builde and inhabite can neuer be atchieued for as Fraunciscus Lopez di Gomara and dyuers other Spanishe Authors affirme the Spanyards neuer prospered or preuailed but where they planted whych of the Portingales maye also be verifyed as in the Histories of all theyr Conquests and Discoueries doth manifestly appeare And as there is none that of right may be more bolde in this enterprice than the Englishmen the land being first found out by Iohn Gabot the Father and Sebastian Gabot one of hys three sonnes in the yeare 1494. in the name and be halfe of King Henry the seauenth as both by the foresaide Ramusius in his first Volumes and our owne Chronicles and Sebastian Gabots letters patents yet extant and in his Mappe maye be seene so there is no nation that hath so good righte or is more fit for this purpose than they are who trauayling yearely into those partes with 50. or 60. saile of shippes might very commodiouslye transporte a sufficient number of men to plant a Colonie in some conuenient Hauen and also might yeeld them yearly succour and supply of al things necessary receyuing againe such commodities as the country doth produce And this the Frenchmen had done long since if first their warres with the Spanyardes and since their cruell dissentions at home had not hindered them And Iohannes Varrozzana a Florentine if he had not beene preuented by death purposed as the foresayde Ramusius writeth to perswade Francis the French King to send forth good store of people to inhabite certaine places of these coastes where the aire is moste temperate and the soyle moste fruitfull with goodly Riuers and Hauens sufficient to harborough any nauie the inhabitantes of which places might be occasiō to bring many good purposes to effecte and amongest manye others to reduce those poore rude and ignorant people to the true worship and seruice of God and to teache them how to manure and till the ground transporting ouer Beastes and Cattell of Europe into those large and champion countreys and finally in time they might discouer vp into the land and search whether among so many Ilands as are there there be any passage to the Sea of Cataya And thus much oute of the third Volume of Voyages and Nauigations gathered into the Italian tongue by Ramusius whiche Bookes if they were translated into English by the liberalitie of some noble Personage ou◠Sea-men of England and others studious of Geographie shoulde know many worthy secrets whiche hitherto haue beene concealed For the beste Cosmographers of this age as I am by the skilfull in those Sciences informed and as to him that doth diligently consider their Mappes it shall plainely appeare haue described Asia Africa and America chiefly by the help of those bookes But to returne to that from whence I did digresse althoughe some attemptes of oure Countrey-men haue not had as yet suche successe as was wished they ought not therefore to bee the slower in this enterprice for if they were of late contented in their voyage to haue stayed al the Winter in those colder Countries if their store of victualles had beene sufficient howe muche rather ought we nowe in a farre more temperate clime where Iames Carthier accompanyed wyth 120. men remained a whole Winter contrary to hys determination when he set out of Fraunce Thus beseeching God that this my trauel may take that effect for the which it is meant I commende the diligent consideration to al such Gentlemen Merchants and Pilots as seeke Gods glory the aduauncement of their Countrey and the happy successe to the prouidence of the Almighty who in my opinion hath not in vaine stirred vppe the mindes of so many Honourable and Worshipfull persons to the furtheraunce of these commendable and worthy Discoueries In Oxford I. F. ¶ The first relation of Iames Carthier of the new land called New Fraunce nevvly discouered in the yeare of oure Lorde 1534. ¶ How Maister Iames Carthier departed from the Port of S. Malo with two Ships and came to the new land and howe he entred into the Porte of Buona Vista AFter that Sir Charles of Mouy Knight Lord of Meyleray Vice-admirall of Fraunce had caused all the Captaines Maisters and Mariners of the Shippes to be sworne to behaue themselues truely and faithfully in the seruice of the most Christian King of France vnder the charge of the sayde Carthier vpon the 20. day of Aprill 1534. we departed from the Porte of S. Malo with two Ships of thrée score tun apéece burden and by well appointed men in eche one and with suche prosperous weather we sailed onwardes that vppon the 10. of May we came to the newe found land where we entred into the cape of Buona Vista which is in Latitude 48. degrées and a halfe and in Longitude * But bicause of the great store of Ice that was alongest the sayde lande we were constrayned to enter into a Hauen called Saint Katherins Hauen distaunt from the other Porte aboute fiue leagues towarde South southeast there did we stay ten daies looking for faire weather and in the meane while we mended and dressed our boates ¶ Howe we came to the Ilande of Byrdes and of the greate quantitie of Byrdes that there be VPon the 21. of May the wind beyng in the Weast we hoised saile and sailed toward North and by east from y e Cape of Buona Vista vntil we came to the Iland of Birdes which was enuironed about with a banke of Ice but brokē and crackte Notwithstanding the saide banke our two boates went thither to take in some Birdes whereof there is such plentie that vnlesse a manne didde sée them he woulde think it an incredible thing for albeit the Ilande which containeth aboute a league in circuite be so full of them that they séeme to haue béene brought thither and sowed for the nonce yet are there a hundreth fold as many houering about it as within some