I shall insert here, not knowing where better to put it, what one of our Frenchmen, quite worthy of credence, and so acknowledged, told us about Jacques Michel,[11] a Huguenot, who brought the English to [6] this country. This wretch, having upon the eve of his death, vomited forth a thousand blasphemies against God and against our holy Father Ignatius, and having uttered this imprecation, that "he would be hanged if he did not give a couple of slaps before the next evening to one of our Fathers who was taken by the English," uttering the most unseemly insults against him, was soon afterwards overtaken by an illness which bereft him of all consciousness, and caused him to die the next day like a beast. Four circumstances in this incident astonished the Huguenots themselves,—the illness which seized him a few hours after his blasphemies; the mistake of the Surgeons, who were numerous, in giving soporific remedies to a man in a lethargy; his so sudden and unconscious death, expiring without any one perceiving it, although there were six men around him; the rage of the Savages against his body, which they disinterred and hanged, according to his imprecations, and then threw to the dogs. The English, who were in the fort at Kebec, having heard this tragic story, were amazed; and said that, if the Jesuits knew all that, they would make miracles out of it.
[7] Or nous le sçauons maintenant & cependant nous n'en ferons ny prodiges ny miracles: mais nous dirons seulement qu'il ne fait pas bon blasphemer contre Dieu ny contre ses saincts, ny se bander contre son Roy trahissant sa patrie: Mais venons maintenant à nos Sauuages.
[7] Now, we do know it, and yet we will make neither prodigies nor miracles out of it; but we will only say that it is not well to blaspheme against God or his saints, nor to strive against one's King to betray one's country. But now let us come to our Savages.
CHAPITRE II.
DE LA CONUERSION, DU BAPTESME & DE L'HEUREUSE MORT DE QUELQUES SAUUAGES.
QVELQUES Sauuages se sont faicts Chrestiens cette année, trois ont esté baptisez cest Hyuer en mon absence, en voicy les particularitez toutes pleines de consolation que nos Peres m'ont raconté à mon retour.
CHAPTER II.
ON THE CONVERSION, BAPTISM, AND HAPPY DEATH OF CERTAIN SAVAGES.