June 27 Departs Rapids and sails downriver
July 6 Reaches Tadoussac; waits for ship and good weather to sail home
August 8 Departs from Tadoussac for Île Percée on a Malouin ship
August 18 Leaves Île Percée at Gaspé for Grand Bank
August 28 On the Grand Bank; “caught as many fish as we wished”
FRANCE, 1613–15
1613 September 26 Arrives Saint-Malo; meets with merchants there and invites them to form a new company with merchants of Rouen
November 15 New Company of Canada formed in Rouen; sometimes called Compagnie de Champlain; he calls it Compagnie de Condé
1614 January—September Works with Louis Hoüel, king’s secretary, to recruit Récollets for New France; also meets with Robert Ubaldini, Papal Nuncio in France to the same end
October 27 Meets with all French cardinals and bishops, who have come to Paris for the Estates General; all support Champlain’s plan to recruit missionaries, and contribute 1500 livres themselves
November Champlain at Fontainebleau; makes a presentation on New France at court; establishes rapport with Louis XIII
1615 February 28 Goes from Paris to Rouen to meet investors in the company and introduces them to Récollets; more investors support the company; establishes good relations with Condé.
March 20 Champlain, Récollets, and investors go to Honfleur
April 24 Departs Honfleur in Saint-Étienne with Pont-Gravé
QUEBEC, 1615–16
1615 May 25 Arrives off Tadoussac after a crossing of 31 days
May 27 Champlain and Récollets sail to Quebec; land cleared and quarters built for a mission; Récollets establish themselves
June 8–9 Champlain and Récollets sail up the river to the Great Rapids
June 23 Mass said at Rivière-des-Prairies before many Indians
June 26 Champlain returns to Quebec
July 4 Champlain sets off upriver for a journey to Huronia and campaign against the central Iroquois
July 9 Departs Rivière-des-Prairies for Huronia; explores upper St. Lawrence; takes northern route to avoid Iroquois war parties; visits many Indian nations along the way
July 26 Visits with Nipissing nation
July 28? Visits Cheveux-Relevés
HURONIA, 1615–16
1615 August 1 Enters and explores Huronia
August 17 Meets Huron warriors in Cahiagué
September 1 Étienne Brûlé and 12 Huron depart on mission to Susquehannock nation
September—October Organizes campaign against the Onondaga
October 9–16 Fight at Onondaga Fort (in today’s Syracuse, N.Y.)
October 18 Heavy fall of snow slows retreat to Huronia
October 28 Deer hunting in Huronia to December 4
December 23 Arrives at Cahigué, Huronia; lives with Huron through the winter
1616 January Meets Father Le Caron at Carhagouha
January 4 Visits with Algonquin Petite-Nation
January 17 Visits Petun nation; also Cheveux-Relevés and Nipissing
February 15 At Cahiagué mediating between Huron and Petite-Nation
May 20 Leaves Huronia for Great Rapids of the St. Lawrence River
July 1 Reaches Great Rapids; leaves for Quebec
July 11 Returns to Quebec
July 20 Goes to Tadoussac
August 3 Sails from Tadoussac to Honfleur
FRANCE, 1616–17
1616 September 10 Arrives at Honfleur
October 25 Thémines appointed viceroy; Champlain loses lieutenancy
Fall? Publishes map of New France
1617 January 17 Champlain confirmed as lieutenant to Thémines
March 7? Sails from Honfleur for Quebec in Saint-Étienne
QUEBEC, 1617
1617 June 14 Arrives at Tadoussac, sails to Quebec for a very brief visit; by July 20 is back in France
FRANCE, 1617–18
1617 July 22 Samuel and Hélène Champlain sign a contract with Isabelle Terrier, in Paris, evidence that Champlain remained in Quebec for no more than a few weeks
1618 February 9 Champlain presents a major plan for the development of New France to the Paris Chamber of Commerce and on this day joins in a proposal to the king
