the hands of those wretches. But God guided all the Father's steps in the heart of the Iroquois Nations. He found there a captive Church, composed of our old-time Hurons; and he was received as an Angel from heaven by those good Christians. He baptized thirty little Iroquois children, who were sick and in danger of dying; and, among the adults, a young Iroquois woman was the first to receive Holy Baptism. Even before the Father's coming this woman was living like a Christian, not yet being one, - although she was a believer in our doctrines, having been instructed therein by a Captive Huron woman. [4] He converted a great Iroquois Captain, the Chief of eighteen hundred men, whom he was leading to a new war, to which God undoubtedly aroused them in order to give us Peace. This Captain, with holy zeal, urged for his baptism before going into danger. Finally, the Father received presents from the most important nation; it is centrally situated among the other Iroquois nations, who are inviting us to go and instruct them, in order that they may become Christians.

We gave them our word that next Spring we would go and dwell there, building a house like the one we used to have among the Hurons before the war had driven us thence. All these things Your Reverence will see in their order in the Relation, which I intend to write in the form of a Journal, to the end that the distinction of dates may prevent confusion in the narration of events [5] which are otherwise somewhat confused.

The enterprise of establishing a Mission next Spring in the heart of the Iroquois Nations obliges us to ask Your Reverence for the aid of six of our Fathers; for we are too few. Monsieur de Lauson, our Governor, intends to send thither a number of picked Frenchmen for starting a new settlement; while we shall send some of our Fathers. de trauail pour y bastir vne premiere Eglise, en l'honneur de la tres-Saincte Vierge. Les despenses seront excepues; mais estant les affaires de Dieu plus que les nostres, sa Prouidence y pouruoira: il y a dans la France des perJonnes de Charité, zelées pour la Conuer fon des Sauuages, & qui font l'office de l'Apoftres dans les païs Barbares, quoy qu'ils ne quittent pas leur Patrie, leurs enfans ny [6] leurs femmes. Il y a mesme des sainctes Vefues, de chastes Vierges, & quantité de Femmes mariées, qui prennent part à cette gloire, de prefcher l'Euangile d'un bout du monde à l'autre, y faisant passer leurs aumosnes, pour cooperer au salut des ames racheptées du Sang de IESVSCHRIST. Ce n'est pas ce secours qui nous manquera; & deussions-nous partir, comme fouuent nous auons fait dans nos Misions Hurones, le seul baston en main & la seule confiance en Dieu, pour toutes prouifions; Nos Peres y sont tous resolus. Ceux qui viendront à leur secours, Sçachent pour se consoler, qu'il y aura beaucoup à faire & bien plus à souffrir, & tout à craindre, ayant affaire à des Nations Barbares, qui ne respirent que le sang, & qui ont beu celuy des Martyrs. Peut-estre que dés l'abord on fera rencontre. Quoy qu'il en soit, nos vies [7] ne peuuent estre mieux consommées qu'en procurant la gloire d'vn Dieu, qui le premier a consommé sa vie pour nous. V. R. nous obtiendra pour cet effet, les prieres de tous nos Peres & Freres de la Prouince, & nous donnera, s'il luy plaist sa saincte Benediction.

Mon Reuerend Pere,
A Quebec ce 21. Vostre tres-bumble & tres-obeïf-
Septembre 1654.

sant feruiteur en Nostre
Seigneur,

FRANÇOIS LE MERCIER.

and some workmen to build the first Church there in honor of the most Blessed Virgin. The expense will be excessive; but as it is an affair of God more than ours, his Providence will provide for it.

There are in France Charitable persons who are zealous for the Conversion of the Savages, and who fill the office of Apostles in Barbarous countries, although they do not leave their Native land, their children, or [6] their wives. There are even holy Widows, chaste Virgins, and many married Women, who, by sending their alms to coöperate in the salvation of souls ransomed by the Blood of JESUS CHRIST, share in this glory of preaching the Gospel from one end of the world to the other. Such assistance as theirs will not fail us; and, even if we should be obliged to set out, as we often did in our Huron Missions, with only a staff in hand, and only our trust in God for maintenance, Our Fathers are all resolved to make the attempt.

Let those who shall come to their aid know, for their own encouragement, that there will be a great deal to do, and much more to suffer, and everything to fear; for we have to deal with Barbarous Nations, who breathe only blood and have drunk that of the Martyrs. Perhaps we shall meet with disaster at the very outset.

However that may be, our lives [7] cannot be spent in a better cause than in procuring the glory of a God who first spent his life for us. Το this end Your Reverence will procure for us the prayers of all our Fathers and Brethren of the Province, and will give us, if it please Your Reverence , your holy Benediction.

My Reverend Father, Quebec, this 21st Your very humble and very of September, 1654. obedient servant in Our

Lord,
FRANÇOIS LE MERCIER.

[8] CHAPITRE I.

DESSEIN DES IROQUOIS ANNIEHRONNONS, DANS LE TRAITÉ DE PAIX QU'ILS AUOIENT COMMENCÉ

AUEC NOUS AU MOIS DE NOUEMBRE 1653.

A

PRES l'heureuse deliurance du P. Poncet retour

né de sa captiuité, & fauué quasi par miracle,

de la mort & des flammes, où son compagnon de fortune auoit esté bruslé cruellement. Les Iroquois Anniehronnons, nous ayans faits de grands presens, pour tesmoignage de la fincerité de leur ceur: & en ayans receu de reciproques: furent pressez de leur retour, voyans que l'hyuer s'approchoit.

En mesme temps vn nauire [9] qui restoit encore à Quebec, fit voile pour retourner en France, & pour y porter les nouuelles de cette Paix tant desirée, & de la ioye qui s'estoit desja respanduë sur le visage & dans les cours de tous les peuples nos alliez, Algonquins, Montagnetz, & Hurons.

Les plus beaux iours ont souuent leurs nuages, & Dieu ne veut pas en ce monde que nos ioyes y soient toutes pures.

Le nauire qui retournoit en France richement chargé des despoüilles des Castors du païs, fut despoüillé luy-mesme, estant tombé entre les mains des Anglois, qui l'attendoient dans la Manche.

Icy, en mesme temps, trois ieunes hommes Hurons, ayans fait rencontre dans les bois, de [10] deux Sauuages de la Nation des Loups, Alliez des Iroquois [8] CHAPTER I.

DESIGN OF THE ANNIEHRONNON IROQUOIS IN THE TREATY OF PEACE WHICH THEY HAD BEGUN WITH

US IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, 1653.

A

FTER the happy deliverance and return from

captivity of Father Poncet,— who was saved

almost by a miracle from death, and from the flames in which the companion of his fortunes had been cruelly burnt,—the Anniehronnon Iroquois, having given us some considerable presents in testimony of the sincerity of their hearts, and having received some in return, were in haste to start home. ward again, seeing that winter was approaching.

At the same time a vessel [9] which was still lingering at Quebec, set sail to return to France, and bear thither the news of that Peace which had been so ardently longed for, and of the joy that had already spread over the countenances and in the hearts of all the peoples allied to us,— Algonquins, Montagnais, and Hurons.

The pleasantest days often have their clouds, and it is not God's will that our joys in this world should be quite free from shadows. The vessel that was returning to France, richly laden with the spoils of the Beavers of this country, was itself despoiled, falling into the hands of the English who were waiting for it in the Channel.

Here, at the same time, three young Hurons, having met by chance in the woods [10] two Savages of