1613.] SPiTZBEllGEN I'lSHEHY. 35 



other of the coiiipaiiy's servants, and procured a full 

 cargo in Green Harhour. "\^^oodcock, the pilot, on 

 his return to England, was, on the complaint of the 

 company, imprisoned sixteen months in the Gate- 

 house and ToAver, for conducting the Spanish ship 

 to the fishery *. On this voyage the Russia 

 Company's ships made no discoveries, in conse- 

 quence of some quarrelling between the command- 

 ers ; they, however, succeeded better in the fishery, 

 having taken seventeen whales and some sea-horses, 

 which produced them 180 tons of oil. 



In the following 3'ear (1613), the English Russia 

 Company ha^dng received intimation that a num- 

 ber of foreign ships were fitting for Spitzbcrgen, 

 obtained a Royal Charter, excluding all others, 

 both natives and foreigners, from participating 

 in the fishery ; after which they equipped seven 

 armed vessels, under the direction of Captain Ben- 

 jamin Joseph, in the Tigris of 21 guns, for the 

 purpose of enforcing this prerogative, and monopo- 

 lizing the trade. 



Though the foreign adventurers were apprized of 

 the resistance intended by the English, yet they 

 all persisted in their object, and proceeded openly 

 on the voyage ; excepting some vessels from Biscay, 

 which put to sea under pretence of being bound to 



Purchas's " rjlgrimes/' &c. vol. iii. p. 467. 



