d therefore did not
witness the coming of the Jesuits to the colony. This event, which is
a landmark in the history of Quebec and New France, followed upon the
inability of {119} the Recollets to cover the mission field with any
degree of completeness. Conscious that their resources were unequal to
the task, they invoked the aid of the Jesuits, and in this appeal were
strongly supported by Champlain. Once more the horizon seemed to
brighten, for the Jesuits had greater resources and influence than any
other order in the Roman Catholic Church, and their establishment at
Quebec meant much besides a mere increase in the population. The year
1626 saw Champlain again at his post, working hard to complete a new
factory which he had left unfinished, while the buildings of the Jesuit
establishment made good progress under the hand of workmen specially
brought from France. What still remained imperfect was the
fortification. The English had destroyed the French settlements at
Mount Desert and Port Royal. What was to hinder them from bombarding
Quebec?

This danger soon clouded the mood of optimism that had been inspired by
the coming of the Jesuits. The De Caens objected to any outlay on a
fort, and would not give Champlain the men he needed. In reply
Champlain sent the viceroy a report which was unfavourable to the
company and its methods. But even without this {120} representation,
the monopoly of the De Caens was doomed by reason of events which were
taking place in France.

At the court of Louis XIII Richelieu had now gained an eminence and
power such as never before had been possessed by a minister of the
French crown. Gifted with imagination and covetous of national
greatness, he saw the most desirable portions of other continents in
the hands of the Spaniards, the Portuguese, the English, and the Dutch.
The prospect was not pleasing, and he cast about for a remedy.

For Hanotaux,[1] Richelieu is 'the true founder of our colonial
empire,' and La Ronciere adds: 'Madagascar, Senegal, Guiana, the
Antilles, Acadia, and Canada--this, to be exact, was the colonial
empire for which we were indebted to Richelieu.' Regarding his breadth
of outlook there can be no doubt, and in his _Memoirs_ he left the
oft-quoted phrase: 'No realm is so well situated as France to be
mistress of the seas or so rich in all things needful.' Desiring to
strengthen maritime commerce and to hold distant {121} possessions, he
became convi