CHAPTER XV. [i.e., xiv.]
SIEUR DE POTRINCOURT'S CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THEIR ARRIVAL, AND HIS JOURNEY TO THE ETECHEMINS.
OUR arrival caused great joy on both sides—great on the part of those arriving, because of their longings, and the tediousness of so long a voyage; [143] but more than double was that of sieur de Potrincourt, who had been in great distress and apprehension during the entire Winter. For having had with him twenty-three people, without sufficient food to nourish them, he had been obliged to send some off among the Savages, to live with them: the others had had no bread for six or seven weeks, and without the assistance of these same Savages, I do not know but that they would all have perished miserably. Now the succor that we brought them, was little else, as the saying is, than a glass of water to a very thirsty man. First, because there were thirty-six of us in our company, and these, added to the 23 men that he had, made fifty-nine mouths every day at his table; and Membertou the Savage [144] beside, with his daughter and crew. After living four months upon the sea, our provisions were very much diminished, especially as our vessel was quite small, being only fifty or sixty tons burden, and provisioned more for fishing than anything else. For this reason, then, it was left to Monsieur de Potrincourt to think how he could promptly send back such a large family, lest everything should be consumed, rather than to secure traffic and fish, in which, however, lay all hope of resources for a second voyage. But he could not entirely refrain from doing some trading; for he had to make money, both to pay the wages of his servants, and for journeys here and there when in France.
[145] A ces fins doncques il partit dans ce sien nauire, quelque iours apres auec quasi toutes ses gens, pour aller en vn port des Etechemins, appellé la Pierre Blanche, à 22. lieuës de Port Royal droict à l'Oüest. Il esperoit de trouuer là quelque secours de viures au moyen des nauires François qu'il sçauoit y trafiquer. Le P. Biard l'y voulut accompagner, à fin de recognoistre le pays, & disposition des Nationaires, ce qui luy fut accordé. Ils y trouuerent quatre vaisseaux François, vn appartenãt au sieur de Monts, vn Rochelois, vn Maloüin, ou de S. Malo, de du Pont Graué, auquel commandoit vn sien parent appellé Capitaine la Salle, duquel nous parlerons tãtost; & vne barque aussi Maloüine, il se faut souuenir de ces quatre vaisseaux pour bien entendre ce qui suit.
[145] For these purposes then, he departed some days afterward in his ship, with nearly all his crew, to go to one of the Etechemins' ports, called Pierre Blanche, 22 leagues from Port Royal, directly to the West. He hoped to find there some help in food supplies from the French ships which he knew were in the habit of trading in that place. Father Biard wished to accompany him, to study the country and character of the Natives, and his wish was granted. They found there four French ships, one belonging to sieur de Monts, one from La Rochelle, one Maloüin or St. Malo ship, belonging to Pont Gravé, commanded by a relation of his named Captain la Salle, of whom we shall speak by and by, and also a Maloüine barque; these four vessels must be well remembered, in order to understand what follows.
[146] Le sieur de Potrincourt appellant vn chacun de ces quatre l'vn apres l'autre leur fit recognoistre son fils pour vice-Admiral: puis leur demanda aide, remonstrant les necessités, ausquelles il auoit esté reduit l'Hyuer passé, promettant de les rembourser en France, chacun contribua. Mais Dieu pardoint aux Rochelois, car ils tromperent la Gabelle, donnant des barils de pain gasté pour du bon.
[146] Sieur de Potrincourt, calling up each one of these four vessels in succession, made them recognize his son as vice-Admiral: then he asked them for help, dwelling upon the dire necessity to which he had been reduced during the past Winter, and promising to reimburse them in France. Each one contributed. But God pardon the Rochelois, for they defrauded the Excise, giving spoiled bread for good.
Cependant que tout cecy se traffiquoit, le P. Biard [188] ouyt, que le ieune du Pont estoit à terre auec les Sauuages, que l'année prochainement passée il auoit esté faict prisonnier par le sieur de Potrincourt, d'où s'estant euadé subtilement, il auoit esté contrainct courir les bois en grande misere, & lors mesme il n'osoit aller à son nauire, de peur qu'il n'y fust saisi. Le P. Biard ouyant tous ces accidents, [147] supplia le sieur de Potrincourt d'auoir esgard aux grands merites du sieur du Pont le pere, & aux belles esperances qu'il y auoit du fils; adioustant que vrayement c'estoit bien estre malheureux, si les François courants au bout du monde pour conuertir les Sauuages, y venoyent perdre leurs propres concitoyens. Le sieur de Potrincourt se flechist à ces remonstrances, & permit audit P. Biard d'aller chercher le ieune homme auec promesse, que s'il pouuoit l'induire à venir librement, pour faire la reuerence audit sieur de Potrincourt, aucun mal ne luy seroit faict, & tout le passé seroit mis sous les pieds, & enseuely. Le Pere y alla, & fut heureux en sõ effort, car il amena ledit du Pont au sieur de Potrincourt, & paix, & reconciliation faicte, on tira le canon. Du Pont [148] en action de graces, & pour l'edification des François, & des Sauuages voulut se confesser le iour suiuant, & faire ses Pasques, car il ne les auoit point faictes de cest'année là. Aussi les fit-il auec fort bon exemple de tous, au bord de la mer, où se chantoit le seruice. Ses deuotions acheuées il supplia le sieur de Potrincourt de permettre que le P. Biard vinst disner à son nauire, ce qui luy fut accordé. Mais le pauure inuitãt ne sçauoit pas quelle desserte l'attẽdoit. Car ie ne sçay cõment son nauire luy fut saisi, & emmené. Lequel pour le faire court, luy fut rendu [190] à la sollicitation instante dudit P. Biard, qui en auoit le cœur tout transi. En quoy le sieur de Potrincourt se mõstra fort equitable. Et voulut obliger ledit Père, qui luy en sçaura gré à iamais.
While this business was going on, Father Biard learned that young du Pont was on shore, among the Savages; that the year before he had been made a prisoner by sieur de Potrincourt, and, having made his escape from him, he had been forced to roam the woods in great distress, and even then did not dare go to his ship, lest he should be caught. Father Biard, hearing all these things, [147] begged sieur de Potrincourt to have some consideration for the great merits of sieur du Pont, the father, and to think of the high hopes he had entertained for his son: adding that it would indeed be a great misfortune, if the French, in running to the ends of the earth to convert the Savages, should happen to lose their own citizens there. Sieur de Potrincourt yielded to his remonstrances, and permitted Father Biard to go in search of this young man, with the promise that, if he could induce him to come freely and acknowledge the authority of the said sieur de Potrincourt, no harm would be done to him, and all the past would be put under foot and buried. The Father departed, and was successful in his efforts, for he brought du Pont to sieur de Potrincourt, and after peace and reconciliation were effected, they fired off the cannon. Du Pont, [148] as an act of thanksgiving, and for the edification of the French and Savages, wished to confess on the following day, and to receive his Easter Sacrament, for he had not done so that year. Accordingly, he performed these duties, to the great edification of all, on the shore of the sea, where the service was sung. His devotions finished, he begged sieur de Potrincourt to allow Father Biard to come and dine with him upon his ship, and his request was granted. But the poor host did not know what dessert was awaiting him, for somehow his ship had been seized and taken away; and, to make the story short, it was given back to him at the earnest solicitation of Father Biard, whose heart was very heavy over this mishap. At this time sieur de Potrincourt showed how very just he was, by trying to oblige the said Father, who will always be grateful to him for it.