Note: The volumes marked with an asterisk are in preparation. The others are published. * * * * * [Illustration: PRINCE RUPERT From the painting in the National Portrait Gallery] THE 'ADVENTURERS OF ENGLAND' ON HUDSON BAY A Chronicle of the Fur Trade in the North by Agnes C. Laut [Illustration: Printers mark] Toronto Glasgow, Brook & Company 1914 Copyright in all Countries subscribing to the Berne Convention CONTENTS Page I. THE FUR HUNTERS 1 II. THE TRAGEDY OF HENRY HUDSON 9 III. OTHER EXPLORERS ON THE BAY 23 IV. THE 'ADVENTURERS OF ENGLAND' 34 V. FRENCH AND ENGLISH ON THE BAY 51 VI. THE GREAT OVERLAND RAID 73 VII. YEARS OF DISASTER 89 VIII. EXPANSION AND EXPLORATION 103 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 125 INDEX 129 ILLUSTRATIONS PRINCE RUPERT _Frontispiece_ From the painting in the National Portrait Gallery. _Page_ A VIEW OF THE INTERIOR OF OLD FORT 2 GARRY Drawn by H. A. Strong. TRACK SURVEY OF THE SASKATCHEWAN 4 BETWEEN CEDAR LAKE AND LAKE WINNIPEG THE PRINCIPAL POSTS OF THE HUDSON'S 6 BAY COMPANY Map by Bartholomew. THE ROUTES OF HUDSON AND MUNCK 10 Map by Bartholomew. THE LAST HOURS OF HUDSON 18 From the painting by Collier. JOHN CHURCHILL, FIRST DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH 42 From the painting in the National Portrait Gallery. ON THE HAYES RIVER 58 From photograph by R. W. Brock. ENTRANCE TO THE NELSON AND HAYES 60 RIVERS Map by Bartholomew. A CAMP IN THE SWAMP COUNTRY 120 From a photograph. CHAPTER I THE FUR HUNTERS Thirty or more years ago, one who stood at the foot of Main Street, Winnipeg, in front of the stone gate leading to the inner court of Fort Garry, and looked up across the river flats, would have seen a procession as picturesque as ever graced the streets of old Quebec--the dog brigades of the Hudson's Bay Company coming in from the winter's hunt.