Guillaume de Caen took with him on his vessel three Jesuit fathers and two brothers.  These were Fathers Charles Lalemant, Jean de Brebeuf and Enemond Masse.  The brothers were Francois Charton and Gilbert Burel.  Father Lalemant, formerly director of the college of Clermont, was appointed director of the mission.  Champlain speaks of him as a very devoted and zealous man.  Father Masse had been previously in Acadia, where he proved his devotedness to the Indians.  Father de Brebeuf, the youngest of the three, was distinguished by reason of his mature judgment and great prudence.  The number of the Recollets was increased by the arrival of Father Joseph de la Roche d’Aillon, a man of noble and exalted character.

De Caen’s vessel sailed from Dieppe, and although the voyage was long, it was a pleasant one.  When the Jesuits reached Quebec, they met with strong opposition from the clerks, and there was no residence prepared for them.  The only course which appeared open to them was to return to France, unless they could find a lodging with the Recollets.

In the meantime the clerks circulated a pamphlet amongst the families of the settlement, with a view to creating a prejudice against the Jesuits.  It was L’Anticoton,[23] a libellous communication, which had been proven false by Father Coton.  The Recollets at once extended a courteous invitation to the Jesuits, which they gratefully accepted, and took up their residence in the convent.  The Recollets also begged them to accept as a loan the timber work of a building which had been prepared for their own use.

The gratitude of the Jesuits under these circumstances, is not sufficiently well known.  Father Lalemant’s letter addressed to the Provincial of the Recollets in France, admirably sets forth their position, and will be read with interest by every student of this portion of our history.

“Reverend Father:  Pax Christi.  It would be too ungrateful were I not to write to your Reverence to thank you for the many letters lately written in our favour to the Fathers who are here in New France, and for the charity which we have received from the Fathers, who put us under eternal obligation.  I beseech our good God to be the reward of you both.  For myself, I write to our Superiors that I feel it so deeply that I will let no occasion pass of showing it, and I beg them, although already most affectionately disposed, to show your whole holy order the same feelings.  Father Joseph will tell your Reverence the object of his voyage, for the success of which we shall not cease to offer prayers and sacrifices to God.  This time we must advance in good earnest the affairs of our Master, and omit nothing that shall be deemed necessary.  I have written to all who, I thought, could aid it, and I am sure they will exert themselves, if affairs in France permit.  Your Reverence, I doubt not, is affectionately inclined, and so vis unita, our united effort, will do much.  Awaiting the result, I commend myself to the Holy Sacrifice of your Reverence, whose most humble servant I am.

“Charles Lalemant.”