qui le dirigeoit: Mon frere, luy dit-il, ie recognois
bien que ie n'ay point d'efprit, ie n'ay point bien fait
mon oraifon, ie me fuis incontinent trouue au bout
de mes penfees. Helas, qu'eft-ce que de noftre
efprit! Le Pere luy ayant demande comment il
s'eftoit comporte en cette occafion; Fay dit a Dieu,
ref pondit-il : Helas mon Dieu ie ne fuis rien, eft ce
a moy a vous porter quelque parole: ie viens icy
pour vous entendre, parlez done au fond de mon
cceur, & dites moy, fais cela ; ie le f eray mon Dieu,
quand i'en deurois mourir. Puis i'ay dit a la Vierge,
faindte Marie mere de mon Sauueur Iefus, me voicy
en voftre maifon, & dans voftre Chapelle, qui m'y
fera du bien finon vous? ayez pitie" de moy: ie fuis
icy venu pour cognoiftre la volonte de Dieu, mais ie
n'ay point d'efprit, & s'il parle, ie ne l'entends point.
Ie ne fuis [50] rien, vous eftes toute puiffante, priez
pour moy voftre fills bien-aime Iefus. Puis ie me
fuis addreffe aux Saindts dont les reliques font icy,

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 141

3. " Alas, how insignificant is the support of
men! Those who loved me the most in the world,
and from whom I derive most, — my father and my
mother, — are dead; God alone, in his goodness, has
served me as father and mother ; when I was nowise
thinking of him, he thought incessantly of me. I
was like a child at the breast, which bites and annoys
its mother when she is doing it most good. This
great God has called from the end of the world, and
from beyond the seas, men who have come for me,
and for me almost alone. Alas, my God, how great
is your [49] love ! Shall I lean on another than
you?"

4. On a certain day, he found himself at evening
in a great aridity and distraction of mind; when it
was a question of giving an account of his meditation
to the Father who was directing him, " My brother,"
he said to him, " I acknowledge, indeed, that I have
no sense ; I have not said my prayer well, — I straight-
way found myself at the end of my thoughts. Alas,
what is our intelligence ! " The Father having asked
him how he had behaved on that occasion, he an-
swered: " I said to God, ' Alas, my God, I am noth-
ing; is it for me to bring you any word? I come
here to hear you; speak then, in the depth of my
heart, and tell me, " Do that; " I will do it, my God,
though I should die for it.' Then I said to the Vir-
gin : ' Holy Mary, mother of my Savior Jesus,
here I am in your house and in your Chapel ; who
will do me good if not you ? Have pity on me : I
have come here to know the will of God ; but I have
no intelligence, and, if he speaks, I do not under-
stand him. I am [50] nothing; you are all-power-

142 LES RELATIONS DES JE'SUITES [Vol. 19

& dont la plus grande part m'a donne bien de la peine
a apporter icy haut de Kebec : Ie leur ay dit, grands
Saindts, ie ne fcay pas vos noms, neantmoins vous
ne pouuez ignorer que i'ay apporte vos reliques en
ce pays, ayez pitie de moy: priez pour moy vofkre
maiftre & le mien Iefus. Par apres ie me fuis fou-
uenu des tableaux qui font en cette Chapelle, & ay
prie les Saindts qui y font depeints, particulierement
faindt Iofeph, dont ie porte le nom.

5. En la meditation du Paradis il ne voulut point
s'arrefter a confiderer tout ce qu'on peut fe figurer
de beau dans le ciel: Mon Dieu, dit-il, ie ne veux
pas iuger des biens que vous referuez apres cette vie
a ceux qui vous feruent, car ie n'ay point d'efprit.
C'eft affez que vous ayez dit qu'on y feroit a tout
iamais content, vous en fcauez mieux les moyens
que tous les hommes ne le peuuent comprendre. Si
ie me reprefentois le Paradis comme vn lieu ou il y
a de belles cabanes, [51] de belles robbes de caftor,
des cerfs & des ours a manger, ie ne vous ferois pas
plus riche que les hommes: il n'y a rien de tout cela,
mais il y a bien plus que tout cela, puis que les hom-
mes & toutes leurs richeffes ne font rien a l'efgal
des voftres. On me raconte mille raretez & beautez
de la France, que ie ne puis comprendre, ie le croy
toutefois: pourquoy ne ferois-je pas affeure des con-
tentemes ineffables qu'il y a dans le ciel, quoy qu'ils
furpaffent mes penf6es: c'eft affez que vous ayez
dit qu'on y fera a tout iamais content.

6. Vn iour on luy apporte vne fauffe nouuelle de
la maladie d'vne de fes niepces. Quand bien, dit-il,
ma femme & mes enfans feroient malades, ie ne par-
tiray point d'icy que les huidt iours ne foient expi-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 143

fill: entreat your well-beloved son Jesus for me.'
Then I addressed myself to the Saints whose relics
are here, and the chief part of which gave me much
trouble to bring up here from Kebec. I said to
them: 'Great Saints, I do not know your names;
nevertheless you cannot be ignorant of the fact that I
have brought your relics to this country. Have pity
on me; pray your master and mine, Jesus, forme.'
Afterward, I remembered the pictures which are in
this Chapel; and I prayed to the Saints who are
depicted there, — especially saint Joseph, whose name
I bear."

5. During the meditation on Paradise, he would
not stop to consider everything beautiful that one can
imagine to one's self in heaven. " My God," he
said, "I do not desire to imagine the good things
which you reserve after this life for those who serve
you, for I have no sense. It is enough that you have
said that we should be forever satisfied there; you
know the means thereto better than all men can
understand. If I fancied Paradise as a place where
there are fine cabins, [51] handsome beaver skins,
deer and bears to eat, I would not make you richer
than men ; there is nothing of all that, but there is
much more than all that, since men and all their
riches are nothing like yours. They tell me a thou-
sand rare things and beauties of France, which I can-
not understand, yet I believe it : why should I not
be assured of the ineffable satisfactions that there
are in heaven, although they surpass my thoughts?
It is enough that you have said that we shall be for-
ever contented there."

6. One day, they bring him a false piece of news,

144 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

rez: ie me confole dans la creance que i'ay que Dieu
voit tout ce qui fe paffe dans ma famille: ie n'en fuis
pas le chef, c'eft Dieu: s'il veut que tous meurent,
qui luy peut refifter? ma prefence leur feroit mainte-
nant inutile : ie f eray plus icy pour eux aupres de
Dieu. Le diable a fait tout ce qu'il a pu pour [52]
m'empefcher de commencer ces exercices, il tafche
maintenant a faire que ie ne les continue pas. Ceux
qui me dirigent iugeront mieux que moy s'il faut
que i'aille affifter ceux qu'on me dit eltre malades.

7. Vne nui<5t entr'autres f 'eftant efueille, il fe mit
en oraifon, & a confiderer la prouidence de Dieu fur
la conduite de la vie des hommes : que nous eftions
en la difpofition de Dieu, comme les chiens qu'ils
nourriffent font en leur pouuoir: que comme eux
quand ils ont vn ieune chien qui fe fait mauuais, ils
le tuent pour obuier au mal qu'il feroit deuenant
plus grand: De mefme Dieu preuoyant qu'vn en-
fant fera mefchant s'il deuient homme, le preuient
de la mort, par vn effedt de fa bonte, ce que les
hommes ne voyent pas. Tout de mefme, quoy que
nous donnions a nos chiens ce qui leur f unit pour leur
nourriture, ils ne laiffent pas de manger ce qu'ils
trouuent, & d'en prendre ou ils peuuent. Ainfi,
quoy que Dieu nous donne fuffifamment pour viure,
iamais nous ne fommes contens: nous battons nos
chiens dans ces rencontres, [53] quoy que nous les
aimions : de mefme quand nous abufons des biens de
Dieu, il nous chaftie, & toutefois il ne laiffe pas de
nous aimer: mais ceux qui le feruent fidelement,
Dieu les aime auec plus de tendreffe qu'vn pere n'aime
fes enfans.

8. II difoit fouuent, ie ne crains plus du tout la

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 145

about the sickness of one of his nieces. " What
though," he said, " my wife and my children were
sick, I will not leave here till the eight days have
expired. I console myself in the belief that God sees
everything which takes place in my family ; I am
not the head of it, God is: if he will that all die, who
can resist him? My presence would be useless to
them now : I shall do more for them here, near God.
The devil has done all he could to [52] hinder me
from beginning these exercises ; he now tries to stop
me from continuing them. Those who direct me
will judge, better than I, whether I must go to
assist those who are reported to me to be sick."

7. One night, among others, having awakened,
he proceeded to pray and to consider the providence of
God over the guidance of the life of men, — that we
were at the disposal of God, just as the dogs which
men feed are in their power: that — just as they,
when they have a young dog that is turning out bad,
kill him in order to obviate the harm that he might
do, becoming larger — likewise God, foreseeing that
a child will be bad if he become a man, anticipates
him with death, by an effect of his goodness which
men do not see. Just the same, although we give
our dogs what suffices them for their food, they nev-
ertheless eat what they find, and take it where they
can. Thus, although God gives us sufficient for life,
we are never satisfied ; we beat our dogs on these
occasions, [53] although we love them: likewise,
when we abuse God's favors, he chastises us, and
yet he does not fail to love us ; but those who serve
him faithfully, God loves with more tenderness than
a father loves his children.

146 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

mort, & ie remercierois Dieu fi ie me voyois a la fin
de ma vie, dans la ferme efperance que i'ay, que
i'irois au ciel: tout de mefme ie n'apprehende plus
la mort d'aucun de mes parens, pourueu qu'ils meu-
rent en la grace de Dieu. Lors qu'vne ieune femme
qui demeure en la maifon de fon beau-pere, eft inui-
tee par fon pere de venir paffer quelques mois en fa
maifon, fi c'eft vn homme riche & liberal, le beau-
pere s'en r6joui't dans la penfee qu'il a que fa bru
fera bien a fon aife: De mefme fi quelq'vn de
noftre famille mouroit, i'aurois la penfee que Dieu
fon pere l'auroit tire dans fa maifon, ie m'en rejoui'-
rois, puis qu'elle y feroit mieux que chez moy.

9. Souuent fortant de l'oraifon il ne [54] trouuoit
point de paroles pour expliquer les fentimens de fon
cceur, & repetoit plufieurs fois taouskeheati iatacan ;
c'eft vne chofe eftrange, mon frere. O qu'il eft vray,
adiouftoit-il, que les hommes n'ont point d'efprit,
c'eft maintenant que ie commence a cognoiftre Dieu.
O que n'eft-il cogneu! a quoy fongent les hommes!
& moy qui parle, ou eftoit mon efprit? comment fe
peut-il faire qu'on demeure infidele, peut-on pecker
apres cela? II offrit fouuent fon fang & fa vie pour
la conuerfion de fes compatriotes, & fit vn ferme pro-
pos de ne point perdre d'occafion de parler de Dieu,
& iamais ne rougir de profeffer ce qu'il eftoit, Chre-
ftien iufques a la mort.

Les iournees luy eftoient trop courtes, & fouuent
il demandoit s'il ne pourroit pas faire les exercices
plufieurs fois l'annee. En vn mot il n'y a point de
cceur barbare, mefme dans le plus profond de la bar-
barie, lors que Dieu veut en prendre la poffeffion.
Iefus-Chrift n'a pas moins merite de graces aux Sau-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 147

8. He often said: " I do not longer fear death at
all, and I would thank God if I saw myself at the
end of my life, in the firm hope that I have, that I
should go to heaven : in like manner, I no longer
apprehend the death of any of my relatives, provided
that they die in the grace of God. When a young
woman who lives in her father-in-law's house is
invited by her own father to come and spend some
months in his house ; if he is a rich and liberal man,
the father-in-law rejoices in the thought that his
daughter-in-law will be much at her ease. Like-
wise, if some one of our family died, I should have
the thought that God, her father, had drawn her to
his house: I should rejoice in the same, since she
would be better off there than with me."

9. Often, when leaving prayer, he [54] found no
words to explain the feelings of his heart, and sev-
eral times repeated, " taouskeheati iatacan," — "it
is a strange thing, my brother." " Oh, how true it
is," he added, " that men have no sense; I now be-
gin to know God. Oh, why is he not known! what
are men thinking of! and I who speak, — where was
my sense ? how can it be that one remains infidel :
can one sin after that?" He frequently offered his
blood and his life for the conversion of his fellow
countrymen, and made a firm resolve not to lose the
opportunity to speak of God, and never to blush for
professing what he was, — a Christian, even to death.

The days were too short for him, and he often
asked whether he might not make a retreat several
times a year. In a word, there is no barbarian heart,
even in the greatest depth of barbarism, when God
wills to take possession thereof. Jesus Christ has no

148 LES RELATIONS DES jtSUITES [Vol.19

uages de 1' Amerique, qu'aux peuples les plus policez
de 1' Europe.

[55] Depuis ce temps-la nous l'auons veu croiftre
fenfiblemet dans cet efprit vrayement Chreftien qui
fe trouuoit en la primitiue Eglife.

Vn de fes huidt iours d'exercices, pendant qu'il fe
chauffoit, vne bande de dix ou douze Sauuages des
plus anciens du pays entra dans noftre cabane ces
barbares fe mirent auffi toft fur leur entretien ordi-
naire, que nous eftions la ruine de leur patrie. Ce
braue Chreftien apres auoir fait vne profeffion publi-
que & honorable de ce qu'il eftoit, fe mit a leur par-
ler fi a propos, & auec tant de douceur & efficace,
que de loups qu'ils eftoiet entrez, ils s'en retourne-
rent agneaux: & l'vn d'eux qui ne trempoit point
dans ces fentimens, mais de long temps penfoit &
ruminoit les difcours que nous allions tenant par tout
de nos myfteres, goufta de telle forte fes paroles &
fon efprit, qu'il le defira entretenir en particulier, ou
il paffa a trois diuers iours qu'il le reuint voir les
trois & quatre heures chaque iour, fans fentir que le
temps fe paffoit, tant les difcours de ce bon Chre-
ftien, ou pluftoft le fainct Efprit qui parloit [56] par
fa bouche luy donnoit de fatisf action.

En effect, il ne la voulut faire plus longue, il de-
mande le baptefme, & donna telle fatisfaction qu'on
ne iugea pas a propos de differer plus long-temps.
Le iour fut pris a l'odtaue de la fefte des Roys, qui
eftoit le lendemain de la fin des exercices de noftre
Chreftien, & le iour de fon depart de chez nous. Ce
qui nous parut comme vne offrande de cette gentilite"
que Noftre Dame faifoit a fon cher fils Noftre Sei-
gneur, pour y donner fa benediction.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 149

less merited the thanks of the Savages of America
than those of the most civilized peoples of Europe.

[55] Since that time we have seen him grow per-
ceptibly in that truly Christian spirit which was
found in the primitive Church.

On one of his eight days of retreat, while he was
warming himself, a band of ten or twelve Savages,
of the eldest in the country, entered our cabin ; these
barbarians at once began their usual conversation, —
that we were the ruin of their country. This worthy
Christian, after having made a public and honorable
profession of what he was, began to speak to them
so appropriately, and with so much gentleness and
effectiveness, that whereas they had come in as
wolves, they returned thence as lambs ; and one of
them — who had no voice in those former senti-
ments, but had long been meditating and ruminating
upon the discourses that we went about everywhere
delivering on the subject of our mysteries — so rel-
ished his words and his intelligence that he desired to
converse with him in private. In such talk he spent,
on three several days when he came back to see him,
three and four hours each day, without noticing how
the time was passing ; so much did the sayings of this
good Christian, — or rather the holy Ghost, who spoke
[56] by his lips, — give him satisfaction.

In sooth, he was not willing to make a longer story ;
he asked baptism, and gave such satisfaction that we
did not judge it proper to put him off longer. The
day was chosen on the octave of Epiphany, which
was the day after the end of our Christian's exer-
cises, and the day of his departure from us, — which
appeared to us as an offering of this gentile race

150 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 19

Ce nouueau Chreftien nomme' Louys en fon bap-
tefme, eft vn des bons efprits du pays, & qui nous a
femble' des la premiere fois qu'on la aborde, des plus
capables de nos myfteres: f'il correfpond au graces
de Dieu, il eft pour eftre vn des pilliers de cette
Eglife naiffante. Ce qui nous confirme dans cette
efperance, eft qu'ayant repaffe la vie & la conduite
de cet homme, il ne s'eft iamais trouu6 engage dans
aucune ceremonie diabolique, ny autre vice confide-
rable, quoy qu'il paffe quarante ans.

[57] Au fortir de fes exercices noftre Iofeph Chi-
houatenhoua fe fentit pouffe a vifiter quelques fiens
parens, en vn bourg affez proche d'icy. Le Pere le
Mercier qui l'auoit affifte en fes exercices, l'accompa-
gna auffi en ce voyage, pourle mefnager a la gloire
de Dieu. Ce bon Chreftien s'y comporta auec vn
efprit qui femble auoir ie ne fcay quoy de celuy des
Apoftres, lors qu'ils fortirent du lieu ou ils auoient
receu le faindt Efprit.

II commenca par la vifite d'vn fien frere, & apres
quelques complimens ordinaires. Mon frere, luy dit-
il, il eft vray que ie ne fuis que voftre cadet, mais il
faut que vous fcachiez que la grace que Dieu m'a
fait de receuoir le fainct, baptefme, & les fentimens
qu'il me donne, m'obligent de prendre la qualite
d'aifne: & en cette qualite ie vous diray que deux
chofes m'ont amene icy ; la premiere, pour vous ap-
prendre comme vous deuez vous comporter parmy
les mauuais bruits qui courent de moy dans le pays :
la feconde, pour vous communiquer derechef la doc-
trine qu'on m'a enfeignee, & vous fommer plus que
iamais de penfer ferieufement [58] aux affaires de
voftre falut. Si on a parle de moy en mauuais termes

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 151

which Our Lady was giving to her dear son Our
Lord, that he might bestow his blessing upon it.

This new Christian, named Louys at his baptism,
is one of the noble spirits of the country, and seemed
to us, from the first time that we accosted him, one
of the best qualified for our mysteries : if he answers
to the grace of God, he is likely to be one of the pil-
lars of this rising Church. What confirms us in this
hope is, that, since we have reviewed the life and
the conduct of this man, he has never been found
engaged in any diabolical ceremony or other not-
able vice, although he is past forty years.

[57] On leaving his retreat, our Joseph Chihouaten-
houa felt himself impelled to visit some relatives of
his, in a village quite near here. Father le Mercier,
who had assisted him in his exercises, also accom-
panied him on this journey, in order to direct it to
the glory of God. This good Christian behaved in
it with a spirit which seems to possess something
like that of the Apostles, when they went forth from
the place where they had received the holy Ghost.

He began with a visit to a brother of his, and,
after some usual compliments, said to him: " My
brother, it is true that I am but your junior ; but you
must know that the grace which God has shown me
in receiving holy baptism, and the feelings that he
gives me, oblige me to assume the rank of senior;
and in this capacity I will tell you that two things
have brought me here. The first is, to teach you
how you are to behave amid the evil reports which
are current about me in the country ; the second, to
impart to you again the doctrine which they have
taught me, and to summon you more than ever to
think seriously [58] upon the business of your salva-

152 LES RELATIONS DES JE~SUITES [Vol.19

par le paffe, il faut bien vous attendre que ce fera pis
a l'aduenir, puis que ce que i'ay fait iufques a prefent
n'eft rien en comparaifon de ce que ie pretends faire
d'orefnauant pour Dieu. C'eft maintenant que ie
commence a le cognoiftre, & que ie ne defire rien
efpargner pour fon feruice.

Ce qui me fait parler de la forte, eft que ie viens
de paffer huict. iours auec mes freres, oil i'ay apris
que ie ne fuis rien, & les grandes obligations que
nous auons a vn Dieu Tout-puiffant qui nous a tant
ayme : a quelque prix que ce foit ie veux accomplir
f es faindtes volontez : iamais ie ne rougiray de faire
profeffion de ce que ie fuis, & l'apprehenfion de la
mort ne me f ermera iamais la bouche quand il f e pre-
fentera quelque occafion de parler de fes grandeurs.
Ie vous dis cecy afin que vous vous difpofiez a tout ce
que Dieu voudra faire de moy. On vous affeurera
bien-toft tout de nouueau ce dont on vous a fouuent
battu les oreilles, que ie fuis vne des caufes de la
ruyne [59] du pays, que les Francois m'ont appris le
fecret, & que ie fuis paffe maiftre en matiere de forts :
D'autres vous viendrot dire que la refolution eft prife
de me tuer, ou mefme que defia on m'aura fendu la
tefte. Efcoutez paifiblement tous ces difcours fans
vous troubler, baiffez la tefte & vous taifez, de peur
que vous ne parliez mal a propos: car vous n'auez
point encore d'efprit n'ayant point encore de foy.
Repofez-vous, fi vous pouuez fur cette penfee, que
celuy que ie recognois pour mon maiftre difpofera
pour mon bien de tout ce qui me touche. Au refte
ne me tenez pas en mefme rang que ceux qu'on fou-
pconne parmy nous eftre f orciers : ceux-la ont tout
fujet d'eftre en peine pour leur perfonne,eftant feuls,

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 153

tion. If they have spoken of me in evil terms in the
past, you must indeed expect that it will be worse in
the future ; since what I have done hitherto is noth-
ing in comparison with what I intend to do hence-
forth for God. It is now that I begin to know him,
and that I desire to spare nothing for his service.

" What makes me speak like this is, that I have
just spent eight days with my brothers, where I have
learned that I am nothing, and the great obligations
that we are under to an Almighty God who has loved
us so much. At whatever cost it be, I wish to fulfill
his holy will ; I will never blush to make profession
of what I am, and the dread of death will never close
my lips when any opportunity shall present itself for
speaking of his greatness. I tell you this to the end
that you may prepare yourself for everything that
God shall will to do with me. They will soon assure
you quite afresh, — what they have often assailed your
ears with, — that I am one of the causes of the ruin
[59] of the country; that the French have taught me
the secret, and that I am past master in the matter
of spells. Others will come to tell you that the reso-
lution to kill me is adopted, or even that they have
already split my head. Listen peaceably to all these
sayings without disturbing yourself; lower your
head, and be silent, lest you speak inopportunely;
for you have not yet sense enough, not yet having
faith. Rest, if you can, upon this thought, that he
whom I acknowledge for my master will dispose, for
my good, of everything which concerns me. How-
beit, do not hold me in the same rank as those who
are suspected among us of being sorcerers; those
have every reason to be anxious for their persons,

154 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

& n'ayant point d'autre fupportque le diable, qui n'a
aucun pouuoir: mais moy ne penfez pas que ie fois
feul, i'ay pour moy & auec moy celuy qui eft tout
puiffant, s'il me prend en fa protection, tous les
hommes, ny mefme tous les demons de l'enfer ne
peuuent rien contre moy : i'ay pour moy les Anges
qui font en plus grand nombre que tous les hommes,
tous [60] les Saindts de Paradis, entre lefquels il y a
defia vn bon nombre de nos compatriotes, qui prient
fans ceffe pour moy. C'efl cela qui m'enfle le cou-
rage : en vn mot, craignant Dieu ie ne crains rien.
Enfin le pis qui me puiffe arriuer a voftre aduis, eft
qu'on me fende la tefte comme on fait aux forciers
du pays : mais ie veux bien que vous fcachiez que ie
me tiendrois trop heureux de donner ma vie pour
celuy qui nous a tant ayme. Ne craignez point que
noftre famille en foit marquee d'aucune infamie, fi
Dieu fait la grace a noftre pays d'embraffer la Foy
ma memoire en fera honorable a toute la pofterit£, &
fera dit a iamais que i'auray efte le premier qui auray
mieux aime perdre la vie que la liberte de viure
ouuertement en Chreftien. Pour vous fi vous auiez
tant foit peu de foy, comme vous ne manquez pas
d'affection pour moy, vous vous r^iouyriez a la nou-
uelle de ma mort, qui me mettroit fans doute pour
vn iamais en poffeffion de tous les biens imaginables,
& vous mefme y auriez beaucoup d'intereft: car quel
bien vous puis-ie faire en cette vie? tout ce [61] que
ie puis eft de prier Dieu pour vous & voftre famille,
& vous exciter a embraffer la foy: mais c'eft dans le
ciel que ie pourray beaucoup, & qu'ayant plus de co-
gnoiffance de voftre mifere, & par confequent plus de
companion pour vous, ie feray plus grande inftance

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 155

being alone, and having no other support than the
devil, who has no power. But do not think that I
am alone ; I have for me and with me the one who
is all-powerful : if he take me into his protection, all
men, and even all the demons of hell, can do nothing
against me. I have on my side the Angels, who are
in greater number than all men, and all [60] the
Saints of Paradise, among whom there are already a
good many of our fellow countrymen, who are cease-
lessly praying for me. That is what swells my cour-
age ; in a word, fearing God, I fear nothing. Finally,
the worst that can happen to me, in your opinion, is
that they may split my head, as they do to the sorcerers
of the country ; but I would have you know, indeed,
that I should account myself too happy to give my
life for the one who has loved us so much. Do not
fear that our family will be marked by any infamy
thereby ; if God does the favor to our country to have
it embrace the Faith, my memory will be honorable
to all posterity, and it will be said forever that I shall
have been the first who preferred losing life to losing
the liberty of living openly like a Christian. As for
you, if you had even but a little faith, since you are
not wanting in affection for me, you would rejoice in
the news of my death, which would no doubt place me
forever in possession of all good things conceivable,
and you yourself would have much interest therein :
for what good can I do you in this life? All [61] that
I can do is to pray to God for you and your family,
and urge you to embrace the faith ; but in heaven
I shall be able to do much; and, having more
knowledge of your misery and consequently more
compassion for you, I will use greater urgency with

156 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

aupres de Dieu, pour vous obtenir la grace de reco-
gnoiftre voftre malheur.

Ce Sauuage efcouta ce difcours fans dire vn feul
mot, & demeura dans vn eftonnement incroyable
voyant fon frere luy parler d'vn langage incogneu.
Toute fa refponfe fut qu'en effedt on ne parloit dans
les feftins & les afTembl6es que de luy & des Fran-
cois, que les affaires f'alloient aigriffant de plus en
plus, & que les deffeins fembloient eftre tout formez
de s'en deffaire. Noftre Clireftien ne luy refpondit
autre chofe fmon qu'il ne s'en mift pas en peine, que
fa vie & la noftre eftoient entre les mains de Dieu.

