e investigation of 1620, it was Champlain's report which
determined the issue. Five years later, when the Duc de Ventadour
became viceroy in place of Montmorency, Champlain still remained
lieutenant-general of New {117} France. Such were his character,
services, and knowledge that his tenure could not be questioned.

Notwithstanding this source of satisfaction, the post was difficult in
the extreme. The government continued to leave colonizing in the hands
of the traders, and the traders continued to shirk their obligations.
The Company of the De Caens did a large business, but suffered more
severely than any of its predecessors from the strife of Catholic and
Huguenot. Those of the reformed religion even held their services in
the presence of the Indians, thus anticipating the scandals of Kikuyu.
Though the Duc de Ventadour gave orders that there should be no
psalm-singing after the outbound ships passed Newfoundland, this
provision seems not to have been effective. It was a difficult problem
for one like Champlain, who, while a loyal Catholic, had been working
all his life with Huguenot associates.

The period of the De Caens was marked by the presence at Quebec of
Madame Champlain. The romance of Champlain's life does not, however,
revolve about his marriage. In 1610, at the age of forty-three, he
espoused Helene Boulle, whose father was secretary of the King's
Chamber to Henry IV. {118} As the bride was only twelve years old, the
marriage contract provided that she should remain two years longer with
her parents. She brought a dowry of six thousand livres, and
simultaneously Champlain made his will in her favour. Probably De
Monts had some part in arranging the marriage, for Nicholas Boulle was
a Huguenot and De Monts appears as a witness to the notarial documents.
Subsequently, Madame Champlain became an enthusiastic Catholic and
ended her days as a nun. She had no children, and was only once in
Canada, residing continuously at Quebec from 1620 to 1624. No mention
whatever is made of her in Champlain's writings, but he named St
Helen's Island after her, and appears to have been unwilling that she
should enter a convent during his lifetime.

One need feel little surprise that Madame Champlain should not care to
visit Canada a second time, for the buildings at Quebec had fallen into
disrepair, and more than once the supply of food ran very low. During
1625 Champlain remained in France with his wife, an