62 THE HERRING IN HISTORY 



of Holyrood, 1138, the right to fish herring at 

 Renfrew was granted. 



In 1152 William of Malmesbury calls Nor- 

 wich, which was still regarded as a fishing town, 

 though it had in fact ceased to be so, a " popu- 

 lous village remarkable for its merchandise." 

 The town was rebuilt in this year, made a 

 corporation, and given by King Stephen as an 

 appanage to his son William. 



Norwich became a free city by charter. 

 May 5th, 1194. The charter is now in the 

 muniment room of the Norwich Castle Museum ; 

 it bears the seal of Richard I. A new charter 

 was given in 1404. The author of this book 

 served (1912 — 13) as chief magistrate of the 

 City of Norwich under this charter. 



In 1153 among the laws of King David of 

 Scotland dealing with commerce was one pro- 

 viding that all goods brought by sea should be 

 landed prior to sale, except salt and herrings, 

 which might be sold on board the vessels. 

 During the same reign the Firth of Forth was 

 frequently covered with boats manned by 

 English, Scottish and Belgic fishermen who 

 caught herring in the neighbourhood of the 

 Island of May. This seems to be one of 

 the earliest records of the herring fishery 

 on the North British coast, but as Scottish 

 subjects on the south side of the Firth of 

 Forth were then called English it is open to 

 doubt whether those whom we nowadays call 

 English went so far from their own ports on 