of the which are as big as Iayes blacke and white with beakes lyke vnto Crowes they houer alwaies about the sea they cannot flye very high bycause their wings are so little and no bigger than halfe ones hand yet doe they flye as swiftly as any birdes of the ayre leuell to the water they are also excéeding fat we named them Aporath In lesse than halfe an houre we filled two boats ful of them as if they had béene with stones so that besides them which we did eate fresh euery ship dyd powder and salt fiue or sixe barrels ful of them ¶ Of two sortes of Byrdes the one called Godetz the other Margaulz and how we came to Carpunt BEsides these there is an other kinde of Birdes whyche houer in the aire ouer the sea lesser than the others and these doe al gather thēselues togither in the Iland put thēselues vnder the wings of other byrds that are greater these we named Godetz There are also of another sorte but bigger white who bite euen as Dogges those wée
Further about two leagues there is an other greater riuer in whiche they tooke good store of Salmon that we named S. Iames his Riuer Beyng in the sayde riuer we sawe a Shippe of Rochell that the night before had passed the Porte of Brest where they thought to haue gone a fishing but the marriners not knowing where they were we with our boates approched neare vnto it and did directe it to another Porte one league more toward the Weast than the saide riuer of S. Iames which I take to be one of the beste in all the Worlde and therefore wée named it Iames Carthiers Sound If the foile were as good as the harboroughes are it were a great commoditie but it is not to be called the new Land but rather Stones and wilde Furres and a place fitte for wilde beastes for in all the Northe Ilande I didde not sée a Cartâ—oade of â—ood earth yet went I on shoare in many places and in the Iland of White Sandes there is nothyng else but Mosse and small Thornes scattered here and there withered and drye To be shorte I beléeue that this was the lande that God allotted to Caine. There are men of an indifferent good stature and bignesse but wilde and vnruly they weare their haire tyed on the top like a wreath of Hay and put a woodden pin within it or any other such thing in steade of a naile and wyth them they binde certaine birdes feathers They are clothed with beastes skinnes as wel the men as womeÌ„ but that the womeÌ„ go somwhat straightlier and closer in their garmentes than men doe wyth their wastes gyrded they paint themselues with certaine Roan coloures their Boates are made of the barke of a trée called Boul wyth the whyche they fishe and take greate store of Seales and as farre as we coulde vnderstande since oure commyng thither that is not their habitation but they come from the maine lande out of hotter Countreys to take of the sayde Seales and other necessaries for theyr lyuing ¶ Of certaine Capes that is to say the double Cape the pointed Cape Cape Roiall and the Cape of Milke of the Mountaines of Barnes of the Ilandes of Doâ—e houses and of the greate fishing of Cods VPon the 13. of that moneth we came to our Shippes agayne with our boates on purpose to saile forwards bycause the weather was faire vpon Sundaye we caused seruice to be saide then on Monday being the 25. of the moneth we departed from Brest and sailed toward the South to take a viewe of the landes that there we had séene that séemed vnto vs to be two Ilandes but when we were amiddest the Bay we knew it to be firme lande where was a greate double Cape one aboue the other and therfore wée named it the Double Cape In the entrance of the Bay we sounded and founde it to be an hundred faddome rounde aboute vs. From Brest to the double Cape there is about 20 leagues and aboute fiue or sixe leagues beyond we sounded againe and founde 20 faddome water The saide lande lyeth Northeast and Southweast The nexte day being the 16. of the moneth we sailed along the saide coaste towarde Southweast and by South aboute 35 leagues from the double Cape where wée founde very stéepe and wilde hilles among the whyche were séene certaine small Cabbans whyche we in the Countrey call Barnes and therfore we named them the Hilles of the Barnes The other Lands and Mountaines are all craggie cleft and â—utte and betwixt them and the sea there are other Ilandes but lowe The day before through the darke mists and â—ogges of the weather we coulde not haue sighte of any lande but in the euening we spyed an entraunce into the lande by a ryuer among the saide Hilles of Barnes and a Cape lying toward the Southwest about 3. leagues froÌ„ vs. The saide Cape is on the top of it blunt pointed and also towarde the Sea it endeth in a pointe wherefore we named it the pointed Cape on the north side of whiche there is a plaine Iland And bycause we would haue notice of the said entrance to sée if there were any good Hauens we stroke saile for that night The next day being the 17. of the Moneth we had stormie weather from Northeast wherefore we tooke our way toward the Southwest vntil Thurseday morning and we went about 37. leagues til we came athwart a Bay full of rounde Ilandes like Doue houses and therefore wée named them the Doue houses And from the Bay of Saint Iulian from the whyche to a Cape that lyeth South and by weast which we called Cape Riall there are 7. leagues and toward the Weast Southweast side of the saide Cape there is another that beneath is all craggie and aboue round On the North side of whiche about halfe a league there lyeth a lowe Ilande that Cape we named the Cape of Milke Betwéene these two Capes there are certaine lowe Ilandes aboue whiche there are also certaine others that shew that there 〈◊〉 some riuers About two leagues from Cape Roiall we sounded and found tenne faddome water