Puis fe tournant vers tous ceux qui eftoient la dans
la cabane, il continue* vne bonne partie de la nuidt a
les inftruire des chofes de noftre foy, tantoft leur [62]
parlant des beautez eneffables du Paradis, puis des
effroyables tourmens de l'Enfer. II addreffoit plus
ordinairement la parole a fon frere, fans le laffer de
battre ce cceur plus dur que la pierre. En fin voy-
ant qu'il ne pouuoit tirer de luy aucune bonne parole:
Mon frere, ie recognois bien, luy dit-il, que vous ne
faites pas beaucoup d'eftat de ce que ie vous enf eigne,
vn iour viendra que vous regretterez de n'en auoir
pas fait voftre profit : Nous f ommes comme des en-
fans pendant cette vie, nous fommes fans efprit, nous
n'eftimons que des paffetemps inutiles; & fur tout
ceux qui n'ont pas encore la foy, ny receu le bap-
tefme, n'ont non plus de raifon que des enfans.
C'eft alors que nous deuiendrons grads, & que noftre
efprit f'ouurira quand noftre ame fera feparee du
corps: mais las il fera troptard! Vous m'efcoutez
comme vn homme a demy endormy, ou qui a l'efprit
ailleurs: vous eftes encore enfant tandis que vous

1640] RELATION OF 1640 157

God, in order to obtain for you the grace of recogniz-
ing your misfortune."

That Savage listened to this speech without saying
a single word, and remained in an incredible aston-
ishment, hearing his brother speak to him in un-
known terms. His whole answer was that, in fact,
they talked at the feasts and the assemblies of
nothing but him and the French ; that matters were
becoming more and more exasperating; and that
plans seemed to be completed for getting rid of
them. Our Christian answered him nothing else,
except that he should not be anxious, — that his life
and ours were in the hands of God.

Then, turning toward all those who were there in
the cabin, he continues a good part of the night
instructing them in the things of our faith, — now
[62] speaking to them of the ineffable beauties of
Paradise, then of the awful torments of Hell. He
most commonly addressed his remarks to his brother,
without growing weary of striking that heart, harder
than stone. Finally, seeing that he could draw no
good word from him, he said: " My brother, I plain-
ly discern that you do not make much account of
what I teach you ; a day will come when you will
regret not to have made your profit thereof. We
are like children, during this life; we are without
understanding, we esteem only useless pastimes, —
and especially those who have not yet the faith, nor
have received baptism, have no more judgment than
children. It is then that we shall become grown,
and our minds will unfold, when our souls shall be
separated from the body : but alas, it will be too late !
You listen to me like a man half asleep, or who has
his mind elsewhere : you are still a child, as long as

158 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

vous amufez apres vos fonges & autres fuperftitios
du pay.s. O malheureux frere, luy difoit-il d'vn
autre ton, fi Dieu n'a pitie de toy, tu [63] viuras iuf-
ques a la mort dans l'enfance, tu ouuriras pour lors
les yeux a ton malheur, tu feras dans le repentir de
n'auoir pas prefte l'oreille, & donne tout ton cceur
aux veritez que les Francois viennent icy nous enfei-
gner: mais ce repentir fera fans remede, & le mal-
heur qui t'accueillera te rendra miferable pour vn
iamais. Mon frere ie m'affeure que tu ferois eftat de
mes dernieres paroles fi i'efiois a 1' article de la mort;
au refte voila ce que ie te dirois. II n'y a qu'vn feul
maiftre de tout le monde, ceux qui le feruent feront
a iamais bien-heureux, ceux qui l'offenfent & ne luy
obei'ffent pas, feront bruflez apres leur mort dans les
Enfers: choifis l'vn de ces deux, ou vn bon-heur, ou
vn mal-heur eternel. Voila ce que ie te dirois fi
i'eflois fur le poindt de mourir. Mais en fin il faut
que tu fcaches le fond de mes fentimens; tandis que
tu feras efclaue du diable ie ne te regarderay pas
comme mon frere, mais comme vn eftranger, duquel
ie dois eftre f epare" pour vn iamais ; car le peu de
temps que nous auons a viure enfemble n'eft pas con-
fiderable; ceux [64] qui m'ont enfeigne font propre-
ment mes freres, & ie ne tiens pour mes parens que
ceux qui ont renonce au diable & receu le faindt Bap-
tefme. C'eft auec ceux-la que ie viuray eternelle-
ment bien-heureux dans le Ciel, ce font ceux-la que
veritablement i'appelle mes freres: fi nous n'auons
la Foy, nous ne fcauons ce que c'eft que nous entre-
aymer, il n'y a que les Chreftiens qui ioiiiffent de cette
douceur en cette vie. Ce fut vne chofe qui me tou-
cha bien fenfiblement eftant a Kebec, & fi ie n'euffe

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 159

you amuse yourself with your dreams and other
superstitions of the country. O unhappy brother, "
he said to him in another tone, " unless God take
pity on thee, thou [63] wilt live in childhood till
death. Thou wilt then open thine eyes to thy mis-
fortune; thou wilt repent not having listened and
given thy whole heart to the truths which the French
come here to teach us; but this repentance will be
without a remedy, and the misfortune which will
greet thee will render thee miserable forever. My
brother, I am assured that thou wouldst make account
of my last words, if I were at the point of death ;
howbeit, this is what I would say to thee. There is
but one sole master of all the world ; those who serve
him will be forever happy; those who offend him
and do not obey him will be burned after their death,
in Hell; choose one of these two, — either an eternal
happiness, or an eternal woe. That is what I would
say to thee, if I were on the verge of dying. But
finally, thou must know the substance of my thoughts ;
as long as thou shalt be the devil's slave, I will not
regard thee as my brother, but as a stranger, from
whom I am to be separated forever; for the little
time that we have to live together is not considerable.
Those [64] who have taught me are properly my
brothers, and I regard as my relatives only those who
have renounced the devil, and received holy Baptism.
Those are the ones with whom I shall live eternally
blessed in Heaven ; those are the ones whom I truly
call my brothers. If we have not the Faith, we
know not what it is to love one another; it is only
the Christians who enjoy that pleasure in this life.
It was a thing which very sensibly touched me when

160 LES RELATIONS DES /ASUITES [Vol.19

appris de longue main l'eftroite amitie qui eft entre
les Chreftiens, ie me fuffe perfuade que tous les Fran-
cois de Kebec n'euffent efte qu'vne mefme famille,
tant ils s'entre-ayment & s'entre-cheriffent, Ie me
trouuay a, l'arriuee d'vn vaiffeau, ie ne vis iamais
telle rejoui'ffance, & tant de tefmoignages d'amitie,
& toutesfois plufieurs ne s'eftoient iamais veus ny
cogneus que dans ce rencontre. Mais ce qui m'e-
ftonna eft ce que i'ay defia raconte cent fois, ce fut
de voir de faindtes filles habillees de noir, foibles de
complexion, qui n'ont quitte la France & paffe la
mer [65] qu'en noftre confideration, dont les vnes
prirent en leur maifon de petites filles Montagnaifes,
les habillerent a la Francoife, les faifoient mager
auec elles pour les inftruire & leur apprendre a. co-
gnoiftre Dieu : les autres font venue's pour auoir f oin
des malades, tandis que ie fus a. Kebec elles prirent
le foin de quatre ou cinq Montagnaifes bien malades,
les retirerent en leur maifon, leur donnerent de
bonnes couuertures pour fe couurir, les veilloient les
nuidts entieres, & leur donnoient toutes les douceurs
qu'ils euffent pu fouhaiter. Ha! que nous fommes
bien efloignez de cette amitie.

Ce bon Chreftien ne pouuoit finir, & ne fe laffoit
point de dire des merueilles de noftre f oy : mais il
eft bien vray que Spiritus vbi vult fpirat ; car ny f on
frere, ny les autres n'eftoient guere bien difpofez a
faire profit de ces bons difcours. Auffi leur dit-il,
que nous ne pretendions point faire des Chreftiens
par force, que Dieu ne nous auoit enuoyez icy que
pour leur faire voir leur miferable condition, & leur
def couurir ces belles veritez; que c'eftoit a eux a
voir ce qu'ils auoient a [66] faire, que la perte en

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 161

I was at Kebec ; and if I had not learned long ago of
the intimate friendship which exists between the
Christians, I should have persuaded myself that all the
French of Kebec had been but one and the same fam-
ily,— so much do they love and cherish one another.
I happened to be there at the arrival of a vessel ; I
never saw such rejoicing and so many demonstrations
of friendship; and yet, several had never seen or
known one another except at this meeting. But
what astonished me is that which I have already
related a hundred times, — namely, to see holy maids
dressed in black, of frail constitution, who left France
and crossed the sea [65] only in our interest. Some
of these took into their house little Montagnais girls,
dressed them in the French style, and had them eat
with them, in order to instruct them, and to teach
them to know God ; the others came to take care of
the sick. While I was at K6bec, they took care of
four or five Montagnais women, very sick; they
withdrew them to their house, gave them good blan-
kets to cover themselves with, watched over them
whole nights, and gave them all the delicacies they
could have desired. Ah! but we are very far from
such friendship! "

This good Christian could not finish, and was not
weary of telling the wonders of our faith : but it is very
true that Spirit us ubi vult spirat; for neither his brother
nor the others were at all well disposed to profit by
these good discourses. Accordingly he told them
that we were not intending to make Christians by
force ; that God had sent us here only to cause them
to see their miserable condition, and to discover to
them these beautiful truths ; that it was for them to

162 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

tomberoit fur eux s'ils negligeoient la vifite de Dieu.
Le lendemain il alia dans quelques autres cabanes,
ou ayant trouue" vne affemblee de plufieurs anciens,
il leur parla auec vn afcendant que l'efprit de Dieu
luy donnoit. Tous admiroient fon eloquence ; (car
il parloit les heures entieres dans vn air qu'ils n'a-
uoient iamais veu.) La verite & la raifon, leur dit-il,
ne fe trouue que dans la foy ; ie ne fuis qu'vn enfant,
& ferois vn fuperbe fi i'entreprenois de moy-mefme
de vous conuaincre: cen'eftpas de moy que ie parle,
c'eft le maiflre que ie fers qui me donne les penfees,
& me rend eloquent a fouftenir fa caufe. Ces vieil-
lards luy firent quantite de queftions, il fatisfit a
tous leurs doutes. En fin vn de la troupe leuant vn
peu plus haut fa voix: II eft vray, luy dit-il, que ce
que les Francois font enfeigne eft raifonnable, ie
ferois bien d'aduis que nous nous fiffions tous Chre-
ftiens comme toy; mais c'eft a noftre Capitaine a
parler la deffus, c'eft luy qui manie les affaires. Vray-
ment, repliqua-il, vous auez moins d'efprit que des
enfans, fi vos [6y~\ Capitaines fe damnent, voulez vous
vous damner auec eux; vn enfant s'enfuiroit qui ver-
roit tous les Capitaines brufler au milieu des fiammes.
Qui de vos Capitaines vous a iamais appris a bien
viure? qui d'eux a defendu le larcin ou l'adultere?
tant s'en faut, ils font plus larrons & impudiques que
les autres. II les confondit la deffus, & les contrai-
gnit d'aduoiier qu'ils eftoient fans efprit. Apres
tout, le Pere le Mercier, auquel apres fon retour ie
recommanday d'efcrire tout cecy, puis qu'il y auoit
affifte, m'affeura que les paroles qui fortoient toutes
de feu de la bouche de ce Chreftien, eftoient receues
dans des cceurs plus froids que des marbres: mais

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 163

see what they had to [66] do ; that the loss would fall
upon them if they neglected God's visitation.

The next day, he went into some other cabins,
where having found a concourse of several elders, he
spoke to them with a superiority that the spirit of
God gave him. All admired his eloquence (for he
spoke whole hours with an air which they had never
seen). "Truth and reason," he told them, "are
found only in the faith ; I am but a child, and should
be an arrogant fellow if I undertook by myself to
convince you : it is not by myself that I speak ; the
master whom I serve gives me thoughts, and renders
me eloquent in maintaining his cause." Those old
men put many questions to him ; he satisfied all their
doubts. Finally, one of the company raising his
voice a little higher, said to him : "It is true that
what the French have taught thee is reasonable, — I
would be quite in favor of our all becoming Chris-
tians like thee ; but it is for our Captain to speak in
that matter, he is the one who manages our affairs."
" Truly," he replied, " you have less understanding
than children ; if your [67] Captains are damned, do
you wish to be damned with them? A child would
flee, who would see all the Captains burn in the
midst of the flames. Which of your Captains has
ever taught you to live well ? who of them has for-
bidden theft or adultery? Far from it; they are
more thievish and indecent than the others." He
confounded them therein, and constrained them
to avow that they were without sense. After all,
Father le Mercier — whom after his return I directed
to write all this, inasmuch as he had been present —
assured me that the words which issued all on fire
from the lips of this Christian were received in hearts

164 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

c'eft vne femence que le faindt Efprit fera germer
quand il luy plaira.

Ce premier effect des exercices fpirituels de ce bon
Sauuage frit fuiui de plufieurs autres, qui fe verront
en leur lieu.

1640] RELATION OF 1640 165

colder than marble : but it is a seed which the holy-
Ghost will cause to sprout when he pleases.

This first effect of the retreat of this good Savage
was followed by several others, which will appear in
their place.

166 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

[68] CHAP. V.

DE LA MISSION DE SAINCTE MARIE AUX ATARON-

CHRONONS.

CETTE maifon de faindte Marie ne porte pas
feulement la qualite de Relidence, mais encore
de Million, comme ayant quatre bourgs depen-
dans du foin & de la culture de ceux qui y font leur
demeure. Ces quatre bourgs font faindte Anne, S.
Louys, S. Denys, & S. lean, le nombre des ames peut
arriuer a quatorze cens.

Le bourg de faindte Anne fut le premier qui nous
donna de l'exercice, ayant efte tout le premier affli-
ge de la maladie. II pleut a Dieu nous donner cette
benedidtion que pas vn prefque n'y mourut finon
baptif6, ou inflruit fuffifamment pour iouir de ce
bon-heur. Ce ne fut pas fans efluyer beaucoup de
dif graces qu'on emporta cet aduantage: car comme
les baptefmes n'eurent pas le fuccez que plufieurs
[69] auoient pretendu de rendre la fante" du corps, ils
furent bien toft decriez, & le bruit fut incontinent
refpendu que cette eau faerie du baptefme eftoit mor-
telle a ceux qui en efloient lauez.

En fuite de cela les cabanes de plufieurs nous
furent ferm6es, on nous regarde comme portans le
malheur du pays, on nous menace & on nous dit tout
haut que iamais forcier Huron n'auoit efte tue, qui
en euft donne" plus d'occafion que nous. Nonobftant
nous fuiuons noftre pointe, gaignant toufiours quel-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 167

[68] CHAP. V.

OF THE MISSION OF SAINTE MARIE TO THE ATA-

RONCHRONONS.

THIS house of sainte Marie bears not only the
character of a Residence but also of a Mission,
as having four villages depending on the care
and the attention of those who make their abode in
it. These four villages are sainte Anne, St. Louys,
St. Denys, and St. Jean; the number of souls may
reach fourteen hundred.9

The village of sainte Anne was the first which gave
us exercise, — having been the very first afflicted
with the disease. It pleased God to give us this
blessing, that almost no one died in it, except bap-
tized, or sufficiently instructed to enjoy this good for-
tune. It was not without experiencing many humili-
ations that we gained this advantage; for, as the
baptisms had not the result which many [69] had
claimed, — the restoration of bodily health, — they
were soon denounced, and the report was immedi-
ately spread abroad that this sacred water of baptism
was fatal to those who were bathed with it.

In consequence of that, the cabins of many were
closed to us ; they regard us as bringing disaster to
the country ; they threaten us, and tell us aloud that
never had a Huron sorcerer been killed who had
given more occasion for it than we. Nevertheless,
we follow up our point, continually gaining some

168 LES RELATIONS DES [^SUITES [Vol.19

que ame a Dieu, & nous voyons fenfiblement que
Dieu s'en mefle.

On nous chaffe d'vne cabane ou nous voulos bapti-
fer vn malade, nous entrons en vne autre voifme:
incontinent le malade que nous cherchios, par ie ne
fcay quel accident eft tranfporte d'vne maifon a l'au-
tre, on l'apporte ou nous fommes, il y a tout loifir
de l'inftruire, on le baptife, il meurt, & s'en va dans
le Ciel.

Vn enfant de trois ans qu'on auoit porte a la
pefche, y eft faifi de maladie, on le rapporte par canot,
il aborde au pied de noftre maifon : vn de nos Peres
fe [70] trouue la par vn heureux rencontre lors qu'on
defcharge cet enfant, il fe doute bien que c'eft fait
de fa vie ; il fe baiffe, prend de l'eau au lac & le bap-
tife. Ce petit innocent n'eft pas pluftoft enfant de
Dieu qu'on l'enleue de la, il eft porte dans vne cabane
du village prochain, qui nous eft interdite, le lende-
main il eft entre les Anges.

Les autres bourgs de cette miffion vn peu plus eloi-
gnez nous donnerent bien-toft apres affez de peine,
la maladie n'ayant pas tarde long-temps a s'y refpan-
dre: mais le maiftre qui nous employe continue de
nous affifter.

Vn de nos Peres faifant la vifite au bourg de fainct
lean, trouue fans y penfer au fonds d'vne cabane vn
grand homme, affreux au poffible, tout couuert de
verole, affis fur fon feant: Approche ie te prie, mon
frere, s'efcria le malade, & donne moy de l'eau: Le
Pere fe perfuadant que le malade defiraft d'vne cer-
taine eau deftrempee dans deux ou trois grains de
raifm, ou dans vn peu de fucre, dont quelquesfois
nous donnons aux enfans pour prendre l'occafion de

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 169

soul to God ; and we plainly see that God takes part
with us.

They expel us from a cabin in which we wish to
baptize a sick man. We enter another, near by;
straightway the patient whom we were seeking is
removed, — by I know not what accident, — from one
house to the other; they bring him where we are.
There is complete leisure to instruct him ; we baptize
him; he dies, and goes thence to Heaven.

A child of three years, who had been carried to
the fishery, is seized with sickness; they bring him
back by canoe. He lands at the foot of our house;
one of our Fathers [70] happens, by a fortunate acci-
dent, to be there when they set this child ashore ; he
suspects, indeed, that it is over with his life; he
stoops down, takes water from the lake and baptizes
him. This little innocent is no sooner a child of God
than they take him away from there ; he is carried
into a cabin in the next village, which is forbidden
to us : the next day, he is among the Angels.

The other villages of this mission, a little more
distant, soon afterward gave us a good deal of trouble,
the disease having not long delayed to spread thither ;
but the master who employs us continues to assist us.

One of our Fathers, making his visit to the village
of saint Jean, finds unawares in the middle of a cabin
a tall man, utterly hideous, entirely covered with
sores, and in a sitting posture. " Come here, I beg
you, my brother," exclaimed the sick man, " and
give me some water." The Father, persuading him-
self that the sick man desired some water flavored
with two or three grapes, or with a little sugar,
which we sometimes give the children in order to
obtain opportunity to [71] baptize them, produces

170 LES RELATIONS DES J^SUITES [Vol.19

les [71] baptifer; tire quelques grains de raifm pour
les mettre dans l'eau: Non, non, dit ce barbare, ce
n'eft pas la. l'eau que i'entends. Ie te parle de celle
qui efface tous les pechez, & qui empefche d'eftre
brufle" dans les enf ers : Tres volontiers ; mais il faut
croire auparauant, & detefter de tout ton coeur les
pechez de ta vie paffee. Enfeigne moy, replique ce
pauure homme, il n'y a rien que ie ne faffe. Quel
plaifir de parler a vne ame que Dieu luy mefme nous
difpofe? Ce bon Catechumene eft auffi toft Chre-
ftien, & benift Dieu d'auoir receu le fainct, Baptefme.
Au refte, adjoufta-il, il faut que tu feache, mon frere,
ce qui me fait mourir: ce n'eft pas la verole dont tu
me vois couuert: mais deux coups de coufteau que
par defefpoir ie me fuis enfonce dans le ventre, &
vne alaifne que i'ay aualee, voyant que les medecins
du pays & nos magiciens ne me donnoient aucun
contentement : i'en demande pardon a Dieu, & d'oref-
nauant i'attendray de fa main fouueraine tout ce qu'il
luy plaira ordonner de ma vie. Le Soleil n'eftoit pas
couche qu'il mourut. N'auons nous pas fujet \J2~\ de
croire qu'il benit maintenant les mifericordes de Dieu.

Mais cette bonte infinie nous paroift bien plus ado-
rable quand quelquesfois elle nous ameine fans que
nous allions les chercher, ceux qu'elle ne veut pas
perdre au moment de leur mort, quoy que toute leur
vie ils n'ayent rien fait que l'offenfer.

II y a quelques iours qu'vn ieune homme de faindt
Francois Xauier entra de grand matin dedans noftre
cabane, il eftoit venu d'vn pas ferme, & chantant
comme ceux qui vont a la guerre : A peine eft-il affis
que le cceur luy manque, il tombe a terre & ne peut
pas fe releuer: Nous croyons ou qu'il faffe le foil,

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 171

some grapes to put them in the water. " No, no,"
said this barbarian, "it is not that water which I
mean. I speak to you of the kind that effaces all
sins, and that prevents us from being burned in
hell." " Most willingly; but you must first believe,
and detest with all your heart the sins of your past
life. " " Teach me, ' ' this poor man answers ; ' ' there
is nothing that I will not do." What pleasure to
speak to a soul which God himself prepares for us !
This good Catechumen is at once a Christian, and
blesses God for having received holy Baptism.
" Moreover," he added, " you must know, my broth-
er, what is making me die; it is not the smallpox
with which you see me covered, but two stabs with
a knife that in despair I have thrust into my belly,
and an awl that I have swallowed, — seeing that the
physicians of the country, and our magicians, gave
me no satisfaction. I ask pardon of God, and hence-
forth I will await from his sovereign hand all that
he shall please to ordain for my life." The Sun had
not set when he died. Have we not reason [72] to
believe that he now blesses the mercies of God?

But this infinite goodness appears to us much
more adorable when it sometimes brings to us, with-
out our going to seek them, those whom it wills not
to destroy at the moment of their death, though in
all their life they have done nothing but offend it.

Some days ago, a young man from saint Francois
Xavier entered our cabin early in the morning; he
had come with a firm step, and singing like those
who go to war. Hardly is he seated when his heart
fails him ; he falls to the ground and cannot rise
again. We suppose that he is either acting the luna-
tic, or that he is one; we try to put him out; he

172 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

on qu'il le foit: nous le voulons mettre dehors, il
nous prie doucement d'attendre. Les yeux luy roiil-
lent en tefte, l'efcume luy vient a la bouche, nous ne
fcauons que veulent dire ces fymptomes, nous luy
demandons fon nom, d'ou il eft, & quels font fes
parens, pour les aller querir : a cela il ref pond : mais
las! adjoufta-il, ie feray mort auant qu'ils viennent:
feulement donnez leur cela, dit-il, tirant [73] de fon
fac a petun vn morceau de racine. Nous ignorons
ce qu'il pretend: toutesfois vn de nos Peres part en
hafte pour aller querir fes parens: a peine auoit-il
trauerfe la moitie de la largeur du lac, dont les glaces
eftoient encores affez fermes, qu'il rencontra 5a & la
quelques Sauuages qui pefchoient: il dit a celuy qui
eftoit le plus proche, qu'vn tel ieune homme du bourg
prochain eftoit bien malade dedans noftre maifon, & en
mefme teps luy pref ente ce morceau de racine : celuy-
cy le met en la bouche, & fans faire autre refponfe
au Pere, il s'efcrie a fes camarades, Vn tel eft mort,
il a mange de l'aconit: alios querir fon corps. lis
quittent la leur pefche, accourent en hafte : mais le
Pere tafche a les preuenir, il vient courant tout hors
d'haleine, & s'efcriant qu'on euft au pluftoft a bap-
tifer c6t homme, qu'il auoit mange du poifon. Ce
fut vn grand bon-heur [pour] luy qu'on y auoit vn
peu auparauant mis ordre: car tandis que le Pere
alloit, le malade nous auoit dit que c' eftoit du poi-
fon qui le faifoit mourir: la deffus on l'auoit inftruidt
& heureufement difpofe a receuoir le [74] faindt Bap-
tefme. On acheuoit le coup de fon falut, lors que
ces barbares arriuerent en foulle, le mirent fur vne
claye pour le traifner fur les glaces du lac, & le me-
ner en fa maifon, mais helas ! il fe mift bien toft a

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 173

gently begs us to wait. His eyes roll in his head,
the foam comes to his mouth ; we know not what
these symptoms mean. We ask him his name,
where he is from, and who are his relatives, that one
may go and fetch them : to that he answers, but
"Alas!" he added, "I shall be dead before they
come; only give them that," he said, drawing [73]
from his tobacco pouch a piece of root. We are
ignorant of his meaning: nevertheless, one of our
Fathers leaves in haste to go and fetch his relatives ;
hardly had he crossed half the width of the lake, on
which the ice was still quite firm, when he met here
and there some Savages who were fishing. He said
to the one who was nearest, that such a young man
from the next village was very sick in our house, and
at the same time hands him the piece of root. This
man puts it to his lips, and without making other
answer to the Father, exclaims to his comrades:
" Such a one is dead, — he has eaten aconite; let us
go and get his body." They leave their fishing
there, they run in haste; but the Father tries to
anticipate them, — he comes running, all out of
breath, and exclaiming that we must baptize this
man as soon as possible, — that he had eaten poison.
It was a great good fortune for him that we had
arranged for that a little beforehand, for, while the
Father was on his way, the sick man had told us that
poison was causing his death; thereupon we had
instructed him, and happily disposed him for receiv-
ing [74] holy Baptism. We were completing the act
of his salvation, when those barbarians arrived in a
crowd, and put him on a hurdle to draw him over
the ice of the lake, and convey him to his house ; but
alas! he soon began to vomit even blood, and sud-

174 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

vomir iufques au fang, & mourut incontinent dans
le chemin. Le tout ne dura pas vne heure. Cecy
arriua le 21. de Mars, iour de S. Benoift. Pouuoit
on rencontrer vn nom plus conuenable pour luy don-
ner en fon Baptefme, puifque la benedidtion du ciel
tomba fi a propos fur luy.

