the tast of wine which they tooke with a pipe The same hath preserued many of them from death The yong buds of hearbs in the Spring time be also very soueraigne And besides that reason requireth to beleeue it I haue tried it being my selfe gone many times to gather some for our sicke people before that those of our garden might be vsed which restored them to their taste againe and comforted their weake stomacks And as for that which concerneth the exterior parts of the body we haue found great good in wearing woodden pantaphles or patins with our shooes for to avoide the moistnesse The houses neede no opening nor windowes on the Northwest side being a winde very dangerous but rather on the East side or the South It is very good to haue good bedding it was good for me to haue caried things necessary to this purpose and aboue all to keepe himselfe neat I would like well the vse of Stooues such as they haue in Germany by meanes whereof they feele no Winter being at home but as much as they please Yea they haue of them in many places in their gardens which doe so temper the coldnesse of winter that in this rough and sharpe season there one may see Orenge-trees Limon-trees Figge-trees Pomgranet-trees and all such sorts of trees bring foorth fruit as good as in Prouence Which is so much the more easie to doe in this new land for that it is all couered ouer with woods except when one comes in the Armonchiquois countrie a hundred leagues further of then Port Royall And in making of winter a sommer one shall discouer the land Which not hauing any more those great obstacles that hinder the Sunne to court her and from warming it with his heat without doubt it will become very temperate and yeeld a most milde aire and well agreeing with our humour not hauing there euen at this time neither colde nor heat that is excessiue The Sauages that know not Germany nor the customes thereof doe teach vs the same lesson which being subiect to those sicknesse as we haue seene in the voiage of Iames Quartier vse sweatings often as it were euery moneth and by this meanes they preserue themselues driuing out by sweate all the colde and euell humors they might haue gathered But one singular preseruatiue against this perfidious sicknesse which commeth so stealingly and which hauing once lodged it selfe within vs will not be put out is to follow the counsell of him that is wise amonst the wise who hauing considered all the afflictions that man giue to himselfe during his life hath found nothing better then to reioice himselfe and doe good and to take pleasure in his owne workes They that haue done so in our company haue found themselues well by it contrawise some alwaies grudging repining neuer content idle haue beene found out by the same disease True it is that for to inioy mirth it is good to haue the sweetnesse of fresh meates fleshes fishes milke butter oyles fruits and such like which we had not at will I meane the common sort for alwaies some one or other of the company did furnish Monsieur De Poutrincourt his table with wilde foule venison or fresh fish And if we had had halfe a dosen kyne I beleeue that no body had died there It resteth a preseruatiue necessarie for the accomplishment of mirth and to the end one may take pleasure on the worke of his hands is euery one to haue the honest company of his lawfull wife for without that the cheare is neuer perfect ones minde is alwaies vpon that which one loues and desireth there is still some sorrow the bodie becomes full of ill humours and so the sicknesse doth breede And for the last and soueraigne remedie I send backe the patient to the tree of life for so one may well qualifie it which Iames Quartier doth call Anneda yet vnknowen in the coast of Port Royall vnlesse it bee peraduenture the Sasafras whereof there is quantitie in certaine places And it is an assured thing that the said tree is very excellent But Monsieur Champlain who is now in the great riuer of Canada passing his winter in the same part where the said Quartier did winter hath charge to finde it out and to make prouision thereof CHAP. VII The discouery of new Lands by Monsieur De Monts fabulous tales and reports of the riuer and fained towne of Norombega The refuting of the authors that haue written thereof Fish bankes in New found land Kinibeki Chouacoet Mallebarre Armouchiquois The death of a French man killed Mortality of Englishmen in Virginia THe rough season being passed Monsieur De Monts wearied with his badde dwelling at Saint Croix determined to seeke out another Port in a warrner countrie and more to the South And to that end made a Pinnesse to be armed and furnished with victuals to follow the coast and discouering new countries to seeke out some happier Port in a more temperate aire And because that in seeking one cannot set forward so much as when in full sailes one goeth in open sea and that finding out baies and gulfes lying betweene two lands one must put in because that there one may assoone finde that which is sought for as else where he made in this voyage but about six score leagues as wee will tell you now From Saint Croix to 60. leagues forward the coast lieth East and West at the end of which 60. leagues is the riuer called by the Sauages Kinibeki From which place to Malebarre it lieth North and South and there is yet from one to the other 60. leagues in right line not following the baies So farre stretcheth Monsieur De Monts his voyage wherein he had for Pilot in his vessell Monsieur De Champdore In all this coast so farre as Kinibeki there is many places where shippes may be harbored amongst the Ilands but the people there is not so frequent as is beyond that And there is no remarkable thing at least that may be seene in the outside of the lands but a riuer whereof many haue written fables one after another like to those that they who grounding themselues vpon Hannos his Commentaries a Carthaginian captain haue fained of Townes built by him in great number vpon the coasts of Africa which is watered with the Ocean sea for that hee plaied an heroycall part in sailing so farre as the Iles of Cap Vert where long time since no body hath beene the Nauigation not being so secure then vpon that great sea as it is at this day by the benefit of the Compasse Therefore without alleaging that which the first writers Spaniards and Portingals haue said I will recite that which is in the last booke intituled The vniuersall Historie of the West Indies Printed at Douay the last yeere 1607. in the place where he speaketh of Norombega For in reporting this
infinite paines to stanch her by pomping In the end being come about they found a great leake by the keele which they stopped with all diligence CHAP. VI. The buildings of the I le Saint Croix The French-mens discommodities in the said place Vnknowen Sicknesses of their causes of the people that be subiect to it of diets bad waters aire windes lakes corruption of woods seasons disposition of bodies of yongue and old the Authors aduice vpon the gouernment of health and cure of the said diseases DVring the foresaid Nauigation Monsieur De Monts his people did worke about the Fort which hee seated at the end of the Iland opposite to the place where he had lodged his Canon Which was wisely considered to the end to command the riuer vp down But there was an inconuenience the said Fort did lie towards the North and without any shelter but of the trees that were on the I le shore which all about hee commanded to be kept and not cut downe And out of the same Fort was the Switzers lodging great and large and other small lodgings representing as it were a Suburbe Some had housed themselues on the firme land neere the brook But within the Fort was Monsieur De Monts his lodging made with very faire artificiall Carpentrie worke with the Banner of France vpon the same At another part was the store-house wherin consisted the safety life of euerie one likewise made with faire Carpentry worke and couered with reedes Right ouer against the said store-house were the lodgings and houses of these Gentlemen Monsieur D'oruille Monsieur Champlein Monsieur Champdorè and other men of reckoning Opposite to Monsieur De Monts his said lodging there was a gallerie couered for to exercise themselues either in play or for the workmen in time of raine And betweene the said Fort and the Platforme where lay the Canon all was full of gardens wherunto euerie one exercised himselfe willingly All Autumne quarter was passed on these works and it was well for them to haue lodged themselues and to manure the ground of the Iland before Winter whilest that in these parts pamphlets were set out vnder the name of Maistre Guillaume stuffed with all sorts of newes By the which amongst other things this Prognosticator did say that Monsieur De Monts did pull out thornes in Canada and all well considered it may well be termed the pulling out of thornes to take in hand such enterprises full of toiles and continuall perils with cares vexations and discommodities But vertue and courage that