( 1585 - 1642 ) became the most powerful person in France during the reign of King Louis XIII. In part because Louis was a weak king and in part because Richelieu, himself, was so strong. Richelieu in his role as chief of the Royal Council, and later First Minister and Chief of State, had control of almost every facet of French politics, from the daily activities of the court to foreign policy and affairs. His dual role as head of the church in France and chief of state, allowed him to control the very direction he wished the government to go.

Under Richelieu the strategy of colonization was two fold. The Jesuits the strongest and most influential of the religious orders, established the goals of converting the Indians to Christianity. The thought was that the Indians, once converted, would become role players in the settling of the land. The strategy proved unsuccessful, the Indians while in some cases accepting Christianity, had no desire to give up their way of life. It soon became obvious that if the land was to become developed in the image of France, it would be through immigration using settlers from France, not through the integration of the Indian into the agriculture or socio-economic structure of the French way of life.

In France, Richelieu granted a charter to the Company of One Hundred Associates in 1627. Under the charter, the Company was granted full title to land extending from Florida to the Arctic Circle. In return the Company was obliged to bring out 200- 300 settlers in 1628 and 4000 more during the next 15 years.

The Company had an investment of 300,000 livres ( the livre being the basic monetary unit worth about $2.00 US.)

Unfortunately for the company, their first convoy of four ships and 400 settlers was captured in the Gulf of St. Lawrence resulting in a total loss of supplies to the settlers already in New France and the Company was forced to look at other means of colonizing.

The French devised a scheme of Land Grants to persons of means. For gentlemen of France who had served their country well, huge grants of land were made in New France, but with these grants came certain obligations. The system known as the 'Seigneurial System' obligated the 'Seigneur' to bring settlers out from France who then were given portions of the land grant in return for providing services to the 'lord' (seigneur). The services were such activities as helping the seigneur to develop his land, building the seigneurial mansion, government buildings and churches.. In return the settlers received their passage from New France to the New World, a stipend identified by the 'contract' signed before leaving France, and, where warranted, a portion of the land grant for the settler to farm on his own.

Religion, however, did play a significant role in solidifying and maintaining the presence of the church and the strong fabric of French society. The parish priests held together the communities, keeping together the family units whose most important link was the parish church. Consequently the building of the local church held a high priority in every seigneury.

It was here the early Cloutiers played so prominent a role. Zacharie Cloutier was recruited by Giffard not for his potential as a farmer, but for his skills as a builder. He was first a carpenter but later also became a skilled mason as well. His responsibilities were to construct the Government buildings, the Manor House, and the Parish church. Consequently he never did 'farm' in the true sense of the word. After he completed his 'servitude' with Giffard he took his trade to other communities to build their churches.

In short Cardinal Richelieu's policies with regard to the spread of Christianity, and his seigneurial system approach to settlement molded well with the skills and ambitions of Zacharie Cloutier I who put these policies into practice in the new land.

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