To the supreme Authority the Parliament of the Commonwealth of ENGLAND; The humble Petition of several that have adventured, and are willing to adventure to Greenland, whose Names are hereunto subscribed:  
SHOWETHS,  
THat the Fishing of Greenland for making Oil there (being of great concernment unto this Commonwealth) hath been for many years engrossed in great measure into the hands of the Greenland Company, who have by force (and sometimes bloodshed) endeavoured to suppress all others who have attempted to fish there, under pretence of a property in several Harbours, by virtue of a Patent, and an Act of Parliament made in the 8. year of Eliz. which Act your Petitioners humbly conceive in no sense can be construed to warrant their actions or pretences.  
That several of those Harbours wherein they principally claim an interest and propriety are large bays and are some of them about 20. or 24. miles in breadth at the going in; and about 14. miles within, and comprise in each of them divers large, convenient, and commodious Harbours, where may be pitched many tents by several adventurers, and Coppers erected for boiling places several miles distant each from other, without any an noyance or prejudice to one another, and every one have more fishing then their utmost industry can improve (the Hollanders at this time through the means of the Greenland Companies restraint of free. fishing for all Englishmen, employing annually. 3. or 4. score sail of Ships to fish in Greenland) and yet the Greenland Company strive to hinder all Englishmen, saving those of their own Company from fishing there, which are an inconsiderable handful of, about 30. or 40. persons and yet they do nothing near send out sufficient shipping to supply this Commonwealth with Oil or Whalefinn.  
That the Greenland Company have lately and strongly endeavoured at the Council of Trade to prevent all Foreigners from importing fish Oil and Whalefin, and all Englishmen from fishing freely in Greenland but themselves, whereby they would have all Fish Oil and Whalefinn in their own hands to enhance the price at their own wills, and in case their fishing be not successful any year according to their desires the whole Commonwealth must suffer thereby, pretending it is impossible that other Englishmen, besides themselves should fish there; but by the Seamen there will be blood shed, although it is well known that in or about the year 1645. when the Parliament was pleased to grant and make a severe order for keeping the Peace, there was no disturbance.  
That in case the said fishing were free for every Englishman (as of right and justice we humbly conceive it ought to be) there would be twice or thrice as many Ships sent every year for Greenland, as a renow by the Greenland Company (as by the particulars under written may partly appear) whereby that fishing would be reserved from all foreigners, and this Nation supplied with a full quantity of Fish-Oyls at cheap rates, without the help of foreigners; yea, and in a few years be able to transport into foreign Nations for their supply, as now some of them do to us, for ours. And the Navigation for this Commonwealth very much increased, and industry (the support of a Nation) encouraged.  
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray, That it may speedily (for the encouragement of these present years fishing) be declared by Parliament, that the fishing in Greenland and making fish-Oyl and Whalefinn there, shall be free for every Englishman, and the same Oils and Whalefinn there made to be freely vended in England, & that the said Greenland Company may make a just satisfaction for that innocent blood that they and their agents have shed there, and a full restitution and satisfaction to all those English men they have any way wronged by taking away their goods, etc. Contrary to Law, and that a severe and exact order may be made for the future keeping of the peace amongst all those Englishmen that shall repair to Greenland to fish; forasmuch as already the chiefest of the Greenland Company give out desperate threats against any Englishmen that are not of their Company that shall dare to fish in the Greenland Harbours.  
And your Petitioners shall pray, etc. 

Richard Warner, an Adventurer of a whole Ship at his own charge two years together last passed.  
Jo. Pibus, who hath been for this Ten years together there a Fishing, and is now a Master of a Ship trading for that place.  
William Welch, who hath been Nine or ten years there, and now a Master of a Ship.  
john Warner, who hath been Three years there, and now is Master of a Ship.  
George Baker Adam cliff john cliff Simon Sylks Which four are now joined with the Four beforenamed; all Eight of which intent this year to set out shipping for 250 Tunn of Whale Oil, besides Whale Finn.   From Hull the last year went two Ships that never adventured before, and as we are credibly informed, the same Persons intent this year to set out Ships for 250 Tunn of Oil, etc. Mr. Thomas Hoth of London this year himself intends as we credibly understand, to adventure for 400. Tunn of Oil. 

Alderman john Hayes  
Col. john Hardwick  
Simon Weeden  
Roger Pears  
Edward Whittwell  
Thomas Owlet  
james Baker   All seven of them Sopemakers, with others of their associates, if the Trade be free, intent and desire (as we understand from some of themselves) to send out shipping to Greenland this year for 700 Tunn of Oil. All which adventures in the gross, makes up 1600 Tunn, and the whole Greenland Company seldom in one year adventures for above 1000 Tunn of Oil; so that the advantage the Nation will get by a Free-trade is clear: Free-trade only being the means to beat the Hollanders out of that Trade.   

The Original of this Petition in Writing, remains in the hands of the Honourable LUKE ROBINSON, to be presented to the House.