ouer commeth all these things makes those thornes to be but Gilliflowers and Roses to them that resoule themselues in these heroicall actions to make themselues praise-worthy and famous in the memorie of men despising the vaine pleasures of delicate and effeminated men good for nothing but to coffer themselues in a chamber The most vrgent things being done and hoarie snowie father being come that is to say Winter then they were forced to keepe within doores and to liue euery one at his owne home during which time our men had three speciall discommodities in this Hand videlicet want of wood for that which was in the said Ile was spent in buildings lacke of fresh water and the continuall watch made by night fearing some surprise from the Sauages that had lodged themselues at the foot of the said Iland or some other enemie For the malediction and rage of many Christians is such that one must take heed of them much more than of Infidels A thing which grieueth me to speak would to God I were a liar in this respect and that I had no cause to speake it When they had need of water or wood they were constrained to crosse ouer the riuer which is thrice as broad of euery side as the riuer of Seine It was a thing painfull and tedious in such sort that it was needfull to keepe the boat a whole day before one might get those necessaries In the meane while the cold and snowes came vpon them and the Ice so strong that the Sider was frozen in the vessels and euery one his measure was giuen him out by waight As for wine it was distributed but at certaine daies of the weeke Many idle sluggish companions dranke snow-water not willing to take the paines to crosse the riuer Briefly the vnknowen sicknesses like to those described vnto vs by Iames Quartier in his relation assailed vs. For remedies there was none to be found In the meane while the poore sicke creatures did languish pining away by little and little for want of sweet meats as milke or spoon-meat for to sustain their stomacks which could not receaue the hard meats by reason of let proceeding from a rotten flesh which grew and ouer-abounded within their mouths And when one thought to root it out it did grow againe in one nights space more abundantly than before As for the tree called Annedda mentioned by the said Quartier the Sauages of these lands know it not So that it was most pitifull to behold euery one very few excepted in this miserie and the miserable sicke folkes to die as it were full of life without any possibilitie to be succoured There died of this sicknesse 36 and 36 or 40 more that were stricken with it recouered themselues by the helpe of the Spring assoone as the comfortable season appeared But the deadly season for that sicknesse is in the end of Ianuarie the moneths of February and March wherein most commonly the sicke doe die euery one at his turne according to the time they haue begun to be sicke in such sort that hee which began to bee ill in Februarie and March may escape but hee that shall ouer-haste himselfe and betake him to his bed in December and Ianuarie hee is in danger to die in Februarie March or the beginning of Aprill which time being passed he is in good hope and as it were assured of his safetie Notwithstanding some haue felt some touch thereof hauing beene sharply handled with it Monsieur De monts being returned into France did consult with our Doctors of Physicke vpon the sicknesse which in my opinion they found very new vnknown for I doe not see that when we went away our Pothecarie was charged with any order for the cure thereof and notwithstanding it seemeth that Hippocrates hath had knowledge of it or at least of some that was very like to it For in the Booke De internis affect he speaketh of a certaine maladie where the belly and afterward the spleene doe swell and harden it selfe and feele grieuous and sharpe gripes the skinne becommeth blacke and pale drawing towards the colour of a greene Pomgranet the eares and gums doe render and yeeld a bad sent the said gums disioining themselues from the teeth the legs full of blisters the limbes are weakned c. But specially the Northerly people are more subiect to
that vntill we came neere the Açores we had the winde fit enough and afterward we had almost alwaies either South-west or Norweast little North and South which were not good for vs but to saile with the bowline For Easterly windes we had none at all but once or twice which continued nothing with vs to speake of Sure it is that the Westerly windes doe raigne much a long that sea Whether it be by a certaine repercussion of the East winde which is stiffe and swift vnder the Equinoctiall line wherof we haue spoken else-where or because that this Western land being large and great also the winde that issueth from thence doth abound the more Which commeth especially in Summer when the sunne hath force to draw vp the vapors of the earth for the windes come from thence issuing from the dennes and Caues of the same And therefore the Poets doe faine that Aeolus holdeth them in prisons from whence hee draweth them and giueth them liberty when it pleaseth him But the spirit of God doth confirm it vnto vs yet better when he saith by the mouth of the Prophet that Almighty God among other his maruels draweth the windes out of his treasures which be the Caues whereof I speake For the word treasure fignifieth in Hebrew secret and hidden place He bringeth foorth the cloudes from the earthes furthest parts the lightnings with the raines he makes and them impartes on some in his anger on others for pleasures The windes he draweth foorth out of his deepe treasures And vpon this consideration Christopher Columbus a Genwaie first nauigator of these last ages vnto the Ilands of Amerika did iudge that there was some great land in the West hauing obserued sailing on the sea that continuall windes came from that part Continuing then our course we had some other stormes hindrances procured by windes which we almost had alwaies contrary by reason we set out too late but they that set out in March haue commonly good windes because that then the East Noreast and Northern windes doe raigne which are fit and prosperous for these voiages These tempests were very often foretold vs by Porpeses which did haunt about our ship by thousands sporting themselues after a very pleasant maner Some of them did pay for their so neer eapproaching For some men waited for them at the beke head which is the forepart of the ship with harping Irons in their hands which met with them sometimes and drew them in abord with the helpe of the other sailers which with iron hookes which they call Gaffes tied at the end of a long powle pulled them vp We haue taken many of them in that sort both in going and comming which haue done vs no harme There bee two sorts of them some which haue a blunt and bigge nose others which haue it sharpe we tooke none but of these last but yet I remember to haue seene in the water some of the short-nosed ones This fish hath two fingers bredth of fat at the least on the backe When it was cut in two we did wash our hands in his hot blood which they say comforteth the sinewes He hath a maruelous quantity of teeth along his Iawes and I thinke that he holdeth fast that which he once catcheth Moreouer the inward parts haue altogether the taste of hoggs flesh and the bones not in forme of fish bones but like a foure footed creature The most delicate meat of it is the finne which he hath vpon the backe and the taile which are neither fish nor flesh but better then that such as also is in substance of taile that of the Beuers which seemeth to be scailed These Porpeses be the onely fishes we tooke before we came to the great bancke of Morues or Codfish But far off we saw other great fishes which did shew out of the water aboue halfe an akers length of their backes and did thrust out in the aire aboue a speares height of great pipes of water thorow the holes they had vpon their heads But to returne to our purpose of stormes during our voiage we had some which made vs strike downe saile and to stand our armes a crosse caried at the pleasure of the waues and tossed vp and downe after a strange maner If any coffer or chest was not well made fast it was heard to rowle from side to side makeing a foule noise Sometimes the kettle was ouerturned and in dyning or supping our dishes and platters flew from one ende of the table to the other vnlesse they were holden very fast As for the drinke one must cary his mouth and the glasse according to the motion of the ship Briefely it was a sport but somewhat rude to them that cannot beare this iogging easily For all that the most of vs did laugh at it for there was no danger in it at least euident being in a good ship and strong to withstand the waues We had also sometimes calmes very tedious and wearisome during which we washed our selues in the sea we danced vpon the decke we climbed vp the maine top we sang in muficke Then when a little small cloude was percerued to issue from vnder the Horizon we were forced