Chap. 1.

IN the yeare of our Lord 1535. vpon Whit­sonday, being the 16. of May, by the comman­dement of our owne Captayne Iames Car­thier, and with a common accord, in the Ca­thedrall Churche of S. Malo, we deuoutely each one confessed our selues, and receyued the Sacrament: and all entring into the Quier of the sayde Church, we presented our selues before the Reuerend Father in Christ, the Lorde Bishop of S. Malo, who blessed vs all, be­ing in his Bishops Roabes. The Wensday following, bée­ing the 19. of May, there rose a good gale of winde, and there­fore we hoysed Sayle with thrée Shippes, that is to say, the great Hermina, being in burthen about a hundreth, or a hun­dreth and twentie Tunne, wherein the foresayde Captayne Iames Carthier was Generall, and Maister Thomas Fros­mont chiefe Mayster, accompanyed with Mayster Claudius of Pont Briand, Sonne to the Lord of Monteceuell, and Cupbea­rer to the Dolphin of France▪ Charles of Pomera [...], Iohn Pow­let, and other Gentlemen. In the second Shippe called the little Hermina, being of thréescore Tunne burthen, were Captaynes vnder the said Carthier, Mace Salobert, and May­ster William Marie. In the third Shippe called the Heme­rillon, being of forti [...] Tunne in burthen, were Captaynes M. William Brittan, and M. Iames Maingare. So we sayled with a good and prosperous wind, vntil the 20. of the said mo­neth, [Page 29] at which time the weather tourned into stormes & tē ­pests, y^e which with contrarie winds, and darkenesse, endured so long y^t our ships being without any rest, suffered as much as any ships that euer went on seas: so that the 25. of Iune, by reason of that foule and foggie weather, all our shippes loste sight one of another, neyther sawe we one another againe tyll we came to the newe lande where we had appointed to méet. After we had lost one another, we in the Generals ship were with contrarie windes tost too and fro on the sea, vntil the se­uenth of Iuly, vpon which daye we arriued and came to the Iland called the Iland of Byrdes, which lyeth from the main lande .44. leagues. This Ilande is so full of byrdes, that all our ships might easily haue bin fraighted with them, and yet for the great number that there is, it wold not séeme that any were taken away. We to victual our selues filled two boats of them. This Iland hath the Pole eleuated .49. degrées, and 40. minutes. Vppon the eight of the sayde moneth we sayled further, and with a prosperous weather came to the Porte called The Port of white Sandes, that is in the Baie called The Baie of Castels, where we had purposed to méete and stay togither the fiftéenth of the said month. In this place therfore we loked for our felows, that is to say, the other two ships, til the .26. of the moneth, on which daye both came togither. So soone as our fellowes were come, we set our shippes in a rea­dinesse, taking in both water, wood, and other necessaries. And then on the 29. of the saide moneth, early in the morning wée hoised saile to passe on further, and sailing alongst the Nor­therne coast that runneth Northeast and Southwest, til two houres after Sunne set or there aboutes, and then we cros­sed along two Ilandes, whiche doe stretch further forth than the others, whiche we called S. Williams Ilandes, b [...]ing di­stant aboute 20. leagues or more from the Porte of Brest. All the coast from the Castels to that place lyeth East & Weast, Northeast and Southweast, hauing betwéene it sundrye lit­tle Ilandes, altogither barren and full of stones, wythoute eyther earth or trées, excepted certayne Valleys onely. The [Page 30] nexte daye being the laste of Iulye sauing one, we sayled on (Westward to finde out other Ilands) which as yet we had not founde, xij. leagues and a halfe, among whiche there is a great Baye towarde the North all ful of Ilandes and great créekes, where manye good harboroughes séeme to be: them we named Saint Marthas Ilandes, from which about a league and a halfe further into the sea, there is a dangerous shallow, wherin are four or fiue rocks, which lye from Saint Marthas Ilandes about vij. leagues as you passe into the said Ilands, on the East and on y^e West side, to which we came the said day an houre after noone, and from that houre vntil midnight we sailed about fiftéene leagues athwart a cape of y^e lower Ilands, which we named S. Germans Ilāds South-eastward frō whiche place about thrée leagues, there is a very dange­rous shallow▪ Likewise betwéen S. Germans Cape & S. Mar­thas, about two leagues frō the said Ilāds, there lyeth a bāck of sand, vpon which hanck y^e water is but two fadome déepe, & therfore séeing y^e dāger of y^e coast, we struck saile & went no further y^e night: The next day being y^e last of Iuly, we wente al along the coast y^t runneth East & west, West & by North, which is al enuironed about w^t Ilandes & drie sandes, and in truth are very daungerous. The length frō S. Germans Cape to the said Ilands is about xviij. leagues & a half, at the ende of which ther is a goodly plot of grounde full of huge & highe trées, albeit the rest of the coast be compassed about w^t sandes w^tout any signe or shew of harboroughs, til we came to Thi­ennots Cape, which tendeth Northwest about vij. leagues from y^e forsaid Ilāds, which Thiennots Cape we noted in our former voyage, & therfore we failed on all that night Weast Northwest, til it was day, & then the winde turned again frō vs, wherefore we wente to séeke a Hauen wherin we might harbor our ships, & by good hap, found one fit for our purpose, about vij. leagues & a half beyond Thiennots Cape, and that we named S. Nicholas Hauen, it lyeth amidst foure Ilandes that stretcheth into the sea. Vpon the next we for a token set vp a woodden crosse. But note by the way that crosse must be [Page 31] turned Northeast, and then bending toward it, leaue it on the left hand, and you shall finde thrée fadome water, and within the Hauen but two. Also you are to take héede of two shelues that leane outwarde halfe a league. All this coaste is full of quicke sandes and very daungerous, albeit in sighte manye good Hauens séeme to be there, yet is there nought else but shelues and sandes. We staide and rested our selues in the sayde Hauen, vntill the seauenth of August being Sundaye: on whiche daye we hoysed sayle, and came towarde lande one the neather side towarde Rabasts Cape, distant from the sayd Hauen about twentie leagues North Northeast, and South Southweast: but the nexte daye there rose a stormie and a contrarie winde, and therefore we coulde finde no Hauen there towarde the South. Thence we wente coasting along toward the North, beyonde the aboue-sayde Hauen aboute tenne leagues, where we founde a goodly greate gulfe, full of Ilandes, passages, and entraunces towarde what winde so­euer you please to bend: for the knowledge of this gulfe there is a greate Ilande that is a Cape of the maine lande, stret­ching somewhat further foorth than the others, and aboute two leagues wythin the lande, there is an Hill fashioned as it were an heape of corne. We named the sayde Gulfe Saint Laurence hys Baie. The twelfth of the sayde month we went from the sayd S. Laurence hys Bay, or Gulfe, sayling West­warde, and came to finde a Cape of maine lande on the Northside of the Baye, that runneth from the saide Sainte Laurence his Baie about fiue and twentie leagues West and by South. And of the two wilde men whiche we toke in our former voyage, it was tolde vs that this was of the Band [...] towarde the South, and that there was an Ilande, on the Southerlye parte of whiche is the waye to goe to Honguedo where the yeare before we hadde taken them in Canada, and that two dayes iourney from the sayde Cape, an I­lande began the Kingdome of Siguenay, in the land [...] North­warde extending towarde Canada, and aboute thrée leagues athwart the saide Cape, there is aboue fiftie faddome déepe. [Page 32] Moreouer I beléeue that there was neuer so many Whale [...] séene as we sawe that day about the Cape. The next daye af­ter our Ladie day in August, being the fiftéenth of the month, hauing past those straightes, where we had notice of certaine landes that we left toward the South, whiche landes are full of very high hilles, and therfore we named them The Ilands of the Assumption, and one Cape of the sayd high countryes lyeth East north-easte, and Weste south-west, the distaunce betwéene which, is about fiue & twentie leagues. The Coun­tryes lying North, maye playnely be perceyued to be higher thā the Southerly more than thirtie leagues. We trended y^e saide landes about towarde the South, frō the said day vntyl Twesday noone following, the winde being in the West, and therfore we bended toward the North, purposing to go and sée the land that we before had spyed. Being arriued there, wée founde the sayd Ilands, as it were ioyned togither, and lowe toward the Sea. And the Northerly mountaines that are vp­on the saide lowe Ilandes stretching Easte, Weste, and by Southe. Our men tolde vs that there was the beginning of Saguenay, and that it was land inhabited, and that thēce com­meth the redde Copper, of them named CAIGNETDAZE. There is betwéen the Southerly Ilands, and the Northerly about 30. leagues distance, and more thā 100. faddome depth. The saide men did moreouer certifye vnto vs, that there was the way and beginning of the gret riuer of Hochelaga, a ready way to Canada, which riuer the further it went the narower it came, euen vntil to Canada, and that then there was freshe water, which went so farre vpwards, that they hadde neuer hearde of any man had gone to the heade of it, and that there is no other passage but with small boates. Our Captayne hearing their talke, and how they did affirm no other passage to be there, woulde not at that time procéede any further, tyll he had séene and noted the other Ilandes, & coast towarde the North, which he had ommitted to sée, after Saint Larance his gulfe, bycause he would exquisitly know, if in the Ilandes to­ward the South any passage had bin discouered.

¶ How our Captain caused the shippes to retourne backe again, only to know if in Saint Laurence gulfe there were any passage towarde the North. CHAP. 2.