Ce font la des victoires remport^es deffus les de-
mons : mais ce n'eft pas fans bien combattre : il faut
fouuent fouftenir des attaques & des blafphemes
contre la Foy de Iefus-Chrift., & contre nous qui la
prefchons.

Vn nomine" Ofcouenrout, des principaux capitaines
de la nation des ours, ay ant fait rencontre du Pere le
Mercier dans vne des cabanes du bourg de fainct
Louys, ou le Pere faifoit fes vifites, ne l'euft pas
pluftoft apperceu qu'il entre dans vne manie qui
le rendit plus femblable a vn poffede" qu'a vn homme
en [75] colere. Ce mal-heureux a vne langue des
plus percantes qui f oient dans le pais : mais fi iamais
il fut eloquent, il le fit paroiftre dans le difcours
qu'il tint alors, nous faifant les reproches de toutes
leurs miferes, d'vn ton & d'vn accent plein de furie.
Apres tout, il prend vn tifon ardent de feu, &
s'approchant du Pere: Refous-toy, luy dit-il, a ne
pas partir de la place, aujourd'huy tu feras brufle\
Le Pere, qui auoit la langue a commandement, &
le courage meilleur que ce mal-heureux, leue fa
voix plus haut que luy: Ce n'eft pas la, dit-il, ce
que ie crains, ma vie ne defpend pas de toy, mais du
Dieu que les croyans adorent, qui eft le maiftre de
ta vie autant que de la mienne: s'il permet aux
demons d'enfer de fe feruir de ta main pour faire ce
coup, pour moy ie ne puis faire vn plus heureux ren-

1640J RELA TION OF 1640 175

denly died by the way. It all lasted not an hour.
This happened on the 21st of March, day of St.
Benoist. Could one hit upon a more suitable name
to give him at his Baptism, since the blessing of heav-
en fell so timely upon him?

Those are victories gained over the demons: but
not without stout fighting; it is often necessary to
sustain attacks and withstand blasphemies against
the Faith of Jesus Christ, and against us who preach
the same.

A certain Oscouenrout, of the principal captains of
the nation of the bear, — having met Father le Mer-
rier in one of the cabins of the village of saint Louys,
where the Father was making his visits, — had no
sooner perceived him than he fell into a frenzy which
rendered him more like one possessed than a man in
[75] anger. This wretch has one of the sharpest
tongues in the country: but, if ever he were elo-
quent, he showed it in the speech that he then made —
reproaching us for all their miseries, in a tone and
with an accent full of fury. After all, he takes a
glowing firebrand, and approaching the Father, says
to him: " Resolve not to leave the place; to-day
thou wilt be burned." The Father, who had his
tongue at command, and better courage than this
wretch, raises his voice higher than he. " That,"
he said, " is not what I fear; my life does not depend
on thee, but on the God whom the believers adore,
who is the master of thy life as much as of mine.
If he allow the demons of hell to use thy hand to
deal this blow, for my part I cannot find a happier
encounter; but as for thee, thou wilt forever bear, —
thou and all thy posterity, — shame and confusion on
your faces." At the same time, God gave the Fa-

176 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

contre : mais quand a toy tu en porteras a tout iamais
toy & toute ta pofterite la honte & la confufion fur
le vifage. En mefme temps Dieu donna la penf6e
au Pere, que la meilleure facon de coniurer cette
tempefte feroit de prefcher, y ayant la vne grande
affemblee. II pleuft a Dieu \j6] par la force de fon
difcours abbattre cet efprit orgueilleux, qui depuis
ne parla plus: & le Pere apres auoir fait ce qu'il pre-
tendoit en cette cabane s'en alia acheuer le refte de
fes vifites, ou par tout il fut receu auec admiration de
ce qu'il eftoit encore en vie, le bruit ayant courut
que s'en eftoit fait, & qu'on auoit brule & fendu la
tefle a la robbe noire.

Sans doute nous auons tout fujet au milieu de ces
peuples barbares, de chanter: mais d'vn accent rem-
ply de ioye, ce Pfeaume du Prophete : Quare fremue-
runt gentes & populi meditati funt inania: car Dieu
diffipe leurs efforts, va fe moquant de leurs confeils,
& y iettant la confufion lors qu'ils concluent plus f orte-
ment noftre ruyne.

II n'y a que deux mois qu'on tint vn confeil gene-
ral du pays au mefme bourg de faindt Louys, nos
vies y furent puiffamment balottees l'efpace d'vne
nuidt entiere: (car c'eft le temps de leurs confeils,
eft-ce merueille que les efprits des tenebres y prefi-
dent) la plufpart concluoient a la mort, & le plus
promptemet, difoient-ils, ce fera le meilleure vne
feule [77] nation y refifta, faifant voir les confe-
quences de cette refolution qui alloit a la ruine de la
patrie: les efprits fe mutinent a cette oppofition:
ceux qui tenoient pour nous fe voyant les plus foibles,
faifons done mourir les Francois, difent-ils, puis que
vous le voulez, mais que ceux qui pourfuiuent fi

1640] RELATION OF 1640 177

ther the thought, that the best way to exorcise this
storm would be to preach, — there being a great
assembly there. It pleased God, [76] by the force
of his remarks, to abase that haughty spirit, which
then spoke no more; and the Father, after having
done what he was intending to do in this cabin, went
on to finish the rest of his visits, wherein he was
everywhere received with wonder because he was
still alive, — the rumor having circulated that it
was all over with him, and that they had burned the
black gown and split his head.

No doubt we have every reason, in the midst of
these barbarous peoples, to sing, — but with an accent
filled with joy, — that Psalm of the Prophet: Quare
fremuerunt gentes, et populi meditati sunt mania; for
God scatters their efforts, and continues to mock
their counsels, and cast confusion upon them, when
they most strongly resolve upon our ruin.

Only two months ago, they held a general council
of the country, at the same village of saint Louys ;
our lives were vigorously tossed about there, for the
space of a whole night (for this is the time of their
councils, — is it a wonder that the spirits of darkness
preside there ?) ; most of them resolved upon death,
" And the more promptly," they said, " the better it
will be." A single [yj~] nation resisted, showing the
consequences of this resolution, which tended to the
ruin of the country. Minds rebel against this oppo-
sition: those who were on our side, seeing them-
selves the weaker, say, " Let us then put the French
to death, since you wish it; but let those who so
eagerly prosecute this affair, themselves begin the
execution thereof: we can well clear ourselves from
it." Thereupon they all send back the ball to one

178 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

viuement cette affaire en commencet eux-mefmes
l'execution, nous fcaurons bien nous en purger. La
deffus ils fe renuoyent tous l'eftoeuf l'vn a l'autre,
pretendant que ce n'eft pas a eux a commencer: les
heures entieres fe coulent en ce debat. Vn ancien
qui a de l'affedtion pour nous prend la parole, apres
s'eftre teu bien long-temps: Pour moy, dit-il, ie fuis
d'aduis que nous commencions par nous mefmes,
nous fommes affeurez qu'il y a parmy nous grand
nombre de forciers, ceux-la continueroient a nous faire
mourir, quand bien nous aurions maffacre toutes les
robbes noires: faifant vne exadte recherche de ces
mal-heureux qui nous enforcellent, puis quand ils
feront mis a mort, alors fi le cours de la maladie ne
ceffoit pas, nous aurions occafion de tuer les Fran-
cois, & [78] efprouuer fi leur maffacre arrefleroit le
mal. Cette penf6e pour ce coup arrefta l'execution
de leur mauuais deffein.

Le diable fe mefle bien auant dedans ces parties,
puis que c'efl luy qui y perd dauantage.

A ce propos ie raconteray vne chofe qui nous eflon-
na il y a quelque iours. Le P. Pierre Pijart eftant en
difpute dans le bourg de faindt lean auec vn vieux
Magicien du pays: Ce barbare s'eftant mis en colere,
le menace que nous pouuions bien nous refoudre a
mourir, & que defia Echon (c'eft le Pere de Brebeuf)
eftoit frappe de maladie. Le Pierre Pijart fe mocque
de ce vieillard, n'y ayant pas trois heures qu'il auoit
laiffe le Pere de Brebeuf a la maifon de S. Iofeph en
fort bonne fante. Le Magicien luy repart, tu verras
fi ie fuis menteur, ie t'en ay affez dit. En effedt le
Pere Pijart s'en eftant retourne- le mefme iour a S.
Iofeph, efloigne" de deux bonnes lieues, trouue le

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 179

another, pretending that it is not for them to begin ;
whole hours elapse in this debate. An elder who is
favorable to us begins to speak, after having long
been silent. " As for me," he said, " I am of the
opinion that we begin with ourselves ; we are assured
that there are a great many sorcerers among us, —
those would continue to cause us to die, even though
we should have massacred all the black robes. Let
us make a strict investigation of those wretches who
bewitch us ; then, when they shall have been put to
death, if at that time the course of the disease does not
cease, we will have reason to kill the French, and
[78] to prove whether their massacre will stop the
trouble." This thought for the time stopped the
execution of their evil purpose.

The devil intrudes very far in these proceedings,
since it is he who loses most in them.

In this connection, I will relate a thing which
astonished us some days ago. Father Pierre Pijart
having a dispute, in the village of saint Jean, with an
old Magician of the country, this barbarian, having
become angry, threatens him that we might surely
make up our minds to die, and that already Echon
(Father de Brebeuf) was stricken with disease. Fa-
ther Pijart laughs at this old man, — it not being
three hours since he had left Father de Brebeuf at
the house of St. Joseph, in very good health. The
Magician answers him: " Thou wilt see whether I
am a liar; I have told thee enough." In fact,
Father Pijart having returned the same day to St.
Joseph, two good leagues distant, finds Father de
Brebeuf attacked with a heavy fever, a pain in the
stomach, and headache, and in all the symptoms of
a severe illness ; at the moment when the Magician

180 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

Pere de Brebeuf attaque" d'vne groffe fievre, d'vn
mal de coeur & mal de tefte, & dans tous les fymp-
tomes d'vne grande maladie; au moment que le
Magicien en [79] auoit porte" la parole aucun Sauuage
n'en auoit efte aduerty. Mais fi le diable & fes
miniftres minutent noftre mort, la prompte guerifon
du Pere, qui ne fut pas malade plus de 24. heures,
nous fit bien voir qu'il y a des efprits mille fois plus
puiffans qui veillent a noftre defenfe & conferuation.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 181

[79] had spoken, no Savage had been warned of it.
But if the devil and his ministers are devising our
death, the Father's prompt cure — he was not sick
more than 24 hours — plainly showed us that there
are spirits a thousand times more powerful, who
watch for our defense and preservation.

182 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

CHAPITRE VI.

DE LA RESIDENCE & MISSION DE SAINCT IOSEPH AUX
ATTINGNEENONGNAHAC.

IL eft bien difficile de viure en paix parmy vne
ieuneffe barbare, altiere de fon naturel, & d'ail-
leurs aigrie par les mauuais bruits qui courent
inceflamment de nous. Nos Peres l'ont efprouue"
dans le bourg de S. Iofeph, car c'eft la que les pier-
res ont vole" fur nos teftes iufques au fond de noftre
cabane ; c'eft la que les croix ont efte" abattues & arra-
ch6es, les haches & les tifons leuez fur nous, les
coups de bafton defchargez, & [74 i.e., 80] le fang
refpendu : en vn mot quafi chaque iour on a fouff ert
mille infoleces, & mefme quelques Capitaines des
plus confiderables voyant la ieuneffe defia dans la
fureur, & les armes en main, l'ont excite" a faire pis
qu'elle ne faifoit, nous ont condamne publiquemet
comme des malfaidteurs, & les plus grands forciers
qui fuflent dans leurs terres, ont commande qu'on euft
au pluftoft a demolir noftre cabane, & la mettre par
terre : adiouftant que quand mefme on nous maffacre-
roit, nous n'aurions que felon nos merites : Bien loin
de reprimer les violences, & arrefter les coups de ceu'x
qui defia s'etoient ruez fur nous.

Le P. lean de Brebeuf & le P. Pierre Chaftelain
ont le plus ordinairemet cultiue" cette vigne : outre
le bourg de fainct. Iofeph ils ont eu foin des bourgs
de faindt Michel & de fainct, Ignace. Le bourg de

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 183

CHAPTER VI.

OF THE RESIDENCE AND MISSION OF SAINT JOSEPH TO
THE ATTINGNEENONGNAHAC.

IT is very difficult to live in peace amid a barba-
rous youth, naturally haughty, and withal exas-
perated by the evil reports which are incessantly
current about us. Our Fathers have experienced the
same in the village of St, Joseph, for that is where
the stones have come flying over our heads even to
the middle of our cabin ; that is where the crosses
have been felled and torn away, hatchets and fire-
brands lifted against us, blows given with clubs, and
[74 i.e., 80] blood shed, — in a word, almost every
day we have suffered a thousand insolences. And
even some of the most considerable Captains, seeing
the youth already furious and with arms in hand,
have excited them to do worse than they were doing ;
have openly condemned us as malefactors, and the
greatest sorcerers in their lands; have decreed that
our cabin must be demolished and razed to the
ground as soon as possible, — adding that even though
we should be massacred, we would only get accord-
ing to our deserts. So they were far from repress-
ing the acts of violence, and stopping the blows of
those who had already rushed upon us.

Father Jean de Brebeuf and Father Pierre Chaste-
lain have most habitually cultivated this vine-
yard: besides the village of saint Joseph, they have
cared for the villages of saint Michel and saint

184 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.19

fainct Iofeph eftant le plus grand & le plus peuple*
de tout le pays, leur a auffi fourny durant la maladie
plus d'occupation luy feul que plufieurs autres en-
femble n'ont fait ailleurs.

Le nombre des baptifez en ce feul [81] bourg, de-
puis la derniere Relation, monte a plus de deux cens
foixante, dont plus de foixante & dix enfans au
deffous de fept ans eftans morts heureufement apres
le faindt Baptef me : cette conf olation nous f era atten-
dre auec plus de patience le temps auquel nous efpe-
rons vn iour ce que fera deuenu le refte.

Plus les demons fe font oppofez en tout cela a nos
deffeins, plus la gloire de Dieu, & les traidts de fa
prouidence nous y ont paru remarquables ; en voicy
quelques exemples tirez d'vne lettre que m'efcriuit
fur ce fujet le P. Pierre Chaftelain, felon que ie luy
auois expreffement recommande.

Ie voulois dernierement entrer en vne cabane pour
voir s'il n'y auroit point quelque malade, on me
ferme la porte, on dit qu'il y a feftin: Sur le poindt
d' entrer en vne autre maifon, il me vint en penf£e
que la cabane dont on me venoit de refufer 1' entree,
eftoit longue, & que peut-eftre il y auoit quelque
malade a l'autre bout, & point de feftin: I'y vay,
i'entre, il n'y a point de malade, le feftin fe fait au
milieu: le maiftre du feftin [82] m'appelle, difant
qu'il ne craignoit point que ie gaftaffe fon feftin : Ie
luy parle, & voyant que rien ne m'arrefte, ie pafle
outre pour m'en retourner par ou Ton m'auoit refu-
i6: ie trouue que le diable auoit raifon, & qu'il gar-
doit vne proye qu'il deuoit emporter deux heures
apres, & qui luy fuft rauie de la forte. Ie m'appro-
che, le pauure malade ne fait plus que fouffler les

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 185

Ignace.10 That of saint Joseph being the largest and
most populous in all the country, has therefore alone
furnished them more occupation during the disease,
than several others together have done elsewhere.

The number of the baptized in this single [81]
village, since the last Relation, has risen to more
than two hundred and sixty; of whom more than
seventy children under seven years having happily
died after holy Baptism, this consolation will enable
us to await with more patience the time when, we
hope, the others shall, some day, have become like-
wise baptized.

The more the demons have opposed our plans in
all that, the more the glory of God and the acts of
his providence have appeared to us remarkable there-
in; here follow some instances of the same, taken
from a letter which Father Pierre Chastelain wrote to
me on this subject, according to my express direction.

" I lately wished to enter a cabin, to see whether
there might not be some sick person ; they close the
door on me, — they say that there is a feast. As
I was on the point of going into another house, the
thought came to me that the cabin to which I had
just been refused admittance was long, and that per-
haps there was some one sick at the other end, and
no feast at all. I go thither, and I enter; there
is no one sick, — the feast is going on in the midst.
The master of the feast [82] calls me, saying that
he did not fear that I would spoil his feast. I
speak to him, and seeing that nothing stops me, I
pass on, to return by the spot where they had refused
me. I find that the devil was right, and that he
was keeping a prey that he was likely to carry off
two hours later, and which was thus snatched from

186 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

derniers abois : ie demande l'alliftance du S. Efprit,
inftruis ce moribond, & luy demande s'il entend, &
s'il defire eftre fauu6, i'approche l'oreille de fa bou-
che, i'entends tirer du fond de fon eftomach vne &
deux fois le mot que ie cherchois auec effort & tef-
moignage d'vne puiffante volont6: ie luy demande
s'il veut eftre baptife; il me refpond auec autant
d'effort que la premiere fois qu'il le vouloit. Ie le
baptife, & le nomme Iofeph : deux heures apres il eft
dans la iouiflance de ce qu'il efperoit.

Vne autre fois voulant entrer en vne cabane pour
vifiter vne femme fort malade, on me dit d'abord que
e'en eftoit fait, & qu'il y a deux heures qu'elle auoit
expire: comme on ne nous voit pas volontiers [83]
ou il y a quelques morts, i'entre dans vne cabane voi-
fine, mais ie n'y puis eftre en repos ie me fens preffe
interieurement de retourner & entrer chez ladite
morte ; fon mary la garde comme vn cadaure auec
beaucoup de trifteffe, toutefois ie l'apercois encore
qui refpire. Ie me recommande a Dieu, & ne crai-
gnant rien que mes pechez en femblables affaires,
luy en ayant demande le pardon, ie m'approche auec
conflance en fa bonte" pour l'inftruire : on fe mocque
de moy, difant qu'elle auoit perdu l'ouye & la parole,
il y auoit defia long temps ; ie fais inftance difant que
fen auois defia trouue plufieurs autres qui ayant per-
du les fens pour les chofes ordinaires, auoient par
vne incomparable mifericorde de Dieu entendu ce qui
eftoit de leur falut, & parle fuffifamment pour cela:
ie m'approche en mefme temps & l'instruis auec vne
confiance extraordinaire a vn cceur infidele a fon
Dieu comme le mien, ie luy demande fon confente-
ment, voila que d'immobile qu'elle eftoit elle com-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 187

him. I draw near; the poor sick man does nothing
more than breathe his last gasp. I ask the assistance
of the Holy Ghost; I instruct this dying man, and
ask him whether he understands, and whether he
desires to be saved. I bring my ear close to his
lips ; I hear him once or twice heave from the depth
of his chest the word which I was seeking, with effort
and the manifestation of a powerful will. I ask
him whether he wishes to be baptized ; he answers
me, with as much stress as the first time, that he
wished it. I baptize him and name him Joseph:
two hours later he is in the enjoyment of what he
hoped for.

" Another time, wishing to enter a cabin to visit
a very sick woman, they tell me at first that it was
all over with her, and that she had expired two hours
before. As they do not willingly see us [83] where
there are any dead, I enter a neighboring cabin, but
I cannot be at rest there ; I feel myself inwardly im-
pelled to return, and enter the house of the woman
reported dead. Her husband keeps her as a corpse,
with much sadness : nevertheless I perceive her still
breathing. I commend myself to God, and — fear-
ing nothing but my sins in such matters, and having
asked his pardon — I draw near to instruct her, with
confidence in his goodness. They make sport of me,
saying that she had long ago lost hearing and speech ;
I insist, saying that I had already found several
others who, having lost their faculties for ordinary
things, had by an incomparable mercy of God under-
stood the matter of their salvation, and spoken suffi-
ciently for that. At the same time, I draw near and
instruct her with a confidence extraordinary for a
heart faithless to its God, like mine. I ask her con-

188 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

mence a remuer la tefle, les bras, & tout le corps, &
parle fuffifamment pour me tefmoigner [84] fon de-
fir: fon mary maintient que c'eft vne auerfion de ce
que ie luy dis qu'elle fait paroiftre, il ne veut pas que
ie la baptif e : ie maintiens ce que i'auois aduance : il
l'interroge luy-mefme, la preffe de dire vn teouaftato,
ie ne le veux pas, a cela elle ne dit mot : ie luy rede-
made en mefme temps s'il n'eft pas vray qu'elle
defire eftre baptif£e, elle refpond diftincftement
qu'oiiy. Le mary furpris, quoy done, luy dit-il,
veux tu quitter tes parens, tes peres, meres & enfans
qui font morts pour aller auec des eftragers. Dieu
fcait fi ie redoublois mes prieres : elle refpond auec
vn effort & feruer [sc. ferueur] que ie n'euffe ofe
efperer, ouy: ie la baptife, elle meurt incontinent
apres.

Dans vne certaine cabane qui eft des plus fuperfti-
tieufes du pays, tous ceux qui y font morts fe moc-
quoient du baptefme, & ie n'y eftois veu peu de tres-
mauuais ceil, c'eft pourquoy ie iugeay a propos de
n'y pas aller fi fouuent. Ie m'auife vn iour d'y en-
trer, pour voir fi ie trouuerois toufiours les mefmes
vif ages : i'y rencontre vne fille de f eize ans qui alloit
rendre l'efprit, ie m'en approche, [85] ils me laiffent
faire, parce que la malade eftoit abandonnee, & iug6e
en eftat de ne pouuoir plus entendre ce que ie luy
dirois: ie ne fcay mefme s'ils ne l'auoient point a
mefpris, car elle eftoit fans natte, fans feu, & mife-
rablement couuerte. Ce fpectacle me touche au vif,
ie Ten inflruis auec plus d'aff edtion ; elle m'entend,
me demande inftamment le baptefme pour eftre heu-
reufe dans le ciel. Ie la baptife, & la prie de prier

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 189

sent; whereupon, motionless as she was, she begins
to move her head, arms, and all her body, and speaks
enough to show me [84] her desire; her husband
insists that what she signifies is an aversion for what
I say to her, — he does not wish me to baptize her.
I maintain what I had asserted: he questions her
himself, — urges her to say ' teouastato,' ' I am not
willing ; ' whereto she says not a word. I ask her
again, at the same time, whether it be not true that
she desires to be baptized: she distinctly answers
' Yes. ' The husband, surprised, says to her : ' What,
then? do you wish to leave your relatives, your
fathers, mothers, and children who are dead, in order
to go with strangers ? ' God knows whether I
redoubled my prayers: she answers with an effort
and a fervor that I would not have dared to hope
for, — 'Yes.' I baptize her; she dies immediately
after.

"In a certain cabin, which is among the most
superstitious in the country, all those who have died
in it mocked baptism, and I was there scanned not a
little with most evil glances ; wherefore I judged it
proper not to go there so often. I bethink me one
day to enter, in order to see whether I should still
find the same faces ; I there encountered a girl of six-
teen years, who was about to give up the ghost. I
draw near; [85] they suffer me to proceed, because
the sick girl was given up, and supposed to be in a
condition where she could no longer understand what
I should say to her: I know not, indeed, whether
they did not regard her with contempt, — for she was
without a mat, without fire, and wretchedly covered.
This sight touches me to the quick ; I instruct her
with all the more affection ; she understands me, —

190 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

Dieu pour moy quand elle y fera arriuee, elle me le
promet de bon coeur, elle mourut le mefme iour.

Toriches eftoit vn Capitaine qui nous tefmoignoit
de l'affedtion, mais eftoit efloigne des fentimens du
Chriftianifme plus qu'homme de fa forte : il me dif oit
fouuent entendant les inftrudtions que ie faifois aux
malades de fa cabane, tu nous defoblige de parler du
Paradis: dis feulement, courage, tu retourneras en
fante" fi tu fais ce que ie te dis. II tombe malade luy
mefme, & vient a l'extremit6 : ie luy parle du Para-
dis, il prefte l'oreille comme a vne chofe que iamais
il n'auoit entendu : il voit que cela le touche de bien
pres, il me demande le baptefme. Mais, [86] luy
dis-je, il faut detefter tes pechez: ie les detefte, me
refpond-il: efcoute moy. Ie croyois qu'il allaft faire
vn acfte de contrition, mais ce bon homme commence
auparauant a faire vne confeffion generale de toute
fa vie paffee : ie le baptize. Le lendemain ie le retour-
nay voir : il me promet de prier Dieu pour moy lors
qu'il feroit au ciel, qu'il n'oubliera pas fon pays, &
tous tant que nous fommes qui les venions inftruire :
incontinent apres il meurt.

On me vient querir vn iour pour aller voir vn ma-
lade; c'eftoit vn ieune homme de 14. ans, qui vou-
loit, difoit-il, aller au ciel, parce que dans fon nom il
portoit le nom du ciel, & concluoit de la que le ciel
luy feroit a bon-heur. Ie l'infiruis, ie le baptife, il
meurt au bout de deux iours.

La mefme ie baptifay fecrettement deux petits in-
nocens, qui s'enuolerent incontinent au ciel. Ie ne
fcay fi ces pertes n'irriterent point les demons:
quoy qu'il en foit, vn ieune homme de cette cabane
fe leue, & fe met a blafphemer en ma prefence:

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 191

she urgently asks me for baptism, in order to be hap-
py in heaven. I baptize her, and ask her to pray to
God for me when she shall have arrived there ; she
promises me this with a good heart ; she died the
same day.

