144 CHRONOLOGICAL HLSTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



of vices and idleness, and for the commoun profite and 

 universal weill of the Eealme. It is thocht expedient be 

 the Lordes of the articles, and als statute and ordained 

 in this present Parliament, that there be Schippes and 

 Busches maid in all Burrowes and Townes within the 

 Realme, and that the leaste of the said Schippes and 

 Busches be of twentie tun. And that the Townes and 

 Burrowes have the Schippes and Busches according to 

 the substance of ilk towne, and to the number as after 

 followis, well abulzied with ilk necessarie graith for the 

 said Schippes and Busches, and with mariners, nettes, and 

 other graith convenient for their taking of great fish and 

 small. And all the said Schippes and Busches to be red- 

 die maid and furnished to pas to fishing be Fastrens even 

 next to cum. And in ilk Burgh of the Royaltie, that the 

 oflficiaris of the Burgh make all the starke idle men with- 

 in their boundes to pass with the said Schippes for their 

 wages, and gif the said idle men refusis to passe that they 

 banish them the Burgh. And into Burghs of the schires 

 quhilk ar neare upon the sea, that the Schirefi'e of the 

 shire compell the idle men within his boundes to passe to 

 the said Schippes for their wages. And gif they refuse 

 in likewise to banish them his schires, and gif the ofiiciaris 

 of the Burrowes or Schireffes of the schires beis found in 

 negligent on this, in putting forth of the said Schippes 

 and Busches, or compelling the said idle men to passe in 

 them for their wages, or banishing them of their bur- 

 rowes or schires : — Gif they refuse as said is, they sail pay 

 to the king an unlaw of twentie pound ilk ane of them, 

 that is to say, ofiiciaris of the Burgh for the time, and 

 the schirefi'e of the shires. For the quhilk the}'- sail he 

 charged in the checker, and give compt thereupon."* 



* 4th Pari. James IV., 26th June 1491, sect. 49. 



