Narrative of a Voyage to the West Indies and Mexico in the Years 1599-1602Champlain, Samuel de
History
Narrative of a Voyage to the West Indies and Mexico in the Years 1599-1602
Champlain, Samuel de
Mexico -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; West Indies -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
About an hour after the departure of the Greek, he suddenly returned
accompanied by two canoes which were hastening to the settlement, in
one of which was Foucher, the superintendent of the farm at Cape
Tourmente, who told Champlain that he had just escaped from the
English, who had taken him prisoner with three of his men, a woman, and
a little girl, whom they had carried off to a barque which was at
anchor off the Cape, having killed all the beasts they had need of, and
burned the remainder in the stables; they had also set fire to two
small houses, and ravaged and pillaged everything, even the head-gear
of the little girl; they had then reembarked in haste, fearing to be
pursued; "which," says Champlain, "assuredly they would have been, if
the savages, who all knew of their arrival, had informed us of it; but,
like perfidious traitors as they are, they not only concealed this
unpleasant news, but spread the report that the strangers were our own
people, and that we were not to be anxious about them." It appeared
that the enemy had arrived at Cape Tourmente an hour or so before
daylight, and sent about fifteen soldiers ashore, thinking to surprise
Foucher and his people asleep; but on approaching the habitation,
Foucher met them, asking, "who they were and what they wanted?" They
replied in French that they were friends: "Do you not recollect us? We
were here last year, and we are now sent by Monseigneur the Cardinal
and Monseigneur de Roquemont with intelligence; in passing we wished to
see you." With these civilities and gentle words they saluted,
gradually surrounding Foucher and his men, who were presently
astonished at being seized and made prisoners, as before related, "the
treacherous savages having told them of the state in which we were."
Champlain, at this confirmation of his fears, immediately set everybody
to work at making intrenchments around the little town, and stockades
on the ramparts of the fort (which was not finished for want of
workmen), appointing every man his post, to which he was to hasten when
required.
On the next day, the 10th of July, about three in the afternoon, a boat
was seen approaching the settlement, which, from its manoeuvres,
seemed to make for the St. Charles river, either to disembark men or to
set fire to the house of the mission, which was there situated, or
else, that the crew did not know the right channel to the town.
Champlain sent some arquebusiers to reconnoitre, who found that the
supposed enemies were the men with the woman and girl who had just been
taken prisoners, with six Basques, who had also been captured by the
English. One of the latter was bearer of a letter from the English
"General" at Tadoussac, to this effect:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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