SECTION II, 1912 [165] Trans. R.S. C. 
Svigaraicipi; A Hero of Old French Placentia. 
Most Rev. M. F. Howzey, D.D. 
(Read May 16, 1912). 
In Vol. VIII, Series II of the Transactions of The Royal Society 
published in 1902, there appears an article of mine on 
THe OLD BASQUE TOMBSTONES 
OF 
PLACENTIA, NEWFOUNDLAND. 
In that paper I described and illustrated five pieces or fragments 
of tombstones still existing at Placentia. Of these five, three bore 
Basque inscriptions and two French. These two I afterwards showed 
to be only fragments of one tombstone. It was erected to the memory 
of a certain person who bore the Basque name of 
Svigaraicipi 
He was also known by the name of Croisic (“dit croisic”’). He 
was “Captain of Royal Frigate” “Capitaine de Frégate du Roy.” 
He pursued the enemy with vigour, and he died in 1694. His remains 
lie in the lonely churchyard on the Beach at Heese, the old French 
Capital of Newfoundland. 
That is all that we can learn of this old sea-dog from the broken 
fragments of the tombstone. Yet I always thought he must have been 
a sailor of renown, to have been honoured by such a monument; a 
monument which though shattered now by the hand of time so as to 
present but a very sorry show of dilapidated fragments, bears still 
evidence of having once been somewhat pretentious. As I looked upon 
its disjecta membra I often thought and pondered over the career 
and adventures of the hardy hero, and wished to know something more 
about him. 
I could find no mention of his name in any of the books and docu- 
ments in my possession. The only clue that I could get to work upon 
was the name of his vessel: L’Envieux. 
