Chapter IV

UNDER THE STUARTS. JAMES I. A NEW POLICY.

Change of policy as to freedom of fishery--The “King’s
Chambers” defined and described--Limited to questions of
neutrality--Beginning of struggle with Dutch for commercial
and maritime supremacy--Expansion of Dutch fisheries--English
accounts of their extent--John Keymer--Sir Walter Raleigh--Tobias
Gentleman--The Dutch great herring fishery along British
coast--Its value and importance--English fishery trifling in
comparison--English envy and jealousy of Dutch--Rival fishery
schemes proposed--Plan of London merchants--Proposals to tax foreign
fishermen--Complaints of encroachments of Hollanders in England
and Scotland--Petition from Cinque Ports for protection--Privy
Council consider unlicensed fishing by foreigners--Recommend
proclamation restraining foreigners from fishing on British coasts
without license from the king--Proclamation issued--Aimed against
Dutch--Protest of States-General--Proclamation suspended--The
“assize-herring”--Discussions with the Dutch ambassador--Dutch
embassy of 1610--Fishery question postponed--Other fishery
schemes--The queen’s proposals--Records to be searched to establish
king’s jurisdiction at sea and right to the fishings 118