CHARLES I. I THE NAVY 289 



recommended that the States' ambassador should be informed 

 that the king had not relinquished his right to the " royal fish- 

 ing, " but was " resolved to defend it as the hereditary right 

 and possession of any other of his dominions." This intima- 

 tion was to be wrapped up in sophistries, lest the Dutch should 

 think the king challenged it at a time when they had most 

 need of his favour and grace. James had offered them a bare 

 license for liberty to fish ; Charles was to offer them safety and 

 security as well, and the depredations which the Dunkirk priv- 

 ateers had committed on the herring-busses were to be used as 

 an impressive argument to convince them of the benefits they 

 would receive from his protection. The privateers had driven 

 them from the fishing, even in sight of English harbours, by 

 which the king was prejudiced both in honour and interest; 

 but if they accepted his licenses he might feel justified in draw- 

 ing his sword in their defence, in spite of any league or treaty. 

 If, however, the Hollanders should be so wanting in discretion 

 as to refuse the royal licenses, the Lords of the Admiralty were 

 " all clear of opinion that his Majesty should renew and publish 

 the like proclamation to that of the King his father, and prose- 

 cute the settling of that his right as a thing so highly concern- 

 ing him in honour, dominion and profit." 



As to the second proposition, the convoying of foreign mer- 

 chant vessels, the Admiralty were more guarded in their opinion. 

 They all agreed that the king was entitled to have profit by it, 

 but not by way of a general imposition on all ships passing 

 through his seas, as Charles, fresh from the perusal of Mare 

 Clausum, apparently had proposed. That, they said, would 

 doubtless " draw a just complaint and clamour " from the 

 neighbouring princes and their subjects. The best course, they 

 thought, was for a tribute to be taken from such vessels as 

 desired convoy, in proportion to the value of the ship and the 

 length of the waftage. The King of England was thus to hire 

 out his ships of war when any foreign vessels were willing to 

 pay for their employment. 1 



The instructions to the Earl of Northumberland were issued 

 by the Admiralty on 7th April, and they were substantially the 



1 The Lords of the Admiralty to the king, 24th February 1636. State Papers, 

 Dom. , cccxiii. 24, 25. The documents are in Windebank's writing ; the first ia 

 endorsed " Fishing. Waftage. An excellent Piece." See Appendix I. 



T 



