Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
PRE- AND EARLY COLONIAL LITERATURE
commendable, besides being in conformity to the commandment of God, which
says, That the conversion of an indel is of more value than the conquest of a
kingdom. And if all this cannot move us to seek after heavenly blessings at least
as passionately as after those of the earth, it is because men’s covetousness for
this world’s blessings is so great that most of them do not care for the conversion
of indels so long as their fortune corresponds to their desires, and everything
conforms to their wishes. Moreover, it is this covetousness that has ruined and is
wholly ruining the progress and advancement of this enterprise, which is not yet
well under way, and is in danger of collapsing, unless His Majesty establishes there
conditions as righteous, charitable and just as he is himself; and unless he himself
takes pleasure in learning what can be done to increase the glory of God and to
benet his state, repelling the envy of those who should support this enterprise,
but who seek its ruin rather than its success.
It is nothing new for the French to make sea voyages for conquest. We know
very well that the discovery of new countries and noble enterprises on the sea were
begun by our forefathers.
It was the Bretons and Normans who, in the year 1504, were the rst Christians
to discover the grand bank of the Codsh and the islands of the New World, as is
noted in the histories of Niet and of Antoine Maginus. It is also very certain that
in the time of King Francis I, in the year 1523, he sent Verazzano, a Florentine, to
discover the lands, coasts and harbors of Florida, as the accounts of his voyages
bear testimony; where, after having explored the coast from latitude 33 to latitude
47, just as he was thinking of making a home there, death put an end to his life and
his plans. After that, the same King Francis, persuaded by Messire Philip Chabot,
Admiral of France, sent Jacques Cartier to discover new lands, and for this purpose
he made two voyages in the years 1534 and 1535. In the rst he discovered the
Island of Newfoundland and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, with several other islands
in this gulf, and he would have gone farther had not the severe season hastened
his return. This Jacques Cartier was from the city of St. Malo. He was thoroughly
versed and experienced in seamanship; the equal of any one of his times. And St.
Malo is under obligation to preserve his memory, for it was his greatest desire to
discover new lands. At the request of Charles de Mouy, Sieur de la Mailleres, at that
time Vice-Admiral, he undertook the same voyage for the second time; and in order
to compass his purpose and to have His Majesty lay the foundation of a colony to
increase the honor of God and his royal authority, he gave his commissions with
that of the aforesaid Sieur Admiral, who had the direction of this embarkation
and contributed all he could to it. When the commissions had been prepared, His
Majesty put this same Cartier in charge, and he set sail with two vessels on May 16,
1535. His voyage was so successful that he arrived at the Gulf of Saint Lawrence,
entered the river with his ships of 800 tons burden, and even got as far as an island
a hundred and twenty leagues up the river, which he called the Isle of Orleans.
From there he went some ten leagues farther up the same stream to winter on a
small river which is almost dry at low tide. This he named St. Croix, because he
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