to giue ouer those exercises for to take heed of a gust of winde which was wrapped in the same cloud which dissoluing it selfe grumbling snorting whistling roaring storming and buzing was able to ouer turne our ship vp-side downe vnlesse men had beene ready to execute that which the Master of the ship which was Captaine Foulques a man very vigilant commanded them There is no harme in shewing how these gusts of winde otherwise called stormes are formed and from whence they proceed Plinie speaketh of them in his naturall history and saith that they be exhalations light vapours raised from the earth to the colde region of the aire and not being able to passe further but rather forced to returne backe they sometimes meet sulphury and firy exhalations which compasse them about and binde so hard that there come thereby a great combat motions and agitation between the sulphury heat and the airy moistnesse which being constrained by the stronger enemy to run away it openeth it selfe maketh it selfe waie whistleth roareth and stormeth briefely becometh a winde which is great or lesser according that the sulphury exalation which wrappeth it breaketh it selfe and giueth it way sometimes all at once as we haue shewed before and sometimes with longer time according to the quantity of the matter wherof it is made and according as either more or lesse it is moued by his contrary qualities But I cannot leaue vnmentioned the wonderful courage and assurance that good sailers haue in these windie conflicts stormes and tempests when as a ship being caried and mounted vpon mountaines of waters and from thence let downe as it were into the profound depthes of the world they clime among the tacklings and
cordes not only to the maine top and to the very height of the maine mast but also without ladder steps to the top of another mast fastened to the first held onely with the force of their armes and feet winding about the highest tacklings Yea much more that if in this great tossing and rowling it chanceth that the maine saile which they call Paphil or Papefust be vntied at the higher ends he who is first commanded will put himselfe stradling vpon the maine yard that is the tree which crossed the maine mast and with a hammer at his girdle and halfe a dosen nailes in his mouth will tie againe and make fast that which was vntied to the perill of a thousand liues I haue sometimes heard great account made of a Switzers bouldnesse who after the siege of Laon and the citie being rendered to the Kings obedience climbed and stood stradling vpon the thwart branch of the crosse of our Ladies church steeple of the said towne and stood there forked wise his feet vpward But that in my iudgement is nothing in regard of this the said Switzer being vpon a firme and solide body and without motion and this contrariwise hanging ouer an vnconstant sea tossed with boistrous windes as we haue sometimes seene After we had left these Pirats spoken of before we were vntill the 18. of Iune tossed with diuers and almost contrary windes without any discouery but of one ship far off from vs which we did not boord and yet notwithstanding the very sight thereof did comfort vs. And the same day we met a ship of Honfleur wherein Captaine La Roche did command going for New-found-landes who had no better fortune vpon the sea then we The custome is at sea that when some particular ship meeteth with the King his ship as ours was to come vnder the lee and to present herselfe not side by side but bias wise Also to pull down her flagge as this Captain La Roche did except the flagge for shee had non no more had we being not needfull in so great a voyage but in approaching the land or when one must fight Our sailers did cast then their computation on the course that we had made For in euery ship the Master the Pilot and Masters Mate doe write downe euery day of their courses and windes that they haue followed for how many houres and the estimation of leagues The said La Roche did account that they were then in the Fourty fiue degrees and within a hundred leagues of the Bancke Our Pilot called Master Oliuer Fleuriot of Saint Maloe by his computation said that we were within 60. leagues of it And Captaine Foulques within 120. leagues I beleeue he gaue the best iudgement We receiued much contentment by the meeting of this ship and did greatly encourage vs seeing wee did begin to meete with ships seeming vnto vs that wee did enter in a place of acquaintance But by the way a thing must be noted which I haue found admirable and which giueth vs occasion to play the Philosophers For about the same 18. day of Iune wee found the sea-water during three daies space very warme and by the same warmth our wine also was warme in the bottome of our ship yet the aire was not hotter then before And the 21. of the said moneth quite contrarie we were 2. or 3. daies so much compassed with mistes and coldes that we thought our selues to be in the moneth of Ianuary and the water of the sea was extreame colde Which continued with vs vntill we came vpon the said Bancke by reason of the said mistes which outwardly did procure this colde vnto vs. When I seeke out the cause of this Antiperistase I attribute it to the Ices of the North which come floating downe vpon the coast and sea adioyning to New-found-land and Labrador which wee haue said else-where is brought thither with the sea by her naturall motion which is greater there then else-where because of the great space it hath to runne as in a gulfe in the depth of America where the nature and situation of the vniuersall earth doth beare it easily Now these Ices which sometimes are seene in banckes of tenne leagues length and as high as Mountaines and hils and thrice as deepe in the waters holding as it were an Empire in this sea driue out farre from them that which is contrary to their coldnesse and consequently doe binde and close on this side that small quantity of milde temperature that the Summer may bring to that part where they come to seat and place themselues Yet for all that I will not deny but this region in one and the selfe-same paralell is somewhat colder then those of our part of Europe for the reasons that we will aleage heereafter when we shall speake of the fowlnesse of seasons Such is my opinion being ready to heare another mans reason And being mindefull heereof I did of purpose take heed of the same at my returne from New France and found the same warmenesse of water or very neere though it was in the Moneth of September within fiue or six daies sailing on this side of the said bancke whereof we will now intreate CHAP. XII Of the great Bancke of Morues or Coddes of the Sound our comming to the said Bancke the description thereof the fishing of New-found-land-fish and of birds the greedinesse of birds called by Frenchmen Hap-foyes that is to say liuer-catchers diuers perils the fauours of God the causes of frequent and long mistes in the Western sea Land-markes the sight of it maruellous odours the boording of two Shaloupes the landing at the Port du Moutton the comming into Port Royall of two Frenchmen remaining there alone amongst the Sauages BEfore wee come to the Bancke spoken of before which is the great Bancke where the fishing of greene Cod-fishes is made so are they called when they are not dry for one must goe alande for the drying of them the sea-faring-men besides the computation they make of their course haue warnings when they come neere to it by birds which are knowen euen as one doth them of these our parts returning backe into France when one is within 100. or 120. leagues neere it The most frequent of these birds towards the said Bancke be Godes Fouquets and other called Happe-foyes for a reason that we will declare anone When these birds then were seene which were not like to them that we had seene in the middest of the great sea we began to thinke our selues not to be farre from the said Bancke Which made vs to sound with our lead vpon a Thursday the 22. of Iune but then we found no bottom The same day in the euening we cast againe with better successe for we found bottome at 36. fadams The said sound is a peece of lead of seuen or eight pound waight made piramidall wise fastened at one or diuers lines and
