Nicolas de Vignau
Encyclopedia
Nicolas de Vignau was a companion of Samuel de Champlain
in New France
. Champlain said of him in his writings "[He is] the most impudent liar that has been seen for a long time".
In 1611, Vignau volunteered to live with a group of Algonquin natives to learn their language and customs. He accompanied them on their journey North to Allumette Island become the second white man to travel up the Ottawa River
.
Vignau spent the winter on Allumette island with a band of Algonquins led by a one-eyed chief named Tessouat
. Anyone coming down the river was forced, by rapids on either side of the island, to portage through Tessouat's territory. Thus his band could easily make a living as toll keepers and fur brokers, buying and selling furs for profit. In the spring of 1612, Vignau paddled down to Montreal
and caught the next sailing ship to France. Once there he claimed to have discovered the Northwest Passage
. Vignau swore that at the sources of the Ottawa River, he had found a great lake. After crossing it he discovered a river flowing northward. This river led to the shores of the sea. There he had seen the wreck of an English ship whose crew of eighty men had escaped to land and been killed by the Natives. Plus this sea was only seventeen days from Montreal by canoe. It seemed too good to be true.
Vignau was asked by Champlain to sign a formal statement of his discovery before two notaries and agreed to accompany Champlain up the Ottawa river the next spring to investigate the veracity of these claims. In 1613, they reached Allumette island where Champlain asked Tessouat if he would provide a guide to escort them to the source of the river. When Tessouat explained the danger posed by the Sorcerers and violent tribes further north, Champlain explained that Vignau had already gone through their land. Tessouat knew this to be false and denounced Vignau as a liar and braggart. Under pressure Vignau confessed.
Though Nicolas de Vignau did not discover the Northwest Passage, he may have spoken to some natives that had been as far north as Hudson Bay
. The tale of the wrecked British ship may have some basis in fact. Henry Hudson
had sailed into Hudson Bay in 1611 and his ship was set adrift by his mutinous crew there.
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
in New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
. Champlain said of him in his writings "[He is] the most impudent liar that has been seen for a long time".
In 1611, Vignau volunteered to live with a group of Algonquin natives to learn their language and customs. He accompanied them on their journey North to Allumette Island become the second white man to travel up the Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
.
Vignau spent the winter on Allumette island with a band of Algonquins led by a one-eyed chief named Tessouat
Tessouat
Tessouat was an Algonquin chief from the Kitchesipirini nation . His nation lived in an area extending from Lac des Deux-Montagnes to Pembroke, Ontario.Tessouat lived in L'Isle-aux-Allumettes, in a neck of the Ottawa River...
. Anyone coming down the river was forced, by rapids on either side of the island, to portage through Tessouat's territory. Thus his band could easily make a living as toll keepers and fur brokers, buying and selling furs for profit. In the spring of 1612, Vignau paddled down to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and caught the next sailing ship to France. Once there he claimed to have discovered the Northwest Passage
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
. Vignau swore that at the sources of the Ottawa River, he had found a great lake. After crossing it he discovered a river flowing northward. This river led to the shores of the sea. There he had seen the wreck of an English ship whose crew of eighty men had escaped to land and been killed by the Natives. Plus this sea was only seventeen days from Montreal by canoe. It seemed too good to be true.
Vignau was asked by Champlain to sign a formal statement of his discovery before two notaries and agreed to accompany Champlain up the Ottawa river the next spring to investigate the veracity of these claims. In 1613, they reached Allumette island where Champlain asked Tessouat if he would provide a guide to escort them to the source of the river. When Tessouat explained the danger posed by the Sorcerers and violent tribes further north, Champlain explained that Vignau had already gone through their land. Tessouat knew this to be false and denounced Vignau as a liar and braggart. Under pressure Vignau confessed.
Though Nicolas de Vignau did not discover the Northwest Passage, he may have spoken to some natives that had been as far north as Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
. The tale of the wrecked British ship may have some basis in fact. Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson was an English sea explorer and navigator in the early 17th century. Hudson made two attempts on behalf of English merchants to find a prospective Northeast Passage to Cathay via a route above the Arctic Circle...
had sailed into Hudson Bay in 1611 and his ship was set adrift by his mutinous crew there.