a few words of exhortation to all present, and asks
to be taken back to St. Joseph, that he may say-
holy Mass. Jean Baptiste Etinechkwat, who had
shown the most zeal for the salvation of this poor
woman, said to him : " How is this, my Father? You
have not yet done that for which we brought you
here, and you speak of going back ; remain here, if
you please, and do not leave this poor woman until
she is a Christian." The Father told him that the
Surgeon assured him that she would not die, and
that she could be baptized with the holy Rites, and
to better advantage, when they should return to
St. Joseph. This argument satisfied him, and the
Father embarked with the Boatmen in a bark vessel
shaped [76] like a gondola, quite pleased at finding
such great Charity in these good Neophytes.

Here is another instance of fervor and zeal which
does not take so many words to relate, but which
contains quite as much substance.

A young Algonquin who last spring went down
to Tadousac, fell ill there. Thinking that his dis-
ease was mortal, he exclaimed: " Alas! if I were at
Kebec, I would not die without Baptism." On hear-
ing this, two Christians put him in a canoe, and con-
veyed him for thirty-six or forty leagues on the great
river, in spite of the rain, the wind, and the waves,
exposing the body to save the soul.

In conclusion, I can assert that there are but few
Savages, among those who usually frequent the resi-
dence of St. Joseph, who are not desirous of
embracing the Faith of Jesus Christ ; and these, with
the others, will come in time. I say, in time ; our
French ardor would almost desire to reap before
having sown.



134 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.22



[77] CHAPITRE VI.

DU BAPTESME DE DEUX HURONS, QUI ONT PASSE
L'HYUER A KEBEC.

LES affaires de la mifiion, retenant a Kebec le
Pere lean de Brebeuf, tres verfe en la langue
Huronne, on inuita quelques Hurons de ceux
qu'on iugeoit moins eloignez de la Foy, de paffer vn
hyuer aupres de luy, afin de fe faire profondement
inftruire: la difficulte du retour dans vne faifon, qui
commencoit de-ja de faire fentir les rigueurs d'vn
froid, qu'on dit auoit efte tout extraordinaire cette
annee, fembloit leur debuoir faire accepter cette
offre : mais Dieu auoit iette les yeux fur deux pau-
ures brebis egarees, qu'il vouloit ramener a fa berge-
rie, fa prouidence eft auffi adorable qu'elle eft fecrete,
on prie quelques-vns de ces pauures Barbares de
demeurer, ils n'ont peu ioiiyr de cette faueur, on les
econduifit: quelques vns eftans defia partis, retour-
nent fur leurs pas: mais on les renuoye, on vouloit
choifir les efprits les mieux faits, [78] & pour y pren-
dre garde de trop prez, il n'en refta ny bon ny mau-
uais. Les voila tous partis, ils auoient def-ja faidt
plus de cinquante lieues quand vn nomme Atondo,
& vn autre appell6 OithukSandoron, quittent leurs
compagnos rebrouffent chemin, & s'en viennent
retrouuer les Frangois, leur deffein n'eftoit pas de fe
faire inftruire : mais Dieu les renuoioit pour le fubiet,
ils craignoient la rigueur du froid, & Dieu les vouloit



1642] RELA TION OF r6 4 2 135



[77] CHAPTER VI.

OF THE BAPTISM OF TWO HURONS WHO PASSED THE
WINTER AT KEBEC.

AS Father Jean de Brebeuf, who is well versed
in the Huron language, was detained at Kebec
by the affairs of the Mission, — some Hurons,
among those who were considered less averse to the
Faith, were invited to spend a winter near him, so as
to be thoroughly instructed. The difficulty of re-
turning at a season that already began to make us
feel the severity of cold weather — which is said to
have been quite extraordinary this year — seemed
likely to compel them to accept this offer. But God
had cast his eyes on two poor stray sheep, that he
wished to bring back to his fold. His providence is
as adorable as it is secret. Some of these poor Barba-
rians were requested to remain, but they were un-
able to enjoy that favor and were allowed to go.
Some of them, who had already started, retraced their
steps, but they were sent back because we wished to
choose only those who were the best disposed ; [78] and
because we were too careful, neither good nor bad
remained with us. They all went away, and had
already gone more than fifty leagues, when one
Atondo, and another named Okhukwandoron, left
their companions, retraced their steps, and came
back to the French. They had no intention of plac-
ing themselves under instruction ; but God sent them
back for that purpose. They dreaded the severity



