A most interesting description of Cartier’s adventures, including those here described, may be found in Parkman’s “Pioneers of France in the New World,” p. 81. Another account of the same events, illustrated by the maps of the period, will also be found in Kohl’s valuable “History of the Discovery of the East Coast of North America” (Maine Historical Society, 2d series, vol. 1), p. 320.
THE FRENCH IN CANADA.
I.—Cartier’s Visit to Bay of Chaleur.
[Jacques Cartier was born in 1494, at St. Malo, a principal port of Brittany, France. He was bred to the sea; and, having made fishing-voyages to the Grand Banks of Labrador, he desired to make an exploration farther west. For this purpose an expedition was fitted out by King Francis I. of France, as is described below.]
THE first relation[97] of Jacques Cartier of St. Malo,of the new land called New France,[98] newly discovered in the year of our Lord 1534.…
After that, Sir Charles of Mouy, Knight, Lord of Meilleraie, and Vice-Admiral of France, had caused the captains, masters, and mariners of the ships to be sworn to behave themselves faithfully in the service of the most Christian King of France. Under the charge of the said Cartier, we departed from the Port ofSt. Malo with two ships of threescore tons’ apiece burden, and sixty-one well-appointed men in each one.…
[Cartier sailed first to Newfoundland, and then made further discoveries.]
JACQUES CARTIER.