JAMES I.; MARE LIBERUM 17 
During the short respite from their labours enjoyed by the 
Hollanders while awaiting the gathering of the fleet at the 
rendezvous in Shetland, they seem to have behaved in such 
fashion as to render their annual advent a matter of con- 
siderable dread to the inhabitants. The grievances of the 
islanders are set forth in a contemporary account of “ The 
Griefs and Wrongs the Inhabitants of the Isles of Orkney 
and Shetland and others, his Maties subjects, fishers within 
the Kingdom of Scotland, sustains be the Hollanders 
and Hamburg tigers.” ! 
After stating that “‘ These Hollanders and Hamburghers 
are accustomed yearly to come to ane port of Zeitland 
called Brasso Sound, about the first of June and ly there 
some 20 dayes or yrby attending the coming of their haill 
companys whilk will sometyme exceed the number of Two 
Thousand Saile,” the author goes on to enumerate the 
various wrongs and injuries committed upon the islanders. 
When ashore, the Dutchmen, finding security in numbers, 
indulged in many acts of wanton mischief. They “ chased, 
took, and slew sheep” belonging to the inhabitants, cut 
down all growing timber wherever they found it, “ qlk is 
ane casualtie to these isles,’ spoiled meadows and green 
pasturage, “cutting it up by drawing their names and 
marks that ye samen is made unprofitable to the owners,” 
and trod down all the ferns ‘be their great numbers.” 
They “ enticed to their service’ the best and ablest fishers 
in the islands, sometimes even seizing them by force, ‘“ to 
the great prejudice of his Majesties Tennents.” A more 
willing type of recruit was found in “ thieves and all sorts 
of malefactors,” who found a refuge in the Dutch fishing 
fleet and thus escaped from justice. In their lawlessness 
1MSS. 31.2.16., Advocates’ Library, Edinburgh. Date, about 1618. 
See also Fraser, Memorials of the Earls of Haddington, vol. ii. p. 65. 
Answer by the States General of the United Provinces to the Propositions 
of the Ambassador of James the Sixth, relative to the Herring Fishery on 
the coast of Scotland, 5th June, 1618 
B 
