JAMES I; MARE LIBERUM ll 
since they thought that a crisis was at hand. Meanwhile 
the complaints against the Dutch had become so numerous 
that the States issued a proclamation commanding the 
Dutch seamen to refrain from violence, on pain of being 
“punished in the body as pirates and men of violence.” ! 
Weary of these constant complaints and anxious to come 
to some understanding which might set an industry involving 
their national existence on a satisfactory basis so far as 
fishing rights were concerned, the Dutch, in 1619, sent an 
embassy to London. To these ambassadors, on January 
30th, 1620, James made a formal declaration concerning 
his demands, urging upon them the importance of speedily 
coming to a definite settlement: ‘‘ The said ambassadors 
will remember how often his Mat’ hath summoned their 
Superiours to accomplish their Promise they have made him 
to come to a Treaty about the Point of general Fishing upon 
ye coast of Great Brittaine and Ireland, in w% their Subjects 
have encroached for many yeares together upon his Maty® 
Rights, who neverthelesse, in regard of ye State of their 
affaires, hath been content to leave it hitherto in suspense. 
But now they may lett their Superiours know his Mat’ doth 
expect that, so soon as conveniently it may be, they send 
hither some Persons authorized to treate and finally cleare 
this difference.” ? 
In spite of this declaration, however, little was done to 
1 Cal. S.P. Dom. Car. II., vol. 339, No. 107. Placaert of 5th June, 1618. 
“‘ Defendons par cette bien expressement a touts Pilotes, pecheurs d’hareng 
et pecheurs capitaines, matelots, et autres destinés au Convoy d’cieux 
navires d’Hareng et generalement & ceux qui se meslent de lad’ Pescherie 
en ces Pais, qu’ils auront & prendre garde de commettre et farre aulcune 
force et tort aux susd’ Habitants et sujets de S. M. soit par armes ou 
autrement et de ne faire aux susd’ sujets auleun empeschment ou molesta- 
tion en quelque endroit de la Mer, ou ils seront exergants leur traficq et 
pescherie d’harengs, mais de leur en laisser pleine et entiere liberté 4 leur 
contentement sur aulcune place ou quartiers que ce pourront estre, mesmes 
devant & sur les costes de ces Pais, sur peine d’estre punis au Corps comme 
Pirates et malfaiteurs.” 
2Cal. S.P. Dom. Car. II., vol. 339, No. 381. 
