[A1630/7/73]¹

The whilk day the commissioun and instructiouns underwrittin, being presented to the lords of his majesteis privie counsell and commissioners foresaids and read in thair audience, the same commissioun and instructiouns wer allowed, approvin and exped be thame, of the quhilks the tennour followes:

Commissioun for the treatie of the fishing

Our soverane lord, considdering the great blessing whairwith it hes pleased God to inriche his majesteis dominions of Scotland, England and Ireland in the abundance and plentie of fishe upon all the coasts of the same and how that the benefite thairof is reaped for the most part by strangers, to the great disparagement and prejudice of his majesteis loving subjects, whiche being a mater concerning his majesteis honnour and the good and strenth of his whole dominions, his majestie hes resolved that the saids fishings sall be undertakin by his owne subjects and that the samine sall be prosecute and ordered by commoun counsell and endeavoure; thairfoir, and for the better furtherance and accommodating of this great and important worke, ordanis ane letter to be made under his majesteis great seale makand and constitutand, lykeas his majestie, by the tennour heirof, makes and constituts his majesteis right trustie and weilbelovit cousines and counsellours Williame, erle of Mortoun, lord Dalkeith and Aberdour, lord high thesaurar of this kingdome, Williame, erle of Monteith, lord Grahame and Kilpont, president of his majesteis privie counsell, James, marqueis of Hamiltoun, erle of Arran and Cambridge, lord Alven and Innerdaill, Robert, erle of Roxburgh, lord Ker of Cesfurde, and his right trustie cousine Johne, erle of Carrick, lord Kinclevin, his majesteis right, trustie and weilbelovit counsellour, Sir William Alexander of Menstrie, knight, his majesteis principall secretare of the kingdome of Scotland and his majesteis right trustie and weilbelovits Maister Johne Hay and Maister George Fletcher, or anie fyve of thame, his majesteis commissioners to the effect underwrittin, givand, grantand and committand unto thame (or anie fyve of thame conjunctlie as said is) full power, warrand and aucthoritie, expresse bidding and charge to conveene and meit at suche times and in suche places as it sall please his majestie to appoint with certane selected commissioners nominat or to be nominat and authorized by his majestie for England according to the tennour of thair commissioun in that behalfe, or as the saids commissioners sall agree upon among thameselfes, and to confer and treate in all and everie thing that may concerne the intendit associatioun for undertaking the saids commoun fishings, companeis thairof and governement of the same and upon all and everie thing that sall occurre and result in the said treatie concerning the saids fishings or depending thairupon, and with absolute power to conclude thairin, having his majesteis speciall approbatioun thairto, provyding alwayes that nothing to be done or concluded thairin sall be prejudiciall or derogatorie to the lawes, liberteis and priviledges of this kingdome and crowne thairof; and that thir presents be ane warrand to the directour of the chancellarie for expeding of this commissioun at the chancellarie and that the same be ane warrand for appending the great seale thairunto without anie forder precepts to be direct thairupon. Givin at Halyrudhous, the ellevint day of November 1630. Subscribitur: George, cancellarus, Sanctandrois, Hadintoun, Wintoun, Dunkelden, Dumbland, Melvill, Hamiltoun, Sir Thomas Hop.