[1] Relation de ce qui s'est passé en la Novvelle France, en l'année 1636.
Mon Reverend Pere,
Puis qu'il faut payer le tribut annuel, qu'exige de nous, non seulement V. R. mais aussi vn grand nombre de personnes de vertu, de merite, & de condition, qui se vont interessant dans les affaires de la Nouuelle France, comme dans celles de Dieu; Ie commenceray par la ioye que nostre Seigneur a versé dans nos cœurs à l'arriuée de la flotte. Quelques-vns estoient dans l'incertitude si nous verrions cette année des Vaisseaux, à raison des grands preparatifs de guerre, qu'on faisoit en l'ancienne France: mais [2] les plus aduisez n'en pouuoient douter, comme ayans cognoissance de l'affection du Roy enuers ses nouuelles Terres, qui se vont rendre l'vn des beaux fleurons de sa Couronne. N'ignorans pas d'ailleurs que Monseigneur le Cardinal estant le Chef de cette honnorable Compagnie, l'appuy des familles qui passent en ces contrées, le Pere de cette nouuelle Patrie, & le Genie puissant, qui doit faire reüssir souz la faueur & l'authorité de sa Majesté, les desseins, que Dieu a de la conuersion de ce nouueau monde, ne manqueroit pas de faire cognoistre, quelle place tient en son cœur cette saincte entreprise. Vne autre apprehension nous tenoit entre la crainte & l'espoir, sur le changement de Gouuerneur. Monsieur de Champlain nous ayant quitté en la derniere année de [216] son Gouuernement pour s'en aller au Ciel, nous estions en suspens, quel zele auroit son successeur pour cette Eglise naissante. Mais les Nauires paroissans, toutes ces craintes se sont dissipées; le nombre des vaisseaux nous a fait cognoistre que les affaires de la Nouuelle France tiennent [3] rang dans les grands soins de l'Ancienne, & que les affections de Messieurs de la Compagnie se vont tous les iours augmentant, & les premieres actions de Monsieur de Montmagny nostre Gouuerneur, nous ont fait esperer tout ce qu'on peut attendre d'vn esprit remply de pieté, de resolution, & de conduitte. On m'a dit autrefois, que la premiere action que fit nostre grand Roy au moment de sa naissance, fut vne augure de sa grande pieté: car le premier vsage qu'il fit de ses mains innocentes fut de les ioindre, comme s'il eust voulu prier Dieu, & le premier mouuement de ses yeux luy porta la veuë vers le ciel. Si les premieres actions sont les prognostiques des suiuantes, nous auons dequoy benir Dieu en la personne de Monsieur de Montmagny, comme ie feray voir dans la suitte de cette Relation. Estant arriué deuant Kebec la nuict de la sainct Barnabé, il moüilla l'ancre sans se faire cognoistre; le lendemain matin nous eusmes aduis qu'il estoit dans le Vaisseau, que la nuict nous auoit caché; nous descendismes sur le bord du grand Fleuue pour le receuoir; le P. Pierre [4] Chastellain, & le P. Charles Garnier étoient en sa compagnie: apres les cõplimens ordinaires, nous le suiuismes droit à la Chapelle; en chemin ayant apperceu l'Arbre de nostre salut, Voicy, dit-il, la premiere Croix que ie rencontre sur le Païs, adorons le Crucifié en son image; il se iette à deux genoux, & à son exemple, toute sa suitte, comme aussi tous ceux qui le venoient salüer: [218] de là il entre dans l'Eglise, où nous chantasmes solemnellement le Te Deum, comme aussi les Prieres pour nostre bon Roy. A l'issuë de son action de graces, & des loüanges