Continued from Vol. V.
[6] Le 4. on tint encore vn conseil: i'y assistay auec le P. Brebeuf, car on deuoit parler de l'embarquement de nos Peres. Le sieur de Chãplain fit ses presens, qui correspondoyent en valeur à ceux que les Hurons luy auoyent faict. Receuoir des presens des Sauuages, c'est s'engager à rendre le reciproque. On parla de plusieurs choses en ce conseil, entr'autres les Hurons demanderent l'eslargissemēt du prisonnier Sauuage qui [293 i.e., 193] a tué nouuellement vn François, cõme i'ay remarqué cy dessus. Le sieur de Champlain fit merueille sur ce poinct, pour faire voir aux Hurons qu'il n'estoit pas à propos de le mettre en liberté; & qu'ayant tué vn Frãçois qui ne luy auoit fait aucun tort, il meritoit la mort. Les Hurons furent satisfaits des raisons qu'on leur apporta. On parla encore de l'amitié contractée entr'eux & les François, & que nos Peres allans en leur païs confirmeroyent puissamment cette amitié. Les Hurons estoient les plus contens du monde: ceux qui deuoyent embarquer & conduire nos Peres auoyent desia receu le loyer de leur peine future, nous leur auions mis entre les mains leurs paquets ou leur petit bagage: nous estions allé coucher au Magasin le Pere de Nouë & moy auec nos trois Peres, pour les voir monter le lendemain de grand [194] matin dans leurs petits canots, & leur dire le dernier adieu, quand tout à coup nostre ioye fut changée en tristesse. Sur les dix ou onze heures du soir vn Sauuage borgne de la nation de l'Isle grandement allié de la nation du prisonnier s'en alla crier par les cabannes de tous les Sauuages qu'on se donnast bien garde d'ẽbarquer aucun Francois, & que les parens du prisonnier estoyent aux aguets sur la riuiere pour tuer les Frãçois s'ils les [8] pouuoyent attrapper au passage. Le Dimanche precedent ceux de la nation de ce prisonnier auoyent tenu conseil auec les capitaines des Montagnaits, des Sauuages de l'isle, & des Hurons, pour voir comme ils pourroyent impetrer la grace de ce prisonnier. Les Hurons furent suppliez de la demander: estans esconduits ce Sauuage de l'Isle allié de la nation de l'homicide fit ce [195] cri public par les cabanes, qu'on n'ẽbarquast aucun Francois si on ne le vouloit mettre en danger euident de sa vie. Ayant ouy ce cry, & le Pere Brebeuf qui l'escoutoit m'ayant interpreté ce qu'il vouloit dire, ie m'en allay auec le Pere de Nouë au fort, pour en donner aduis au Sieur de Champlain. Nous estions couchez dans le magasin des François, à l'entour duquel estoyēt cabanez les Sauuages. Le Fort nous fut ouuert, & apres auoir declaré le subiet de nostre venue pendant la nuict, nous retournasmes d'où nous estiõs partis: nous trouuâmes en chemin les Capitaines des Sauuages en conseil, ausquels le Truchement, selon que le Sieur de Champlain luy auoit commandé, declara qu'on leur vouloit parler encor vne fois deuant leur depart. Le lendemain au point du iour vn Sauuage alla faire vne autre criée par les [196] cabanes, disant qu'on ne partiroit point encore ce iour là, & que la ieunesse se tint en paix, & que ceux qui n'auoyent pas traitté toutes leurs marchandises, la traittassent. Sur les huict ou neuf heures du matïn, le sieur de Champlain assembla de rechef les Capitaines des Hurons, le Sauuvage de l'Isle qui auoit faict ce cri publicq, & le Capitaine des Montagnaits. Il demanda à ce Sauuage pourquoy il auoit fait cette deffence: il repartit que tout le païs estoit en alarme, & qu'il s'alloit perdre si [10] on embarquoit des François pour les conduire aux Hurons, car les parents du prisonnier ne manqueroiēt d'en tuer quelqu'vn, & que là dessus la guerre seroit declarée. Que les Hurons mesmes seroient de la partie, car voulans defendre les François, on s'en prendroit à eux; & qu'ainsi tout le païs seroit perdu. Qu'il n'auoit [197] point fait de defence, mais donné aduis de la meschante volonté qu'auoient les parents de