C 4^9 } 
ilri£l charge to conceal what they had feen and obferved 5 yet it 
became publickly known ^ that they* had difcover'd a Sea , be- 
yond ^ova-zembia^ free from all Ice, and very convenient for Na ^ 
vigation. 
Thefe being recura d to their own Country, with great hopes 
of finding encouragement to make further difcoveries , petitioned 
the Lords the States General of the United Provinces, Thar,fince 
they had granted the Trade of almoft all the World to the Go- 
vernours of the Eaft and Weft-/Wi^« Companies , and that there 
remained fcarce any thing to the reft -of the Merchants (who, in 
their opinion , had deferved as well of the Common-wealth as 
themfelves) befides the Trade of the Mediterramanmd Baltick- 
Seas,they would be pleafed to grant the Navigation of the Nor- 
thern-Seas, and of thQ Eajiem (not yet difcovered j to them, 
cxclufive to the Eaft and Wtd-l^dia^ Companies ; and that fo 
much the rather, becaufethat, many years fince, the States had, 
with the promifeof great rewards, invited men to the difcovery 
of the Northern paflfage toChim and Japn. 
But the Governours of the 'E^Vt-lndkn Company being fenfible, 
how nearly this concerned them, prefcnted likewife their Crofs- 
petition , defiring, that the petition of the faid Merchants might 
for the future be referred to them and their confideration : And 
as for the reward, which the States had promifed , they would 
take the performance of it upon themfelves , and proportion it 
as they fliould fee jaft caufe. 
The Merchants, finding their Petitions thus croflTed, addrefled 
themfelves to the King oi Denmark ^ who immediately granted 
their demands. Under his proteftion therefore they equipped 
two or three Ships , fuch as they judged moft proper for rhis 
voyage. Which when the Governours of the Dutch Ead-hdia^ 
Company had information of , they raifed a confiderable fum of 
mony, and eafily perfwaded the Mariners to defift from fo dan- 
gerous (for fo they reprefented it) a voyage • and yet, tluc the 
Merchants might have no juftcaufe to complain againfi the faid 
Company, the Mariners went to Sea ; but negleflingthediredi- 
ons and orders of thofe Merchants , theyfteered their courfe di- 
xe&ly fov Sfitzbergj took in their lading of Fifli, and returned 
home. 
I i i 2 Upon 
