42 CHARLES I. 
Not content with these general instructions to the com- 
missioners, the Convention of Burghs gave particular 
directions to Mr. John Hay, whom they had appointed to 
represent their interests in the negotiations. They desired 
him to have fishings reserved “ appropriat to the burrowis.” 
To effect this they were willing to compromise with the 
king ; the English might ‘“ plant in the Yle of the Lewis, 
provyding they fisch not in the reserved watters and haif 
no magazins nor plantatiouns in anie uther of the west or 
north Illes, nor benorth Buchan Nes nor Crumartie.” At 
the same time, however, he was to carefully premise that 
the right of the burghs to fish in the said isle of Lewis was 
not hereby surrendered. The English were to be allowed 
to have “‘ magazines’ in any town south of Buchan Ness, 
except the town and harbour of Aberdeen. 
In return for these concessions, the Scots desired Hay to 
make certain requests of the king; he was to ask that 
effectual steps might be taken to remove the “ Fleymings ” 
from the isle of Lewis, Shetland, Caithness, and all other 
places to which they resorted, and that all natives should 
be prohibited from dealing with them ; he was also to obtain 
the king’s promise that negotiations would be opened up 
with the Government of the Low Countries, so that their 
fishermen might not approach nearer the land than “ane land 
kenning off.” Finally, he was to gain permission for Scotch 
fishermen to engage in the annual Pilchard fishing of England.! 
Thus instructed, the Scotch commissioners set out for 
London to confer with the English commissioners already 
appointed. On 3lst March, 1631, a letter was received in 
Edinburgh from the Scotch representatives, who desired 
that the Scots should state in particular terms what fishings 
they wished reserved for the natives.2. The commissioners 
1 Records of Convention of Burghs, Scot., vol. iii. p. 323. 
2 Act. Parl. Scotland, vol. v. pp. 234-235 ; Reg. Privy Council, Scotland, 
vol. iv. (2nd series) p. 181. 
