I fear very much that vice will slip into these new colonies. If, however, those who hold the reins of government in hand are zealous for the glory of our good God, following the desires and intentions of the Honorable Directors and Associates of the Company, there will arise here a Jerusalem blessed of God, composed of Citizens destined for Heaven. It is very easy in a new country, where families arrive who are all prepared to observe the laws that will be established there, to [20] banish the wicked customs of certain places in old France, and to introduce better ones. These Gentlemen, who interest themselves more in the cause of God, and in virtue, than in commerce, have no ships to bring over drunkenness, gambling, and the dissoluteness of the Carnival, any more than uncleanness and blasphemy. New France does not desire those inhabitants of Cedar and of Babylon, who will surely slip in here, unless opposed by those who have all the power; dissimulation in this place and in these beginnings is very dangerous; and God will ask an account for duties omitted as well as for faults committed.
[21] CHAPITRE II.
DE LA CONUERSION & DE LA MORT DE QUELQUES SAUUAGES.
VINGT-DEVX sauuages ont esté baptisez ceste année, si nous auions la cognoissance des langues, ie croy que la foy prendroit de grands accroissemens: nous n'osons encor confier le baptesme qu'à ceux que nous voyons en danger de mort, ou à des enfans qui nous sont asseurez: Car ne pouuant encore plainement instruire ces Barbares, ils mépriseroîent bien-tost nos saincts Mysteres, s'ils n'en auoient qu'vne legere cognoissance. Il est bien vray que si ce peuple estoit curieux de sçauoir, comme sont toutes les nations policées, que quelques-vns [22] d'entre nous ont vne assez grande cognoissance de leur lãgue, pour les instruire: mais comme ils sont profession de viure, & non pas de sçauoir; leur plus grand soucy est de boire & de manger, & non pas de cognoistre. Quand vous leur parlez de nos veritez, ils vous écoutent paisiblement; mais au lieu de vous interroguer sur ce sujet, ils se iettent incontinent sur les moyens de trouuer dequoy viure, monstrans leur estomach tousiours vuide, & tousiours affamé. Que si on sçauoit haranguer comme eux, & qu'on se trouuast en leurs assemblées, ie croy qu'on y seroit bien puissant, la bonté de Dieu sera tout reussir en son temps: venons à nos Neophytes. Le 16. d'Aoust de l'année passée 1634. vn peu apres le depart des vaisseaux, ie baptisay [276] à la mort vn ieune garçon aagé d'enuiron 12. ou 14. ans, les [23] Saunages le nommoient Akhikouch, nous luy auions destiné le nom de Dieudonné. Monsieur du Plessis Bochard General de la flotte l'auoit amené des trois Riuieres tout malade, & nous l'auoit donné pour luy sauuer si on pouuoit la vie du corps, & luy donner celle de l'ame: il n'a vescu chez nous que le temps necessaire pour estre sommairement instruit.
[21] CHAPTER II.
OF THE CONVERSION AND OF THE DEATH OF SOME SAVAGES.
TWENTY-TWO savages have been baptized this year. If we were acquainted with the languages, I believe the faith would be widely extended. We dare not yet trust baptism to any except those whom we see in danger of death, or to children who are assured to us; for, not yet being able to fully instruct these Barbarians, they would soon show a contempt for our holy Mysteries, if they had only a slight knowledge of them. It is quite true that, if these people were as desirous of learning as are all civilized nations, some [22] of us have a good enough knowledge of their language to teach them. But as they make living, and not knowledge, their profession, their greatest anxiety is about eating and drinking, and not about learning. When you speak to them of our truths, they listen to you patiently; but instead of asking you about the matter, they at once turn their thoughts to ways of finding something upon which to live, showing their stomachs always empty and always famished. Yet if we could make speeches as they do, and if we were present in their assemblies, I believe we could accomplish much there. The goodness of God will ensure success in all things in his own time; let us turn to our Neophytes. On the 16th of August of last year, 1634, shortly after the departure of our vessels, I baptized, when he was dying, a young boy about 12 or 14 years of age. The [23] Savages called him Akhikouch; we had chosen for him the name Dieudonné. Monsieur du Plessis Bochard, Commandant of the fleet, had brought him to us from the three Rivers, very sick; and had given him to us that we might, if possible, save the life of the body, at the same time giving him that of the soul. He lived with us only long enough to be hastily instructed.