que nous rendismes à Dieu pour sa venuë, Monsieur de Chasteaufort, qui tenoit la place de defunct Monsieur de Champlain, luy vient presenter les clefs de la forteresse; où il fut receu par plusieurs salues de mousqueteries, & par le tonnerre de plusieurs canons. A peine estoit-il entré, qu'on luy fit demander s'il auroit agreable d'estre Parrain d'vn Sauuage, qui desiroit le Baptesme: Tres volontiers, dit-il, se resioüissant d'auoir ce bon-heur qu'à l'entrée de son Gouuernement il aidast à ouurir les portes de l'Eglise à vne pauure [5] ame, qui se vouloit ranger dans le bercail de Iesus-Christ: & afin que les Peres qui l'auoient accompagné, missent la main à la moisson, mettant pied à terre; le P. qui auoit instruit ce barbare, demande au P. Chastellain, s'il ne seroit pas bien aise de donner commencement à ses actions en la Nouuelle France, par vn Baptesme. Dieu! quel sentiment de ioye ne fit-il point paroistre à cette proposition! Le voila tout disposé, Monsieur le Gouuerneur se transporte aux Cabanes de ces pauures barbares, suiuy d'vne leste Noblesse. Ie vous laisse à penser quel estonnement à ces Peuples de voir tant d'écarlate, tant de personnes bien faites souz leurs toits d'écorce! quelle consolation receut ce pauure malade, quand on luy dit que le grand Capitaine qui venoit d'arriuer vouloit luy donner nom, & estre son Parrain. Le Pere l'interroge derechef sur les mysteres de nostre creance, il répond, qu'il croit à celuy qui a tout fait, & à son fils Iesus, comme aussi [220] au bon Esprit; qu'il est fasché d'auoir offensé celuy qui s'est fait homme, & qui est mort pour nous, bien marry [6] de l'auoir cogneu si tard. Monsieur le Gouuerneur le nomma Ioseph, à l'honneur du sainct Espoux de la Vierge, Patron de la Nouuelle France, & le Pere le baptisa. Pendant le disner, car tout cecy se passa le matin, ce noble Parrain dit tout haut en bonne compagnie, qu'il auoit receu ce iour-là le plus grand-honneur, & le plus sensible contentement qu'il auroit peu souhaitter en la Nouuelle France. Sont-ce pas là des sujets capables de nous réioüir? Ce n'est pas tout; ce mesme iour parut vn Vaisseau commandé par Monsieur de Courpon, qui nous rendit le P. Nicolas Adam, & nostre Frere Ambroise Cauuet. Ces entreueuës en vn païs si éloigné de nostre Patrie, apres auoir trauersé tant de mers, sont sensibles par fois aux yeux, aussi bien qu'au cœur. Nostre ioye ne se tint pas-là, la quantité de familles qui venoient grossir nostre Colonie, l'accreut notablement; celles entre autres de Monsieur de Repentigny, & de Monsieur de la Poterie, braues Gentilshommes, composées de quarante cinq personnes. C'estoit vn sujet où il y auoit à louer [7] Dieu, de voir en ces contrées, des Damoiselles fort delicates, des petits enfans tendrelets sortir d'vne prison de bois, comme le iour sort des tenebres de la nuict, & ioüir apres tout d'vne aussi douce santé, nonobstant toutes les incommoditez qu'on reçoit dans ces maisons flotantes, comme si on s'estoit proumené au cours dans vn carosse. Voila comme ce iour nous fut doublement vn iour de feste & de réioüissance: mais entrons en discours. Ie distribueray tout ce que i'ay à dire cette année en quelques Chapitres, que i'abregeray ou estendray selon le loisir que Dieu m'en donnera.
[1] Relation of what occurred in New France, in the year 1636.
