ACTE OF POSSESSION BY SIEUR DU BOIS IN THE NAME OF THE KING (OF France) of the FORTS TAKEN FROM THE IROQUOIS, In the year 1666, the 17th day of Octob., the King's troops commanded by Messire Alexander de Prouville Knight, Lord de Tracy Lieut. General of His Maties Naval armies both in the Islands and Continent of South and North America as well by sea as by land, aided by Messire Daniel de Remy Knight, Seigneur de Courcelles, Governor and Lieut. General for the King in New France, being drawn up in battle array before the Fort of Andaraque, Jean Baptiste du Bois Esqrs Sieur de Cocreaumont and de St. Morice, Commandant of the Artillery of the army, presented himself at the head of the army by order of Mons. Lord de Tracy and deputed by M. Jean Talon, King's Councillor in his State and Privy Councils, Intendant General of Justice, Police and Finance in New France, for the review and direction of the Supplies of the Troops, who declared and said that at the request of Mons' Talon he took possession of said Fort and of all the lands in the neighbourhood as far and in as great a quantity as they may extend, and of the other four forts which have been conquered from the Iroquois in the name of the King, and in token thereof hath planted a Cross before the doors of said forts and near this hath erected a post and to these hath affixed the King's arms, of which and of all the above the said Sieur de Bois has required acte of the undersigned Royal Notary commanded in the said army for His Majesty's service. Done at the aforesaid Fort of Andaraque the day and year above written, in presence of Messire Alexander de Chaumont, Knight Seigneur of said place, Aid de Camp of his Majesty's armies, and of Hector d'Andigny, Knight of Grande Fontaine, Captain of a Company of Infantry in the Carignan Regiment, of the Nobleman Antoine de Contrecour Cap" of a Company of Infantry in said Regiment, of Francois Massé, Sieur de Wally, Jean du Gal Esqrs Sieur du Fresne Major of Canada, Jean Louis Chevalier du Glas Lieut of a Company of said Regimt, Rene Louis Chartier Esq', Sieur de Lobiniere Lieutenant of a Militia Company from Quebec, Dominique le Feure Esq', Sieur de Quesquelin Lieutenant in said Regiment, Witnesses undersigned with the said Seigneur du Bois and the Notary. Signed, Chaumont, le Chevalier de Grand Fontain, de Contrecour, du Gal, Wally, Chevlier du Glas, du Guesclin, Rene Louis Chartier, Lobiniere, du Bois and du Guet Royal Notary. GOV. NICOLLS TO CHEV. TRACY, AT QUEBEC. [Lond. Doc. II.] Monsieur, I was in some measure surprized in february last with the newes of so considerable a force of forreiners under the comând of Monsieur de Courcelle so farre advanct in these His Maties Dominions without my Knowledge and Consent, or the least notice given of yr intentions to any of His Maties Colonies then in amity with the French Nation: although yr proceedings heerin were not conformable to the practise in Europe, yet all my officers both Military and Civill soone resolu'd to succour and releive your Campe with such meane provisions as the Country affords [and] from a small village could bee expected and as they have in all former times been very affectionate with Christian Charity to ransome or by any other meanes to convey divers French prisoners out of the hands of their barbarous Enemies so also their Intentions towards you is manifest in their letter of the 20th March last wherein their purpose was to give you a speedy notice that the Maquaes were at last wrought upon to treat of peace if you on your parts were so disposed, but it seems (by a sad accident intervening,) you are pleas'd to lay a greater burden upon them than they deserve after their sincere affections to your peace. To both yr Letters directed to the Captain and Commis saries at Albany themselves will returne answer but hearing that you had Emploied Le Sr. Couture with yr Letters I tooke a suddaine Resolution to have discourse with him to wch purpose I came hither but find that he is return'd without the Knowledge of the Capt. or Commissarie. I could have wisht that hee had staid for mee, or that I could wait his coming for I now want the opportunity of enlarging myself to him and by him to y'selfe with how much Integrity I shall constantly attend the European Interest amidst the heathen in America as becomes a good Christian, provided that the bounds and limits of these His Majesties of Englands dominions