[iii] To the Reader.
AFTER the Fathers of the Society of Jesus had overcome the ill-will of their enemies and again been admitted into France,[7] they felt themselves called to other fields for the fruitful employment of their labors.
Multa erat in Novâ Franciâ messis, ubi incolæ pene belluarum more sine Numinis cognitione vivebant.
A rich harvest was offered in New France, where the natives lived almost like animals, without any knowledge of God.
Illûc igitur missi fuerunt duo Societatis sacerdotes, Patres scilicet Petrus Biardus et Enemundus Massæus, qui in Acadiam pervenerunt 22 Maii, Anno Salutis 1611. Septem per menses ibi commoratus, [iv] P. Biardus hanc epistolam, Superiori suo transmisit.
To that country, accordingly, were sent two priests of the Society, Fathers Pierre Biard and Enemond Massé, who reached Acadia on the 22nd of May, 1611. After remaining there seven months, [iv] Father Biard sent this epistle to his Superior.
Quatuor velluti in capita hæc litera divisa est, & narrat:
1º. Quid sit Nova Francia, qualis regio, qui in eâ populi, quique mores.
2º. Quo modo, quibusve auxiliis aut successu, Societas missionem illá in regione consecuta sit.
3º. Quonam in statu rem Christianam his in locis offenderit Societas.
4º. Quid a missionariis hactenus effectum seu potius attentatum sit.
The letter is divided, as it were, under four heads, and relates:
1st. What New France is, the nature of the country, what tribes inhabit it, and their customs.
2nd. In what manner, with what help and with what success the Society secured a mission in that country.
3rd. In what condition the Society found the Christian religion in this region.
4th. What has been done by the missionaries thus far, or rather what has been attempted.
Licet epistola sub finem habeat: ultimo die Januarii CIↃ. IↃC. XI. ia quidem aut error in anno est, aut P. Biardus secundum stylum veterem scripsit, nam debit esse annus, CIↃ. IↃC. XII.
Although, the end of the letter reads: the last day of January, 1611,—either there is an error in the year, or Father Biard wrote according to the old style, for the year ought to be 1612.[8]