" Toriches was a Captain who showed us affection,
but he was averse to the sentiments of Christianity
more than any man of his kind: he often said to me,
while hearing the instructions which I dispensed to
the sick of his cabin : ' You displease us by speaking
of Paradise : only say, ' ' Courage ; you will return to
health, if you do what I tell you." ' He himself falls
sick, and comes to his last hour; I speak to him of
Paradise ; he listens as to a thing which he had never
heard of ; he sees that that concerns him very close-
ly,— he asks me for baptism. ' But,' [86] I say to
him, ' you must detest your sins.' ' I detest them,' —
he answers me; ' listen to me.' I supposed that he
was about to perform an act of contrition; but this
good man first begins to make a general confession
of all his past life; I baptize him. The next day,
I returned to see him : he promises me to pray to
God for me when he should be in heaven, and that
he will not forget his country, and all of us who
came to instruct them; immediately after, he dies.

" They come to fetch me one day, to go and see a
sick man; this was a young man of 14 years who, he
said, wished to go to heaven because in his name he
bore the name of heaven, and inferred from that
that heaven would be to his happiness. I instruct
him, I baptize him, he dies at the end of two days.

" There, also, I secretly baptized two little inno-
cents, who straightway took flight for heaven. I
know not whether these losses did not irritate the

192 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

ie le reprends, & luy dis qu'il prenoit le chemin de
l'Enfer: i'y fuis tout [87] refolu, me refpondit-il: tu
verras ce que e'en eft, luy dis-je, & puis ie fors. Le
foir fe fait, la nuidt vient, le diable luy apparoifl,
luy dit qu'il luy faut vne tefte, autrement qu'il bafle
mal pour luy: il le poffede, il deuient furieux, il
court par le bourg vne hache a la main, cherchant
vn Francois : quelques Capitaines nous vinrent prier
de ne point fortir, le chef de la cabane me vint dire
en particulier que c6t enrage me cherchoit nomme-
ment, comme l'ayant maudit, & luy ayant caufe ce
malheur: on le lie, on luy met vn cuir double fur les
yeux, il voit a trauers comme vn demon, me difoit
c6t homme: bref a 1' entendre parler, on n'auoit ia-
mais rien veu de femblable. En fin on s'aduife de luy
prefenter vne tefte d'ennemy, enleuee depuis peu,
aufli toft le voila guery : le diable par fon equiuoque
luy ayant porte" la penf£e fur la tefte d'vn Francois.

Voila quelques articles de la fufdite lettre du P.
Chaftelain.

Plufieurs chofes non moins confiderables font arri-
u£e au P. de Brebeuf Superieur de cette Refidence,
qui dans la mifere [88] de ce pauure peuple n'a oublie
aucune affiftance fpirituelle & corporelle en leur
endroit, iufques a s'ofter fouuent le morceau de la
bouche. Charite* d'autant plus precieufe aux yeux des
Anges, qu'elle n'a efte" iufques a maintenant recom-
penfee que par ingratitude, par des menaces & des
coups; encore depuis peu il a efte" indignement trait-
te" & battu auec outrage dans le bourg de fainct Io-
feph. C'eft luy qui dans l'efprit de ces pauures Sau-
uages paffe toufiours pour le plus grand forcier des
Francois, & la fource de toutes les miferes qui rui-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 193

demons : be this as it may, a young man of this cabin
stands up, and begins to blaspheme in my presence.
I rebuke him, and say to him that he was taking the
way to Hell ; ' I am quite [87] resolved on that, ' he
answered me; ' You will see what it is like,' I say to
him, and then I leave. Evening sets in, the night
comes on ; the devil appears to him, and tells him
that he wants a head, — that otherwise he may work
mischief for him. The devil possesses this man ; he
becomes furious, — he runs through the village,
hatchet in hand, looking for a Frenchman. Some
Captains came to beg us not to go out ; the chief of the
cabin came to tell me in private that this madman
was expressly seeking me, as having cursed him and
having caused him this misfortune. They tie him,
they put a double piece of leather over his eyes ; he
looks through it like a demon, this man told me ; in
short, to hear him speak, they had never seen any-
thing like it. Finally they bethink themselves to
offer him the head of an enemy, lately seized, and
thus he was immediately cured, — the devil, by his
duplicity, having turned his thought upon the head
of a Frenchman."

Those were some incidents from the above-men-
tioned letter of Father Chastelain.

Several things not less notable have happened to
Father de Brebeuf, Superior of this Residence, who
in the misery [88] of this poor people has forgotten
no spiritual and bodily assistance with respect to
them, even to the point of often taking the morsel
from his own lips, — a charity the more precious in
the sight of the Angels, as it has hitherto been recom-
pensed only with ingratitude, threats, and blows;
even lately he has been unworthily treated and

194 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

nent le pays: quoy que d'ailleurs, lors qu'ils conful-
tent quelquefois la raifon, ils fe fentent contrains de
recognoiftre & aduoiier, nonobftant toute leur barba-
rie, qu'il y a des bontez fur terre qui paffent tout a
fait l'humain.

Nous auons toute occafion de croire que les bons
Anges fe font fouuent intereffez en la plufpart de
ces baptefmes : au moins il nous eft apparu plus fen-
fiblement en d'aucuns.

Vne bonne femme qui depuis plus d'vn an preffoit
nos Peres de la baptifer, tombe [89] griefuement
malade, elle eft heureufe de trouuer a la mort ce que
durant fa vie elle n'a pas obtenu: mais il falut pour
obeir a fon faindt defir, auant qu'en venir la, dire le
Veni creator, faire quelques autres prieres, & y gar-
der les ceremonies que le temps & le lieu pouuoient
permettre. Cette heureufe Neophite vn peu deuant
fa mort apercoit a fon cofte vne troupe de vifages
incogneus d'vne rare beaute, qui luy prefentent de
tres-belles eftoff es pour la couurir : elle eft furprife a
cette veue. Retirez vous, dit-elle a fa grand mere
qui eftoit proche d'elle: retirez vous d'icy, voila ce
que ie voy, vous m'empefchez: peu aprez elle expire
paifiblement, & comme nous croyons elle fe vit reue-
ftue de la robbe de gloire, dont elle auoit des gages fi
affeurez, ayant receu peu auparauant la grace du
baptefme.

Vne autre petite fille d'enuiron dix ans, parente
d'vne excellente Chreftienne, dont nous parlerons cy
apres, eft a l'extremite: elle confent a fon baptefme,
fes parens s'y oppofent : lors qu'on eftoit dans le con-
tefte, cette petite innocente [90] efleue doucement fa
voix: On m'auertit, s'6crie-t'elle, que ie ne fuiue

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 195

outrageously beaten in the village of saint Joseph.
He is the one who in the minds of these poor Sav-
ages always passes for the greatest sorcerer of the
French, and the source of all the miseries which
ruin the country: although, moreover, when they
sometimes consult reason, they feel constrained to
acknowledge and avow, notwithstanding all their
barbarism, that there are acts of goodness on earth
which altogether exceed what is human.

We have every occasion to believe that the good
Angels have often interested themselves in most of
these baptisms, — at least, it has appeared to us more
perceptibly in some of them.

A good woman, who for more than a year had
been urging our Fathers to baptize her, falls [89]
grievously sick ; she is happy to find at death what
she has not obtained during her life ; but it was nec-
essary, in order to obey her holy desire, — before
coming to the point, — to say the Veni creator, offer
some other prayers, and observe therein the cere-
monies which the time and place could allow. This
fortunate Neophyte, a little before her death, per-
ceives at her side a company, with unknown faces of
a rare beauty ; these beings offer her very handsome
cloth, with which to cover her; she is surprised by
this sight. " Withdraw," she said to her grand-
mother, who was near her; " withdraw from here;
what a vision I see ! you hinder me. ' ' Soon after,
she peacefully expires; and, as we believe, she finds
herself clothed in the robe of glory whereof she had
such assured pledges, — having received, shortly be-
forehand, the grace of baptism.

Another, a little girl of about ten years, akin to an
excellent Christian woman, of whom we shall speak

196 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

pas ma fceur, que ie n'aille pas auec elle: c'eftoit fa
foeur aifnee, qui depuis quelques iours eftoit morte
malheureufement, ayant refufe le baptefme: fans
doute celle-cy ne la fuiuit pas, car elle le receut
faindtement. Ce font des bontez ineffables de Dieu,
qui veut accroiftre de la forte la haut dedans le ciel
l'Eglife qui y triomphe.

Maintenant pour parler de cette Eglife militante,
nous auons veu, a noftre grand regret, durant le
cours de cette maladie, la nature du fol fur lequel
elle eltoit bailie: c'eftoit fable pour la pluspart, les
vents & les orages ont quafi tout iette par terre.
Celt vne chofe difficile a adoucir que la perte de
la vie, oil de celle de ceux d'ou elle defpend, fur tout
a des barbares qui depuis deux & trois mille fiecles
n'auoient iamais eu la penfee qu'il y euft d'autre
bien que celuy de la vie pref ente ; de la f e fait que
les chofes du ciel ne font quafi aucune impreffion fur
leur efprit, que pour le temps de la profperit6 : car
auffi toft qu'il fe rencontre [91] quelque chofe qui
heurte l'eftat de la vie prefente, a peine peuuent-ils
fe tenir qu'ils n'ayent recours a leurs danfes & feftins,
a l'obferuance de leurs fonges, & autres inuentions
diaboliques, dont ils efperent tirer quelque fecours.
La creance publique que nous eftions la caufe de leur
mifere s'emparant en fuite de leurs efprits, & la
crainte d'eftre compris dans le maffacre general dont
nous eftions continuellement menacez: toutes ces
chofes ont fait que plufieurs qui auoient profeffe
la foy les annees precedentes, non feulement font
retournez a l'vfage de leurs anciennes fuperftitions,
mais encore ont tefmoigne publiquement qu'ils renon-
coient a ce qu'ils auoient embraffe.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 197

below, is in extremity; she consents to her baptism,
her relatives oppose it. While the contest was going
on, this little innocent [90] gently raises her voice ;
" They warn me," she exclaims, " not to follow my
sister, not to go with her; ' this was her elder sister,
who had wretchedly died some days before, after
refusing baptism : no doubt this one did not follow
her, for she received it devoutly. These are inef-
fable goodnesses of God, who wills thus to increase,
up yonder in heaven, the Church which is there tri-
umphant.

Now to speak of this Church militant, — we have
seen, to our great regret, during the course of this
disease, the nature of the soil on which it was built;
it was mostly sand, — the winds and the storms have
almost thrown everything to the ground. The loss
of life, or of that of those on whom it depends, is a
difficult matter to smooth over; especially with
barbarians who for two or three thousand ages had
never had the thought that there was any other good
than that of the present life. Thence it happens that
the things of heaven make scarcely any impression
on their minds, except for the time of prosperity;
for as soon as there occurs [91] anything which
clashes with the state of the present life, they can
hardly contain themselves from having recourse to
their dances and feasts, to the observance of their
dreams, and other diabolical inventions, from which
they hope to derive some help. The public belief
that we were the cause of their misery then possess-
ing their minds, and the fear of being included in the
general massacre with which we were continually
threatened, — all these things have brought it about
that many who had professed the faith in the pre-

198 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.19

Entre ceux-cy a efte vn des plus confiderable du
bourg, & des meilleurs efprits de tout le pays, dont
l'humeur & les bonnes qualitez nous auoient toiijours
fait fouhaitter la conuerfion, & la demander a Dieu
auec beaucoup d'inftance ; en effedt vn peu aupara-
uant le course de la maladie il demanda le baptefme,
& fut baptife. Sed non hos elegit Dominus: [92] II
femble que Dieu ne nous euft accorde noftre requefte
que pour nous apprendre que nous ne deuons non
plus que luy auoir acception de perfonnes, ou pluftoft
que c'eftoit a luy & non pas a nous de choifir fes
eileuz: tant y a qu'aux premiers tourbillons qui
s'eleuerent contre nous il rendit fon chappellet, & fit
toute forte de proteftation publique & particuliere de
fon renoncemet au Chriftianifme. Au refte, il a
efte vn des plus mal traittez, la maladie luy ayant
enleue vne partie de ce qu'il auoit de meilleur dans
fafamille; Peut-eftre Dieu l'a il conferue pour luy
faire vn iour mifericorde,

Vn autre ayant pareillement renonc6 au Chrifti-
anifme, eftant frappe de la maladie euft recours a
leurs remedes diaboliques : Dieu luy a prolonge la
vie, mais il femble que ce n'ait efte" que pour le ren-
dre vn fpedtacle de fa Iuftice : luy feul de tous ceux
qui font rechappez eftant refte aueugle, & fee comme
vne fquelette : depuis peu il eft mort impenitent.

Or fi la cheute de plulieurs de nos Chreftiens nous
a amig6, la refolution & [93] le courage de quelques
autres nous a remply de confolation. N'eft-ce pas
vn plaifir de confiderer vne bonne femme feptuage-
naire, qui en ce temps n'entendoit rien que des blaf-
phemes contre Dieu, eftoit contrainte tous les iours
de voir en fa cabane des diableries de toutes fortes,

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 199

ceding years, have not only returned to the practice
of their former superstitions, but have also publicly
declared that they renounced what they had em-
braced.

Among these latter was one of the most important
in the village, and one of the best minds in all the
country, whose temperament and good qualities had
always caused us to desire his conversion, and to ask
it of God with much earnestness; in fact, a little
before the course of the disease, he requested bap-
tism and was baptized. Sed non hos elegit Dominus;
[92] it seems that God had granted our request only
to teach us that we, no more than he, must have
respect for persons, — or rather, that it was for him
and not for us to choose his elect ; insomuch that, at
the first whirlwinds which arose against us, this man
gave up his chaplet, and made every sort of public
and private protestation of his renouncing Christian-
ity. Howbeit, he has been one of the worst treated,
the disease having taken from him a part of the best
he had in his family; perhaps God has preserved
him, in order one day to show him mercy.

Another man, having likewise renounced Chris-
tianity, being stricken with the disease, had recourse
to their diabolical remedies. God has prolonged
his life, but it seems that it has been only to render
him a spectacle of his Justice, — he alone, of all those
who have escaped, having remained blind, and thin
as a skeleton ; not long ago he died impenitent.

Now if the fall of many of our Christians has
afflicted us, the resolution and [93] the courage of
some others has filled us with consolation. Is it not
a pleasure to consider a good woman of seventy
years, who at that time heard nothing but blasphe-

200 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.19

n'auoit deuant les yeux que des morts, des malades,
des fpedtacles d'horreur, & parmy tout cela n'a pas
manque d'vn poind: aux deuoirs de Chreftien, iufques
a fe d^rober les Feftes & les Dimanches, pour a
l'infceu de fes plus proches, qui la perfecutoient &
vouloient l'empefcher de profeffer la Foy, fe trouuer
a temps a la Meffe, & la faire fes deuotions auec
autant de paix que fi elle euft efte hors l'orage & a
l'abry de ces tempeftes. Vere talium eft regnum Dei:
elle fut nominee Anne en fon baptefme. C'eft vn
efprit fimple, m'efcrit le Pere de Brebeuf, d'vn natu-
rel fort doux & benin: il femble qu'elle a toufiours
vefcu dans vne grande innocence, horfmis les fupper-
ftitions en l'obferuance defquelles elle a efte nourie.
Ayant entendu parler de Dieu, elle fut incontinent
eprife de [94] fon amour, & du defir de croire en luy
& de le feruir. Elle ne demande iamais rien, &
quand elle a quelque chofe elle nous en fait part, &
ne veut receuoir de nous aucune recompenfe (c'eft
peut-eftre l'vnique en fon efpece) elle apprehende
fort le peche, & dans le doute elle vient demander
confeil. Elle fe confeffe des moindres cliofes, & ce
incontinet qu'elle les a commis, fans dilayer. Vn iour
luy ayant dit qu'elle ne mangeaft point de chair hu-
maine: Comment, dit-elle, enmangerois-je? pendant
tout le Carefme ie me fuis abftenu de toute viande &
feftins, quoy que nous [sc. vous] m'euffiez permis d'y
affilter & d'en manger. Auparauant que d'eftre bap-
tifee elle auoit de continuels vertiges, & chaque
annee, enuiron l'Automne, elle faifoit faire des chan-
fons & des danfes pour fa guerifon : mais depuis fon
baptefme elle n'a plus efte tourmentee de ce mal: &
c'eft ce qu'elle va racontant a tout le monde, aura

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 201

mies against God ; who was constrained every day to
see in her cabin deviltries of all sorts: who had
before her eyes only dead people, sick people, sights
of horror, — and amid all that has not failed by one
point in the duties of a Christian? She has even
concealed herself on Feasts and Sundays, that she
might — unknown to her nearest friends, who perse-
cuted her, and wished to prevent her from professing
the Faith — be present punctually at Mass, and there
perform her devotions with as much peace as if
she had been outside the storm and under shelter
from these tempests. Vere talium est regnum Dei.
She was named Anne at her baptism. " Hers is a
simple spirit," Father de Brebeuf writes to me, " a
nature very gentle and kindly ; it seems that she has
always lived in a great innocence, apart from the
superstitions in the observance of which she was
brought up. Having heard mention of God, she was
at once captivated with [94] his love, and with the
desire of believing in him and of serving him. She
never asks for anything, and, when she has some-
thing, she shares it with us, and will receive no
recompense from us (she is perhaps the only one of
her kind) ; she greatly fears sin, and in case of doubt,
she comes to ask advice. She confesses the smallest
matters, and that straightway when she has com-
mitted them, without delaying. One day, having
told her not to eat human flesh, ' How,' said she,
' should I eat any? During all Lent, I abstained
from all meat and from feasts, although you had
permitted me to attend them and eat of them.' Be-
fore being baptized, she had continual vertigoes, and
every year, about Autumn, she had songs and dances
performed for her cure ; but since her baptism she

202 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

bien que quelques autres faueurs qu'il a pleu a Dieu
de faire a quelques petits enfans aufquels elle auoit
procur6 le baptefme. Elle a vne grande tendreffe
pour tous nos interefts, [95] & fe fafche des mauuais
bruits qu'on fait courir contre nous: & quand elle a
apris quelque mauuaife nouuelle elle nous la vient
raconter. II y a quelque temps que parlant a vne
fienne amie de l'efficace du Baptefme, & du change-
ment qu'il caufe en nos ames: On eft fi bon, difoit
cette bonne femme, depuis qu'on eft baptife, que
l'autre iour voyant qu'on me defroboit vn plat, iamais
ie n'en dis mot. N'eft-ce pas la vne fimplicite extra-
ordinaire, & vne difpofition bien grande a pratiquer
le confeil de noftre Seigneur, & donner fon manteau
a celuy qui veut nous rauir noftre robbe.

II eft vray que cete nouuelle Eglife n'a pas beau-
coup de courages femblables, quoy qu'il s'en retrouue
encore quelques autres qui donnent affez de contente-
ment: mais ce f era vne grande confolation, s'il plaift
a Dieu donner benediction a la conftance de nos
petits trauaux, de fe fouuenir de ces premiers com-
mencemens, & de ce grain de moutarde.

Auant que finir ie ne puis taire vne chofe prodi-
gieufe qui eft arriuee a vn [96] Sauuage baptife- de-
puis quelque temps il eftoit encore catechumene, &
ne donnoit pas la fatisfadtion que nous euffions deftre
pour luy conferer le baptefme, que d'ailleurs il nous
demandoit auec affez de ferueur: fur tout nous ne
voyiSs pas qu'il priaft Dieu auec le refpedt qui eft
infeparable d'vne vraye foy. Vn iour comme vn de
nos Peres le faifoit prier Dieu dans leur Chapelle, ce
Sauuage fut tout furpris d'vne chofe qui luy ofta
quafi la parole. II vit vn tableau de Noftre Seigneur

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 203

has no more been tormented with this evil. This
she goes about relating to every one, as well as some
other favors which it has pleased God to show some
little children whose baptism she had procured. She
has a great affection for all our interests, [95] and is
vexed by the evil reports which are circulated against
us; and when she has learned any bad news, she
comes to tell it to us. Some time ago, while speak-
ing to a friend of hers about the efficacy of Baptism,
and the change which it causes in our souls, ' One is
so good,' said this worthy woman, ' after one has
been baptized, that the other day, on seeing that
some one was stealing a dish from me, I never said
a word.' Is not that an extraordinary simplicity,
and a very great readiness to practice our Lord's
counsel, giving one's cloak to him who wishes to
rob us of our robe?

"It is true that this new Church has not many
such courageous hearts, although there occur some
others, too, which give sufficient contentment; but it
will be a great consolation, if it please God to give
his blessing to the constancy of our little labors, to
remember these first beginnings, and this mustard
seed.

" Before finishing, I cannot be silent about a won-
drous thing which happened to a [96] Savage, bap-
tized some time ago; he was still a catechumen, and
was not giving the satisfaction that we would have
desired in order to confer baptism upon him, — which,
moreover, he kept asking from us with sufficient fer-
vor ; especially we did not see that he prayed to God
with the respect which is inseparable in case of a
true faith. One day, when one of our Fathers was
having him pray to God in their Chapel, this Savage

204 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

fe remuer de foy-mefme, le regarder d'vn oeil de
courroux, & remuer les leures d'vne facon qui luy
donna horreur; Ce barbare s'arrefte tout court, &
ne put pourfuiure fa priere : apres eftre vn peu reue-
nu a foy, Que voy-je la, dit-il, quel prodige? ce ta-
bleau me menace-t'il de la mort? que veut-il dire
par la? Le Pere qui n'auoit rien veu eft eftonne de
1'eftonnement de cet homme, luy fait expliquer ce
qui luy donne ces craintes & ces penfees: Ayant
entendu fa refponfe, le ne fcay pas, luy dit le Pere,
fi tu ne veux point me tromper, mais fi la chofe eft
comme tu me la raconte, [97] c'eft peut-eftre que
Noftre Seigneur te reprend du peu de refpedt que
tu apporte en le priant, il eft arriue quelquefois en
l'Eglife des chofes femblables. Ce barbare afleure
derechef ce qu'il a veu, & la peur dans laquelle il eft
donne occafion a quatre de nos Peres qui examinerent
par apres cette affaire, de croire que la chofe eftoit
veritable.

Ie veux eftre Chreftien, continue" ce Catechumene,
baptife moy: pourquoy tant differer? tandis que ie
ne feray pas dans la grace de Dieu, i'ay crainte qu'il
ne me puniffe. On n'y va pas fi chaudement, on le
differe pour toufiours l'efprouuer: luy de fon cofte
vient toufiours prier Dieu, & preffer fon baptefme :
mais fes prieres font du depuis accompagnees de re-
fpedt, & la deuotion qui paroift au dehors, & qui conti-
nue les mois entiers donne fujet de croire que vraye-
ment fon cceur eft touche, & que la grace y eft, ou
que Dieu l'y veut mettre: on examine de plus pres
fes deportemens, & on recognoift qu'en effedt il a
abandonne tout ce que la foy nous defend. En fin
on ne peut differer plus long temps, il fut baptif6

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 205

was wholly surprised at a thing which almost took
away his speech. He saw a picture of Our Lord
move of itself, look at him with an eye of anger, and
stir its lips in a manner which horrified him. This
barbarian stops quite short, and cannot continue
his prayer: after having somewhat returned to him-
self, he says : ' What do I see there ? what prodigy ?
Does this picture threaten me with death ? what does
it mean by that? ' The Father, who had seen noth-
ing, wonders at this man's astonishment, and makes
him explain what gives him these fears and these
thoughts. Having heard his answer, ' I know not,'
the Father said to him, ' whether thou dost not mean
to deceive me ; but if the matter is as thou relatest
it to me, [97] it may be that Our Lord rebukes thee
for the little respect that thou usest while praying to
him; such things have sometimes happened in the
Church.' This barbarian again affirms what he has
seen, and his fear gives occasion to four of our Fa-
thers, who afterward examined this affair, to believe
that the thing was real.

" ' I wish to be a Christian,' continues this Cate-
chumen; ' baptize me; why defer so long? As long
as I shall not be within the grace of God, I am afraid
that he will punish me.' We do not proceed so hot-
ly; we put him off continually, in order to try him.
He, for his part, still comes to pray to God, and urge
his baptism ; but his prayers have since been accom-
panied with respect, and the devotion which appears
outwardly, and which continues through whole
months, gives occasion to believe that his heart is
truly touched, and that grace is in it, or that God is
willing to put it there ; his actions are examined very
closely, and one discerns that in fact he has forsaken

206 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

[98] folennellement en compagnie de deux autres.
Depuis quelques iours ayant efte moy-mefme au
bourg de faindt Iofeph, i'ay examine cette hiftoire,
& ay trouue qu'elle eftoit veritable. Ce nouueau
Chreftien s'appelle Iofeph Teaouche, & eft gendre de
ce renegat, fi bon efprit, dont nous auons parle quel-
ques pages auparauant dans ce mefme chapitre.

On s'eft tellement applique* au foin du bourg de
faindt Iofeph, qu'on n'a pas obmis les deux autres
appartenans a cette miffion, faindt Michel & S. Ignace,
ou plufieurs tant enfans qu'adultes ont efte baptifez
pendant la maladie, auec des prouidences de Dieu
tres-particulieres, que ie ferois trop long a deduire.
On a fait auffi le poffible pour y conferuer ce peu de
Chreftiens qu'on y auoit acquis par le paffe: mais
c'eft ou on a eu beaucoup de peine, tant le mal qui
les preffoit, & les mauuais bruits qui couroient de
nous leur auoient renuerfe" la ceruelle.

Ces deux bourgs ont efte" les premiers qui nous
furent folennellement interdits [99] par les Capi-
taines & Anciens, qui prirent pour pretexte que quel-
ques-vns de leurs ieunes gens auoient deffein fur nos
vies ; il f alut interrompre pour quelque temps, mais
depuis peu nous auons trouue* le moyen de reprendre
le cours de nos vifites, les efprits s'eftans aucunement
appaifez.

1640] RELA T10N OF 1640 207

everything which the faith forbids us. Finally, we
could not longer defer ; he was solemnly baptized, [98]
in company with two others." Some days ago, hav-
ing myself been at the village of saint Joseph, I
examined this story, and found that it was true.
This new Christian is called Joseph Teaouche, and is
son-in-law to that renegade, — such a good spirit, —
of whom we have spoken, a few pages above, in this
same chapter.

