Wilmont Kreis

August 11, 2017
Along with the many tales told by Benoît and Berniet, I could not resist the odd story of Anne de Noue. This elderly priest, a son of a nobleman came to Québec in 1626. He traveled about Canada studying native language and preaching to the natives. In January 1643, the elderly and likely senile prelate set out in poor weather from Trois-Rivières to preach to a native community. When he failed to arrive or return, it was thought he had been captured by Iroquois. Days later his frozen body was found lying on his back with his arms crosses, his eyes frozen open looking at the sky. Although his death was eventually called accidental, there was still a fear he had fallen afoul of the Iroquois, raising the fear of native attacks.