136 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.22

eloigner de l'ardeur des flammes, ils venoient pour
prendre quelque plaifir, allant a la chaffe auec les
Sauuages de ca bas: & eux mefmes ont efte pris
heureufement, & arreftez dans des pieges qui les ont
mis en liberie, on les fit defcendre a faindt Iofeph
proche de Kebec, oil eftoit le Pere de Brebeuf : il n'y
auoit plus d'apparence de les congedier, le froid les
auroit egorges en chemin. Ils font receus a bras
ouuerts, comme ayans leurs patentes fignees de la
Charite, & de la bonte du grand Dieu ; le Pere les
entreprend auec fa douceur ordinaire, & auec vn
fuccez plus heureux beaucoup qu'on n'attendoit.

Si-toft que les deux bons Sauuages furent eloignez
du bruit, & du tumulte de leurs [79] dances, leurs
yeux & leurs oreilles changeans d'obiets, leur cceur
changea d'affection. On dit que le pur amour de-
mande vn cceur tout pur; c'eft a dire vn cceur tout
vuide & defoccupe, la Foy en fait quafi de mefme, a
mefme temps qu'vn efprit fe detache de fes erreurs;
la Foy s'en empare & luy fait voir des veritez rauif-
f antes; nos deux Hurons qui n'auoient prefte l'oreille
a la doctrine de Iefus-Chrift dans leur pais, que pour
l'abhorrer & pour s'en moquer, voyans des Sauuages
batis come eux, detefter leurs anciennes fuperfti-
tions, & mener vne vie toute nouuelle, font touchez,
ils approuuent cette faindte nouueaut6, ils l'honoret,
ils font curieux d'apprendre, les voila en appetit, ils
confiderent en repos les veritez Chreftiennes, ils fe
font dire & redire les prieres : enfin ils agiff ent auec
Dieu, ils luy parlent, & il leur re f pond ils deman-
dent, & il les exauce? bref la Foy entre la premiere
dans leur ame, l'efperance la fuit, l'eftonnement l'ac-
compagne, & tous trois produifent la recognoiffance.



1642] RELA TION OF 1642 137

of the cold, and God wished to keep them away from
the heat of the flames. They came back to have
some pleasure in hunting with the Savages down
here ; and they themselves were fortunately caught,
and taken in traps which set them at liberty. They
were brought down to saint Joseph, near Kebec,
where Father de Brebeuf was. There was no longer
any color for sending them away, for the cold would
have killed them on the road. They were received
with open arms, having their credentials signed by
Charity, and by the goodness of the great God. The
Father took charge of them with his usual kindness,
and with much greater success than was expected.

As soon as these two good Savages were removed
from the noise and tumult of their [79] dances, as
the objects of their sight and hearing changed, the
affections of their hearts changed also. It is said
that pure love requires a pure heart, — that is to say,
a heart empty and unoccupied. It is almost the
same with Faith. At the very moment that a mind
detaches itself from its errors, Faith takes possession
of it, and shows it delightful truths. When our two
Hurons — who had listened to the doctrine of Jesus
Christ in their own country only to loathe it and
mock at it — saw Savages, made like themselves,
detesting their former superstitions and leading an
entirely new life, they were touched, — they approved
and honored this pious novelty, and became desirous,
even eager, to learn it. They considered the truths
of Christianity at leisure. They caused the prayers
to be repeated to them over and over again. Final-
ly, they appealed directly to God; they spoke to
him, and he answered them; they asked, and he
granted their request. In short, Faith entered first



138 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.22

Comment eft-ce, difoient ils, que Dieu nous a rame-
nez 9a bas pour le cognoiftre ? & pour ouyr parler de
chofes fi grandes, pour efhre inftruis de fes volontez
& de fes [80] commandemens : c'eft le grand maiftre
de la vie, il luy faut obeyr.

