Bourdon was a man of great capacity, and he in turn filled the role of surveyor, engineer, cartographer, delineator, farmer, diplomat and lawyer.  He saw the colony increasing, and knew eight governors of the colony, including Champlain.  He was also acquainted with Bishop Laval, the Venerable Mother Marie Guyart de l’Incarnation, and was on good terms with the Jesuits and the nuns of the Hotel Dieu and Ursuline Convent.  Bourdon played an important part in the affairs of the colony.  He was present at the foundation of the Jesuits’ college, of the Quebec seminary, and of the Conseil Souverain, of which he was procureur fiscal.  Of his personal qualities, the Venerable Mother de l’Incarnation has written that he was “the father of the poor, the comfort of orphans and widows, a good example for everybody.”

One of the articles of the act incorporating the Company of New France, provided that the colony was to be settled with French and Catholic subjects only.  This provision may appear at first sight to be arbitrary, but when we consider that one of the chief objects of the colonization of New France was to convert the savages, and that the Huguenots with their new form of religion were, generally speaking, hostile to the king and to the Catholics, it seems to have been a judicious provision.  In such a small community the existence of two creeds so opposed to each other could hardly have produced harmony, and as the Catholics were undertaking the enterprise and it originated with them, they surely had the right to do what they considered would most effectively secure their ends.

For political reasons this action could also be defended, for the loyalty of the Huguenots was, perhaps, doubtful, and their past actions did not offer any guarantee for the future.  They did not hesitate to preach revolt against the authorities of France, and, therefore, intimate connection with the Indians might have produced results prejudicial to the colony.  If France had the welfare of the colony at heart, it behooved her to exclude every disturbing element.  Viewed impartially, this precaution was undoubtedly just, and those who blame the company for their action, do not rightly understand the difficulties which existed at that period.

Richelieu, who had a clear insight into the affairs of the time, did not prohibit trade between the Huguenots and the Indians, but he refused them permission to settle in Canada, or to remain there for any length of time without special leave.  Champlain had observed the attitude of the Huguenots, their unwillingness to erect a fort at Quebec, their persecution of the Catholics, and their treatment of the Jesuits, and although he was not fanatical, he was pleased with this rule.  The foundation of the new settlement was based upon religion, and religion was essential to its progress.  Peace and harmony must be maintained, and everything that would promote trouble or quarrel must be excluded.