146 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



others to declare the reasons thereof." But the Privy Council 

 had to consider the matter more carefully. They remitted 

 the draft proclamation to a committee consisting of Sir John 

 Herbert, the second Secretary, Sir Julius Caesar, now Chan- 

 cellor of the Exchequer, Sir Daniel Dunn, Sir Thomas 

 Crompton, and Sir Christopher Perkins, instructing them, 

 after perusing all the Burgundy treaties, to report .as to the 

 lawfulness or unlawfulness of the proposed action. 1 



A fortnight later the report of the committee was sent to 

 the Council. They had, they said, considered of the liberty 



1 Brit. Mus. Lansdowne MSS., 142. fol. 375. A copy of the letter of the Lords of 

 the Council, in the handwriting of Sir Julius Cfesar, is as follows : " After our very 

 hearty recommendations. Whereas his Majesty hath of late been moved vpon many 

 consyderations arising from the complayntes of his subiects, to take some course 

 of restraynt of many inconveniences depending vpon the excesse of libertie, w cl1 is 

 taken by the subiectes of forraigne princes and states to fish vppon his coast ; By 

 which, not onlie his owne ffishermen receive wrong in their fishing, but the verie 

 Coast-Townes themselves are much decayed for lack of meanes to sett their people 

 on work. To wch end hee had resolved to set forth a proclamation to th 'effect 

 of that wdi i s hereinclosed : 



Fforasmuch as vppon perusall of some Treaties from King Henry 7ths tyme till 

 this daye betweene the Crowne of England and the house of Burgundy, we fynde 

 certeyne clauses, by which there maye arise some question how farre any such 

 Prohibition maye concurre with the practice of the same for so much as shall 

 concerne the subiecta of that Estate ; Of wch particulars it is necessary that some 

 deliberation were taken, beefore his Ma*'e proceeded to a generall execution of the 

 same : We have thought good to requyre yow ioyntly and severally to peruse all 

 those Treaties, and to consyder of them, and all other thinges, by wh the lawfull- 

 nes or vnlawfulnes maye appeare of this proceeding ; Which being don wee shall 

 expect some report from you for his Maties better satisfaction. 



Wherein wee doubt not but yow will proceede wth all convenient expedition. 

 And so will bid yow hartelie farewell. 



Ffrome the Court at Yoi Verie loving friendes, 



Whitehall Subscribed by the 



first of Ffebruarie, 1606. L L Chancelloi , 



2. L. Treasour. 



Mr Secretary Herbert. 3. L. Admirall. 



Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer. 4. The Earle of Worcester. 



Sr. Daniel Dun. 5. The Earle of Salisbury. 



Sr. Thomas Crompton. 6. The Earle of Marr. 



Sr. Christopher Perkins. 7. The L. Stanhop. 



This copy is dated 1st February 1606, and the copy of the report of the 

 Committee is also dated 1606, which would imply that the matter had been 

 before the Privy Council in that year. It appears, however, from other evidence 

 that Sir Julius Csesar made a mistake in dating the copies. 