Pour moy difoit Atondo, i'ay efte pris autres-fois
des Hiroquois, ie m'echappay de leurs mains, & mon
camarade fut mis a mort. Ie tombay certain iour du
haut d'vn arbre, & ie fis tant de foubrefauts que i'en
debuois mourir; eft-il poffible que Dieu m'ait voulu
conferuer la vie, pour le cognoiftre & pour ioiiir de
tant de biens dedans le Ciel, dont on nous parle?
Quoy done? veray ie mon fils en ce lieu de plaifir &
de gloire, fon ame y eft defia. C'eft vous qui l'auez
baptife, difoit il au Pere; l'eftime de ce bon-heur
croiffoit tous les iours en eux, a mefure qu'ils en
recognoiffoient la grandeur.

En vn mot, eftant bien inftruits, ils demandent le
Baptefme, le Pere de Brebeuf les eprouue : ils font
coftans, ils proteftent que iamais ils n'auront aucun
commerce, auec les fuperftitions & auec les malices
de leur pais, qu'ils auront l'efprit conftant quand ils
feront Chreftiens, & qu'ils n'apprehenderont plus
aucun danger. On les baptife folennellement, Mon-
fieur de Maifon-neufue appelle Paul celuy qui fe
nommoit Atondo, & Madamoifelle Mance [81] donna
le nom de lean Baptifte [a] OKhukb'andoron, ils repon-
dirent hardiment a toutes les demandes qu'on leur
fit: fi-toft qu'ils furent lauez de ces eaux Sacr6es, ils
rendirent mille addons de grace a Monfieur le Gou-
uerneur, & aux Francois des careffes, & des biens-
faidts, & des fecours qu'on leur auoit rendu pendant
tout l'hyuer: Mais la plus grande faueur, & la plus



1642] RELA TION OF 1642 139

into their souls; hope followed it accompanied by
awe ; and the three together produced gratitude.
" How is it," said they, " that God has brought us
down here to know him, and to hear such great
things spoken of, to be instructed as to his wishes
and his [80] commandments ? He is the great master
of life, and must be obeyed."

" As for me," said Atondo, " I was once taken
prisoner by the Hiroquois; I escaped from their
hands, but my comrade was put to death. On one
occasion, I fell from the top of a tree, and the shock
was so severe that I was nearly killed. Is it possible
that God willed to preserve my life, in order that I
might know him, and enjoy so many blessings in the
Heaven of which they tell us ? What ! shall I see my
son in that abode of bliss and glory? His soul is
there already. It is you," he said to the Father,
"who baptized him." Their estimation of that
blessing increased day by day, as they acknowledged
its greatness.

In a word, when they were fully instructed, they
asked for Baptism. Father de Brebeuf tried them ;
they were constant, protesting that they would never
more have anything to do with the superstitious and
evil practices of their country ; that they would have
steadfast courage when they were Christians; and
that they feared no danger. They were solemnly
baptized ; Monsieur de Maison-neufve gave the name
of Paul to him who was called Atondo, and Made-
moiselle Mance r [81] gave the name of Jean Baptiste
to Okhukwandoron. They replied confidently to all
the questions put to them. As soon as they were
cleansed in those Sacred waters, they returned a
thousand thanks to Monsieur the Governor and to the



140 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.22

flgnalee que vous nous ayez pu. faire, dif oient-ils :
c'eft de nous auoir accorde le faindt Baptefme, & de
nous auoir faict porter deux beaux noms que nous
carefferons, & que nous cherirons iufques au tom-
beau, noftre coeur 'ne peut contenir la ioye que nous
reffentons, de nous voir deliurez de l'Enfer: nous ne
voyons plus d'accidens ny de mort qui foit a crain-
dre; nous viuons dans l'efperance de poffeder deli
grands biens apres cette vie. Vous apprendrez
difoient-ils l'an prochain des nouuelles de nos de-
portemens, & vous fcaurez que nous aurons vefcu
conformement a la promeffe que nous en auons
faite en noftre Baptefme.

