Bertrand's Lettre Missive |
Touchant la Conversion et Baptesme du grand Sagamos Paris: JEAN REGNOUL, 1610
Source: Title-page and text reprinted from original in Lenox Library.
Lettre Missive LETTRE MISSIVE, TOVCHANT LA Conversion et Baptesme du grand Sagamos de la nouuelle FrÃce, qui en estoit auparauant l'arriuÉe des FranÇois le chef & souuerain. Contenant sa promesse d'amener ses subjets À la mesme Conuersion, ou les y contraindre par la force des armes. EnuoyÉe du Port Royal de la nouuelle France au SR de la Tronchaie, dattÉe du 28. Iuin 1610. A PARIS, Chez Iean Regnovl, ruË du Foin, pres sainct Yues.
1610. Auec permission. A LETTER MISSIVE IN REGARD TO THE Conversion and Baptism of the grand Sagamore of New France, who was, before the arrival of the French, its chief and sovereign. Containing his promise to secure the conversion of his subjects also, even by strength of arms. Sent from Port Royal, in New France, to Sieur de la Tronchaie, dated June 28, 1610. PARIS, Jean Regnoul, Rue du Foin, near Saint Ives.
1610. With permission.
[3] Lettre Missive, Tovchant la Conversion et 120 Baptesme du Grand Sagamos de la nouuelle France, qui en estoit auparauant l'arriuÉe des FranÇois chef & souuerain. MONSIEVR & Frere, Ie n'ay voulu laisser partir le nauire sans vous faire sÇauoir des nouuelles de ce paÏs que ie croy aurez agreables, d'autant que ie sÇay, qu'estes bon Catholique, C'est que le Grand Sagamos, qui se dit en nostre langue Grand Capitaine des Sauuages, & le premier de tous, s'est fait baptiser le iour de la sainct Iean Baptiste derniere, [4] auec sa femme, ses enfans, & enfans de ses enfans, iusques au nombre de vingt: auec autant de ferueur, ardeur & zele À la Religion que pourroit faire vn qui y auroit estÉ instruict depuis trois ou quatre ans: Il promet faire baptizer les autres, autrement qu'il leur fera la guerre: Monsieur de Poutrincourt & Monsieur son fils les ont tenus au nom du Roy, & de Monseigneur le Dauphin. Les nouvelles de la mort du Roy n'estoi?t encores en ce pays lÀ. C'est desia vn beau commencement, ie croy que cy apres ce sera encores mieux: Quant au pays, iamais ie n'ay veu rien de si beau, meilleur ny plus fertile, & vous dis auec veritÉ, & sans mentir, que si i'auois trois ou quatre Laboureurs maintenant auec moy, & [5] pour les nourrir vne annÉe, & du bled pour ensemencer le labourage qu'ils pourroient faire de leurs bras seulement, du surplus qui me reuiendroit apres leur nourriture, i'espererois faire trafiq tous les ans de sept ou huict mille liures en Castors & Pelleterie: Ie suis bien marry auant que 122 partir que ie ne sÇauois ce que ie sÇay, i'eusse employÉ le verd & le sec ou i'en eusse amenÉ deux ou trois, & deux muids de bled qui est peu de chose: Vous asseurant qu'il fait beau trafiquer par deÇÀ & faire vn beau gain: Si vous voulez y entendre, mandez moy vostre volontÉ par ce porteur qui desire retourner & faire trafiq, suiuant ce qu'il a veu. Ie ne vous [6] en diray dauantage, sinon que ie prieray Dieu Monsieur & frere vous donner en parfaicte santÉ tres-longue vie. De la nouuelle France, du Port Royal ce xxviij. Iuin, 1610. Vostre tres-affectionnÉ Frere & seruiteur Bertrand. [3] A Letter Missive in regard to the Conversion and Baptism of the Grand Sagamore of new France, who was, before the arrival of the French, its chief and sovereign. SIR and Brother, I did not wish the ship to depart without giving you some news of this country which I believe will be acceptable, as I know that you are a good Catholic. The Grand Sagamore, whom we call in our language Grand Captain of the Savages, and chief of all, was baptized on last saint John the Baptist's day; [4] with his wife, children, and children's children, to the number of twenty; with as much enthusiasm, fervor, and zeal for Religion as would have been evinced by a person who had been instructed in it for three or four years. He promises to have the others baptized, or else make war upon them. The news of the King's death had not then reached Canada.Monsieur de Poutrincourt and his son acted as sponsors for them in the name of the King, and of Monseigneur the Dauphin. We have already made this good beginning, which I believe will become still better hereafter. As to the country, I have never seen anything so beautiful, better, or more fertile; and I can say to you, truly and honestly, that if I had three or four Laborers with me now, and [5] the means of supporting them for one year, and some wheat to sow in the ground tilled by their labor alone, I should expect to have a yearly trade in Beaver and other Skins amounting to seven or eight thousand livres, with the sur plus which would remain to me after their support. I am very sorry that I did not know before my departure what I know now; if I had, I should have left no stone unturned to bring with me two or three farmers, and two hogsheads of wheat, which is a mere trifle. I assure you it is delightful to engage in trade over here and to make such handsome profits. If you wish to take a hand in it, let me know your intentions by the bearer, who desires to return and traffic here in pursuance of what he has seen. I [6] shall say no more, except to pray God to give you, Sir and Brother, a long life and perfect health. From Port Royal, New France, this 28th of June, 1610. Your very affectionate Brother and servant, Bertrand.
124 Figure du Port Royal From Lescarbot's Histoire de la Novvelle France; Paris, 1612. (Slightly reduced from original.) Larger image
III-VI Lettre du P. Pierre Biard, au T. R.-P. Claude Aquaviva Dieppe, Janvier 21, 1611 Lettre du P. Biard, au R.-P. Christophe Baltazar Port Royal, Juin 10, 1611 Lettre du P. Ennemond MassÉ, au T. R.-P. Aquaviva Port Royal, Juin 10, 1611 Lettre du P. Biard, au T. R.-P. Aquaviva Port Royal, Juin 11, 1611.
Source: Reprinted from PremiÈre Mission des JÉsuites au Canada, by Auguste Carayon, S. J. Paris: L'Écureux, 1864.
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