FRANCIS PARKMAN THE JESUITS IN NORTH AMERICA IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 2008 – All rights reserved Non commercial use permitted THE JESUITS IN NORTH AMERICA IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. BY FRANCIS PARKMAN PREFACE. Few passages of history are more striking than those which record the efforts of the earlier French Jesuits to convert the Indians. Full as they are of dramatic and philosophic interest, bearing strongly on the political destinies of America, and closely involved with the history of its native population, it is wonderful that they have been left so long in obscurity. While the infant colonies of England still clung feebly to the shores of the Atlantic, events deeply ominous to their future were in progress, unknown to them, in the very heart of the continent. It will be seen, in the sequel of this volume, that civil and religious liberty found strange allies in this Western World. The sources of information concerning the early Jesuits of New France are very copious. During a period of forty years, the Superior of the Mission sent, every summer, long and detailed reports, embodying or accompanied by the reports of his subordinates, to the Provincial of the Order at Paris, where they were annually published, in duodecimo volumes, forming the remarkable series known as the Jesuit Relations. Though the productions of men of scholastic training, they are simple and often crude in style, as might be expected of narratives hastily written in Indian lodges or rude mission-houses in the forest, amid annoyances and interruptions of all kinds. In respect to the value of their contents, they are exceedingly unequal. Modest records of marvellous adventures and sacrifices, and vivid pictures of forest-life, alternate with prolix and monotonous details of the conversion of individual savages, and the praiseworthy deportment of some exemplary neophyte. With regard to the condition and character of the primitive inhabitants of North America, it is impossible to exaggerate their value as an authority. I should add, that the closest examination has left me no doubt that these missionaries wrote in perfect good faith, and that the Relations hold a high place as authentic and trustworthy historical documents. They are very scarce, and no complete collection of them exists in America. The entire series was, however, republished, in 1858, by the Canadian government, in three large octavo volumes. [ Both editions--the old and the new--are cited in the following pages. Where the reference is to the old edition, it is indicated by the name of the publisher (Cramoisy), appended to the citation, in brackets. In extracts given in the notes, the antiquated orthography and accentuation are preserved. ] These form but a part of the surviving writings of the French-American Jesuits. Many additional reports, memoirs, journals, and letters, official and private, have come down to us; some of which have recently been printed, while others remain in manuscript. Nearly every prominent actor in the scenes to be described has left his own record of events in which he bore part, in the shape of reports to his Superiors or letters to his friends. I have studied and compared these authorities, as well as a great mass of collateral evidence, with more than usual care, striving to secure the greatest possible accuracy of statement, and to reproduce an image of the past with photographic clearness and truth. The introductory chapter of the volume is independent of the rest; but a knowledge of the facts set forth in it is essential to the full understanding of the narrative which follows. In the collection of material, I have received valuable aid from Mr. J. G. Shea, Rev. Felix Martin, S.J., the Abbés Laverdière and H. R. Casgrain, Dr. J. C. Taché, and the late Jacques Viger, Esq. I propose to devote the next volume of this series to the discovery and occupation by the French of the Valley of the Mississippi. BOSTON, 1st May, 1867. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. NATIVE TRIBES. Divisions.--The Algonquins.--The Hurons.--Their Houses.-- Fortifications.--Habits.--Arts.--Women.--Trade.--Festivities.-- Medicine.--The Tobacco Nation.--The Neutrals.--The Eries.-- The Andastes.--The Iroquois.--Social and Political Organization.-- Iroquois Institutions, Customs, and Character.-- Indian Religion and Superstitions.--The Indian Mind. CHAPTER I. 1634. NOTRE-DAME DES ANGES. Quebec In 1634.--Father Le Jeune.--The Mission-House.-- Its Domestic Economy.--The Jesuits and their Designs. CHAPTER II. LOYOLA AND THE JESUITS. Conversion of Loyola.--Foundation of the Society of Jesus.-- Preparation of the Novice.--Characteristics of the Order.-- The Canadian Jesuits. CHAPTER III. 1632, 1633. PAUL LE JEUNE. Le Jeune's Voyage.--His First Pupils.