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Villegaignon: Founder and Destroyer of the First Huguenot Settlement in the New World

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 September 2009

Thomas Edward Vermilye Smith
Affiliation:
New York City.

Extract

The name of Nicolas Durand de Villegaignon when mentioned by Huguenot writers is usually accompanied by expressions of contempt and intense hatred. He has been called “the Cain of South America” and “a true savage among savages,” while Theodore Beza with more elaborate animosity has described him as “a man distinctly resembling the Cyclops Polyphemus both in the vast mass of his body and the ferocity of his nature.” The object of these execrations was born about the year 1510 in Provins, a French town some fifty miles to the southeast of Paris, where his father, Louis Durand, held an honorable position under the government.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © American Society for Church History 1891

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References

page 185 note 1 Beza, , “Icones Virorum Illustrium,” sig. Aa iv., Geneva, 1580.Google Scholar

page 185 note 2 Louis Durand in 1516 received the title of sieur de Villegaignon and was appointed to several offices which he held until his death in 1521. Upon his tomb mention is made of his wife Jeanne de Fresnoy and his thirteen children, including eight sons and five daughters. A genealogy of the family is to be found in the “Mémoires de Claude Haton,” vol. ii., p. 1095, Documents inédits sur l'Histoire de France, Paris, 1857.Google Scholar

page 186 note 1 Vertot, , “Histoire de l'Ordrede Make,” vol. vii., pp. 195, 198, Paris, 1819. Villiers de l'Isle Adam, then Grand Master of this Order, was Villegaignon's uncle.Google Scholar

page 186 note 2 Vertot, , vol. iv., p. 112.Google Scholar

page 186 note 3 “Caroli V., Imperatoris, expeditioin Africam ad Argeriam,” Paris and Strasburg, 1542Google Scholar. This account has been reprinted in Schard, 's “Rerum Germanicarum Scriptores Varii,” torn II., pp. 365370, Giessen, 1673Google Scholar, and has been more recently edited by Grammont, H. D. de, Paris, 1874Google Scholar, with an excellent biographical preface.

page 186 note 4 Villegaignon to Cardinal du Bellay, Venice, , 07 15th, 1542, “Mémoires de Claude Haton,” vol. ii., p. 1101Google Scholar.

page 186 note 5 “Having thus maid a jornay quilk wes nevir to any mannis rememberance attempted afoir be gallayis.”—Lesley, Bishop's “History of Scotland,” Bannatyne Club edition, p. 209.Google Scholar

page 187 note 1 Lesley, 's “History of Scotland,” p. 209Google Scholar. Labanoff, , “Lettres et Mémoires de Marie Stuart,” vol. i., p. 2Google Scholar. Mignet, , “Marie Stuart,” p. 30, Paris, 1877Google Scholar. Queen Mary was accompanied in her flight by her natural brother James Stuart, Lords Erskine and Levingston, Lady Fleming, the four Marys, and a retinue of some two hundred gentlemen and servants.

page 187 note 2 Vertot, , vol. iv., p. 168Google Scholaret seq. Villegaignon's account of this siege was entitled “De Bello Melitensi et ejus eventu Francis imposito,” Paris, 1553.Google Scholar

page 188 note 1 “Mémoires de Claude Haton,” vol. i., p. 38Google Scholar. Among the more respectable of his followers were André Thevet, the cosmographer, who has been rightly described as “a notable liar,” and Nicholas Barré, the author of an account of this voyage, who subsequently was a member of the unfortunate expedition led by Ribaut to Florida in 1562.

The poet Ronsard, in a “Discours contre Fortune,” dedicated to Odet de Coligny, writes:

“Je veux aucunefois abandonner ce monde

Et hazarder ma vie aux fortunes de l'onde

Pour arriver au bord auquel Villegaignon

Sous le pole Antarctique a semé vostre nom.”