We have thus applied ourselves to the care of the
village of saint Joseph, though we have not omitted
the two others belonging to this mission, — saint
Michel and St. Ignace, where several children as well
as adults have been baptized during the disease, with
very special providences of God, in relating which I
should be too long. We have also done our utmost
to preserve there those few Christians whom we had
acquired there in the past ; but this is where we have
had much trouble, — to such a degree had the disease
which beset them, and the bad reports which were
current about us, upset their brains.

These two villages have been the first which were
solemnly forbidden to us [99] by the Captains and
Elders, who took for a pretext that some of their
young men had designs on our lives ; it was neces-
sary, for some time, to interrupt, but lately we have
found the way to resume, the course of our visits,
their minds being somewhat pacified.

208 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

CHAP. VII.

DE LA MISSION DE LA CONCEPTION AUX ATTIGNA-

OUENTAN.

AYANT quitte la Refidence que nous auions les
annees precedentes au bourg de la Conception,
ou Offoffane, on a continue1 de cultiuer ce mef-
me bourg par voye de miffion, a laquelle ont de plus
efte adioints douze autres tant bourgs que petits
villages. S. Francois Xauier, S. Charles, Saindte
Agnes, faindte Magdelaine, faindte Geneuiefue, S.
Martin, S. Antoine, faindte Cecile, faindte Catherine,
faindte Terefe, faindte Barbe, & faindt Eftienne.

[ioo] Le Pere Paul Ragueneau a eu le foin princi-
pal de cette miffion ; le P. du Perron & le Pere Chau-
monot l'ont affifte l'vn apres l'autre : & tous trois n'ont
pas eu peu a fouffrir & trauailler, tant pour l'eften-
due de leur departement, que pour la qualite des
perfonnes qui s'y rencontrent: car ayant toufiours
habite parmy eux depuis que nous fommes dans le
pays, ils fe trouuent pour la plufpart battus & rebat-
tus de nos myfteres, & par le mefpris qu'ils ont fait
de la grace de Dieu, leur cceur eft endurcy, & tous
les iours de plus en plus ils fe vont aigriflant contre
luy, a mefure que cette main paternelle les va cha-
ftiant pour les reduire a leur deuoir. C'eft de la
que font venus les plus mauuais bruits & les plus
pernicieux deffeins contre nous; ce font ceux la qui
dans les confeils publics crioient le plus fort au maf-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 209

CHAP. VII.

OF THE MISSION OF LA CONCEPTION TO THE AT-

TIGNAOUENTAN.

HAVING left the Residence which we had in
former years at the village of la Conception,
or Ossossane, we have continued to cultivate
this same village by means of a mission, to which
twelve other hamlets and little villages have also
been added, — St. Francois Xavier, St. Charles,11
Sainte Agnes, sainte Magdelaine, sainte Geneviefve,.
St. Martin, St. Antoine, sainte Cecile, sainte Catherine,
sainte Terese, sainte Barbe, and saint Estienne.

[100] Father Paul Ragueneau has had the prin-
cipal care of this mission; Father du Perron and
Father Chaumonot successively have assisted him;
and all three have had not a little to suffer and
labor, — both because of the extent of their depart-
ment, and because of the character of the persons
who are encountered therein. For, having always
lived among them since we have been in the coun-
try, they happen to be for the most part cudgeled
over and over again by our mysteries ; and by the
contempt with which they have treated the grace of
God, their heart is hardened, and every day they
become more and more embittered against him, in
proportion as this fatherly hand keeps chastising
them to bring them down to their duty. Thence have
come the worst reports and the most pernicious
designs against us ; those are the ones who in the

210 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

facre, & qui ont remply de calomnies contre nous les
nations ou nous auons efte de nouueau annoncer l'E-
uangile, lefquels ils ont folicite de nous mettre a
mort, pour fe pouuoir deffaire de nous auec moins
de confequence.

[101] Voicy ce que m'efcrit le P. Ragueneau de
1'eftat de cette miffion, en vne de fes lettres.

Les cabanes de nos Chreftiens font dans ce bourg
de la Conception, les plus affligees de la maladie:
outre vne feule de Iofeph Chihouatenhoua, ou cinq
enfans n'ont eu que le mal: il n'y en a pas vne qui
ne fe voye plus rigoureufement traittee que ne font
les families des infldeles. Rene conte dans fa cabane
iuf ques a onze morts ; la bonne Anne f e voit def poiiil-
lee de tous enfans, vnique appuy de fa vieillefle,
tandis que des efprits rebelles a Dieu, & qui toufiours
fe font bandez contre la foy, fe vantent de voir toute
leur famille en fante, & que malgre le ciel ils font
heureux en ce monde. En fuite de cela les bruits
fe confirment plus que iamais que la Foy eft inutile
a ceux qui rembraffent; que fi Dieu ne les conferue
pas, c'eft ou manque d'affedtion, ou manque de pou-
uoir; que du mauuais traittement qu'ils efprouuent
en cette vie on ne peut raifonnablement tirer autre
confequence, fmon que les efperances du Paradis
dont nous les voulons [102] confoler, ne font rien que
des fables: qu'au refte la mortalite eftant principale-
ment fur les enfans qui font encore dans 1' innocence,
nous ne pouuons attribuer aux pechez des parens la
mort de ces petites creatures, puis que Dieu eftant
iufte ne doit pas punir l'innocent pour le coupable.
En vn mot, nous pouuons dire que la Foy eft main-
tenant en opprobre non feulement en ce bourg, mais

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 211

public councils cried loudest for massacre, and who
have stuffed with calumnies against us the nations
among whom we have recently gone to announce
the Gospel, whom they have solicited to put us to
death, in order to be able to get rid of us with less
consequence to themselves.

[101] Here follows what Father Ragueneau writes
to me of the state of this mission, in one of his
letters.

" The cabins of our Christians in this village of la
Conception are the most afflicted with the malady :
besides that alone of Joseph Chihouatenhoua, where
five children have had the disease, there is not one
which does not find itself more severely treated than
are the families of the infidels. Rene counts as
many as eleven dead in his cabin ; the good Anne
sees herself robbed of all her children, the sole
support of her old age, — whereas minds rebellious
against God, and those which have always leagued
themselves against the faith, boast to see their whole
family in health, and that, in spite of heaven, they
are happy in this world. In consequence of that,
the reports are more than ever confirmed, that the
Faith is useless to those who embrace it ; that, if God
do not preserve them, it is a want of affection, or
want of power; that from the evil treatment which
they experience in this life one cannot reasonably
draw any other conclusion than that the hopes of
Paradise, with which we try [102] to console them,
are nothing but fables; that, furthermore, the mor-
tality being chiefly among the children, who are still
in innocence, we cannot attribute the death of these
little creatures to the sins of the parents, — since
God, being just, ought not to punish the innocent

212 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

auffi dans toutes les bourgades voifmes ; qui f e voy-
ans moins attaqu6es du mal, fe reiioui'ffent d'eftre
demeur£es oppiniaftres dans l'infidelit6, & s'endur-
ciffent plus que iamais dans les refolutions non feule-
ment de refufer la Foy, mais mefmes de ne pas efcou-
ter ceux qui leur vont annoncer. En effect en la
ronde que nous venons de faire nous auons trouue"
quali par tout les cabanes fermees, & plufieurs qui
fe voyoient furpris pluftoft qu'ils n'auoient pu. pre-
uoir noftre arriu^e, nous ont incontinent chaff 6;
d'autres ont dit qu'ils eftoient fourds, & mefme fe
font malicieufement bouche les oreilles, crainte de
nous entendre: d'aucuns faifoient des fols & demoni-
acles, [103] & s'efcrioient qu'ils ne pouuoient fuppor-
ter noftre veue : Quelques-vns s'enfuyoient & nous
laifloient la cabane quali vuide: en vn mot ils ne
veulent pas entendre ce qu'ils ne font pas refolus de
faire. Nous n'auos pas lailfe quali en chaque bourg
de gaigner quelques ames a Dieu, fmon dans celuy
de faindte Terefe oil nous eufmes vn plus mauuais
accueil. Nous ne fufmes pas pluftoft arriuez qu'vn
ieune homme bien fait nous prie de l'inftruire; il
efcoute volontiers, & a le voir on euft iuge qu'il gou-
ftoit les paroles de Dieu. Apres vn long temps voicy
vn autre Sauuage fort mal fait, qui fe prefente le
vifage tout ennamme, & nous commande de fortir.
Ie me leue, ce ieune homme que nous auions inftruit
m'arache auec effort le Crucifix que ie portois au col,
il prend vne hache en main, dit que refolument i'en
mourois. Ie ne crains pas la mort, luy dis-je, tu de-
urois me remercier de ce que nous venons t'enfei-
gner : fi tu me veux tuer, ie ne f uiray pas, car la
mort me mettra au Ciel. II leue la hache droit fur le

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 213

for the guilty. In a word, we may say that the
Faith is now in disgrace not only in this village, but
also in all the neighboring hamlets, — which, see-
ing themselves less attacked with the trouble, rejoice
to have continued obstinate in infidelity, and harden
themselves more than ever in the resolve not only to
refuse the Faith, but even not to listen to those who
go to announce it to them. In fact, on the round
that we have just made, we have found almost every-
where the cabins closed, and several, who saw them-
selves surprised before they had contrived to antici-
pate our arrival, forthwith drove us out ; others said
that they were deaf, and even maliciously stopped
their ears, for fear of hearing us ; some acted as mad-
men and lunatics, [103] and exclaimed that they
could not bear the sight of us : some fled and left the
cabin almost empty for us ; in a word, they will not
hear what they are not persuaded to do. We have
nevertheless, in almost every village, gained some
souls for God, — save in that of sainte Terese, where
we had a worse reception. We had no sooner arrived
than a well-built young man begs us to instruct him ;
he listens gladly, and, to see him, one would have
supposed that he relished the words of God. After
a long time, here comes another Savage, much
deformed, who presents himself with his face quite
inflamed, and commands us to leave. I rise; this
young man whom we had instructed forcibly seizes
the Crucifix which I wore about my neck, takes a
hatchet in his hand, and says that positively I should
die. 'I do not fear death,' I say to him; 'thou
shouldst thank me because we come to teach thee : if
thou wish to kill me, I will not flee, for death will
place me in Heaven.' He lifts the hatchet directly

214 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

milieu de ma tefte alors defcotmerte, & def charge
fon coup fi [104] roidement que le Pere Chaumonot
& moy croyons voir en ce moment ce que nous fou-
haittons il y a fi long-temps : ie ne f gay ce qui arrefla
le coup, finon la grandeur de mes pechez: mais a
moins que de fentir la hache fendre vne tefte en
deux, on ne peut pas fe voir plus proche de la mort:
il veut recommancer fon coup, vne femme luy arrefte
le bras & le faifift : ie benis Dieu de la refolution
qu'il nous donna ; au moins ces pauures barbares peu-
rent voir que ceux qui ont leur efperance dans le
Ciel ne craignent pas la mort, & qu'ils l'enuifagent
auffi affeurement que des ames infideles foufpirent
apres la vie. Ie redemande mon Crucifix, ce ieune
homme veut le ietter au feu, redouble fes menaces:
mais enfin on le fait difparoiftre. Nous demandons
le capitaine du village, il vient: nous luy formons
noftre plainte, enuiron vn quart d'heure apres ce
ieune homme retourne, offre de me rendre mon Cru-
cifix en cas que nous leur promettions que la maladie
n'attaquera pas leur village: vous pouuez voir quelle
fut la refponfe. Nous prifmes de la occafion de les
inftruire, [105] car il y auoit bon nombre de Sau-
uages. Noftre Seigneur nous y affifta : nous le pri-
ons qu'vn iour cette femence frudtifie: mais pour
lors nous n'en vifmes point d'autre effedt, finon
d'appaifer les efprits qui s'eftoient efmeus. Iufques
icy le Pere.

C'eft vne chofe pitoyable de voir ces pauures bar-
bares accufer tout autre que eux mefmes des mal-
heurs dont Dieu les punit : toutesfois il s'en trouue
qui en cela ont les yeux affez clair-voyans. Vn des
meilleurs efprits du bourg de la Conception, & des

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 215

above the middle of my head, — then uncovered, —
and deals his blow so [104] steadily that Father Chau-
monot and I think to see at that moment what we
have so long desired ; I know not what stopped the
blow, unless the greatness of my sins, but, short of
feeling the hatchet cleave a head in twain, one cannot
see one's self closer to death. He is fain to repeat
his stroke; a woman stops his arm, and seizes him.
I bless God for the resolution which he gave us; at
least, these poor barbarians could see that those who
have their hope in Heaven do not fear death, and
that they face it as confidently as infidel souls sigh
after life. I ask to have my Crucifix again ; this
young man wishes to throw it into the fire, and
redoubles his threats ; but finally he is made to disap-
pear. We ask for the captain of the village; he
comes, and we word our complaint to him ; about a
quarter of an hour later this young man returns, and
offers to give back my Crucifix in case we promise
them that the disease will not attack their village :
you may see what was the response. We then took
occasion to instruct them, [105] for there were a good
many Savages. Our Lord assisted us there ; we pray
him that one day this seed may bear fruit, but at that
time we saw no other effect of it unless that of quiet-
ing the minds which had become roused." Thus
far the Father.

It is a pitiful thing to see these poor barbarians
accuse everything but themselves for the misfor-
tunes with which God punishes them : nevertheless
there occur some who in that are sufficiently clear-
sighted. One, — one of the best minds in the village of
la Conception, and of those best informed in matters
of the Faith, but withal an infidel, — having spoken

216 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

mieux informez des chofes de la Foy, mais d'ailleurs
infidelle, ayant parle a nos Peres de la mortalite qui
rauageoit tout le pays, & des mauuais bruits qu'on
faifoit courir contre nous: Ce font la pures calom-
nies, adjoufta-il, vous n'auez pas quitte voftre patrie,
vos biens, & tout ce que vous pouuiez auoir de plus
cher en ce monde, pour venir icy procurer noftre
mort : quel profit en retireriez vous ? Mais ie voy bien
que Dieu s'irrite contre nous, de ce qu'ayant efte
fuffifamment inflruits, nous refufons de croire & de
luy obei'r, [106] Qu'ainfi ne foit, le mal-heur a com-
mence" par Ihonatiria, qui fe void maintenant ruyne,
& c'eft le lieu oil ayant fait premierement voftre
demeure, auffi vous y auez premierement annonce la
parole de Dieu: Offoffane vous a depuis receu, la
plufpart ont refufe de croire, en fuitte voila le mal-
heur qui nous accueille, & qui ruyne toutes nos
families. Cette annee vous auez couru tout le pays, a
peine auez vous trouue quelqu'vn qui voulut aban-
donner ce que Dieu deffend, incontinent le mal s'eft
efpandu par tout, & le pays fe void ruyne\ Que
pouuoit-on attendre apres vn difcours fi raifonnable,
finon qu'il fe rendift luy mefme a Dieu, & adoraft
cette puiffance qu'il recognoiffoit vengereffe de leurs
pechez: mais voicy vne conclufion bien differente:
Mon fentiment, adioufta-il, feroit qu'on vous fermaft,
toutes les cabanes, ou que vous y laiffant entrer,
quand vous parlez de Dieu on baiffaft la telle, & on
fe bouchaft les oreilles, fans plus difputer contre
vous ; car ainfi nous ferions moins coupables, & Dieu
ne nous puniroit pas fi cruellement.

[107] N'efl-ce pas la refifler obftinement au S. Ef-
prit, & vouloir ne pas voir ce qu'on void. Pleuft a

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 217

to our Fathers about the mortality which was ravag-
ing the whole country, and about the evil reports
which were circulated against us, added: " Those
are sheer calumnies ; you have not left your native
land, your goods, and all that you could hold dearest
in this world, in order to come here and procure our
death: what profit would you derive from it? But I
see well that God is angry with us, because, having
been sufficiently instructed, we refuse to believe and
obey him. [106] However that may be, the misfor-
tune began with Ihonatiria, which now finds itself
ruined; and that is the place where, having first
made your abode, you also first announced the word
of God. Ossossane has since received you; most
have refused to believe ; in consequence, lo, the mis-
fortune which assails us, and which ruins all our
families. This year you have traversed the whole
country ; you have hardly found any one who would
abandon what God forbids: immediately the trouble
has spread everywhere, and the country finds itself
ruined." What could one expect after so reasonable
a speech, unless that he should surrender himself to
God, and adore that power which he recognized as
the avenger of their sins? But here follows a very
different conclusion. " My opinion," he added,
' ' would be that all the cabins should be closed to
you; or, while allowing you to enter them, one
should lower the head when you speak of God, and
stop one's ears, without further disputing against
you ; for thus we should be less guilty, and God would
not punish us so cruelly."

[107] Is not that obstinately resisting the Holy
Ghost, and refusing to see what one sees? Would to
God that this misfortune might not again occur, save

218 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

Dieu que ce mal-heur ne fe retrouuaft que parmy les
Hurons. En effedt il femble qu'ils foient pour la pluf-
part dans vn fens reprouue\

Mais toutefois la mifericorde de Dieu y delate au-
tant qu'en aucun autre lieu: car nonobftant toutes
ces difpofitions contraires, on y a baptife' malgre' les
demons & l'enfer plus de 250. perfonnes, la plufpart
au fort de la maladie: & de ce nombre plus de 70.
enfans baptifez au deffous de 7. ans font maintenant
en Paradis, fans y comprendre plus de 60. autres
petits innocens, qui ayant efte' baptifez les annees
paffees, ont efte celle-cy rauis de la mort, crainte que
la malice des parens ne changeaft leur efprit, & ne
les mift au rang des reprouuez.

Dans ces baptefmes la prouidence de Dieu fur fes
efleus s'y eft fait fouuent recognoiftre. Voicy ce que
m'en efcrit le P. Ragueneau.

Vn foir nous arriuons a Offoffan6 bien fatiguez
d'vne excur fi on affez penible; auant que nous peuf-
fions nous repofer [108] on nous aduertit que la fille
d'vn de nos bons Chreftiens eft a l'extremite: ie m'y
porte de ce mefme pas, entrant en la cabane ie trouue
au premier feu vne femme qui fe mouroit, & qui, me
difoit-on, auoit perdu & l'ouye & la parole: ie m'ap-
proche pour luy parler de Dieu, elle m'entend fans
aucune difficulte: e'eft en Paradis, me dit-elle, ou ie
pretens aller: Faut done te refoudre, luy dis-je, a
eftre baptifee. C'eft pour cela, dit-elle, que tous les
iours depuis ma maladie ie te demande : mais las ou
eftois-tu? Ie la baptife en la prefence de fes parens,
qui ne me difent pas vn mot. Ie pafle au fecond
feu, ou eftoit celle qui m'amenoit: helas! ie trouue
vne ame endurcie dedans fon pech6 ; elle fait mali-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 219

among the Hurons. In fact, it seems that they are
mostly in a reprobate condition.

But yet the mercy of God shines out there as much
as in any other place ; for, notwithstanding all these
contrary dispositions, we have baptized there, in spite
of the demons and hell, more than 250 persons, most-
ly at the height of the disease. Of this number,
more than 70 baptized children, under 7 years of age,
are now in Paradise, — without including with them
more than 60 other little innocents who, having been
baptized in past years, have this year been carried
away by death, for fear lest the parents' malice
might change their minds, and put them on the list
of the reprobates.

In these baptisms the providence of God over his
elect has often manifested itself. Here follows what
Father Ragueneau writes to me in the matter:

" One evening, we arrived at Ossossan6, very
weary from a somewhat laborious excursion ; before
we could rest ourselves, [108] they warned us that
the daughter of one of our good Christians is in her
last hour. I betake me thither instantly; entering
the cabin, I find by the first fire a woman who was
dying, and who, they said to me, had lost both hear-
ing and speech. I draw near to speak to her of God;
she understands me without any difficulty; ' Para-
dise, ' she tells me, ' is whither I intend to go. ' ' You
must then resolve,' I say to her, 'to be baptized.'
' That is why, ' she says, ' I have asked for you every
day since my illness began; but alas, where were
you? ' I baptize her in the presence of her relatives,
who say not a word to me. I proceed to the second
fire, where that woman was who was bringing me
thither : alas ! I find a soul hardened in its sin ; she

220 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

cieufement de la fourde, & ne veut pas refpondre
vn mot. Ie fais tout mon poffible, mais fi Noftre Sei-
gneur ne parle au coeur luy-mefme, que faifons nous
fmon du bruit. Ie quitte cette malheureufe, & paffe
outre fans autre deffein, fmon de fortir par l'autre
porte de la cabane, mais Dieu me conduifoit: ie trouue
en mon chemin deux autres femmes qui n'en peuuent
[109] plus, ie les inftruis l'vne apres l'autre, & les
difpofe a bien mourir. Que les graces du bon Iefus
font adorables, & qu'elles font puiffantes lors qu'il
efclaire vne ame ; ces bonnes femmes me contentent,
elles recoiuent le baptefme, & puis la nuidt m'auer-
tit de me retirer au plutoft. Ie ne fus pas long
temps fans entendre la mort de ces quatre malades.
Ne font-ce pas des iugemens adorables de Dieu, celle-
la feule qui me menoit eft du nombre des reprouuez,
& nous auons fujet de croire que les trois autres font
au ciel. La premiere auoit depuis vn mois vn petit en-
fant dans le ciel, qui peut eftre y attira fa mere; les
deux dernieres furent bien toft fuiuies chacune d'vn
enfant qu'elles auoient laiffe dans le berceau, & qui
tous deux furent heureufement baptifez vn peu de-
uant leur mort.

Nous ne pouuons auoir entree dans vne certaine
cabane qui n'eft remplie que de malades: lors que
nous fommes dans la rue vn enfant d'enuiron quatre
ans qui eft plein de fante accourt a nous, & nous
flatte extraordinairement : nous [no] luy demandons
fa maifon, il nous l'enf eigne, nous nous doutons
qu'en l'aage ou il eftoit, au milieu de tant de ma-
lades, la mort pourroit bien le rauir fans que nous
peuffions dans l'extreme neceffite" pouruoir au falut
de fon ame. Ie me fens pouffe fortement a ne pas

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 221

maliciously pretends to be deaf, and will not answer
a word. I do my utmost, but if Our Lord do not
himself speak to the heart, what do we but make a
little noise? I leave this unhappy one, and pass on
with no other purpose except to leave through the
other door of the cabin ; but God was guiding me ; I
find on my way two other women who are in extrem-
ity; [109] I instruct them one after the other, and
prepare them for dying happily. How adorable are
the favors of the good Jesus, and how powerful they
are when he enlightens a soul ! These good women
satisfy me and receive baptism ; and then night warns
me to withdraw as soon as possible. I was not long
without hearing of the death of these four patients.
Are not these adorable judgments of God? That
woman alone, who led me thither, is in the number
of the reprobates ; and we have reason to believe that
the three others are in heaven. The first one had
had a little child in heaven for a month past, which
perhaps attracted its mother to that place ; the two
latter ones were soon followed, each by a child which
they had left in the cradle ; and both children were
fortunately baptized a little before their death.

" We cannot have admittance to a certain cabin,
which is filled only with sick people ; when we are
in the street, a child of about four years, full of
health, runs up to us and pleases us uncommonly.
We [no] ask him his house, he points it out to us ; we,
suspecting that at his age, in the midst of so many sick
people, death might easily seize him before we could,
in case of extreme necessity, provide for the salva-
tion of his soul. I feel strongly impelled not to lose
the opportunity ; I beg Father Chaumonot to baptize
him in secret. He takes from the road a handful of

222 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

perdre l'occafion, ie prie le P. Chaumonot de le bap-
tifer en fecret. II prend dans le chemin vne poign6e
de neige, l'efcliauffe dans fa main, & verfe l'eau fur
ce petit enfant, qui luy foufrit en mefme temps: &
puis apres, comme s'il auoit receu tout ce qu'il defi-
roit de nous, il fe retire en courant deuers fa cabane :
il tombe incontinent malade. Tous ceux de fa
maifon que nous n'auions pu. aborder retournent en
fante, luy feul eft emporte de la force du mal, & fon
ame s'enuole au Ciel.

Vn petit enfant nouueau ne, n'eft pas fi toft venu
au monde qu'il eft attaque de verole : ie fongeois a
le baptifer, mais les parens ne font pas difpofez a le
fouffrir, & l'eau me manque: fans que i'y penfe on
apporte vn grand vaiffeau remply d'eau tiede pour le
lauer: ie me iette [in] dans la meflee, & me faifis
gayement de cet enfant : Ie le plonge tout nud, &
le replonge en l'eau, & le baptife tout a mon aife,
vfque ad trinam immerfionem : au bout de quelques
iours il meurt. Les parens eftoient bien efloignez
de croire que c'eftoit la la meilleure facon de bap-
tifer.

Au bourg de faindt Xauier ie trouue trois freres
malades, ie les inftruits, leur mere s'oppofe a leur
baptefme: Vn de leur frere, dit-elle, mourut l'Efte
paffe pour auoir efte baptife, elle adioufte d'autres
blafphemes contre Dieu. Ie quitte la cette megere,
& me tourne vers les enf ans : ie leur parle le plus
fortement que ie puis de l'enfer & de ces flammes
qui iamais ne s'efteignent. Ie m'addreffe a l'aifne
aage pres de vingt ans : Es-tu refolu a ces peines,
luy dis-je ? Helas nanny ! baptife moy. Quoy, mal-
heureux, luy dit fa mere, es-tu done refolu de mou-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 223

snow, warms it in his hand, and pours the water over
this little child, who at the same time smiled at him.
And then, as he had received all that he desired
of us, he runs away toward his cabin ; he straight-
way falls sick. All those of his house whom we had
not been able to approach, return to health; he alone
is carried off by the violence of the disease, and his
soul takes flight to Heaven.

" A little child, newly born, has no sooner come
into the world than it is attacked by smallpox. I
thought of baptizing it, but the parents are not dis-
posed to allow this, and water fails me. Without
my thinking of it, they bring a great vessel filled
with lukewarm water, to bathe it; I mingle [in]
with the company, and joyously seize this child; I
plunge it again and again, all naked, into the water,
and baptize it quite at my ease, usque ad trinam im-
mersionem; after some days it dies. The parents
were very far from believing that that was the best
way to baptize.

