THE FRENCH EXPEDITION TO ACADIA, NOW

MAINE, IN 1613.

Translated from Vol. 1 of the Narratives of the Jesuits* by Professor Stephen S. Nash,t of Addison, Me.

CHAPTER XXIII.

An expedition was fitted out in France to remove the Jesuits from Port Royal and make a new settlement in a more suitable place.

The leader of this expedition was Capt. La Saussaye. He had with him thirty persons who were to winter in the country, including the two Jesuits and their servant whom he was to take to Port Royal. He had also with him two other Jesuits, P. Quentin and Gilbert du Thet; but they were to return to France in case the two at Port Royal whose fate was uncertain, should be dead. The entire expedition including the sailors numbered forty-eight. The master of the vessel was Charles Flory du Hableuille, [Hableville] a bold, quiet man of good judgment. The King had kindly given us four tents or royal pavillions and some munitions of war; Simon La Maistre had carefully looked after the freighting and provisioning of the vessel, and Gilbert du Thet, the Jesuit coadjutor, a very enterprising man, had spared himself no pains; so that we were abundantly provided with everything for more than a year, besides the horses and goats which we took with us for our colony. Our vessel was of a hundred tons burden.

This expedition thus equipped set out from Honfleur, Mar. 12, 1613, and first made land at Cape de La Heue [Heve] in Acadia, May 16, having been two entire months on the voyage. At Cape de La Heve they celebrated mass and erected a cross affixing to it the arms of the Marchioness de Guercheuille [ville], thus taking possession in her name. Thence putting to sea they came to Port Royal.

At Port Royal they found five persons only; namely, the two Jesuits, their servant, the apothecary Hebert and one other; De Biencourt and his men were at some distance scattered here and there. But as Hebert occupied the place of the above named gentleman, they presented to him the letters of the King in which was contained an order to release the Jesuits and permit them to go wherever it should seem best to them. Thus the Jesuits peacefully removed their effects and that and the following day were made days of good cheer to Hebert and his companion, in order that this arrival might not be to them a sad one. At our departure, though we were not in debt to them, we left them a barrel of bread and some flagons of wine that our farewell might be equally pleasant.

Head wind kept us five days at Port Royal whence a northeast wind arising we set sail intending to go to the river Pentegoet L

See Ante, vol. 5, page 222.

+ Prof. Nash graduated from Brown University, 1859, and was for many years connected with the schools of New York City.-EDITOR.

to a place named Kadesquit, [ Ja site having many advantages, and one that had been chosen for the new colony. But God disposed otherwise; for as we were at the south-east of the island of Menano [ ]the weather changed, and the thick fog shut us in, so that we could see no farther by day than by night. We were in great fear, because at that place there were many rocks and breakers among which we did not dare to venture in thick weather. The wind not permitting us to get into deeper water we remained in this position two days and two nights, tacking now this way, now that way as God inspired us. This distress moved us to beseech God that he would deliver us from danger, and for his own glory guide us to some good place. In mercy he heard us, for in the evening we saw the stars, and in the morning the fog cleared. We found ourselves off Mount Desert [des Monts deserts], an island which the savages call Pemetiq. The pilot approached the east coast of the island, where he came to anchor in a fine, large harbor and where we redeemed our vows, raising the cross, singing praises to God and celebrating the holy mass. called this place and harbor Saint Savior [S. Sauueur].

CHAPTER XXIV.

We

But at the harbor of Saint Savior a spirited dispute arose between the sailors and the passengers of the vessel. The following was the occasion of it. The colony charter and agreement made in France declaring that the sailors were bound to enter some port in Acadia which we should name, and there remain for three months, the sailors maintained that they had already arrived in a port of Acadia, and that according to the agreement the three months should date from that arrival. On the other side, it was argued that this port was not the one that had been named Kadesquit, and, therefore the time should not begin till they were there. The pilot took the opposite ground, maintaining that no vessel had been so far as Kadesquit, and that he did not wish to make himself a discoverer of new routes. But the continued arguments ended in talk only, a bad augury for our future. In the midst of the dispute the savages made the smoke signal. This signified that they would go to reconnoitre if we needed them, which we did. The pilot using the opportunity told them that the Fathers of Port Royal were on his vessel. The savages replied that they would gladly see those whom they had known two years before at Pentagoet. P Biard went at once to find them and to inform himself concerning the route to Kadesquit, signifying to them that he wished to settle there. "But," said they, "if you wish to settle in this neighborhood, why not rather stop with us who have as large and as good a a place as Kadesquit?" They laid before him the advantages of their location, assuring him that it was so healthy and pleasant that when the natives were sick in other places they were brought to be there recovered. These praises did not greatly move M. Biard as he was