VPon the 18. of August being Wednesday, our Captain [...] caused his shippes to winde backe, and bend toward the other shore, so that we trended the sayd Northerly cost, whi­che runneth South-east, & North-west, being fashioned like vnto halfe a bowe, and is a very high land, but yet not so high as that on the Southerly partes. The Thursday following we came to seuen very high Ilandes, whiche we named The round Ilands. These Ilandes are distant from the others a­bout fourtie leagues, and stretche out into the Sea aboute thrée or foure leagues. Aboute these there are goodly lowe groundes to be séene full of goodlye trées, whiche we the Fry­day following, with our boates compassed aboute. Ouer­thwart these Ilandes there are diuerse sandie shelues more than two leagues into the sea, very daungerous, whiche at a a lowe water remaine almost dry. At the furthest boundes of these lowe Ilands, that containe about tenne leagues, ther is a riuer of fresh water, that with such swiftnesse runneth into the sea, that for the space of one league within it the water is as freshe as anye fountaine water. We with our boates entred into the saide riuer, at the entraunce of whiche we foūd about one fadome water. There are in this riuer many fishes shaped like horsses, which as our wilde men told vs, al the daye long lye in the water, and the night on lande: of which we sawe therein a great number. The next day being the one and twentith of the month, by breake of day we hoy­sed sayle, and sayled so long about the sayde coaste, that wée had sight of the Northerly partes of it, which as yet we had not séene, and of the Iland of the Assumption which we had founde, departing from the sayde land: which thing so soon as we had done, and that we were certifyed no other passage to be there, we came to our shippe againe, whiche we had left at [Page 34] the said Ilands, where is a good harborough, the water being about nine or ten faddome. In the same place by occasion of contrarie winds and foggie mystes, we were constrayned to stay, not being either able to come out of it, or hoyse sayle til the four & twentith of the month. On which day we departed & came to a hauen on the Southerly coast, about 80. leagues from the said Ilands. This hauen is ouer against thrée flat Ilāds y^t lye amidst a riuer, bycause on the half way of y^e sayd Ilands, & the said Hauen toward the North, there is a verye great riuer that runneth betwéene the high & low Ilands, & more than thrée leagues into the sea: it hath many shelues, & there is not altogither one fadome water, so that the place is very dangerous: & from bank to bancke of the saide shelues, there is either xv. or xx. yardes. All the Northerly cost rūneth East Northeast and South Southwest. The saide hauen wherin we stayed, is as it were but a sluce of the waters that rise by the floud, and but of smal accompt, we named them S. Iohns Isleetes, bycause we founde them, and entred into thē the day of the beheading of that Saint. Aboute fiue leagues afore you come to the said hauen Westward, there is no pas­sage at al but only with little boates. The hauen of S. Iohns Islettes, dryeth vp all the waters that rise by flowing, yea if it flowe a faddome. The best place to harborough ships ther­in is on the South part of a certaine little Islande that is o­uer against the sayde hauen, whereby the bancke or shore of of the Iland riseth. Vpon the first of September we departed out of the said hauen, purposing to go towarde Canada, and a­bout 15. leagues from it towarde West Southwest, amidst y^e riuer there are thrée Ilandes, ouer against the whiche the ri­uer runneth swift, and is of a great depth, & it is that which leadeth, and runneth into the Countrey and kingdome of Saguenay, as by the two wilde men of Canada it was tolde vs. Thys riuer, passeth and runneth along very high and stéepe hilles of bare stone, where very little earth is, and notwith­standing there is greate quantitie of sundrie sortes of trées that growe in the sayde bare stones, euen as vppon good and [Page 35] fertile ground, in such sorte that we haue séene some so great as well woulde suffise to make a maste for a shippe of fortie Tunne burden, and as gréene as possible can be growing, in a stonie rocke without any earth at all. At the entraunce of the sayd riuer we mette with foure boates ful of wilde men, whiche as farre as we coulde perceyue, verye fearefullye came toward vs, so that some of them went backe agayne, & the other came as neare vs as easilye they might heare and vnderstond one of our wilde men, who tolde them his name, and then toke acquaintaunce of them, vpon whose word they came to vs. The nexte day, being the seconde of September, we came out of the riuer to goe to Canada, and by reason of the Seas flowing, the tide was verie swifte and daungerous for that on the South part of it there lye two Ilandes, about whiche more than thrée leagues compasse, lye manye greate stones, and but two faddome water: and the flowing amidst those Ilandes, is verye vnconstante and doubtefull, that if it hadde not bene for our boates, we hadde bene in great dā ­ger to loose our liues: and coasting along the saide dry sands, there is more than fiftéen fadome water. About fiue leagues beyonde the riuer of Saguenay Southweast, there is another Ilande more Northerly acrosse, whiche are certaine highe péeces of lande, and thereaboutes we thought to haue caste Ancker on purpose to staye the nexte tide, but we could sound no ground by thrée score fadome within a flighte shoote from shoare, so that we were constrayned to winde backe to the sayde Ilande, where wée sounded againe, and founde eightéene faddome. The nexte mornyng we hoysed saile and wente thence, sayling further on, where wée hadde notice of a certayne kinde of fishe neuer to-fore of a­nye manne séene or knowen. They are aboute the big­nesse of a Purpois, yet nothing like them, of bodye verye well proportioned, headed lyke Graye-houndes, altogi­ther as white as Snowe, wythout anye spotte, within which Riuer there is great quantitie of them: they do liue altogyther betwéene the Sea and the freshe Water. [Page 36] These of the Countrey call them ADHOTHVYS, they folde vs that they be very sauorye and good to be eaten. Moreouer they affirme none to be foūd else-wher but in that riuer. The sixth of the month, the weather being calme & faire, we went about fiftéene leagues more vpward into the riuer, and there lighted on an Iland that looketh Northward, and it maketh a little hauen or créeke wherin are many & innumerable great Tortoyzes, continuallye lying about that Ilande. There are likewise great quantitie of the said Aphothuys taken by the inhabitours of the Coūtry, so that there is as gret concourse and méeting in that place as is at Bordeous in Fraunce at e­uery tide. This Iland is in length about thrée leagues, and in bredth two, and is a goodly and fertile plot of ground, reple­nished with many goodly and great trées of manye sortes. A­mong the rest ther are many Filburde trées, which we found hanging full of them, somewhat bigger and better in sauour than ours, but somewhat harder, and therefore we called it The Iland of Filburdes. The seuenth of the month, being our Ladies euen, after seruice we went from that Ilande, to goe vp higher into the riuer, and came to the Fourteene Ilandes, seauen or eight leagues from the Ilande of Filburdes, where the Countrey of Canada beginneth, one of which Ilandes is ten leagues in length, and fiue in bredth, greatlye inhabited of such men as onlie liue by fishing of suche sortes of fishes as the riuer affourdeth, according to the seasō of them. After we had cast Ancker betwéene the sayde Ilande, and the Nor­therly coast, we went on lande and tooke our two wilde men with vs, méeting with many of those Countrey people, who woulde not at all approch vnto vs, but rather fledde from vs vntill our two men beganne to speake vnto them, telling thē that they wer Taignoagny & Domagaia, who so soone as they had takē aquaintance of thē, began greatly to reioyce, daun­cing and shewing many sorts of ceremonies: and many of the chiefest of thē came to our boats & brought many Eles, & o­ther sorts of fishes, with two or thrée burdens of great Millet wherwith they make their bread, & many gret mus [...] milions. [Page 37] The same daye came also manye other boates full of those Countreymen and Women, to sée and take aquaintance of our two mē, al which were as courteously receyued, & friend­ly entertayned of our Captayne, as possible could be. And to haue them the better acquaynted with him, and make them his friends, he gaue them many small giftes, but of small va­lue: neuerthelesse, they were greatly contented with them. The next day following, the Lorde of Canada (whose proper name was Donnacona) but by the name of Lorde, they call him Agouhanna, with twelue boates came to our Ships, accompanyed of many people, who causing tenne of hys Boates to go backe with the other two, approched vnto vs with sixtéene men more. Then began the sayde Agouhanna being néerest vnto our Shippe, according to their manner and fashion, to frame a long Oration, mouing all his bodie and members after a strange fashion, whiche thing is a Ce­remonie and signe of gladnesse and securitie among them, and then comming to the Generals Shippe, where Taigno­agny, and Domagaia spake with them, and they with him, where they began to tell and shewe vnto him what they had séene in Fraunce, and what good entertainment they had had, hearing which things, the Lorde séemed to be very glad of, & prayed our Captain to reach him his arme, that he might kisse it, whych thing he did: their Lord taking it, laid it about his necke, for so they vse to do when they will make much of one. Then our Captayne entred into Agouhannas boate, causing bread and wine to be brought, to make the sayd Lord and his companie to eate and drinke, which thing they did, and were greatly thereby contented and satisfyed. Our Cap­tayne for that time gaue them nothing, bycause he looked for a fitter oportunitie. These things being done, each one tooke leaue of others, and the Lord went with his boates agayne where he was come from. Our Captayne then caused oure boates to be set in order, that with the next tide he might goe vp higher into the Riuer, to finde some harborough wherein to set our Ships: and the next tide we went coasting alongst [Page 38] the said Iland, about tenne leagues, at the ende whereof, we found a goodly and pleasant sluce of water, where is another little riuer and hauen, where by reason of the flo [...]d there, is two faddome water. This place séemed to vs very fitte and commodious to put our ships therein, and so we did very safe­ly, we named it the holy Crosse, for on that day we came thi­ther. Néere vnto it, there is a village, whereof Donnacona is Lord, and there he kéepeth his abode: it is called Stad [...]gona, as goodly a plot of ground as possibly may be séene, and there­withall very fruitefull, full of goodly trees euen as in France, as Oakes, Elmes, Ashes, Walnut [...] trées, Maple trées, Ci­drons, Vines, and white Thornes, that bring foorth fruite as big as any Damsons, and many other sortes of trées, vnder which groweth as faire tall hemp, as any in France, without any séede, or any mans worke or labour at all. Hauing consi­dered the place, & finding it fit for our purpose, our Captayne withdrew himselfe on purpose to returne to our Shippes, but beholde, as we were comming out of the Riuer, we met com­ming against vs one of the Lords of that village Stadagona, accompanied with many others, as men, women, and childrē, who after the fashion of their Countrey, in signe of mirth and ioy, began to make a long Oration, the Women still singing and dancing vp to the knées in water. Our Captayne kno­wing their good will and kindnesse towarde vs, caused the Boate wherein they were, to come vnto him, and gaue them certaine trifles, as kniues, and beades of glasse, whereat they were maruellous glad, for we being gone about 3. leagues frō them, for the pleasure they conceyue [...] of our comming, we might heare thē sing, & sée thē dance for all they were so farre.

¶ How our Captayne went to see and note the bignesse of the Iland, and the nature of it, and then returned to the Shippes, causing them to be brought to the Riuer of the holy Crosse. CHAP. 3.

