Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. CHARLES I. : THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE FISHING. It was on account of the known aversion of the Scotch burghers and traders to any scheme for a national fishery which allowed others to participate in benefits which they considered peculiarly their own, that Charles, whose mind was absolutely fixed upon the establishment of this association, was at considerable pains to draw up, for the information of the Scottish Estates and the Privy Council, a lengthy statement embodying his views upon the subject. In July, 1630, Sir William Alexander, Secretary for Scotland, received instructions to communicate to the various governing bodies of Scotland, the king's wishes concerning the national fishery. A letter was sent at the same time to the Privy Council and Estates, hi which the king commended the question to them as one worthy of their attention, and stated clearly the end he had in view in inaugurating this scheme—" To the end we may at lenth injoy with more honnour these rights whiche properlie belong to our imperiall crowne and ar usurped by strangers, we have considered of a way which in tyme by gods favour may produce this good effect and also increase our navigation and trade. And becaus this work concerneth equallie all our three Kingdomes and must thairfoir be undertakin and ordered by commoun counsell and assistance, We have takin this opportunitie of your conventioun at Edinborrow to send our mstructiouns to SirWilliam Alexander, our Secretarie for Scotland." The king ended his letter in a very practical fashion, by showing that he would not be content with any mere academic discussion of his proposals, but that he wished to commence, as soon as possible, the business of the association—" We expect that you proceid not onelie to a resolutioun upon suche arti...