[14] They were just in time to meet the
returned Englishmen.
Governor Bayly of the Hudson's Bay Company was astounded to find the
French at Rupert's River. Now he knew what had allured the Indians
from the bay, but he hardly relished finding foreigners in possession
of his own fort. The situation required delicate tact. Governor Bayly
was a bluff tradesman with an insular dislike of Frenchmen and
Catholics common in England at a time when bigoted fanaticism ran riot.
King Charles was on friendly terms with France. Therefore, the
Jesuit's passport must be respected; so Albanel was received with at
least a show of courtesy. But Bayly was the governor of a fur company;
and the rights of the company must be respected. To make matters
worse, the French voyageurs brought letters to Groseillers and Radisson
from their relatives in Quebec. Bayly, no doubt, wished the Jesuit
guest far enough. Albanel left in a few weeks. Then Bayly's
suspicions blazed out in open accusations that the two French explorers
had been playing a double game and acting against English interests.
In September came the company ship to the fort with Captain Gillam, who
had never agreed with Radisson from the time that they had quarrelled
about going from Port Royal to the straits of Hudson Bay. It has been
said that, at this stage, Radisson and Groseillers, feeling the
prejudice too strong against them, deserted and passed overland through
the forests to Quebec.
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