He was, however, obliged to remain in France and to be satisfied with making a humorous complaint against Villegaignon's efforts to impose the miseries of civilization upon the free and happy savages of Brazil.—“Œvres Completes de Pierre Ronsard,” vol. vi., p. 166, Paris, 1866Google Scholar

page 189 note 1 The coast of Brazil was first explored by Cabral in the year 1500. It is said that a stone tower was erected at Rio de Janeiro in 1531, and that some condemned felons were left there, after whose massacre by the natives the place was deserted. In 1525 French merchants began to trade with the natives in that vicinity, and continued to do so up to the time of Villegaignon's arrival, Crespin, , “Histoire des Martyrs,” fol. 400, Geneva, 1618.Google Scholar

page 190 note 1 Lescarbot, , “Histoire de la Nouvelle France,” pp. 148157, Paris, 1609Google Scholar. The account of this voyage, printed by Lescarbot, is said to have been written by Nicholas Barré.

page 190 note 2 This was probably the vessel upon which Thevet states that he sailed for France on the 31st of January, 1556, under command of Villegaignon's nephew Bois-Lecomte. Thevet, 's “Singularités de la France Antarctique,” p. 115, Anvers, 1558.Google Scholar

page 191 note 1 De Lery, , “Histoire d'un voyage fait en la terre de Brésil,” p. 7, 5th edition, Geneva, 1611Google Scholar. De Lery was born in 1534 in Margelle in Burgundy, and is said by Thevet to have been a shoemaker when he went to Brazil. After his return to France he became a minister, and was in the town of Sancerre during its famous siege in 1573, of which he wrote a most remarkable account, published in 1574, in which (p. 147) he compares the cannibalism to which the inhabitants of Sancerre were reduced to that which he had witnessed among the savages of Brazil. From Sancerre he went to Berne, where he was befriended by François Coligny, a son of the admiral, to whom he dedicated the history of his Brazilian voyage, written as a reply to false statements in Thevet's Cosmography. His subsequent life is unknown, although some writers mention 1611 as the year of his death.

page 191 note 2 Des Gallars, to Calvin, , 09 16, 1556, “Calvini Opera,” tom, xvi., col. 279, Brunswick, 1877Google Scholar. Lescarbot states that the Genevese expedition consisted of forty persons in addition to the artisans. Lescarbot, , p. 163.Google Scholar

page 191 note 3 At Honfleur they were attacked on account of their religion, and one of their number, a Captain St. Denis, who professed to know the location of gold mines in Brazil, was slain.

page 192 note 1 De Lery, , pp. 762Google Scholar. Lescarbot, , pp. 163182.Google Scholar

page 192 note 2 Lescarbot, , p. 183Google Scholar. De Lery, , p. 64.Google Scholar

page 194 note 1 Villegaignon, to Calvin, , 03 31, 1557, “Calvini Opera,” tom, xvi., col. 437Google Scholar. De Lery, , p. 79Google Scholar. The conspiracy against Villegaignon arose on the 6th of February, 1556, and was partly caused by scarcity of provisions and the hard labor required of the colonists. Lescarbot, , p. 160Google Scholar. Crespin, , “Histoire des Martyrs,” fol. 400, Geneva, 1618Google Scholar

page 194 note 2 Richer, to Calvin, , 03 31, 1557Google Scholar; Richer, and Chartier, to Calvin, , 04 1, 1557, “Calvini Opera,” tom, xvi., col. 434, 440.Google Scholar

page 195 note 1 Lescarbot, , p. 197Google Scholar. De Lery, , p. 81Google Scholar. This young woman was a daughter of a colonist named La Roquette, of Rouen, who had died in Brazil. Two of the five Frenchwomen had already been married on the 3d of April, 1557, and the remaining two were married soon after Cointat.

page 195 note 2 Crespin, , “Histoire des Martyrs,” fol. 402, Geneva, 1618.Google Scholar

page 196 note 1 De Lery, , pp. 92, 93.Google Scholar

page 196 note 2 In their letter to Calvin, , of 04 1, 1557Google Scholar, Richer and Chartier speak of of Coligny as “one who partly by his authority, partly by his advice, and partly at his own expense, has laid the foundation of this church.” “Calvini Opera,” tom, xvi., col. 440.

