HISTORY OF NORTON. 19 



On Dec. ist., 163 1, a grant of arms was made to Captain 

 David Kirke, and his brothers, Lewis Kirke, Governor of Canada, 

 and James Kirke. The grant confirms to them their paternal 

 coat, with the addition of the arms (slightly varied) of Mons. de 

 Rockmond, a French Admiral, whom they had taken and brought 

 into England. The grant was made in consideration of their 

 having vanquished the French fleet under De Rockmond. 

 In the following year they brought Mons. Champlain prisoner to 

 England. 



How the differences between the Canada Company and the 

 French were settled does not clearly appear. A patent had been 

 granted on the nth May, 1633, to Sir W. Alexander, and others, 

 for sole trade to the river and gulf of Canada, and all places 

 adjacent, for beaver and all other skins and wool for 31 years. 

 There is a memorandum of a proposed instrument (Jan., 1636), 

 to be signed by the King for the Canada merchants. The grant 

 of the nth May, 1633, was to be first recited, and it was then to 

 be added, that, restitution having been demanded in France for 

 wrongs done to British subjects, and answer returned — " Kings 

 should not fall out for that cause. Let them right themselves, 

 and the strongest party carry it," the King has thought fit to give 

 power to his subjects for 3 years, to surprise, and take, enjoy, and 

 possess, &c. 



On the 2nd Oct., 1639, Sir David Kirke writes as follows to 

 Archbishop Laud : — 



Most Reverend Father, 



I doe with joye and a gratefull hart, acknowledge the favour I 

 received from your Grace, in your good wishes for our prosperity in this 

 Country, after it had pleas'd his Majesty to graunt it to us by his Patent. My 

 Lord, I doubt not but God hath blessed us the more, for your Grace's blessing 

 upon us. For we have found the Country so good and healthfull, that since 

 our arrival heer, of about 100 Persons which wee brought over, to this daye 

 wee have lost but one of sickness, and he a diseased man, before we departed 

 out of England. Concerning the Temperature of the Clyme and the general 

 Estate of y c Country, your Grace maye bee at large iuformid by those 

 relations which are sent over to the Country and shall bee presented to your 

 Grace, if your more serious and greate imployment maye allowe any time of 

 eysure for their Perusal. I shall onely add this one particular observation, 



