CHARLES I. I FISHERIES AND RESERVED WATERS 237 



instead of those reservations, that the association should 

 appoint the same fishermen that now fishe in them, [so that 

 they] may continue as particular company of the said associa- 

 tion, and to be subject [to] the law of the same, and are willing 

 that no others should fish in those places, [unless] it be found 

 upon examination that those places may admit more fishermen 

 than those that now fish in them, and in that case the great 

 committee of the association shall add such to them as they 

 shall think fit, desiring them always to remember that the said 

 committee is compounded equally of both nations." l The king's 

 proposition was in keeping with the intention of Coke, " to bring 

 all private fishing vessels under the company," and though 

 it was obviously impracticable, it furnished a plausible argu- 

 ment against the claim to reserved waters. 



After further conferences a number of articles were agreed 

 to : That an association should be established, with no joint- 

 stock except that received from those who voluntarily joined 

 the undertaking ; that a standing committee of the two nations 

 in equal numbers should be formed, some of whom were to be 

 appointed, also equally from both nations, to judge of contro- 

 versies amongst the busses according to regulations to be made, 

 with the right of appeal to the standing committee. Two hun- 

 dred busses were " propounded " for the first year ; " whereof," 

 said the Scots commissioners, " wee gott to advise what number 

 we would undertake, but our answer was never yet sought; 

 always we intend, God willing, to sett out 100 busses." The 

 main point, in regard to the reserved waters or fishing-places, 

 was left for the king's consideration. Finally, the king was 

 to be asked to give order for drawing up the charter of 

 association. 2 



In July 1632 Charles was able to announce that the dif- 

 ficulties were overcome and the negotiations completed, to his 

 ''great contentment," and with the mutual consent of both 

 parties. Desirous of removing as soon as possible the causes 

 of the complaints which had been made by the burghs, he 

 wrote to the Privy Council at Edinburgh about the great 

 wrongs done by the Dutch inhabiting the Lewes and fishing 



1 State Papers, Dom., cciii. 53, 54, 19th November 1631. The draft appears to 

 have been prepared and altered entirely by the king himself. 



2 State Papers, Dom., ccxxix. 78, 83, 87, 89. 