be not invaded or the Peace and Safety of his subjects interrupted, In all other points I shall be found to entertaine y Correspondence with Mutuall Civility and respect the rather because the Reputation of yr honour hath spread itself in all these parts of the world, as well as it is known in Europe, whereof I can beare some Testimony, when I had the honour to attend my master his R. H. the Duke of York and Albany a few yeares in the french army, and now that I serve the same Master in his interest in this part of the World, I should count my selfe very fortunate in an opportunity at least to acknowledge some part of yr great civilities to my Master and all his Servants in their low estate and condition of Exile, The Memory whereof obligeth me (a reasonable time and good occasion concurring) to give you certain proofe with how much truth I am, Sir, Yor Most affte. Servant RICHARD NICOLLS. 20th Aug: St: Vet: A Monsieur, Monsieur Le Chevalier et Seigneur de Tracy Lt. Generall Du A Quebec. M. TALON TO M. COLBERT, 13 Nov. 1666. [Paris Doc. I.] Monsieur de Tracy and Monsieur de Courcelles are returned from their Expedition, the Iroquois having concluded to retreat and abandon their settlements. The said M. de Tracy could do nothing else than burn their forts and lay waste every thing. These two gentlemen will inform you of whatever occurred throughout their march which occupied fifty-three days. What I learn from public opinion is that in what has been performed nothing has been left undone, and that the King's orders had been executed and his expectations entirely realized had those savages stood their ground. It would, in truth, have been desirable that a part had been defeated and some others taken prisoners. The advanced age of M. de Tracy must greatly enhance the merit of the service he has rendered the King, by assuming in a broken down frame such as his, a fatigue of which no correct idea can be formed. I am assured that throughout the whole march of three hundred leagues, including the return, he suffered himself to be carried only during two days, and then he was forced to do so by the gout. M. de Courcelles, though stronger than he, could not help being carried in like manner, having been attacked by a contraction of the nerves. Both in truth have endured all the fatigue that human nature is capable of. M. de Tracy incurred some expences on his march for the conveyance of the cannon and other extraordinary services rendered the Troops, which I wished to reimburse, but his modesty would not suffer it. Sir M. TRACY TO GOV. NICOLLS. [London Doc. I.] In answer to yor letter of 31. August, [N. S.] I shall tell you that Mons de Courcelle Governor Generall of this Countrey, signifying to mee that hee had a desire to make some inroad upon the Maquas, to put a stopp to their barbarous Insolencies; I gave my consent to further the design, that hee might take with him so many officers and souldiers as hee thought fit, either of his Maties Companyes, or those of ye Countrey. Whereupon hee advanced within fifteene or twenty leagues of the villages of ye Anniés. But fortunately for them his guides conducting him a wrong way, hee did not meete with them, till he came neare the village which you name in yor Letter, neither had he known there was any of them there, untill he had surprized all the Indyans that were in two small Hutts at some distance from that place. This truth is sufficiently convincing, to justify Mons' de Courcelle, that hee had no intention to infringe the Peace, that was then between us, for that hee thought himself in the Maques land. The Moderacôn which hee used in the said hutts (although the persons under his command were driven to the uttermost extremity, for want of Provisions) hath sufficiently manifested the consideracôns wee have always had for our allyes (for until then wee had no intelligence, that New Holland was under any other Dominion than that of the States of the United Belgick Provinces) and understanding that hee was upon the Lands belonging to the Dutch, hee tooke great care to hinder his companyes from falling into the village, by which means alone the Maquaes that were there saved themselves. Hee also had so much care and authority as to hinder the souldiers from Killing the Poultry, and taking away Provisions that were in the said hutts, to satisfy their hunger. Thus farr, I ought to vindicate the truth upon this subject. |