Ie prie Dieu qu'il beniffe leurs faindtes refolutions,
les bonnes gens, dit le Pere, fe font tres bien
comportez pendant tout [82] l'hyuer, ils n'ont derobe"
perfonne: c'eft vn miracle qu'vn Huron ne foit point
larron, ils fe font volontiers occupez dans quelq;
trauail, ou diuertis par la chaff e, ils fe font montrez
fort recognoiffans du bon accueil qu'on leur a fait.
Ils fe font volontairemet, & fort etroitement abftenus
de viande depuis leur Baptefme, qui fut en Carefme,
iufques a Pafquesf Nonobftant les grandes occa-
fions qu'ils eurent de rompre cette abftinence, ils
ieufnoient les iours qu'on leur permetoit, ils eftoient
fort portez a la priere, & grandement auides des dif-
cours, & des inftrudtions qui touchoient leur falut;
ils fe Confefferet & Communierent a Pafques pour la
premiere f ois : Monfieur le Gouuerneur les fit mettre
a f es coftez a la fainte Table ; pour leur temoigner
l'eftat qu'il faifoit de cette viande adorable, & de ce
Myftere tout plein d' amour.

Voicy les raifons qui ont induit ces deux bons



1642] RELA TION OF 1642 141

French for the favors, the benefits, and the assistance
bestowed on them during the winter. "But," said
they, ' ' the greatest and most signal favor that you
could have conferred on us, is that you have accorded
us holy Baptism and have given us two honorable
names which we will love and cherish even to the
grave. Our hearts cannot contain the joy that we
feel at being delivered from Hell. We no longer see
any accidents or death to be dreaded. We live in
the hope of possessing such great blessings after this
life. Next year," said they, " you will receive in-
formation of our conduct ; and you will know that we
shall have lived according to the promise that we
made at our Baptism."

I pray God to bless these holy resolutions. ' ' These
good people," says the Father, " have behaved very
well throughout [82] the winter. They have not
stolen from any one." It is a miracle that a Huron
should not be a thief. They have cheerfully engaged
in various kinds of work, and have been diverted by
hunting. They have shown themselves very grate-
ful for the kind reception given them. They volun-
tarily and very strictly abstained from meat from the
time of their Baptism, which was in Lent, until Eas-
ter. In spite of the ready opportunities that arose
for breaking this abstinence, they fasted on the days
assigned to them for this purpose. They were great-
ly addicted to prayer, and very eager to listen to
sermons and instructions concerning their salvation.
They Confessed their sins and received Communion
at Easter, for the first time. Monsieur the Governor
had them placed beside him at the holy Table to
show them how highly he esteemed that adorable
food, and that Mystery so replete with love.



142 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 22

Neophytes, a embraffer noftre creance: premiere-
ment les attraits & le bon accueil de Monfieur le
Cheualier de Montmagny, affaifonnes de quelques
prefens faits en bonne faifon, leur gagnoient le coeur,
& leur donnoient de l'eftime, d'vn homme qu'ils
voyoient fort honore' de nos [83] Francois? Confide-
rans d'ailleurs qu'il ne faifoit que des chofes qui re-
gardent l'eternite, & qu'il n'aymoit que ceux qui les
embraflent. Cela leur faifoit croire que la Foy eftoit
quelq; grandeur, puis qu'vn tel Capitaine la refpedtoit
auec tant d'amour, honorant ceux qui la prefchent &
qui la reeoiuent.

Secondement les actions des nouueaux Chreftiens,
de S. Iofeph les rauiffoient, ils contemploiet des
homes de mefme pafte qu'eux, & de mefme eftoc,
fe cotenter d'vne feule feme, fouler aux pieds leurs
ancienes fuperftitions, ne comettre aucun viole viure
come des agneaux, eftre portez a la priere, deuenus
charitables : ils en voyoiet baptif er de teps en temps
auec folenite on faifoit publiquement des mariages
en leur prefence das la Chapelle, tout cela frappat
leurs yeux, touch oit fortement leur cceur.