--His Studies.-- His Indian Teacher.--Winter at the Mission-house.-- Le Jeune's School.--Reinforcements. CHAPTER IV. 1633, 1634. LE JEUNE AND THE HUNTERS. Le Jeune joins the Indians.--The First Encampment.--The Apostate.-- Forest Life in Winter.--The Indian Hut.--The Sorcerer.-- His Persecution of the Priest.--Evil Company.--Magic.-- Incantations.--Christmas.--Starvation.--Hopes of Conversion.-- Backsliding.--Peril and Escape of Le Jeune.--His Return. CHAPTER V. 1633, 1634. THE HURON MISSION. Plans of Conversion.--Aims and Motives.--Indian Diplomacy.-- Hurons at Quebec.--Councils.--The Jesuit Chapel.--Le Borgne.-- The Jesuits thwarted.--Their Perseverance.--The Journey to the Hurons.-- Jean de Brébeuf.--The Mission begun. CHAPTER VI. 1634, 1635. BRÉBEUF AND HIS ASSOCIATES. The Huron Mission-house.--Its Inmates.--Its Furniture.--Its Guests.-- The Jesuit as a Teacher.--As an Engineer.--Baptisms.-- Huron Village Life.--Festivities and Sorceries.--The Dream Feast.-- The Priests accused of Magic.--The Drought and the Red Cross. CHAPTER VII. 1636, 1637. THE FEAST OF THE DEAD. Huron Graves.--Preparation for the Ceremony.--Disinterment.-- The Mourning.--The Funeral March.--The Great Sepulchre.-- Funeral Games.--Encampment of the Mourners.--Gifts.--Harangues.-- Frenzy of the Crowd.--The Closing Scene.--Another Rite.-- The Captive Iroquois.--The Sacrifice. CHAPTER VIII. 1636, 1637. THE HURON AND THE JESUIT. Enthusiasm for the Mission.--Sickness of the Priests.-- The Pest among the Hurons.--The Jesuit on his Rounds.-- Efforts at Conversion.--Priests and Sorcerers.--The Man-Devil.-- The Magician's Prescription.--Indian Doctors and Patients.-- Covert Baptisms.--Self-Devotion of the Jesuits. CHAPTER IX. 1637. CHARACTER OF THE CANADIAN JESUITS. Jean de Brébeuf.--Charles Garnier.--Joseph Marie Chaumonot.-- Noël Chabanel.--Isaac Jogues.--Other Jesuits.--Nature of their Faith.-- Supernaturalism.--Visions.--Miracles. CHAPTER X. 1637-1640. PERSECUTION. Ossossané.--The New Chapel.--A Triumph of the Faith.-- The Nether Powers.--Signs of a Tempest.--Slanders.-- Rage Against the Jesuits.--Their Boldness and Persistency.-- Nocturnal Council.--Danger of the Priests.--Brébeuf's Letter.-- Narrow Escapes.--Woes and Consolations. CHAPTER XI 1638-1640. PRIEST AND PAGAN. Du Peron's Journey.--Daily Life of the Jesuits.-- Their Missionary Excursions.--Converts at Ossossané.-- Machinery of Conversion.--Conditions of Baptism.--Backsliders.-- The Converts and their Countrymen.--The Cannibals at St. Joseph. CHAPTER XII. 1639, 1640. THE TOBACCO NATION.--THE NEUTRALS. A Change of Plan.--Sainte Marie.--Mission of the Tobacco Nation.-- Winter Journeying.--Reception of the Missionaries.-- Superstitious Terrors.--Peril of Garnier and Jogues.-- Mission of the Neutrals.--Huron Intrigues.--Miracles.-- Fury of the Indians.--Intervention of Saint Michael.-- Return to Sainte Marie.--Intrepidity of the Priests.-- Their Mental Exaltation. CHAPTER XIII. 1636-1646. QUEBEC AND ITS TENANTS. The New Governor.--Edifying Examples.--Le Jeune's Correspondents.-- Rank and Devotion.--Nuns.--Priestly Authority.--Condition of Quebec.-- The Hundred Associates.--Church Discipline.--Plays.--Fireworks.-- Processions.--Catechizing.--Terrorism.--Pictures.--The Converts.-- The Society of Jesus.--The Foresters. CHAPTER XIV. 1636-1652. DEVOTEES AND NUNS. The Huron Seminary.--Madame de la Peltrie.--Her Pious Schemes.-- Her Sham Marriage.--She visits the Ursulines of Tours.-- Marie de Saint Bernard.--Marie de l'Incarnation.--Her Enthusiasm.-- Her Mystical Marriage.--Her Dejection.--Her Mental Conflicts.-- Her Vision.--Made Superior of the Ursulines.--The Hôtel-Dieu.-- The Voyage to Canada.--Sillery.--Labors and Sufferings of the Nuns.-- Character of Marie de l'Incarnation.--Of Madame de la Peltrie. CHAPTER XV. 1636-1642. VILLEMARIE DE MONTREAL. Dauversiére and the Voice from Heaven.--Abbé Olier.--Their Schemes.-- The Society of Notre-Dame de Montreal.--Maisonneuve.--Devout Ladies.-- Mademoiselle Mance.--Marguerite Bourgeois.--The Montrealists at Quebec.-- Jealousy.--Quarrels.--Romance and Devotion.--Embarkation.-- Foundation of Montreal. CHAPTER XVI. 1641-1644. ISAAC JOGUES. The Iroquois War.--Jogues.--His Capture.--His Journey to the Mohawks.-- Lake George.--The Mohawk Towns.--The Missionary tortured.-- Death of Goupil.--Misery of Jogues.--The Mohawk "Babylon."-- Fort Orange.--Escape of Jogues.--Manhattan.--The Voyage to France.-- Jogues among his Brethren.--He returns to Canada. CHAPTER XVII. 1641-1646. THE IROQUOIS.--BRESSANI.--DE NOUË. War.--Distress and Terror.--Richelieu.--Battle.--Ruin of Indian Tribes.-- Mutual Destruction.--Iroquois and Algonquin.--Atrocities.-- Frightful Position of the French.--Joseph Bressani.--His Capture.-- His Treatment.--His Escape.--Anne de Nouë.--His Nocturnal Journey.-- His Death. CHAPTER