My Reverend Father,
Since it is necessary to pay the annual tribute which is exacted from us not only by Your Reverence but also by many persons of virtue, merit, and rank, who continue to interest themselves in the affairs of New France as in those of God, I shall begin by referring to the joy with which our Lord filled our hearts on the arrival of the fleet. Some were doubtful whether we would see the Vessels this year, on account of the great preparations for war which were being made in old France;[49] but [2] those who were wisest could not doubt it, as knowing the affection of the King for his new Possessions, which are destined to become one of the bright jewels in his Crown; and, moreover, not ignorant that Monseigneur the Cardinal,—being the Head of this honorable Company, the support of families that come over to these lands, the Father of this new Country, and the powerful Genius who is to bring about, under the favor and authority of his Majesty, the designs of God for the conversion of this new world,—would not fail to show what place this holy undertaking holds in his heart. Another anxiety kept us between fear and hope, arising from the change of Governor. Monsieur de Champlain having left us in the last year of his Administration, to go to Heaven, we were anxious as to what zeal his successor would have for this infant Church. But, when the Ships appeared, all these fears were dissipated; the number of the vessels showed us that the affairs of New France rank [3] among the chief concerns of the Mother country, and that the interest of the Gentlemen of the Company continues daily to increase; and the first acts of Monsieur de Montmagny, our Governor, have made us hope everything that can be expected from a spirit filled with piety, with firmness, and with discretion.[50] I was told once that the earliest act which our great King performed, at the time of his birth, was a presage of his great piety; for the first use he made of his innocent hands was to clasp them, as if he were trying to pray to God, and the first movement of his eyes directed his sight toward heaven. If first actions are prognostications of those to come, we have that for which to bless God in the person of Monsieur de Montmagny, as I shall show in the course of this Relation. Having arrived before Kebec on the night of saint Barnabas, he cast anchor without announcing himself; the next morning, we had word that he was in the Vessel which the night had concealed from us. We went down to the shore of the great River to receive him; Father Pierre [4] Chastellain[51] and Father Charles Garnier[52] were in his company. After the usual courtesies, we accompanied him at once to the Chapel; on the way, perceiving the Tree of our salvation, "Here," said he, "is the first Cross that I encounter in the Country; let us adore the Crucified in his image." He throws himself upon his knees, as, following his example, do all his attendants, as well as all those who were coming to salute him. Thence he entered the Church, where we solemnly chanted the Te Deum, as well as the Prayers for our good King. At the conclusion of his act of thanksgiving, and of the praises we rendered to God for his coming, Monsieur de Chasteaufort,[53] who filled the place of the late Monsieur de Champlain, came to present to him the keys of the fortress, where he was received with several volleys of musketry and the thunder of numerous cannon. Scarcely had he entered when one came to ask him if it would be agreeable to him to be Godfather to a Savage who desired Baptism. "Very willingly," said he, rejoicing in this good fortune, that, upon entering his Administration, he could help open the doors of the Church to a poor [5] soul who wished to enter the sheepfold of Jesus Christ. That the Fathers who had accompanied him might put their hands to the harvest at the moment of setting foot on land, the Father who had taught this barbarian asks Father Chastellain if he would not be glad to begin his labors in New France with a Baptism. O God! what a sentiment of joy he manifested at this proposal! Behold him quite ready! Monsieur the Governor proceeds to the Cabins of these poor barbarians, followed by a brisk retinue of Nobles. I leave you to imagine the astonishment of these People at seeing so much scarlet, so many elegant personages under their bark roofs! What comfort this poor sick man experienced when they told him that the great Captain who had just arrived wished to bestow a name upon him, and to be his Sponsor! The Father questions him anew upon the mysteries of our belief. He replies that he believes in him who made all things, and in his son, Jesus, and also in the good Spirit; that he is sorry he has offended him who made himself man, and who died for us; and that he greatly regrets [6] having learned so late to know him. Monsieur the Governor named him Joseph, in honor of the holy Spouse of the Virgin, Patron of New France; and the Father baptized him. During dinner, for all this happened in the morning, this noble Godfather said aloud, in the presence of a distinguished company, that he had received that day the greatest honor and the most genuine satisfaction that he could have desired in New France. Are not these things that give us cause for rejoicing? This is not all; that same day appeared a Vessel commanded by Monsieur de Courpon,[54] which brought to us Father Nicolas Adam[55] and our Brother Ambroise Cauvet.[56] These meetings in a country so far from our Native Land, after having crossed so many seas, affect sometimes the eyes as well as the heart. Our joy did not end there. The number of families, which came over to increase our Colony, made it considerably larger. Among others, were those of Monsieur de Repentigny[57] and of Monsieur de la Poterie,[58] gallant Gentlemen, composed of forty-five individuals. It was a matter for which to praise [7] God, to see in this country delicate Maidens and little children of tenderest age come forth from a prison of wood, as the day comes forth from the darkness of night,—and enjoying, after all, as perfect health, notwithstanding the many hardships to which one is subjected in these floating habitations, as if they had been driving on the street in a carriage. See then how this day was for us doubly a day of festival and of rejoicing; but let us begin our discourse. I will divide all I have to say this year into several Chapters, which I will shorten or extend according to the leisure which God shall grant me for it.