72 CHARLES I. 



claim to the sovereignty of the seas, and advised him to 

 intimate to the minister of the United Provinces that, 

 although prepared to maintain his right to the fishings 

 around the British coast, he would permit the Dutch fisher- 

 men to fish provided they first supplied themselves with 

 licenses to do so. Intimation was accordingly made in 

 those terms to the Dutch Ambassador. 1 



In spite of the protestations of the Hollanders, a pro- 

 clamation for the restraint of fishing without license was 

 made on May 10th, 1636, declaring the king's resolution 

 " to keep such a strength of shipping as may be sufficient 

 to hinder encroachments upon his regalities, and protect 

 those who shall thenceforth by virtue of license first obtained, 

 endeavour to take the benefit of fishing on the king's coasts 

 and seas." 2 



On 12th July, 1636, a similar proclamation was issued 

 by the Privy Council of Scotland forbidding foreigners 

 from fishing in Scottish waters without a license from the 

 king ; 3 the duty being fixed at "2s. sterling upon the 

 tunne." 4 In this connection the islanders of the Lewis 

 were, at the same time, pointedly warned that the adven- 

 turers of the Fishing Association were not to be reckoned 

 among the number of strangers or foreigners from whom 

 such license was to be demanded. 5 



Charles, indeed, informed the Dutch that this tax was 

 intended to be for the mutual benefit of both nations, and 

 was a contribution on their part towards the maintenance 

 of the British fleet against the Dunkirk privateers. But 

 in order that there might be no dubiety about the payment 

 of the tax, the Earl of Northumberland, who commanded a 



1 Gal. S.P. Dom. Car. I., vol. 307, No. 48 ; vol. 313, No. 24 ; vol. 319, 

 No. 81. 



2 Ibid. vol. 320, No. 62. 



3 Reg. Privy Council, Scotland, vol. vi. (2nd series) pp. 279, 280. 



4 Ibid. p. 346. 5 Ibid. p. 292. 