and there is the greatest fishing of Coddes that is possible for staying for our companie in lesse than an houre we tooke aboue an hundred of them ¶ Of certayne Ilands that lie betweene Cape Roiall and the Cape of Milke THe nexte daye being the eyghtenth of the Moneth the winde with such rage turned against vs that we were constrayned to go backe toward Cape Royall thinking there to find some harborough and with oure Boates wente to discouer betwéene the Cape Royall and the Cape of Milke and found that aboue the low Ilands there is a great and very déepe Gulfe within which are certaine Ilands The sayd Gulfe on the South side is shutte vp The foresayd low grounds are on one of the sides of the entrance and Cape Royall is on the other The sayde lowe groundes do stretche themselues more than halfe a league within the Sea It is a playne Countrey but an ill soyle and in the middest of the entrance thereof there is an Iland The sayde Gulfe in latitude is fortie eyght degrées and an halfe and in Longitude * That night we found no harborough and therefore we launched out into the Sea leauing the Cape toward the Weast ¶ Of the Iland called S. Iohn FRom the sayde daye vntill the 24. of the moneth being S. Iohns day we had both stormie weather and winde against vs with such darknesse and mistes that vntill Saint Iohns day we could haue no sight of any land and then had we sight of a Cape of land y e from Cape Royall lieth Southweast about 35. leagues but that day was so foggie and mistie that we could not come néere land and bycause it was S. Iohns day we named it Cape S. Iohn ¶ Of certayne Ilands called the Ilands of Margaulz and of the kinds of beastes and birds that there are found Of the Iland of Brion and Cape
saw a man running after our boats that were going along the coast who made signes vnto vs that we shoulde retourne towarde the sayd Cape againe We séeing such signes began to tourne toward him but he séeing vs come began to flée so soone as we were come on shoare we set a knife before him and a woollen girdle on a little staffe and then came to our ships again That day we trended the sayde land about nine or ten leagues hoping to finde some good harborough but it was not possible for as I haue sayd alreadie it is a very low land enuironed round about with great shelues Neuerthelesse we went that day on shore in foure places to sée the goodly and swéete smelling trées that there were we founde them to be Cidrons Ewe-trées Pines white Elmes Ashes Willowes with manye other sortes of trées to vs vnknowen but without any fruit The groundes where no wood is are very faire and al full of peason white and red gooseberies strawberies blackeberies and wilde corne euen like vnto Rie that it séemeth to haue bene sowen and plowed This Countrey is of better temperature than any other that can be séene and very hote There are many Thrushes Stockdoues and other byrdes to be short there wanteth nothing but good harborough ¶ Of the Baie called Saint Lunario and other notable Baies and Capes of lande and of the qualitie and goodnesse of those groundes THe next day being the seconde of Iuly we discouered and had sight of land on the Northerne side towarde vs that dyd ioyne vnto the lande abouesayd all compassed about and we knewe that it had about * in déepth and as muche athwart we named it Saint Lunarios Baie with our boates we went to the Cape toward the North and founde the land and grounde so lowe that for the space of a league from land there was but halfe a faddome water On the Northeast side from the sayde Cape about seauen or eight leagues there is another Cape of lande in the middest whereof there is a Baie fashioned triangle wise verye déepe and as far as we could ken from it lieth Northeast The said Baie is compassed about w t sands and shelues about ten leagues from land and there is but one faddome water from the saide Cape to the banke of the other ther is about fiftéene leagues We being a crosse the sayde Capes discouered another lande and Cape and as farre as we coulde ken it lay North by East All that night the weather was very ill and great windes so that we were constrained to heare a small sayle vntill the next morning being the thirde of Iuly that the winde came from the West and we sayled Northwarde to haue a sight of the lande that we had left on the Northeast side aboue the lowe landes among whiche high and lowe landes there is a Gulfe or Breach in some places about sixe and twenty faddome déepe and fiftéene leagues in breadth with varietie of landes hoping to finde some passage thyther we went euen as the passage of the Castels The sayde gulfe lyeth Easte Northeast and West Southwest The grounde that lyeth on the South side of the sayde gulfe is as good and easie to be wrought and full of as goodly fieldes and meadowes as anye that euer we haue as plaine and smoothe as anye die and that which lyeth on the North is a Countrey altogither hillie full of woods and very high and great trées of sundry sortes among the rest there are as goodly Ceders and Firre trées as possibly can be séene able to make mastes for ships of thrée hundered Tunne Neyther did we sée anye place that was not full of the sayde trées excepted two onlye that were full of goodly medowes with two very faire Lakes The middest of the sayde Baie is seauen and fourtie degrées and halfe in latitude ¶ Of the Cape of Hope and of Saint Martins Creeke howe seuen boats ful of wilde men came to our boate wold not retire themselues but being terrified with our Colubrins and lanches we shot at them they fled with great hast THe Cape of y e said South land was called The Cape of Hope through the hope that there we had to finde some passage The fourth of Iuly we went along y e coast of y e sayd land on the