England was also jealous of Portugal, a small country joining Spain. The Portuguese had found a way of reaching India by sailing southward around Africa and then eastward. They brought home shiploads of gums, spices, precious stones and rare woods. So the Englishmen thought:
"We must get rich, too. Why cannot we reach India by sailing to the northeast or the northwest?"
They looked about for a brave and able captain who should find out if this could be done. They chose Henry Hudson.
He sailed into the northern seas. He met with icebergs that made the air very cold when they were still a long way off. He saw many whales.
Henry Hudson and his men killed some of the whales. They boiled the fat and made many barrels of oil. This was the best oil known at that time for burning in lamps. It was also useful in other ways.
The brave captain sailed far into the northern seas. It was now so cold that great masses of ice almost stopped the ship.
"We must turn back," Henry Hudson said to his men. "It is of no use to sail any farther northward in hopes of finding a passage to India."
When he got back to England, the people were pleased to learn about the whales. They sent more ships to capture the great monsters and bring home the oil.
Once more they sent Henry Hudson to look for a short way to India by a northern passage.