Louis XIII had named Charles de Bourbon, comte de Soissons, his lieutenant-general in New France on October 8, 1612, but Soissons had died almost immediately.

His successor in the office, Henri II, Prince of Condé, gives Samuel de Champlain the title of lieutenant and the power to exercise command in the lieutenant-general's name, to appoint "such captains and lieutenants as shall be expedient," to "commission officers for administration of justice and maintenance of police authority, regulations and ordinances," to make treaties and carry out wars with the natives, and to restrain merchants who so not belong to the society.

His duties include finding the easiest way to China and the Indies, as well as to find and exploit mines of precious metals in the area.