[HOWLEY ] SVIGARAICIPI 173 
approach so as not to give the Dutchmen any chance to escape. He 
was to observe that the fishery was carried on jointly by the English, 
the Dutch and the Hambourgians, and that these latter, and also some 
of the Dutch flew the Danish flag. The King ordered that all those 
who flew either the English or Dutch or Hambourg flag should be im- 
mediately burnt or sunk. As to those who protected themselves 
under the Danish flag, the captain was to examine carefully whether 
they were really Danish, or merely masking themselves under the 
Danish colours. Those whom he should find bona fide Danish, were 
not to be molested, on the contrary to be assisted and supplied with 
provisions if required. As to those who were playing false, he should 
man them with some of his own men, complete their cargo from those 
which he might have burnt or sunk, and bring them back to France. 
That they should rendezvous at Cape Finisterre, and await for orders, 
and take observations, and reconnoitre to discover the whereabouts 
of the enemy and avoid them. If their captives were too many to 
bring with him, he should place them in one of their own vessels, and 
having stripped her of all her merchandize and her fishing gear send 
her home, or land the men either on the Orcades or on the Faroe Islands 
or on the coast of Scotland. The Färôe Isiands, which recognized the 
King of Denmark, were to be made a point of meeting to which the 
King might send new orders from time to time. The commander was 
also to keep an eye out for any Dutch vessels returning from India and 
attack them and take them as prizes if possible. 
By the 20th July the squadron had reached the 63 parallel of 
latitude and Le Croisic began to get impatient. He went aboard the 
Pelican and urged the commandant to push on more swiftly towards 
their destination. The commander, de‘ Varenne, hoisted his flag and 
called the other captains to a conference. He began to show hesitancy 
and indecision. Instead of going on to Spitzbergen he thought it would 
be better to cruise about the Farée islands. On the advice of the cap- 
tains they continued on towards Spitzbergen. On the morning of 
the 28th they came in sight of Spitzbergen. They sighted a vessel, and 
the Prudent coming up with her first, found she was Danish, and had 
no fish or fat aboard. They made her keep company lest she might 
get away and alarm the others. In coasting along the shore they found 
two other vessels in the Bay of Madeleine where some military opera- 
tions were about tobe commenced. These were Danish vessels—they 
also forced them to accompany the squadron. They arrived in the 
North and South bay, which formed part of the grand fjord. There 
they found 15 or 16 ships, Danish and Dutch. As soon as these latter 
perceived the French frigates they tried to escape and, as there was no 
wind, they put out their boats and towed the vessels into certain creeks 
