Histoire de la Nouvelle-France (Version 1617)

by Marc Lescarbot

"Histoire de la Nouvelle-France" by Marc Lescarbot is a historical account written in the early 17th century. The book explores the navigations, discoveries, and settlements made by the French in the West Indies and New France, reflecting on their fortunes and challenges over the last century. Lescarbot, an eyewitness to a portion of these events, aims to document the moral, natural, and geographic history of the provinces he describes, highlighting the significance of France’s colonial endeavors and the interactions with Indigenous peoples. The opening of the work presents a dedication to the King of France, Louis XIII, urging the monarchy to take more serious action regarding the colonization of lands in the New World. Lescarbot emphasizes the honor and duty of the French crown to not only expand their dominion but also to spread Christianity among the Indigenous populations. He invokes historical examples of past French navigators and expresses a call to action, highlighting the missed opportunities and urging for renewed efforts to establish fruitful colonies that would enhance both the Christian faith and French prestige. This sets the stage for the detailed recounting of voyages and settlements that would follow in the subsequent chapters.