page 197 note 1 Lescarbot, , pp. 201204Google Scholar. De Lery, , pp. 434437Google Scholar. Crespin, , “Histoire des Martyrs,” fol. 403, 404.Google Scholar

page 198 note 1 De Lery, , p. 437Google Scholaret seq. Villegaignon's letters fell into the hands of those who favored the Huguenots and therefore failed to produce the result which he desired.

page 199 note 1 This confession of faith is given in full in Crespin, 's “Histoire des Martyrs,” fol. 415, 416Google Scholar. It contains seventeen articles on the Trinity, the Lord's Supper, baptism, free-will, priestly absolution of sins, laying on of hands, divorce, celibacy, invocation of saints, and prayers for the dead.

page 199 note 2 Crespin, , “Histoire des Martyrs,” fol. 416, 417Google Scholar. Foxe, , “Acts and Monuments,” vol. ii., p. 129, London, 1684Google Scholar. Beza, , “Icones,” sig. Aa iv., Geneva, 1580Google Scholar. De Lery states that reliable witnesses of these events, who left Brazil about four months after their occurrence, related them to Du Pont in aris, and, having written out an account of them, sent it to De Lery, by whom it was sent to Crespin for publication in his martyrology. De Lery, , p. 484.Google Scholar

page 200 note 1 A letter by , Mem de, dated 06 16, 1560Google Scholar, giving an account of the capture of Fort Coligny, is to be found in Pizzaro, 's “Memories Historicas do Rio de Janeiro,” tom, i., p. 12, Rio de Janeiro, 1820Google Scholar. De Sá states that Villegaignon had left the island eight or nine months before its capture by the Portuguese. Efforts of the French government to obtain redress from Portugal for the seizure of Fort Coligny were apparently without result. On the 5th of May, 1561, Jean Nicot, the French Ambassador at Lisbon, wrote to Charles IX. of France that since the seizure of that fort the conduct of the Queen Regent of Portugal toward him and toward French subjects in Portugal had been even worse than before that occurrence. In view of the contempt for Nicot displayed in Portugal, Catherine de' Medici, on the 5th of July, 1561, ordered him to return to France, after informing the Portuguese government that no other ambassador would be sent in his place. La Ferriére, , “Lettres de Catherine de' Médicis,” vol. i., p. 210, Paris, 1880.Google Scholar

page 200 note 2 An interesting link between Villegaignon's settlement in Brazil and the subsequent settlement of the Puritans in New England is made by Cotton Mather in his “Magnalia,” the first book of which begins with an account of the Huguenot settlement on the island of Coligny. After lamenting this loss of “a country intended for a receptacle of Protestant Churches on the American Strand,” Mather writes: “'T is now time for me to tell my reader that in our age there has been another essay made not by French, but by English Protestants, to fill a certain country in America with Reformed Churches; nothing in doctrine, little in discipline, different from that of Geneva. Mankind will pardon me, a native of that country, if smitten with a just fear of incroaching and ill-bodied degeneracies, I shall use my modest endeavors to prevent the loss of a country so signalized for the profession of the purest Religion, and for the protection of God upon it, in that holy profession.” This reference to Villegaignon by the great New England divine brings to mind two historic scenes: the one of the “apostate Governour” Villegaignon, on the 10th of 02, 1558Google Scholar, standing beside his executioner on the rock whence three Huguenots were hurled into the sea; the other of Cotton Mather, seated on horseback, on the 19th of August, 1692, viewing the body of Burroughs, George, “an unordained minister,”Google Scholar as it swung on the gibbet on Witch Hill in Salem.