" At the village of saint Xavier, I find three sick
brothers; I instruct them; their mother opposes
their baptism . ' One of their brothers, ' she says, ' died
last Summer for having been baptized;' she adds
other blasphemies against God. I leave there this
Megera, and turn toward the children: I speak to
them as strongly as I can about hell, and of those
flames which are never quenched. I turn to the
eldest, aged nearly twenty years : ' Art thou resolved
for these pains?' I say to him. ' Alas, no indeed!
baptize me.' 'What? wretch,' said his mother to
him, ' art thou then resolved to die? thou art dead if
they baptize thee.' ' I wish them to baptize me,' he
answers, ' for I too greatly dread those flames, which

224 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.19

rir. tu es mort fi on te baptife. Ie veux qu'on me
baptife, refpond-il, car ie redoute trop ces flammes
qui bruflent tout, & iamais ne finiffent. Dieu fgait
de quel cceur ie conferay ce S. Baptefme, mais les
deux [112] autres freres n'eurent pas affez de cou-
rage pour en cela defobei'r fainctement a leur mere.
Huidt iours apres ie retourne les voir, celuy que i'a-
uois baptife ne l'auoit pas fait longue, les deux autres
eftoient rechapez: de quel oeil pouuoit on me voir?
& cette pauure mere n'auoit-elle pas quelque raifon
d'auoir le baptefme en horreur, & celuy qui l'auoit
confer^.

Au refte cet autre frere qui leur eftoit mort l'Eft6
precedent, apres auoir receu le faindt baptefme, nous
auoit fait paroiftre vne prouidence de Dieu bien
particuliere fur luy. Le P. Garnier arriua heureufe-
ment en ce bourg, a l'heure mefme qu'on y rappor-
toit ce ieune homme qui eftoit defia quafi mort : lors
qu'ils eftoiet a la pefche a deux iournees de leur
pays, vne nation incogneue s' eftoit venu ietter fur
leur cabane, & auoit tu6 fur le lieu trois ou quatre
de nos Hurons, quelques autres eftans efchappez.
Celuy-cy voyant vne grefle de fleches fondre fur eux,
au lieu de prendre la fuite, prit entre fes bras vn
petit frere qu'il auoit, & auoit pare tous les coups
qu'on decochoit [113] fur ce petit innocent, les rece-
uant luy-mefme fur fon corps, auec vn courage & vn
amour fraternel qui femble auoir quelque chofe plus
que la nature. En effect il conferua ce petit frere,
mais luy fut tranfperce" de fleches, & tomba comme
mort fur celuy qu'il vouloit couurir de fon corps en
mourant. Les ennemis s'eftans retirez, ceux qui
auoient pris la fuite retournerent au lieu ou s' eftoit

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 225

burn everything and never cease.' God knows with
what heart I conferred that Holy Baptism ; but the
two [112] other brothers had not sufficient courage
therein holily to disobey their mother. Eight days
later, I return to see them : the one whom I had bap-
tized had not lived long ; the two others had escaped.
With what eyes could they look at me? and had not
this poor mother some reason to hold baptism in
abomination, and him who had conferred it?

" Howbeit, that other brother who had died among
them the Summer before, after having received holy
baptism, had shown us a very special providence of
God over him. Father Gamier fortunately arrived
in this village at the very hour when they were
bringing home this young man, who was already
nearly dead ; while they were fishing, two days' jour-
ney from their own country, an unknown nation had
come to fall upon their cabin, and had killed on the
spot three or four of our Hurons, some others having
escaped. This man, seeing a shower of arrows burst
upon them like hail, instead of taking flight, seized
in his arms a little brother that he had, and parried
all the darts which they were letting loose [113] upon
this little innocent, — receiving them upon his own
body with a courage and a brotherly love which
seems to be marked by something more than nature.
In fact, he preserved this little brother, but himself
was pierced through with arrows, and fell, as if dead,
upon the one whom he tried to cover with his body
in dying. The enemies having withdrawn, those
who had taken flight returned to the place where the
attack had occurred, and, having found this man
with some remnants of life, they brought him to
their village. Father Gamier, then, happening to

22(5 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.19

fait le meurtre, & ayant trotm6 celuy-cy auec quel-
ques reftes de vie, ils l'amenerent en leur bourg.
Le Pere Gamier s'eftant done la trouue lors que ce
pauure moribund arriuoit, s'approcha de luy pour
l'inftruire: mais las il n'auoit plus de iugement, fon
efprit eftoit fans arrefl dans des folies continuelles.
Le Pere iette fes yeux & fon coeur vers le ciel, &
voyant bien que fi Dieu n'auoit pitie de ce pauure
homme, c' eftoit fait a iamais de fon ame, il a recours
aux merites de S. Francois Xauier, il implore fon
affiftance, & voiie quelques Meffes & quelques morti-
fications en fon honneur. A l'heure mefme le ma-
lade comme reuenant d'vn profond fommeil, f 'eerie,
[i 14] Toy qui as fait le monde aye pitie de moy : A
ce cry les barbares qui font la prefent font tous efton-
nez, le Pere benit Dieu, inftruit ce pauure moribund,
qui luy demande le baptefme, deteftefespechez, fouf-
pire apres le ciel, ou fans doute il fe vit bien toft,
n'ayant pas furvefcu vn iour a fon baptefme.

Voicy encore quelques autres coups de faueur de
Dieu fur les efleus.

Allant en vn endroit nous nous efgarons fans y
penfer, & nous trouuons engagez dans des routes que
nous ne cherchions pas : nous rencontrons deux pe-
tits enfans qui fe meurent, couchez pres de leur mere
toute efploree ; ils recoiuent tous deux le baptefme,
& puis s'enuolent au ciel. N'eft-ce pas Dieu qui
nous guidoit.

La veille de la Toulfaincts ie fuis contraint de cou-
rir feul en deux ou trois cabanes, au milieu d'vne
efpoiffe foreft, oil la maladie les ruinoit. Ie mets le
pied dans vne pauure maifonnette ou iamais ie n'e-
ftois entre, ie trouue vn ieune garcon en bien grand

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 227

be there when this poor dying man arrived, ap-
proached him to instruct him ; but alas, he had no
further judgment, his mind was, without pause, in
continual frenzies. The Father casts his eyes and
his heart toward heaven, and, seeing well that unless
God had pity on this poor man it was forever done
with his soul ; he has recourse to the merits of St.
Francois Xavier; he implores his assistance, and
vows some Masses and some mortifications in his
honor. At that very time, the patient, as if coming
back from a deep sleep, exclaims: [114] ' Thou who
hast made the world, have pity on me ! ' At this
cry, the barbarians who are there present are all
astonished: the Father blesses God, instructs this
poor dying man, who asks him for baptism, who
detests his sins, and sighs after heaven, where no
doubt he soon found himself, — not having survived
his baptism one day."

Here are also some other acts of God's favor over
the elect.

" On our way to a place, we go astray unawares,
and find ourselves involved in routes that we were
not seeking. We meet two little children who are
dying, — prostrate near their mother, who is all in
tears; they both receive baptism, and then take
flight to heaven. Was it not God who guided us?

" On the eve of All Saints, I am constrained to
run alone into two or three cabins, in the midst of a
dense forest, where the disease was ruining them. I
set foot in a poor little house where I had never
entered ; I find a young lad in very great danger of
dying. I instruct him, and prepare him for holy bap-
tism; [115] his father opposes it, and will not allow
me this, unless at the same time I baptize another,

228 LES RELA TIONS DES JE SUITES [Vol. 19

danger de mourir: ie l'inftruis & le difpofe au faindt
baptefme, [115] fon peres s'y oppofe, & ne veut pas
me le permettre, fi en mefme temps ie n'en baptife
vn autre qui eftoit encore au berceau; i'en fais diffi-
cult6, ce plus petit n'eftant aucunement malade : le
pere de fon cofte perfifte auffi dans fon refus, me
difant qu'il vouloit que fi fes deux enfans mouroient
ils allaffent de compagnie ou dans le ciel, ou aux
enters. Ie fuis contraint de luy accorder ce qu'il
veut pour ne pas perdre vne ame, ie les baptife done
tous deux, au bout de huidt iours ie retourne, ie ne
les trouue plus en vie, on me chaffe de la cabane, &
on n'y veut plus entendre parler de Dieu. C'eft
ainfi que Noftre Seigneur fe fert mefme des reprou-
uez pour auoir fes efleus.

Ie paffe proche d'vne cabane ou trois petits enfans
fe meurent, on m'appelle comme vn grand medecin
pour porter iugement combien il leur reftoit de vie :
en entrant ie voy bien qu'il en reftoit encore ailez
pour les faire viure a iamais dans le ciel: en leur
taftant le poux ie prens mon temps fecrettement, &
les baptife : ils n'attendoient rien que cela pour mou-
rir a toutes leurs miferes. En vn mot [116] nous
faifons icy les affaires de Dieu, eft-ce merueille qu'il
s'en mefle?

Iufques icy le Pere.

N'y a-il pas dans ces rencontres dequoy benir a
iamais les mifericordes de Dieu : mais auffi tres-f ou-
uent les effects adorables de fa iuftice fe font voir
clairement fur vne quantite d'infideles & de reprou-
uez qui vomiffent leur ame blafphemant contre vn fi
bon Seigneur, dont ils refufent les faueurs gratuites
a l'heure de la mort, qu'ils voudroient dedans l'eter-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 229

who is still in the cradle. I object to that, this
smaller one being nowise sick ; the father, on his
side, also persists in his refusal, telling me that he
wished that, if his two children died, they should go
in company, either to heaven or to hell. I am con-
strained to grant him what he desires, in order not
to lose a soul; I then baptize them both. After
eight days I return ; I find them no longer alive ; I
am driven from the cabin, and they will hear no
further mention of God. Thus it is that Our Lord
uses even reprobates in order to possess his elect.

" I pass near a cabin where three little children
are dying ; I am called, as if I were a great physi-
cian, to declare how much life was left to them. On
going in, I plainly see that they still had enough
left to make them live forever in heaven ; while feel-
ing their pulses, I take my opportunity secretly, and
baptize them ; they were awaiting nothing but that
in order to die to all their miseries. In a word,
[116] we are transacting the affairs of God here: is
it a wonder that he takes part in them ? ' '

Thus far the Father.

Is there not in these incidents reason to bless for-
ever the mercies of God? But also very often the
adorable effects of his justice clearly reveal them-
selves upon a number of infidels and reprobates, who
vomit forth their soul by blaspheming against so
good a Lord, whose free favors they refuse at the
hour of death, — which in eternity they would fain
have brought back at the cost of all the sufferings of
hell. I adduce but one instance hereof, which causes
me as much pity as indignation.

One of our Fathers enters a cabin ; he accosts a
sick man there who is drawing near death ; he ob-

230 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.19

nit6 auoir rachepte" au prix de toutes les fouffrances
d'enfer. Ie n'en apporte qu'vn exemple, qui me
donne autant de pitie que d'indignation.

Vn de nos Peres entre en vne cabane, il y aborde
vn malade qui tire a la mort, il obtient auec bien de
la peine de plufieurs qui eftoient la prefens le loilir
d'inftruire ce pauure moribond; il eft inftruit & dif-
pofe, il donne fon confentement au baptefme, il ne
faut plus que de l'eau. A ce moment vne petite
fille de fept a huidt ans fe leue, prend le feau oil
eftoit l'eau, la verfe en terre, & la foule aux pieds,
elle f 'eerie que refolument le malade [117] ne feroit
point baptife. Tu es mort, luy dit-elle, fi tu permets
qu'on te baptife, retradte ton confentement, pour
moy quoy que tu faffe, i'empefcheray bien qu'on ne
trouue de l'eau. En fin cette petite furie d'enfer eft
fi eloquente que le malade fe dedit, ne veut plus
eflre baptife. Veux tu done te damner? Ouy da.
Ie fuis tout refolu, dit-il, de fouffrir les feux & les
flammes d'enfer; ie me fuis difpofe des mon bas
aage a eftre cruellement brufle, i'y ferray paroiftre
mon courage. Le diable qui fans doute auoit amine"
cet enfant, n'entra-il point dans le corps de c6t
homme: quoy qu'il en foit, ce malheureux perfifta
iufques a la mort dans fon refus.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 231

tains with much difficulty, from several who were
there present, the leisure to instruct this poor dying
man. He is instructed and made ready; he gives
his consent to baptism ; there needs nothing more
but some water. At this moment, a little girl of seven
or eight years gets up, takes the bucket in which
the water was, pours it on the ground, and tramples
it with her feet ; she exclaims that upon her word
the sick man [117] should not be baptized. " Thou
art dead," she says to him; " if thou allow them to
baptize thee; retract thy consent: as for me, what-
ever thou doest, I will surely prevent them from
finding water." To conclude ; this little fury of hell
is so eloquent that the sick man goes back on his
word, and will no more be baptized. " Dost thou
wish then to be damned? " " Certainly; I am fully
resolved," he says, " to suffer the fires and the flames
of hell. I have prepared myself from my early
youth to be cruelly burned : I will show my courage
therein." Did not the devil, who no doubt had ani-
mated this child, enter this man's body? However
that be, this wretch persisted in his refusal, even
until death.

232 LES RELATIONS DES JJESUITES [Vol.19

[118] CHAPITRE VIII.

DES CHRESTIENS DE CETTE MESME MISSION DE LA

CONCEPTION.

L?AN paffe cette Eglife floriffoit affez heureufe-
ment pour les commencemens d'vne Eglife
naiffante au milieu d'vne barbarie, qui n'auoit
rien que de fauuage depuis la creation du monde.
Cette ann6e le nombre en eft notablement decheu,
plufieurs ont efte" renuerfez par terre, qui dans la mort
de leurs parens, de leurs nepueux, de leurs enfans, &
la ruine de leur famille n'ont pas eu affez de foy pour
fupporter auec courage ces coups-la de la main de
Dieu, mais ont blafpheme contre luy, & fe voyant
plus mal traittez que ceux qui eftoient infideles, ont
abandonn6 le Chriftianifme, comme fi ce malheur ne
leur fuft arriue que par l'impuiffance de Dieu, qui
auroit eu moins de pouuoir a les preferuer du fleau
qui rauageoit tout le pays, [119] que n'auoient les
demons pour ceux qui fe rangeoient de leur party.
Nous apprendros dans l'eternite les refforts adorables
de cet oeil qui voit tout, & va dif pofant en cette facon
les ordres de fa prouidence : mais cependant nous ne
ceffons de le benir de tout : car fi plufieurs en ces ren-
contres ont efte infideles a Dieu, nous auons admir6
le courage de quelques vns, qui fe font conferuez
entierement dans leur ferueur, & mefme ont aug-
ment^ leur zele au plus fort de toutes ces bourafques.
Vne bonne vieille d'enuiron feptante ans, de mefme

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 233

[118] CHAPTER VIII.

OF THE CHRISTIANS OF THIS SAME MISSION OF LA

CONCEPTION.

LAST year, this Church flourished quite happily
for the beginnings of a Church born in the
midst of a barbarism which from the creation
of the world had none but savage attributes. This
year, the number of members has notably fallen off ;
many have been overthrown to the ground, who at
the death of their parents, of their nephews, of their
children, and at the ruin of their family, have not
had faith enough to endure with courage those blows
from the hand of God, but have blasphemed against
him. These, seeing themselves more severely dealt
with than those who were infidels, have abandoned
Christianity, — as if this misfortune had befallen them
only through the impotence of God, who had had less
power to preserve them from the scourge which was
ravaging the whole country, [119] than the demons
had for those who took sides with them. We shall
learn in eternity the adorable activities of that eye
which sees everything, and keeps disposing in this
way the orders of its providence ; but yet we do not
cease to bless it for everything ; for if many on these
occasions have been faithless to God, we have ad-
mired the courage of some who have maintained
themselves altogether in their fervor, and have even
augmented their zeal at the height of all these squalls.
A good old woman of about seventy years, — of the

234 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

nom d'Anne que celle dot nous auons parle" au cha-
pitre fixiefme, pour eftre agreable aux yeux de Dieu,
n'a pas efte exempte du fleau qui a rauage cette petite
Eglife, pluflofl ie puis dire que peut-eflre dans tout
le pays il n'y a eu aucun plus auant dans l'afflidtion
qu'elle. Elle n'auoit que deux grandes filles & vne
niepce, qui efloient l'vnique appuy de fa vieilleffe,
& toutes les richeffes de cette pauure femme,
Dieu les prit toutes trois a foy en moins de trois
femaines: elle fe vit done abandonnee. [120] non
pas toute feule, mais pour accroiftre fa mifere,
trois petits enfans orphelins fur les bras. Ce n'eft
pas tout, ces trois petits innocens tombent malades
quafi en mefme iour, & font fi bas qu'ils ne peuuent
demander affiftance que par leurs cris: lors qu'elle
foulage l'vn, l'autre pleure voyant qu'on le quitte:
l'vn eft dans le berceau, & crie apres le laict: il tend
les mains a fa grand-mere pour fe pendre a vne mam-
melle fleftrie, & qui n'a plus de fuc; les deux autres
meurent auffi de faim, & luy demandent a manger:
cette pauure vieille eft fi foible qu'a peine peut-elle
en vne heure brifer entre deux pierres vne poignee
de bled : de plus le bois luy manque, & n'a pas dans
la rigueur du froid dequoy entretenir fon feu: d'en
aller couper dans les bois, outre qu'elle fe voit quafi
toute nue, la veue & les forces luy deff aillent : dans
tout fon bourg ils ont eu affez de langue & de malice
pour plaindre fa mifere, & accufer Dieu comme im-
puiff ant ou iniufte en f es prouidences : mais a peine
y en eut-il aucun, mefme de fes plus proches qui fe
mit en deuoir de luy donner quelque [121] affiftance.
Son affliction en a efpouuante plufieurs, & leur a fait
perdre courage, craignant, difoient-ils, vn femblable

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 235

same name, Anne, as the one of whom we spoke in
the sixth chapter, — though acceptable in the sight of
God, has not been exempt from the scourge which
has ravaged this little Church : rather I may say that
perhaps in all the country there has been no one
deeper in affliction than she. She had only two
grown daughters and a niece, who were the sole sup-
port of her old age, and all this poor woman's riches ;
God took them all three to himself in less than three
weeks; she then saw herself desolate, — [120] not
indeed quite alone, but, to increase her misery, with
three little orphan children on her hands. This is
not all ; these three little innocents fall sick almost on
the same day, and are so low that they can ask help
only by their cries. When she soothes one, the other
weeps on seeing her leave it; one is in the cradle,
and cries after milk ; he stretches out his hands to
his grandmother, in order to cling to a withered
breast, which has no more juice ; the two others are
also dying with hunger and ask her for food. This
poor old woman is so weak that hardly in course of
an hour can she crush a handful of corn between two
stones. Moreover, wood fails her, and during the
rigor of the cold she has no fuel to maintain her fire ;
to go and cut some in the woods, — besides the fact
that she sees herself almost entirely naked, — her
sight and strength fail her. Throughout her village,
they have had speech enough and malice enough to
bewail her misery, and accuse God as being power-
less or unjust in his providence: but there was
scarcely any one, even of her nearest relatives, who
assumed the obligation of giving her any [121] assist-
ance. Her affliction has terrified many, and has
made them lose courage, — fearing, they said, a like

236 LES RELATIONS DES J ^SUITES [Vol.19

malheur s'ils perfiftoient dedans la Foy. Mais elle
feule fupporta plus conftamment fon mal que les
autres ne le confidererent. Quant a nous, quoy que
nous fifmes le poffible pour l'affifier, & que cette mi-
fere nous touchaft viuement, nous prifmes toutefois
plaifir auffi bien que le ciel, a voir fa fidelity & la fer-
mete de fon cceur en vne efpreuue fi affeuree. Du-
rant tout ce temps iamais elle ne dit aucun mot contre
Dieu, pluftoft c'eftoit fa plus grande confolation
d'auoir recours a luy, & de leuer les yeux au ciel ou.
elle efpere apres la mort fe trouuer exempte de fes
maux. Ses filles furent baptifees, & fa niepce qui
l'auoit efte, fut confeffee vn peu deuant la mort.
Cette bonne femme les voyant mortes toutes trois,
fe confoloit dans la penfee qu'elles eftoient au ciel
bien-heureufes. Sa fimplicite' fut bien fi grande que
voyat ces petits orphelins qui luy reftoient malades,
quoy que defia ils euffent efte baptifez, elle fe tourna
vers vn de nos Peres: [122] Tu vois bien, luy dit
elle, que ces enfans fe meurent, ie te prie rebaptife
les, afin que plus affeurement ils aillent dans le ciel,
ce fera ma confolation de les voir mourir par apres.
Vn d'eux ne la fit pas longue, l'autre a qui le laidt
manque le fuiura bien-toft. Qu'il eft bien vray que
Dieu fe plaift a faire fes graces aux plus fimples? car
cette bonne femme continue autant que iamais dans
la pratique des Sacremens, & dans les deuoirs d'vne
bonne Chreftienne. Vne ame fi fidele a Dieu quand
bien elle feroit toute feule meriteroit qu'on employaft
cent vies pour la conduire dans les voyes de la fain-
dtete, que luy a merits le Sang & la Paffion de Iefus-
Chrift.

Vn autre bon Chreftien, chef d'vne famille des

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 237

misfortune if they persisted in the Faith; but she,
alone, more steadfastly bore her trouble than the
others considered it. As for us, although we did our
utmost to aid her, and though this misery touched us
keenly, we nevertheless took pleasure, as well as
heaven, in seeing her fidelity, and the firmness of
her heart, in so genuine a trial. During all this
time she said never a word against God ; rather, it
was her greatest consolation to have recourse to him
and to lift her eyes to heaven, where she hopes after
death to find herself exempt from her troubles. Her
daughters were baptized, and her niece, who had
been [baptized before], was heard in confession a
little before death. This good woman, seeing them
all three dead, consoled herself in the thought that
they were blessed in heaven. Her simplicity was
indeed so great that, seeing those little orphans who
remained sick with her, although they had already
been baptized, she turned to one of our Fathers:
[122] " Thou seest well," she says to him, " that
these children are dying; I beg you, baptize them
again, to the end that they may more certainly go to
heaven ; it will be my consolation to see them die
thereafter." One of them made no long stay; an-
other— the one who lacks milk — will soon follow
him. How true it is indeed, that God takes pleasure
in imparting his graces to the most simple ; for this
good woman continues as much as ever in the observ-
ance of the Sacraments, and in the duties of a good
Christian. A soul so faithful to God, — even though
it were quite alone, — would deserve that one should
spend a hundred lives to lead it into the ways of holi-
ness which the Blood and the Passion of Jesus Christ
have merited for it.

238 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

plus confiderables, du mefme bourg de la Concep-
tion, & qui depuis fon baptefme nous a donne" l'ef-
pace de treize mois toute forte de fatisf action, eftant
venu vn iour dans la chappelle entendre Meffe &
prier Dieu a fon ordinaire, apres auoir acheue quel-
ques prieres qu'il a apris par coeur : Mon Dieu, dit-il,
[123] efcoutez moy, car c'eft maintenant que ie vais
vous prier : Tous mes enfans font maintenant atta-
quez de la maladie, & quafi tous en danger de mou-
rir : vous diray-je guariffez les? vous le pouuez d'vne
feule parole. Ce n'eft pas la, mon Dieu, ce que ie
veux vous dire : Efcoutez les penfees de mon ame,
vous qui cognoifTez tous nos cceurs. Vous eftes le
grand maiftre de tout, vous qui auez cr6e le monde.
& toutesfois i'ay defir auiourd'huy de vous faire vn
pref ent : ie regarde par tout, & ne rencontre rien qui
foit digne de vous. Helas ! ie ne fuis que poufliere
en voftre prefence, & les balieures d'vne cabane qu'on
nettoye : Tous les hommes ne font rien deuant vous :
que puis-je done vous offrir, grand Dieu? tout ce que
i'ay, mon Dieu : Vous eftes le maiftre de nos vies :
e'eft auiourd'huy que ie vous les ofTre: non feule-
ment la vie de mes enfans, mais la mienne, & de tous
ceux de ma famille. Si ie fuis le dernier a mourir,
ie vous diray, prenez ma vie, mon Dieu, tout ce que
vous voulez eft raifonnable. C'eft auiourd'huy, mon
Dieu, que vous pouuez m'efprouuer en [124] me pre-
nant au mot : Ouy, ie ne diray rien autre chof e finon
que voftre volonte eft faindte en tout ce qu'elle or-
donne. Mais vous Iefus, mon Sauueur, que puis-je
maintenant vous offrir? il ne me refte rien apres le
don que ie viens de faire : mais auffi vous y auez
part, puis que vous eftes Dieu. Ayez pitie" de moy,

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 239

Another good Christian — head of one of the most
important families of the same village of la Concep-
tion, who since his baptism has given us all every
sort of satisfaction for the space of thirteen months —
having come to the chapel one day to hear Mass and
pray to God as was his wont, after having finished
some prayers which he has learned by heart, said:
" My God, [123] listen to me, for now is the time I
am going to pray to you. All my children are now
attacked by the disease, and almost all in danger of
dying. Shall I say to you, ' Cure them?' You can
do so by a single word. That, my God, is not what
I wish to tell you: listen to the thoughts of my soul,
you who know all our hearts. You are the great
master of everything, you who have created the
world ; and yet I desire to-day to make you a pres-
ent ; I look everywhere, and encounter nothing which
is worthy of you. Alas! I am but dust in your
presence, and the sweepings of a cabin that is
cleaned. All men are nothing before you, — what
can I then offer you, great God? all that I have, my
God. You are the master of our lives ; to-day I offer
them to you, not only the life of my children, but
mine, and that of all those in my family. If I am
the last to die, I will say to you: ' Take my life, my
God, all that you wish is reasonable.' To-day, my
God, you can try me by [124] taking me at my word.
Yes, I will say nothing else than that your will is
holy in everything which it ordains. But you, Jesus,
my Savior, what can I now offer you? I have noth-
ing left, after the gift which I have just made ; but
you, too, have a share in it, since you are God.
Have pity on me ; it is enough for me that the pres-
ent which I have just made is acceptable to you."

240 LES RELATIONS DBS JESUITES [Vol.19

ce m'eft affez que le prefent que ie viens de faire
vous agree.

