72 CHARLES I. 
claim to the sovereignty of the seas, and advised him to 
intimate to the minister of the United Provinces that, 
although prepared to maintain his right to the fishings 
around the British coast, he would permit the Dutch fisher- 
men to fish provided they first supplied themselves with 
licenses to do so. Intimation was accordingly made in 
those terms to the Dutch Ambassador. 
In spite of the protestations of the Hollanders, a pro- 
clamation for the restraint of fishing without license was 
made on May 10th, 1636, declaring the king’s resolution 
“to keep such a strength of shipping as may be sufficient 
to hinder encroachments upon his regalities, and protect 
those who shall thenceforth by virtue of license first obtained, 
endeavour to take the benefit of fishing on the king’s coasts 
and seas.” 2 
On 12th July, 1636, a similar proclamation was issued 
by the Privy Council of Scotland forbidding foreigners 
from fishing in Scottish waters without a license from the 
king; the duty being fixed at “2s. sterling upon the 
tunne.” * In this connection the islanders of the Lewis 
were, at the same time, pointedly warned that the adven- 
turers of the Fishing Association were not to be reckoned 
among the number of strangers or foreigners from whom 
such license was to be demanded.® 
Charles, indeed, informed the Dutch that this tax was 
intended to be for the mutual benefit of both nations, and 
was a contribution on their part towards the maintenance 
of the British fleet against the Dunkirk privateers. But 
in order that there might be no dubiety about the payment. 
of the tax, the Earl of Northumberland, who commanded a 
+Cal. S.P. Dom. Car. I., vol. 307, No. 48; vol. 313, No. 24; vol. 319, 
No. 81. 
2 Ibid. vol. 320, No. 62. 
3 Reg. Privy Council, Scotland, vol. vi. (2nd series) pp. 279, 280. 
4 Ibid. p. 346. 5 Ibid. p. 292. 
