JAMES I.; MARE LIBERUM 21 



It is evident, however, that there must have been a reverse 

 to this picture. The inhabitants of these naturally barren 

 islands must have derived no small benefit from the annual 

 visit of those foreign fishermen, even if they felt it a grievance 

 that the foreigners encroached upon the preserves of the 

 native fishermen. They had, in fact, gradually come to 

 look to the foreigners for a great part of their annual sub- 

 sistence. This is clear from a " Supplication by the Earl 

 of Morton on behalf of himself and the inhabitants of Zet- 

 land," addressed to the Privy Council on 4th March, 1662. 1 

 On March 22nd, 1661, Parliament had passed an act pro- 

 hibiting foreign fishermen from fishing near these islands 

 or trading with the inhabitants. The islanders, evidently 

 much perturbed by the passing of this act, plead in this 

 Supplication that the traders of Lubeck may be permitted 

 to visit their islands and supply them with corn as they 

 have hitherto done which they are now prohibited from 

 doing by the Navigation Act. They show that " the said 

 island, being of itself barren and infertill, ... by the 

 product and grouth thereof the same is not able to inter- 

 taine the inhabitants ane quarter of the haill year but were 

 ever maintained be cornes and other provisions, whilks 

 were imported be Lubicers, Hambergers, and other strangers 

 who arryved there yearlie to fish upon the coasts of the 

 said island, be whom the inhabitants were for the most part 

 still maintained in all tymes bygane." In view of these 

 circumstances, they ask that the foreigners be allowed to 

 come at least for this year, saying that if they are not per- 

 mitted to do so, " not only many thousands of the saids 

 inhabitants will be in danger of starving for want of bread, 

 bot the rest will be forced to desert the said illand and leave 

 the samen waste and desolat." Concluding their request, 

 they beg that if the Dutchmen are to be prevented from 

 coming as usual " some speedie course be taken for pro- 



1 Reg. Privy Cone. Scotland, vol. i. (3rd series) p. 182. 