AFter we were come with our Boates vnto our Shippes againe, our Captaine caused our Barkes to be made rea­die [Page 39] to go on land in the sayde Ilande, to note the trées that in [...]hew séemed so faire, and to consider the nature and qualitie of it, which thing we did, and found it full of good­lye trées like to ours. Also we sawe many goodly Vines, a thing not tofore of vs séene in those Countreys, and there­fore we named it Bacchus Iland. It is in length about twelue leagues, in sight very pleasant, but full of woods, no parte of it wrought, vnlesse it be in certaine places, where a few hou­ses be for Fishers dwellings, as before we haue sayde. The next day we departed with our Ships to bring them to the place of the holy Crosse, and on the 14. of that moneth we came thither, and the Lorde Dormacona, Taignoagny, and Domagaia, with 25. Boates full of those people, came to méete vs, comming from the place whence we were come, and go­ing toward Stadagona, where their abiding is, and all came to our Ships, shewing sundrie and diuers gestures of glad­nes and mirth, except those two that we had brought, to witte, Taignoagny, & Domagaia, who séemed to haue altered & changed their mind & purpose, for by no meanes they would come vnto our Ships, albeit sundry times they were earnest­ly desired to do it, whervpon we began to mistrust somewhat. Our Captayne asked thē if according to promise they would not go with him to Hochelaga, they answered yea, for so they had purposed, and then each one withdrew himselfe. The next day being the fiftenth of the moneth, our Captaine wente on shore, to cause certaine poles and piles to be driuen into the water, and set vp, that the better and safe [...]yer we might set our Shippe there: and to behold that, many of those Countrey people came to méete vs there, among whome was Donna­cona, and our two men, with the rest of theyr companye, who kepte themselues aside vnder a poynt or nooke of lande that is vppon the shoare of a certayne Riuer, and no one of them came vnto vs as the other did that were not on their syde. Our Captayne vnderstanding that they were there, commaunded parte of oure menne to followe hym, and hée went to the sayd poynt, where he found the sayd Donnacona, [Page 40] Taignoagny, Domagaia, & diuers other: and after salutations giuen on eache side, Taignoagny setled himselfe formost to speake to our Captayne, saying that y^e Lord Donnacona did greatly gréeue and sorrow that our Captayne and his mē did weare warlike weapons, and they not. Our Captaine answe­red, that albeit it did gréeue them, yet would not he leaue thē of, and that (as he knew) it was y^e maner of France. But for all these words, our Captayne and Donnacona left not off to speake one to another, and fréendly to entertaine one another. Then did we perceyue, that whatsoeuer Taignoagny spake, was only long of himself, and of his fellow, for that our Cap­taine departed thence. He and Donnacona entred into a mar­uellous stedfast league of friendship, whereby all his people at once with a loude voyce, cast out thrée great cryes, (a hor­rible thing to heare) and each one hauing taken licence of the other for that day, we wente a boord agayne. The day follo­wing, we put our two great Shippes within the Riuer and harborough, where the waters being at the highest, are but one fadome and halfe déepe, and at the lowest, but halfe a fa­dome. We left our Galion without the sluce, to the ende we might bring it to Hochelaga. So soone as we had safely pla­ced our Shippes, behold, we saw Donnacona, Taignoagny, and Domagaia, with more than fiue hundred persons, men, women, and children, and the Lorde with tenne or twelue of the chiefest of the Countrey came a boord of our shippes, who were all courteously receyued, and friendly entertayned, both of our Captayne, and of all vs: and diuers giftes of small va­lue were giuen them. Then did Taignoagny tell our Cap­tayne, that his Lord did greatly sorrow that he woulde go to Hochelaga, and that he would not by any meanes permit that any of them should goe with him, and that the Riuer was of no importance. Our Captayne answered him, that for all his saying, he woulde not leaue off his going thither, if by anye meanes it were possible, for that he was commanded by his King to goe as farre as possibly he could: and that if he (that is to say Taignoagny) would go with him, as he had promi­sed [Page 41] he shoulde be very wel entertained, beside that, he should haue such a gifte giuen him, as he shoulde wel content him­selfe: for hée shoulde doe nothing else but goe with hym to Hochelaga, and come againe. To whome Taignoagny aun­swered, that he woulde not by any meanes go, and therevp­on sodainely returned to their houses. The nexte day beyng the 17. of September, Donnacona retourned euen as at the firste, and brought with him many Eeles, with sundry sorts of other fishes, whereof they take greate store in the sayde Riuer, as more largely hereafter shall be shewed. And as soone as they were come to our Shippes, according to their wonted vse beganne to sing and daunce. This done, Donna­cona caused all his people to be sette of one side, then making a rounde circle vpon the Sand, caused our Captaine with al his people to enter therein, then he beganne to make a long Oration: holding in one of his handes a Maiden child 10. or 12. yeares olde, whych he presented vnto our Captaine: then sodainely beganne his people to sende out thrée shréekes or howles, in signe of ioy and league of friendshippe, presently vpon that he did present vnto him two other yong Male chil­dren one after another, but yonger than the other, at the gy­uing of whyche, euen as before, they gaue oute shréekes and howles very lowde, with other ceremonies: for whyche pre­sents, our Capitaine gaue the saide Lorde greate and hearty thankes. The Lord tolde our Captaine then, that one of the children was his owne brother, and that the Maiden childe was daughter vnto his owne sister, and these presents were onely giuen him, to the end he should not goe to Hochelaga at all, to whome our Captaine answered, that if they were onely giuen hym to that intent, if so he would he should take them againe, for that by no meanes he woulde leaue hys goyng off, for as much as he was commaunded of his King. But concerning this, Domagaia tolde oure Capitaine, that their Lorde had gyuen him those children as a signe and to­ken of goodwill and friendshippe, and that he was contented to goe wyth him to Hochelaga, vppon whyche talke greate [Page 42] wordes arose betwene Taignoagny and Domagaia, by why­che we plainely perceyued that Taignoagny was but a craf­tie knaue, and that he pretended but mischiefe and treason, as well by thys déede as others that we by hym hadde séene. After that our Captaine caused the saide chyldren to be putte in oure shippes, and caused two Swordes, and two copper Basens, the one wrought, the other plaine, to be brou­ghte vnto hym, and them he gaue to Donnacona, who was therewyth greately contented, yelding most hartye thankes vnto our Captain for them, and presently vpon that he com­maunded all his people to sing and daunce, and desired oure Captaine to cause a péece of artillerie to be shot off, bycause Taignoagny and Domagaia made great brags of it, and had tolde them maruellous things, and also, bycause they had ne­uer hearde nor séene any before: to whome our Captaine an­swered, most willingly: and by and by commaunded his men to shoote off 12. cannons charged with bullettes, acrosse the wood that was hard by those people and ships, at whose noise they were greatly astonished and amazed, for they thoughte that Heauen had fallen vppon them, and put themselues to flight, howling, crying, and shrieking, that it séemed hel were broken loose. But before we went thence, Taignoagny cau­sed other men to tell vs, that those men whyche we had lefte in our Gallion at roade, had staine two men of theyr compa­ny, wyth a péece that they had shotte off, wherevppon the reste had put themselues all to flight, as thoughe they should all haue bene slaine, whych afterward we found vntrue, bi­cause our men had not shotte off any péece at all that daye.

¶ Howe Donnacona, Taignoagny, with others, deuised a pret­tie slight or pollicie: for they caused three of theyr men to be attyred like Diuels, fayning to be sent from theyr God Cudruaigny, onely to hinder our voyage to Hoche­laga. CHAP. 4.

THe nexte day being the eightéenth of September, these men still endeauoured themselues to séeke all meanes [Page 43] possible to hinder and let our going to Hochelaga, and deuised a pretty guile, as hereafter shall he shewed. They went and dressed thrée men like Diuels, beyng wrapped in dogs skins white and blacke, theyr faces besméered as blacke as anye coales, wyth hornes on theyr heads more than a yar [...] long, and caused them secreatly to be putte in one of theyr boates, but came not néere our shippes as they were wont to do, for they lay hidden wythin the wood for the space of two houres, looking for the tyde, to the end, the boate wherin the Diuels were, might approch and come neare vs, whych, when time was, came, and all the reste issued out of the wood commyng to vs, but yet not so neare as they were wonted to do. There began Taignoagny to salute oure Captaine, who asked hym if he woulde haue the boate to come for hym, he aunswered, not for that time, but after a while he woulde come vnto our shippes: then presently came that boate rushing out▪ wherein the thrée diuels were with such long hornes on theyr heades, and the middlemost came making a long Oration, & passed a long our shippes without turning or looking toward vs, but with the boate wente to strike on land [...]. Then dydde Don­nacona wyth all his people pursue them, and lay holde on the boate and Diuels, who so soone as the menne were come to them, fell prostrate in the boate euen as if they hadde béene dead: then were they taken vppe and carried into the Wood, béeyng but a stones cast off, then euery one wythdr [...]we him­selfe into the wood, not onely staying behinde with vs, where beyng, they beganne to make a long discourse, so lowde, that we myghte heare them in oure shippes, whiche lasted aboue halfe an houre, and beyng ended, we gan to espie Taignoag­ny and Domagaia comming towards vs, holding their han­des ioyned togyther, carying their hattes vnder theyr vpper garment, shewyng a greate admiration, and Taig­noagny lookyng vppe to Heauen, cryed thrée tymes Iesus, Iesus, Iesus, and Domagaia dooyng as hys fellow had done before, cryed, Iesus Maria. Iames Carthier oure Capitaine hearing them, and séeyng their gestures & ceremonies, asked [Page 44] of them what they ayled, and what was happened or chaun­ced anew, they aunswered, that there were very ill tydyngs befallen, saying in French, Nenns est il bon, that is to saye, it was not good: our Captaine asked them again, what it was, then answered they, that theyr Lord Cudruaigny had spo­ken in Hochelaga, and that he had sent those thrée men to shew vnto them that there was so muche Ice and Snowe by the way, that whosoeuer went thither shoulde dye, whych wor­des when we heard, we laughed, and mocked them, saying, that their God Cudruaigny was but a foole and a noddy, for he knewe not what he did or saide: then bade we them shewe his messengers from vs, that Christ woulde defende them al from colde, if they woulde goe with him. Then did they aske of our Captaine, if he had spoken with him, he aunsweared, no, but that his ministers had, and that he had tolde them they shoulde haue fayre weather: whiche words when they had heard, they thanked our Captaine, and departed toward the woodde to tell those newes vnto their fellowes, who so­dainely came all rushing out of the woodde, séeming to be ve­ry glad for those wordes that our Captaine had spoken, and to shew, that therby they had had, and felt great ioy. So soone as they were before our Shippes, they altogither gaue oute thrée great shréekes, and therevpon began to sing and dance, as they were won [...] to doe. But for a resolution of the matter Taignoagny and Domagaia tolde our Captaine, that theyr Lorde Donnacona woulde by no meanes permitte that any of them shoulde goe with him to Hochelaga, vnlesse he would leaue hym some hostage to stay with him, our Captaine an­swered them, that if they would not go with him with a good will, they should stay, for he would not by any meanes leaue his going off, but woulde by all meanes possible endeauour himselfe to goe thither if he coulde.

¶ Howe oure Captayne▪ wyth all his Gentlemenne, and fiftie Marriners, departed wyth oure Gallion, and the two boates of Canada to go to Hochelaga, and also there is described, what by the way and vppon the riuer was seene. CHAP. 5.

THe next day being the 19. of September we hoised saile, and with our Gallion and two boates departed to go vp the riuer with the floude, where on both shoares of it we be­ganne to sée as goodly a countrey as possibly can with eye be séene, all replenished with very goodly trées, and Vines la­den as full of Grapes as coulde be all along the riuer; why­che rather séemed to haue bene planted and wrought by han­dy worke than otherwise. True it is, that bycause they are not dressed and wrought as they shoulde be, theyr bunches of Grapes are not so great as ours, also we sawe all along the riuer many horses inhabited of Fishers, whyche take all kyndes of fishes, and they with great familiaritie and kind­nesse came vnto vs, euen as if we had bene theyr Countrey­men, and brought vs greate store of fishe, suche as they hadde with other thyngs, whyche we exchaunged with them for o­ther wares, who lifting vp their hands toward heauen, gaue many signes of ioy: we stayed at a place called Hochela [...], a­bout 25. leagues from Canada, where the riuer waxeth very narrowe, and runneth very swift, wherefore it is very dan­gerous, not only for that, but also for certain gret stones that are therein: Many boates and barkes came vnto vs, in one of whiche came one of the chéefe Lordes of the Countrey, making a long discourse, who beyng come néere vs, did by e­uident signes and gestures shewe vs, that the higher the Ri­uer went, the more daungerous it was, and bade vs take héede of our selues. The saide Lorde presented and gaue vn­to our Captaine two of his owne children, of whyche oure Captaine tooke one being a wench seuen or eight yeres old, the man child he gaue him againe, bycause it was too yong, [Page 46] for it was but thrée yeares olde. Our Captaine as friendly and as courteously dyd entertaine and receyue the sayd Lord and his company, giuing thē certaine small trifles, & so they departed towarde shoare againe. Afterwards the said Lord, his wife, and his daughter, came to visite oure Capitayne at Canada, bringing hym certaine small presents. From the 19. vntill the 28. of September, wée sailed vp along the saide ri­uer, neuer losing one houre of time, all whyche time we saw as goodly and pleasant a Country as possibly can be wished for, full (as we haue saide before) of all sortes of goodlye trées, that is to say, Oakes, Elmes, Walnut-trées, Ce­drons, Firres, Ashes, Boxe, Willowes, and greate store of Vines, all as full of Grapes as coulde be, that if anye of our fellowes went on shoare, they came home laden wyth them: there are likewise many Cranes, Swannes, Géese, Duckes, Feasants, Partridges, Thrushes, Blacke-birdes, Turtles, Finches, Re [...]breastes, Nightingales, Sparrowes, with many other sorts of Birds, euen as in France, and great plentie and store. Vpon the 28. of September, wée came to a gret wide lake in the middle of y^e riuer fiue or sixe leagues broade, and twelue long, all that day we wente againste the tide, hauyng but one faddome water, still kéeping the saide scantling: beyng come to one of the heades of the Lake, wée coulde espye no passage or going out; nay, rather it séemed to haue bene closed and shutte vppe rounde about, and there was but halfe a faddome water, lyttle more or lesse. And therefore we were constrayned to caste Ancker, and staye with our Gallion, and wente with oure two boates to séeke some going out, and [...]e place we found four or fiue bran­ches, whyche out of the riuer come into the Lake, and they come from Hoche [...]aga. But in the saide braunches, bicause of the greate fiercenesse and swiftnesse wherewith they breake out, and the course of the water, they make certaine Créekes▪ and goings acrosse, yet at that time there was but halfe a faddome water. Those Créekes beyng passed, we found thrée fadome, and as farre as we could perceiue by the floud [Page 47] it was that time of the yeare that the waters are lowest, for at other times they [...]l [...]we higher by two faddomes. All these foure or fiue bra [...]ches do compasse about fiue or sixe Ilandes very pleasaunt, and thereby riseth the end of the Lake, about 15. leagues beyond, they all do come into one. That day wée landed in one of the saide Ilands, and met with fiue men that were hunting of wild beasts, who fréely and familiarly came to our boates without anye feare, as if we hadde euer béene brought vp togither. Our boates beyng somewhat neare the shoare, one of them tooke our Captaine in his armes, and ca­ried him on shoare, as lightly and as easilie, as if he had bene a child of fiue olde: so strong and sturdy are those people. We founde, that they had a greate heape of wilde Mice that lyue in the water, as big as a Conny, and very good to eate, which they gaue vnto our Captaine, who for a recompence gaue them kniues and glazen Beades. Wée asked thē with signes if that was the way to Hochelaga, they aunswered yea, and that we had yet thrée dayes sayling thither.

