5 88 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 





Notw th standing w ch decree the Erie continueth to intertain strangers there 

 contrarie to the law, wheruppon the Boroughs again complained to the 

 Councel ther : and they by their letters dated in July last cofnend their 

 petition to his M^, signifying that the Hollanders by this meanes have 

 ingrossed the whole fishing and al comodites thereof and desire redress. . 



State Papers. Domestic. Chas. I. Vol. 152. No. 64. 

 ILAND OF LEWES. 



1. The Erie of Seaforts patent w ch is only signed by the King and 

 yet sealed : being staid here at the instance of the Boroughs, and then by his 

 Mty sent to the Councel of Scotland and by them returned hither, and now ii 

 the custodie of S r Wm. Alexander, may by his M ts comandment 

 cancelled : w ch must bee donne by the King himself to whom the L 



his Councel of Scotland have remitted it w th out anie opinion delivered. 



2. There remaining ten or 12 Dutchmen in the yland being fisherr 

 contrarie to the laws of Scotland, it wil bee fit that they being servants tc 

 great merchants in Hollande and negotiating for them bee al discharged am 

 sent away by the Councel of Scotlande and the Erie of Seafort comanded t< 

 see them al avoided : w ch hee must obey according to the Decret made ii 

 Scotland w ch is that hee shal bring them before the Councel ther to bee ser 

 away if the King so thinck fit. That the Erie and M r Hey may attend tl 

 King to this effect. This being first performed : the Hand being the Erie 

 inheritance : yet the fishing belongeth as they say to the Boroughs 

 Scotland : that is the fishing w th in the land namely at the lowghs amor 

 the ylands. The sea is the Kings as al the rest but to the sea fishing tl 

 borowghs pretend not. By acts of parliament none may pack nor pil anie fis 

 w th in the lowghs but the free borowghs of the contrie. About a dozen to\ 

 of Scotland live by fishing : Edenborough, Burnt Hand, Airgorn, Dysert, 

 Pitten Ween, Anstruther, Egstey (?) and Werter, Krel, Lieben (?) St. Andrev~ 

 Dondee, Monross, Aberdine, Glasco, Trewin, Are, and other fisher towns 

 free as Meseleborough, Fisher an (?) and others. 



The Hollanders are now suftred to land and pile and pack, w ch they 

 not to do by law. And if the laws were executed : though in calm sez 

 they may fish, yet storms would make them wearie. They also victual thet 



The Lewes hath store of fisher men uppon it. 



State Papers. Domestic. Chas. I. Vol. 152. No. 65. 



Clauses out of the Earle of Seeforts Patent graunted by his Ma tie vnder 



hand. 



With power to the inhabitants of the said Burghe to compasse and fortef 

 the said Burghe Seaport and Haven of the same w th walls, Fowses, Bulwarks 

 and other necessary fortificacons, and to keepe and entertaine vpo their owne 

 charges, a number of their owne inhabitants and fayling of them a number of 

 others hyred and conduced souldiers and men of warre in Garrison for defence 

 of the said Burghe and resistance of all forraigne invasion. 



Gives full power and comission to deale w th whatsoever farrainers and 

 strangers beeing of his Ma ties Confederates, beeing Tradesmen, Artisans, 

 Merchaunts, Saylo rs and Shippers, and other psons of whatsoever quality 

 necessary for planting and peopling the said Burghe, and to bring and 

 transport] them from the places of their residence of the said Burghe of 

 Stronway for inhabiting of the same, like as his Ma tie takes and accepts 

 whatsoever psons who shall transport themselves w t]l their wives and families 

 forth of Holland or any other neighbour Country beeing of his Ma ts Con- 

 federates to dwell w th in the said Burghe, vnder his Ma te safeguard, peace 

 and proteccon, enduring their dwelling and remayning w th in the same. And 

 wills and grants that the said psons to bee transported as said is, shalbe free 

 and vnchallendged by his Ma tie or by whatsoever Judges and Ministers oJ 