Northerly side to finde some harborough where we entred into a Créeke altogither open on y e South where there is no succour against y e wind we thought good to name it S. Martines Creeke Ther we stayed frō the fourth of Iuly vntil the twelfth while we were there on Monday being the sixth of y e month seruice being done we w t one of our boates went to discouer a Cape point of lande y t on the Northerne side was about seauen or eight leagues from vs to sée whiche way it did bend being within halfe a league of it we sawe two cōpanies of boats of wilde men going frō one land to the other theyr boates were in nūber about fiue fortie or fifty One parte of the whiche came to the sayde pointe and a great number of the mē went on shore making a grét noyse beckning vnto vs that we shoulde come on lande shewing vs certaine skinnes vppon péeces of Woodde but bicause we hadde but one onely boate we woulde not goe to them but went to the other side lying in the sea they séeing vs flée prepared two of their boats to follow vs with whiche came also fiue more of them that were comming from the sea side al which approched néere vnto our boate dauncing and making many signes of ioye and myrth as it were desiring our friendship saying in theyr tongue NAPEV TONDAMEN ASSVRTAH with manye other that we vnderstoode not But bicause as we haue said we had but one boate we wold not stande to theyr curtesie but made signes vnto them that they should turne backe which they would not do but with great furye came toward vs and sodainely with their boates compassed vs aboute and bycause they woulde not awaye from vs by any signes that we coulde make we shotte of two péeces among them whiche did so terrifie them that they put themselues to flight towarde the sayde pointe makyng a great noyse and hauing stayde a while they began a new euen as at the first to come to vs againe being come néere our boate we strucke at them with two launces which thing was so great a terrour vnto them that with greate hast they began to flée and would no more follow vs. ¶ How the sayde men commming to our shippes and our men going toward them both parties went on land and how the saide wilde men with great ioye beganne to traficke with our men THe next daye part of the sayde wilde men with nine of their boates came to the point and entrance of the créek where we with our ships were at road We being aduertised of theyr cōming went
Germans Cape to the said Ilands is about xviij leagues a half at the ende of which ther is a goodly plot of grounde full of huge highe trées albeit the rest of the coast be compassed about w t sandes w tout any signe or shew of harboroughs til we came to Thiennots Cape which tendeth Northwest about vij leagues from y e forsaid Ilāds which Thiennots Cape we noted in our former voyage therfore we failed on all that night Weast Northwest til it was day then the winde turned again frō vs wherefore we wente to séeke a Hauen wherin we might harbor our ships by good hap found one fit for our purpose about vij leagues a half beyond Thiennots Cape and that we named S. Nicholas Hauen it lyeth amidst foure Ilandes that stretcheth into the sea Vpon the next we for a token set vp a woodden crosse But note by the way that crosse must be turned Northeast and then bending toward it leaue it on the left hand and you shall finde thrée fadome water and within the Hauen but two Also you are to take héede of two shelues that leane outwarde halfe a league All this coaste is full of quicke sandes and very daungerous albeit in sighte manye good Hauens séeme to be there yet is there nought else but shelues and sandes We staide and rested our selues in the sayde Hauen vntill the seauenth of August being Sundaye on whiche daye we hoysed sayle and came towarde lande one the neather side towarde Rabasts Cape distant from the sayd Hauen about twentie leagues North Northeast and South Southweast but the nexte daye there rose a stormie and a contrarie winde and therefore we coulde finde no Hauen there towarde the South Thence we wente coasting along toward the North beyonde the aboue-sayde Hauen aboute tenne leagues where we founde a goodly greate gulfe full of Ilandes passages and entraunces towarde what winde soeuer you please to bend for the knowledge of this gulfe there is a greate Ilande that is a Cape of the maine lande stretching somewhat further foorth than the others and aboute two leagues wythin the lande there is an Hill fashioned as it were an heape of corne We named the sayde Gulfe Saint Laurence hys Baie The twelfth of the sayde month we went from the sayd S. Laurence hys Bay or Gulfe sayling Westwarde and came to finde a Cape of maine lande on the Northside of the Baye that runneth from the saide Sainte Laurence his Baie about fiue and twentie leagues West and by South And of the two wilde men whiche we toke in our former voyage it was tolde vs that this was of the Band◠towarde the South and that there was an Ilande on the Southerlye parte of whiche is the waye to goe to Honguedo where the yeare before we hadde taken them in Canada and that two dayes iourney from the sayde Cape an Ilande began the Kingdome of Siguenay in the land◠Northwarde extending towarde Canada and aboute thrée leagues athwart the saide Cape there is aboue fiftie faddome déepe Moreouer I beléeue that there was neuer so many Whale◠séene as we sawe that day about the Cape The next daye after our Ladie day in August being the fiftéenth of the month hauing past those straightes where we had notice of certaine landes that we left toward the South whiche landes are full of very high hilles and therfore we named them The Ilands of the Assumption and one Cape of the sayd high countryes lyeth East north-easte and Weste south-west the distaunce