My Reverend Father,
Since it is necessary to pay the annual tribute which is exacted from us not only by Your Reverence but also by many persons of virtue, merit, and rank, who continue to interest themselves in the affairs of New France as in those of God, I shall begin by referring to the joy with which our Lord filled our hearts on the arrival of the fleet. Some were doubtful whether we would see the Vessels this year, on account of the great preparations for war which were being made in old France;[49] but [2] those who were wisest could not doubt it, as knowing the affection of the King for his new Possessions, which are destined to become one of the bright jewels in his Crown; and, moreover, not ignorant that Monseigneur the Cardinal,—being the Head of this honorable Company, the support of families that come over to these lands, the Father of this new Country, and the powerful Genius who is to bring about, under the favor and authority of his Majesty, the designs of God for the conversion of this new world,—would not fail to show what place this holy undertaking holds in his heart. Another anxiety kept us between fear and hope, arising from the change of Governor. Monsieur de Champlain having left us in the last year of his Administration, to go to Heaven, we were anxious as to what zeal his successor would have for this infant Church. But, when the Ships appeared, all these fears were dissipated; the number of the vessels showed us that the affairs of New France rank [3] among the chief concerns of the Mother country, and that the interest of the Gentlemen of the Company continues daily to increase; and the first acts of Monsieur de Montmagny, our Governor, have made us hope everything that can be expected from a spirit filled with piety, with firmness, and with discretion.[50] I was told once that the earliest act which our great King performed, at the time of his birth, was a presage of his great piety; for the first use he made of his innocent hands was to clasp them, as if he were trying to pray to God, and the first movement of his eyes directed his sight toward heaven. If first actions are prognostications of those to come, we have that for which to bless God in the person of Monsieur de Montmagny, as I shall show in the course of this Relation. Having arrived before Kebec on the night of saint Barnabas, he cast anchor without announcing himself; the next morning, we had word that he was in the Vessel which the night had concealed from us. We went down to the shore of the great River to receive him; Father Pierre [4] Chastellain[51] and Father Charles Garnier[52] were in his company. After the usual courtesies, we accompanied him at once to the Chapel; on the way, perceiving the Tree of our salvation, "Here," said he, "is the first Cross that I encounter in the Country; let us adore the Crucified in his image." He throws himself upon his knees, as, following his example, do all his attendants, as well as all those who were coming to salute him. Thence he entered the Church, where we solemnly chanted the Te Deum, as well as the Prayers for our good King. At the conclusion of his act of thanksgiving, and of the praises we rendered to God for his coming, Monsieur de Chasteaufort,[53] who filled the place of the late Monsieur de Champlain, came to present to him the keys of the fortress, where he was received with several volleys of musketry and the thunder of numerous cannon. Scarcely had he entered when one came to ask him if it would be agreeable to him to be Godfather to a Savage who desired Baptism. "Very willingly," said he, rejoicing in this good fortune, that, upon entering his Administration, he could help open the doors of the Church to a poor [5] soul who wished to enter the sheepfold of Jesus Christ. That the Fathers who had accompanied him might put their hands to the harvest at the moment of setting foot on land, the Father who had taught this barbarian asks Father Chastellain if he would not be glad to begin his labors in New France with a Baptism. O God! what a sentiment of joy he manifested at this proposal! Behold him quite ready! Monsieur the Governor proceeds to the Cabins of these poor barbarians, followed by a brisk retinue of Nobles. I leave you to imagine the astonishment of these People at seeing so much scarlet, so many elegant personages under their bark roofs! What comfort this poor sick man experienced when they told him that the great Captain who had just arrived wished to bestow a name upon him, and to be his Sponsor! The Father questions him anew upon the mysteries of our belief. He replies that he believes in him who made all things, and in his son, Jesus, and also in the good Spirit; that he is sorry he has offended him who made himself man, and who died for us; and that he greatly regrets [6] having learned so late to know him. Monsieur the Governor named him Joseph, in honor of the holy Spouse of the Virgin, Patron of New France; and the Father baptized him. During dinner, for all this happened in the morning, this noble Godfather said aloud, in the presence of a distinguished company, that he had received that day the greatest honor and the most genuine satisfaction that he could have desired in New France. Are not these things that give us cause for rejoicing? This is not all; that same day appeared a Vessel commanded by Monsieur de Courpon,[54] which brought to us Father Nicolas Adam[55] and our Brother Ambroise Cauvet.[56] These meetings in a country so far from our Native Land, after having crossed so many seas, affect sometimes the eyes as well as the heart. Our joy did not end there. The number of families, which came over to increase our Colony, made it considerably larger. Among others, were those of Monsieur de Repentigny[57] and of Monsieur de la Poterie,[58] gallant Gentlemen, composed of forty-five individuals. It was a matter for which to praise [7] God, to see in this country delicate Maidens and little children of tenderest age come forth from a prison of wood, as the day comes forth from the darkness of night,—and enjoying, after all, as perfect health, notwithstanding the many hardships to which one is subjected in these floating habitations, as if they had been driving on the street in a carriage. See then how this day was for us doubly a day of festival and of rejoicing; but let us begin our discourse. I will divide all I have to say this year into several Chapters, which I will shorten or extend according to the leisure which God shall grant me for it.
CHAPITRE PREMIER.
DES SENTIMENS D'AFFECTION QU'ONT PLUSIEURS PERSONNES DE MERITE POUR LA NOUUELLE FRANCE.
