[Limiting Greenland Trade to Muscovy Company.]
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.