• King Henry IV died in 1610 and his son Louis XIII, then but twelve years old was the reigning king. + Now Bangor.

well aware that savages are much given to boasting of their surroundings. But they are skilful in making use of tricks to obtain their ends. "But," continued they, "you must come as far as Asticou; our chief is sick unto death, and if you do not come he will die without baptism, and will not go to heaven; you will be the cause of it for he wishes to be baptized." This argument thus naively given surprised M. Biard. and fully persuaded him to go thither, seeing that the distance was only three leagues and the loss of time would be only one afternoon. Accordingly he set out in one of their canoes, taking with him La Motte and Simon, the interpreter.

Arriving at the cabins of Asticou we found him sick, but not unto death, for it was only rheumatism that tormented him; therefore assured of his recovery, we had abundant time to visit the place so highly praised and considered better than Kadesquit for a French colony and truly we found that the savages had good ground for their high praise of it; for we, ourselves, were delighted with it. Having carried the news to the leaders of our expedition, and they also having come to recoinnoitre all unanimously agreed that we should settle there without looking farther, seeing that God appeared so to direct by the happy incidents that had arisen, and by a certain miracle that he had performed in the healing of a child, of which we will speak elsewhere.

This place is a beautiful hill rising gently from the sea and watered on its sides by two fountains. Twenty or twenty-five acres of the land are cleared and in some places covered with grass as high as a man's head. The outlook is to the south and east, almost at the mouth of the Pentagoet and where are the outlets of several pleasant streams abounding in fish. The soil is dark colored and fertile. The port and harbor are the finest ever seen, and in a suitable place to command the entire coast. The harbor especially is as safe as a pond; for, besides being protected by the large island Mount Desert, it is farther sheltered by certain small islands which break the wind and waves and fortify its entrance. There is no fleet which it cannot accomodate or ship So deep that it cannot discharge within a cable's length of the shore. Its latitude is 44 deg. 20 min. north, not even so far north as Bourdeau.

Having landed at this place and erected the cross we set ourselves to work. With our work began our contentions, a second forerunner of our misfortunes. The cause of these quarrels was that our captain La Saussaye spent too much time in tilling the soil; while the leading men urged him not to call off the workmen to that occupation but to apply himself without interruption to building and fortifying, which he was not willing to do. From these quarrels arose others until the English united us as you shall see.

CHAPTER XXV.

OUR CAPTURE BY THE ENGLISH.

Virginia is a country formerly named Morosa.

It lies between Florida and New France in latitude 36°, 37° and 38°. This country was first discovered and taken possession of by Jean Verazan (John

