JAMES I.; MARE LIBERUM 21 
It is evident, however, that there must have been a reverse 
to this picture. The inhabitants of these naturally barren 
islands must have derived no small benefit from the annual 
visit of those foreign fishermen, even if they felt it a grievance 
that the foreigners encroached upon the preserves of the 
native fishermen. They had, in fact, gradually come to 
look to the foreigners for a great part of their annual sub- 
sistence. This is clear from a ‘‘ Supplication by the Earl 
of Morton on behalf of himself and the inhabitants of Zet- 
land,” addressed to the Privy Council on 4th March, 1662.1 
On March 22nd, 1661, Parliament had passed an act pro- 
hibiting foreign fishermen from fishing near these islands 
or trading with the inhabitants. The islanders, evidently 
much perturbed by the passing of this act, plead in this 
Supplication that the traders of Lubeck may be permitted 
to visit their islands and supply them with corn as they 
have hitherto done which they are now prohibited from 
doing by the Navigation Act. They show that “the said 
island, being of itself barren and infertill, ... by the 
product and grouth thereof the same is not able to inter- 
taine the inhabitants ane quarter of the haill year but were 
ever maintained be cornes and other provisions, whilks 
were imported be Lubicers, Hambergers, and other strangers 
who arryved there yearlie to fish upon the coasts of the 
said island, be whom the inhabitants were for the most part 
still maintained in all tymes bygane.” In view of these 
circumstances, they ask that the foreigners be allowed to 
come at least for this year, saying that if they are not per- 
mitted to do so, ‘not only many thousands of the saids 
inhabitants will be in danger of starving for want of bread, 
bot the rest will be forced to desert the said illand and leave 
the samen waste and desolat.’’ Concluding their request, 
they beg that if the Dutchmen are to be prevented from 
coming as usual “some speedie course be taken for pro- 
1 Reg. Privy Conc. Scotland, vol. i. (3rd series) p. 182. 