¶ Howe our Captaine caused our Boates to be mended and dressed to goe to Hochelaga: and bycause the way was somewhat difficult and harde, we left our Gallion behinde: and howe we came thither, and what enter­tainement wee had of the people. CHAP. 6.

THe nexte day our Captaine séeyng, that for that tyme it was not possible for our Gallion to goe on anye fur­ther, hée caused oure Boates to bée made readye, and as muche munition and victualles to bée putte in them, as they coulde well beare [...] hée departed wyth them, accompanyed wyth manye Gentlemen, that is to saye, Claudius of Ponte Briand, Cup-bearer to the Lorde Dolphin of Fraunce: Charles of Poueray: Iohn Gouion: Iohn Pow­let: with twēty and eight marriners; and Mace Iallobert, and [Page 48] William the Britton, who had the charge vnder the Captain of the other two shippes; to go vp as farre as they could into that riuer: we [...] sailed with good and prosperous weather vn­till the ninetéenth of October, on whiche daye we came to the towne of Hochelaga, distant from the place where we had left our Gallion 45. leagues. In whych place of Hochelaga, and all the waye we went, we met with many of those coun­trimen, who brought vs fishe, and suche other victualles as they had, still dauncing, and greatly reioycing at oure com­ming. Our Captaine, to lure them in, and to kéepe them our friends, to recompence them, gaue them kniues, beades, and such small trifles, wherewith they were greatly satisfied. So soone as we were come néere Hochelaga, there came to méete vs aboue a thousand persons, men, women and children, who afterwarde did friendly and merely entertaine and receyue vs as anye father woulde do his childe, whiche he had not of long tyme séene, the men dauncing on one side, the women on an other, and likewise the children on an other: after that they brought vs great store of fish, & of their breade made of Millet, casting them into oure Shippes so thicke, that you would haue thoughte it to fall from heauen. Whiche when our Captaine sawe, he, wyth many of hys companye wente on shoare: so soone as euer we were alande, they came clu­string aboute vs, making very muche of vs, brynging theyr yong children in theyr armes, onely to haue oure Capitaine & his company to touch them, making signes and shelves of great myrth & gladnes, that lasted more than halfe an houre. Our Captaine séeyng theyr louing kindnesse and entertain­ment of vs, caused all the women orderly to be set in araye, and gaue them Beades made of Tin, and other suche small trifles, and to some of the men he gaue kniues: then he retur­ned to the boates to supper▪ and so passed that night, all whi­che while all those people stoode on the shoare as neare oure boates as they might, making great fiers, and dauncing ve­ry merily, still crying, Aguiaze, which in their tongue signi­fieth Myrth and Safetie.

¶How our Captayne with fiue Gentlemen, and twentie armed men, all well in order, went to see the Towne of Hochelaga, and the scituation of it. CHAP. 7.

OVr Captayne the next day very earely in the morning, hauing very gorgeously attired himselfe, caused all his company to be set in order to go to sée the Towne and habita­tion of those people, and a certaine Mountayne that is some­what néere the Citie: with whome went also fiue Gentle­men, and twentie Marriners, leauing the rest to kéepe and looke to our Boates: we tooke with vs thrée men of Hochela­ga to bring vs to the place. All along as we went, we founde the way as well beaten and frequented as can be, the fayrest and best Countrey that possibly can be séene, full of as goodly great Oakes as are in any wood in France, vnder whiche the ground was all couered ouer with faire Akornes. After we had gone about foure or fiue leagues, we met by the way one of the chiefest Lords of the Citie, accompanyed with manye mo, who so soone as he saw vs, beckned and made signes vn­to vs, that we must rest vs in that place, where they had made a great fire, and so we did. After that we had rested oure selues there a while, the sayd Lord began to make a long dis­course, euen as we haue sayd aboue they are accustomed to do in signe of mirth and frendship, shewing our Captayne and all his company a ioyfull countenance, and good will, who gaue him two hatchets, a paire of kniues, and a Crosse, which he made him to kisse, and then put it about his necke, for whiche he gaue our Captayne heartie thankes. This done, we wente along, and about a league and a halfe far­ther, we beganne to find goodly and large féeldes, full of suche Corne as the Countrey yéeldeth. It is euen as the Millet of Bresill, as great, and somewhat bigger than small Peason, wherewith they liue euen as we do with ours. In the midst of those féelde is the Citie of Hochelaga, placed néere, and as it were ioyned to a great Mountaine that is tilled round a­boute, [Page 50] very fertile, on the toppe of whiche, you may sée ve­rye farre, wée named it Mounte Roiall. The Cittie of Hochelaga is rounde, compassed aboute with timber, with thrée course of Rampires, one within another, framed like a sharpe Spire, but layde acrosse aboue. The middle­most of them is made and builte as a directe line, but per­pendicular. The Rampires are framed and fashioned with péeces of Timber, layde along on the grounde, very well and cunningly ioyned togither after their fashion. This en­closure is in heigth aboute two roddes. It hathe but one Gate or entrie thereat, whiche is shutte with piles, stakes, and barres. Ouer it, and also in many places of the wall, there be places to runne along, and Ladders to gette vp, all full of stones, for the defence of it. There are in the Towne aboute fiftie houses, aboute fiftie paces long, and twelue, or fiftéene broade, builte all of woodde, couered o­uer with the barke of the woodde, as broade as any boorde, very finely and cunningly ioyned togither. Within the sayde Houses, there are manye roomthes, Lodgings, and Chambers. In the middest of euery one there is a greate Courte, in the middle whereof they make their fire. They liue in commons togither: then do the Husbandes, Wiues, and Children, eache one retire themselues to their Cham­bers▪ They haue also on the toppe of their Houses cer­tayne Garets, wherein they kéepe their Corne to make their bread withall: they call it CARRACONNY, which they make as héereafter shall followe. They haue cer­tayne péeces of woodde, made hollowe, like those where­on wée beate oure Hempe, and with certayne Béetles of woodde they beate their Corne to powder: then they make paste of it, and of the paste, Cakes, or else Tartes, then lay them on a broade and hote stone, and then couer it with hote Tiles, and so they bake their Bread, in stead of Ouens. They make also sundrye sortes of Pottage with the sayde Corne of Pease, and of Beanes, where­of they haue greate store: also with other fruites, as [Page 51] Muske Millions, very greate Cowcombers. They haue al­so in their Houses certayne Vessels, as bigge as anye Boate, or Tunne, wherein they preserue and kéepe, their fishe, causing the same in Sommer to be dryed in the Sunne, and liue therewith in Winter, whereof they make greate prouision, as we by experience haue séene. All their viandes and meates are without any tast or sauoure of salt at all. They sléepe vpon barkes of Trées layde all along vpon the grounde, with the Skinnes of certayne wilde Beastes, wherewith they also cloth and couer themselues. The thing most pretious that they haue in all the Worlde, they call it ESVRONY: it is as white as any Snowe: they take it in the Riuer of Cornibotz, in the manner as héere followeth. When any one hath deserued death, or that they take any of their enimies in Warres, first they kill him, then wyth certayne great kniues they giue great [...]lashes and strokes vp­pon the buttockes, flanckes, thighes, and shoulders: then they cast the same body so mangled, downe to the bottome of the Riuer, in a place where it is, called Esurgny, and there leaue it tenne or twelue houres, then they take it vp againe, and in the cuttes finde those. Of them they make beades, and weare them aboute their neckes, euen as we do them of golde, accompting it the preciousest thing in the Worlde. They haue this vertue and propertie in them, they wyll stoppe or stench any bléeding at the nose, for we haue proued it. These people are giuen to no other exercise, but onely to husbandrie, and fishing wherewith to liue, they haue no care of any other wealth or commoditie in this world, for they haue no knowledge of it, and that is, bycause they neuer trauell and goe out of theyr Countrey, as those of Canada, and Saguenay do, albeit the Canadians with eyghte or nine Villages more alongst that Riuer bée subiectes vnto them.

¶ How we came to the Towne of Hochelaga, and the entertaynemente there we had, and of certayne giftes oure Captayne gaue them, with diuers other things. CHAP. 8.

