Before leaving Quebec Pont-Grave desired Champlain to read publicly the commission which he had received from Guillaume de Caen.  After grand mass on June 17th Champlain read Pont-Grave’s commission and his own in the presence of all the people, and he added some words, by which it was easily understood that the king’s authority had to be superior to Guillaume de Caen’s commissions.  Pont-Grave replied at once:  “I see that you believe in the nullity of my commission!” “Yes,” replied Champlain, “when it comes in conflict with the king’s and the viceroy’s authority.”  This petty dispute had no serious consequence, as it was evident that Pont-Grave, being only the first clerk of Guillaume de Caen, had no other authority than to take care of the peltry and merchandise belonging to his chief.

Before turning their attention to Canada Guillaume and Emery de Caen had belonged to a large company trading with the East Indies.  Both were Calvinists.  Sagard writes that Guillaume was polite, liberal, and of good understanding.  This testimony seems somewhat exaggerated, as we have many proofs of his niggardliness.  His nephew Emery was frank, liberal and open to conviction, and was always kindly disposed towards the Jesuits.  Guillaume de Caen was the commodore of the fleet equipped by his associates.  His greatest fault appears to have been that he neglected Champlain and the colony, and for that reason he should share the responsibility of not having prevented the capitulation of Quebec.  However, it is scarcely fair to say of him that he worked directly against the French in New France.  After the capitulation of 1629, Cardinal Richelieu wrote of him to the French ambassador in London:  “Please examine his actions.  Being a Huguenot, and having been much displeased with the new company of Canada, I have entertained a suspicion that he connived with the English.  I have not a sure knowledge of it, but you will please me if you inform me of his conduct.”

This suspicion seems unfounded, because Guillaume de Caen was personally interested in the fate of Quebec.  His merchandise which was seized by Kirke was valued at about forty thousand ecus.  If he had made some agreement with Kirke he would have had no difficulty in recovering his goods after the capitulation, but such was not the case.

As to Emery de Caen we must say that he took an active part in the defence of the colony, and perhaps he might have saved Quebec, had not one of his sailors committed a grave imprudence at a critical juncture.  The facts are as follows:  The Treaty of Suze, which was signed on April 24th, 1629, had established peace between France and England.  Being aware of this fact Emery de Caen equipped a vessel for the purpose of bringing back to France all the furs and merchandise which were the property of his uncle.  When he arrived near the Escoumins a dense fog obscured the coast, and his vessel ran aground on Red Island, opposite Tadousac.  Having succeeded in floating