50 CHARLES I. 
In deference to Scottish opinion two charters were drawn 
up; in the first the great seal of Scotland and England 
came first, in the other the great seal of England and Scot- 
land came first. These charters were dated Westminster, 
19th July, 1632. Along with the charter sent to Scotland, 
the King sent a letter commending the work of the asso- 
ciation to the Privy Council; at the same time he sent by 
the Earl of Strathearn further instructions to the Council 
with regard to the “ royall work of the fishings.”” Among 
other things, the king asked the Council to consider ‘‘ how 
necessarie it is for the yles fishing that plantatiouns be made 
in the most commodious places of the yles and thairfoir to 
condescend upon the places where the same sall be and of the 
meanes how the same sall be continued and brought to per- 
fectioun.”” They were also “to consider how best to take 
sufficient surety from landlords of the isles and lochs on the 
mainland adjacent to the isles, that members of the societie 
be free from all oppression and violence.” It was further re- 
quested that they should announce to these landlords and 
their tenants that the members of the society were to pay only 
such tolls and dues as were customary, and, in this connection, 
the king asked that it should be ascertained what were these 
customary tolls and upon what grounds they were levied. 
It was to be proclaimed that all strangers in the isles, and 
especially in the Lewis and the Shetlands, were prohibited 
from fishing or trading, as ordained by Act of Parliament. 
Finally, the Council was to take means that all members 
of the society, whether Scotch, English, or Irish, resorting 
to the isles, lochs, or seas of Scotland might be “ kyndelie 
and weill used, and by all means encouraged to prosecute 
the said worke.” 4 
In order to secure for the association, as far as lay in his 
power, the good offices of the Scots, Charles now gave his 
1 Act. Parl. Scotland, vol. v. pp. 243-6; Reg. Privy Council, Scotland, vol. 
iv. (2nd series) pp. 541, 556. 
