n6 NORTH SEA FISHERS AND FIGHTERS 



between the two countries. So early as 1357 the 

 "Statute of Herrings" had placed the industry under 

 Government control, and on the accession of James i. 

 no one could fish without a licence. 



Charles i. in 1636 was roused from his indulgences 

 to recognise that there was peril from the prosperity of 

 the industrious Dutch, and he issued an Order in Council 

 prohibiting the herring-fishing in English and Irish seas 

 without a licence. Not long before that edict it had 

 been claimed that Great Britain had sole rights over the 

 seas around its coasts. Holland sent an embassy to 

 beg that the Order should be revoked, but the effort 

 failed, and so that he might maintain his position and 

 be victorious over the united forces of Holland and 

 France, Charles sent to sea a powerful fleet. To pay 

 the fleet's expenses there was imposed that unjust burden 

 of ' 'ship-money" which resulted in such disastrous con- 

 sequences to the English people until, in 1641, it was 

 declared illegal. 



Yarmouth was included in the places on the coast 

 where the Dutch were forbidden to fish. The fisheries 

 of that ancient port were greatly damaged as a con- 

 sequence. One result was the disappearance of the 

 celebrated Free Fair. The Dutch busses had been ac- 

 customed to sail for Yarmouth some days before 2ist 

 September, when the herring-fishery practically began 

 with what was called " wetting their nets " a ceremony 

 in which, doubtless, ' 'square -face " took a more 

 prominent part than sea or fresh water. The Sunday 

 before this was named Dutch Sunday, and a fair was 

 held, the booths being ranged on both sides of 

 the quay. 