Port De La Heve where this prisoner was taken They had great store of Merchandises trucked with Frenchmen which they were comming to vtter that is to say great meane and small kettles hatchets kniues gownes short cloakes red wast coates bisket and other things whereupon there arriued twelue or fifteene boats full of Sauages of Olmechins subiection being in very good order all their faces painted according to their wonted custome when they will seeme faire hauing their bow and arrow in hand and the quiuer which they laid downe a boord At that houre Messamoet began his Oration before the Sauages Shewing them how that in times past they often had friendship together and that they might easily ouercome their enemies if they would haue intelligence and serue themselues with the amitie of the Frenchmen whom they saw there present to know their Country to the end to bring commodities vnto them heereafter and to succour them with their forces which forces he knew and he was the better able to make a demonstration thereof vnto them by so much that hee which spake had before time beene in France and dwelt therewith Monsieur De Grandmont Gouernour of Bayonne Finally his speech continued almost an houre with much vehemency and affection with a gesture of body and armes as is requisite in a good Oratour And in the end he did cast all his merchandises which were worth aboue 300. crownes brought into that country into Olmechin his boat as making him a present of that in assurance of the loue he would witnes vnto him That done the night hasted on and euery one retired himselfe But Messamoet was not pleased for that Olmechin made not the like oration vnto him nor requited his present For the Sauages haue that noble quality that they giue liberally casting at the feet of him whom they wil honor the present that they giue him But it is with hope to receiue some reciprocall kindnesse which is a kinde of contract which we call without name I giue thee to the end thou shouldest giue me And that is done thorow all the world Therefore Messamoet from that day had in minde to make war to Olmechin Notwithstanding the next day in the morning he and his people did returne with a boate laden with that which they had to wit Corne Tabacco Beanes and Pumpions which they distributed heere and there Those two Captaines Olmechin and Marchin haue since beene killed in the wars In whose stead was chosen by the Sauages one named Bessabes which since our returne hath beene killed by Englishmen And in stead of him they haue made a Captaine to come from within the lands named Asticou a graue man valiant and redoubted which in the twinkling of an eye will gather vp 1000. Sauages together which thing Olmechin and Marchin might also doe For our Barkes being there presently the Sea was seene all couered ouer with their boates laden with nimble and lusty men holding themselues vp straight in them which we cannot doe without danger those boates being nothing else but trees hollowed after the fashion that we will shew you in the booke following From thence Monsieur De Poutrincourt following on his course found a certaine Port very delightfull which had not beene seene by Monsieur De Monts And during the voyage they saw store of smoke and people on the shore which inuited vs to come aland And seeing that no account was made of it they followed the barke along the sand yea most often they did outgoe her so swift are they hauing their bowes in hand and their quiuers vpon their backes alwaies singing and dauncing not taking care with what they should liue by the way Happy people Yea a thousand times more happy than they which in these parts make themselues to be worshipped if they had the knowledge of God and of their saluation Monsieur De Poutrincourt hauing landed in this Port behold among a multitude of Sauages a good number of fifes which did play with certaine long pipes made as it were with canes of reedes painted ouer but not with such an harmony as our Shepheards might doe And to shew the excellency of their art they whisled with their noses in gambolling according to their fashion And as this people did runne headlong to come to the Barke there was a Sauage which hurt himselfe greeuously in the heele against the edge of a rocke whereby hee was inforced to remaine in the place Monsieur De Poutrincourt his Chirurgion at that instant would apply to this hurt that which was of his art but they would not permit it vntill they had first made their mouthes and mops about the wounded man They then laide him downe on the ground one of them holding his head on his lap and made many baulings and singings whereunto the wounded man answered but with a Ho with a complaining voice which hauing done they yeelded him to the cure of the said Chirurgion and went their way and the patient also after he had beene dressed but two houres after hee came againe the most iocund in the world hauing put about his head the binding cloth wherewith his heele was wrapped for to seeme the more gallant The day following our people entred farther into the Port where being gone to see the Cabins of the Sauages an old woman of an hundred or six score yeares of age came to cast at the feet of Monsieur De Poutrincour a loafe of bread made with the wheat called Mahis or Mais and in these our parts Turky or Saracin wheat then very faire hempe of a long growth Item beanes and grapes newly gathered because they had seene French men eat of them at Chauakoet Which the other Sauages seeing that knew it not they brought more of them than one would emulating one another and for recompence of this their kindnesse there was set on their foreheads a filler or band of paper wet with spittle of which they were very proud It was shewed them in pressing the grape into a glasse that of that we did make the wine which we did drinke Wee would haue made them to eat of the grape but hauing taken it into their mouthes they spitted it out so ignorant is this people of the best thing that God hath giuen to man next to bread Yet notwithstanding they haue no want of wit and might be brought to doe some good things if they were ciuilized and had the vse of handy craftes But they are subtill theeuish and traiterous and though they be naked yet one cannot take heed of their fingers for if one turne neuer so little his eies aside and that they spie the opportunity to steale any knife hatchet or any thing else they will not misse nor faile of it and will put the theft between their buttockes or will hide it within the sand with their foot so cunningly that one shall not perceiue it
them before they goe to bed and so doe leaue them naked They vse also humanity and mercy towards their enemies wiues and little children whose liues they spare but they remaine their prisoners for to serue them according to the ancient right of seruitude brought in amongst all the nations of the other world against the naturall liberty But as for the men of defence they spare none but kill as many of them as they can catch As for iustice they haue not any Law neither deuine nor humane but that which Nature teacheth them that one must not offend another So haue they quarels very seldome And if any such thing doe chance to happen the Sagamos quieteth all and doth iustice to him that is offended giuing some bastanadoes to the wrong doer or condemning him to make some presents to the other for to pacifie him which is some forme of dominion If it be one of their prisoners that hath offended he is in danger to goe to the pot For after he is killed no body will reuenge his death The same consideration is in these parts of the world There is no account made of a mans life that hath no support One day there was an Armouchiquois woman prisoner who had caused a country-man of hers prisoner to escape away to the end to trauel and passe on the way she had stollen from Membertous cabin a tinder-box for without that they can doe nothing and a hatchet Which being come to the knowledge of the Sauages they would not proceed on the execution thereof neere vnto vs but they went to Cabin themselues fower or fiue leagues from Port Royall where she was killed And because she was a woman our Sauages wiues and daughters did execute her Kinibech-coech a yong maide of eighteene yeares of age faire and well spotted with colours gaue her the first stroake in the throat which was with a knife An other maide of the same age handsome enough called Metembroech followed on and the daughter of Membertou which we called Membertou-ech-coech made an end We reprooued them sharpely for this cruelty whereof they were all ashamed and durst not shew themselues any more This is their forme of Iustice Another time a man and a women prisoners went cleane away without tinder-box or any prouision of meat Which was hard to be performed as well for the great distance of way which was aboue 300. leagues by land because it behooued them to goe secretly and to take heed from meeting with any Sauages Neuerthelesse those poore soules pulled off the barke of certaine trees and made a little boat with the barke of them wherein they crossed the Bay Françoise and got to the other shoare ouer against Port Royall shortning their way aboue one hundred and fifty leagues and got home into their Country of the Armouchiquois I haue said in some place that they are not laborious but in hunting and fishing louing also the labour taken by sea sloathfull at all other painefull exercise as in the manuring of the ground and in our mechanicall trades also to grinde Corne for their owne vse For sometimes they will rather seeth it in graines then to grinde it by handy strength Yet notwithstanding they will not be vnprofitable For there will be some meanes to employ them to that whereunto they be inclined by nature without forcing it as heeretofore did the Lacedemonians to the