IE ne sçay pas quel succez auront les affaires de la Nouuelle France, ny quand nous y verrons la porte pleinement ouuerte à l'Euangile: mais ie sçay [8] bien neantmoins, que c'est Dieu qui conduit cette entreprise. La nature n'a pas les bras assez longs pour atteindre au point, où elle est paruenuë; elle ayme trop ses interests sensibles, pour reünir tant de cœurs, & tant d'affections à la poursuitte d'vn bien, qu'elle ne cognoit pas. Fuïr ses parens, & ses amis, abandonner ses cognoissances, sortir de sa patrie si douce, & si polie; passer les mers, defier l'Ocean, & ses tempestes, sacrifier sa vie aux souffrances, quitter les biens presens, pour se ietter dans des esperances éloignées de nostre veuë, conuertir le trafic de la terre en celuy du ciel, vouloir mourir dans la Barbarie, est vn langage qui ne se parle point dans l'école de la nature. Ces actions vont au delà de sa portée, & cependant ce sont les actions & le langage de mille personnes de merite, qui s'attachent aux affaires de la Nouuelle Frãce, auec autãt & plus de courage qu'ils feroiẽt aux leurs propres en l'Ancienne. Ie ne voy pas, ny ie ne peux entendre tout ce qui tend à ce dessein; on ne me parle qu'vne fois l'an de ces affaires, & encore sur vn morceau de papier, qui ressemble à [9] ces muets du grand Seigneur, qui parlent sans dire mot. Si [224] est-ce que ie puis dire, voyant tant de feu, tant de zele, tant de sainctes affections en des personnes si differentes d'âge, de sexe, de condition, de profession; qu'autre qu'vn Dieu ne peut causer ces pensées, ny allumer ces brasiers, qui ne se nourrissent que des bois aromatiques du Paradis. Ie ne dis rien des tendres & nobles affections qu'a nostre grand Roy pour la conuersion de ces Peuples; c'est pour ce dessein qu'il a étably la Compagnie de la Nouuelle France, l'a honorée de sa faueur, & de plusieurs grands Priuileges. Ie ne parle non plus des soins de Monseigneur le Cardinal; c'est assez de dire qu'il s'est fait Chef de cette honorable Compagnie, & qu'il a releué, soustenu & animé cette grande entreprise, qu'on ne peut choquer à moins que de toucher à la prunelle de ses yeux. Monseigneur le Duc d'Anguien fils aisné de Monseigneur le Prince, m'honorant d'vn mot de sa propre main, m'asseura l'an passé, qu'il auoit de grands sentimẽs pour nous, & que nous en verrions les effects, à mesure que Dieu luy [10] feroit la grace de croistre en âge. I'ay d'autant plus volontiers remercié nostre Seigneur, d'auoir desia inspiré à ce ieune Prince ces bons desseins pour son seruice, qu'il a l'esprit plus capable de s'en acquiter. Ie sçay de bonne part & sans flatterie, qu'il l'a fait paroistre auec autant d'admiration, durant le cours de ses estudes, au iugement de ceux qui l'y ont veu, que sa qualité le rendra tousiours digne de respect, enuers ceux qui le cognoistront. Dieu soit loüé! tout le ciel de nostre chere Patrie, nous promet de fauorables influences, iusques à ce nouuel astre, qui commence à paroistre parmy ceux de la premiere grandeur.
CHAPTER FIRST.
OF THE SENTIMENTS OF AFFECTION WHICH MANY PERSONS OF MERIT ENTERTAIN FOR NEW FRANCE.
I KNOW not what success the affairs of New France will have, nor when we shall see its doors opened wide to the Gospel; but I know [8] well, nevertheless, that it is God who directs this enterprise. Nature has not arms long enough to reach the point to which this has attained; she loves too well material interests to bring together so many hearts and so many affections in the pursuit of a good of which she has no knowledge. To forsake one's parents and one's friends, to relinquish one's associates, to go forth from one's native land, so sweet and so refined; to cross the seas, to dare the Ocean and its storms, to give up one's life to sufferings, to abandon present advantages that one may launch out into hopes remote from one's vision, to convert the business of earth into that of heaven, to be willing to die in the midst of Barbarism,—is a language which is not spoken in the school of nature. Such deeds go beyond her range, and yet they are the deeds and language of a thousand persons of merit, who are devoting themselves to the affairs of New France with as much and more of courage than they would give to their own in the Old. I do not see nor can I understand all that leads to this design; they speak to me but once a year about these matters, and then upon a piece of paper, which is like [9] those mutes of the grand Seigneur, who talk without saying a word. Yet I can say,—seeing so much fire, so much zeal, so much holy love, in persons so different in age, in sex, in condition, and occupation,—that none other than a God can cause these thoughts, can kindle these coals, which are fed only by the aromatic woods of Paradise. I say nothing of the tender and noble desires of our great King for the conversion of these Tribes; it is for this purpose that he has established the Company of New France, honored it with his favor and with many important Privileges. Nor do I speak about the attentions of Monseigneur the Cardinal; it is enough to say that he has become Head of this honorable Company, and that he has uplifted, sustained, and animated this grand enterprise, which cannot be attacked without touching the apple of his eye. The Duke d'Anguien,[13] eldest son of Monseigneur the Prince, honoring me with a word from his own hand, assured me last year that he had high esteem for us, and that we should see the effects of it in proportion as God should [10] grant him the favor of added years. I thanked our Lord for already having inspired this young Prince with these good intentions of serving him, the more gladly as he has a mind well qualified to fulfill them. I know from good authority and without flattery that he showed this so admirably, during the course of his studies, in the opinion of those who saw him engaged in them, that his character will always render him worthy of respect among those who shall know him. God be praised! The whole sky of our dear Native Land promises us favorable influences, even to this new star, which begins to shine among those of the first magnitude.