l'homicide: que si on deliuroit le prisonnier que tous ces troubles tomberoient d'eux mesme, & que la riuiere & tout le païs seroit libre. On demanda aux Hurons s'ils ne persistoient pas dans la volonté de nous conduire en leur païs, ils respondirent que la riuiere n'estoit pas à eux, & qu'on prit garde auec ces autres nations s'ils pourroient passer en asseurance: que pour eux ils ne demandoient pas mieux que d'embarquer des François. Ie remarquay la prudence de ces Sauuages, car ils tesmoignerent tellement l'affectiõ qu'ils nous portoient qu'ils ne vouloient point choquer les nations par lesquelles ils doiuent passer venans à Kebec: l'vn d'eux s'addressant à ce Sauuage de l'Isle luy dit, preste l'oreille maintenant, ne dy [198] point quand nous serons là hault en ton pays, que nous n'auons point parlé pour le prisonnier, nous auons fait ce que nous auons peu: mais que veux tu que nous disions aux raisons du sieur de Champlain? Les François nous sont amis à tous, s'il ne tenoit qu'à nous nous les embarquerions. Il faut confesser que les Hurons monstroient grande inclination de mener nos Peres. Le sieur de Champlain voyant ce changement si subit fit tout ce qu'il peut, & nous donna liberté de proposer toutes les raisõs que no9 pourriõs pour faire en sorte que nos peres se peussent mettre [12] en chemin: il apporta des raisons tres-fortes, & tres-pertinentes. Il se seruit de menaces. Il leur proposa la paix & la guerre, bref on ne pouuoit rien souhaitter dauãtage. A tout cela ce Sauuage repartit qu'on ne pouuoit pas tenir la ieunesse, & qu'il [199] dõnoit aduis de leur mauuais dessein, & qu'on attendit pour cette année, qu'ils dechargeroient leur cholere contre les Hiroquois leurs ennemis; & qu'à lors la riuiere seroit libre. Ne vous en prenés point à nous, disoit il, s'il arriue quelque mal-heur: car nous n'y scaurions donner ordre. Là dessus pour gagner ce Sauuage ie demande la grace du prisonnier ayant au prealable conuenu auec le sieur de Champlain, lequel me repartit qu'il y alloit de sa vie, & que nostre grand Roy luy demanderoit conte de cet homme qu'on auoit tué: ie le prie donc de sursoir l'execution de sa mort iusques à ce qu'on eut parlé au Roy pour sçauoir sa volõté. Et là dessus poursuiuant ma pointe, ie m'addresse aux Sauuages, leur faisant paroistre l'affection que nous auions pour eux. Que nous ne poursuiuions iamais la mort de personne: [200] que nous taschions de mettre la paix par tout. Le Sieur de Champlain adioustoit des merueilles de son costé, disant que nous parlions à Dieu, que nous estions aimez de ceux qui nous cognoissoyẽt, qu'il n'en vouloit poĩt d'autres tesmoins que les Hurons mesmes qui nous auoyent tant cheris: que nous allions pour leur enseigner de grandes choses. Les Hurons repartirent que cela alloit bien, & que nous auions proposé vn bon expediẽt de retarder la mort de ce Sauuage iusques à ce que nous eussions des nouuelles de nostre grand Roy. Ie presse donc ce Sauuage de l'Isle, sçauoir mon si les parents de ce prisonnier [14] sçachans que nous plaidions pour luy, ne nous laisseroient pas passer s'ils nous rencontroyent? Que veux tu que ie te die? respondit-il, ils sont enragez: si le prisonnier ne sort il n'y a point d'asseurance. Ils ne pardonneront [201] à personne. Là dessus le Truchement repartit: S'ils font les diables, nous les ferons aussi. En vn mot le Sieur de Champlain les intimida, & leur dict qu'ils se donnassent garde eux-mesmes: & si vn Sauuage estoit apperceu auec des armes, qu'il donneroit permission à ses gens de le tirer & de le mettre à mort, & qu'ils l'auoyent menacé luy-mesme à cause qu'il va seul: mais que d'orenauant il ne marcheroit plus en enfant, mais en soldat. Ie suis amy de tous, vous estes mes amis, disoit-il aux Hurons, ie vous cheris, i'ay mis ma vie pour vous, ie la mettray encore: ie vous protegeray, mais ie suis ennemy des meschans.