betwéene which is about fiue twentie leagues The Countryes lying North maye playnely be perceyued to be higher thā the Southerly more than thirtie leagues We trended y e saide landes about towarde the South frō the said day vntyl Twesday noone following the winde being in the West and therfore we bended toward the North purposing to go and sée the land that we before had spyed Being arriued there wée founde the sayd Ilands as it were ioyned togither and lowe toward the Sea And the Northerly mountaines that are vpon the saide lowe Ilandes stretching Easte Weste and by Southe Our men tolde vs that there was the beginning of Saguenay and that it was land inhabited and that thēce commeth the redde Copper of them named CAIGNETDAZE There is betwéen the Southerly Ilands and the Northerly about 30. leagues distance and more thā 100. faddome depth The saide men did moreouer certifye vnto vs that there was the way and beginning of the gret riuer of Hochelaga a ready way to Canada which riuer the further it went the narower it came euen vntil to Canada and that then there was freshe water which went so farre vpwards that they hadde neuer hearde of any man had gone to the heade of it and that there is no other passage but with small boates Our Captayne hearing their talke and how they did affirm no other passage to be there woulde not at that time procéede any further tyll he had séene and noted the other Ilandes coast towarde the North which he had ommitted to sée after Saint Larance his gulfe bycause he would exquisitly know if in the Ilandes toward the South any passage had bin discouered ¶ How our Captain caused the shippes to retourne backe again only to know if in Saint Laurence gulfe there were any passage towarde the North. CHAP. 2. VPon the 18. of August being Wednesday our Captain◠caused his shippes to winde backe and bend toward the other shore so that we trended the sayd Northerly cost whiche runneth South-east North-west being fashioned like vnto halfe a bowe and is a very high land but yet not so high as that on the Southerly partes The Thursday following we came to seuen very high Ilandes whiche we named The round Ilands These Ilandes are distant from the others about fourtie leagues and stretche out into the Sea aboute thrée or foure leagues Aboute these there are goodly lowe groundes to be séene full of goodlye trées whiche we the Fryday following with our boates compassed aboute Ouerthwart these Ilandes there are diuerse sandie shelues more than two leagues into the sea very daungerous whiche at a a lowe water remaine almost dry At the furthest boundes of these lowe Ilands that containe about tenne leagues ther is a riuer of fresh water that with such swiftnesse runneth into the sea that for the space of one league within it the water is as freshe as anye fountaine water We with our boates entred into the saide riuer at the entraunce of whiche we foūd about one fadome water There are in this riuer many fishes shaped like horsses which as our wilde men told vs al the daye long lye in the water and the night on lande of which we sawe therein a great number The next day being the one and twentith of the month by breake of day we hoysed sayle and sayled so long about the sayde coaste that wée had sight of the Northerly partes of it
named Margaulz And albeit the said Ilandâ— be 14. leagues from the maine lande notwithstanding Beares come swimming thither to eate of the saide Byrdes and our men founde one there as greate as any Cowe and as white as any Swanne who in their presence leapt into the sea and vpon Whitson-monday folowing our voyage towarde the lande we mette hir by the way swimming towarde lande as swiftly as wée coulde saile so soone as we sawe hir we pursued hir with our boates and by maine strength tooke hir whose flesh was as good to be eaten as the fleshe of a Calfe of two yeares olde The Wednesday following beyng the 27. of the moneth we came to the entrance of the Bay of the Castels but bycause the weather was ill and the greate store of Ice wée founde we were constrayned to enter into an harborough about the saide entraunce called Carpunt where bycause wée could not come oute of it we stayed till the 9. of Iune that thence wée departed on hope with the aide of God to saile further than the said Carpunt which is in latitude 51. degrées ¶ The description of the newe founde lande from Cape Razo to the Cape of Degrade THe lande from Cape Razo to the Cape of Degrade whiche is the point of the entrance to the Bay that trendeth from head to head toward North northest and South southweast al this part of land is parted into Ilands one so néere the other that there are but small riuers betwéene them thorowe the whyche you may passe with little boates and therfore there are certaine good harbourghs among whyche is that of Carpunt and that of Degrade In one of these Ilands that is the highest of them all béeyng on the toppe of it you maye playnely sée the two lowe Ilandes that are neare to Cape Razo from whence to the Porte of Carpunt they counte it twentie and fiue leagues and there are twoo entraunces thereat one on the East the other on the South side of the Iland But it is to be noted that from the side and pointe of the Easte bycause that euerye where there is nothing else but shelues and the water is very shallowe you muste goe aboute the Ilande towarde the West the length of halfe a Cable or thereaboute and then to goe towarde the South to the said Carpont Also you are to take héede of thrée Shelues that are in the Chanel vnder the water and towarde the Iland on the Easte side in the Chanell the water is about two faddome déepe and cleare grounde The other trendeth toward East northeast and on the West you may go on shoare ¶ Of the Ilande