80 THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH COMPANIES

founding the two East India Companies that were des- tined to a long and memorable career. In 1624, how- ever, began the long ministry of Richelieu, in whose powerful mind the conception of endowing France with a great dominion beyond sea reached its maturity, and had issue in successive decrees for the foundation and multiplication of colonizing companies in various parts of the world, from Canada in the West to Madagascar and the East Indies. It is worth observation that in the charters of these companies may be found the earliest promulgations of principles that were consistently maintained through- out the entire course of French colonization under the old monarchy, but which would be looked for in vain in the commercial records of England or Holland. The Roman Catholic faith was established, to the rigid ex- clusion of all other religions; but on the other hand converted pagans were to be admitted to the full civil rights of Frenchmen. The propagation of Christianity was placed upon a level with the plantation of colonies, as a direct object of these expeditions. Nevertheless, their real motive was, after all, not so much economic or propagandist, as political; the companies were or- ganized by the great cardinal to counteract the accu- mulation of vast transmarine possessions by Spain, then France's most dangerous rival, and in order that Spain might not claim for herself the whole non-Chris- tian world. In this policy, indeed, Richelieu was only imitating the tactics of England and* Holland. Both these nations