Cartier thought, that they merited narration to the king
of France himself. If Donnacona had actually seen them,
it was fitting that he should describe them in the
august presence of Francis I.

The result was a plot which succeeded. The two ships,
the Grande Hermine and the Emerillon, lay at anchor ready
to sail. Owing to the diminished numbers of his company,
Cartier had decided to abandon the third ship. He announced
a final ceremony to signalize the approaching departure.
On May 3, 1536, a tall cross, thirty-five feet high was
planted on the river bank. Beneath the cross-bar it
carried the arms of France, and on the upper part a scroll
in ancient lettering that read, 'FRANCISCUS PRIMUS DEI
GRATIA FRANCORUM REX REGNAT' Which means, freely translated,
'Francis I, by the grace of God King of the French, is
sovereign.' Donnacona, Taignoagny, Domagaya and a few
others, who had been invited to come on board the ships,
found themselves the prisoners of the French. At first
rage and consternation seized upon the savages, deprived
by this stratagem of their chief. They gathered in great
numbers on the bank, and their terrifying howls and
war-cries resounded throughout the night. But Donnacona,
whether from simplicity or craft, let himself be pacified
with new presents and with the promise of a speedy return
in the year following. He showed himself on the deck of
the captain's ship, and his delighted followers gathered
about in their canoes and swore renewed friendship with
the white men, whom they had, in all likelihood, plotted
to betray. Gifts were exchanged, and the French bestowed