On the 4th, another council was held; I was present with Father Brebeuf, because the embarkation of our Fathers was to be talked over. Sieur de Champlain made his presents, which corresponded in value to those that the Hurons had made him. To accept presents from the Savages is to bind oneself to return an equivalent. A great many things were spoken of in this council; among others, the Hurons asked for the liberation of the Savage prisoner who [293 i.e., 193] had recently killed a Frenchman, as I stated above. Sieur de Champlain sought earnestly to make the Hurons understand that it was not right to restore him to liberty; and that, having killed a Frenchman who had done him no harm, he deserved death. The Hurons were satisfied with the reason given them. They spoke also of the friendship contracted between them and the French, saying that it would be greatly strengthened by the Fathers going into their country. The Hurons were the happiest people in the world. Those who were to embark and to carry the Fathers in their canoes had already received pay for their future trouble; we had placed in their hands the parcels or little baggage of the Fathers. We had gone to the Storehouse to sleep, Father de Nouë and I, with our three Fathers, that we might see them off early the next [194] morning in their little canoes, and might say to them our last farewell, when all at once our joy was changed into sadness. At about ten or eleven o'clock that night, a one-eyed Savage, belonging to the Island tribe, closely allied to the tribe of the prisoner, went among the cabins of all the Savages crying out that they should be careful not to take any Frenchmen in their canoes, and that the relatives of the prisoner were on the watch along the river to kill the Frenchmen, if they could catch them during the passage. On the previous Sunday some Savages of the same tribe as the prisoner had held a council with the captains of the Montagnaits, of the island Savages, and of the Hurons, to determine how they might secure the pardon of this prisoner. The Hurons were besought to ask it. They refused, and this Island Savage, whose tribe was allied to the tribe of the murderer, raised this [195] general cry among the cabins, warning every one not to give passage to a Frenchman, unless they wished to place him in evident danger of his life. Having heard the cry, and Father Brebeuf, who was listening, having interpreted its meaning to me, I went with Father de Nouë to the fort to give information of the same to Sieur de Champlain. We had been sleeping in the storehouse of the French, around which the Savages were encamped. The Fort was opened to us; and, after having made known the object of our night visit, we returned to the place whence we had departed. Upon the way we found the Captains of the Savages in council, to whom the Interpreter, according to the order of Sieur de Champlain, declared that he desired to talk to them once more before their departure. The next morning, at daybreak, a Savage passed through the [196] camp proclaiming that they were not to depart that day; and that the young men should keep the peace, and that those who had not sold all their merchandise should sell it. About eight or nine in the morning, sieur de Champlain again assembled the Captains of the Hurons, the Island Savages who had made this outcry, and the Captain of the Montagnaits. He asked the Savage why he had aroused that opposition; he answered that the whole country was in a state of alarm, and that it would be lost if the French were embarked to be taken to the Hurons, for the relatives of the prisoner would not fail to kill some of the party and that thereupon war would be declared; that the Hurons even would be dragged into it; for, if they defended the French, they would be attacked, and that thus the whole country would be lost; that he had [197] not aroused any opposition, but had merely made known the wicked designs of the murderer's relatives; that, if the prisoner were released, these troubles would immediately be ended, and that the river and the whole country would be free. The Hurons were asked if they still adhered to their wish to take us to their country. They answered that the river was not theirs, and that great caution must be observed in regard to those other tribes, if they were to pass by in security. As far as they were concerned, they asked nothing better than to furnish passage to the French. I observed the discretion of these Savages, for