We made us some Cloaths, whereof we stood in Need. The Sieur _Teissier_, who came along with us, and was of the Reform’d Religion, knowing the Exercise of it was forbid in _France_, abjur’d it in the great Church of _Montreal_.
The 27th, we went aboard a Bark to go down the River to _Quebec_, where we arriv’d the 29th, Father _Anastasius_ carry’d us to the Monastery of the Fathers of his Order, seated half a League from the Town, on a little River, where we were most kindly receiv’d by the Father Guardian and the other Religious Men, who express’d much Joy to see us, and we still more for being in a Place of Safety, after so many Perils and Toils, for which we return’d our humble Thanks to Almighty God, our Protector.
We chose rather to take up our Lodging there than in the Town, to avoid the Visits and troublesome Questions every one would be putting to us with much Importunity, which we must have been oblig’d to bear patiently. Monsieur _Cavelier_ and his Nephew, whom we had left at _Montreal_, arriv’d some Days after us, and were lodg’d in the Seminary.
We stay’d in that Monastery till the 21st of _August_, when we imbark’d on a large Boat, eighteen Persons of us, to go down the River of St. _Lawrence_, a Board a Ship, that was taking in and fishing of Cod, in order to reach _France_. We went a Board it the 30th of the same Month, and after hearing Mass, made ready and sail’d for our dear Country, arriv’d safe at _Rochelle_ on _Saturday_ the 9th of _October_ 1688, whence, setting out by Land, _Friday_ the 15th, the same Providence, which had protected and conducted us, brought us without any Misfortune to _Roan_, the 17th of _October_, the same Year.
_The Remainder of the_ LETTER, _written by him who revis’d this_ JOURNAL, _the other Part whereof is at the Beginning of it, this being the_ Sequel _to the said_ JOURNAL.
[Sidenote: Note, _That these have writ of those Parts, but none of this particular Voyage_.]
Three several Authors have given an Account of this Voyage; _First_, Father _le Clerk_, upon the Relations he had from the Fathers _Zenobius_ and _Anastasius_, Recolets, as he was himself and both of them Eye-Witnesses: _Secondly_, The Chevalier _Tonty_, who was also a Witness to a considerable Part of those Adventures: And, _Lastly_, Father _Hennepin_, a _Flemming_, of the same Order of the Recolets, has done it more largely; he seems to be well acquainted with the Country, and had a Share in great Discoveries; but the Truth of his Relations is much controverted. It was he who went to the Northward, and towards the Source of the _Missisipi_, which he calls _Mechasipi_, and who printed, at _Paris_, an Account of the Country about the River, giving it the Name of _Louisiana_. He ought to have stopp’d there, and not to have gone, as he did, into _Holland_, to set forth another Edition, very much enlarg’d, and perhaps not so true, which he dedicated to _William_ the Third, Prince of _Orange_, and afterwards King of _Great Britain_. An Action for a Religious Man no less ridiculous than extravagant, not to give it a worse Name; for after many great and tedious Encomiums given that Protestant Prince, he exhorts and conjures him to turn his Thoughts towards those vast Countries, as yet unknown, to conquer them and send Colonies thither, to make known to those Savage Nations the true God and his Worship, and to preach the Gospel. That good Religious Man, whom many have falsly thought, on Account of that Extravagancy, to have renounc’d his Religion, did not consider what he said, and consequently has scandaliz’d the Catholicks, and furnish’d the _Hugonots_ with Matter of Laughter; for it is likely, that they being Enemies to the _Roman_ Church, would employ Recolets to go preach up _Popery_, as they call it in _Canada_? Or would they introduce any other Religion than their own? Can Father _Hennepin_ be excuseable in this Point?