whiche now is called Saint Katherins Ilande GOing from the Point of Degrade and entring into the sayde Baye towarde the Weast and by North there is some doubt of two Ilandes that are on the right side one of the whiche is distant from the saide pointe 3. leagues and the other 7. either more or lesse than the first beyng a lowe and plaine land and it séemeth to be parte of the maine lande I named it Saint Katherines Ilande in which toward Northeast there is verye drye soile but aboute a quarter of a league from it very ill ground so that you muste goe a little about The saide Iland and the Porte of Castelles trend towarde North northeast and South southweast and they are about 15. leagues asunder From the saide Porte of Castels to the Porte of Gutte whyche is in the northerne parte of the said Bay that trendeth towarde East northeast and Weast southweast there are twelue leagues and an halfe and aboute two leagues from the Porte of Balances that is to say the thirde parte athwarteth the sayde Bay the deapth being sounded it is about 18. faddoâ— and from the said Porte of Balances to the White Sands 〈◊〉 Weast southweast there is 15. leagues but you must â—ike héede of a shelfe that lyeth about 3. leagues outward from the sayd White Sands on the Southweast side aboue water like a Boate. ¶ Of the place called White Sandes of the Ilande of Brest and of the Ilande of Byrdes the sortes and quantitie of Byrdes that there are founde and of the Porte called the Islettes WHite Sandes is a Roade in the whiche there is no place garded from the South nor Southeast But towarde South southweast the said roade there are two Ilandes one of the which is called Brest Iland and the other the Ilande of Byrdes in whiche there is great store of Godetz Crowes with red beakes and redde féete they make their néestes in holes vnder the ground euen as Connies A point of land being passed about a league from White Sands there is a Port passage found called the Islettes a better place than White Sandes and there is great fishing From the saide Porte of the Islettes vnto another called Brest the circuite is aboute ten leagues This Porte is in latitude 51. degrées and 55. minutes and in longitude * From the Islettes to that place there are many other Ilandes and the saide Porte of Brest is also amongst those Ilandes Moreouer the Ilands doe compasse more than 3. leagues from the said Brest beyng lowe and ouer them are the other landes aboue mentioned séene ¶ Howe we wyth our Shippes entred into the Porte of Brest and sayling onwarde towarde the Weast we past amidst the Islettes which were so many in number that it was not possible to tel them and how we named theÌ„ the Islettes VPon the 10. of Iune we with our Ships entred into the Port of Brest to furnish our selues with water and wood and to make vs readye to passe the saide Bay Vpon Saynt Barnabas day seruice being heard we with our boates went beyond the said Porte toward the Weast to sée what harboroughes were there we passed throughe the midddest of the Islettes which were so many in number that it was not possible they might be told for they continued about 10. leagues beyonde the saide Porte We to rest our selues stayed in one of them a night and there we found greate store of Duckâ— egges and other byrdes that there doe make their neastes we named them all the Islettes ¶ Of the Porte called S. Antonies Porte S. Seruans Porte Iames Carthiers Porte of the riuer called S. Iames of the customes and apparell of the inhabitors in the Iland of White Sandes THe next day we passed the saide Ilandes and beyonde them all we found a good Hauen whyche we named S. Antonies Hauen and howe one or two leagues beyonde we founde a little riuer toward the Southwest coast that is betwéene two other Ilandes and is a good harborough There we sette vppe a Crosse and named it S. Seruans Porte and on the Southwest side of the said Porte and riuer about one league there is a small Ilande as round as any Ouen enuironed about with many other little Ilandes that giue notice to the saide Portes
prosperous weather we came into the middle of the Sea that is betwéene the newâ— land 〈◊〉 Briâ—tanie in which place we were tost and turmoyled thrée dayes long with great stormes and windie tempests comming from the east which with the aide and assistance of God we suffered then had we faire weather and vpon the fifth of September in the said yeare we came to the port of S. Malo whence we were come The language that is spoken in the Land newly discouered called new Fraunce God the Sunne Isnetz the Heauen camet the Day the Night aiagla Water ame Sand estogatz a Sayle aganie the Head agonaze the Throate conguedo the Nose hehonguesto the Teeth hesangne the Nayles agetascu the Feete ochedasco the Legges anoudasco a dead man amocdaza a Skinne aionasâ—a that Man yea a Hatchet asogne greene Fish gadagâ—ursere good to be eaten guesandâ— Almonds anougaza Figges ascondâ— Gold henyosco the priuie members assegnega an Arow cacta a greene Tree hauedâ— an earthen dish audaâ—o a Bow Brasse aignetaze the Brow ansce a Feather yco the Moone casmogan the Earth conda the Winde canut the Rayne â—nnoscon Bread cacacomy the Sea a met a Shippe casaomy a Man vndo the Heares hoc hosco the Eyes ygata the Mouth hachâ— the Eares hâ—ntasco the Armes agescâ— a Woman enrasesco a sicke Man alouedeche Shoes attâ— a Skin to couer a maÌ„s priuy meÌ„bers â—nscozâ—n vondico Flesh red cloth cahâ—neta a Knife agobodâ— a Macrell 〈◊〉 Nuttes 〈◊〉 Apples â—onesta Beanes sabe a Swoord achesco Heere endeth the first relation of Iames Carthiers discouery of the new land called New France translated into English out of Italian by I. F. Assai ben balla a chi fortuna suma ¶ A shorte and briefe narration of the Nauigation caused