The Founder of New France : A chronicle of Champlain | Page 4

Champlain's life
and deeds would run as follows:
Champlain, Samuel de. Explorer, geographer, and colonizer. Born in

1567 at Brouage, a village on the Bay of Biscay. Belonged by
parentage to the lesser gentry of Saintonge. In boyhood became imbued
with a love of the sea, but also served as a soldier in the Wars of the
League. Though an enthusiastic Catholic, was loyal to Henry of
Navarre. On the Peace of Vervins (1598) returned to the sea, visiting
the Spanish West Indies and Mexico. Between 1601 and 1603 wrote his
first book--the Bref Discours. In 1603 made his first voyage to the St
Lawrence, which he ascended as far as the Lachine Rapids. From 1604
to 1607 was actively engaged in the attempt of De Monts to establish a
French colony in Acadia, at the same time exploring the seaboard from
Cape Breton to Martha's Vineyard. Returned to the St Lawrence in
1608 and founded Quebec. In 1609 discovered Lake Champlain, and
fought his first battle with the Iroquois. In 1613 ascended the Ottawa to
a point above Lac Coulange. In 1615 reached Georgian Bay and was
induced to accompany the Hurons, with their allies, on an unsuccessful
expedition into the country of the Iroquois. From 1617 to 1629
occupied chiefly in efforts to strengthen the colony at Quebec and
promote trade on the lower St Lawrence. Taken a captive to London by
Kirke in 1629 upon the surrender of Quebec, but after its recession to
France returned (1633) and remained in Canada until his death, on
Christmas Day 1635. Published several important narratives describing
his explorations and adventures. An intrepid pioneer and the revered
founder of New France.
Into some such terms as these would the writer of a biographical
dictionary crowd his notice of Champlain's career, so replete with
danger and daring, with the excitement of sailing among the uncharted
islands of Penobscot Bay, of watching the sun descend below the
waves of Lake Huron, of attacking the Iroquois in their palisaded
stronghold, of seeing English cannon levelled upon the houses of
Quebec. It is not from a biographical dictionary that one can gain true
knowledge of Champlain, into whose experience were crowded so
many novel sights and whose soul was tested, year after year, by the
ever-varying perils of the wilderness. No life, it is true, can be fitly
sketched in a chronological abridgment, but history abounds with lives
which, while important, do not exact from a biographer the kind of
detail that for the actions of Champlain becomes priceless. Kant and

Hegel were both great forces in human thought, yet throughout eighty
years Kant was tethered to the little town of Konigsberg, and Hegel did
not know what the French were doing in Jena the day after there had
been fought just outside a battle which smote Prussia to her knees. The
deeds of such men are their thoughts, their books, and these do not
make a story. The life of Champlain is all story. The part of it which
belongs to the Wars of the League is lost to us from want of records.
But fortunately we possess in his Voyages the plain, direct narrative of
his exploits in America--a source from which all must draw who would
know him well.
The method to be pursued in this book is not that of the critical essay.
Nor will these pages give an account of Champlain's times with
reference to ordinances regulating the fur trade, or to the policy of
French kings and their ministers towards emigration. Such subjects
must be touched on, but here it will be only incidentally. What may be
taken to concern us is the spirited action of Champlain's middle
life--the period which lies between his first voyage to the St Lawrence
and his return from the land of the Onondagas. Not that he had ended
his work in 1616. The unflagging efforts which he continued to put
forth on behalf of the starving colony at Quebec demand all praise. But
the years during which he was incessantly engaged in exploration show
him at the height of his powers, with health still unimpaired by
exposure and with a soul that courted the unknown. Moreover, this is
the period for which we have his own narrative in fullest detail.
Even were we seeking to set down every known fact regarding
Champlain's early life the task would not be long. Parkman, in referring
to his origin, styles him 'a Catholic gentleman,' with not even a footnote
regarding his parentage. [Footnote: It is hard to define Champlain's
social status in a single word. Parkman, besides styling him 'a Catholic
gentleman,' speaks of him elsewhere as being 'within the pale of the
noblesse.' On the other hand, the Biographie Saintongeoise says that he
came from a family