SO soone as we were come néere the Towne, a greate number of the inhabitoures thereof came to presente themselues before vs after their fashion, making very much of vs: we were by our guides brought into the midst of the Towne. They haue in the middlemost parte of their houses a large square place, béeing from side to side a good stones cast, where we were brought, and there with signes were commaunded to stay: then suddaynely all the Women and Maydens of the Towne gathered themselues togither, parte of which had their armes full of yong Children, and as ma­nie as could, came to rubbe our faces, our armes, and what parte of the bodye soeuer they could touch, wéeping for verye ioy that they saw vs, shewing vs the best countenance that possible was, desiring vs with theyr signes, that it woulde please vs to touche theyr Children. That done, the menne caused the Women to withdrawe themselues backe, then they euery one late downe on the ground round about vs, as if they would haue shewen and rehearsed some Comedie, or other shew: then presently came the Women agayne, euery one bringing a fouresquare Matte in manner of Carpettes, and spreading them abroad on the ground in that place: then they caused vs to sit vpon them. That done, the Lord & King of y^e country was brought vpon nine or ten mens shoulders, (whome in theyr toung they call AGOVHANNA) sitting vpon a great Stagges Skinne, and they layde him downe vpon the forsayde mattes néere to our Captayne, euery one beckning vnto vs that he was theyr Lord and King. This Agouhanna was a manne aboute fiftie yeares olde: he was no whitte better apparelled than any of the rest, onely ex­cepted, [Page 53] that he had a certaine thing made of beasts Skinnes (called Ricc [...]) like a redde towell, and that was in steade of his Crowne. He was full of the palsey, and his members shronke togither. After he had with certayne signes and beckes saluted our Captaine and all his company, and by manifest tokens bidde vs all welcome, he shewed his legges and armes to our Captaine, and with signes desi­red him to touch them, and so he did, rubbing them with hys owne hands: then did Agouhanna take the wreath or crown he had about his head, and gaue it vnto our Captaine, that done, they broughte before him diuerse diseased men, some blinde, some criple, some lame and impotent, and some so olde that the heare of their eyeléeds came downe and couered their Chéekes, and laide them al along before our Captaine, to the ende they mighte of him be touched: for it séemed vnto them that God hadde bene descended and come downe from Heauen to heale them. Our Captaine séeing the misery and deuotiō of this poore people, recited the Gospel of Saint Iohn, that is to saye, In the beginning was the word: touching eue­rie one that were diseased, praying to God that it wold please him to open the harts of this poore people, and to make them knowe his holy worde, and that they might receiue baptisme and Christendome: that done, he toke a booke in his hande, & with a lowde voyce redde all the passion of Christ, worde by word, that al the bystanders might hear him, al which while this poore people kept silence, & were maruellously attentiue, loking vp to heauē, & imitating vs in gesturs. Thē h [...] caused he men al orderly to be set on one side, y^e womē on another, & likewise the children on another, and to the chiefest of them he gaue Hatchets, to the other kniues, and to the women beades, and such other smal trifles. Then where the children were, he caste rings, counters, and branches made of Tin, whereat they séemed to be verie gladde. That done, our Cap­taine commaunded Shaw [...]es, and other musical instrumēts to be sounded, which when they heard, they were very mer­rie. Then we toke our leaue and wente to our boate▪ the wo­mē [Page 54] séeing that, put themselues before to stay vs, and brought vs out of their meates that they had made readie for vs, as fishe, pottage, beanes, and suche other things, thinking to make vs eate, and dine in that place: but bycause the meats hadde no sauoure at all of salte, we liked them not, but than­ked them, and with signes gaue them to vnderstand that we hadde no néede to eate. When we were out of the Towne, diuerse of the men and women followed vs, and broughte vs to the toppe of the forsayde mountaine, which we named Mount Roiall, it is aboute a league from the Town. When as we were on the top of it, we myght discerne, and plaine­ly sée thirtie leagues off. On the Northe side of it there are manye hilles to be séene, running Weaste and Easte, and as manye more on the South, amongst and betwéene the whiche the Countrey is as fayre and as pleasaunte as possiblye can bée séene, being leauell, smoothe, and verye playne, fitte to be husbanded and tilled: and in the middest of those fieldes wée mighte sée further a greate way [...] than where wée hadde lefte oure boates, where was the greatest and the swiftest fall of water that anye where hathe béen séene, as greate, wide, and large, as oure fighte myghte discerne, goyng Southweast along thrée fayre and rounde Mountaines that we sawe, as we iud­ged aboute fiftéene leagues from vs. Those whiche bro­ughte vs thyther, tolde and shewed vs, that in the sayde Ryuer there were thrée suche falles of water more, as that was where we hadde lefte oure boates: but bi­cause we coulde not vnderstande theyr language, we coulde not knowe howe farre they were one from ano­ther. Moreouer, they shewed vs wyth signes, that the sayde thrée falles being paste, a manne myghte sayle the space of thrée moneths more alongst that Riuer, and that a­long the Hilles that are on the Northe side, there is a greate Riuer, whyche euen as the other commeth from the Easte, wée thoughte it to bée the Riuer that runneth [Page 55] throughe the Countrey of Saguenay: and wythoute anye signe or question moued or asked of them, they toke the chayne of oure Captaines whistell, whiche was of siluer, and the dagger hafte of one of oure fellowe Marriners, hangyng on hys side, being of yellowe Copper, guilte, and shewed vs that suche stuffe came from the sayde Ri­uer, and that there bée Agouionda, that is as muche to saye, as euill people, who goe all armed euen to their fingers endes. Also they shewed vs the manner and ma­king of theyr armoure: they are made of coardes and woodde, finelye and cunninglye wroughte togyther. They gaue vs also to vnderstande that those Agouionda, doe continuallye warre againste them: but bycause we dyd not vnderstande them well, wée coulde not perceyue how farre it was to that Countrey. Our Captaine shewed them redde Copper, whyche in theyr language they call Caignetadze, and lookyng towarde that Countrey wyth signes, asked them if anye came from thence, they shakyng theyr heades aunsweared no: but they shewed vs that it came from Saguenay, and that lyeth cleane contrarye to the other. After we hadde hearde and séene these things of them, we drewe to oure boates accompanyed wyth greate multitude of those people: some of them when as they sawe anye of oure fellowes wearye, they woulde take them vppe on theyr shoul­ders, and carrye them as on horssebacke. So soone as we came to oure boates, we hoysed sayle to goe towarde [...]uer Gallion, doubting of some mischaunce. Oure de­parture grieued and displeased them verye muche, for they followed vs along the Riuer as farre as they coulde: wée wente so faste that on Mondaye beyng the fourth of October wée came where oure Galli­on was. The Twesdaye followyng, being the fifthe of the moneth, we hoysed sayle, and wyth oure Gallion and [Page 56] boates, departed from thence toward the prouince of Canada, to the port of the Holy Crosse, where we had left our ships. The seauenth daye we came against a riuer that commeth from the North, and entred into that riuer, at the entraunce wherof are foure little Ilandes, ful of faire and goodly trées: we named that riuer The riuer of Fouetz: But bycause one of those Ilandes stretcheth himselfe a great way into the ri­uer, our Captaine at the point of it caused a goodlye greate Crosse to be set vppe, and commaunded the boats to be made readie, that with the nexte tide he mighte goe vp to the sayde riuer, and consider the qualitie of it, whiche we did, and that daye wente vp as farre as we coulde: but bycause we founde it to bée of no importaunce, and that wée coulde sounde no bottome, we retourned down and back againe.

¶ Howe wee came to the Port of the Holie Crosse, and in what state we founde our shippes: and howe the Lorde of the Countrey came to visite oure Captaine, and oure Captain him: and of certaine particular customes of the people. CHAP. 9.

VPon Monday being the eleuenth of October we came to the Port of the Holy Crosse, where our shippes were, & founde that the maisters and Mariners we had lefte there, had made and reared a Trench before the ships, altogither closed with great péeces of Timber set vprighte and verye well fastened togither: then had they beset the saide trenche aboute with péeces of Artillerie and other necessarie things to shielde and defende themselues from the power of all the Countrey. So soone as the Lorde of the Countrey heard of our comming, the next day being the twelfth of October, he came to visit vs, accompanied with Taignoagny, Domagaia▪ and many others, fayning to be verye glad of our comming, making muche of our Captain, who as friendly as he could, entertayned them, albeit they had not deserued it. Donna­cona their Lord desired our Captaine the next day to come [Page 57] and sée Canada, which he promised to do: for the next day being the thirtéenth of the moneth, he with all his gentlemen, and fiftie Mariners very wel appointed, went to visite Donnaco­na and his people, about a league from our ships. The place where they make their abode, is called Stadagona. When we were about a stones cast from their houses, manye of the in­habitours came to méete vs, being all set in a ranke, and (as their custome is,) the men al on one side, and the womē on the other, stil dauncing & singing without any ceasing: and after we had saluted and receiued one another, our Captaine gaue them kniues and such other slight things: then he caused all the women and children to passe along before him, giuing ech one a ring of Tin, for which they gaue him harty thāks: that done, our Captaine was by Donnacona and Taignoa­gny, broughte to their houses (the qualitie considered) were very well prouided, and stored with suche victualles as the Countrey yéeldeth, to passe away the Winter withal. Then they shewed vs the skinnes of fiue mens heades spred vpon bourds as we do vse parchmēt, Donnacona told vs that they were skinnes of Toudamani, a people dwelling towarde the South, who continually doe warre against them. Moreouer they tolde vs, that it was two yeares paste that those Touda­mans came to assault them, yea euen into the said riuer, in an Iland that lyeth ouer against Saguenay, where they had bene the night before, as they were going a warfaring in Hongue­do, with two hundereth persons, men, women, and children, who being all asléepe in a [...]ort that they had made, they were assaulted by the saide Toudamans, who put fire rounde aboute the [...]ort, and as they would haue come out of it to saue them­selues, they were al slaine, onely fiue excepted, who escaped. For which losse they yet sorrowed, shewing with signes, that one day they woulde be reuenged: that done, we came to our shippes againe.

¶ The manner how the people of that Country liue: and of certaine conditions: of their Faith, manners, and cu­stomes. CHAP. 10.

THis people beléeue no whit in God, but in one whō they ca [...] Cudrua [...]gni: the [...] say that often he speaketh with thē and telleth them what weather shall followe, whether good or badde. Moreouer they say, that when he is angrye wyth them hée casteth duste into theyr eyes: they beléeue that whē they die they go into the Stars, and thence by little and little descend downe into the Horizon, euen as the Stars doe, and y^e then they go into certaine gréene fieldes full of goodly faire & pretious trées, floures, and fruites. After that they had giuen vs these things to vnderstand, we shewed them their errour, and tolde that their Cudruaigni did but deceiue them, for hée is but a Diuell and an euill spirite: affirming vnto them, that there is but one only God, who is in Heauen, and who giueth vs all necessaries, being the creatour of all himselfe, and that onely we must belieue in him: moreouer, that it is necessarie for vs to be baptized, otherwise we are dampned into Hel. This and manye other things concerning our faith and religion we shewed them, all whiche they did eas [...]ly be­lieue,A noughtie liuer. calling their Cudruaigni, Agouiada: so that very ernest­ly they desired and prayed our Captaine that he woulde cause them to be baptised, and their Lorde, Taignoagny, Doma­gaia, and all the people of the towne came vnto vs, hoping to be baptised: but bycause we did not throughely knowe theyr minde, and that there was no bodie coulde giue them our beliefe and religion to vnderstande, we excused our selues, desiring Taignoagny and Domagaia to tell the reste of theyr Countreymenne, that we woulde come againe ano­ther time, and bring Ministers and Priestes with vs, for without them they coulde not be baptised: whiche they dyd easilye belieue: for Domagaia and Taignoagny hadde séene [Page 59] many children baptised in Brytain while [...] they were there. Whiche promise when they hearde, they séemed to be verie gladde. They liue in common togither, and of such commo­dities as their Countrey yéeldeth they are indifferentlye well stoared, the inhabitours of the Towne of [...] cloath themselues with the skinnes of certaine wilde beasts, but ve­rie miserably. In Winter they weare hosen and shoes made of wilde beastes skinnes, and in Sommer they goe barefoo­ted. They kéepe and obserue the rytes of matrimony, sa­uing that euerye one weddeth two or thrée wiues, whiche (theyr husbandes being deade) doe neuer marrye agayne, but for the deathe of theyr husbandes weare a certayne blacke wéede all the dayes of their life, besmearing all their faces with cole duste and grease mingled togyther almoste halfe a quarter of an inche thicke, and by that they are knowen to be Widowes. They haue a filthye and detestable vse in marrying of their maydens, and that is thys, they putte them all (after they are of l [...]w­full age to marrie) in a common place, as harlots frée for euerie manne that will haue to doe wyth them, vntill such tyme as they finde a matche. Thys I saye, bycause I I▪ haue séene by experience manye housen full of those Damosels, euen as our scholes are full of children in Fraunc [...] to learne to reade. Moreouer, the misrule and riot that they kéepe in those houses is verie greate, for verie want only [...] they sporte and dallye togither, shewing what soeuer God hathe sent them. They are no men of greate labour. They ploughe theyr groundes with certain péeces of wood, as big as halfe a sworde, on whiche grounde groweth theyr corne, The call it Offici: it is as bigge as our small Peason there is great quantitie of it growing in Brasil. They haue also great store of muske Milions, Pompons, Gourdes, Cowcom­bers, Peason, and Beanes of euerye coloure, yet differing frō ours. There groweth also a certain kind of Herb, wherof in Sommer they make greate prouision for all the yeare, [Page 60] making great accompt of it, and only men vse of it, and first, they cause it to be dryed in the Sunne, then weare it aboute their neck [...] wrapped in a little beastes skin made like a little bagge, with a hollow péece of stone or wood like a pipe: then when they please they make pouder of it, and then put it in one of the endes of the sayd Cornet or pipe, and laying a cole of [...]re vppon it, at the other ende sucke so long, that they [...]ll their bodies full of smoke, till that it commeth out of their mouth and nostrils, euen as out of the Tonnel of a Chimny. They say that this doth kepe them warm and in health: they neuer go without some of it about thē. We our selues haue tryed the same smoke, and hauing put it in our mouthes, it [...]ed that they had filled it with Pepper dust, it is so hote. The [...]omen of that Countrey doe labour muche more than the men, as well in fishing, (wherto they are greatly giuen,) as in [...]illing and husbanding theyr groūds, and other things: as wel the mē as women, and children, are very much more able to resist colde, than sauage beastes, for we with our own eyes haue séene some of thē, when it was coldest, (which cold was extr [...]eme raw, and bitter) come to our ships stark naked going vppon Snowe and Ise, which thing séemeth incredible to them that haue not séene it. When as the Snowe and Ise lyeth on the ground, they take great store of wilde beasts, as F [...]unes, Stagges, Beares, Martons, Hares, and Foxes▪ [...] diuerse other sortes, whose fleshe they eate rawe, ha­uing [...] dryed it in the Sunne or smoke, and so they doe their fishe. As farre forth as we coulde perceiue and vnder­stande by these people, it were a very easie thing to bring thē to some familiaritie and ciuilitie, and make them learne what one woulde. The Lord GOD for his mercies sake lesse there vnto his helping hande when hée séeth cause. A­men.

