The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 4: Acadia and Quebec, 1616-1629
History
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 4: Acadia and Quebec, 1616-1629
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France); Indians of North America -- Canada; Jesuits -- Missions; Jesuits -- North America
Now on our way to England the tempest cast us out of la ma[n]che[6]
(as it is called); that is, out of the Channel between France
and England, and we were obliged to take refuge in the Harbor
of Milfier [Milford], in the Province of Wales. There again all
provisions failed us, which compelled our Captain to go to Pembroch
[Pembroke], the principal city of this place, and a Vice-admiralty.
But at Pembroke he was taken prisoner, as they suspected him of
being a Pirate. The suspicion arose from the fact that he and his
crew were English, yet their ship was made after French [293 i.e.,
295] models, which made them think he came from Port de Gryp on the
Arcin Islands, this side of Cape Escumant. The Captain justified
himself as well as he could, by telling the truth; but they did
not believe him, inasmuch as he had no Commission, and could not
have had, because being nothing but a Lieutenant he followed his
Captain, from whom he was accidentally separated by the storm,
as you have heard. For this reason he was obliged to produce, as
witnesses of his honesty, the two Jesuits whom he had in his ship,
irreproachable men, as he said, and said truly.
Aussi tost par commandement du Magistrat lesdits Iesuites fur[~e]t
appellés à terre; & interrogés en Iustice, auec grand respect. Eux
conterent la verité du faict, & à leur deposition le Capitaine fut [294
i.e., 296] tenu gentil-homme d'honneur, & de bien; sauf à demesler nos
differents touchant la nouuelle Frãce par deuãt le Roy. Neantmoins il
fallut seiourner vn grand long temps audit Pembroch attendãt response
de Londres, car il fut necessaire d'y enuoyer tant pour auoir de
l'argent, que pour aduertir de cest affaire le grand Admiral, & la
compagnie des Marchands, qui ont charge de la Virginie.
Immediately, by command of the Magistrate, the Jesuits were
summoned to come on shore, where they were very respectfully
interrogated in a Court of Justice. They stated the real facts of
the case, and upon their testimony the Captain was [294 i.e., 296]
acknowledged to be a gentleman of honor and of worth; as to the
disentanglement of our difficulties about new France, these were
to be reserved for the King. Nevertheless, we had to make a very
long sojourn at Pembroke, awaiting an answer from London, for it
was necessary to send there, partly to obtain money, partly to make
known the affair to the high Admiral, and the company of Merchants
who have charge of Virginia.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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