they gave evidence of their affection for us, in such manner as not to offend the tribes through which they must pass in coming to Kebec. One of them, addressing the Island Savage, said: "Now listen; when [198] we shall be up there in thy country, do not say that we have not spoken in behalf of the prisoner; we have done all that we could, but what answer wouldst thou have us make to the reasons given by sieur de Champlain? The French are the friends of all of us; if it depended only upon us, we should embark them." It must be confessed that the Hurons showed a strong inclination to take our Fathers with them. Sieur de Champlain, seeing this so sudden change, did all in his power, and gave us liberty to advance all the reasons we could, to the end that our fathers might be set on their way. He urged very strong and very pertinent reasons; he used threats; he proposed peace and war; in short nothing more could be desired. But to all this the Savage answered that they could not restrain their young men; that he [199] had given warning of their wicked intentions, and that the French ought to postpone their departure for this year; that they would vent their anger upon the Hiroquois, their enemies, and then the river would be free. "Do not blame us," said he, "if misfortune overtakes you; for we could not restore order." Thereupon, in order to win over this Savage, I asked for the pardon of the prisoner, having previously agreed upon this with sieur de Champlain, who replied to me that it was a matter of life and death with him, and that our great King would ask him to give an account of the man who had been killed. I begged him to suspend the execution of the death sentence, until the King might be spoken to, and his will learned. And thereupon, following my point, I addressed the Savages, representing our affection for them; saying that we had never sought the death of any one; [200] that we everywhere tried to promote peace. Sieur de Champlain did admirably on his part, saying that we talked to God; that we were loved by all who knew us, that he wanted no other witnesses of this than the Hurons themselves, who had cherished us so dearly; that we were going to teach them great things. The Hurons answered that it was very well, that we had proposed a good expedient; that of postponing the death of this Savage until we should have news from our great King. I then importuned the Island Savage, asking him whether the prisoner's kindred, if they knew that we were pleading for him, would not allow us to pass if they encountered us. "What dost thou wish me to say?" he answered, "they are furious. If the prisoner is not liberated, there is no safety; they will pardon [201] no one." Thereupon the Interpreter replied: "If they act the part of devils, so will we." In a word, Sieur de Champlain intimidated them, saying they must look out for themselves; that if a Savage was seen with arms, he would give permission to his men to fire upon him and kill him; that they [the savages] had threatened him himself, because he went about alone; but hereafter he would not go around like a child, but like a soldier. "I am a friend to all, you are my friends," said he to the Hurons; "I love you; I have risked my life for you, I will risk if again; I will protect you; but I am the enemy of evil-doers."
On dira que le Capitaine de la nation de ce meurtrier se deburoit saisir de ceux qui ont mauuaise volonté contre les François. il est vray, mais i'ay desia remarqué cy dessus que ces [202] Sauuages n'ont aucune police, & que leur Capitaine n'a point cette authorité. Ce qu'il peut faire, c'est de prier ces meschans de se diuertir de leurs desseins, voire mesme il est arriué autrefois que les Sauuages craignans plus les Europeans qu'ils ne les craignent maintenant, si quelqu'vn de leurs hommes auoit quelque volonté de tuer vn François, soit qu'il eut songé qu'il le debuoit faire, ou autrement, les autres le flattoyent, & luy faisoyent des presens de peur qu'il n'executast son mauuais dessein, & qu'il ne perdist par ce moyen tout le païs. Maintenant c'est beaucoup qu'ils aduertissent les François qu'ils se tiennent sur leurs gardes, comme [16] ils ont fait n'a pas long temps, disans qu'il y auoit quelques ieunes hommes qui espioient dans les bois s'ils trouueroient quelque François à l'escart pour l'assommer, & ainsi on [203] n'est point en asseurance parmy ces peuples; disons neantmoins, Qui habitat in adiutorio Altissimi, in protectione Dei cœli commorabitur.
