Champlain by Mary Beacock Fryer

Author:Mary Beacock Fryer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dundurn
Published: 2011-07-15T04:00:00+00:00

Somewhere in the Ottawa Valley, he lost his astrolabe. (It was found by a farm boy in 1867 and saved.)[6] Rather than proceed against rapids, he retraced his way and left Tadoussac on August 8 in order to check on any mischievous goings-on at home. He reached St. Malo on September 26, where he planned another trading company of merchants from there, and from Rouen. The result on November 15, was the new company of Rouen merchants, which he called the Compagnie de Condé.[7] Meanwhile, on or about August 13, his wife’s parents, the Boullés, had ordered their daughter, Hélène, to take up residence with her husband, now that she was nearly 14. He was expected home within the next few months, and it was high time for her to be a dutiful wife. She was not happy to obey and move in with a stranger she hardly knew — an aging one at that.[8]

On January 4, 1614, Madame Hélène Champlain ran away from her husband’s house. No one knew where she had gone, at least no one recorded where. When she was found, her embarrassed parents went to a notary to disinherit her, but a reconciliation of sorts prevented that drastic move.[9] Champlain apparently forgave her and, in keeping with the gentle side of his nature, he tried to be kind. Before he died, Champlain was to admit that Hélène was the only woman he had ever loved.[10]

From January to September 1614, his main preoccupation was securing the commitment of the Récollet order for service among the Native nations of New France. He felt comfortable with the men of this order, which was partly based in Saintonge. The brown-robed Récollets were not a wealthy order like the Jesuits. Less accustomed to luxuries, they would probably be more tolerant of the rough accommodation at Quebec or near the Natives’ camps and villages. In Paris, on October 27, Champlain met with bishops and cardinals who were attending the Estates General. They agreed to give him support, and donated 1,500 livres of their own funds, about equal to that number of English pounds, a generous sum of money.[11]

As usual, before returning to Quebec, he met with investors in Rouen and found the ships and supplies. He enjoyed the good relations with the prince of Condé, who helped him persuade four Récollets to sail with him. Now the men were looking forward to meeting their future pupils. In November he made a promotional presentation to the court at Fontainebleau, and met the young king for the first time. He found the boy easy to talk to, and was able to delight him with small gifts from Quebec.[12]

On April 24, Champlain and the brown-robes left Honfleur on the Saint-Étienne, a large navire of 350 tons, with the still-sturdy Pont-Gravé at the helm, and the blessing of the Récollets. They were three friars, Denis Jamay, Jean d’Olbeau, and Joseph Le Caron, and one lay brother, Pacificus du Plessis.[13]

They reached Tadoussac in a fast 31 days.

Notes

1. Biggar, CWB, Vol.

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