the return of confiscated furs. He had a wife and four
children to support; but, in spite of all his services to England and
France, he did not own a shilling's worth of property in the whole
world. From January to May he waited for the tardy justice of the
French court. When his suit became too urgent, he was told that he had
offended the Most Christian King by attacking the fur posts under the
protection of a friendly monarch, King Charles. The hollowness of that
excuse became apparent when the French government sanctioned the
fitting out of two vessels for Radisson to go to Hudson Bay in the
spring. Lord Preston, the English ambassador, was also playing a
double game. He never ceased to reproach the French for the
destruction of the fur posts on Hudson Bay. At the same time he
besieged Radisson with offers to return to the service of the Hudson's
Bay Company.

Radisson was deadly tired of the farce. From first to last France had
treated him with the blackest injustice. If he had wished to be rich,
he could long ago have accumulated wealth by casting in his lot with
the dishonest rulers of Quebec. In England a strong clique, headed by
Bridgar, Gillam, and Bering opposed him; but King Charles and the Duke
of York, Prince Rupert, when he was alive, Sir William Young, Sir James
Hayes, and Sir John Kirke were in his favor. His heart yearned for his
wife and children. Just then letters came from England urging him to
return to the Hudson's Bay Company. Lord Preston plied the explorer
with fair promises. Under threat of punishment for molesting the
English of Hudson Bay, the French government tried to force him into a
contract to sail on a second voyage to the North on the same terms as
in 1682-1683--not to share the profits. England and France were both
playing double. Radisson smiled a grim smile and took his resolution.
Daily he conferred with the French Marine on details of the voyage. He
permitted the date of sailing to be set for April 24. Sailors were
enlisted, stores put on board, everything was in readiness. At the
last moment, Radisson asked leave of absence to say good-by to his
family. The request was granted. Without losing a moment, he sailed
for England, where he arrived on the 10th of May and was at once taken
in hand by Sir William Young and Sir James Hayes. He was honored as
his explorations entitled him to be. King Charles and the Duke of York
received him. Both royal brothers gav