Vn de nos Peres qui efcoutoit cette priere, lors que
le bon homme ne croyoit pas auoir aucun tefmoin,
m'affeure au bas de la lettre qu'il m'en efcriuoit,
qu'il n'y a du tout rien adioufte, & que mefme il n'a
pas peu exprimer en noftre langue Francoife Teni-
cace & l'affection de la deuotion qui luy paroiffoit
bien plus grande dans les termes Hurons

II pleuft a Dieu prendre au mot ce bon Chreftien :
celuy de fes enfans qu'il cheriffoit le plus mouruft,
apres des douleurs quafi infupportables : mais fans
doute Dieu fit mifericorde au fils pour recompenfer
les faindtes volontez du pere. Ce ieune garcon de-
puis fon baptefme n'auoit pas quafi fait aucune
profefiion du [125] Chriftianifme, la ieuneffe l'ayant
emporte dans le libertinage.

Vn iour que les deux Peres qui ont foin de cette
miffion retourneret audit bourg, apres quelques
courfes qu'ils auoient fait, on leur dit que ce ieune
garcon eftoit mort : ils vont incontinent en la cabane
pour confoler le pere, ils trouuent le fils encore en
vie, & auec vn plein iugement, mais tirant a la fin :
on luy parle du Ciel, il efcoute tres-volontiers : il s'ac-
cuf e de fes pechez, & demande pardon a Dieu : on
luy donne l'abfolution, & le difpofe a bien mourir.
A peine les Peres furent retournez en leur cabane,
qu'on leur vint apporter les nouuelles affeurees de
fa mort.

Cette mort ref ona bien haut : par tout il f e dif oit
que Dieu abandonnoit fes plus fideles feruiteurs, que
la Foy ne feruoit qu'a les faire mourir, & que le defir
que nous auions de les mettre au pluftoft dans le

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 241

One of our Fathers, who was listening to this
prayer when the good man did not think he had any
witness, assures me at the end of the letter which
he wrote to me about it, that he has added nothing
at all to it, and that indeed he has not been able to
express in our French language the efficacy and the
affection of the devotion, which appeared to him much
greater in the Huron terms.

It pleased God to take this good Christian literal-
ly,— that one of his children which he cherished the
most died, after almost unendurable pains; but no
doubt God showed mercy to the son in order to
recompense the holy wishes of the father. This
young lad, after his baptism, had scarcely made any
profession of [125] Christianity, his youth having
carried him away into license.

One day, when the two Fathers who have charge of
this mission returned to the said village, after some
errands which they had despatched, it was told them
that this young lad was dead. They straightway go
into the cabin to console the father; they find the
son still alive, and with his faculties complete, but
approaching his end. They speak to him of Heav-
en ; he listens very willingly : he accuses himself of
his sins, and asks pardon of God ; they give him
absolution, and prepare him to die happily. Hardly
had the Fathers returned to their cabin when some
one came to bring them the certain news of his death.

This death resounded very loudly ; it was every-
where said that God was forsaking his most faithful
servants, that the Faith availed only to cause them
to die, and that our desire to put them in Heaven as
soon as possible caused us to hasten the days of
those whom we believe to be the best prepared there-

242 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

Ciel, faifoit que nous auancions les iours de ceux que
nous croyons y eftre les mieux difpofez. Le pere en
la perte de ce fils, qui fuiuit la mort de deux autres
petits enfans, ne manqua pas d'eftre [126] puiffam-
ment attaque & dedans & dehors fa maifon: Ses
amys & fa femme luy difoient auffi bien qu'autresfois
on difoit au bon lob, Bene die Deo & morere. Nonob-
ftant il fut entierement fidele a Dieu, il continua
dans fa mefme ferueur, & vint de rechef en noftre
Chappelle remercier Dieu de la mort de ce fils bien-
ayme, & luy offrir tout de nouueau tout ce qui luy
reftoit d'enfans.

Mais, helas! fi l'efprit eft prompt la foibleffe de la
chair eft grande: le pauure homme fe trouua fur-
pris: Noftre Seigneur ayant continue d'efprouuer
fa fidelite & fa conftance: Voicy ce que nos Peres
m'en efcriuent. Helas! que le bon Rene' a befoin
que nous redoublions nos prieres pour luy. Cecidit
de ccelo Lucifer qui mane oriebatur; tant de morts de
fa cabane & de fes propres enfans, & l'extremite dans
laquelle il void enfin vne fienne fllle de vingt ans,
l'importunite de fa femme qui ne ceffe de le tour-
menter, les affeurances qu'vn impofteur magicien
leur a donne qu'il gueriroit leur fille: toutes ces
chofes enfin l'ont fait tomber dans le peche, & recou-
rir a ces remedes [127] diaboliques. Au refte on ne
parle dans tout ce bourg que de ce magicien : il a pro-
mis publiquement de guerir tous les malades qu'il
arroferoit d'vne eau, que fon demon, dit-il, luy a
enfeigne. On a tenu confeil trois iours entiers pour
vne affaire de telle conf equence : on a fait treize pre-
fens notables a cet impofteur, incontinet apres il
commenca fon operation : il arrofa tous les malades

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 243

for. The father, at the loss of this son, which fol-
lowed the death of two other little children, did not
escape being [126] vigorously attacked both within
and without his house ; his friends and his wife said
to him, the same as was formerly said to the good
Job : Benedic Deo, et morere. Nevertheless, he was
entirely faithful to God ; he continued in his same
fervor, and again came into our Chapel, to thank
God for the death of this well-beloved son, and to
offer him quite anew all the children whom he had
left.

But alas ! if the spirit is prompt, the weakness of
the flesh is great: the poor man was taken by sur-
prise,— Our Lord having continued to try his fidelity
and his constancy. Note what our Fathers write to
me in the matter. " Alas! how the good Rene has
need that we redouble our prayers for him. Cecidit
de ccelo Lucifer qui mane oriebatur; so many dead from
his cabin and of his own children, and the extremity
in which he finally sees a daughter of his, twenty
years old ; the importunity of his wife, who does not
cease to torment him; the assurances that a false
magician has given them, that he would cure their
daughter, — all these things at last made him fall
into sin, and have recourse to those diabolical [127]
remedies. For that matter, this magician is the
only subject of conversation in all this village; he
has openly promised to cure all the sick, whom he
would sprinkle with a water about which his demon,
he says, has taught him. They have held a coun-
cil three whole days, for an affair of such conse-
quence : they have made thirteen notable presents to
this impostor. Straightway afterward, he began his
operation : he sprinkled all the sick of the village.

244 LES RELATIONS DES jE~ SUITES [Vol.19

du village. Dieu foit beny des heureux commence -
mens qu'il a donne a ce mal-heureux medecin, qui a
efte fi bien paye par aduance : quatre de ceux qu'il
af pergea moururent la mefme nuidt, & vne autre eftoit
morte fur l'heure entre fes mains. Iufques icy le
Pere.

Voila ce femble des tefmoignages bien afleurez du
grand pouuoir que les demons ont acquis fur ces pau-
ures barbares, de voir qu'il fe faffe adorer fi facile-
ment pour leur maiftre, quoy qu'il les trompe fi
publiquement. Quoy qu'il en foit, Noflre Seigneur
eut pitie" de ce pauure Chreftien, cette fille qui auoit
efte" l'occafion de fa cheutte mourut bien toft entre
les mains du Magicien auffi bien [128] que les autres.
Cette mort fut la vie du pere, il ouurit incontinent
les yeux a fon malheur, il recogneut fa faute, & fe
vint conf effer : & depuis ce temps-la continue en la
pratique des Sacremes. Dieu veuille que fa femme
ne luy foit point encore vne Eue, car cette malheu-
reufe n'eft pas reduite en fon deuoir.

Venons a la perle de nos Chreftiens, Iofeph Chi-
houatenhoua. Voicy ce que m'en efcriuent nos
Peres.

Noftre bon Chreftien fe comporte genereufement
au milieu de toutes ces tempeftes : il parle plus ref o-
lument & plus hautement que iamais, il reprend
publiquement les fuperftitions diaboliques, & la fot-
tife de fes compatriotes. Nous prenions plaifir a
l'entendre il y a quelques iours ; parlant a des Anciens
& Capitaines: I'eftois, difoit-il, ces annees paffees
appelle' a tous vos confeils, femblables a ceux qu'on
a tenu ces iours derniers; ie m'eftonnerois de n'auoir
point efte" inuite a ceux-cy, n'eftoit que ie fcay bien

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 245

May God be blessed for the happy beginnings that
he has given to this wretched physician, who has
been so well paid in advance ; four of those whom he
sprinkled died the same night, and another had
suddenly died in his hands." Thus far the Father.

There are, it seems, well attested demonstrations
of the great power which the demons have acquired
over these poor barbarians, — to see that he contrives
to be so easily adored as their master, although he so
openly deceives them. Be this as it may, Our Lord
took pity on this poor Christian ; that daughter who
had been the occasion of his fall, soon died in the
Magician's hands, as well [128] as the others. This
death was the life of the father ; he forthwith opened
his eyes to his misfortune ; he acknowledged his fault
and came to confess; and since that time he has
continued in the observance of the Sacraments. God
grant that his wife be not again an Eve to him ; for
this unhappy woman is not brought down to her duty.

Let us come to the pearl of our Christians, — Joseph
Chihouatenhoua. Here is what our Fathers write to
me of him.

" Our good Christian behaves himself nobly in
the midst of all these tempests, — he speaks more
positively and more loudly than ever; he publicly
reproves the diabolical superstitions and the folly of
his fellow countrymen. We took pleasure in hear-
ing him some days ago; speaking to some Elders
and Captains, he said: ' I was called, in these past
years, to all your councils, like those which have
been held in these last days ; I would be astonished
not to have been invited to these, were it not that I
well know that the Magician has not wished the
believers to be present there. I would have gladly

246 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 19-

que le Magicie n'a pas voulu que les croyans y
affiftaffent: i'y euffe parle" volontiers, & quoy que ie
vous honore, & vous appelle [129] tous mes oncles,
ie vous euffe dit publiquement qu'en toutes ces
affaires vous vous comportez comme des enfans fans
efprit. Vn forcier vous perfuade ce qu'il veut: il a
promis de guerir tous vos malades, vous l'auez creu,
& luy auez fait de grands prefens felon qu'il les a
defire. Le diable eft vn meteur, & nonobftant vous
le croyez ; il eft infolent en fes demandes, & toutef ois
quoy qu'il vous coufte vous luy obeiffez de poindt
en poind: : Dieu eft veritable en fes promeff es, vous
luy refufez la croyance; fes commandemens font
faciles & raifonnables, pas vn ne fe met en peine de
luy obei'r. Le diable prend plaifir a receuoir des hon-
neurs qui ne font deus qu'a Dieu feul, & apres il fe
mocque de vous : la maladie continue auffi fort que
iamais, la mortalite rauage vos cabanes, & ceux que
cet impofteur Magicien a le plus arrof6 de fon eau,
ce font ceux-la iuftement qui font morts. Vous voy-
ez cela auffi bien que moy, & nonobftant vous per-
fiftez dans voftre aueuglement : ouurez les yeux, &
vous confefferez que le diable vous trompe. Au refte
i'entends qu'on parle de moy [130] comme d'vn
homme qui a intelligence auec les robbes noires. Ie
veux qu'on fcache que ie fuis lie auec eux, non pas
pour ruiner le pays comme difent les langues mefdi-
fantes, mais pour maintenir les veritez qu'ils font
venus nous annoncer : Ie f eray heureux de mourir
pour ce fujet, ie fuis tout preft d'eftre bruue" pour
cette caufe. Ie ne pretens rien en croyant que d'ho-
norer le maiftre de nos vies, non pas pour l'efperance
d'aucun bien que i'attende de luy en ce monde, mais

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 247

spoken there ; and, although I honor you, and call
you [129] all my uncles, I would have told you pub-
licly that in all these affairs you behave like children
without intelligence. A sorcerer persuades you
what he will ; he has promised to cure all your sick ;
you have believed him, and have made him great
presents, according as he has desired them. The
devil is a liar, and, for all that, you believe him ; he
is insolent in his demands, and yet, whatever it cost
you, you obey him in every point. God is true in
his promises; you refuse belief in him; his com-
mandments are easy and reasonable ; not one puts
himself to the trouble of obeying him. The devil
takes pleasure in receiving honors which are due
only to God alone, and afterward he mocks you ; the
disease continues as strongly as ever; the mortality
ravages your cabins, and those whom this false Magi-
cian has sprinkled most with his water, are the
very ones who have died. You see that as well as I,
and yet you persist in your blindness; open your
eyes and you will acknowledge that the devil deceives
you. Moreover, I hear that they speak of me [130]
as of a man who is in league with the black gowns.
I wish them to know that I am allied with them, —
not to ruin the country, as the slanderous tongues
say, but to maintain the truths which they have come
to announce to us. I shall be happy to die for this
reason ; I am quite ready to be burned for this cause.
I aim at naught, in believing, save to honor the
master of our lives, — not for the hope of any good
that I expect from him in this world, but only in the
hope of Paradise, whereof we had no knowledge
before they came to teach us. That is why I do not
fear to die; let them kill me for this cause, — I will

248 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

fous les feules efperances du Paradis, dont nous n'a-
uions pas cognoiffance auant qu'on fufl venu nous
enf eigner. Cela fait que ie ne crains pas de mourir ;
qu'on me tue pour ce fujet, ie ne fuiray pas la mort.
Dites cela a tout le monde, ie le dis a tous ceux qui
me parlent de ma croyance, arm qu'on fcache nette-
ment l'eftime que ie fais de la Foy.

La purete de fa confcience ne luy permet pas de
porter plus d'vn iour ce qui luy femble le moins du
monde defagreable a Dieu; il a horreur du peche
veniel autant qu'il feroit fouhaitable que tous les
Chreftiens euffent des pechez mortels. [131] Ses
difcours ne font que de Dieu, lors qu'il fe trouue en
lieu ou il puiffe fans donner occafion aux blafphemes
parler de noftre Foy, & il en parle fi fortement, que
les plus infideles qui l'entendent a loifir, font con-
trains d'auoiier qu'ils fouhaiteroient que tout le pays
fuft Chreftien : mais tous ceux qui approuuoient ce
que difoit Noftre Seigneur ne fe rangeoient pas de
fon party. II fouffre maintenant plus que iamais
perfecution, il n'oferoit paroiftre en compagnie qu'on
ne fe raille de fa bonte, qu'on ne fe mocque de fon
innocence, & qu'on ne l'accufe de participer auec
nous aux deffeins de miner ce pays; mais il n'a point
de honte de 1'Euangile, il profeffe par tout ce qu'il
eft, & ce qu'il voudroit que tous les autres fufTent:
quoy que pour ne pas donner fujet aux impies de
pecher blafphemant contre Dieu, il fe foit priue de
foy-mefme de tous les feftins, qui eft le fouuerain
bien des Hurons: parce, dit-il que dans les feftins
les fuppofts de Satan trouuent toufiours affez de
temps pour y vomir leur poifon, & s'animer les vns
les autres a oflenfer Dieu; & moy ie n'ay [132] pas
le loifir & l'audience pour iuftifier la verite.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 249

not shun death. Tell that to every one ; I tell it to
all those who speak to me of my belief, to the end
that they may plainly know the value which I
attach to the Faith.'

' ' The purity of his conscience does not allow him
to contain for more than one day that which seems
to him in the least displeasing to God ; he has as
great a horror of venial sin, as it would be desirable
that all Christians should have for mortal sins. [131]
His conversations are only of God, when he happens
to be in a place where, without giving occasion for
blasphemies, he can speak of our Faith, — and he
speaks of it so stoutly that the greatest infidels who
hear him at leisure are constrained to avow that they
could wish that the whole country were Christian ;
but not all those who approved what Our Lord said
took their stand on his side. He now suffers perse-
cution more than ever ; he dare not appear in com-
pany that they do not make sport of his goodness,
mock his innocence, and accuse him of participating
with us in designs for ruining this country. But he
is not ashamed of the Gospel ; he professes every-
where what he is, and what he would that all the
others were, — although, in order not to give occa-
sion to the impious to sin by blaspheming against
God, he has deprived himself of all the feasts, the
supreme good of the Hurons, ' Because,' he says,
' at the feasts the tools of Satan always find oppor-
tunity enough to vomit forth their poison, and to
excite one another to offend God; and I have not
[132] the leisure and the audience to justify the
truth.'

" He allows no transgression in his family with-
out correction, and, in fact, they live there like Chris-

250 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

II ne permet aucune offenfe en fa famille fans cor-
rection, & en effedt on y vit Chreftiennement & auec
edification: c'eft la fon premier foin de bien enfei-
gner ceux que Dieu a mis en fa charge.

II eft encor plus eloquent parlant a Dieu en fes
prieres, qu'il ne l'eft en parlant aux hommes: fur
tout c'eft vn plaifir de 1' entendre apres la commu-
nion, car c'eft la qu'il va gouftant la deuotion auec
vne douceur incroyable, & ne peut fe faouler de
benir celuy qui alors fe fait fenfiblement cognoiftre
par les effedts de la grace qu'il va produifant en fon
ame. Quelqu'vn de fes enfans eft-il tombe malade ;
Mon Dieu, dit-il, cette maifon eft la voftre : ie fcay
le foin que vous en deuez auoir, puis que vous nous
aimez, foit en la vie, foit en la mort de cel-cy qui eft
malade, en tout il eft fans doute que vous aurez egard
a noftre plus grand bien: grand Dieu que voftre
volonte foit faite, & que la voftre foit la noftre.

Va-il en quelque voyage : Mon Dieu, [133] dit-il,
que i'ay fait de pas inutiles en ma vie, parce que ie
ne vous ay pas cogneu : faites mon Dieu en quelque
endroit ou faille, que iamais ie ne m'oublie que vous
eftes auec moy, afin qu'en aucun lieu ie n'aye l'affeu-
rance de vous y offenfer.

L'Efte" paffe allant & retournant de K6bec, dans
les faults & portages il faif oit trois & quatre voyages
charge quafi au deffus de fes forces, & tout cela pour
Dieu. Au commencement du portage il offroit fon
trauail a noftre Seigneur, dans le chemin il f'entre-
tenoit continuellement auec luy, & a la fin il le remer-
cioit de luy auoir donn6 la force de faire quelque
chofe pour luy.

Dans les pac'quets qu'il rapporta pour nous il y

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 251

tians and with edification; that is his first care, — to
teach well those whom God has placed in his charge.

' ' He is still more eloquent when speaking to God
in his prayers, than he is when speaking to men:
especially it is a pleasure to hear him after commun-
ion,— it is there that he repairs to enjoy devotion
with an incredible delight, and cannot surfeit him-
self with blessing him who then makes himself mani-
festly known by the effects of the grace which he is
producing in his soul. If one of his children has
fallen sick, ' My God, ' he says, ' this house is yours ;
I know the care that you must have for it, since you
love us. Whether in the life or in the death of the
one who is sick, in it all there is no doubt that you
will have regard for our greatest good ; great God,
your will be done, and let your will be ours.'

" If he goes on some journey, ' My God,' [133] he
says, ' what useless steps I have taken in my life
because I have not known you: grant, my God, in
whatever place I may go, that I may never forget
that you are with me, — so that in no place I may
have the boldness to offend you.'

' ' Last Summer, on his way to and from Kebec, at
the rapids and portages he made three or four trips,
laden almost above his strength ; and all that for God.
At the beginning of the portage, he offered his labor
to our Lord ; on the way, he continually conversed
with him ; and at the end, he thanked him for hav-
ing given him the strength to do something for him.

" In the bundles which he brought back for us,
there were among other things some precious Relics
of some Saint; that was his consolation, and he
would never allow that another than he should
charge himself with a burden so holy, though heavy-

•252 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

auoit entr'autres chofes des Reliques precieufes de
quelque Saindt: c'eftoit la fa confolation, & iamais
ne voulut permettre qu'autre que luy fe chargeaft
d'vn fi faindt, quoy que pefant, fardeau, & fes deuis
plus ordinaires dans le plus fort de fes trauaux
eftoient auec ceux qu'il ne cognoiffoit pas mefme de
nom, mais qu'il aimoit & honoroit puis qu'ils eftoient
amis de Dieu. De fept caches [134] de bled qu'il
auoit fait en defcendant, pour les reprendre a fon
retour, il n'en trouua que deux, les cinq autres luy
ayant efte defrobees: c'eft a dire qu'il falut redou-
bler fes trauaux, & diminuer fes viures, fe voyant
quafi condamne a mourir de faim. Ce bon Chreftien
receuoit ces difgraces comme faueurs du ciel ; auffi
fcauoit-il bien auant que vifiter fes caches difpofer
faindtement fon cceur a tout ce qui luy pouuoit arri-
uer. Mon Dieu, difoit-il, vous ne manquez pas aux
beftes qui viuent dans les bois, & toutefois elles
n'ont ny champs, ny lieu oil elles cachent leurs
viures; elles ne meurent que quand vous l'ordonnez:
difpofez grand Dieu de nos viures, & par confequent
de nos vies felon vos volontez.

Le P. le Mercier qui fit tout ce voyage auec luy,
eftoit tout confole de le voir en tout temps egal a
foy-mefme, toufjours & par tout dedans les fenti-
mens de Dieu.

A-il fait quelque perte: helas, dit-il, mon Dieu, il
n'y a rien que vous de precieux au monde, pourueu
que ie ne perde [135] pas ce qui rend mon ame agre-
able a vos yeux, ie fuis toufiours trop riche : ie deuois
quitter a la mort ce que ie viens de perdre, & ainfi ie
n'ay fait qu'auancer quelque peu le temps de cette
perte.

1640] RELATION OF 1640 253-

and his most usual discourses, at the height of his
toils, were with those whom he knew not even by-
name, but whom he loved and honored, inasmuch as
they were friends of God. Of seven caches [134] of
corn which he had prepared on the way down, in
order to recover them on his return, he found only
two, the five others having been stolen from him, —
that is to say, it was necessary to redouble his labors
and to diminish his victuals, on seeing himself almost
condemned to die of hunger. This good Christian
received these disasters as favors from heaven ; accord-
ingly, he well knew before visiting his caches, that
he must piously dispose his heart for everything
which could befall him. ' My God,' he said, ' you
do not fail the beasts which live in the woods, and yet
they have neither fields, nor place where they may
hide their provisions ; they die only when you ordain
it. Dispose, great God, of our victuals, and conse-
quently of our lives, according to your will.'

" Father le Mercier, who made this whole journey
with him, was much consoled to see him at all times
equal to himself, — always and everywhere in a mind
for God.

"When he has incurred some loss, 'Alas!' he
says, ' my God, there is nothing precious in the world
but you: if only I do not lose [135] that which ren-
ders my soul acceptable in your sight, I am always
too rich. I must give up at death what I have just
lost, and thus I have merely shortened to some slight
extent the time of this loss.'

" When he has received some favor, he says, ' My
God, how many graces and benefits have I received
in my life, without thanking you for them! If I had
not the Faith, I would still be in the same blindness.

254

LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 19

A-il receu quelque faueur: Mon Dieu, dit-il, que
i'ay receu de graces & de biens en ma vie fans vous
en recognoiftre : fi ie n'auois la Foy ie ferois encore
dans le mefme aueuglemet que mes compatriotes :
ils vous cognoiffent affez pour blafphemer voftre
f aindt nom, mais pas encore affez pour vous benir :
qu'ay je fait plus qu'eux pour que vous ayez voulu
me preferer a eux? Ie vous rends graces de tant de
biens, aydez moy, mon Dieu, afin que iamais ne foit
dit que vous ayez abandonne celuy qui fe confie
entierement en vous.

En effedt fa confiance eft auffi grande que fa foy : &
Dieu nous a voulu monftrer qu'il l'agreoit. II y a
quelques iours qu'vne de fes petites niepces eftant
inquiet6e de terreurs qui luy prenoient dans fon fom-
meil, & luy faifoient paffer les nuidts dans des cris
& f rayeurs eflranges : tous ceux de fa cabane fe trou-
uerent [136] en grande peine, ne pouuant iuger autre
chofe fmon que quelque efprit malin tourmentoit
ainfi cet enfant : Ils auoient trop d'horreur du peche
pour feulement fonger a fe feruir des danfes fuper-
ftitieufes du pays, f euls remedes a ces fortes de mala-
dies ; mais ils n'auoient pas affez de confiance en Dieu
pour efperer que la foy feule deuoit eftre plus puif-
fante en ce poindt que ces inuentions diaboliques:
Le bon Iofeph f e leue voyat fa niepce au plus fort de
ces craintes; Non, non, dit-il, les diables ne feront
pas les maiftres en vne maifon qui ne veut point
auoir d' autre maiftre que Dieu: fi ce font eux qui
efpouuantent cdt enfant, il faut refolument qu'ils
ceffent. II prend la croix de fon chapelet en la main,
s'approche de l'enfant: Courage, luy dit-il, fouuiens
toy que tu es baptifee, que tu n'es plus creature du

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 255

as my fellow countrymen. They know you enough
to blaspheme your holy name, but not yet enough to
bless you ; what have I done more than they, that
you have willed to prefer me to them ? I render you
thanks for so many benefits: help me, my God, so
that it may never be said that you have abandoned
the one who wholly trusts in you. '

' ' In fact, his confidence is as great as his faith ;
and God has chosen to show us that he accepted
him. Some days ago, one of his little nieces being
disturbed by terrors which seized her in her sleep,
and caused her to pass the nights in cries and strange
alarms, all those of his cabin were [136] in great dis-
tress, being unable to suppose any other thing than
that some evil spirit was thus tormenting this child.
They had too much horror of sin even to think of
using the superstitious dances of the country, the
only remedies for these kinds of disease ; but they
had not enough confidence in God to expect that the
faith alone should be more powerful in this matter
than those diabolical inventions. The good Joseph
rises, on seeing his niece at the height of these fears.
' No, no,' he says, ' the devils shall not be the mas-
ters in a house which will have no other master than
God : if they are the ones who terrify this child, I
am resolved that they shall stop.' He takes the
cross from his chaplet in his hand, approaches the
child, and says to her: ' Courage, — remember that
you are baptized, that you are no longer a creature
of the devil; only believe, and hang this cross to
your neck; these terrors will cease.' No sooner
done, than at that very time the child feels released ;
those terrors are scattered; calm returns to that
mind, and then sleep overcame her, so gently that

256 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

diable: croy feulement, & pend cette croix a ton
col, ces frayeurs cefferont. Auffi. toft fait, a mefme
temps cet enfant fe fent deliure, ces terreurs fe dim-
pent, le calme retourne en cet efprit, & depuis le
fommeil la faifit fi paiffiblement, qu'il fut aife [137]
de iuger que ces infomnies & frayeurs nodturnes
n'eftoient caufees que de c6t efprit de tenebres qui
porte le trouble auec foy, & ne redoute rien au monde
qu'vne vraye foy, & vn cceur genereux, qui met en
Dieu feul toutes fes confiances.

