Bellois. By its constitution the operations of the company were to
extend over a period of eleven years, and its members engaged to
maintain the habitation of Quebec, and a fort, and to build new forts if
necessary, and also to pay the expenses of missionaries, and to send
labourers and workmen to Canada. The Prince de Condé received a salary
of three thousand livres, and the payment of this large amount annually
to the viceroy, caused the merchants to neglect their obligations
towards Champlain.

In the meantime Condé conspired against the Queen Regent and was
incarcerated, and the Maréchal de Thémines was temporarily appointed in
his place. The office of secretary to the viceroy would appear to have
been lucrative, for one applicant, probably Boyer, offered Thémines four
thousand five hundred livres, if he would appoint him to the position.
Condé protested against the charge which had been made against his
agreement, and asked for his salary. De Villemenon, intendant of the
admiralty, opposed the application, and claimed the amount of the salary
for the Quebec settlement.

While Champlain was present in France in 1617 he received a proscription
from the court of parliament, ordering him to resign his office of
lieutenant of the viceroy, as the Company of Rouen had decided to
suppress the salary of the viceroy. Champlain did not take any notice of
this injunction, but started for Quebec. On his return to France during
the same year (1617) Champlain met the Maréchal de Thémines, in order to
induce him, in his capacity of viceroy, to take some interest in the
affairs of New France, as the situation there was becoming
insupportable. The great personages were quarrelling over money matters;
the people of St. Malo were renewing their demands for liberty of
commerce, and the merchants were refusing to invest new capital.