DECLARING THE RIGHT OF THE FELLOWSHIP AND COMPANY OF ENGLISH
MERCHANTS FOR DISCOVERY OF NEW TRADES (COMMONLY CALLED THE MUSCOVIA
COMPANY) TO THE SOLE FISHING FOR WHALES UPON THE COASTS OF GREEN-LAND
AND CHERY-ISLAND, AND FOR RESTRAINING AND PROHIBITING OF ALL OTHERS.
Whereas the Discovery of the Island called Chery-Island, and the
Continent of Green-land, with the fishing for Whales upon the Seas and
Coasts thereof, and of the Islands and places thereto adjacent, (having
been made by the Fellowship of English Merchants, for Discovery of New
Trades commonly called the Muscovia Company, and at their own great
charges and hazards) hath by experience been found to be, and is a
very great honour and advantage to this Nation and Commonwealth, aswel
in the inlargement of the Dominions and Territories thereof, as also
in the advancement and increase of Navigation, and the entring upon
and gaining of the Trade of Whale-fishing, whereby great quantities
of Whale-Oyl, Whale-Fins and other Commodities are yearly hither
imported, to the enriching of this Nation, without the Exportation
of any Commodities from hence: And whereas upon consideration of the
Premises, and for recompence of the said charge and hazards in the said
Discovery, and for the encouragement of the said Company and others
in time to come, several Grants and Letters Patents under the Great
Seal of England, have been heretofore made and granted to the said
Fellowship, and particularly in the Raign of the late King Philip and
Queen Mary, by which all main Lands, Isles, Havens, Ports, Creeks and
Rivers, by the said Company then discovered or to be after discovered,
were forbidden to be traffiqued unto, or visited by any the People of
this Nation, without the License of the said Company; which Letters
Patents were afterwards confirmed by Act of Parliament in the Eighth
year of the Raign of the late Queen Elizabeth, under the penalty of
forfeiting the Ships and Goods of any Trading thither without License,
and with addition of divers others Priviledges and Liberties unto the
said Fellowship and Company. And the late King James, for the further
encouragement of the said Company, and preventing others to interrupt,
distract or disturb their said Trade-fishing and Discoveries, did,
in pursuance of the said Act of Parliament, and the true intent and
meaning of the same, by his Letters Patents grant unto the said
Fellowship, the sole Trading and Fishing in those Seas and places so
discovered by them, And all others were forbidden to fish in those Seas
and Coasts, or to sail thither for Trade without License of the said
Company. Notwithstanding which, the said Company as We are given to
understand, have of late received some disturbance by the interloping
and intruding of some persons into the said Whale-fishing, upon those
Seas and Coasts of Green-land and Chery-Island, whereupon the said
Company having addressed their humble Petition unto Us, And the matter
having been by Us referred to the consideration of our Privy Council,
and fully heard and debated before a Committee of Our said Council,
as well on behalf of the said particular Traders, as also on behalf
of the said Fellowship and Company. And the Act of Parliament and the
Grants and Charters made to the said Fellowship and Company shewed
forth and read, and the whole matter having been fully considered, and
thereupon made evident, that such particular fishing for Whales upon
those Seas, Harbours and Coasts, by persons separate from the said
Company, and trading therein by themselves apart, with like power and
strength, did not onely disturb the main Trade of Fishing and taking
of Whales by the Company, but did tend to the ruine and destruction of
that Fishing, and unless prevented, might occasion Forraigners to come
in and gain away that fishing and Trading from this Nation, which might
tend to the great damage and dishonour of Us and this Nation, besides
the particular damage of the said Company. And whereas the whole
state of the matter having been again represented to Our said Privy
Council and by them also fully considered, it was by them conceived
to be for the good of this Nation, to encourage the carrying on of
the said Whale-fishing and Trade, by the said Fellowship and Company
onely, and to forbid all others, except such as the said Company should
License, to intrude or meddle therein. And the said Company having
