The period of the De Caens was marked by the presence at Quebec of Madame Champlain.  The romance of Champlain’s life does not, however, revolve about his marriage.  In 1610, at the age of forty-three, he espoused Helene Boulle, whose father was secretary of the King’s Chamber to Henry iv.  As the bride was only twelve years old, the marriage contract provided that she should remain two years longer with her parents.  She brought a dowry of six thousand livres, and simultaneously Champlain made his will in her favour.  Probably De Monts had some part in arranging the marriage, for Nicholas Boulle was a Huguenot and De Monts appears as a witness to the notarial documents.  Subsequently, Madame Champlain became an enthusiastic Catholic and ended her days as a nun.  She had no children, and was only once in Canada, residing continuously at Quebec from 1620 to 1624.  No mention whatever is made of her in Champlain’s writings, but he named St Helen’s Island after her, and appears to have been unwilling that she should enter a convent during his lifetime.

One need feel little surprise that Madame Champlain should not care to visit Canada a second time, for the buildings at Quebec had fallen into disrepair, and more than once the supply of food ran very low.  During 1625 Champlain remained in France with his wife, and therefore did not witness the coming o the Jesuits to the colony.  This event, which is a landmark in the history of Quebec and New France, followed upon the inability of the Recollets to cover the mission field with any degree of completeness.  Conscious that their resources were unequal to the task, they invoked the aid of the Jesuits, and in this appeal were strongly supported by Champlain.  Once more the horizon seemed to brighten, for the Jesuits had greater resources and influence than any other order in the Roman Catholic Church, and their establishment at Quebec meant much besides a mere increase in the population.  The year 1626 saw Champlain again at his post, working hard to complete a new factory which he had left unfinished, while the buildings of the Jesuit establishment made good progress under the hand of workmen specially brought from France.  What still remained imperfect was the fortification.  The English had destroyed the French settlements at Mount Desert and Port Royal.  What was to hinder them from bombarding Quebec?

This danger soon clouded the mood of optimism that had been inspired by the coming of the Jesuits.  The De Caens objected to any outlay on a fort, and would not give Champlain the men he needed.  In reply Champlain sent the viceroy a report which was unfavourable to the company and its methods.  But even without this representation, the monopoly of the De Caens was doomed by reason of events which were taking place in France.

At the court of Louis XIII Richelieu had now gained an eminence and power such as never before had been possessed by a minister of the French crown.  Gifted with imagination and covetous of national greatness, he saw the most desirable portions of other continents in the hands of the Spaniards, the Portuguese, the English, and the Dutch.  The prospect was not pleasing, and he cast about for a remedy.