Nos Peres qui ont eu foin de cette miffion, ont eu
tout loifir de confiderer fes deportemens, n'ayant
point eu de retraite plus ordinaire que fa cabane plus
de cinq mois entiers.

Ce fut vn bon-heur pour nous quittant le bourg de
la Conception & la chapelle qui y auoit efte dreff£e
en fon honneur, de trouuer vn fi bon Chreftien pour
en eftre le gardien, tandis que nos Peres deuoient
l'abandonner de fois a autres pour parcourir les
bourgs & vilages circonuoifms dans l'eftendue de
leur reffort. Mais luy de fon cofte s'en reffentit plus
oblige a Dieu; c'eftoit la fa confolation, de mener
toute fa famille foir & matin en ce faindt lieu pour y
faire plus deuotement leurs prieres. Pour luy il y
paffoit les heures entieres dans la meditation, quoy
que fouuent fon cceur s'efpanchaft [138] par fa bou-
che. Helas! mo Dieu, s'efcrioit-il, fi ie garde voftre
maifon vous conferuez la mienne; i'ay foin de voftre
temple, ayez foin de mon ame. II faut vn Saindt
pour garder des chofes fi faindtes: mon Dieu c'eft a
vous a me fandtifier. Et quoy, mon Dieu, difoit-il
autre fois, faut il que les demons foient fi puiffans en
ce pays, toute la terre vous adore, pourquoy permet-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 257

it was easy [137] to infer that those wakeful spells
and nocturnal frights were caused only by that spirit
of darkness who carries trouble with him, and dreads
nothing in the world but a true faith and a gen-
erous heart, which places all its confidence in God
alone."

Our Fathers who have had the care of this mission
have had abundant leisure to watch his actions, hav-
ing had no more usual retreat than his cabin for
more than five whole months.

It was a happiness for us, on leaving the village
of la Conception, and the chapel which had been
erected there in its honor, to find so good a Christian
to be the guardian of the same, while our Fathers
were obliged to abandon it from time to time, in
order to go the round of the circumjacent hamlets
and villages within the compass of their district.
But he, on his side, felt himself the more obliged to
God; that was his consolation, — to lead all his fami-
ly, evening and morning, into this holy place in
order more devoutly to say their prayers in it. As
for him, he spent whole hours there in meditation, —
although often his heart overflowed [138] through his
lips. "Alas! my God," he exclaimed; "if I keep
your house, you preserve mine ; I take care of your
temple, — take care of my soul. It needs a Saint to
keep things so holy ; my God. it is for you to sancti-
fy me. And what? my God," he said at other times,
' ' must the demons be so powerful in this country ?
All the earth adores you ; why do you allow that this
land should know you not? Do you not fill it, as
well as the rest of the world ? It is true that our sins
have justly provoked you: but what? where is your
mercy seen unless where there is the most misery?"

258 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

tez-vous que celle cy ne vous cognoiffe pas? ne l'em-
pliffez-vous pas auffi bien que le refte du monde? II
eft vray que nos pechez vous ont iuftement irrite :
mais quoy ou voit-on voftre mifericorde finon ou il y
a plus de mifere?

Ie crains d'eftre ennuyeux: mais ie croy que de
voir tant de bons fentimens en Tame d'vn barbare,
c'eft eftre conuaincu que Dieu par tout eft femblable
a foy-mefme, & qu'il n'eft pas moins Dieu des Scythes
que des Grecs & Romains.

Ce bon Chreftien eftant retourne il y a quelques
mois d'vn voyage qu'il auoit fait aux Khionontatero-
nons, ou il eftoit alle affifter nos Peres en la predica-
tion de l'Euangile, fe voyant fatigue du chemin,
[139] fift fuerie (c'eft vne certaine facon de bain
qu'ont ces Sauuages pour fe delaffer) eftant entre
dedans ce bain, ce fut vn plaifir de l'entendre, non
pas chanter des fonges & des chanfons de guerre,
comme font en ce rencontre tous fes compatriotes,
mais s'animer a vn nouueau combat, fe refoudre a
mourir pour la deffenf e de la Foy, promettre a Dieu de
parcourir tout le pais, & annoncer par tout fon faindt
nom. En vn mot, ce qu'il a plus auant dans le cceur
eft le fujet plus ordinaire de fes difcours, de fes chan-
fons, de fes plus aymables entretiens.

II a fait cette annee tout ce qu'on peut attendre
d'vn excellent Chreftien: il s'eft iette dans l'employ
apoftolique au plus fort de toutes ces bourafques,
qu'il a toufiours enuifage auec l'ceil de la Foy. II
n'y a contree dans le pays ou il n'ait affifte nos Peres
a la publication de l'Euangile: par tout il a rendu
publiquement tefmoignage a la verite qu'il cognoit,
& tous ces peuples infidelles ont efte" contraints d'ad-

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 259

I fear to be tiresome, — but I think that to see so
many good sentiments in the soul of a barbarian, is
to be convinced that God is everywhere like unto
himself, and that he is not less the God of the Scy-
thians than of the Greeks and Romans.

This good Christian, — having returned some
months ago from a journey that he had made to the
Khionontateronons, whither he had gone to assist our
Fathers in the preaching of the Gospel, — seeing him-
self wearied with travel, [139] took a sweat (this is a
certain kind of bath which these Savages use, with
which to refresh themselves). Having entered this
bath, it was a pleasure to hear him, — not singing of
dreams, and war songs, as all his fellow countrymen
do on this occasion, but animating himself to a new
combat ; resolving to die for the defense of the Faith ;
promising God to scour the whole country, and an-
nounce everywhere his holy name. In a word, what
is deepest in the heart is the most ordinary subject
of his conversation, of his songs, of his most affec-
tionate intercourse.

He has done, this year, everything that one can
expect from an excellent Christian ; he has thrown
himself into the apostolic occupation at the height
of all these squalls, which he has always faced with
the eye of Faith. There is no region in the country
where he has not assisted our Fathers in the publica-
tion of the Gospel ; he has everywhere openly borne
witness to the truth which he knows ; and all these
infidel peoples have been constrained to avow that
the Faith and the law of God was not beyond their
possibilities, — [140] seeing a Huron like them, who
from his birth has been nourished and brought up in
the same customs as they, seeing him not only pro-

260 LES RELATIONS DES JE~ SUITES [Vol.19

uolier que la Foy & la loy de Dieu ne leur eftoit pas
impoffible, [140] voyant vn Huron comme eux, qui
depuis fa naiffance a efte nourry & eleue dans les
mefmes couftumes qu'eux, le voyant non feulemet
profeffer cette Foy, & pratiquer en toutes occafions
les commandemens [de] ce grand maiftre de nos vies
qu'on leur vient annoncer : mais protefter publique-
ment qu'il eft preft de mourir pluftoft que d'offenfer
en ce poind: la fa confcience. Spectacle vrayement
digne de Dieu, & qui fans doute a rauy tous les
Anges, quoy que cette terre inndelle n'en ait pas
retire le profit que meritoit vn fi faindt zele. Dieu
luy faffe la grace de perfeuerer iufques a la mort.

Toute la famille de ce bon Chreftien s'eft reflentie
de fa piete: fa femme, fes enfans, fes nepueux, &
fes niepces fuiuent tous fon exemple : tous quafi fe
font veus dedans la maladie, leur vnique recours a
efte en Dieu feul. II n'y a pas iufques a vne petite
fille de huidt ans, qui fe voyant la premiere attaquee
de verole ne iettaft fes penf ees au ciel : grand mai-
ftre de nos vies, difoit-elle plufieurs fois le iour,
ordonnez de ma mort felon qu'il [141] vousplaira;
ie n'ay point d'efprit & ne fcay pas ce qui m'eft bon,
ie ne vous demande que voftre paradis ; mais le cceur
parloit plus que la bouche.

Auffi Dieu les a il conferue, & c'a efte vn argument
bien fort pour rembarer les infideles lors qu'ils
maintenoient que la Foy les faifoit mourir; & que ce
grand Dieu des Chreftiens eftoit impuiffant.

La femme de ce Chreftien, Marie Aonnetta, com-
munique le plus au zele de fon mary Iofeph : il y a
quelques mois qu'elle le fift bien paroiftre.

Le Pere Paul Ragueneau ayant apris le iour du

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 261

fess this Faith, and practice on all occasions the com-
mandments of that great master of our lives whom
we come to announce to them, but protesting openly
that he is ready to die rather than offend in that
matter his conscience. A spectacle truly worthy of
God, and one which no doubt has delighted all the
Angels; although this infidel land has not derived
from it the advantage which so holy a zeal deserved.
God grant him the grace to persevere even till death.

The whole family of this good Christian has felt
the effects of his piety; his wife, his children, his
nephews and his nieces all follow his example.
Nearly all have fallen into the disease ; their only
recourse has been to God alone. Even a little girl
of eight years, seeing herself the first one attacked
with smallpox, cast her thoughts to heaven. " Great
master of our lives, ' ' she said several times in the
day, " ordain concerning my death just as [141] you
shall please. I have no sense, and know not what
is good for me ; I ask you nothing but your para-
dise; " but her heart spoke more than her mouth.

Accordingly, God has preserved them ; and that
has been a very strong argument to put down the
infidels when they maintained that the Faith caused
them to die, and that this great God of the Chris-
tians was powerless.

This Christian's wife, Marie Aonnetta, contributes
the most to her husband Joseph's zeal: some months
ago, she plainly showed so.

Father Paul Ragueneau, having learned on Shrove
Tuesday that a woman of the village of Ossossane was
dying, went thither as soon as possible. Our Lord
himself had prepared for him this poor patient ; he
no sooner opens his mouth to speak to her of God

262 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.19

mardy gras qu'vne femme du bourg d'Offoffane fe
mouroit y alia au pluftoft: Noftre Seigneur luy
auoit difpofe luy mefme cette pauure malade: il
n'ouure pas pluftoft la bouche pour luy parler de
Dieu qu'elle embraffe la Foy, detefte fes pechez, &
fe prepare a mourir Chreftienne. Rien ne luy man-
que pour cet effedt que le Baptefme : mais le diable
ne vouloit pas quitter a fi bon marche vne ame qu'il
auoit poffede depuis fa naiffance. Voicy le mary de
cette pauure languiffante qui entre bruf quement :
Iamais [142] ie ne permettray que ma femme foit
baptifee, dit-il: ie detefte la Foy, & ie maudis le
Dieu des croyans: fors d'icy & ne parle plus. Quoy
done, luy refpond le Pere, veux tu que ta femme foit
a iamais mal-heureufe dans les flammes d'enfer? quoy
que tu faffe tu ne peux pas l'empefclier de croire:
Dieu aura pitie d'elle, & ton impiete ne la rend pas
coupable, attens ie te prie vn moment. C'eftoit
trop au iugement de ce cceur infidelle : il fe faifit
d'vn gros bafton au defaut d'vne hache qu'il ne put
pas trouuer : il def charge fa colere f ortement fur le
Pere, ne donnant autre refponfe a tout ce qu'il peut
dire, fmon de redoubler fes coups: & quoy que fon
bafton f e f uft rompu en deux apres cinq ou fix bonnes
def charges, il continue de ce qui luy reftoit en main.
II falut obeyr a ce malheureux, & fortir, puis que la
prefence du Pere ne feruoit rien qu'a l'irriter, & ne
pouuoit plus en ce temps-la eftre vtile a cette ma-
lade, qui quoy qu'elle peuft s'efcrier, trouua fon
mary auffi fourd pour elle que pour celuy qui la ve-
noit inftruire. Ce nous euft efte vn coup bien fen-
fible fi [143] cette bonne ame n'euft pas trouue deuant
la mort la grace du Baptefme: de le tenter en la

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 263

than she embraces the Faith, detests her sins, and
makes ready to die a Christian. Nothing fails her
for this purpose but Baptism ; but the devil was un-
willing to give up so cheaply a soul which he had
possessed from its birth. At this point, this poor
languishing one's husband comes in abruptly. " Nev-
er [142] will I permit that my wife be baptized," he
said; "I detest the Faith, and I curse the God of
the believers. Begone from here, and say no more. ' '
"What then?" the Father answers him; "do you
wish your wife to be forever unhappy in the flames
of hell? Whatever you do, you cannot prevent her
from believing ; God will take pity on her, and your
impiety does not render her guilty; — wait a mo-
ment, I beg you." This was too much, in the opin-
ion of that infidel heart ; he seized a large stick, for
want of a hatchet, which he could not find. He
mightily discharged his anger on the Father, giving
no other response to all that he could say, except to
redouble his blows ; and although his stick was brok-
en in two, after five or six good strokes, he contin-
ued with what was left in his hand. It was neces-
sary to obey this wretch and leave, since the Father's
presence served only to provoke him, and at that
time could no longer be useful to this sick woman, —
who, although able to cry out, found her husband as
deaf toward her as toward him who came to instruct
her. It would have been a very sharp blow for us
if [143] this good soul had not found the grace of
Baptism before her death ; to attempt it in her hus-
band's presence would have been a temerity. Marie
Aonnetta, cousin of the dying one, undertakes to
procure for her this charity, though it should cost
her life. She then goes to visit her cousin once,

264 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.19

prefence du mary, c'euft efte vne temerite\ Marie
Aonnetta, coufme de celle qui fe mouroit, entreprend
de luy procurer cette charite luy en deuft-il coufter
la vie. Elle va done vifiter fa coufme vne, deux,
& trois fois, elle luy repete les principaux myfteres
de la Foy, l'inftruit tout de nouueau, 1'anime a ne
pas obeir aux volontez de fon mary, & ne pas perdre
auant la mort vn bien qui la rendroit a iamais
heureufe. En vn mot elle fait 1' office d'Apoftre, &
voyant en fin vn temps fauorable, vient aduertir
nos Peres qu'il eftoit temps de faire le coup. Ce fut
vn coup vrayement heureux pour cette pauure lan-
guiffante, car toft apres elle rendit fon ame a Dieu.

Pas vn de la cabane n'agreoit le baptefme que celle
qui le receuoit, auffi falut-il que la bonne Marie
Aonnetta rendift bien du combat. Et quoy, luy
difoit-on, veux tu que ta coufme meure? Si elle
meurt ce fera, refpond-elle, le plus grand bon-heur
qui luy puiffe arriuer: ie l'ayme autant que moy,
mon mary, [144] mes enfans, qui tous auons receu le
faindt baptefme, & ferons profeffion de la Foy iuf-
ques au dernier foufpir. Dequoy te mefles-tu, luy
difent-ils? eft-ce a toy a prendre le foin d'elle? oiiy
da, quand il s'agit du falut de fon ame. Prends
done auffi le foin du corps ; volontiers, leur dit-elle ;
lors qu'elle a efte en fante, ma cabane luy a toufiours
efte ouuerte, elle ne luy fera pas ferme au temps de
la maladie ; non feulement a elle, mais auffi a tous
fes freres, aufquels ie procureray le baptefme, fi ie
voy que leur maladie f e rengrege : nous ne ferons
qu'vne famille au ciel, comme nous n'en faifons
qu'vne en terre.

Plaife a Noftre Seigneur nous donner quantite de

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 265

twice, and thrice ; she repeats to her the principal
mysteries of the Faith, instructs her quite anew,
incites her not to obey the wishes of her husband,
and not to lose before her death a benefit which
would render her forever happy. In a word, she
does the office of Apostle; and seeing, at last, a
favorable time, comes to notify our Fathers that it
was time to do the deed. It was a deed verily hap-
py for this poor languishing one, for soon afterward
she yielded up her soul to God.

Not one in the cabin would consent to the baptism
but the one who received it; accordingly the good
Marie Aonnetta was obliged vigorously to contend.
' ' What ? ' ' they said to her, ' ' do you wish your cous-
in to die?" " If she die, it will be," she answers,
" the greatest happiness which can befall her. I
love her as much as myself, my husband, [144] my
children, who have all received holy baptism, and
will make profession of the Faith even till the last
breath." "What are you meddling in?" they say
to her; " is it your place to take care of her?" "Yes,
indeed, when the salvation of her soul is at stake."
"Then take also the care of her body." "With
pleasure," she tells them ; " when she was in health,
my cabin was always open to her: it will not be
closed to her in the time of sickness, — not only
to her, but also to all her brothers, whose baptism I
will obtain if I see that their sickness becomes
aggravated ; we shall be but one family in heaven, as
we constitute but one on earth."

May it please Our Lord to give us many faithful
ones similar to these two, — Joseph and Marie: could
one desire a more perfect marriage ?

Those are the most beautiful riches of this poor

266 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.19

fideles femblables a ces deux cy, Iofeph & Marie,
pourroit-on fouhaiter vn mariage plus accomply.

Ce font la les plus belles richeffes de cette pauure
Eglife; il y en a encore quelques autres, mais ils
n'approchent pas de ces courages.

De nouueaux baptifez cette annee en eftat de fan-
te\ a peine s'en retrouue-il quatre ou cinq: ce n'eft
pas peu pour les [145] temps ou nous fommes, encore
ce font de bonnes vieilles gens plus qu'odtogenaires, a
qui il femble que Dieu veuille faire mifericorde vn
peu deuant leur mort. Sans doute il y a dequoy
benir Dieu, mais craignant la longueur, attendons
dans l'eternite a adorer les ineffables bontez de ces
mifericordes qui nous paroiffent icy de iour en iour
furpaffer tous les autres ouurages de Dieu.

1640] RELA TION OF 1640 267

Church ; there are also some others, but they do not
approach these courageous natures.

Of newly baptized ones, this year, in a state of
health, hardly four or five occur; this is no trifle for
the [145] times that we are in; these, too, are good
old people, more than octogenarians, to whom it
seems that God wills to show mercy a little before
their death. No doubt there is cause for blessing
God: but for fear of tediousness, let us wait in eter-
nity to adore the ineffable favors of his mercies,
which here appear to us from day to day to surpass
all the other works of God.

NOTES TO VOL XIX

(Figures in parentheses, following number of note, refer to pages

of English text.)

i (p. 25). — For names of these Hospital nuns, see vol. xvi., note 2.

2 (p. 27). — This was a prisoner whom the Algonkins near Quebec
presented to Duplessis-Bochard, August, 1636 (vol. ix., pp. 255,
265-269).

3 (P- 37)- — The names of the Ursulines are given in vol. xvi., note
4. The two additions (1640) to their number were Mother de Ste.
Marie and Sister de St. Nicolas, from the Dieppe convent, sent by
Madame de la Peltrie.

4 (p. 61). — Platon de saint e Croix: the Pt. Platon of to-day (vol.
ii., note 66), nearly opposite Portneuf, Que. Platon is a corruption
of plateau; the name originates in the singular formation of this
headland, — " its sides are high and steep, and the top is so perfectly
flat that it seems as if leveled by the hand of man." It is, indeed,
often called ' ' le plateau ' ' by residents of that vicinity. For infor-
mation thereon, we are indebted to Rev. Arthur E. Jones, S.J.,
Montreal ; and Crawford Lindsay, Quebec.

5 (p. 95). — Robert Le Coq, — surnamed " the Good," according to
Dionne {Revue Canadienne, 1888, p. 389), — one of the Jesuit don-
nes, went to the Huron mission at its commencement (1634). It is
probable that he remained there until the destruction of the mission
by the Iroquois. The following winter (1649-50) he spent at Sil-
lery ; and in April of the latter year went to Three Rivers, where he
was slain by Iroquois invaders (Aug. 20, 1650).

6 (p. 125). — Concerning the Khionontateronons, see vol. v., note
18; the Ataronchronons, vol. xiii., note 7; the remaining tribes,
vol. viii., notes 23, 24.

7 (p. 127). — The thirty-two villages here mentioned, are thus reck-
oned: Attignawantan (Bear clan), thirteen; Ataronchronons, four;
Arendaronons, three; Attignenongnac, three; Tobacco Nation,
nine. — A. F. Hunter.

8 (p. 135). — There is no question as to the location of Ste. Marie.
The fort was erected on the east bank of the Wye, where the river
leaves Mud Lake; its site is in lot 16, in the third concession of
Tay township, on the line dividing the lot in halves. The east half

270

LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES

was purchased (June, 1845) by Rev. Jean Baptiste Proulx, of Pene-
tanguishene, on account of its association with the early missions
(vol. v., p. 295). The four bastions of the fort were of stone, as also
were two walls. The other walls — those facing the lake and river —
consisted merely of palisades, protected by trenches which are still
visible. The enclosure formed a parallelogram about 175 x 90 feet
in extent. Since the settlement of the neighborhood, these ruins
have undergone great changes. Public attention was first directed
to the destruction of the walls, by James Bain, Jr., in Canad. Inst.
Proc, 3rd series, vol. iii. (1886), pp. 278, 279 (a brief abstract of his
paper being there given). Cf. Boyle, in Ont. Arch. Mus. Rep.,
1891, pp. 18, 19.— A. F. Hunter.

^lahADivi

Mud Lake

Sketch Map of Ste. Marie-on-the-Wye, by A. F. HuNTEk

Cf. Martin's description of Ste. Marie {Jogues, pp. 232, 233,, —
probably the earliest of modern accounts of these ruins ; his visit
there was made in 1845. Harris {Miss. West. Canada, p. 90, note)
gives this highly interesting information regarding the construction
of the fort: "The foundations of this building still remain, and,
though overgrown with weeds and underbrush, may yet be distinct-
ly traced. Major Henry H. Gray, of the Government Staff of Civil
Engineers, expressed to me his surprise that the Jesuits had suc-
ceeded in manufacturing a cement equal to the best Portland, and
the secret of which seems to have been lost. On Christian Island,
the foundations of their building were laid in hydraulic cement, that
to this day excites the wonder of engineers and contractors. In

NOTES TO VOL. XIX 271

quality, this cement is much like the Vicat, a standard article,
manufactured and much used in France. The distance was too
great, and the transportation too difficult, for the Jesuits to have
brought the cement from Europe; consequently, the raw material
must have been discovered at or near the mission, and manufac-
tured on the spot."

9 (p. 167). — Ste. Anne is also mentioned by Lalemant (Huron
Relation of 1643, chap, iii.) as near Ste. Marie; its site would, ac-
cordingly, be near the present town of Penetanguishene. The new
memorial church at that place bears the name of Ste. Anne (vol. v.,
p. 297; see illustration of the building, facing p. 295).

St. Denis is evidently the same as the place located by Du Creux,
under the Latinized name of St. Dionisius, on the east bank of Hogg
River. A considerable part of that neighborhood is still wooded,
and the sites have not yet been exposed by cultivation.

St. Jean is placed by Du Creux on the east side of Sturgeon River,
near its outlet, and there are sites which correspond with this posi-
tion ; but it has not yet been clearly distinguished.

The location of St. Louis is uncertain, as there is some reason to
believe that this mission, like many others, had been shifted, and
that the St. Louis of 1640 was not the one captured in 1649. At
least three different sites have been assigned, in modern times, to
this ill-fated village: (1) Du Creux's map, which shows the missions
as they existed about 1640, places it on the east side of Hogg River,
near its mouth, — a location accepted by some antiquarians. (2)
Others regard the Errington farm, in lot 10, third concession, Tay
township, as the site of St. Louis, — a large bonepit being discovered
there in the autumn of 1878, and its distance from Ste. Marie being
about a league. The late Rev. J. W. Annis (vol. v., p. 297) who ex-
amined this site, and collected relics thereon, held the same opinion.
It seems more probable, however, that this bonepit indicates merely
one of the historic ten-year accumulations of human remains, than
that it was the result of a massacre. (3) On lot 12, in the fifth con-
cession of Tay, are the remains of a village which some have
thought to be St. Louis. When the occupant of the farm, named
Evans, built his house, many years ago, he found numerous indica-
tions of early Indian occupation, — deposits of ashes, remains of corn
enclosed in birch bark, charred remains of palisades indicating
destruction by fire, and numerous tomahawks, knives, and other
articles. Examination of this site, a few years ago, induced A. C.
Osborne (vol. v., p. 297) to conclude that it was that of the St. Louis
of 1649.

It may be frankly admitted that our present knowledge is insuffi-
cient to decide which of these three sites is the true one. It is not

272 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES

improbable, however, that several missions of 1640 had been shifted
before 1649; and St. Louis may easily have been moved from the
east to the west side of Hogg River. — A. F. Hunter.

Martin (Jogues, p. 232) locates St. Louis " near the mouth of the
little river which empties into Hog Bay. ' '

In a MS. map prepared by Rev. Arthur E. Jones, S.J., after sev-
eral years' careful study of the field, — and which we expect soon to
publish in this series, — he places St. Louis about i%" miles above
the mouth of Hogg River. St. Jean, he locates about yz mile S. W.
of Fesserton ; St. Denis, a mile N. of Vasey ; and Ste. Anne, about
a mile farther north, but a little to the west.

10 (p. 185). — These were, respectively, the villages of Teanaus-
tayae, Scanonaenrat, and Tahenhatontaron.

11 (p. 209). — Du Creux locates St. Charles on a small peninsula,
apparently between Penetanguishene and Midland harbors. Sites
have been found there corresponding to this. He places St. Fran-
cis Xavier on the west side of Wye River; and the Relation of 1642
states that it was near Ste. Marie. These data point to the vicinity
of the modern village of Wyebridge, and Jesuit relics have been
found there ; but there are three or four distinct sites in that local-
ity, and it is not yet possible to decide which of these is that of St.
Francis. A short sword, bearing the date 1619, was found near
one of these sites, about seventeen years ago; and various other
relics found at all of them suggest early French occupation. — A. F.
Hunter.

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