It is plain that Frontenac’s career, so vigorously begun during the Thirty Years’ War, had not developed in a like degree during the period (1648-61) from the outbreak of the Fronde to the death of Mazarin.  There was no doubt as to his capacity.  Saint-Simon calls him ’a man of excellent parts, living much in society.’  And again, when speaking of Madame de Frontenac, he says:  ’Like her husband she had little property and abundant wit.’  The bane of Frontenac’s life at this time was his extravagance.  He lived like a millionaire till his money was gone.  Not far from Blois he had the estate of Isle Savary—­a, property quite suited to his station had he been prudent.  But his plans for developing it, with gardens, fountains, and ponds, were wholly beyond his resources.  At Versailles, also, he sought to keep pace with men whose ancestral wealth enabled them to do the things which he longed to do, but which fortune had placed beyond his reach.  Hence, notwithstanding his buoyancy and talent, Frontenac had gained a reputation for wastefulness which did not recommend him, in 1661, to the prudent Colbert.  Nor was he fitted by character or training for administrative duty.  His qualifications were such as are of use at a post of danger.

His time came in 1669.  At the beginning of that year he was singled out by Turenne for a feat of daring which placed him before the eyes of all Europe.  A contest was about to close which for twenty-five years had been waged with a stubbornness rarely equalled.  This was the struggle of the Venetians with the Turks for the possession of Crete. [Footnote:  This was not the first time that Frontenac had fought against the Turks.  Under La Feuillade and Coligny he had taken part in Montecuculli’s campaign in 1664 against the Turks in Hungary, and was present at the great victory of St Gothard on the Raab.  The regiment of Carignan-Salieres was also engaged on this occasion.  In the next year it came to Canada, and Lorin thinks that the association of Frontenac with the Carignan regiment in this campaign may have been among the causes of his nomination to the post of governor.] To Venice defeat meant the end of her glory as an imperial power.  The Republic had lavished treasure upon this war as never before—­a sum equivalent in modern money to fifteen hundred million dollars.  Even when compelled to borrow at seven per cent, Venice kept up the fight and opened the ranks of her nobility to all who would pay sixty thousand ducats.  Nor was the valour of the Venetians who defended Crete less noble than the determination of their government.  Every man who loved the city of St Mark felt that her fate was at stake before the walls of Candia.