JAMES I.; MARE LIBERUM 19 
so carried away. Disregarding any ancient understanding 
on the subject, the Hollanders now came close inshore 
“where befor they approached not the coasts nearer then 
fourty myles.” “This near approaching of theirs the 
shoar,” the author maintains, “ has not only impoverished 
that haill trade of fishing and all that were benefited thereby, 
qlk is noe small loss, being rightly ponderat, but likewise 
far prejudges his maties Customes.”’ 
“‘ Before those Hollanders approached so near the Coasts 
The Schools of fishes came hard to the shoare, that, without 
great expense, the poorest fisher would have Inriched him- 
self. But their near approaching breaks now the schools 
of fishes,! that noe fishes are gotten but with great expense 
and trubell, so that the poor, who are not able to make 
great charges, are all together frustrate of any benefite. . . . 
‘Certain of these Hollanders being forced either be Storme 
of weather or lack of fresh watters they are not content to 
wrang his Maties subjects by fishing hard by the shoar 
where they were accustomed to fish, but comeing within 
lands, they will fish hard by Gentlemen’s Doors, Whilk 
pairts has been appropriat to the owners of the Land nearest 
adjacent for their fishing there the tyme of Stormes, for 
the Entertaining of their houses when they may not goe 
to sea. This wrong of theirs has oft brought contraversie 
and sometymes blood.” 
Certain payments in kind are mentioned which would 
imply that the Hollanders felt, to some extent at least, that 
their being allowed to fish in these waters near the Orkneys 
and Shetland Isles was in the nature of a privilege. “‘ Those 
Hollanders, at the least ye greatest number, gave to Captain 
Thomas Knightsone, who then carried charge under the late 
Earle of Orknay, ane Barrele of Salt for his oversight for 
ilk Ship. Thereafter they offered to the late Earle of 
1 See also Cal. S.P. Dom. Car. II., vol. 339, p. 161. ‘‘ MS. discourse 
about ye fishing in Mr. Sam Coke’s hand,” where this same charge is made, 
