THE CRISIS AND THE CONVOYS, 1656-1688 85 



would respect, to rule over the contending factions. The dry 

 figures of the convoy-captains were ' half-battles ', and their 

 arguments were irresistible. Orders were sent early in 1677 

 suspending those of 1675, and in 1680 the Lords of Trade 

 changed the six-mile veto into a quarter-of-a-mile veto on 

 settlers, ordered the fortification of St. John's and the appoint- 

 ment of a Governor with power to punish inhabitants, but 

 without power over the nomads except to send them to their 

 ships. 



This unexpected change of face led to a still more and acted 

 unexpected development. The convoy-captains not only ( Q^^ rnors 

 prompted but became the only new solution. During their wkenpre- 

 brief visits, briefer than those of the nomadic fishermen, but ^/^^ 7 ,, 

 longer than those of a judge on circuit, they exercised or otherwise 

 usurped the functions of Governors until Governors were anarc1ncal 

 appointed. The appointment of Governors, though ordered 

 by the Council, took no effect because it was not decided by 

 whom or how they should be paid, and when the question 

 was mooted the Council would not face the facts. It would 

 have been easy enough to collect a tax. Each principal 

 harbour had a principal resident. Fermeuse had George 

 Kirke, and Quidi Vidi had young John Downing, both of 

 whom were sons of Governors ; St. John's had T. Oxford, 

 and Harbour Grace had John Pynne, both of whom claimed 

 the prestige of being the oldest inhabitants, and these four 

 residents could easily collect on fish the 400 a year which 

 was necessary. But from whom ? If settlers alone paid the 

 fish-tax boat-fishermen would be mulcted for the benefit of 

 competing ship-fishermen. If settlers assessed and collected 

 the tax from non-settlers the minority would tax the majority. 

 So the Council suggested that both classes should be taxed 

 but only with their consent ; and the nomadic fishermen were 

 asked what they would contribute, although their contempt 

 for land-governors was notorious. It is perhaps fortunate 

 that what the fishermen replied is not recorded. The pro- 



