[iii] Lectori.
POSTQUAM Patres Societatis Jesu malevolentiam inimicorum suorum vicerant et in Galliam reversierant, vocari videbantur aliò ad labores suos fructuosè collocandos.
[iii] To the Reader.
AFTER the Fathers of the Society of Jesus had overcome the ill-will of their enemies and again been admitted into France,[7] they felt themselves called to other fields for the fruitful employment of their labors.
Multa erat in Novâ Franciâ messis, ubi incolæ pene belluarum more sine Numinis cognitione vivebant.
A rich harvest was offered in New France, where the natives lived almost like animals, without any knowledge of God.
Illûc igitur missi fuerunt duo Societatis sacerdotes, Patres scilicet Petrus Biardus et Enemundus Massæus, qui in Acadiam pervenerunt 22 Maii, Anno Salutis 1611. Septem per menses ibi commoratus, [iv] P. Biardus hanc epistolam, Superiori suo transmisit.
To that country, accordingly, were sent two priests of the Society, Fathers Pierre Biard and Enemond Massé, who reached Acadia on the 22nd of May, 1611. After remaining there seven months, [iv] Father Biard sent this epistle to his Superior.
Quatuor velluti in capita hæc litera divisa est, & narrat: