he
earth--as Gillam's journal says--"seemed frozen to death." Gillam
attended to the fort, Groseillers to the trade. Dual command was bound
to cause a clash. By April, 1669, the terrible cold had relaxed. The
ice swept out of the river with a roar. Wild fowl came winging north
in myriad flocks. By June the fort was sweltering in almost tropical
heat. The _Nonsuch_ hoisted anchor and sailed for England, loaded to
the water-line with a cargo of furs. Honors awaited Groseillers in
London. King Charles created him a _Knight de la Jarretiere_, an order
for princes of the royal blood.[7] In addition, he was granted a sum
of money. Prince Rupert and Radisson had, meanwhile, been busy
organizing a fur company. The success of Groseillers' voyage now
assured this company a royal charter, which was granted in May, 1670.
Such was the origin of the Hudson's Bay Company. Prince Rupert was its
first governor; Charles Bayly was appointed resident governor on the
bay. Among the first shareholders were Prince Rupert, the Duke of
York, Sir George Cartwright, the Duke of Albermarle, Shaftesbury, Sir
Peter Colleton, who had advanced Radisson a loan during the long period
of waiting, and Sir John Kirke, whose daughter had married Radisson.

That spring, Radisson and Groseillers again sailed for the bay. In
1671, three ships were sent out from England, and Radisson established
a second post westward at Moose. With Governor Bayly, he sailed up and
met the Indians at what was to become the great fur capital of the
north, Port Nelson, or York. The third year of the company's
existence, Radisson and Groseillers perceived a change. Not so many
Indians came down to the English forts to trade. Those who came brought
fewer pelts and demanded higher prices. Rivals had been at work. The
English learned that the French had come overland and were paying high
prices to draw the Indians from the bay. In the spring a council was
held.[8] Should they continue on the east side of the bay, or move
west, where there would be no rivalry? Groseillers boldly counselled
moving inland and driving off French competition. Bayly was for moving
west. He even hinted that Groseillers' advice sprang from disloyalty
to the English. The clash that was inevitable from divided command was
this time avoided by compromise. They would all sail west, and all
come back to Rupert's River. When they returned, they found that the
English ensign had been to