eated Lord of Norumbega,
viceroy and lieutenant-general of Canada, Hochelaga, Saguenay,
Newfoundland, Belle Isle, Carpunt, Labrador, the Great Bay, and
Baccalaos. The name Norumbega is an Indian word, and was used by early
explorers as a general term for the territory that is now Maine, New
Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Baccalaos is the name often given by the
French to Newfoundland, the word itself being of Basque origin and
meaning 'codfish,' while Carpunt will be remembered as a harbour beside
Belle Isle, where Cartier had been stormbound on his first voyage.

The king made every effort to further Roberval's expedition. The Lord
of Norumbega was given 45,000 livres and full authority to enlist
sailors and colonists for his expedition. The latter appears to have
been a difficult task, and, after the custom of the day, recourse was
presently had to the prisons to recruit the ranks of the prospective
settlers. Letters were issued to Roberval authorizing him to search the
jails of Paris, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Rouen, and Dijon and to draw from
them any convicts lying under sentence of death. Exception was made of
heretics, traitors, and counterfeiters, as unfitted for the pious
purpose of the voyage. The gangs of these miscreants, chained together
and under guard, came presently trooping into St Malo. Among them, it
is recorded, walked a young girl of eighteen, unconvicted of any crime,
who of her own will had herself chained to a malefactor, as hideous
physically as morally, whose lot she was determined to share.

To Roberval, as commander of the enterprise, was attached Cartier in
the capacity of captain-general and master-pilot. The letters patent
which contain the appointment speak of him as our 'dear and
well-beloved Jacques Cartier, who has discovered the large countries of
Canada and Hochelaga which lie at the end of Asia.' Cartier received
from Roberval about 31,300 livres. The king gave to him for this voyage
the little ship Emerillon and commanded him to obtain four others and
to arm and equip the five. The preparations for the voyage seem to have
lasted throughout the winter and spring of the years 1540-41. The king
had urged Cartier to start by the middle of April, but it was not until
May 23, 1541, that the ships were actually able to set sail. Even then
Roberval was not ready to leave. Cannon, powder, and a varied equipment
that had been purchased for the voyage were still lying at various
points in Normandy an