March 12 Louis XIII agrees to the proposal
May 24 Champlain arrives in Tadoussac
QUEBEC, 1618
1618 June 24 Champlain arrives in Tadoussac?
June—July Champlain is at Quebec
July 26 Champlain sails from Tadoussac for Honfleur
FRANCE, 1618–20
1618 August 28 Champlain returns to Honfleur
December 21 Champlain wins agreement from investors to support eighty settlers in Quebec
December 24 Louis XIII grants Champlain a pension of 600 livres
1619 Company directors forbid Champlain to sail for New France in their ship; the king intervenes, but too late for this season
May 18 Champlain licensed to publish Voyages … depuis l’année 1615
1620 February 25 Condé sells office of viceroy to Montmorency
March 8 Montmorency appoints Champlain his lieutenant
May 7 Louis XIII confirms Champlain’s commission as lieutenant
Spring Sails to Canada in Saint-Étienne with Hélène
QUEBEC, 1620–24
1620 July 7 Champlain arrives at Moulin Baude one league from Tadoussac
July 11 Sails from Tadoussac to Quebec
Summer Champlain orders repair and rebuilding of Quebec; construction of Fort St. Louis
November Viceroy Montmorency authorizes fifteen-year monopoly on trade to New France to the Compagnie de Caën
December—March Quebec colonists survive winter with only one accidental death; Hélène Desportes born in Quebec
1621 February 2 Dolu makes positive report to Montmorency, who renews his appointment
May 7 Royal Council rules that the old and new Compagnies de Caën share monopoly and the costs of settlement
June Pont-Gravé’s ship for the old company arrives at Tadoussac; de Caën seizes it; Champlain restores order; ship is returned
August 18 Assembly of settlers meets to draw up a cahier généralde doléances for the king; they strongly support Champlain’s policies; king responds favorably; increases Champlain’s pension
September 12 Champlain issues laws for Quebec
1622 Spring Champlain encourages farming by Montagnais near Quebec
April 1 Royal Council confirms rights of new Compagnie de Caën
June 6ff Champlain sponsors peace talks with Iroquois
December 24 Council regulates relations between old and new companies
1623 July 23 Champlain meets with Huron and Algonquin at Trois-Rivières
July—August Champlain adjudicates murder case with Indians
August Farm planned at Cap Tourmente
November Road built to Fort St. Louis
Winter Hauling timbers for fort and storehouse in Quebec; Champlain plans a new habitation
1624 April 29 In France, Richelieu is appointed to Royal Council; within a year he becomes “chief minister” to Louis XIII
April—July Champlain and Indian leaders try to restrain Simon, insane Montagnais who murders an Iroquois; peace with Iroquois preserved
May 1 Excavation begins for new habitation at Quebec
May 6 First stone laid
June—August Much trade and many meetings with Montagnais, Algonquin, and Huron
August 15 Champlain, wife, and servants leave Quebec for Tadoussac
August 24 They leave Tadoussac for Gaspé to form a convoy
September 6? Convoy of four ships sails for France
FRANCE, 1624–26
1624 October 1 Champlain and family return to Dieppe
October Champlain goes to Paris; thence to Saint-Germain to meet with Montmorency, the king, and Royal Council, “to whom I gave an account.”
Fall In Paris, meets with old and new shar
eholders; Montmorency sells office of viceroy to Ventadour
1625 February 15 Ventadour commissions Champlain as lieutenant in New France
Spring+ Champlain works with Ventadour in his Paris mansion
Summer+ Negative reports of New France from Jesuits and Récollets
December 29 Champlain sells part of estate from his uncle
1626 March 10 Ventadour grants lands in New France to Jesuits
April 15 Champlain sails from Dieppe with five ships
QUEBEC, 1626–29
1626 June 29 Arrives Tadoussac, after a crossing of sixty-eight days
July 5 Arrives Quebec
July—August Expands farm at Cap Tourmente
October Richelieu takes control of commerce, colonies, maritime affairs
1626–27 November 21—April Long hard winter in Quebec
1627 Spring Ventadour ceases to be viceroy; powers assumed by Richelieu
April 29 Compagnie de Caën replaced by the Company of New France (Cent-Associés); Richelieu is first associate; Champlain joins as fifty-second associate; capital share of 3,000 livres paid by his wife
July 14ff Tabagies with Huron at Trois-Rivières; Champlain urges peace with Iroquois
October 7 Meeting with Indian “captains” about murder of two Frenchmen
1627–28 November—April Another very hard winter
1628 February 2 Champlain presented with three Montagnais girls whom he names Faith, Hope, and Charity, aged 11, 12, and 15.