yongue men of their Common-wealth As for the children hauing yet taken no byas it will be easier to keepe them at home and to employ them in those things that shall be thought fit Howsoeuer it be hunting is no bad thing nor fishing neither Let vs see then how they behaue themselues therein CHAP. XXI Of their Hunting GOd before sin gaue for food vnto man euery hearbe bearing seed vpon all the earth and euery tree wherein is the fruit of a tree bearing seed without making mention of the spilling of the bloud of beasts And notwithstanding after the banishment from the Garden of pleasure the labour ordained for the punishment of the said sinne required a stronger and more substantiall food then the former so man full of carnallity accustomed himselfe to feed vpon flesh and did tame certaine number of beasts for to serue him to that effect though some would say that before the floud no flesh was eaten for in vaine had Abel been a shepheard and Iabel father of shephards But after the floud God renewing his couenant with man The feare and dread of you saith the Lord shall be vpon euery beast of the Earth and vpon euery fowle of the Heauen with all that mooueth on the earth and vpon all the fishes of the Sea they are giuen into your hands all that mooueth hauing life shall he vnto you for meat Vpon this priuiledge is formed the right of hunting the noblest right of all rights that be in the vse of man seeing that God is the Authour of it And therefore no maruell if kings and their Nobilitie haue reserued it vnto them by a wel concluding reason that if they command vnto men with farre better reason may they command vnto beasts And if they haue the administration of Iustice to Iudge malefactors to ouercome Rebels and to bring to humane societie wild and Sauage men with farre better reason shall they haue it for to doe the same towards the creatures of the aire of the forrests and of the fields As for them of the sea wee will speake of them in another place And seeing that kings haue beene in the beginning chosen by the people for to keep defend them from their enemies whilst that they are at their necessary works and to make warre as much as need is for the reparation of iniury and recouery of that which hath been wrongfully vsurped or taken away it is very reasonable and decent that as well them as the nobility that doe assist and serue them in those things haue the exercise of hunting which is an Image of warre to the end to rowse vp the mind and to be alwaies nimble ready to take horse for to goe to encounter with the enemy to ly in ambush to assaile him to chase him to trample him vnder feete There is another and first aime in hunting it is the food of Man whereunto it is destinated as is knowen by the place of Scripture afore alleadged yea I say so destinated that in the holy language it is but one and the selfe same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for to signifie hunting or venison meat As among a hundred places this of the one hundred thirtie two Psalme Where our God hauing chosen Sion for his habitation and perpetuall rest promiseth vnto her that he will aboundantly blesse her victuals and will satisfie her poore with bread Vpon which place Saint Hierome tearmeth Venison that which the other translators doe call Victuals better to the purpose then Widow in the
Their wilde-boares are very leane and vnfleshie and they haue a fearefull grunting and crie But there is in them a strange deformity which is that they haue a hole vpon the backe through which they blow and breath Those three be the biggest beasts of Brasill As for small ones they haue seuen or eight sorts of them by the taking whereof they liue and also of mans flesh and are better and more prouident husbands then ours For one cannot find them vnprouided but rather hauing alwaies vpon the Boucan that is to say a wooden grate somewhat high built vpon foure forks some venison or fish or mans flesh and with that they liue merrily and without care Now leauing there those Anthropophages Brasilians let vs returne to our New France where the Men there are more humane and liue but with that which God hath giuen to Man not deuouring their like Also wee must say of them that they are truely noble not hauing any action but is generose whether we consider their hunting or their employment in the warrs or that one search out their domesticall actions wherein the women doe exercise themselues in that which is proper vnto them and the men in that which belongeth to armes and other things befitting them such as we haue said or will speake of in due place But heere one must consider that the most parte of the world haue liued so from the beginning and by degrees men haue beene ciuilized when that they haue assembled themselues and haue formed common-wealths for to liue vnder certaine lawes rule and policie CHAP. XXII Of Hawking SEeing that wee hunt on the land let vs not ouerstray our selues least if wee take the sea wee lose out fowles for the wise man saith that in vaine the net is spred before the eies of all that haue wings If hunting then be a noble exercise wherein the very Muses themselues take delight by reason of silence and solitarinesse which brings foorth faire conceits in the minde in such sort that Diana saith Pliny doth not more frequent the mountaines then Minerva If I say hunting be a noble exercise hauking is farre more noble because it aymeth at an higher subiect which doth participate of Heauen seeing that the inhabitants of the aire are called in the sacred Scripture Volucres coeli the foules of the aire Moreouer the exercise therof doth belong but to kings to the nobles aboue which their brightnesse shineth as the Sunnes brightnesse doth aboue the starres And our Sauages being of a noble heart which maketh no account but of hunting and martiall affaires may very certainly haue right of vsage ouer the birds that their land doth affoord them Which they doe likewise but with much difficulties because they haue not as we haue the vse of guns They haue enough and too many birds of pray as Eagles Laynards Faulcons Tiercelets Sparow-haukes and others which I haue specified in my farewell to New France but they haue neither the vse nor industrie to bring them to seruice as the French Gentlemen and therefore they loose much good fowle hauing no other meanes to seeke after them or to take them but onely with the Bowe and arrowes with which instruments they doe like vnto them who in France shoote at the Geay in time of middle-lent or creepe along the grasse and go to assaile the Outardes or wild Geese which doe graze in the Spring time and in Summer along the medowes Sometimes also they carrie themselues softly and without making any noise in their canowes and light vessels made with barkes of trees euen to the shores where the Malards and other water fowle are and there strike them downe But the greatest abundance they haue come from certaine Ilands where such quantitie of them are to wit of Malards Margaux Roquettes Outards or wilde Geese Curlies Cormorants and others that it is a woonderfull thing yea that which captaine Iames Quartier reciteth will seeme to some altogether vncredible When we were vpon our returne into France being yet beyond Campseau wee passed by some of those Ilands where in the space of a quarter of an houre we laded our barke with them wee had no need but to strike downe with staues and not to go about to gather vntill one were wearie a striking If any man doth aske why they flie not away one must consider that they be birds onely of two three or fower moneths old which haue beene there hatched in the spring time and haue not yet wings great enough to take slight though they be well fleshie and in good plight As for the dwelling of Port Royall we had many of our men that furnished vs with them and particularlie one of Monsieur de Monts his houshold seruants called François Addeni whose name I insert heere to the end he be had in memorie beecause he alwaies prouided for vs abundantly with it During the winter he made vs to liue onely of Mallards Cranes Hernes Woodcocks Partriges Blackbirds some other kinds of that country birds But in the spring time it was a sport to see the gray Geese and the bigge Outardes a kinde of wilde Geese to keepe their Empire and dominion in our meddowes and in Autumne the white Geese of which some did alwaies remaine for a pawne then the sea Larks flying in great flocks vpon the shores of the waters which also very often were paied home Touching the birds of pray some of our men tooke from the nest an Eagle from the top of a Pine-apple tree of the monstrousest height that euer I saw any tree which Eagle Monsieur de Poutrincourt did breed for to present her to the king but she brake her ties seeking to take her flight and lost her selfe in the sea comming home The Sauages of Campseau had six of them pearched neere to their cabins at our comming thither which wee would not trucke for because they had pulled off their tailes to to feather their arrowes There bee such a quantitie of them in those parts that often they did eat our pigeons and it did behooue vs to looke narrowly to them The birds that were knowen vnto vs I haue enrowled them as I haue said in my farwell to New France but I haue omitted many of them because I knew not their names There also may be seene the description of a little small bird which the Sauages doe call Niridau which liueth but with flowers and she did come noising in my eares passing inuisibly so small is shee when in the morning I went to take a walke in my garden There will be seene also the discription of certaine flies shining in the euening in the spring time which doe flie vp and downe the woods in such a multitude that it is woonder For the birds of Canada I also refer the Reader to the report of Captaine Iames Quartier The Armouchiquois haue the same birdes whereof there are many which are not knowen vnto
