JAMES I; MARE LIBERUM 9 



It was evident, indeed, that the object of the Dutch 

 throughout these negotiations concerning fishing rights was 

 simply to delay the settlement of the matter as long as 

 possible. Being aware of the intention of the Dutch, and 

 seeing that Sir D. Carlton was being put off from day to 

 day at the Hague with legal quibbles, James sent him orders 

 to " deale roundly in it." That the Dutch were not at all 

 sure of the position in which they now stood is evident ; 

 in 1618, a double convoy accompanied their fishing fleet to 

 the fishing grounds, proof that the Hollanders were dubious 

 as to the reception awaiting them, and expected some 

 molestation. 1 



Their right, indeed, to fish even within sight of the coasts 

 of Britain was also a matter of dispute. It had always been 

 understood that for a certain distance from the shore the 

 fishing was reserved for native fishermen ; the exact distance 

 had varied considerably with varying conditions. The 

 Trench, for example, by a treaty made in the reign of 

 Henry IV. of France, with regard to fishing off the coast 

 of England, had accepted a limitation both as to time and 

 place. They agreed not to fish " between Autumn and 

 the Calends of January," and only throughout that part of 

 the sea " which is bounded on this side by the Ports of 

 Scarborough and Southampton, and on the other side by 

 the coast of Flanders and the mouth of the river Seine." 2 



Similarly, the Dutch, from the beginning of their fishing 

 enterprise in British waters, had recognised the claims of 

 the native fishermen. When, in 1594, they asked and 

 obtained permission to fish in Scotch waters, it was agreed 

 that they should not come " within the sight of the shoar, 

 nor into any of the loughs nor in the seas betwixt islands." 3 



1 Col. S.P. Dom., vol. 339, pp. 1-5. 



2 Selden, Mare Clausum, I. ii. cap. 25. Stubbs, Justification of the War 

 against Holland, 2nd part, p. 63. 



3 Cal. S.P. Dom. Car. II., vol. 339, p. 161. 



