and twelve persons, including the two savages who had
been brought from Gaspe in the preceding voyage, and who
were now to return as guides and interpreters of the
expedition.

Whether or not there were any priests on board the ships
is a matter that is not clear. The titles of two persons
in the roll--Dom Guillaume and Dom Antoine--seem to
suggest a priestly calling. But the fact that Cartier
made no attempt to baptize the Indians to whom he narrated
the truths of the Gospel, and that he makes no mention
of priests in connection with any of the sacred ceremonies
which he carried out, seem to show that none were included
in the expedition. There is, indeed, reference in the
narrative to the hearing of mass, but it relates probably
to the mere reading of prayers by the explorer himself.
On one occasion, also, as will appear, Cartier spoke to
the Indians of what his priests had told him, but the
meaning of the phrase is doubtful.

Before sailing, every man of the company repaired to the
Cathedral Church of St Malo, where all confessed their
sins and received the benediction of the good bishop of
the town. This was on the day and feast of Pentecost in
1535, and three days later, on May 19, the ships sailed
out from the little harbour and were borne with a fair
wind beyond the horizon of the west. But the voyage was
by no means as prosperous as that of the year before.
The ships kept happily together until May 26. Then they
were assailed in mid-Atlantic by furious gales from the