Scurvy, when known.
Exploit of de la Roque.
The first discoverer of this Coast was Jaques Quartier, sent out Anno 1534. by the French King, Francis the First, in which Expedition he spent five Months; and going from thence to St. Male, discover’d the Inlet Lawrence, Terreneuf, and Natiscotec. The following year prosecuting his Voyage, he Sail’d into the great River Canada, and Winter’d near St. Croix, where he lost divers of his Men by the Scurvy, a Distemper till that time altogether unknown; and such was his condition, that none of his Men had escap’d with life, had not the Inhabitants taught him to cure the same with the Bark and Leaves of the Tree Annedda; with which many recovering, Quartier Weigh’d Anchor, and treacherously carry’d the King Donnacona with many of his Nobles, Prisoners to France; but most of them dying, Quartier brought only a few of them back with him in his third Voyage, six years after the first, when arriving in the Haven St. Croix, he cast up a strong Fort, which he nam’d Charlesbourg Royal, where he staid a whole Winter. Joan de la Roque, whom the French King had made Governor of Quartier’s new-discover’d Countries, Sailing thither with three Ships, met with Quartier’s Fleet near Terreneuf; from whence he was then going home, because he saw no hopes of subduing the Salvages with so small a Force as he had brought with him from France. But de la Roque endeavoring to make a further discovery of Canada, Sail’d up the River Saguenay, where spending both time and Money, he was Commanded home by the French King, and the fruitless Expeditions lay dead till about 1604.
Of de Monts.
Of Poutrincourt.
When Peter de Monts obtaining Letters Patents to Trade for Furs in the foremention’d Countries, Sail’d with two Ships beyond Accadie, up St. Lawrence Bay, where he Landed on the Isle St. Croix, where of ninety seven Men, with which he staid there a whole Winter, he lost thirty five; but having fresh Supplies sent him from France, he remov’d to Port Royal, where leaving forty Men, he return’d home; these forty being reduc’d to twenty three, and in great want, walking along the Sea-shore in a despairing condition, espy’d a Ship coming up with full Sail, which upon nearer approach, prov’d a French Vessel, of which Poutrincourt was Commander, who receiving his wretched Countrey-men with great joy, took them with him to Port Royal, being sent thither on purpose to settle a Plantation in Accadie: Meanwhile the Letters Patent granted to Monts, being call’d in, the first Planters in Port Royal were forc’d to desert the same, and return home; and also Poutrincourt returning, came back again three years after to Port Royal, where finding the Houses standing as he had left them, he Manur’d the Countrey all about, and endeavoring to Plant Christianity among the Natives, Christen’d among others an Accadian Lord, who was above a hundred years old; all which Poutrincourt Sailing back to France, related at the Court.
Remarkable Transactions of some Jesuits.
The Jesuits being also inform’d thereof, obtain’d leave of the Queen to send Peter Biard and Euemond Masse thither, on pretence, that Henry the Fourth had himself promis’d them the same Priviledge in his Life time. But the Merchants at Diep, which were concern’d in the new Plantations with Poutrincourt, opposing the going over of the foremention’d Jesuits, express’d themselves very violent against them, and laid to their charge the Blood of the late King, which they said was yet reaking in Paris: What assurance (alleadg’d they) had their Goods which were in the Custody of Men inclin’d to the Spaniards? Must the Christian Religion be promulgated? There are so many Orders of Monks which may easily produce two Men; but if the Queen was resolv’d to send Jesuits thither, they desir’d restauration of the Monies which they had disburs’d: To which Biard and Masse harkening, gather’d up the demanded Monies, under pretence of being requir’d towards the Preaching of the Christian Religion amongst these remote Heathens; by this means getting great Sums, they bought out the foremention’d Merchants, so that the new Plantations fell half to the Jesuits, who setting Sail, and arriving at Port Royal, turn’d all things topsiturvy, and so thwarted Poutrincourt in his designs, that he was forc’d to complain to the French Court of the Jesuits oppression, whose aim it was to get all things into their own Possession; whereupon they Excommunicated Poutrincourt’s Son (who serv’d in his Father’s place at Court), and gain’d the Duke Guereheville in France to be of their Party, by promising him, that he should share in the new Plantations for a contracted Sum of Money: After this they receiv’d all sorts of Arms and Ammunition, with several Brass Guns, of the then King Lewis the XIII. and other gifts Collected and gather’d out of their several Societies, for two new Accadian Apostles. Gilbert du Thet, a subtile man of the same Order, transported their Necessaries.
At this time all things going favorably with the Jesuits, they made themselves Masters of Port Royal, and began to raise a Fort on the River Pemtagovet; but there their happy Proceedings were stop’d, for Captain Argal before-mention’d, Sailing thither in vindication of the English, was encounter’d by du Thet, (who firing the first Gun on Argal, was by him taken off with Chain-shot) and taking Biard and Masse, carry’d them Prisoners to Virginia, and dismantled the Fort built at Port Royal, after which it was by King James given by Patent to Sir William Alexander, as hath been already related, together with what of most remarkable hath happen’d since.