[1663/6/13]¹

Act allowing the inhabitants of Shetland to import foreign drinking beer for one year

The estates of parliament, having heard a supplication presented to them in name of the inhabitants of the island of Shetland, showing that through the barrenness of the soil of that island, it being upon the remotest coast of this kingdom, the petitioners are not able to subsist amongst themselves without trading with foreigners, and that, in consideration thereof, it pleased his majesty and estates of parliament, by an act of 5 September last, to grant them liberty to trade and traffick with foreigners as formerly, until the act anent fishing were put in practise, but now there being an act to be passed in this session of parliament discharging the importing of beer and strong waters within this kingdom, under the pains to be mentioned in the act, the petitioners will not be able to subsist if the said act is extended against them, especially seeing trafficking with foreigners is the only means of their livelihood; therefore, humbly desiring liberty to trade with foreigners as well for importing and vending of beer and strong waters as other commodities, until the act anent fishing be put into practise, which being taken into consideration, the king's majesty and estates of parliament allow the supplicants to trade with strangers for importing of beer for the space of one year after the date hereof, and so long thereafter as the lords of his majesty's privy council shall think fit.