318 THE HISTORY OF DUTCH SEA FISHERIES. 



even offered to sail without any protection from Government, 

 and arm some of their vessels for war, so they might be 

 freed from last-money. But the offer was rejected. The 

 Imperial Government was ready, if needed, to send out 

 some worn-out ships of war after the herring busses, and 

 would not give up the tax, part of the produce of which 

 may be confidently supposed to have gone to the Imperial 

 coffers instead of being employed for the purpose it was 

 granted for. Accordingly, the last-money, which had 

 been granted by the States at two florins per last of herring 

 in 1552,* was demanded to the amount of three for 1553 ; 

 and when refused by the States, a prohibition to sail 

 without convoy was once more resorted to on the 3Oth of 

 May, in order to enforce acquiescence.! The quarrel on 

 the subject between the States and the Queen Gover- 

 ness rose higher as the fishing season approached, J 

 but was brought to an accord ; for a few days before 

 the sailing term, the Queen's consent to the shipowners 

 sailing at their own peril, and equipping their vessels 

 for armed resistance in case of need, was notified to the 

 States. 



A placard issued July 3Oth, 1553, and "ampliated," on 

 July 5th of the next year, determines the number of cannon, 

 pikes, swords, and the quantity of ammunition to be 

 carried on board each fishing vessel, subject to inspection 

 before sailing. The extent of the armament was in virtue 

 of these placards (4 e Mem.-boek v. Dam. fol. 117, 232) to be 

 proportioned to each vessel's size, the largest mentioned 

 being forty lasts ; and the amount of warlike preparation 



* 4 e Memoriaelboek v. Dam, p. 260. 

 t Ibid. p. 91, verso, 



% Res. Holland, June 14th, 1553, p. 506. 

 Ibid. July i Qth, p. 512. 



