The favor which has been shown to the "Remarkable History of the Hudson's Bay Company" has resulted in a large measure from its being written by a native-born Canadian, who is familiar with much of the ground over which the Company for two hundred years held sway. A number of corrections have been made and the book has been brought up to date for this Edition. It has been a pleasure to the Author, who has expressed himself without fear or favor regarding the Company men and their opponents, that he has received from the greater number of his readers commendations for his fairness and insight into the affairs of the Company and its wonderful history. GEORGE BRYCE. KILMADOCK, WINNIPEG, _August 19, 1910_. CONTENTS 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Frenchmen go to Boston--Cross over to England--Help from Royalty--Fiery Rupert--The King a stockholder--Many hitherto unpublished facts--Capt.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 CHAPTER II. HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY FOUNDED. Royal charters--Good Queen Bess--"So miserable a wilderness"--Courtly stockholders--Correct spelling--"The nonsense of the Charters"--Mighty rivers--Lords of the territory--To execute justice--War on infidels--Power to seize--"Skin for skin"--Friends of the Red man 12 CHAPTER III. METHODS OF TRADE. Rich Mr. Portman--Good ship _Prince Rupert_--The early adventurers--"Book of Common Prayer"--Five forts--Voting a funeral--Worth of a beaver--To Hudson Bay and back--Selling the pelts--Bottles of sack--Fat dividends--"Victorious as Cæsar"--"Golden Fruit" 20 CHAPTER IV. THREE GREAT GOVERNORS. Men of high station--Prince Rupert primus--Prince James, "nemine contradicente"--The hero of the hour--Churchill River named--Plate of solid gold--Off to the tower 27 CHAPTER V. TWO ADROIT ADVENTURERS. Peter Radisson and "Mr. Gooseberry" again--Radisson _v._ Gillam--Back to France--A wife's influence--Paltry vessels--Radisson's diplomacy--Deserts to England--Shameful duplicity--"A hogshead of claret"--Adventurers appreciative--Twenty-five years of Radisson's life hitherto unknown--"In a low and mean condition"--The Company in Chancery--Lucky Radisson--A Company pensioner 33 CHAPTER VI. FRENCH RIVALRY.