The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 2: Acadia, 1612-1614
History
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 2: Acadia, 1612-1614
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France); Indians of North America -- Canada; Jesuits -- Missions; Jesuits -- North America
At last, owing to his good judgment and energy, he
was able to land near the island of sainte Croix, where Oagimont,
Captain of the place, brought him some sea-biscuits, for which
he had traded with the French people. And thence, being familiar
with the place, he crossed French bay, about twenty leagues wide
here, and reached Port Royal, five weeks after his departure. Here
he found his people wondering greatly at his long absence, and
already meditating a change, which could not have been otherwise
than disastrous. It is thus, at the peril of his life, and with
incredible hardships and sufferings, he goes out to seek the lost
sheep, to lead them back into the fold of Jesus Christ, and to add
to the heavenly Kingdom. And if these people are not converted
by the thousand, it must be remembered [16] that no Prince or
Lord has, up to the present, given any assistance to sieur de
Poutrincourt; the avaricious are even stealing from him the wealth
of his province, and he permits this in his goodness, in order to
do nothing that will exasperate the nobles over here; although, as
the King has given him the land, he would be justified in refusing
to others the fruits thereof, as well as entry into his ports, and
the cutting down of his forests. When he has more ample means, he
can send men into the more populous districts, where they must go
in strength, and reap a great harvest for the extension of the
Church. But we must first establish the State, without which the
Church cannot exist. And for this reason the first help should be
given to this State, and not to what has the pretext of piety. For,
when the State is founded, it will be its duty to provide for that
which is spiritual. Let us return to Port Royal. When the Sieur
arrived there he found Martin and his friends, baptized, and all
strongly imbued with zeal for the Christian Religion, listening
very devoutly to divine service, which was usually sung to Music
composed by the Sieur.
Ce zele s'est reconu non seulement aux neophytes Chrétiens, comme nous
particulariserons cy-apres; mais aussi en ceux qui n'estoient point
encore initiés aux sacrez mysteres de nôtre Religion. Car lors que
ledit Martin fut baptizé, il y en eut vn tout décharné, n'ayant plus
que les os, lequel n'ayant esté en la compagnie des autres, se porta, à
toute peine, en trois cabannes [17] cherchant ledit Fleuches Patriarche
pour estre instruit & baptizé.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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