A new benafactor, Montmorency, and a new employer, the Compagnie des Marchands de Rouen et de Saint Malo (Merchants of Rouen and St. Malo) and a new start. He would remain throughout most of the summer, helping everyone get settled and supervising construction and repairs, but headed back to France on August 28, to take care of other business.
The Huron Women had introduced Champlain to a special bread they made with ground corn, and a variety of field berries, so this may have been one of the first recipes tried by the new inhabitants.
The ships that brought the colonists, also brought sickles, scythes and spades, and the Canadian people schooled the French in the cultivation of maize, beans, pumpkin and squash; which they knew by experience; all grew well in the climate and terrain. When winter was approaching, they were introduced to toboggans, snowshoes, and warm clothing, all things necessary if they hoped to survive the cold. They were getting off to a good start.
Under the terms of the contract, De Caen must agree to settle six French families per year and not to interefere with the work of the missionaries. The directors of the Company of De Caen, included Guillaume Robin, Jacques De Troyes, Francois Herve, Francois De Troyes, Claude Le Ragois and Pierre De Verton. The companies in control of New France, changed so many times that I'm sure Champlain could hardly keep up, but at least someone was chanelling money his way, and that was all that mattered.
On May 8, 1620; his wife Helene showed up with her entourage and would remain for four years. On June 3, the Recollets laid the cornerstone of the first stone church and convent in Kebec, called the Notre Dame des Anges and on July 20, construction began on Fort Saint Louis, which Champlain strategically located on Cape Diamond, where he could keep an eye on the comings and goings of his small colony.
The first mass was held there by Father Jean D'Olbeau, just before he left for the Tadoussac Trading Post which was also in need of spiritual direction.
The priests were concerned that free thinking and free trading would pose a threat to the fur trade and religious monopoly; which was consistent with the French philosophy of absolutism; one King, one Religion.
Also with their help, the Huron-Canadians were building a trading empire and fast becoming the major merchandising concern in that area of the country; not only in furs; but also beans and corn, which they provided to the settlers and trading posts, and tobacco which was exported to France.
But along with internal conflicts, New France was also being affected by outside forces. The pirates who were firmly established in Newfoundland, were becoming more troublesome. Between 1612 and 1620, they had claimed more than 40,000 pounds in booty, and captured almost 1100 fur traders and fishermen, who were later sold into slavery.
And then on November 9, 1620; a ship called the Mayflower, arrived at Cape Cod. The race was on.
The first thing he did was impose a monopoly on all commerce, believing that the colonies existed only to enrich France. Therefore, all raw material must be sent home and only goods manufactured in France, could be used in the colonies.
He also began recruiting a hundred French, Roman Catholic men of wealth and influence to take control of New France, and passed a law that only Roman Catholics were allowed in. Any hugenots there at the time, were not allowed to hold service, though many simply went out on the water a bit to neutral territory, where they would loudly recite their prayers and doctrines.
The Recollets now had six missions in New France: Tadoussac, Kebec, Trois Rivieres, Carhagouha in Hurononia, one in Nipissing and another along the St. John River in Acadia.
The Durch had recently built Fort Orange on the Hudson River (Albany) and the Dutch East India Company would soon purchase Manhattan for about $ 40.00 worth of trade goods.
At Tadoussac there were less than 40 French people and a mere 107 at Kebec; yet 20,000 furs were taken in 1627 alone, netting a 40% return on investment. Finally, the Council of the State of France revoked the monopoly of De Caen and others, and gave the new One Hundred Associates, which was controlled by Cardinal Richelieu, full seigniorial rights to New France and a fur trade monopoly for 15 years, that also included Acadia and Newfoundland. In exchange they were to nominate a governor, who would be appointed by the king, and settle 4,000 colonists by 1643.
