Letter from Paul Lejeune, of the Society of Jesus, to Monseigneur the Cardinal.
MONSEIGNEUR,
My very humble greetings, in him who is the salvation of all men. I do not know whether I am becoming savage, by associating every day with the savages; but I do know well that it is not so much the contact with their barbarism as the respect I owe to Your Eminence, which has prevented me until now from giving myself the honor of writing to you. Now I fear that this reserve makes me seem ungrateful, especially as it is hard to remain from day to day in a state of wonder at your great deeds and benefactions, and not allow the tongue to give some evidence of the sentiments of the heart. All Europe, yes, all the old world regards you with admiration. The Church cherishes and honors you as one of its greatest princes, full of joy at seeing the arrogance of its enemies crushed by your government. All France owes her recovery to you, who dissipated the poison which was creeping to her heart. Alas, what misfortunes would have befallen her in these past years, if this poison had retained its strength in the midst of the State![16] The friends and allies of the most noble crown in the universe have not words enough to acknowledge your kind deeds, and its enemies no longer have courage in your presence. You know when to make both peace and war, as you possess equally goodness and Justice. The land is too small for your efforts. The seas acknowledge your power, for it is you who have joined the New France to the old; and all these peoples, who do not yet know the true God, begin to acknowledge and admire your authority, and to enjoy the sweet fruits of your benevolence. I contemplate all this with astonishment, but I am charmed when I see how your mind, without leaving the care of great affairs, takes so kind and deep an interest and fondness for a small number of people lodged at the ends of the earth. I mean the religious of our society, whom you honor with special affection in these distant countries. I could not read without wondering at your goodness the recommendation which I still keep, signed by your own hand,—in which, taking us under your protection, you commanded those who, in accordance with your orders, came to take the country from the hands of the English, to accord us good treatment under penalty of answering for it in their own persons. It would have taken a heart of bronze not to feel emotion at the sight of this recommendation,[17] which was brought to us in New France by your authority, and which largely dispelled our sadness in seeing this country in such a deplorable state, after so long a time as our French had been in possession of it. But its condition goes on changing every day since you have deigned to honor it with your interest. These Gentlemen of the New Company have done more good here in one year than those who preceded did in all their lives. Families are beginning to multiply, and these already urge us to open a school for the education of their children, which we will begin soon, God helping us. I fear but one misfortune,—that these Gentlemen, who have told no untruth about their great expenses, which are evident in the fine outfits they put to sea, may altogether or partly lose the great courage they now display, if unfortunately their trade in peltries should not always succeed. Monseigneur, you are all-powerful in this matter, as in many others; a single glance of your eyes can protect, animate, and help them, and indeed all these countries, from which France can one day derive great benefits. It is well known, both from experience and from reading historians and geographers, that every year a very great number of people leave France, and cast themselves, some here, some there, among foreigners, because they have no employment in their own country. I have been told, and have heard it only with great regret, that a large part of the artisans in Spain are Frenchmen. How then! must we give men to our enemies to make war upon us, when we have here so many lands, so beautiful and good, where colonies can be introduced which will be loyal to His Majesty and to Your Eminence? The son of a french artisan born in Spain is a Spaniard; but, if he is born in New France, he will be a Frenchman. It all lies in employing strong men to cut down and clear the woods, so that the land may be distributed among families which are here, or will be brought over here. The Gentlemen of the Company are doing wonders in this regard; but the outlay is so great that I would almost have doubts of their continuing in the work, were they not supported by Your Eminence. Monseigneur, you are the heart and soul of this company and of all New France. You not only can give physical life to an infinite number of poor french workmen, who go begging it among strangers for lack of land; but you can give spiritual life to a great number of barbarous people, who die every day in the slavery of Satan for lack of preachers of the Gospel. If Your Eminence continues your favors to us, and these Gentlemen their kindness, I hope that, as soon as we shall know the language, you will see and taste the fruits of a new Church, so much sweeter and more savory as these poor barbarians are now in so pitiable a State. We have already, in our first stammerings, sent some souls to heaven, bathed in the blood of the lamb. These are a few fruits of a vine that you are planting, Monseigneur, and that you bedew with your favors. Also, it is very reasonable that this new Church should begin and progress under the authority and assistance of a Prince of the Church. But I am losing myself in the details of my discourse, forgetting that, in speaking to the Great, one must imitate the Laconian fashion, rather than the Athenian. I am following neither, but am simply relying upon your gentleness and goodness, which procure and grant me access to Your Eminence, and will permit me, if you please, to bear in this new world the title and character,
Monseigneur,
Of Your very humble,
very obedient, and greatly
obliged servant in
our Lord,
Paul Lejeune, of the
Society of Jesus.
Kebek, New France, the 1st Day of August, 1635.