THE DUTCH WAR 83 
tion fell into the hands of these pirates, who were now so 
active that English fishermen feared to put to sea.t It 
was estimated that the seizure of these vessels had caused 
a loss to the Association of not less than £5000. To 
recuperate them for this loss, the Earl of Pembroke and 
his fellow adventurers asked the grant of a standing 
lottery, such as had been granted to the Virginia Company 
in 1612.2 They asked also that the statutes for the use 
of fish should be enforced, and this especially against “all 
sorts of victuallers, who may be enjoined to provide fish, 
if not two days, at least one day a week, and the fines on 
the trespassers to redound to the Royal Fishings.”? The 
king willingly gave all the aid in his power, granted the 
standing lottery asked for, and recommended the adventurers 
to send an agent to demand satisfaction for the great 
injuries inflicted by the Dunkirkers; if satisfaction were 
refused them, Charles declared himself willing to grant 
them letters of marque against the privateers.* 
In spite of all Charles’ efforts on its behalf, however, the 
Association did not prosper, and in this year, 1639, the king, 
despairing of success, ordered a general enquiry into its finan- 
cial administration and management. At the same time he 
gave orders for an enquiry into the conduct of Peter Ricaut, 
the treasurer of the Association, who had been guilty of 
oppression towards various poor tradesmen dealing with him. 
Enquiry was to be held also into the exact state of the 
stock of the company, so that all reasons for the diminution 
of stock might be ascertained. The affairs of the company 
were then to be settled in the most advantageous manner 
possible for the community at large.5 
Deep matters of state now engrossed the attention of the 
king, and he had, perforce, to leave the adventurers of the 
1QCal. S.P. Dom. Car. I., vol. 429, No. 65. 
2 Tbed. vol. 444, No. 68. 3 Ibid. vol. 438, No. 65. 
4 Ibid. vol. 444, No. 68. 5 Foedera, v. 20, p. 346. 
