The four Vessels appointed for Monsieur _de la Sale’s_ Enterprize, had on Board about two hundred and eighty persons, including the Crews; of which Number there were one hundred Soldiers, with their Officers, one _Talon_, with his _Canada_ Family, about thirty Volunteers, some young Women, and the rest hired People and Workmen of all Sorts, requisite for making of a Settlement. [Sidenote: _Ships._] The first of the four Vessels was a Man of War, call’d _le Joly_, of about thirty six or forty Guns, commanded by Monsieur _de Beaujeu_, on which Monsieur _de la Sale_, his Brother the Priest, two Recolet Fryars, Messieurs _Dainmaville_ and _Chedeville_, Priests, and I imbark’d. The next was a little Frigate, carrying six Guns, which the King had given to Monsieur _de la Sale_, commanded by two Masters; a Flyboat of about three hundred Tuns Burden, belonging to the Sieur _Massiot_, Merchant at _Rochel_, commanded by the Sieur _Aigron_, and laden with all the Effects Monsieur _de la Sale_ had thought necessary for his Settlement, and a small Ketch, on which Monsieur _de la Sale_ had imbark’d thirty Tuns of Ammunition, and some Commodities design’d for _Santo Domingo_.[31] [Sidenote: _Boltsprit lost._] All the Fleet, being under the Command of Monsieur _de Beaujeu_, was order’d to keep together as far as _Cape Finisterre_, whence each was to follow his own Course; but this was prevented by an unexpected Accident. We were come into 45 Degrees 23 Minutes of North Latitude, and about 50 Leagues from _Rochel_, when the Boltsprit of our Ship, the _Joly_, on a sudden, broke short, which oblig’d us to strike all our other Sails, and cut all the Rigging the broken Boltsprit hung by. [Sidenote: _Return to_ Rochfort.] [Sidenote: _Aug. 1684_] Every man reflected on this Accident according to his Inclination. Some were of Opinion it was a Contrivance; and it was debated in Council, Whether we should proceed to _Portugal_, or return to _Rochel_, or _Rochfort_; but the latter Resolution prevail’d. The other Ships design’d for the Islands and _Canada_, parted from us, and held on their Course. We made back for the River of _Rochfort_, whither the other three Vessels follow’d us, and a Boat was sent in, to acquaint the Intendant with this Accident. The Boat returned some Hours after, towing along a Boltsprit, which was soon set in its Place, and after Monsieur _de la Sale_ had confer’d with the Intendant, he left that Place on the first of _August, 1684_. [Sidenote: Cape Finisterre.] [Sidenote: Madera.]