sistance. In
the circumstances it is not strange that Champlain remained two years
ashore.

The man to whom he owed most at this juncture was Aymar de Chastes.
Though Champlain had served the king faithfully, his youth and birth
prevented him from doing more than belongs to the duty of a subaltern.
But De Chastes, as governor of Dieppe, at a time when the League seemed
everywhere triumphant, gave Henry aid which proved to be the means of
raising him from the dust. It was a critical event for Champlain that
early in 1603 De Chastes had determined to fit out an expedition to
Canada. Piety and patriotism seem to have been his dominant motives,
but an opening for profit was also {12} offered by a monopoly of the
Laurentian fur trade. During the civil wars Champlain's strength of
character had become known at first hand to De Chastes, who both liked
and admired him. Then, just at the right moment, he reached
Fontainebleau, with his good record as a soldier and the added prestige
which had come to him from his successful voyage to the West Indies.
He and De Chastes concluded an agreement, the king's assent was
specially given, and in the early spring of 1603 the founder of New
France began his first voyage to the St Lawrence.

Champlain was now definitely committed to the task of gaining for
France a foothold in North America. This was to be his steady purpose,
whether fortune frowned or smiled. At times circumstances seemed
favourable; at other times they were most disheartening. Hence, if we
are to understand his life and character, we must consider, however
briefly, the conditions under which he worked.

It cannot be said that Champlain was born out of his right time. His
active years coincide with the most important, most exciting period in
the colonial movement. At the outset Spain had gone beyond all rivals
in the {13} race for the spoils of America. The first stage was marked
by unexampled and spectacular profits. The bullion which flowed from
Mexico and Peru was won by brutal cruelty to native races, but Europe
accepted it as wealth poured forth in profusion from the mines. Thus
the first conception of a colony was that of a marvellous
treasure-house where gold and silver lay piled up awaiting the arrival
of a Cortez or a Pizarro.

Unhappily disillusion followed. Within two generations from the time
of Columbus it became clear that America did not yield bonanza to every
adventurer. Yet throughout