The Sovereignty of the Sea: An Historical Account of the Claims of England to the Dominion of the British Seas, and of the Evolution of the Territorial WatersFulton, Thomas Wemyss
History
The Sovereignty of the Sea: An Historical Account of the Claims of England to the Dominion of the British Seas, and of the Evolution of the Territorial Waters
Fulton, Thomas Wemyss
Fisheries -- Great Britain; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- History; Sea-power; Territorial waters -- Great Britain -- History
As an alternative plan, to be put into immediate execution in
connection with the truce just concluded between Spain and the United
Provinces,[267] it was proposed that, his Majesty’s right and tithe
having been made plain as above described, the Hollanders themselves
should be invited to join on reasonable terms with the English
projectors in the fishing trade for one-third part, or even a half, of
the fishery. This course, it was believed, would prevent any cause of
offence, being, it was said, in agreement with “the known precedents of
other princes.” It was also thought that it would be agreeable to the
Hollanders, since they would see that the Society of Fishing Merchants,
being free from license or tribute, could afford to have busses built
in Denmark for themselves should that be necessary. If the Hollanders
could be induced to associate themselves with the Society, then,
it was argued, when the time came to interfere with their “general
fishery,” the risk of war would be removed, and the king’s tithe
and right might be acknowledged and established by proclamation or
otherwise.[268]
The acknowledgment of the king’s “sovereignty or title annexed to the
dignity of the Crown” required the contribution of the tenth or the
twentieth fish, more or less, to be delivered at sea for the general
good of the Society, so that they might be able to tide over bad
years and maintain the fishermen. In this way, by heavily taxing the
Hollanders, it was believed that “no man should be discouraged by bad
successe, but might depend upon God’s blessing with a quiete minde
to follow his vocacion avoydinge Idlenes by ye survey of others.” On
the other hand, the Society would undertake to pay the king so much
upon every last of fish as might be thought convenient, provided that
letters patent were granted under which the Hollanders and other
strangers would be “limited and ruled.”
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