APPENDIX G 757 



APPENDIX G. 



(Pp. 169, 196.) 



INSTRUCTIONS BY THE PRIVY COUNCIL OF SCOTLAND 

 FOR THE LEVYING OF THE " ASSIZE-HERRINGS " FROM 

 FOREIGN FISHERMEN. 



(Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, vol. xi. p. 592. ) 



INSTRUCTIONS giviii be the Lordis of Secreit Counsall to Mr 

 Johnne Fentoun, his Majesteis commissionar, who is directit to demand 

 his Majesteis rent of assyse and teynd frome these of Holland, Zeland, 

 Hambruch, Ambden, Eustock, and all utheris strangeris haunting the 

 trade of fisching in his Majesteis seas during this present yeir. 



In the first, yow sail prepair your selff and mak you reddie 

 in goode and comelie ordour and equippage and with all possibill 

 haist to go in his Majesteis schip callit The Charles, quhairof 

 David Murray is capitane and commander, towardis the North 

 Seas of this Kingdome, quhair the Hollanderis and utheris strangeris 

 hes thair fisching: And at your arryveall thair yow salbe cairfull 

 to inquyre and informe yourselff of the names of the admirallis 

 and vice-admirallis attending the flott, and of the names of thair 

 schippis, of quhat townes and provinceis they ar, and quhat nomber 

 of wauchteris and buscheis is sent oute be every towne, province 

 and estate to attend thair fischeing. 



Yow sail be vertew of your commissioun, and attending to the 

 tennour thairof, demand frome the saidis admirallis, and, incaice of 

 thair absence, frome the vice-admirallis, and frome tua or thrie 

 of the waughteris and busches of every estate, his Majesteis rent 

 of assyse and teynd specifeit and contenit in your commissioun 

 for the haill fischeis tane and slayne be thame in his Majesteis 

 watteris and seas this yeir. And yow sail use this requisitoun 

 and demand in fair and gentill termes and with modestie and 

 discretioun. 



Yf thay contravert with yow anent the quantitie of this dewytie, 

 yow sail not dispute that poynt with thame, bot, if they mak offer of 

 ane smaller dewytie, althoght it wer bot ane angell for every busche 

 overhead, yow sail accept of thair offer. 



Yf thay sail mak offer of the fische outher for the teynd or 

 assyse, yow sail accept of thame, and, gif yow find ony countrey 

 vessellis or boittis thair, yow sail send for thame and putt the 

 fische in thame. 



Yf they gif unto yow a delaying answer and crave tyme and 