to be made by the King of France to the Ilands of Canada Hochelaga Saguenay and diuers others which now are called New France vvith a discourse of the particulars customes and manners of the inhabitoures therein Chap. 1. IN the yeare of our Lord 1535. vpon Whitsonday being the 16. of May by the commandement of our owne Captayne Iames Carthier and with a common accord in the Cathedrall Churche of S. Malo we deuoutely each one confessed our selues and receyued the Sacrament and all entring into the Quier of the sayde Church we presented our selues before the Reuerend Father in Christ the Lorde Bishop of S. Malo who blessed vs all being in his Bishops Roabes The Wensday following béeing the 19. of May there rose a good gale of winde and therefore we hoysed Sayle with thrée Shippes that is to say the great Hermina being in burthen about a hundreth or a hundreth and twentie Tunne wherein the foresayde Captayne Iames Carthier was Generall and Maister Thomas Frosmont chiefe Mayster accompanyed with Mayster Claudius of Pont Briand Sonne to the Lord of Monteceuell and Cupbearer to the Dolphin of France Charles of Pomeraâ—â—â— Iohn Powlet and other Gentlemen In the second Shippe called the little Hermina being of thréescore Tunne burthen were Captaynes vnder the said Carthier Mace Salobert and Mayster William Marie In the third Shippe called the Hemerillon being of fortiâ— Tunne in burthen were Captaynes M. William Brittan and M. Iames Maingare So we sayled with a good and prosperous wind vntil the 20. of the said moneth at which time the weather tourned into stormes teÌ„pests y e which with contrarie winds and darkenesse endured so long y t our ships being without any rest suffered as much as any ships that euer went on seas so that the 25. of Iune by reason of that foule and foggie weather all our shippes loste sight one of another neyther sawe we one another againe tyll we came to the newe lande where we had appointed to méet After we had lost one another we in the Generals ship were with contrarie windes tost too and fro on the sea vntil the seuenth of Iuly vpon which daye we arriued and came to the Iland called the Iland of Byrdes which lyeth from the main lande .44 leagues This Ilande is so full of byrdes that all our ships might easily haue bin fraighted with them and yet for the great number that there is it wold not séeme that any were taken away We to victual our selues filled two boats of them This Iland hath the Pole eleuated .49 degrées and 40. minutes Vppon the eight of the sayde moneth we sayled further and with a prosperous weather came to the Porte called The Port of white Sandes that is in the Baie called The Baie of Castels where we had purposed to méete and stay togither the fiftéenth of the said month In this place therfore we loked for our felows that is to say the other two ships til the .26 of the moneth on which daye both came togither So soone as our fellowes were come we set our shippes in a readinesse taking in both water wood and other necessaries And then on the 29. of the saide moneth early in the morning wée hoised saile to passe on further and sailing alongst the Northerne coast that runneth Northeast and Southwest til two houres after Sunne set or there aboutes and then we crossed along two Ilandes whiche doe stretch further forth than the others whiche we called S. Williams Ilandes bâ—ing distant aboute 20. leagues or more from the Porte of Brest All the coast from the Castels to that place lyeth East Weast Northeast and Southweast hauing betwéene it sundrye little Ilandes altogither barren and full of stones wythoute eyther earth or trées excepted certayne Valleys onely The nexte daye being the laste of Iulye sauing one we sayled on Westward to finde out other Ilands which as yet we had not founde xij leagues and a halfe among whiche there is a great Baye towarde the North all ful of Ilandes and great créekes where manye good harboroughes séeme to be them we named Saint Marthas Ilandes from which about a league and a halfe further into the sea there is a dangerous shallow wherin are four or fiue rocks which lye from Saint Marthas Ilandes about vij leagues as you passe into the said Ilands on the East and on y e West side to which we came the said day an houre after noone and from that houre vntil midnight we sailed about fiftéene leagues athwart a cape of y e lower Ilands which we named S. Germans IlaÌ„ds South-eastward froÌ„ whiche place about thrée leagues there is a very dangerous shallow Likewise betwéen S. Germans Cape S. Marthas about two leagues froÌ„ the said IlaÌ„ds there lyeth a baÌ„ck of sand vpon which hanck y e water is but two fadome déepe therfore séeing y e daÌ„ger of y e coast we struck saile went no further y e night The next day being y e last of Iuly we wente al along the coast y t runneth East west West by North which is al enuironed about w t Ilandes drie sandes and in truth are very daungerous The length froÌ„ S.
