Page:American Historical Review vol. 6.djvu/686

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676 H. p. Biggar pointed him Chevalier of the King's order and niaitrc dc camp of an infantry regiment.' In the year 1604 he set sail with de Monts in the hope of finding in New France a suitable spot to which he might retire with his family. His choice fell upon Port Royal in Acadia and this de Monts at once made over to him.^ During de Poutrincourt's absence Lescarbot was given charge of his affairs. These seem to have kept him busy until de Poutrin- court's return in the autumn of 1604 when " those," he says, "who had attacked him savagely during his absence at once became silent and gracious."^ During the year 1605 Lescarbot doubtless con- tinued his practice at Paris, for it was from there that he set forth with de Poutrincourt in the spring of 1606 to embark at La Rochelle for New France. De Poutrincourt was going out, at some sacrifice to himself, to take charge of the colony in the absence of de Monts, while Lescarbot's excuse was his desire " to examine the land with his own eye and to flee a corrupt world." It appears that some disfavors received in coui't had given his mind for the moment a pessimistic turn.' Embarking on the Jonas at La Rochelle in May they did not reach Port Royal till the end of July. On July 30, 1607, Lescar- bot left Port Royal on his return to France so that he passed just twelve months in the country. He saw however very little of it except the region about Port Royal and the coast from there to Canso. The only other points visited were the river St. John and the island of Ste. Croix in the Bay of Fundy.' Although he left ' De la Chennye-Desbois et Biidier, p. 203.

  • Lescarbot, Histoire de la Nouvelle France, Paris, 1609, p. 473. " Le sieur de

Poutrincourt estoit desireux des y avoit long temps de voir ces lerres de la Nouvelle France et y choisir quelque lieu propre pour s'y retirer avec sa famille ;" also p. 481, " l,e sieur de Poutrincourt ayant trouve ce lieu (Port Royal) a son gre, il le demanda avec les terres et continentes au sieur de Monts . . . ce qui luy fut octroye." For proof of his name, cf. p. 572 : " Tant a cause de la fete sainct Jean, que pour I'amour du Sieur de Poutrincourt, qui porte le nom de ce Sainct ;" and the signature on p. 659. 3 Ibid., p. 542. " Quoi qu'a son premier voyage il east eprouve la malice de certains qui le poursuivoient rigoureusement absent et devindrent soupples et muets a son retoiu-." ^ Ibid., 542-543. " Et ayant eu I'honneur de le [Poutrincourt] conoitre quelques annees auparavant, il me demanda si ie voulais estre de la partie. A quoy ie demanday un jour de terme pour luy repondre. Apres avoir bien consulte en moy-meme, desireux non tant de voir le pais . . . que de reconoitre la terre oculairement, a laquelle j'avoy ma volonte portee, et fuir un monde corrompu, je luy donnay parole ; estant meme induit par I'injustice que m'avoient peu auparavant fait certains Juges Presidiaux," etc. 5 Ibid., p. 55^* " Le Samedi . . . trezieme de May, nous levames les ancres et fimes voiles," etc. ; p. 581, " Le Jeudi vingt-septieme de Juillet nous entrames dedans [Port Royal] avec le flot," etc. ^ Ibid., p. 643. " Et le 30 de Juillet partirent les deux autres. J'estois dans la grande," etc. Ibid., p. 637. " Et pource que Chevalier desiroit amasser quelques Castores; il I'envoya dans une petite barque a la riviere Sainct-Jean . . . et Tile Saincte-Croix