CHAPTER V.

JAMES I.--_continued_. DISPUTES WITH THE DUTCH.

Grant of “assize-herrings” in Scotland to Duke of Lennox--Considered by Scottish Council--James instructs that the tax be levied from foreign fishermen--Mr John Brown collects them in 1616 from Dutch--Protest by Dutch ambassador--Dutch naval commanders ordered to prevent further payments--Brown again sent in 1617--Seized and carried to Holland by Dutch man-of-war--Repudiation of act by States-General--Further complaints in Scotland against Dutch--Representations by British ambassador at Hague--“Land-kenning” or range of vision claimed as limit--Scottish Council asked to prevent Hollanders from fishing within sight of land--Dutch edict of 1618--Assize-herrings again demanded by the _Restore--Mare Clausum_ in the Arctic Seas--Spitzbergen whaling disputes--Dutch embassy of 1618--Evasion of fishery question--James’s displeasure--Threats to use force--Fishery treaty again postponed--A limit of fourteen miles requested--Dutch concession--Proposals regarding whaling at Spitzbergen--Assize-herrings again demanded by the _Charles_--The Dutch strengthen their convoying squadrons--Dutch embassies of 1619 and 1621--Fishery question still evaded--Edict of 1618 renewed--Fresh complaints against Hollanders--Fishery societies proposed--The striking of the flag--Incident with French in 1603--Monson’s action against Dutch--Spanish complaint--The custom as to striking the flag 165