which as yet we had not séene and of the Iland of the Assumption which we had founde departing from the sayde land which thing so soon as we had done and that we were certifyed no other passage to be there we came to our shippe againe whiche we had left at the said Ilands where is a good harborough the water being about nine or ten faddome In the same place by occasion of contrarie winds and foggie mystes we were constrayned to stay not being either able to come out of it or hoyse sayle til the four twentith of the month On which day we departed came to a hauen on the Southerly coast about 80. leagues from the said Ilands This hauen is ouer against thrée flat Ilāds y t lye amidst a riuer bycause on the half way of y e sayd Ilands the said Hauen toward the North there is a verye great riuer that runneth betwéene the high low Ilands more than thrée leagues into the sea it hath many shelues there is not altogither one fadome water so that the place is very dangerous from bank to bancke of the saide shelues there is either xv or xx yardes All the Northerly cost rūneth East Northeast and South Southwest The saide hauen wherin we stayed is as it were but a sluce of the waters that rise by the floud and but of smal accompt we named them S. Iohns Isleetes bycause we founde them and entred into thē the day of the beheading of that Saint Aboute fiue leagues afore you come to the said hauen Westward there is no passage at al but only with little boates The hauen of S. Iohns Islettes dryeth vp all the waters that rise by flowing yea if it flowe a faddome The best place to harborough ships therin is on the South part of a certaine little Islande that is ouer against the sayde hauen whereby the bancke or shore of of the Iland riseth Vpon the first of September we departed out of the said hauen purposing to go towarde Canada and about 15. leagues from it towarde West Southwest amidst y e riuer there are thrée Ilandes ouer against the whiche the riuer runneth swift and is of a great depth it is that which leadeth and runneth into the Countrey and kingdome of Saguenay as by the two wilde men of Canada it was tolde vs. Thys riuer passeth and runneth along very high and stéepe hilles of bare stone where very little earth is and notwithstanding there is greate quantitie of sundrie sortes of trées that growe in the sayde bare stones euen as vppon good and fertile ground in such sorte that we haue séene some so great as well woulde suffise to make a maste for a shippe of fortie Tunne burden and as gréene as possible can be growing in a stonie rocke without any earth at all At the entraunce of the sayd riuer we mette with foure boates ful of wilde men whiche as farre as we coulde perceyue verye fearefullye came toward vs so that some of them went backe agayne the other came as neare vs as easilye they might heare and vnderstond one of our wilde men who tolde them his name and then toke acquaintaunce of them vpon whose word they came to vs. The nexte day being the seconde of September we came out of the riuer to goe to Canada and by reason of the Seas flowing the tide was verie swifte and daungerous for that on the South part of it there lye two Ilandes about whiche more than thrée leagues compasse lye manye greate stones and but two faddome water and the flowing amidst those Ilandes is verye vnconstante and doubtefull that if it hadde not bene for our boates we hadde bene in great dāger to loose our liues and coasting along the saide dry sands there is more than fiftéen fadome water About fiue leagues beyonde the riuer of Saguenay Southweast there is another Ilande more Northerly acrosse whiche are certaine highe péeces of lande and thereaboutes we thought to haue caste Ancker on purpose to staye the nexte tide but we could sound no ground by thrée score fadome within a flighte shoote from shoare so that we were constrayned to winde backe to the sayde Ilande where wée sounded againe and founde eightéene faddome The nexte mornyng we hoysed saile and wente thence sayling further on where wée hadde notice of a certayne kinde of fishe neuer to-fore of anye manne séene or knowen They are aboute the bignesse of a Purpois yet nothing like them of bodye verye well proportioned headed lyke Graye-houndes altogither as white as Snowe wythout anye spotte within which Riuer there is great quantitie of them they do liue altogyther betwéene the Sea and the freshe Water These of the Countrey call them ADHOTHVYS they folde vs that they be very sauorye and good to be eaten Moreouer they affirme none to be foūd else-wher but in that riuer The sixth of the month the weather being calme faire we went about fiftéene leagues more vpward into the riuer and there lighted on an Iland that looketh Northward and it maketh a little hauen or créeke wherin are many innumerable great Tortoyzes continuallye lying about that Ilande There are likewise great quantitie of the said Aphothuys taken by the inhabitours of the Coūtry so that there is as gret concourse and méeting in that place as is at Bordeous in Fraunce at euery tide This Iland is in length about thrée leagues and in bredth two and is a goodly and fertile plot of ground replenished with many goodly and great trées of manye sortes Among the rest ther are many Filburde trées which we found hanging full of them somewhat bigger and better in sauour than ours but somewhat harder and therefore we called it The Iland of Filburdes The seuenth of the month being our Ladies euen after seruice we went from that Ilande to goe vp higher into the riuer and came to the Fourteene Ilandes seauen or eight leagues from the Ilande of Filburdes where the Countrey of Canada beginneth one of which Ilandes is ten leagues in length and fiue in bredth greatlye inhabited of such men as onlie liue by fishing of suche sortes of fishes as the riuer affourdeth according to the seasō of them After we had cast Ancker betwéene the sayde Ilande and the Northerly coast we went on lande and tooke our two wilde men with vs méeting with many of those Countrey people who woulde not at all approch vnto vs but rather fledde from vs vntill our two men beganne to speake vnto them telling thē that they wer Taignoagny Domagaia who so soone as they had takē aquaintance of thē began greatly to reioyce dauncing and shewing many sorts of ceremonies and many of the chiefest of thē came to our boats brought many Eles other sorts of fishes with two or thrée burdens of great Millet wherwith they make their bread many gret mus◠milions The same daye came also manye other boates full of those Countreymen and