CHAPTER I

THE FIRST VOYAGE FOR TRADE. PAGE

Famous Companies--"The old lady of Fenchurch Street"--The first voyage--Radisson and Groseilliers--Spurious claim of the French of having reached the Bay--"Journal published by Prince Society"--The claim invalid--Early voyages of Radisson--The Frenchmen go to Boston--Cross over to England--Help from Royalty--Fiery Rupert--The King a stockholder--Many hitherto unpublished facts--Capt. Zachariah Gillam--Charles Fort built on Rupert River--The founder's fame 1