lay it to dry in the shade and haue certaine small bagges of leather hanging about their neckes or at their girdles wherein they haue alwaies some and a Tabacco-pipe with all which is a little pan hollowed at the one side and within whose hole there is a long quill or pipe out of which they sucke vp the smoake which is within the said pan after they put fire to it with a cole that they laie vpon it They will sometimes suffer hunger eight daies hauing no other sustenance then that smoake And our Frenchmen who haue frequented them are so bewitched with this drunkennesse of Tabacco that they can no more be without it then without meat or drinke and vpon that doe they spend good store of mony For the good Tabacco which commeth out of Brasil doth sometimes cost a French-crowne a pound Which I deeme foolishnesse in them because that notwithstanding they doe not spare more in their eating and drinking then other men neither doe they take a bit of meat nor a cup of drinke the lesse by it But it is the more excusable in the Sauages by reason they haue no greater deliciousnesse in their Tabagies or bankets and can make cheere to them that come to visit them with no greater thing as in these our parts one presents his friend with some excellent wine In such sort that if one refuseth to take the Tabacco-pipe it is a signe that he is not a friend And they which among them haue some obscure knowledge of God doe say that he taketh Tabacco as well as they and that it is the true nectar described by the Poets This smoake of Tabacco taken by the mouth in sucking as a child that sucketh his dugge they make it to issue thorow the nose passing thorow the conduits of breathing the braines are warmed by it and the humiditie of the same dried vp It doth also in some sort make one giddie and as it were drunke it maketh the belly soluble mitigateth the passions of Venus bringeth to sleepe and the leafe of Tabacco or the ashes that remaine in the pan healeth wounds Yea I will say more that this nectar is vnto them so sweet that the children doe sometimes sup vp the smoake that their fathers cast out of their nostrils to the end that nothing be lost And because that the same hath a tart biting taste Monsieur de Belleforest reciting that which Iames Quartier who knew not what it was saith of it will make the people beleeue that it is some kind of pepper But whatsoeuer sweetenesse is found therein I could neuer vse my selfe to it neither doe I care for the vse and custome to take it in smoake There is yet in the land of the Armouchiquois certaine kinde of Rootes as bigge as a loafe of bread most excellent for to be eaten hauing a taste like the stalkes of Artichocks but much more pleasant which being planted do multiply in such sort that it is woonderfull I beleeue that they be those which be called Afrodilles according to the description that Pliny maketh of them These Roots saith he are made after the fashion of smal turneps there is no plant that hath so many roots as this hath for sometimes one shall find fower score Afrodilles tied together They are good rosted vnder the imbers or eaten raw with pepper or oile and salt Considering all this it seemeth vnto mee that these are men very miserable who being able to liue a countrie life in quiet and rest and take the benefit of the ground which doth pay her creditor with so profitable an vsurie doe passe their age in townes in following of sutes in law in toiling heere and there to seeke out the meanes how to beguile and deceaue some one or other taking such pains as doe euen bring them to their graue for to pay their house rent for to be clothed in silke for to haue some precious moueables briefly for to set out and feed themselues with all vanitie wherein contentment is neuer to be found Poore fooles saith Hesiod which know not how one halfe of these things with quiet is more woorth then all heaped together with freatfullnesse nor how great benefit is in the Malous and the Daffadilles The Gods certainely haue hidden from men the manner of liuing happily For otherwise one daies labour would be sufficient for to nourish a man a whole yeere and the day following he would set his Plough vpon his dunghill and would rest his Oxen his mules and himselfe This is the contentment which is prepared for them that shall inhabite New-France though fooles doe despise this kind of life and the tilling of the ground the most harmeles of all bodily exercises and which I will tearme the most noble as that which sustaineth the life of all men They disdaine I say the tillage of the ground and notwithstanding all the vexations wherewith one tormenteth himselfe the sutes in law that one followes the wars that are made are but for to haue landes Poore mother what hast thou done that thou art so despised The other Elements are very often contrarie vnto vs the fire consumeth vs the aire doth infect vs with plague the water swalloweth vs vp onely the earth is that which comming into the world and dying receaueth vs kindly it is she alone that nourisheth vs which warmeth vs which lodgeth vs which clotheth vs which contrarieth vs in nothing and shee is set at naught and them that doe manure her are laughed at they are placed next to the idle and bloud-suckers of the people All this is done heere among vs But in New-France the goulden age must be brought in againe the ancient Crownes of eares of corne must be renewed and to make that to be the first glory which the ancient Romans did call Gloria adorea a glory of wheate to the end to inuite euery one to till well his field seeing that the land presenteth it selfe liberally to them that haue none Being assured to haue corne and wine there resteth but to furnish the Country with tame cattell for they will breede there very well as we haue said in the chapter of hunting Of fruite-trees there be but few besides nut-trees Plumb-trees and small chery-trees and some hazellnut-trees True it is that all that which is within the land is not yet discouered for in the country of the Iroquois there are Oreng-trees and they make oiles with the fruite of trees But no French-men nor other Christians haue beene there yet That want of fruit-trees is not to be found very strange For the most part of our fruits are come out of other places And very often the fruites beare the name of the country from whence they haue been brought The land of Germanie is good and fruitfull but Tacitus saith that in his time there were no fruit-trees As for the trees of the forests the most common in Port
three nights continually and without eating And all the Paraoustis that be his allies and friendes doe the like mourning cutting halfe their haires as well men as women in token of loue And that done there be some women ordained who during the time of six Moones doe lamente the death of their Paraousti three times a day crying with a loud voice in the morning at noone and at night which is the fashion of the Roman Praefices of whom we haue not long since spoken For that which is of the mourning apparell our Souriquois doe paint their faces all with blacke which maketh them to seeme very hidious But the Hebrewes were more reprouable who did scotch their faces in the time of mourning and did shaue their haires as saith the Prophet Ieremie which was vsuall among them of great antiquity By reason whereof the same was forbidden them by the law of God in Leuiticus You shall not cut round the corners of your haires neither marre the tufts of your beards and you shall not cut your flesh for the dead nor make any print of a marke vpon you I am the Lord. And in Deuteronomie you are the children of the Lord your God you shall not cut your selues nor make any baldnesse betweene your eies for the dead Which was also forbidden by the Romans in the lawes of the twelue tables Herodotus and Diodorus doe say that the Aegyptians chiefly in their Kings funerals did rent their garments and besmeered their faces yea all their heads and assembling themselues twise a day did march in round singing the vertues of their King did abstaine from sodden meats from liuing creatures from wine and from all daintie fare during the space of 70. daies