294 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



allies, who shall henceforth, by virtue of our license (to be first 

 obtained) endeavour to take the benefit of fishing upon our 

 coasts and seas, in the places accustomed." l 



In connection with the proclamation several hundred licenses 

 were prepared, the precise form of which appears to have 

 occasioned some trouble. 2 The duty of drawing them up had 



1 A Proclamation for Restraint of Fishing upon His Maiesties Seas and Coasts 

 without License. State Papers, Dom., cccxx. 62. Fcedera, xx. 15. 



2 The form annexed to the Earl of Northumberland's instructions, sent to him 

 on 14th June from Hampton Court, and which he received at Plymouth on the 

 22nd, is as follows : 



"CHARLES R. 



" We are gratiously pleased by these Presents to grant Lycense to ... to fish 

 with the Men and Company belonging to a Ship or Vessel called the . . . being of 

 the Burthen of ... Tonnes, upon any of Our Coasts or Seas of Great Brittaine 

 and Ireland, and the rest of our Islands adjacent, where usually heretofore any 

 fishing hath been. And this Our Lycense to continue for one whole Year from 

 ye Date hereof : Willing and requiring as well all Our subjects as others of what 

 Nation, quality or condition soever that they give no Impeachment or molestation 

 to ye said ... or his company in the said Vessell in the Execution of this Our 

 Lycense, upon such Paines and Punishments, as are to be inflicted upon the 

 Violators of Our Royall Protection, and the wilful Breakers of Our Peace, in Our 

 aforesaid Dominions and Jurisdictions, further requiring and Commanding all Our 

 Admiralls, Vice-Admiralls, Rere-Admiralls and Captaines of Our Ships, Castles, 

 and Forts to protect and assist the said ... in ye quiet enjoying the benefit of 

 this Our Lycense." 



Another form, dated in July, was as follows : 



"Charles by the Grace of God King of Great Brittaine, France and Ireland, 

 Defender of the Faith, &c. To all his Admiralls, Vice-Admiralls, Rere-Admiralls, 

 and Captaines of oure Shippes, Castles and ffbrts, and to all and every other our 

 Officers, Ministers and subjects to whome it shall apperteyne, Greeting. Whereas 

 Wee are gratiously pleased by these presents to grant License to ... Master of a 

 Busse or Vessell called the . . . beinge of the burthen of ... Tonnes, To fishe 

 with the Men and Company belonging to the said Busse or Vessell upon anie of our 

 Coastes and Seas of Great Brittaine, Ireland and the rest of our Islands adiacent 

 where usually fishing hath bene, from the date hereof, to the last of December 

 next. These are to will and require as well Yow our said Officers and Subjects, as 

 others of what Nacion, quality, or condition soever That yow not onely give noe 

 impeachment or molestacion to the said ... or his Company in the said Vessell 

 in the Execucion of this Our License, upon such paynes and punishments, as are 

 to be inflicted upon the Violators of oure Royall Protecion and the wilfull Breakers 

 of our Peace in oure aforesaid dominions and jurisdictions : But that yow protect 

 and assist the said . . . and his Company in the quiet enioying the benefitt of 

 this oure License during the time before limitted : Given ..." Ibid., cccxxvi. 

 32 ; cccxxix. 77, 78, 79. It appears from copies without the names and particulars 

 filled in, which are preserved at The Hague, that the first form was used in July, 

 a certain Joost Bouwensz of Delf shaven having accepted one on the 24th (N.S.) 

 of that month. 