page 201 note 1 Bayle, 's “Historical Dictionary,” article Villegaignon, London, 1738Google Scholar. Brossier died at Perigeux in 1562 from the effects of repeated imprisonments. Crespin, , “Histoire des Martyrs,” fol. 601.Google Scholar

page 202 note 1 Villegaignon to the Magistrates, and Church of Geneva, Paris, 07 6, 1560, “Calvini Opera,” vol. xviii., col. 749.Google Scholar

page 202 note 2 “Que daultant quil est opiniatre quil attende tant quil voudra.” “Calvini Opera,” vol. xxi., col. 734.Google Scholar

page 202 note 3 Statement of Boniface Marquis in the preface to Villegaignon's book entitled “Les propositions contentieuses entre le chevalier de Villegaignon et Maistre Jehan Calvin concernant la verité de l'Euchariste,” Paris, 1561Google Scholar. The only reference to Villegaignon in Calvin's published letters is apparently to be found in a letter to Farel, dated February 24, 1558, in which Calvin writes: “I have received an apology of a certain madman whom we have sent to America where he badly defends a good cause by reason of the intemperateness of his brain.” “Calvini Opera,” vol. xvii., col. 63. The “apology” here mentioned was probably the articles of faith brought to France by Chartier for the decision of the churches.Google Scholar

page 202 note 4 “Ad articulos Calvinianæ de Sacramento Eucharistiæ traditionis, ab ejus ministris in Francia Antarctica evulgatæ, responsiones,” Paris, 1560Google Scholar. “Les Propositions contentieuses entre le chevalier de Villegaignon et Maistre Jehan Calvin concernant la verité de l'Euchariste,” Paris, 1561Google Scholar. The latter book is a French abridgment of the former, made, as is said by the author, at the command of Catherine de' Medici. As the letters-patent to the printer of these books are dated June 6, 1560, Villegaignon appears to have begun the writing of them a month before he challenged Calvin to a disputation.

page 203 note 1 In point of fact, Bourdon was a turner, while Thevet, who upheld Villegaignon, states that Bordel was a cutler, and Vermeil a cabinet-maker. “Mémoires de Claude Haton,” vol. ii., p. 1100.Google Scholar

page 204 note 1 “Paraphrase du chevalier Villegaignon sur la resolution des sacramens de Maistre Jehan Calvin,” Paris, 1561Google Scholar; “Lettres du chevalier Villegaignon surles remonstrances a la royne mere du roy, touchant la religion,” Paris, 05 10, 1561Google Scholar; “De Coenaa controversise Philippi Melancthonis judicio,” Paris, 1561Google Scholar; “De venerandissimo ecclesise sacrificio,” Paris, 1562Google Scholar. The second of these pamphlets was a reply to a remonstrance against persecution written by Marlorat in 1561; the third attacked a paper presented by Melanchthon to the Elector Palatine in 1559 with regard to controversies raised at Heidelberg by Tilemann Heshuss; and the fourth was an attack upon Calvin and Peter Martyr Vermigli-Peter Boquin of Heidelberg replied to Villegaignon's attack upon Melanchthon in a book entitled “Justa defensio adversus injustam vim Heshusii et Villagagnonis de judicio P. Melancthonis,” 1562.Google Scholar

page 204 note 2 “Petri Richerii Apologetici libri duo, contra Nicolaum Durandum qui se Villagagnonem vocat,” Geneva, 1561Google Scholar; “La Refutation des folles resveries, execrables blasphemes, erreurs et mensonges de Nicolas Durand, qui se nomine Villegagnon,” par Pierre Richer, 1562Google Scholar. In 1560 Richer became minister at La Rochelle, where he died on the 8th of March, 1580. Graesse, 's “Dictionnaire Bibliographique” gives the following titles of satires against Villegaignon published in 1561Google Scholar: “La Réponse aux lettres de Nicolas Durant,” “L'Estrille de Nicolas Durant,” “La Souffisancede maistre Colas Durand,” “L'Espousette des armoiries de Villegaignon,” “L'Amende honorable de Nicolas Durand,” “Le Leur de Nicolas Durant.” In reply to these there appeared “La Réponse aux libelles d'injures publiés contre le chevalier de Villegaignon,” Paris, 1561.Google Scholar

page 205 note 1 Villegaignon, to Granvella, Cardinal, Plombiéres, , 05 25 and 27, 1564, “Papiers d'Etat du Cardinal de Granvelle,” vol. vii., pp. 660, 663Google Scholar. In a letter dated June 3, 1564, Cardinal Granvella recommended Villegaignon to the Imperial Vice-Chancellor, George Sigismund Seld, as a man of valor and scholarship; ibid., p. 663, note.