without any washing nor lying on any bed much lesse to haue the company of their wiues alwaies lamenting The ancient mourning of our Queenes of France for as for our Kings they weare no mourning apparell was in white colour and therefore after the death of their husbands they kept the names of Roines blanches white Queenes But the common mourning of others is at this day in blacke qui sub personarisus est For all these mournings are but deceits and of a hundred there is not one but is glad of such a weed This is the cause that the ancient Thracians were more wise who did celebrate the birth of man with teares and their funerals with ioy shewing that by death we are deliuered from all calamities wherewith we are borne and are in rest Heraclides speaking of the Locrois saith that they make not any mourning for the dead but rather banckets and great reioycing And the wise Solon knowing the foresaid abuses doth abolish all those renting of cloathes of those weeping fellowes and would not that so many clamors should be made ouer the dead as Plutarch saith in his life The Christians yet more wise did in ancient time sing Alleluia at their burials and this verse of the Psalme Reuertere anima mea in requiem tuam quia Dominus benefecit tibi And now my soule sith thou art safe returne vnto thy rest For largely loe the Lord to thee his bounty hath exprest Notwithstanding because that we are men subiect to ioy to griefe and to other motions and perturbations of minde which at the first motion are not in our power as saith the Philosopher weeping is not a thing to be blamed whether it be in considering our fraile condition and subiect to so many harmes be it for the losse of that which we did loue and held deerely Holy personages haue bene touched with those passions and our Sauiour himselfe wept ouer the Sepulchre of Lazarus brother to the holy Magdalein But one must not suffer himselfe to be carried away with sorrow nor make ostentations of clamors wherewith very often the heart is neuer a whit touched Whereupon the wise sonne of Sirach doth giue vs an aduertisement saying Weepe for the dead for he hath lost the light of this life but make small weeping because he is in rest After that our Sauages had wept for Panoniac they went to the place where his cabin was whilst hee did liue and there they did burne all that hee had left his bowes arrowes quiuers his Beuers skinnes his Tabacco without which they cannot liue his dogs and other his small mooueables to the end that no body should quarrell for his succession The same sheweth how little they care for the goods of this world giuing thereby a goodly lesson to them who by right or wrong doe runne after this siluer diuell and very often doe breake their necks or if they catch what they desire it is in making bankerout with God and spoiling the poore whether it be with open warre or vnder colour of iustice A faire lesson I say to those couetous vnsatiable Tantalusses who take so much paines and murther so many creatures to seeke out hell in the depth of the earth that is to say the treasures which our Sauiour doth call the Riches of iniquitie A faire lesson also for them of whom Saint Hierome speaketh treating of the life of Clearks There bee some saith he who doe giue a little thing for an alme to the end to haue it againe with great vsurie and vnder colour of giuing some thing they seeke after riches which is rather a hunting than an almes So are beasts birds and fishes taken A small bait is put to a hooke to the end to catch at it silly womens purses And in the Epitaph of Nepotian to Heliodore Some saith he doe heape money vpon money and making their purses to burst out by certaine kinde of seruices they catch at a suare the richesse of good matrons and become richer being Monkes then they were being secular And for this couetousnesse the regular and secular haue beene by imperiall Edicts excluded from legacies whereof the same doth complaine not for the thing but for that the cause thereof hath beene giuen Let vs come againe to our burning of goods The first people that had not yet couetousnesse rooted in their hearts did the same as our Sauages do For the Phrygians or Troyians did bring to the Latins the vse of burning not onely of mooueables but also of the dead bodies making high piles of wood for that effect as Aeneas did in the funerals of Misenus robore secto Ingentem struxere pyram Then the body being washed and annointed they did cast all his garments vpon the pile of wood frankincense meats and they powred on it oile wine honie leaues flowers violets roses ointments of good smell and other things as may be seene by ancient histories and inscriptions And for to continue that which I haue said of Misenus Virgil doth adde Purpureásque super vestes velamina nota Conijciunt pars ingenti subiere feretro c. congesta cremantur Thura dona dapes fuso crateres oliuo And speaking of the funerals of
rockes couered with Diamons fixed to them I will not assure them for fine but that is very pleasing to the sight There are also certaine shining blew stones which are of no lesse value or woorth than Turkie stones Monsieur De Champdorè our guide for the nauigations in those countries hauing cut within a rocke one of those stones at his returne from New France he brake it in two and gaue one part of it to Monsieur De Monts the other to Monsieur De Poutrincourt which they made to be put in gold and were found woorthy to be presented the one to the King by the said Poutrincourt the other to the Queene by the said De Monts and were very well accepted I remember that a Gold-smith did offer fifteene crownes to Monsieur De Poutrincourt for that he presented to his Maiestie There be many other secrets rare and faire things within the ground of those Countries which are yet vnknowen vnto vs and will come to the knowledge and euidence by inhabiting the prouince CHAP. IIII. The description of the riuer Saint Iohn and of the I le Saint Croix The man lost in the woods found out 16. daies after Examples of some strange abstinences The discord of the Sauages deferred to the iudgement of Monsieur De Monts The fatherly authoritie amongst the said Sauages What husbands they chuse to their Daughters HAuing viewed the said Mine the companie passed to the other side of the French Baye and went towards the bottome of the same Then turning backe came to the riuer of Saint Iohn so called as I thinke because they arriued thither the soure twentieth of Iune which is S. Iohn Baptists day There is a faire Port but the entrie or mouth is dangerous to them that know not the best waies because that before the comming in there is a long banke of rockes which are not seene nor discouered but onely at low water which doe serue as for defence to this Port within which when one hath gone about a league there is found a violent fall of the said riuer which falleth downe from the rockes when that the sea doth ebbe with a maruellous noise for being sometimes at an ker at sea we haue heard it from aboue twelue leagues off But at full sea one may passe it with great ships This riuer is one of the fairest that may be seene hauing store of Ilands and swarming with fishes This last yeere 1608. the said Monsieur de Champdorè with one of the said Monsieur De Monts his men hath beene some 50 leagues vp the said riuer and do witnesse that there is great quantitie of Vines along the shore but the grapes are not so bigge as they bee in the country of the Armouchiquois There are also Onions many other sorts of good hearbs As for the trees they are the fayrest that may be seene When we were there we saw great number of Cedar trees Concerning fishes the said Champdorè hath related vnto vs that putting the kettle ouer the fire they had taken fish sufficient for their diner before that the water was hot Moreouer this riuer stretching it selfe farre within the lands of the Sauages doth maruellously shorten the long trauels by meanes thereof For in six daies they goe to Gashepè coming to the bay or gulfe of Chaleur or heate when they are at the end of it in carying their Canowes some few leagues And by the same riuer in eight daies they goe to Tadoussac by a branch of the same which commeth from the North-West In such sort that in Port Royall one may haue within 15. or 18. daies newes from the Frenchmen dwelling in the great riuer of Canada by these waies which could not be done in one moneth by sea nor without danger Leauing Saint Iohns riuer they came following the coast 20. leagues from that place to a great riuer which is properlie sea where they fortified themselues in a little Iland seated in the middest of this riuer which the said Champlein had beene to discouer and view And seeing it strong by nature and of easie defence and keeping besides that the season began to slide away and therefore it was behouefull to prouide of lodging without running any farther they resolued to make their abode there I will not sift out curiously the reasons of all parts vpon the resolution of this their dwelling but I