En troifiefme lieu, la piete de nos Francois, & nom-
mement des meres Vrfulines, & des Hofpitalieres,
qu'il n'euffent iamais pti compredre s'ils ne l'euffet
veue de leurs propres yeux, & reffenty en leurs pro-
pres perfonnes, leur a done - vn grand cocept de noftre
Religio. C'eft en effet vne entreprife, hardie pour
des filles tedres & delicates [84] de brauer les dangers
de l'Occean, pour venir porter la Croix de Iefus-
Chrift, en ce bout du mode, le courage monftre que
le Dieu, pour l'amour duquel on quitte la douceur,
pour viure dans la rigueur, eft vn grand Dieu. Vne



1642] RELA TION OF 1642 143

Behold the reasons which induced these two good
Neophytes to embrace our belief. In the first place,
the attractions and the kind reception of Monsieur
the Chevalier de Montmagny, heightened by some
presents given in good season, won their hearts, and
inspired them with esteem for a man whom they saw
so greatly honored by our [83] French. Moreover,
when they considered that all his acts were performed
with a view to eternity, and that he loved only those
who did the same, this led them to think that Faith
must be something grand, since so great a Captain
respected it with so much love, honoring those who
preach and who receive it.

In the second place, the actions of the new Chris-
tians of St. Joseph delighted them. They contem-
plated men of the same stamp and of the same stock
as themselves, content with one wife only, trampling
on their old superstitions, committing no violence,
living like lambs, addicted to prayer, and become
charitable. They saw some of them baptized, from
time to time, with solemnity; and marriages were
sometimes publicly celebrated in the Chapel, in their
presence. All this struck their eyes and greatly
touched their hearts.

In the third place, the piety of our French, — and
especially that of the Ursuline mothers and of the
Hospital Nuns, which they could never have under-
stood had they not seen it with their own eyes, and
felt its effects in their own persons, — gave them a
high opinion of our Religion. It is, indeed, a ven-
turesome undertaking for tender and delicate women
[84] to brave the dangers of the Ocean in order to
carry the Cross of Jesus Christ to this extremity of the
world. Their courage shows that the God for love



144 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.22

petite fille Huronne qui eftoit au Seminaire des meres
Vrfulines, fort zelee pour le falut de fa nation, les a
fort touchez.

Fay toufiours creu que le zele d'vn Gouuerneur, la
bonte" des Francois, la piete* des nouueaux Chreftiens,
la Charite des Religieufes, deuoient feruir de leuain
pour f aire leuer vne grande maff e : le bruit de ces
nouueautez fe refpand das tous les peuples de ces
contrees, & ces vertus frudtifieront vn iour dans des
lieux bien plus hauts que Kebec. Si nos grands
fleuues eftoiet libres, les nations les plus eloignees
viendroient contepler ces merueilles, & des a prefent
il n'y defcend aucun Sauuage qui ne vueille voir les
filles Vierge[s]. L' explication du comandement de
noftre Seigneur, de s'aymer les vns les autres, quoy
qu'on foit de diuerfes contrees, fit fouuent dire a
nos deux Hurons, 6 que cela eft beau ! que ces veri-
tez font agreables ! ils les admiroient d'autant plus,
que tous ces peuples n'ont quail point d'amour que
pour leur nation, [85] ils fe refpedtent grandement
les vns les autres: mais ils font vn tres grand
mefpris, de tous les etrangers.

Deux veritez principalement toucherent viuement
ces deux nouueaux Chreftiens; lors qu'ils n'eftoiet
encor que Catechum6nes, l'vne eftoit [que] sas la
Foy, & fans l'obferuatio des comandemes de Dieu ; ils
fe deuoiet refoudre a brufler eternellement dans les
brafier[s] d'vn feu veritable ; Celuy que nous voyos de
nos yeux, n'en eftant que la peinture. A iamais
difoiet-ils! brufler a iamais! Si nous ne pouuons
tenir le bout du doigt das vn petit feu qui n'eft que
peinture, qui n'a ny force, ny vigueur, ny duree, a
coparaif on de ces flames deuorantes & eternelles ; que



1642] RELA TION OF 1642 145

of whom a life of ease is abandoned for one of hard-
ships, is a great God. A little Huron girl who was
at the Seminary of the Ursuline mothers, and was
very zealous for the salvation of her nation, produced
a great impression on them.