page 205 note 2 Villegaignon, to Lorraine, Cardinal, Javarin, , 10 11 and 14, 1566Google Scholar; to Medici, Catherine de', Sens, 11 18, 1567Google Scholar; to Charles, IX., 12 26, 1567Google Scholar; and to the Duke of Anjou, February I, 1568, “Mémoires de Claude Haton,” vol. ii., App., pp. 10021007.Google Scholar

page 205 note 3 Villegaignon, to the Due d'Aumale, , Rome, 01 7, 1569Google Scholar; and to the Duchess of Ferrara, March 4, 1569, “Mémoires de Claude Haton,” vol. ii., Appendix, pp. 1108, 1109.Google Scholar

page 206 note 1 “De consecratione mystici Sacramenti et duplici Christi oblatione, adversus Vannium Lutherologiæ Professorem; de Judaici Paschatis implemento, adversus Calvinologos; de Pocula sanguinis Christi et introitu in sancta sanctorum, adversus Bezam,” Paris, 1569Google Scholar. Hospinian, , “Historia Sacramentaria,” pars ii., p. 585, Geneva, 1681.Google Scholar

page 206 note 2 “Mémoires de Claude Haton,” vol. ii., App., p. 1096Google Scholar. In addition to the authorities cited in this paper, accounts of Villegaignon and his expedition to Brazil are to be found in the following works: Barré, Nicholas, “Lettres sur la navigation du chevalier de Villegaignon,” Paris, 1558Google Scholar, reprinted in De Bry, , “Grands Voyages,” part iii., p. 287Google Scholar. “Histoire des Choses Memorables advenues en la Terre de Brésil,” Geneva, 1561Google Scholar. Popeliniére, La, “Les trois mondes,” book iii., pp. 318, Paris, 1582Google Scholar. De Beze, , “Histoire Ecclesiastique,” vol. i., p. 100, Lille, 1841Google Scholar. Thevet, , “Cosmographie Universelle,” vol. ii., p. 908, Paris, 1575Google Scholar. Spondanus, , “Annales,” tom, iii., p. 198, Ticino, 1682Google Scholar. De Thou, , “Histoire Universelle,” vol. ii., p. 647, London, 1734Google Scholar. Nicéron, , “Mémoires des hommes illustres,” vol. xxii., p. 306, Paris, 1733Google Scholar. Belcarius, , “Rerum Gallicarum Commentarii,” lib. 28, sec. 8, Lyons, 1625Google Scholar. Maimbourg, , “Histoire de Calvinisme,” pp. 100105, Paris, 1682Google Scholar. Jurieu, , “Calvinisme et Papisme mises en parallele,” part ii., p. 552Google Scholar, Rotterdam, 1683. Moréri, , “Dictionnaire Historique,” supplement ii., p. 465, Paris, 1735Google Scholar. Charlevoix, , “Histoire de la Nouvelle France,” vol. i., p. 23, Paris, 1744Google Scholar. Southey, , “History of Brasil,” vol. i., pp. 280294, London, 1822Google Scholar. Constancio, , “Historia do Brasil,” vol. i., pp. 131148, Paris, 1839Google Scholar. Guérin, , “Navigateurs Français,” p. 162, and “Marins Illustres,” p. 231Google Scholar. De Grammont, in the preface to his edition of Villegaignon's “Expedition de Charles-Quint contre Alger,” Paris, 1874Google Scholar. Parkman, , “Pioneers of France in the New World,” p. 16Google Scholar. Haag, , “La France Protestante,” vol. iv., p. 488.Google Scholar