EARLY HISTORY OF WHALING 111 



the number of vessels being fitted out in England 

 in the winter of 1617-18 by the Muscovy Company, 

 and were determined to overpower them. Amongst 

 the amenities we read that Cornelius de Cock of the 

 Saint Peter said that " our King of England was a 

 Scotchman, and that his picture stood at Flushinge 

 with an emptie purse by his side " ; a statement 

 characterised in a marginal note as " a gross and 

 intolerable abuse to his Ma'ty." 



The further proceedings at the Foreland, 

 culminating in the attack of the I9th July, are set 

 forth in great detail in the affidavit of Heley and the 

 others. 



The events at Bell Sound are sworn to by 

 Thomas Edge of London, Thomas Sherwyn of 

 Wapping, John Thornbush of Wapping, John 

 Martin of Rodrith, John Ellis of Wapping, and 

 John Barker of Radcliffe ; and those at Horn Sound 

 by John Johnson of Lymehouse, William Dridle of 

 Redritge, and William Henderson of Lymehouse. 

 At both places the English endeavoured to persuade 

 the DutcrTto desist from fishing, but the latter were 

 in great force and took no notice of the English 

 protests, except to produce their commission from the 

 " Grave Morrice," the Prince of Orange. It seems 

 unnecessary to recapitulate all the details of these 

 transactions. 1 



The effect of these events on King James, who 

 was now thoroughly steeped in the doctrine of 



1 " Early Dutch and English Voyages to Spitsbergen," 

 pp. 42-65. 



