The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 5: Quebec, 1632-1633
History
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 5: Quebec, 1632-1633
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France); Indians of North America -- Canada; Jesuits -- Missions; Jesuits -- North America
At length, on the 5th of July, which was Monday,--two months
and 18 days since the 18th of April, when we sailed,--[34] we
reached the much desired port. We cast anchor in front of the fort
which the English held; we saw at the foot of this fort the poor
settlement of Kebec all in ashes. The English, who came to this
country to plunder and not to build up, not only burned a greater
part of the detached buildings which Father Charles Lallement
had had erected, but also all of that poor settlement of which
nothing now is to be seen but the ruins of its stone walls. This
greatly inconveniences the French, who do not know where to lodge.
The next day Captain Thomas Ker was summoned, a man of French
nationality, born at Dieppe, who had gone over to England, and
who, with David and Louys Ker, his brothers,[11] and one Jacques
Michel, also born at Dieppe, all huguenots, had thrown themselves
upon this poor country, where they have done great [35] damage and
have prevented the doing of much good. This poor Jacques Michel,
full of sadness at not having been rewarded as he desired, by the
English,--or rather by the renegade and anglicized French,--also a
prey to conscience at having assisted these new Englishmen against
his own countrymen, died suddenly, some time after the surrender
of this country. He was buried at Tadoussac. I have learned here
that the Savages exhumed his body, and showed it every imaginable
indignity, tore it to pieces and gave it to their dogs; but such
are the wages of traitors. I pray God that he may open the eyes of
the others. Monsieur Emery de Caën had already sent a boat from
Tadoussac with an extract from the Commissions and Letters Patent
of the Kings of France and of England,[12] by which the English
Captain was commanded [36] to surrender the fort in eight days.
Having seen the Letter, he answered that he would obey when he had
seen the original. It was therefore brought to him the day after
our arrival; and in the meantime we celebrated the holy Mass in the
oldest house in this country, the home of madame Hebert,[13] who
had settled near the fort during the lifetime of her husband. She
has a fine family, and her daughter is married here to an honest
Frenchman. God is blessing them every day; he has given them very
beautiful children, their cattle are in fine condition, and their
land produces good grain. This is the only French family settled
in Canada. They were seeking some way of returning to France;
but, having learned that the French were coming back to Kebec, they
began to regain courage. When they saw our ships coming in with
the white flags upon the masts, they knew not [37] how to express
their joy. But when they saw us in their home, to celebrate the
holy Mass, which they had not heard for three years, good God! what
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