¶ Of the greatnesse and deapth of the sayd Riuer, and of the sortes of Beastes, Birdes, Fishes, and other things that we haue seene, with the scituation of the place. CHA. 11.

THe sayd Riuer beginneth beyond the Iland of Thassump­cion, ouer against the high Mountaynes of Honguedo, and of the seauen Ilands. The distance ouer from one side to the other, is about 35. or 40. leagues. In the middest it is aboue 100. faddome deepe. The surest way to sayle vpon it, is on the South side, and towarde the North, that is to say, from the sayd seauen Ilandes, where from side to side, there is seauen leagues, where are also two great Riuers that come downe from the hilles of Saguenay, and make diuers very dangerous shealues in the Sea. At the entrance of those two Riuers, we saw many and great store of Whales, and sea Horses. Ouer­thwart the sayd Ilands, there is another little Riuer that runneth along those marrish groundes about thrée or foure leagues, wherein there is great store of water fowles. From the head of that Riuer to Hochelaga, there is about thrée hun­dred leagues: the originall beginning of it is in the riuer that commeth from Saguenay, which riseth and springeth among high and stéepe hilles: it entreth into that Riuer before it com­meth to the prouince of Canada on the North side. That riuer is very déepe, high, and straight, wherefore it is very dange­rous for any vessell to goe vpon it. After that riuer, followeth the prouince of Canada, wherein are many people dwelling in open boroughes and villages. There are also in the circuite and territorie of Canada, along, and within the sayd riuer, ma­ny other Ilands, some great, and some small, among whiche, there is one that conteyneth aboue tenne leagues in length, full of goodly and high tr [...]e [...], and also many Vines. You may go into it from both sides, but yet the surest passage is on the South side. On the shoare or bancke of that Riuer West­ward, there is a goodly, faire, and delectable s [...]ce, or Créeke, conuenient and fitte for to harborough Shippes. Hard by, there is in that Riuer one place very narrow, déepe, and swift [Page 63] running, but it is not passing the third part of a league, ouer-against the which, there is a goodly high péece of land, with a Towne therein: and the Countrey about it is very well til­led and wroughte, and as good as possibly can bée séene. That is the place and abode of Donnacona, and of our two men we tooke in our firste voyage, it is called Stadagona. But be­fore we come to it, there are foure other peopled Townes, that is to say, Ayraste, Starnatan, Tailla, whiche standeth vp­pon a hill, and Scitadin, and then Stadagona, vnder whiche Towne toward the North, the Riuer and Porte of the ho­ly Crosse is, where we stayd from the fiftenth of September, vntill the sixtéenth of May 1536. and there oure Shippes re­mayned drie▪ as we haue sayde before. That place béeing past, we found the habitation of the people called Teguenon­dahi, standing vpon an high Mountayne, and the valley of Hochelay, whiche standeth in a Champaigne Countrey. All that Countrey is full of sundrye sortes of woodde, and ma­ny Vynes, vnlesse it be about the places that are inhabited, where they haue pulled vp the Trées to till and laboure the grounde, and to builde their Houses and Lodgings. There is greate store of Stagges, Déeres, Beares, and other suche lyke sortes of Beastes, as Connies, Hares, Mar­tons, Foxes, Otters, Weasels, Badgers, and Mice excée­ding greate, and diuers other sortes of Venison. They cloath themselues with the Skinnes of those Beastes, bycause they haue nothing else to make them apparell withall. There are also many sortes of Birds, as Cranes, Swannes, Cigne [...]s, wild Géese white and gray, Duckes, Thrushes, blacke Birdes, Turtles, wilde Pigeons, Leuites, Finches, redde breastes, Stares, Nightingales, Sparrowes, and o­ther Birdes, euen as in France. Also as we haue sayde before, the sayde Riuer is the plentifullest of Fish that euer hath of any man bin séene or heard of, bycause that from the head to the end of it, according to their seasons, you shall find all sorts of fresh water fish, and salt. There are also many Whales, Porpo [...]ses, Seahorses, and Adhothuis, whiche is a kinde of [Page 62] Fish that we had neuer séene nor heard of before. They are as great as Porpoises, as white as any Snow, their body [...] and head fashioned as a gray hound, they are woont alwayes to abide betwéene the fresh and salt water, which beginneth betwéene the Riuer of Saguenay and Canada.

¶ Of certayne aduertisements and notes giuen vnto vs by those Countreymen, after our returne from Hochelaga. CHAP. 12.

AFter our returne from Hochelaga, we haue dealte, traf­fickt, and with great familiaritie and loue haue bin con­uersant with those that dwelt néerest vnto our Shippes, ex­cepte that sometimes we had strife and contention with cer­tayne naughtie people, full sore againste the will of the o­thers. We vnderstoode of Donnacona, and of others, that the sayde Riuer is called Saguenays Riuer, and goeth to Sa­guenay, béeing somewhat more than a league farther Weast North-weast, and that eyght or nyne dayes iourneys be­yond, it will beare but small Boates. But the right and readye way to Saguenay, is from that Riuer to Hochelaga, and then into another that commeth from Saguenay, and then entreth into the foresayde Riuer, and that there is yet one moneths sayling thither. Moreouer, they tolde vs, and gaue vs to vnderstande, that there are people clad with cloth as we are, very honest, and many inhabited Townes, and that they haue great store of Golde, and redde Copper, and that aboute the land the sayd first Riuer to Hochelaga and Saguenay, is an Iland enuironed rounde about with that and other Riuers, which beyond Saguenay enter into two or thrée great Lakes, and that there is a Sea of fresh water found, and as they haue heard say of those of Saguenay, there was neuer manne heard of that [...]ounde out the way and end thereof: for as they tolde vs, they themselues were neuer there. Moreouer, they tolde vs, that where we had lefte oure Galion when [Page 64] we [...]ente to Hochelaga, there is a Riuer that goeth South­weast, from whence there is a whole moneths sayling to goe to a certayne lande, where there is neyther Yse nor Snow séene, where the inhabitours do cōtinually warre one against another, where is great store of Oranges, Almonds, Nuttes, and Apples, with many other sortes of fruites, and that the men and women are cladde with Beastes Skinnes euen as they: we asked them if there were any Gold or red Copper, they answered no. I take this place to be toward Florida, as farre as I could perceyue and vnderstand by their signes and tokens.

¶ Of a strange and cruell disease that came to the people of Stadagona, wherwith bycause we did haunt their com­pany, we wer so infected, that there died 25. of our com­panye. CHAP. 13.

IN the moneth of December, we vnderstoode that the Plague or Pestilence was come to the people of Stadago­na, in such sort, that before we knew of it, according to their confession, there were dead aboue 50. wherevpon we forbad them neyther to come néere our Forte, nor about our Ships, or vs. And albeit we had driuen them from vs, the sayd vn­knowen sicknesse beganne to spread it selfe amongst vs, after the strangest sort that euer was eyther heard of or séene, in so much, as some did lose all their strength, and could not stand on their féete, then did theyr legges swell, their sinnowes shrinke as blacke as any cole. To others, all their Skinnes was spotted with spottes of bloud of a purple couloure: then did it ascende vp alofte to theyr anckles, knées, thighes, shoul­ders, armes, and necke: their mouth became stincking, their gummes so rotten, that all the flesh did fall off, euen to the rootes of the Téeth, which did also almost all fall out. With such infection did this Sicknesse spreade it selfe in oure thrée Shippes▪ that aboute the middle of February, of a hundreth and tenne persons that we were, there were [Page 95] not tenne whole, so that one coulde not helpe the other, a moste horrible and pitifull case, considering the place wée were in, forsomuch as the people of the Country would day­ly come before our forte, and saw but few of vs. There were alreadie eight deade, and more than fiftie sicke, and as wée thought, past al hope of recouerie. Our Captaine séeing this our misery, and that the sicknesse was gone so far, ordained and commaunded, that euery one shoulde deuoutly prepare himselfe to prayer, and in remembraunce of Christ, caused his Image to be sette vp vpon a trée, aboute a Flight shotte from the Forte, amidst the Ice and Snowe, giuing all men to vnderstande, that on the Sonday following, seruice should be saide there, and, that whosoeuer coulde goe, sicke, or whole, should go thither in Procession, singing the seauen Psalmes of Dauid, with other Letanies, praying moste hartily, that it woulde please the said our Christ to haue compassion vpon vs. Seruice beyng done, and as well celebrated as we could, our Captaine there made a vowe, that if it woulde please God to giue him leaue to returne into Fraunce, he would goe on pilgrimage to our Lady of Rocquemado. That daye Phi­lip Rougemont, borne in Amboisa, died, being two and twen­ty yeares olde, and bicause the sicknes was to vs vnknowen, our Capitaine caused him to be ripped, to [...] if by any means possible we might know what it was, and so séeke means to saue and preserue the reste of the company: he was founde to haue his heart white, but rotten, & more than a pottle of red w [...]er about it: his liuer was indifferent faire, but his lungs blacke and mortified, his bloud was altogither shrūke about the heart, so that when he was opened, great quantity of rot­ten bloud issued out from aboute his heart: his milt toward the backe was somwhat perished, rough as if it had bin rub­bed against a stone. Moreouer, bicause one of his thighs was very black without, it was opened, but within it was whole and sounde: that done, as wel as we could he was buryed. In suche sorte did the sicknes continue and encrease, that there were not aboue thrée found men in the ships, and none was [Page 66] able to go vnder hatches to draw drinke for himselfe, nor for his fellowes. Sometimes we were constrayned to burie some of the dead vnder the Snowe, bycause we were not able to digge any graues for them, the ground was so hard frosen, and we so weake. Besides this, we did greately feare, that the people of the Countrey would perceyue our weakenesse and miserie, whiche to hide, our Captayne, whome it pleased God alwayes to kéepe in health, woulde go out with two or thrée of the companye, some sicke, and some whole, whome when he saw out of the Fort, he would throw stones at them and chide them, faigning, that so soone as he came againe, he woulde beate them, and then with signes shew the people of the Countrey, that he caused all his men to worke and la­boure in the Shippes, some in mending them, some in beating of chalke, some in one thing, and some in another, and that he woulde not haue them come foorthe, till their worke was done. And to make his tale séeme true and likely, he woulde make all his men whole and sound to make a great noyse, with knocking stickes, stones, hammers, and other things togither, at which time, we were so oppressed, and gréeued with that sicknesse, that we had lost all hope euer to sée France agayne, if God of his infinite goodnesse and mercie had not with his pitifull [...]ye looked vpon vs, and reuealed a singular and excellent remedie against all diseases vnto vs, the best that euer was founde vpon earth, as héereafter shall fol­lowe.

¶ How long we stayed in the Porte of the holy Crosse a­midst the Snow and Yse, and how many dyed of the said disease, from the beginning of it, to the midst of March. CHAP. 14.