Verrazzani) in the name of Francis I, as has been before stated, but the English having rediscovered it in 1593 and 1594, have been colonized there for seven or eight years. Their principal settlement named Jamestown is distant from Saint Sauveur where we settled about 250 leagues in a direct line. Judge of their right to interfere with us. The English of Virginia were accustomed to come yearly to the islands of Pencoit which are 25 leagues from Saint Sauveur for their winter supply of codfish. Coming thither according to their custom in the summer of 1613, of which we have spoken, they were overtaken by the fogs and mists which, as we have said before, often cover sea and land. As these continued several days the current carried them much farther along the N. E. coast than they suspected, for they were eighty leagues farther up the coast of New France than they supposed, and near our port, but they did not rocognize the place. Unfortunately some savages passed near and went to them thinking they were French in search of us. The English could not understand the language of the savages but they made out by signs that there was a French vessel near for they understood the word Normandy by which we were designated and in the ceremony of which the savages made use they recognized the French courtesy and civility. Then the English who were without food, tattered, half naked, and seeking only for plunder, inquired about the size of our vessel, the number of our canoes and men. Having obtained a satisfactory answer they expressed themselves in shouts of joy, showing that this was indeed what they were in search of and that we were threatened. This was in fact what they were doing, but it was not so understood by the savages who thought they were only our good friends who were anxious about us and greatly desired to see us; so one of them remained on the vessel to act as pilot which he did with a favorable wind. As soon as the English discovered us they prepared for a battle, and it was only then that the kindhearted savage found out that he had been deceived. He began to bemoan his mistake and to curse those who had misled him. Often afterwards he wept and asked pardon of us and the other savages because the other savages wished to take vengeance on him for our misfortune, thinking that he had betrayed us.

But we seeing the vessel advancing under full sail knew not what to think whether they were friends or enemies, French or strangers. For this reason the pilot went out in a launch to reconnoitre, while others armed themselves. La Saussaye remained on shore and took the most of the men under his command. Lieutenant La Motte, Ensign Ronferè and Sergeant Joubert and all the remainder went boldly on shipboard, for it was there that the best men were needed.

The English vessel* came on swifter than a dart. She was painted red, the English flag was flying while three trumpets and two drums. were making a great noise. Our pilot who had gone out to reconnoitre did not return to his ship because as he said the English had the wind in their favor and in order not to fall into their hands he made the circuit of an island. Moreover on this occasion the vessel was deprived of half of its men and had for its defence only ten in all, and, farther, Under command of Capt. Samuel Argal.

none of them had ever been in a naval battle, except Captain Flory, who indeed lacked neither skill nor courage, but he had not time to prepare for action nor had he men. For this reason he could not raise his anchor or get under way which is the first step in a naval action. Moreover the sails were unbent, for as they felt secure in port during the summer they had stretched the sails as an awning from the poop to the bits over the deck and could not readily remove them. But this was a fortunate circumstances; for our men being so well hidden and the English not being able to single out their enemies upon the firing of their carbines, fewer men were killed or wounded.

At their approach as is customary in a call to surrender our men cried out in seafaring phrase, O. O. The English did not respond in like manner, but in a more furious one, with a heavy discharge of musketry and cannon. They had fourteen pieces of artillery and sixty musketers drilled to fight on ship-board, pouring in shot against the shore and over the beautiful meadow, from the poop, and fighting with the order of rank and file on shore.

no

The first discharge of the English was terrific enveloping them in fire and smoke. Our side made a feeble reply and the artillery was silent. Captain Flory shouted "Fire the cannon, fire" But there was cannoneer. Gilbert du Thet who was neither timid nor cowardly, hearing the command and seeing no one to obey it applied the match and made our salute as loud as the enemy's. The misfortune was that he did not take aim. Had he done so we might have had something more than noise.

After the first discharge they laid their vessel broadside on and made ready an anchor to grapple our bits. Captain Flory promptly paid out the cable which checked the enemy and made him sheer off for he feared that in following us we should run him aground. Afterward seeing our vessel still afloat, and being reassured they again attacked us with their carbines. It was in this second charge that DuThet was shot through the body and fell upon the deck. Captain Flory was wounded in the foot and three others in different places. This was the signal for surrender for the contest was an unequal one. When the English heard that we had surrendered they threw themselves into our boat. At the same time our men threw themselves into their boat to make for the land as they feared the arrival of the victors. The English were no sooner on our vessel than they started in pursuit, calling to them to return or they should be obliged to fire upon them, by which, being still more frightened two of our men jumped overboard in order in my opinion to swim ashore; but they were drowned either because they were wounded or, what is more probable, because they were attacked and killed in the water. They were two promising young companions. One named Le Moine was from Dieppe, the other named Neven was from the city of Beauvais. Nine days afterwards their bodies reappearing were secured and buried with religious rites. Such was the .capture of our vessel.