160 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTOKY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 



in a business wliich, with extraordinary earnestness, we 

 recommend to you. 



" Given at our Palace of Westminster, the 12th 

 day of July 1630. 



" By his Majesty's commands. 



(Signed) " John Coke." 



" Instructions for Sir William Alexander, our Secretary 

 of State for our kingdom of Scotland, employed by us to 

 treat with the Lords of our Privy Council there, about the 

 erection of a general fishery : — 



" First, You are to signify to the said Lords, and others 

 of our Council in Scotland, that having duly considered 

 how great a blessing God hath given our kingdoms, in 

 the abundance of sea fish upon all our coasts, and how the 

 benefit thereof is reaped only by strangers, to the great 

 disparagement and prejudice of our loving subjects, we 

 have now taken a royal and firm resolution to set up a 

 common fishery, to be a nursery of seamen, and to increase 

 the fishery and trade of all parts of our dominions, and 

 this being a common benefit to all our three kingdoms, so 

 as they cannot be dividedly enjoyed by any. 



" Our royal and gracious pleasure is to have it under- 

 taken and ordered by common council and adventurers, 

 and to that end (among other things, we have sent you to 

 this meeting of the Lords of our Council at Edinburgh, 

 there to make this intimation), and to represent to them 

 the propositions which have been offered and approved of 

 here, tending to the advancement of this great work, that 

 they may be taken there into the like serious considera- 

 tion ; and as well to ratify, and confirm what they shall 

 agree upon, and advise what other ways and means may 

 conduce to the perfecting thereof ; and because a great 