FRom the midst of Nouember, vntill the midst of Aprill, we were kepte in amidst the Yse aboue one faddome thicke, and Snow aboue foure foote high, and more higher than the sides of our Shippes, which lasted till that time, in [Page 67] such sorte, that all our drinckes were frosen in the Vessels, and the Yse through all the Shippes, was aboue a hande­breadth thicke, as well aboue hatches as beneath, and so much of the Riuer as was fresh, vntill to Hochelaga, was frosen, in which space there dyed fiue and twentie of our best and chiefest men, and all the rest so sicke, that we thoughte they shoulde neuer recouer agayne, onely thrée or foure ex­cepted. Then it pleased God to cast his pitifull eye vpon vs, and sente vs the knowledge and remedie of our healthes and recouerie, in such maner as in the next Chapter shall be shewed.

¶ How by the grace of God we had notice of a certayne tree, wherby we all recouered our health: and the maner how to vse it. CHAP. 15.

OVr Captayne considering oure estate (and how that sicknesse was encreased and hote amongst vs) one daye wente foorth of the Forte, and walking along vppon the Yse, he saw a troupe of those Countreymen comming from Sta­dacona, among whiche was Domagaia, who not passing tenne or twelue dayes afore, had bene very sicke with that disease, and had his knées swolne as bigge as a Child of two yeares olde, all his sinowes shruncke togither, hys téeth spoyled, his gummes rotten, and stincking. Oure Captayne séeing him whole and sound, was thereat maruellous glad, hoping to vnderstand and knowe of him how he had healed himselfe, to the ende he might ease and help his men. So soone as they were come néere him, he asked Domagaia how he had done to heale hymselfe, he answered, that he had takē the iuice and sappe of the leaues of a certayne Trée, and therewith had healed himselfe: For it was a singular remedie agaynst that disease. Then our Captayne asked of hym if any were to bée had thereabout, desiring him to shew it him, for to heale a ser­uant of his, who whilest he was in Canada with Donnacona, & [Page 68] was stricken with that disease: That he did, bicause he would not shewe the number of his sicke men. Domagaia straight sent two women to fetche some of it, whyche broughte tenne or twelue braunches of it, and therewithall shewed vs the way howe to vse it, and that is thus, to take the barke and leaues of the saide trée, and boile it togither, then to drinke of the saide decoction one daye, and the other not, and the dregges of it to be put vpon his legs that is sicke: moreouer, they told vs, y^t the vertue of that trée was, to heale any other disease: the trée is in their language called AMEDA. Our Captaine presently caused some of that drinke to be made for his men to drinke of it, but there was none durste taste of it, excepte one or two, who ventured the drinking of it, onely to taste and proue it: the other séeyng that, did the like, and presently recouered their health, and were delyuered of that sickenesse, and what other disease soeuer, in suche sorte, that there were some hadde béene diseased and trou­bled wyth the French Pockes foure or fiue yeares, and wyth thys drinke were cleane healed. After thys medi­cine was founde and proued to be true, there was suche strife aboute it, who shoulde be firste to take of it, that they were readye to kill one another, that a trée as bigge as anye Oake in Fraunce, was spoyled and lapped bare, and occupyed all in fiue or sixe dayes, and wroughte so well, that if all the Phisitions of Mountpelier, and of Louaine, hadde béene there wyth all the drugges of Alexandrîa, they woulde not haue done so muche in one yeare, as that trée dydde in sixe dayes, and didde so preuaile, that as ma­nye as vsed of it, by the grace of GOD recouered their health.

¶ Howe the Lorde Donnacona accompanyed with Taigno­agny and dyuers others, fayning that they woulde goe to hunt Stags, and other wilde Deere, taryed out twoo moneths, and at theyr returne broughte a greate mul­titude of people with them, that we were not wont to see before. CHAP. 16.

WHilest that disease lasted in our ships, the Lord Donna­cona, Taignoagny, with many others, fayning, that they would go catch Stags and Déere, which is in their tongue called Aiounesta, and Asquenoudo, bycause the Ice and Snow was not so broken along the riuer that they coulde saile, it was tolde vs of Domagaia, and others, that they woulde stay out but fortnight, and we beléeued it, but they stayed aboue two moneths, whych made vs mistrust that they had bin gone to raise the Country to come againste vs, and doe vs some displeasure, wée séeyng oure selues so weake and faint. Albeit we had vsed such diligence and pollicie in our [...] Forte, that if all the power of the country had bin aboute it, they coulde haue done nothyng but looke vpon vs: and why­lest they were forthe, manye of the people came daylye to our shippes, and brought vs fresh meate, as Stags, Déeres, Fishes, with diuers other things, but helde them at suche an excessiue price, that rather than they would sell them anye thing cheape, many times they woulde carry them backe a­gaine, bycause that yeare the Winter was very long & they had some scarcitie and néede of them.

¶ How Donnacona came to Stadagona againe with a greate number of people, and bycause he would not come to visite our Captaine, fayned himselfe to be sore sicke, whiche he did onely to haue the Captaine come and see him. CHAP. 17.

ON the one and twentith of Aprill Domagaia came to the shoare side, accompanyed with dyuers lusty and strong [Page 70] men, such as we were not wont to sée, and tolde vs that their Lord Donnacona woulde the next daye come and sée vs, and bring great store of Déers fleshe, and other things with him. The next day he came and brought a greate number of men in Stadagona, to what end, and for what cause we knew not, but (as the prouerb saith) he that takes héede and shields him selfe from all men, maye happe to scape from some, for wée had néed to looke about vs, cōsidering how in nūber we were diminished, and in strength greatlye weakened, long of our sicknesse we had bene troubled withall, that we were con­strayned to leaue one of our shippes in the sayde Port of the Holy Crosse. Our Captain was warned of their comming, and how they had brought a great number of mē with them, for Domagaia came to tel it vs, and durst not passe the riuer that was betwixt Stadagona and vs, as he was wonte to doe, wherevpon we mistrusted of some treason. Our Captain sée­ing this, sent one of his seruantes to them, accompanied with Iohn Poulet being beste beloued of those people, to sée who were there, and what they dyd. The sayde Poulet and the other faygned onely to be come to visite Donnacona, and bryng him certaine presentes, bycause they hadde bene togither a good while in the sayde Donnaconas Towne. So soone as he hearde of their comming, he gotte hym­selfe to bedde, fayning to be verye sicke. That done, they wente to Taignoagny hys house to sée him, and wheresoeuer they wente, they sawe so manye people, that in a man­ner one coulde not styrre for an other, and suche menne as they were neuer wonte to sée. Taignoagny would not permitte oure menne to enter in anye other housen, but styll kepte them companye, and broughte them halfe way to our ships, and tolde that if it would please our Capitaine to sh [...]we him so muche fauoure as to take a Lord of the Country people, whose name Agonna, of whom he hadde receyued some displeasure, and carrye hym wyth [Page 71] hym into Fraunce, he shoulde therefore for euer be bounde vn­to hym, and woulde doe for hym whatsoeuer he coulde possi­ble, and would do for him whatsoeuer he woulde commaund him, and bade the seruaunt to come againe the nexte daye, and bryng an aunsweare. Oure Capitayne béeyng ad­uertised of so manye people that were there, not kno­wyng to what ende, purposed to playe a pretty prancke, that is to saye, to take theyr Lorde Donnacona, Taigno­agny, Domagaia, and some more of the chiefest of them, pri­soners, in so muche as before he had purposed, to bring them into Fraunce, to shewe vnto our King what he hadde séene in those Westerne partes, and maruailes of the worlde, for that Donnacona had tolde vs, that he hée hadde béene in the Countrey of Saguenay, in whych are infinite Rubies, Golde, and other riches, and that there are white menne, who clothe themselues wyth wollen cloth euen as wée doe in Fraunce. The sayde Lorde was an olde manne, and euen from hys chyldehoode hadde neuer lefte off nor cea­sed from trauayling into straunge Countreys, as well by Seas and Ryuers, as by Lande. The sayde Powlet, and the other hauing tolde oure Capitayne theyr Embas­sage, and shewed hym what Taignoagny hys wyll was, the nexte daye hée sente hys seruaunt agayne, to bidde Taignoagny come and sée hym, and shewe what [...]ée woulde, for hée shoulde bée verye well entertayned, and also parte of hys wyll shoulde bée accomplyshed. Taignoagny sente hym worde, that the nexte daye hée woulde come and bryng the Lorde Donnacona wyth hym, and hym that hadde so offended hym, whyche hée dydde not, but stayed two dayes, in whyche tyme none came from Stadagona to oure Shyppes, as they were wont to doe, but rather fledde from vs, as if wée woulde haue slayne them, so that then wée playnely perceyued theyr knauery.

[Page 72]But when they vnderstoode, that those of Sidatin did frequent our company, and that we had forsaken the bottome of a ship whyche we woulde leaue, to haue the olde nailes oute of it, the thirde daye followyng they came from Stadagona, and moste of them wythout difficultie did passe from one side of the riuer to the other with small Skiffes: but Donnacona hée woulde not come ouer, Taignoagny and Domagaia stood talking togither aboue an houre before they woulde come o­uer, at laste they came to speake with our Captaine. There Taignoagny prayed him that he woulde cause the foresayde man to be taken and carryed into Fraunce. Oure Captaine refused to doe it, saying, that his Kyng had forbidden hym to bring any man or woman into Fraunce, only that he might bring two or thrée yong boyes to learne the language, but that he woulde willingly carry hym to another lande, and there putte hym. Our Captaine spake this, onely to assure them, that they should bring Donnacona wyth them, whom they had lefte on the other side, whych wordes, when Taig­noagny hearde, he was very glad, thinking he shoulde neuer retourne into Fraunce againe, and therefore promised to come the nexte daye, whych was the day of the holy Crosse, and woulde bryng Donnacona and all the people wyth hym.

¶Howe that vpon Holyroode day our Captaine caused a Crosse to be set vp in our Forte: and howe the Lord Donnacona, Taignoagny, Domagaia, and others of theyr company came: and of the taking of the saide Lorde. CHAP. 18.

THe thirde of May beyng Holy roode day, our Captaine for the solemnitie of the daye, caused a goodly faire crosse of thirtie foote in heigth to be sette vppe, vnder the crosset of which he caused a shielde to be hanged, wherein was the Armes of Fraunce, and ouer them was written in antique [Page 73] letters: FRANCISCVS PRIMVS DEI GRATIA FRAN­CORVM REX REGNAT, and vpon that daye, about noone, there came a great number of the people of Stadagona, Men, Women, and Children, who told vs, that their Lord Donna­cona, Taignoagny, and Domagaia, were comming, whereof we were very glad, hoping to retayne them. Aboute two of the Clocke in the after noone they came, and being come néere our Shippes, our Captayne went to salute Donnacona, who also shewed him a merrie countenance, albeit very feareful­ly his eye were still bent toward the woodde. Shortly after came Taignoagny, who bade Donnacona, that he should not enter in our Forte, and therefore fire was brought forth by one of our men, and kind [...]ed where their Lord was Our Cap­tayne prayed him to come into our Ships to eate and drinke as he was wont to do, and also Taignoagny, who promised, that after a while he would come, and so they did, and entred in our Shippes: but first it was tolde our Captayne by Do­magaia, that Taignoagny had spoken yll of him, and that he had bid Donnacona he should not come aboord our Shippes, Our Captayne perceyuing that, came out of the Forte, and saw that onely by Taignoagny his warning, the Women ranne away, and none but men stayed in great number, wher­fore he straight commanded his men to lay hold on Donnaco­na, Taignoagny, and Domagaia, and two more of the chiefest, whome he poynted vnto: then he commanded them to make the other to retire. Presently after, the Lord entred into the Forte with the Captayne, but by and by Taignoagny came to make him come out agayne. Our Captayne séeing that there was no other remedie, beganne to call vnto them to take them, to whose crye and voyce all his men came foorth, and tooke the sayd Lord with the others, whome they had ap­poynted to take. The Canadians séeing their Lord taken, be­ganne to runne away, euen as Shéepe before the Woolfe, some crossing ouer the Riuer, some through the Wooddes, [...]th one séeking for his own aduantage. That [...]one, we reti­red our selues, & laid vp the prisoners vnder good gard & safety.

