In the year 1612, Champlain, it appears, had placed too much confidence in the influence of Henri de Conde, viceroy of New France.  This nobleman proved to be a source of trouble rather than a friend to the new colony.  Two years after, Champlain formed an association of the merchants of St. Malo and Rouen, who invested a large capital for the development of trade in Quebec.  The chief members of the company were Francois Porree, Lucas Legendre, Louis Vermeulle, Mathieu d’Insterlo, Pierre Eon, Thomas Cochon, Pierre Trublet, Vincent Grave, Daniel Boyer and Corneille de 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 Conde 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 Conde conspired against the Queen Regent and was incarcerated, and the Marechal de Themines 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 Themines four thousand five hundred livres, if he would appoint him to the position.  Conde 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 Marechal de Themines, 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.  Champlain had a series of difficulties, which he endeavoured to remove before his return to Quebec, and he drew up his grievances in two large factums, one of which was presented to the king, and the other to the Board of Trade of Paris.