I have always believed that the zeal of a Governor,
the kindness of the French, the piety of the new
Christians, and the Charity of the Nuns, would serve
as a leaven to cause the rising of a great mass. The
fame of these novel traits is spreading throughout all
the nations of these countries, and these virtues will
bear fruit some day in places far beyond Kebec. If
our great rivers were free, the most distant tribes
would come here to contemplate these marvels ; and,
as it is, not a Savage arrives here who is not anxious
to see the Virgin sisters. The explanation of our
Lord's command to love one another, even when
belonging to different countries, often caused our two
Hurons to exclaim: "Oh, how beautiful that is!
How pleasant are such truths ! ' ' They admired them
all the more that all these peoples have scarcely
any love for any nation but their own. [85] They
highly respect one another but have a very great
contempt for all strangers.

Two truths, in particular, greatly impressed these
two new Christians when they were still but Cate-
chumens. One was that without Faith and obedi-
ence to God's commandments, they must make up
their minds to burn eternally in a furnace of real
fire, — that which we see with our eyes being only
the image thereof. " Forever," they would say,
' ' to burn forever ! If we cannot hold the tip of the
finger in a little fire, — that is but an imitation, with-
out strength, vigor, or duration, in comparison with



146 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.22

f eros nous fi nos crimes nous y iettent ? L'vn d'iceux
eftant a, Kebec, le veille du grand S. Iofeph patron
de la nouuelle France : comme on f aif oit des f eux de
reiouyflance en fon honeur, il fut fi epouuate, voyat
que le feu s'eparoit en vn inftant d'vne machine arti-
ficielle, qu'il s'enfuit foudain cherchat vn abry contre
ces flammes : cette vaine crainte apprefta a rire a toute
la copagnie, ce bon home voyat voltiger ces feux, ne
fgauoit ou fe mettre : l'affurace des Francois l'eton-
noit autat que la [86] viuacite des flammes, que le
tonnere des canons, & que la viteffe des fufees. Cette
peur luy fift du bien, & luy en fait encor, quand il y
penfe : fi vn petit feu-folet qui difparoit en vn inftant,
m'a tant efpouuante, quelle fera l'horreur de ces
brafiers de l'Enfer, qui ne s'efteindront iamais/
brufler eternellement : c'eft difoit-il, vn long terme,
c'eft ce qui m'eftonne.

L'autre verite qui les a portez a Dieu, c'eft le peu
de duree de cette vie, & la baff eff e des creatures :
nous ne somes icy que comme dans vne Cabane de
paffage, nous courons a la mort, nous n'emporterons
rien auec nous : ces biens pour lef quels nous trauail-
lons tant, s'echappent de nos mains, & on nous en
promet d'eternels nous ferios de grands fous de
les meprifer. Les viures que vous nous donnez,
faifoient-ils, fe confument, nos robes s'vfent, nos
bonnets fe deteignent, & perdent leur luftre, & leur
beaut6; tout fe paffe, tout s'altere, le bon heur du
Ciel ne fe chagera iamais, a ce que vous dites, il fau-
droit n'auoir point d'efprit pour ne pas afpirer a ces
grands biens. Vne fi riche nouuelle, & vne fi grande
verity, touche bien vn cceur nouuellement eclaire"
de la Foy. Le 6. de May: ces [87] deux nouueaux



1642] RELA TION OF 1642 147

those devouring and everlasting flames, — what shall
we do when our sins cast us into those ? ' ' One of
them was in Kebec on the eve of the feast of the
great St. Joseph, the patron of new France. There
were fireworks in honor of the occasion; and he
was so terrified when he saw the fire take posses-
sion, in an instant, of an artificial contrivance, that
he suddenly ran away, seeking a refuge against the
flames. Such needless fear made all present laugh.
When the good man saw the fire leap high, he did
not know where to put himself. The self-possession
of the French astonished him as much as the [86]
vivacity of the flames, the thunder of the cannon,