Spring Charles I authorizes British mercenaries to seize New France; The Kirke family seizes ships in the St. Lawrence and the fishing coast; Scottish groups seize Acadia
Spring The Cent-Associés equips a very large fleet of merchantmen with colonists for New France. The directors do not want to send it fearing capture by the British forces. Richelieu insists it must sail; the result is disaster
Spring Champlain expands farming in Quebec; works closely with Indians; sponsors missions
July Kirkes burn and destroy the farm at Cap Tourmente July 9 Champlain learns of English warships at Tadoussac
July 10 Kirkes appear at Quebec and demand its surrender. Champlain refuses and prepares to fight; the Kirkes retreat and seek to starve the French into submission
July 17–18 The great fleet of the Hundred Associates is captured by the Kirkes
August Kirkes return to England with much plunder; no help comes from France
1628–29 November–April A third very hard winter in Quebec with grave shortages of food; the Huron, Algonquin, Canadien, Etchemin, and some Montagnais help by taking in Frenchmen and bringing food to the settlement; there is much hunger but no scurvy and no starvation
1629 Spring No help comes from France; Champlain continues to send habitants and workers to live with Huron, Algonquin, Canadien, Etchemin, and other nations; others live precariously by farming, hunting, and gathering
April 24 Treaty of Susa ends war between England and France; terms include return of property seized after the peace
June 25 Kirkes’ warships arrive in the lower St. Lawrence
July 19 Kirkes demand surrender of Quebec; Champlain nearly out of food and ammunition; proposes terms
July 20 Champlain surrenders Quebec; habitants treated humanely; some choose to remain in Quebec on Champlain’s advice with a guarantee of their property
July 24 Champlain taken to Tadoussac by Kirkes
September 14 Champlain carried to England by Kirkes
ENGLAND, 1629
1629 October 27 Champlain arrives in Dover; learns of the peace treaty
October 29 Champlain refuses repatriation to France; goes to London, meets with French Ambassador to demand return of New France because its seizure was unlawful after the Peace of Susa
November English agree in principle but refuse to return the colony until Louis XIII pays dowry promised for marriage of his sister Henrietta Maria
FRANCE, 1629–32
1629 November 30 Champlain makes a voyage from England to France
December He urges the king, Richelieu, and Hundred Associates to hurry the return of New France
1630 Spring More appeals and protests to French leaders
April Louis XIII demands restitution of New France from England
September 27 Champlain sells two houses in Brouage
1631 July Charles orders Kirkes to return Quebec
August Champlain insists on return of Acadia and other parts of New France
1632 February 13 Mutual division of property between Champlain and Hélène Boullé
March 29 Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye restores Quebec to France; England agrees to evacuate Acadia, and all of New France; Louis XIII agrees to pay his sister’s dowry
Spring? Champlain publishes Les Voyages de la Nouvelle France Occidentale
April 20 Richelieu appoints Isaac de Razilly as his lieutenant for New France; he refuses to serve, insisting that Champlain is better qualified
CAPE BRETON, 1632
1632 Champlain may have made a voyage from France to St. Anne, Cape Breton; this voyage was not included by Laverdière, Dionne, Biggar, Morison, and other biographers; it is believed to have happened by Campeau and Trudel; the exact date is unknown, and evidence is less than conclusive, but two leading historians of New France are convinced that it happened, and the inferences from other documents support this probability
FRANCE, 1632–33
1633 March 1 Richelieu reluctantly appoints Champlain his lieutenant for New France
March 23 Champlain leaves Dieppe for New France with three ships: Saint-Pierre (flag), Don-de-Dieu, and Saint-Jean, with 150 colonists.
