Marc Lescarbot

Marc Lescarbot was born towards 1570 with Vervins, in Thiérache (Picardy).

Biography

Long studies with Laon, then to Paris, had led it to know the Latin , the Greek , the Hebrew , the old and modern letters. It had become there lawyer, laid off in laws, Master in Civil law and canonical Droit. Having fixed its residence at Paris, it regularly attended there the scholars and the men of letters.

In 1598, it had held a small role in the Paix of Vervins, composing for the occasion speech and poem, had published thereafter translations of works in Latin, but the essence of its work remained to be come. Accompanying one by its customers and friendly Jean de Poutrincourt, it had started from La Rochelle in May 1606, to remain in Acadie, with Port-Royal. It wintered and remained in this place until the autumn 1607, companion of Jean de Poutrincourt, François Gravé and of Samuel de Champlain. Writing some pieces of poetry lasting the voyage, it produced also on the spot, in 1606, a particularly original work, " The Theater of Neptune" , part played on water to celebrate the return of exploration of Jean de Poutrincourt. Interpreted by the colonists remained with the dwelling of Port-Royal and the Indians Intrigues, it acted-there doubtless of the first play played in North America.

Returned to France, Marc Lescarbot made appear in 1609 a first edition of his History of the News-France. It was to be followed from four others, supplemented last events and new reflections, in 1611, 1612, 1617 and 1618. It was then about the first work of History of the News-France. The book, was translated into several languages, was published abroad and obtained one big hit. Y were reproduced, in addition to the history itself, many articles on the indigenous colonization, its economy, life and manners in the same humanistic spirit as that of Michel de Montaigne.

Lescarbot never turned over to the Canada, but did not cease being interested, getting information in it, for the update of its History, initially, but also to plead the cause of Jean de Poutrincourt and the News-France near the Court of the king. In testifies its correspondence with Isaac de Razilly, gone back to 1634. It also on, during its life, the occasion to travel in Suisse and Germany within the framework of diplomatic missions, before being named Commissaire of the Navy in 1618. In 1619, it married, to more than 50 years, a young widow, Francoise de Valpergue, dispossessed of its goods by indelicate creditors and consequently devoted the major part of its time to recover, in an interminable series of lawsuit, which could the being.

Marc Lescarbot, lawyer, writer, died in 1641 in the house of Valpergue, to Presles in the Aisne, being without descent, bequeathed what it had with his brother and his nephew. Its worms, not very innovative, are not great interest, but its work of analyst always deserves consideration. Without this single work that is the History of the News-France, we would never have been informed of many facts which marked the first hours of the conquest and the establishment of the French-speaking Canada.

Works of translation in Latin

Speech of the Origin of Russiens (1599)
true Speech of the Meeting of the Churches (1599)
marvellous History of the triennial abstinence of a girl of Confolens (1602)
Guide of the Priests (1613)

Personal works

Speech for Peace / Harangue of thanksgiving / Poems for Peace (these three writings were composed at the time of the Paix of Vervins in 1598)
Adieu to the France (in worms - 1606)
the theater of Neptune (1607)
the defeat of Amouchiquois (in worms - 1607)
Histoire of the News-France (1609), followed by four new editions in 1611, 1612, 1617 and 1618.
the Muses of the News-France (pieces of poetry which follows the various editions of its History of the NF)
Tableau of the Suisse (in worms and prose - 1618)
hunting for the English (in worms - 1629)
the Victoire of Roy (in worms - 1629)

To consult

Eric Thierry, Marc Lescarbot (about 1570-1641). A man of letters to the service of News-France , Paris, Honore Champion, 2001,440p.

External bonds

Marc Lescarbot, first historian of News-France

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