ABSTRACT
About the time of the before-mentioned shipwreck, Monsieur de Monts being in France, did think carefully upon the means how to prepare a new supply for New France. Which seemed hard and difficult to him, as well for the great charges that that action required as because that province had been so discredited at his return that the continuing of these voyages any longer did seem vain and unfruitful. Besides, there was some reason to believe that nobody would adventure himself thither. Notwithstanding, knowing Monsieur de Poutrincourt his desire (to whom before he had given part of the land, according to the power which the King had given him), which was to inhabit in those parts, and there to settle his family and his fortune, together with the name of God, he wrote unto him, and sent a man of purpose to give him notice of the voyage that was in hand: which the said Monsieur de Poutrincourt accepted of, leaving all other affairs to attend on this action, though he had suits in law of great weight, to the prosecuting and defence whereof his presence was very requisite: and that at his first voyage he had tried the malice of some, which during his absence prosecuted against him with rigour, and at his return gave over and became dumb. He was no sooner come to Paris but that he was forced to depart, not having scarce time to provide for things necessary. And I having had that good hap to be acquainted with him some years before, asked me if I would take part in that business, whereunto I demanded a day's respite to answer him. Having well consulted withm yself, not so much desirous to see the country (for I knew well that there was woods, lakes, and rivers, and that one must go over seas, which I had before done in the Straits 52 ) as to be able to give an eye judgment of the land, whereto my mind was before inclined; and to avoid a corrupted world I engaged my word unto him, being induced thereto specially for the injustice done to me a little before by some presidial judges, 53 in favour of a personage of eminent quality, whom I have always honoured and reverenced: which sentence at my return hath been recalled, by order and sentence of the Court of Parliament, for which I am particularly obliged to Monsieur Servin, 54 the King his Advocate General, to whom doth belong properly this éloge, attributed according to the letter, to the most wise and most magnificent of all Kings, “Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity” [Psalms v. 4].
