[99] 



APPENDIX A. 



king's commission to de monts for the settlement of the lands in 

 la cadie, canada and other places in new france. 



Translation from ChurchilVs Voyages, 796-798. Nova Francia. 



HENRY, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre. To our dear 

 and well beloved the Lord of Monts, one of the ordinary gentlemen of 

 our chamlber, greeting. 



As our greatesit care and labor is, and always hath been, since our coming 

 to this crown, to maintain and conserve it in the ancient dignity, greatness 

 and splendor thereof, to extend and amplify, as much as lawfully may biS 

 done, Ihe bounds and limits of the s'ame ; we being of a long time informed 

 of the situation and condition of the lands and territories of La Cadia, moved 

 above all things, with a singular zeal, and devout and constant resolution, 

 which we have taken, with the help and assistance of God, author, distributor 

 and protector of all kingdoms and estates, to cause the people, which do 

 inhabit the country, men (at the present time) barbarous atheists, without 

 faith or religion, to be converted to Christianity, and to the belief and profes- 

 sion of our faith and religion ; and to draw them from ignorance and unbelief 

 wherein they are. Having also of a long time known, by the relation of 

 the sea captains, pilots, merchamts and others, who of a long time have 

 haunted, frequented and trafficked with the people that are found in the 

 said places, how fruitful, commodious and profitable may be unto us, to 

 our estates and subjects, dwelling, possession and habitation of these 

 countries, for the great and apparent profit which may be drawn by the 

 greater fréquentation and habitude which may be had with the people that 

 are found there, and the traffick and commerce which may be, by that 

 means, safely treated and negotiated. We then, for these causes, fully trusting 

 on your great wisdom, and in the knowledge and experience that you have 

 of the quality, condition and situation of the said country of La Cadia ; 

 for the divers and sundry navigation, voyages and fréquentations that you 

 have made in those parts, and others near and bordering upon ; assuring 

 ourselves that this our resolution and intention, being committed unto you, 

 you will attentively, diligently and no less courageously and zealously, execute 

 and bring to such perfection as w^e desire, have expressly appointed and 

 established you and by these presents, signed by our hands, do commit, 

 ordain, make, constitute and establish you, our Lieutenant-General, for to 

 represent our person in the countries, territories, coasts and confines of La 

 Cadia. To begin from the 40th degree to the 46th and in the same distance, 

 Oir part of it, as far as may be done, to establish, extend and make to be 

 known, our name, might and authority. And under the came to subject, 

 submit and bring to obedience, all the people of the said lands and borders 

 thereof ; and by the means thereof, all the lawful ivays, call, make, instruct, 

 provoke and incite them to a knowledge of God, and to the light of the 

 faith and Christian religion, to establish it there ; and exercise a profession 

 of the same, keep and conserve the said people, and aU other inhabitants in 

 the said places, and there to command in peace, rest and tranquillity, as 

 well by sea as by land ; to ordain, decide and tause to be executed, all 



