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About the time of Cartier’s return to St Malo in 1536, Francis I declared war on the Emperor Charles V. This prevented the French king from devoting his attention to western exploration, and it was not until the Agreement of Nice was come to, making provision for a ten years’ peace, that he could listen to the explorer’s prayers for assistance in extending his discoveries. At length Cartier’s petitions were successful, and he was granted a new commission on October 17, 1540. But court influence was at work, and a court favourite was to take the leading place in the next voyage to Canada; for, on January 15, 1541, a commission was issued giving Jean François de la Roque, Sieur de Roberval, absolute command of the projected expedition.

Roberval was created Lord of Norumbega, Viceroy and Lieutenant-General of Canada, Hochelaga, Saguenay, Newfoundland, Belle Isle, Rapont, Labrador, the Great Bay and Baccalaos. This included part of what is now the United States, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, the known islands of the Gulf of St Lawrence, the territory drained by the St Lawrence River, and the Labrador coast. The king granted Roberval money wherewith to equip his fleet, and authorized him to take from the prisons all malefactors condemned to death, save those guilty of treason or counterfeiting. Roberval undertook to settle families in Canada and to build forts. Cartier made ready five ships at St Malo and collected his crews and colonists, many of whom came in chains to the vessels. On account of difficulty in collecting his artillery, powder, etc., Roberval was likely to be delayed indefinitely, and Cartier was instructed to sail to Canada in advance. His ships left St Malo on May 23, 1541. Owing to stormy weather he was a full month in reaching Newfoundland. Cartier waited for a lengthy period in Rapont expecting Roberval, but finally sailed without him for the St Croix, where he arrived on August 23, three months after leaving St Malo.

The inhabitants of Stadacona anxiously inquired for Donnacona and his fellow-chiefs. Cartier told them that Donnacona was dead, but that the other chiefs had married great ladies and were happily settled in France. The Agouhanna who ruled in Donnacona’s place seemed pleased, but the Indians generally doubted the news, and with good reason. Donnacona had indeed died, but all the other Indians taken to France were likewise dead, save one little girl of ten, who had been presented to Cartier by the chief of Hochelay, an Indian village on the St Lawrence where Three Rivers now stands.

Remembering his unpleasant experience on the St Croix in 1535, Cartier sailed past Stadacona and decided to erect a fort about nine miles from the present city of Quebec. There, at the mouth of the Cap Rouge River, he landed his provisions, his furniture and artillery, together with ‘cattle, hogs, and other beasts which we carried for breed in the country.’ A fort was erected on the shore and another and stronger one on the summit of the high cliff. It was late to begin cultivating the soil, but Cartier set his men to work, and soon had an acre and a half ready for seed. He sowed this with cabbage, turnips and lettuce, ‘which grew and sprung up out of the ground in eight days.’ This marks the beginning of agriculture by men of European extraction in Canada. To his settlement Cartier gave the name Charlesbourg Royal. Near Charlesbourg traces of minerals, supposed to be gold and silver, were discovered, and crystals of quartz, which, from their brilliancy in the sunlight, the French thought to be diamonds. After Cartier had everything comfortably arranged at his fort, he sent two ships, under the command of his brother-in-law, Mace Jalobert, and his nephew, Stephen Noel, to France to report his arrival to the king.

On September 7 Cartier ascended the St Lawrence, hoping to discover the province of Saguenay. He reached the rapids above Montreal on September 11 and toiled past two of them. There was another to pass before the river (the Ottawa) leading to Saguenay could be entered, but, as he was told that the river was not navigable, he decided to return to Charlesbourg Royal. Mention is made of an Indian village named Tutonagay at the rapids, but the story of this expedition is silent with regard to Hochelaga. Could the prosperous Indian town which had so aroused the explorer’s enthusiasm only six years before have been swept out of existence by the Iroquois and their allies?

When Cartier reached Charlesbourg Royal he found the situation critical. The Indians were most threatening, and the French during the entire winter were kept on the alert to prevent attack. But there is no reliable information regarding this sojourn in Canada. The colonists evidently escaped the scurvy, but, surrounded as they were by unfriendly Indians, the winter could not have been a pleasant one. In the spring there were still no signs of Roberval, and Cartier made ready to return to France.

During the whole of 1541 Roberval remained in France, and was for a time engaged in making predatory raids on English commerce. He sailed from La Rochelle for Canada on April 16, 1542, with three vessels, but was driven back by stress of weather, and reached St John’s, Newfoundland, only on June 18. Here he found seventeen French and Portuguese fishing vessels. On July 9 Cartier entered the harbour on his return from Charlesbourg Royal. He showed Roberval specimens of the diamonds and gold he had found, and the latter was ‘tried in a furnace and found to be good.’ Roberval ordered Cartier to return, but, according to the narrative of this expedition, ‘he stole privily away,’ in order to have ‘all the glory of the discovery of these parts.’ This seems doubtful. Cartier had waited for over a month for Roberval in Rapont; he had sent back vessels from Charlesbourg Royal, with regrets at Roberval’s non-arrival, and it was not like him to refuse obedience to a superior officer. Moreover, he had made no new discoveries save the questionable diamonds and gold, and he had nothing glorious to report to the king.

Roberval spent a week in St John’s Harbour, then sailed round the north of the island, where he is said to have marooned his niece, her lover and nurse on an island—a story of doubtful authenticity. He arrived at Charlesbourg Royal about the end of July, and at once landed his stores and colonists. He named his settlement France Roy or Françoys Roy, and called the St Lawrence France Prime; and sent back his lieutenant, Paul d’Auxillon, Seigneur de Saineterre, to report to the king, and to bring back supplies in the following year. He was in charge of an unruly colony of men and women and governed them with a severe hand. Michael Gaillon he hanged for theft. John Nantez was ‘laid in irons and kept prisoner.’ During the winter hanging and whipping of both men and women were common, and several men and women were shot for insubordination. Scurvy visited the settlement and some fifty died from this disease.

On June 5, 1543, Roberval ascended the St Lawrence in search of the province of Saguenay. He returned from his fruitless quest towards the end of July. During the summer Saineterre was dispatched by Francis I to bring back Roberval, and must have arrived at the settlement not later than the beginning of August, for both Saineterre and Roberval were back in France before September 11. Cartier could not have accompanied Saineterre on this voyage, as the records show that he was in France in March, April and July 1543.

The fishermen and fur traders continued to visit the St Lawrence, and gradually the possibilities of the region impressed themselves on French mariners and merchants. At length a man was found who had confidence in the country. Champlain was to be the true founder of New France. By his dogged determination, daring and diplomacy he was to succeed where Cartier and Roberval had failed.