156 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



death, at the price of 6s. 8d, per cask ; the supply of cod 

 to begin in August, and of herrings in December.* 



Charles I. seems to have been anxious to encourage the 

 fishery, and under his auspices the Earl of Pembroke fitted 

 out several busses, but unfortunately they were princi- 

 pally taken by the Spaniards, and the crews imprisoned, 

 who had to be ransomed at high rates, and the earl, 

 in this spirited enterprise, it is said, lost about L. 50,000. 



There appears to have been " past memory of man" a 

 tax or duty paid by foreign ships coming to Orkney and 

 Shetland, or to the coasts of the difl'erent islands, for a 

 remonstrance having been made by the republic of Bre- 

 men against Sir James Stewart of Kilsyth, then farmer of 

 the Isles of Orkney and Shetland, as if he had imposed 

 higher duties than usual upon the ships and goods of the 

 inhabitants of that town, the same was remitted by the 

 king to the Privy Council, and their decision was as fol- 

 lows: — "The Lords of Council having heard and con- 

 sidered all that was proposed and alleged by both the 

 said parties in this matter, and understanding that the 

 foresaid toll-duty of six angels and a dollar f of every 

 stranger ship arriving within the said bounds of Orkney 

 and Shetland, has been thankfully and willingly paid, 

 past memory of man, to the Earls of Orkney of the time ; 

 and that count has been made to his Majesty's Exchequer, 

 as being a part of the proper rent and patrimony of the 

 earldom of Orkney and Shetland. Therefore the said 

 Lords ordain the said toll and duty of six angels and a 

 dollar, of every stranger ship arriving within the said 

 bounds, in their lawful trade to stand, and be paid to his 



* Swinden, p. 117. 



t The angel was a gold coiu equal to tlie half mark, or 6s. 8d., and the 



dollar. 4s. 6d. 



