48 CHARLES I. 



was prit," 1 sent to the Privy Council the charter of the 

 association, as consented to by the commissioners. 



By this charter, he " erects ane societie of the natives of 

 His Majesty's dominiouns and denizenis dwelling and residing 

 in the same, and of others assumed and inrolled in the 

 counsell of the said Societie," " Secluding all others strangers 

 and forraners whatsomever." In the preamble to the charter, 

 he again speaks of the profit to be derived from the associa- 

 tion " als well in warre as in peace " and of his hope that 

 the kingdom may be rid of a great burden by means of this 

 association " be accustoming lazie and ydle people to worke, 

 and instructing thame in the trade of fishing." 



The society was to have a council of twelve, nominated 

 by the king, of whom the one half were to be Scotsmen, the 

 other half English or Irish. It was to be styled " The 

 Counsell and Commountie of the fishing of his Majesty's 

 dominions of Great Britane and Ireland," and was to be 

 under the direct protection of the king and his heirs. The 

 members were to be life members. The society was to be 

 empowered to make statutes for the regulation of its work ; 

 these statutes were to be approved by the king, and were 

 not to interfere with the laws and liberties of the king. Those 

 of the association breaking the rules were to be fined or 

 imprisoned. Four judges, two of them Scotch, two of them 

 English or Irish, were to be appointed in every province 

 and town where the society had stations ; these judges 

 were to settle all fishing disputes and were to have juris- 

 diction over those engaged in fishing. 2 



Whenever " ane navie of fishing shippes mair or lesse of 

 what kynde soever " was at sea, the masters and merchants 

 themselves were to elect out of their number four or more 

 " most able judges depute," one half Scotch, the other half 



1 Act. Parl. Scotland, vol. v. p. 244 ; Reg. Privy Council, Scotland, vol. iv. 

 (2nd series) p. 555. 



2 Act. Parl. Scotland, vol. v. p. 239. 



