Tandis que nous estions en voyage aucun n'estoit resté dãs l'habitation de Port Royal, sinon le P. Enemond Massé, & vn ieune Parisien, appellé Valentin Pageau. Ledit Pere viuoit en Hermite bien austere, ne voyant aucun, sinon quelque fois deux, ou trois François qui labouroyent à deux lieuës de là: & si par fortune, quelque Sauuage passoit. Le P. Biard tomba peu apres son retour en vne legere maladie, mais lente, & chronique, qui donna subiect de charité audit Pere Enemond.
While we were away, no one had remained at the settlement of Port Royal except Father Enemond Massé and a young Parisian, called Valentin Pageau. The Father lived very austerely, in the manner of a Hermit, seeing no one, except occasionally two or three Frenchmen who were cultivating the land two leagues away, and perchance some Savage who was passing by. Shortly after his return, Father Biard fell ill of a light but slow and chronic malady, which gave to Father Enemond an occasion for charity.
On leur auoit assigné vn garçon pour les aider en leurs necessités; [184] & ils l'auoyent accommodé bien honnestement: mais il les quitta au gros des neges, & au cœur de l'Hyuer.
They had been given a boy to help them in their needs, [184] whom they had treated very kindly; but he left them in the depths of the snow and in the heart of Winter.
Les neges commencerent le 26. de Nouembre, & auec elles (ce qui faschoit le plus) le retranchement des viures. On ne donnoit à chaque personne pour toute la sepmaine, qu'enuiron dix onces de pain, demy liure de lard, trois escuelées de pois, ou de febues, & vne de pruneaux. Les Iesuites n'en eurent iamais plus, ny autrement qu'vn chacun de la troupe. Et est mensonge très-impudente ce que le Factieux allegue du contraire.
The snow began on the 26th of November, and with it (what grieved them the most) the cutting down of their rations. There was given to each individual for the entire week only about ten ounces of bread, half a pound of lard, three bowls of peas or beans, and one of prunes. The Jesuits never had more nor different things than the other members of the company and it is a very impudent lie which the Factionist alleges to the contrary.
[228] Pendant tout ce temps les Sauuages ne nous venoyẽt point voir, sinon rarement quelques vns de la maison de Membertou, pour nous apporter quelque present de leur chasse. C'estoit lors bonne [185] feste, & jouine: nos gens en reprenoient vn peu de courage. Ce qui faschoit le plus, estoit l'apprehension du temps, quand on consideroit l'estenduë lõgue des mauuais moys, qu'on auoit à passer.
During all this time the Savages did not come to see us, except rarely some of Membertou's family, to bring us some offering from the chase. Then there was great [185] feasting and hilarity, and our people would begin to feel a little encouraged. The most grievous thing was their dread of the season, when they considered the long duration of disagreeable months to be endured.
Les Iesuites taschoient, & en priué, & en public de consoler tous, & vn chacun parmy ceste misere. Et aduint, que le troisiesme Dimẽche apres Noël, auquel on lit l'Euangile Vinum non habent: Le P. Biard exhorta la Compagnie à bien esperer, & prendre la glorieuse vierge Marie pour aduocare enuers son misericordieux Fils, en toutes necessitez, & spirituelles, & corporelles, estant ainsi, que par son intercession iamais le vin de consolation ne manque à ceux qui l'ont pour hostesse & pour mere. Le seruice finy, le P. Biard s'addressant au sieur de Biẽcourt, & luy monstrant les compagnõs, [186] luy dit en riant: Vinum non habent. Le priant de leur en donner de ce peu qui restoit, adioustant, que le cœur luy disoit qu'on auroit bien tost secours, & au plus long, dans le moys qui couroit, sçauoir est, dans Ianuier: & que peut estre verroit-on, qu'il deuineroit sans y penser. Les Compagnons furent bien-aises, & se gaudissants apres auoir beu, disoyent: Or bien, nous voy-cy de bon courage, pour attendre si le Pere sera point Prophete. Et certes il le fut de bonne aduenture: car vn nauire nous arriua iustement huict iours apres, lequel il nous fallut aller querir assez loin.
The Jesuits tried, both privately and in public, to comfort all and every one during this season of misery. And it happened that on the third Sunday after Christmas, when the Gospel Vinum non habent is read, Father Biard exhorted the Company to be of good cheer, and to take the glorious virgin Mary for an advocate with her compassionate son in every need, spiritual and corporal, as through her intercession the wine of consolation would never be wanting to those who have her as a guest and a mother. The service ended, Father Biard addressed himself to sieur de Biencourt, and, pointing to his companions, [186] said laughingly, Vinum non habent: begging him to give them the little that remained, adding that his heart told him they would soon have succor,—at the farthest, during the present month, namely, in January; and perhaps it would be seen that he had unwittingly prophesied. His Companions were delighted, and, in their joy after drinking, said, "Now, truly, we have the courage to wait and see if the Father is a Prophet." And certainly he made a lucky hit, for a ship reached us just one week afterward, which we had to go a long way out to seek.