50 CHARLES I. 



In deference to Scottish opinion two charters were drawn 

 up ; in the first the great seal of Scotland and England 

 came first, in the other the great seal of England and Scot- 

 land came first. These charters were dated Westminster, 

 19th July, 1632. Along with the charter sent to Scotland, 

 the King sent a letter commending the work of the asso- 

 ciation to the Privy Council ; at the same time he sent by 

 the Earl of Strathearn further instructions to the Council 

 with regard to the " royall work of the fishings." Among 

 other things, the king asked the Council to consider " how 

 necessarie it is for the yles fishing that plantatiouns be made 

 in the most commodious places of the yles and thairfoir to 

 condescend upon the places where the same sail be and of the 

 meanes how the same sail be continued and brought to per- 

 fectioun." They were also " to consider how best to take 

 sufficient surety from landlords of the isles and lochs on the 

 mainland adjacent to the isles, that members of the societie 

 be free from all oppression and violence." It was further re- 

 quested that they should announce to these landlords and 

 their tenants that the members of the society were to pay only 

 such tolls and dues as were customary, and, in this connection, 

 the king asked that it should be ascertained what were these 

 customary tolls and upon what grounds they were levied. 

 It was to be proclaimed that all strangers in the isles, and 

 especially in the Lewis and the Shetlands, were prohibited 

 from fishing or trading, as ordained by Act of Parliament. 

 Finally, the Council was to take means that all members 

 of the society, whether Scotch, English, or Irish, resorting 

 to the isles, lochs, or seas of Scotland might be " kyndelie 

 and weill used, and by all means encouraged to prosecute 

 the said worke." l 



In order to secure for the association, as far as lay in his 

 power, the good offices of the Scots, Charles now gave his 



1 Act. Parl. Scotland, vol. v. pp. 243-6 ; Reg. Privy Council, Scotland, vol. 

 iv. (2nd series) pp. 541, 556. 



