152 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



and uther fish slaine on utter sides of the water of Forth, it 

 is expreslie provided that all the saidis fishes sail be brocht 

 to the porte of Leith and Carrail allanerlie : There to be 

 graitlied and handled as in the said Act at mair length is 

 contained. Quhilk sinsine hes bene very hurtful and 

 prejudicial to the remanent free burrowes and sea ports 

 on uther side of the said water of Forth. Therefore our 

 said Soveraine Lord, with advice of his three estaites con- 

 vened in this present Parliament, declaris, statutis, and 

 ordainis, that it sail be leasum to the remanent of the 

 said free burrowes to have the saidis fishes brocht to ilk 

 ane of them in time cumming, alsweil, as to the saidis 

 portes of Leith and Carrail. Notwithstanding ony re- 

 striction maid thereanent be the saide Acte or uther ways 

 of befoir, dispensand therewith for ever. And ordainis 

 letters of publication to pass hereupon informe as effeiris."* 

 We have an amusing account of the excitement oc- 

 casioned among the superstitious of all ranks in 1587, in 

 consequence of marks on two herrings fished on the 10th 

 November of that year off the coast of Norway, which 

 seemed to exhibit words in Gothic letters. They were 

 brought to Copenhagen, and seven days after their cap- 

 ture presented to King Frederick the Second, who was 

 terrified at their appearance, and thought they predicted 

 his own death. He consulted the wise men of the age, 

 who read the letters, and said that they were the fol- 

 lowing very innocent, and at present true prophecy, 

 " You will not fish herrings in future so well as other 

 nations." But this interpretation did not satisfy the king, 

 and he applied to the learned men of Eostock ; but neither 

 the professors there, nor at several of the universities of 

 Germany who were consulted, could give a satisfactory 



* lOth Pari., King James VI.. lOtli Dec. 1585, sec. 114. 



