Noua Francia: or The description of that part of Nevv France, which is one continent with Virginia Described in the three late voyages and plantation made by Monsieur de Monts, Monsieur du Pont-Graué, and Monsieur de Poutrincourt, into the countries called by the Frenchmen La Cadie, lying to the southwest of Cape Breton. Together with an excellent seuerall treatie of all the commodities of the said countries, and maners of the naturall inhabitants of the same. Translated out of French into English by P.E.

The second Booke of the History of Noua Francia, containing the fashions and maners of life of the people there, and the fertility of the Lands and Seas mentioned in the former Booke.

THE PREFACE.

ALmighty God, in the creation of this world, hath so much deligh∣ted himselfe in diuersity, that, whether it be in Heauen, or in the Earth, either vnder the same or in the profound depth of wa∣ters, the effects of his might and glory doe shine in euery place. But the wonder that far exceedeth all others, is, that in one and the selfe same kind of Creature, I meane in Man, are found more va∣riety than in other things created. For if one enters in∣to the consideration of his face, two shall not be found who in euery respect doe resemble one another: If he bee considered in the voice, the same variety shall be found: If in the speech, all Nations haue their proper and peculiar language, whereby one is distinguished from the other. But in maners and fashion of life, there is a maruellous difference, which (without troubling

our selues in crossing the Seas to haue the experience thereof) we see visibly in our very neighborhood. Now forasmuch as it is a small matter to know, that people differ from vs in customes and maners, vnles we know the particularities thereof; a small thing is it likewise to know, but that, which is neere to vs: but the faire Science is to know the maner of life of all Na∣tions of the World, for which reason Vlysses hath beene esteemed, because he had seene much and knowen much. It hath seemed necessary vnto me to exercise my selfe in this second booke vpon this subiect, in that which toucheth the Nations spoken of by vs, seeing that I haue tied my selfe vnto it, and that it is one of the best parts of an History, which without it would be defectiue, hauing but slightly and casually handled here aboue those things that I haue reserued to speake of heere. Which also I doe, to the end, if it please God to take pitie of those poore people, and to worke by his holy spirit, that they be brought into his fold, their children may know heereafter what their Fathers were, and blesse them that haue employed themselues in their conuersi∣on, and reformation of their vnciuility. Let vs therefore begin with man from his birth, and hauing in grosse marked out what the course of his life is, we will conduct him to the graue, there to leaue him to rest, and also to repose our selues.