further declared, that they appropriating those parts of the said Seas
called Bell Sound, and Horn Sound, with such other places as they shall
fish in, to themselves onely, were well contented, and do promise
to grant Licenses gratis to all and every person of this Nation and
Commonwealth, that shall or will but ask or desire to fish for Whales,
or Trade in any other of the said Seas, or Coasts of Green-land, or
Chery-Island, where they themselves fish not. We therefore taking the
Premises into Our consideration (with the advice of Our said Privie
Council) Do hereby publish and Declare, That the whole and sole Trade
and fishing for Whales, and absolute fishing in and upon the said Seas,
Coasts and parts of Green-land,[1] and Chery-Island, and in and upon
the said Bell Sound, and Horn Sound, being part of the said Seas and
Coasts, doth and ought to belong unto the said Fellowship of English
Merchants for discovery of New Trades, commonly called the Muscovia
Company, and that no other Person or Persons of this Commonwealth
(other then the said Fellowship of English Merchants for discovery of
New Trades, called the Muscovia Company) shall fish for Whales in and
upon the said Seas, Coasts of Green-land and Chery-Island, or in and
upon the said Bell Sound and Horn Sound, being part of the said Seas
and Coasts. Yet so, as nevertheless the said Company, upon their own
offer and agreement aforesaid, be and shall be, and are hereby obliged
to grant License and Licenses, to all and singular the People and
Subjects of this Commonwealth, upon request in that behalf to be made
(without delay or paying anything for the same) to fish for Whales, or
trade or fish in all or any other parts or places, of the said Seas or
Coasts of Greenland and Chery-Island, Except the Harbours and places of
Bell Sound and Horn Sound aforesaid, or where the said Company shall
set out Ships to fish, And We do hereby command, That all persons
whatsoever (other then the said Fellowship and Company) do forbear
to enter into the said Bell Sound or Horn Sound, or to fish or trade
within Three Leagues of either of them, but clearly and absolutely
leave the said Bell Sound and Horn Sound, and all the sole and whole
fishing and trading thereof, unto the said Fellowship and Company,
and their Ships and Agents, and such as shall be set forth, hired or
imployed by them, without making any disturbance or interruption, or
giving the said Company or their Ships or Vessels, any impediment or
hinderance therein, under pain of Our high displeasure, and such other
pains and penalties as by the Laws of this Land may be inflicted upon
them for their disobedience and contempt therein, Leaving all other
the People and Subjects of this Commonwealth free notwithstanding, to
take Licenses from the said Company to trade or fish for Whales or
otherwise, in and upon all other of the said Seas, Coasts and places,
Except the said Bell Sound and Horn Sound, and such other places of
Green-land, as the said Fellowship or their Agents shall fish in,
as aforesaid. And We do hereby further will and command, aswel Our
Generals at Sea, Admirals of Our Fleet, Vice-Admirals, Commanders of
Squadrons, and other Commanders, Captains and Officers whatsoever, of
any Our Ships, as also Our Judges of the High Court of Admiralty of
England, and all other Our Officers and Ministers, in their several
places to be aiding and assisting, unto the said Fellowship and
Company, and all such as they shall set out and imploy in their said
sole Trade and fishing, and in hindring all others hereby forbidden to
use the said Trade and fishing, otherwise then as is before mentioned.
And likewise to be aiding and assisting unto the said Fellowship and
Company and their said Agents, in doing and executing of all and
singular the premises. And lastly, We do hereby charge and Command the
said Fellowship and Company, That in all Ships and Vessels which shall
from time to time be sent out by them, or imployed under them, into
or in the Seas and parts aforesaid, they do imploy for Harpineers,
Steersmen and Mariners, the People and Subjects of this Commonwealth,
and no other.
Given at Our Palace of Westminster the 9th day of March, in the year
of Our Lord, 1657.
London, Printed by Henry Hills and John Field, Printers to His
Highness, 1657.
_3 pp. folio, pasted together to form one long sheet. Copy in B. M._