It will be said that the Captain of the tribe of the murderer ought to have seized all those who had wicked designs against the French. It is true; but I have already remarked above that these [202] Savages have no system of government, and that their Captain has no such authority. What he can do, is to ask these wicked people to give up their designs. Indeed, it has happened before, when the Savages feared the Europeans more than they do now, if one of their men wanted to kill a Frenchman, either having dreamed that he was to do it, or from other cause, the others flattered him and made him presents, fearing that he would carry out his wicked intentions, and in this way they might lose the whole country. Now it is a great deal if they warn the French to be on their guard, as they did not long ago, saying that there were some young men who were prowling about in the woods to kill any Frenchman that they might find by himself; and thus we [203] are not safe among these people. Let us say, however: Qui habitat in adjutorio Altissimi, in protectione Dei cœli commorabitur.
Mais concluons ce conseil. Le Pere Brebeuf voyãt que sō voyage estoit rompu, & que ce seroit temerité de l'entreprendre non pour la crainte de la mort, car ie ne les vy iamais, si resolus luy, & ses deux cõpagnons le Pere Daniel, & le Pere Dauost, qu'alors qu'on parla qu'ils pourroient laisser la vie au chemin qu'ils entreprenoient pour la gloire de nostre Seigneur: mais comme ils engageoient les François à vne guerre contre ces peuples au cas qu'on les mit à mort, nous iugeasmes auec l'aduis du sieur de Champlain que la conseruation de la paix entre ces nations estoit preferable à la consolation qu'ils auroient de mourir en telle occasion. Le Pere Brebeuf voyant [204] donc ce passage fermé pour cette année, apostropha les Hurons, & leur dit: Vous estes nos freres, nous voulions aller en vostre païs pour viure & mourir auec vous: mais puisque la riuiere est bouchée, nous attendrons à l'année qui vient que tout sera paisible. C'est vous qui ferés la plus grande perte, car maintenant que ie commence à vous pouuoir parler sans truchement, ie voulois vous enseigner le chemin du ciel, & vous découurir les grandes richesses de l'autre vie; mais ce mal-heur vous priue de tous ces biens. Ils repartirent qu'ils en estoient bien marris, & qu'vne année seroit bien-tost passée.
But to the conclusion of this council. Father Brebeuf seeing that his journey was broken up, and that it would be foolhardy to undertake it,—not through fear of death, because I never saw them more resolute, both he and his two companions, Father Daniel and Father Davost, than when they were told that they might lose their lives on the road which they were about to take for the glory of our Lord: but as they would involve the French in war against these people, in case they were killed,—we agreed with sieur de Champlain, that the preservation of peace among these tribes was preferable to the consolation they would experience in dying on such an occasion. Now Father Brebeuf, seeing [204] the way closed for that year, addressed the Hurons, saying: "You are our brothers, we wish to go to your country to live and die with you; but, as the river is closed, we shall wait until the coming year, when all will be peaceable. It is you who will sustain the greater loss; because now, as I am beginning to be able to talk to you without an interpreter, I wish to teach you the way to heaven, and to reveal to you the great riches of the other life; but this misfortune deprives you of all these blessings." They replied that they were very sorry, and that a year would very soon pass away.
A l'issuë de cette assemblée nous nous en allasmes [18] par les cabanes retirer le petit bagage de nos Peres que nous auions desia mis entre les mains des Sauuages pour le porter en leur [205] païs. Ces pauures gens estoient bien faschez de cet accident, & quelques-vns du village de la Rochelle dirent au Pere que s'il vouloit venir, qu'ils l'embarqueroyent, & qu'ils esperoyent le pouuoir faire passer: mais c'estoit se mettre luy & eux & les François en danger. Voila donc l'esperãce d'entrer aux Hurons perdue pour cette année. Ie prie Dieu qu'il nous ouure la porte l'an prochain. Voicy deux raisons plus fortes que deux grosses serrures qui semblent l'auoir fermée pour vn long temps.
Upon the dispersion of this assembly, we went through the cabins, to get the little baggage of our Fathers that we had already placed in the hands of the Savages to be carried to their [205] country. These poor people regretted this unfortunate affair very much; and some of those of the village of la Rochelle said to the Father that, if he wished to go with them, they would carry him, and they hoped to give him a peaceful passage. But that would be placing himself and them and the French in danger. Thus the hope of going into the Huron country is lost for this year. I pray God to open the door for us next year. Below are two reasons, stronger than two great locks, which seem to have closed it to us for a long time.