A man of honour like Champlain could not have tricked Hebert into the bad bargain he made, and their friendship survived the incident.  But a company which transacted its business in this fashion was not likely to enjoy long life.  Its chief asset was Champlain’s friendship with the Indians, especially after his long sojourn with them in 1615 and 1616.  Some years, particularly 1617, showed a large profit, but as time went on friction arose between the Huguenots of La Rochelle and the Catholics of Rouen.  Then there were interlopers to be prosecuted, and the quarrels of Conde with the government brought with them trouble to the merchants whose monopoly depended on his grant.  For three years (1616-19) the viceroy of Canada languished in the Bastille.  Shortly after his release he sold his viceregal rights to the Duke of Montmorency, Admiral of France.  The price was 11,000 crowns.

In 1619 Champlain’s company ventured to disagree with its founder, and, as a consequence, another crisis arose in the affairs of New France.  The cause of dispute was the company’s unwillingness to keep its promises regarding colonization.  Champlain protested.  The company replied that Pontgrave should be put in charge at Quebec.  Champlain then said that Pontgrave was his old friend, and he hoped they would always be friends, but that he was at Quebec as the viceroy’s representative, charged with the duty of defending his interests.  The leader of Champlain’s opponents among the shareholders was Boyer, a trader who had formerly given much trouble to De Monts, but was now one of the associates.  When in the spring of 1619 Champlain attempted to sail for Quebec as usual, Boyer prevented him from going aboard.  There followed an appeal to the crown, in which Champlain was fully sustained, and Boyer did penance by offering a public apology before the Exchange at Rouen.

It was shortly after this incident that Conde abdicated in favour of Montmorency.  The admiral, like his predecessor, accepted a thousand crowns a year and named Champlain as his lieutenant.  He also instituted an inquiry regarding the alleged neglect of the company to maintain the post at Quebec.  The investigation showed that abundant cause existed for depriving the company of its monopoly, and in consequence the grant was transferred, on similar terms, to William and Emery de Caen.  Here complications at once ensued.  The De Caens, who were natives of Rouen, were also Huguenots, a fact that intensified the ill-feeling which had already arisen on the St Lawrence between Catholic and heretic.  The dispute between the new beneficiaries and the company founded by Champlain involved no change in the policy of the crown towards trade and colonization.  It was a quarrel of persons, which eventually reached a settlement in 1622.  The De Caens then compromised by reorganizing the company and giving their predecessors five-twelfths of the shares.