The Journeys of Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, Volume 1 Page: 239 of 330

                                
LA SALLE

young gentlemen to join the Sieur de la
Salle as volunteers; he chose twelve who
seemed most resolute, among them the Sieur
de Morange and Sieur Cavelier, his
nephews, the latter only fourteen years of
age.
The little fleet was fitted out at Rochelle,
to be composed of four vessels-the Joly, a
royal ship; a frigate called the Belle, a storeship
called the Amiable and a ketch called
the St. Francis. The royal vessel was commanded
by Captain de Beaujeu, a Norman
gentleman, known for valor and experience
and his meritorious services; his lieutenant
was M. le Chevalier d'Aire, now captain in
the navy, and son of the dean of the Parliament
of Metz. The Sieur de Hamel, a
young gentleman of Bruage, full of fire and
courage, was ensign. Would to God the
troops and the rest of the crew had been
as well chosen I Those who were appointed
while M. de la Salle was at Paris picked up
a hundred and fifty soldiers, mere wretched
beggars soliciting alms, many too deformed
and unable to fire a musket. The Sieur de
la Salle had also given orders at Rochelle
to engage three or four mechanics in each
trade; the selection was, however, so bad
that when they came to the destination and
they were set to work it was seen that they
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