¶How the saide Canadians the night following came be­fore our Ships to seeke their men, crying and howling al night like Wolues: of the talke and conclusion they agreed vpon the next day: and of the giftes which they gaue our Captaine. CHAP. 19.

THe night following, they came before our Shippes, (the Riuer being betwixte vs) striking their breastes, crying and howling like Woolues, still calling Agouhanna, thinking to speake with him, which oure Captayne for that time would not permitte, neyther all the next day till noone, wherevpon they made signes vnto vs, that we had hanged or killed hym. Aboute noone, there came as great a num­ber in a cluster, as euer we saw, who wente to hide them­selues in the Forest, excepted some, who with a loude voyce woulde call and crye to Donnacona to speake vnto them. Our Captayne then commanded Donnacona to be broughte vpon high to speake vnto them, and bade hym be mercie, for after he had spoken, and shewed vnto the King of France what he had séene in Saguenay and other Countreys, after tenne or twelue monethes, he shoulde returne againe, and that the King of France would giue him greate rewardes, whereat Donnacona was very glad, and speaking to the o­thers, tolde it them, who in token of ioy, gaue out thrée great cryes, and then Donnacona and his people had great talke togither, whiche for wante of interpretours, can not be de­scribed. Oure Captayne hade Donnacona, that he shoulde cause them to come to the other side of the Riuer, to the ende they might better talke togither without any feare, and that he shoulde assure them, whiche Donnacona did, and there came a Boate full of the chiefest of them to the Shippes, and there anew beganne to talke togither, giuing greate prayse vnto our Captayne, and gaue him a presente of foure [Page 75] and twentie chaynes of Esurgny, for that is the greatest, and preciousest riches they haue in this worlde, for that they e­stéeme more of that, than of any Golde or Siluer. After they hadde long talked togyther, and that theyr Lorde sawe that there was no remedie to auoyde hys goyng into France, hée commaunded hys people the nexte daye, to bring him s [...]me victualles to serue hym by the way. Oure Captayne gaue Donnacona as a greate presente, two frying pannes of Copper, eyght Hatchets, and other small trifles, as kniues, and Beades, whereof hée séemed to bée very glad, who sente them to his Wiues and Children. Likewise, he gaue certaine small giftes to them that came to speake with Don­nacona, they thanked him greatly for them, and then wente to their Lodgings.

¶How that the nexte daye, beeing the fifth of May, the sayde people came agayne to speake vnto theyr Lorde, and howe that foure Women came to the Shoare to bring him Victualles. CHAP. 20.

VPon the fifth of May, verye earelye in the Morning, a greate number of the sayde people came agayne to speake vnto theyr Lorde, and sente a Boate, whyche in theyr tongue they call Casnoui, wherein were only foure Women, without any manne, for feare theyr menne should be retayned.

These Women broughte greate store of victualles, as Millet, whyche is their Corne that they liue withall, Fleshe, Fishe, and other thynges after theyr fashion.

These Women béeing come to our Shippes, our Cap­tayne dyd very friendly entertayne them. Then Donnacona prayde our Captayne to tel those women that he should come agayne after ten or twelue monethes, & bring Donnacona to [Page 76] Canada agayne with him, that hée did only to appeale them, which our Captayne did wherefore the Women, as well by words as signes, séeme to be very glad, giuing our Captaine thankes, and tolde him, if he came againe, and brought Don­nacona with him, they would giue him many things: in signe whereof, eache one gaue our Captayne a chayne of Esurgny, and then passed to the other side of the Riuer agayne, where stoode all the people of Stadagona, who taking all leaue of their Lord, wente home agayne. On Saturday following, bée­ing the sixth of the moneth, we departed out of the sayd Porte, and came to harborough a little beneath the Ilande of Orle­ans, aboute twelue leagues from the Porte of the Holy Crosse, and vppon Sunday we came to the Iland of Fil­berdes, where we stayde vntill the sixtéenth of that Moneth, till the fiercenesse of the waters were past, which at that time ranne too swifte a course, and were too dangerous to come downe alongst the Riuer, and therefore we stayde till fayre weather came. In the meane while, many of Donnaconas Subiects came from the Riuer of Saguenay to him, but bée­ing by Domagaia aduertised, that their Lorde was taken to be caryed into France, they were all amazed, yet for all that, they would not leaue to come to oure Shippes, to speake to Donnacona, who tolde them, that after twelue monethes, he shoulde come agayne, and that he shoulde be very well vsed, with the Captayne, Gentlemen, and Mariners. Which when they hearde, they greately thanked oure Captayne, and gaue their Lorde thrée bundles of Beauers, and Sea Woolues Skinnes, with a greate knife of redde Copper that commeth from Saguenay, and manye other thyngs. They gaue also to our Captayne a Chayne of Esurgny, for whyche oure Captayne gaue them tenne or twelue Hatchettes, and they gaue hym hartie thankes, and were very well contented. The nexte daye, béeing the sixtéenth of May, wée hoysed Sayle, and came from the sayde Iland of Fil­burdes, to another, aboute fiftéene leagues from it, which is aboute fiue leagues in length, and there, to the ende [Page 77] we might take some rest the night following, we staide that day, in hope the next day we might passe and auoyde the dan­gers of the riuer of Saguenay, which are great. That euening we went a land and found great store of Hares, of which we toke a great many, and therefore we called it The Ilande of Hares: in the night there arose a contrarie winde, with suche stormes and tempest, that we were constrayned to bende to the Iland of Filburdes againe, from whence we were come, bycause there was none other passage among the said Ilāds, and there we stayde till the one and twentie of that moneth, that faire weather and good winde came again: and then we sayled again, and that so prosperously, that we passed to Hon­guedo, which passage vntil that time had not bene discouered: we caused our ships to course athwart Pratos Cape, which is the beginning of the Port of Cator: and bicause the wind was good and conuenient, we sayled all day and all night without staying, and the next day we came to the middle of Brions I­lande, which we were not minded to do, to the end we might shorten our way. These two Ilands lie Northwest, & South­east, and are about fiftie leagues one from another. The said Iland is in latitude 47. degrées and a halfe. Vpon Thursday being the 26. of the moneth, and the feast of the Ascention of our Lord, we coasted ouer to go to a land and shallow of low sands, which are about eight leagues Sowthwest frō Brions Iland, on which are large Champaines, full of trées & towns, and also an enclosed sea, of which neyther could we sée or per­ceiue any gap, or any way to enter therein. On Friday fol­lowing, being the 27. of the moneth, bycause the winde did change on the cost, we came to Brions Iland againe, where we stayed till the beginning of Iune, and toward the South­east of this Iland, we sawe a land, séeming vnto vs as an I­lande, we coasted it about two leagues and a halfe, and by y^e way we had notice of thrée other high Ilands, lying toward the Sandes, after we had known these things we retourned to the Cape of the saide land, whiche doeth diuide it selfe into two or thrée very high Capes: the waters ther are very déep, [Page 78] & the floud of the Sea runneth so swift, that it cannot possibly be swifter. That day we came to S. Laurence his Cape, whi­che is 45. degrées and halfe towards the South, wée named it S. Paules Cape, it is at 47. degrées, and a quarter. The Sonday followyng, beyng the fourth of Iune and Whitson­day, we hadde notice of the coaste lying East Southeast, distant from the new found land aboute 22. leagues: and by­cause the wind was against vs, we went to a Hauen, which we named S. Spiritus Porte, where wée stayed till Tuisdaye that we departed thence, sayling along that coaste vntill wée came to S. Peters Ilandes. We found along the saide coaste many very dangerous Ilands and Shelues, whych lye all in the waye East southeast, and Weast Northweast about 23. leagues into the Sea. Whilest we were in the said S. Peters Ilands we met with many ships of France and of Britaine, we stayed there from S. Barnabas day, being the 11. of the mo­neth, vntil the 16. that we departed thence and came to cape of Ras, and entred into a Porte called Rogaoso, where we toke in freshwater, and wood to passe the sea: there we lefte one of our boates. Then vpon Monday, beyng the 19. of Iune, we went from that Porte, and wyth suche good and prospe­rous weather we sailed along the Sea, in such sorte, that vp­on the 6. of Iune. 1536. we came to the Porte of S. Malo, by the grace of God, to whom we pray, here ending oure Na­uigation, that of his infinite mercie he will graunte vs hys grace and fauoure, and in the end, bring vs to the place of e­uerlasting felicitie. AMEN.

Secada.

1

Indahir.

6

Tigneni.

2

Aiaga.

7

Hasche.

3

Addigue.

8

Hannaion.

4

Madellon,

9

Ouiscon.

5

Assem.

10

[Page]

the Heade

aggonzi

the Browe

hergueniascon

the Eyes

higata

the Eares

abontascon

the mouth

esahe

the Teeth

esgongai

the Tongue

osnache

the Throate

agonhon

the Bearde

hebelim

the Face

hegouascon

the heares

aganiscon

the Armes

atayascon

the Flanckes

aissonne

the Stomacke

aggruascon

the Bellie

eschehendo

the Thighes

hetnegradascon

the Knees

agochinegodascon

the Legges

agouguenehonde

the Feete

onchidascon

the Handes

aignoascon

the Fingers

agenoga

the Nailes

agedascon

a Mans member

amoascon

a Womans member

castaigne

an Ele

esgueny

a Snaile

vndeguezi

a Tortois

heuleu [...]ime

Wooddes

conda

leaues of Trees

hoga

God

cudragny

giue me some drincke

quazahoa quea

giue me to breakfast

quasa hoa quasca­boa

giue me my supper

quaza hoa quatfriā

let vs goe to bed

casigno agnyda hoa

[Page] good morrow

aignag

let vs go to play

casigno candy

come & speak with me

assigniquaddadia

looke vpon me

quagathoma

Holde your peace

aista

let vs go with the boate

casigno casnouy

giue me a knife

buazahca agoheda

a Hatchet

adogne

a bowe

ahenca

a darte

quahetan

let vs go a hunting

quasign [...] donnascat

a Stagge

aionnesta

a Sheepe

asquenondo

a Hare

Sourhanda

a Dogge

agayo

a Towne

canada

a Man

agu [...]huni

a Woman

agruaste

a Boy

addegesta

a Wench

agniaquesta

a Childe

exiasta

a Gowne

cabata

a doublet

caioza

Hosen

hemondoha

Shoes

atha

a Shirte

amgoua

a Cappe

castrua

Corne

osizi

Breade

carraconny

Water

ame

Flesh

quahouascō

Paces.

queion

Damsons

honnesta

Figges

absconda

Grapes

ozoba

Nuttes

quahoya

a Hen

sahomgahea

a Lamprey

zisto

a Salmon

ondacon

a Whale

ainne honne

a Goose

sadeguenha

a Streete

adde

Cucumber seede

casconda

to Morrow

achide

the Heauen

quenhia

the Earth

damga

the Sunne

ysmay

the Moone

assomaha

the Starres

stgnehohā

the Winde

cohoa

the Sea

agogasy

the waues of the Sea

co [...]a

an Ilande

cahena

an Hill

agacha

the Ise

honnesca

Snowe

cama

Colde

athau

Hotte

odazani

Fier

azista

Smoke

quea

a House

canoca

Beanes

sah [...]

Cinamond

adhotathny

my Father

addathy

my Mother

adanahe

my Brother

addagrim

my Sister

adhoasseue

They of Canada saye, that it is a monthes sayling to goe to a lande where Cinamonds and Cloues are gathered.