will alwaies be of opinion that whosoeuer goes into a countrie to possesse it must not stay in the Iles there to be a prisoner For before all things the culter and tillage of the ground must be regarded And I would faine know how one shall till and manure it if it behoueth at euery houre in the morning at noone and the euening to crosse a great passage of water to goe for things requisite from the firme land And if one feareth the enemy how shall he that husbandeth the land or otherwise busie in necessarie affaires saue himselfe if he be pursued for one findeth not alwaies a boat in hand in time of neede nor two men to conduct it Besides out life requiring many commodities an Iland is not fit for to begin the establishment and seat of a Colony vnlesse there be Currents and streames of sweet water for to drinke and to supplie other necessaries in houshold which is not in small Ilands There needeth wood for fuell which also is not there But aboue all there must be shelters from the hurtfull winds and colde which is hardly found in a small continent inuironed with water of all sides Neuerthelesse the Companie soiorned there in the midest of a broad riuer where the North wind and North-West bloweth at will And because that two leagues higher there be brooks that come crosse-wise to fall within this large branch of sea the I le of the Frenchmens retreat was called Saint Croix 25. leagues distant from Port Royal. Whilest that they begin to cut downe Cedars and other trees of the said Ile to make necessary buildings let vs returne to seeke out Master Nicolas Aubri lost in the woods which long time since is holden for dead As they began to visit and search the Iland Monsieur de Champdorè of whom we shal henceforth make mentiō by reason he dwelt foure yeeres in those parts conducting the voyages made there was sent backe to the Bay of Saint Mary with a Mine-finder that had beene caried thither for to get some Mines of siluer Iron which they did And as they had crossed the French Baie they entred into the said Baie of Saint Marie by a narrow strait or passage which is betweene the land of Port Royal and an Iland called the Long I le where after some abode they going afishing the said Aubri perceaued them and began with a feeble voice to call as loud as he could and for to helpe his voice he aduised himselfe to doe as Ariadne did heeretofore to
Theseus Candidaque imposui longae velamina virgae Scilicet oblitos admonitura mei For he put his handkercher and his hat on a staues end which made him better to be knowen For as one of them heard the voice and asked the rest of the companie if it might be the said Monsieur Aubri they mocked laughed at it But after they had ipied the mouing of the handkercher and of the hat then they began to thinke that it might be hee And comming neere they knew perfectly it was himselfe and tooke him in their Barke with great ioy and contentment the sixteenth day after he had lost himselfe Diuers in this later age haue stuffed their books and histories with many miracles wherein is not to bee found so great cause of admiration as in this For during these sixteen daies hee fedde himselfe but by I know not what small fruits like vnto Cheries without kernel yet not so delicate which are scarsly found in those woods And indeed in these last voyages a speciall grace and fauor of God hath beene euident in many occurrences which we will marke as occasion shall be offered The poore Aubri I call him so by reason of his affliction was as one may easily thinke maruellously weakened They gaue him food by measure and brought him backe againe to the companie at the Iland of Saint Croix wherof euerie one receaued an incredible ioy and consolation and especially Monsieur De Monts whom it concerned more than any other Doe not alleage vnto me the Histories of the Maide of Confolans in the Countrie of Poictou which was two yeares without eating some six yeares agoe nor of an other neere Berne in Swisser-land which lost not yet full ten yeares ago the desire and appetite of eating during all her life time and other like examples for they bee accidents hapned by the disordering of nature And concerning that which Pliny reciteth that in the remotest parts of the Indies in the inferiour parts of the fountaine and spring of the riuer Ganges there is a nation of Astoms that is to say Mouthlesse people that liue but with the onely odour and exhalation of certaine rootes flowers and fruits which they assume through their noses I would hardly beleeue it but would thinke rather that in smelling they might bite very well of the said rootes and fruits As also those that Iames Quartier mentioneth to haue no mouths and to eat nothing by the report of the Sauage Donnacona whom he brought into France to make recitall thereof to the King with other things as voide of common sense and credit as that But imagine it were true such people haue their nature disposed to this maner of liuing and this case is not alike For the said Aubri wanted no stomacke nor appetite and hath liued sixteene daies partlie nourished by some nutritiue force which is in the aire of that countrie and partly by those small fruits before spoken God hauing giuen him strength to endure this long want of food preseruing him from the step of death Which I finde strange and is so indeed But in the Histories of our time there be found things of greater maruell Among other things of one Henry de Hasseld merchant trafficking from the Low Countries to Berg in Norwege who hauing heard a belly-god Preacher speaking ill of the miraculous fasts as though it were not in Gods power to doe that which he hath done in times past prouoked by it did assay to fast and abstained himselfe three daies from eating At the end whereof being pinched with hunger tooke a morsell of bread meaning to swallow it downe with a glasse of Beere but all that stucke so in his throate that he remained forty daies and forty nights without either eating or drinking That time being ended he vomited out by the mouth that which he had eaten and drunke which all that while remained in his throat So long an abstinence weakned him in such sort that it was needfull to sustaine and restore him with milke The Gouernour of the countrey hauing vnderstood this woonder called him before him and inquired of the truth of the matter whereof being incredulous would make new triall of it and hauing made him carefully to bee kept in a chamber found the thing to be true This man is praised for great pietie specially towards the poore Sometime after being come for his priuate affaires to Bruxelles in Brabant a Creditor of his to bereaue him of his due accused him of heresie and so caused him to be burned in the yeere 1545. And since one of the Chanons of the citie of Liege making triall of his strength in fasting hauing continued the same euen to the seuenteenth day felt himself so weakned that vnlesse he had beene suddenly succoured by a good restoratiue he had quite perished A yongue Maid of Buchold in the territorie of Munster in Westphalia afflicted with griefe of minde and vnwilling to stirre or goe abroad from home was beaten by her mother for the same which redoubled her dolour in such sort that hauing lost her naturall rest was foure moneths without either drinking or eating sauing that sometimes she did chaw some rosted apple and washed her mouth with a little Ptisane The Ecclesiasticall Histories among a great number of fasters make mention of three holy Hermites all named Simeon which did liue in strange austeritie and long fasts as of eight daies and fifteene daies continuance yea longer not hauing for all their dwelling but a Columne or Hermitage where they dwelt and ledde their liues by reason whereof they were named Stelites that is to saie Columnaries as dwelling in Columnes But all these before alleaged had partly resolued themselues to such fasts and partly had by little and little accustomed themselues to it so that it was not very strange for them to fast so long which was not in him of whom we speake And therefore his fast is the more to be admired by so much as that he had not in any wise disposed himselfe thereto and had not vsed these long austerities After he had beene cherished and they soiourned yet sometime to order the businesse and to view the lands round about the I le Saint Croix motion was made to send backe the shippes into France before Winter and so they that went not thither to Winter prepared themselues for the returne The meane while the Sauages from about all their confines came to see the maners of the Frenchmen lodged themselues willingly neere them also in certaine variances hapned amongst themselues they did make Monsieur De Monts Iudge of their debates which is a beginning of voluntarie subiection from whence a hope may be conceaued that these people wil soone conforme themselues to our maner of liuing Amongst other things hapned before the departing of the said ships it chanced one day that a Sauage called Bituani finding good relish in the kitchin of the