Great Conde, at this time fifteen years old. "Dieu soit loue! tout le
ciel de nostre chere Patrie nous promet de fauorables influences, iusques
a ce nouuel astre, qui commence a paroistre parmy ceux de la premiere
grandeur."--Le Jeune, Relation, 1636, 3, 4. ] In his eyes, the vicious
imbecile who sat on the throne of France was the anointed champion of the
Faith, and the cruel and ambitious priest who ruled king and nation alike
was the chosen instrument of Heaven. Church and State, linked in
alliance close and potential, played faithfully into each other's hands;
and that enthusiasm, in which the Jesuit saw the direct inspiration of
God, was fostered by all the prestige of royalty and all the patronage of
power. And, as often happens where the interests of a hierarchy are
identified with the interests of a ruling class, religion was become a
fashion, as graceful and as comforting as the courtier's embroidered
mantle or the court lady's robe of fur.

Such, we may well believe, was the complexion of the enthusiasm which
animated some of Le Jeune's noble and princely correspondents. But there
were deeper fervors, glowing in the still depths of convent cells,
and kindling the breasts of their inmates with quenchless longings.
Yet we hear of no zeal for the mission among religious communities of
men. The Jesuits regarded the field as their own, and desired no rivals.
They looked forward to the day when Canada should be another Paraguay.
[ "Que si celuy qui a escrit cette lettre a leu la Relation de ce qui se
passe au Paraguais, qu'il a veu ce qui se fera un jour en la Nouuelle
France."--Le Jeune, Relation, 1637, 304 (Cramoisy). ] It was to the
combustible hearts of female recluses that the torch was most busily
applied; and here, accordingly, blazed forth a prodigious and amazing
flame. "If all had their pious will," writes Le Jeune, "Quebec would
soon be flooded with nuns." [ Chaulmer. Le Nouveau Monde Chrestien, 41,
is eloquent on this theme. ]