CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE HERRING-FISHERY. 169 



' design certain judges under them in convenient places to 

 ' administer justice in the matter of the trade fishing 

 ' allenarly : And our sovereign Lord being willing to 

 ' cherish and encourage the forsaid societies and com- 



* panics in the said trade, hath, out of his innate benefi- 

 ' cence and royal bounty, ordained, and by the tenour 



* hereof discerns and ordains that salt, cordage, hemp, 

 ' cork, pitch, tar, clapboard, knaple, skewhoops, and Hol- 



* land nets, imported for the trade of fishing foresaid, by 

 ' the foresaid companies respective, are and shall be 

 ' free of any custome or other imposition whatever ; 

 ' and that the herring and white fish taken, made, 

 ' or prepared therewith, are and shall be free of any 

 ' manner of taxation or burden in the exportation of 

 ' the same. And also, that all strangers fishers, who 

 ' shall repair to this, his Majestie's ancient kingdom, and 

 ' will come and make their residence within the same, 

 ' shall be naturalised by his Majestic upon the desire and 

 ' application of any of the said councils, and shall be 



* entered burgesses in any city where they shall reside, and 

 ' shall be freed of all manner of taxation, for the space 

 ' of seven years next after their arrival. And further, his 

 ' Majesty hath released and discharged, and by the tenour 



* hereof impliciter releases and discharges the teind 

 ' herring, and teind fish, of all such herring and fish 

 ' which shall be taken by the boats and fishers of 

 ' the said companies respective, or such wdio shall be 

 ' hired by them in all time hereafter ; and also exoners 

 ' and discharges the excise herring due to his Majestic 

 ' (except the herring of Dunbar) for all the days, space, 

 ' years, and terms, of nine years next after the date 

 ' hereof ; and in like manner his Majestic declares that all 

 ' ale, beer, strong waters, and other provisions for the out 