CANADA, 1633–35
1633 May 22 Champlain takes possession of Quebec
Spring Begins construction of Notre-Dame-de-Recouvrance
Summer Renews alliances with Montagnais, Algonquin, Huron
August 13 Champlain sends report to Richelieu seeking to limit English trade, and to form a military force strong enough to keep the peace; Richelieu does not respond; both problems grow
1634 Spring Establishes forts and trading posts on Sainte-Croix and Richelieu islands in the St. Lawrence
Summer Establishes new settlement at Trois-Rivières; Champlain makes voyages between Quebec and Trois-Rivières
August 18 Champlain sends another report to Richelieu who again makes no response and does not act
1635 Spring Champlain in declining health
October Suffers massive stroke and paralysis
November 17 Signs his will and testament
December 25 Dies in Quebec on Christmas Day
TOTAL VOYAGES
From 1599 to 1635, Champlain probably made twenty-seven Atlantic crossings in thirty-seven years. He also made many coastal and river voyages in Europe, the Caribbean, and North American waters. This does not include other voyages made in his military service, and earlier voyages as a child aboard his father’s ships. Morison’s count is mistaken.1
APPENDIX C
CHAMPLAIN’S BRIEF DISCOURS
Problems of Accuracy and Authenticity
For half a century, scholars in six countries have debated the accuracy and authenticity of Champlain’s Brief Discours, a report about his travels in the Spanish Empire from 1598 to 1601. At issue is not only the document itself, but the character of Champlain and our judgment of his life and work.
The Brief Discours is problematic in many ways, not least because Champlain did not publish it in his own time. At least three early manuscript copies survive. None are in Champlain’s hand, but all bear his name on the first page. The most complete manuscript is in the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Its provenance is a saga in its own right. In 1884, an agent for the library bought the manuscript from a respected dealer, the Librairie Maisonneuve in Paris, which had acquired it from the estate of P. J. Féret, a collector in Dieppe who was a collateral descendant of Aymar de Chaste, governor of Dieppe, supporter of New Fr
ance, and friend of Champlain in the years 1602–03. De Chaste or his family are thought to have deposited this copy for a time in the custody of the Couvent des Minimes in Dieppe. We have a chain of custody that reaches back to Champlain himself.
Another manuscript copy—less complete, and variant in detail—is in the library of the University of Bologna, and appears to be approximately contemporary with the Brown manuscript. A third copy has been found in the Archivio di Stato at Turin. Their dates are uncertain and their provenance is unclear. All three copies are incomplete, with breaks in the text and references to missing illustrations, but the Brown text includes more material than any other, with sixty-two illustrations, plans, and charts. Some scholars believe that the Brown manuscript may have been the original, but each copy has elements that are missing in the other two, and textual analysis turns up strong evidence that all three copies derive from an original that has not yet been found. It might have gone to Henri IV, or remained with Champlain. These are the conclusions of a careful study of the three manuscripts by Laura Giraudo, an historian at the University of Milan.1
Published Editions and Editorial Judgments
The Brief Discours was first printed not in its original French but in a high-quality English translation by Alice Wilmere and Norton Shaw for the Hakluyt Society in 1859. The first French edition was published in 1870, as part of Charles-Honoré Laverdière’s excellent collection of the Oeuvres de Champlain. A third text was published in the Champlain Society’s bilingual edition of Champlain’s works, with a French text collated from the Brown manuscript, and an English translation by a team of editors including H. P. Biggar, H. H. Langton, W. F. Ganong, and J. Home Cameron.
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