Ichthyothēra, or, The royal trade of fishing discovering the inestimable profit the Hollanders have made thereof, with the vast emolument and advantages that will redound to His Sacred Majesty and his three kingdomes by the improvement of it : now seasonably published by command for the benefit of the nation.

Proposals for the better inhabiting of the Island of Lewis and other Islands adjacent.

1. THat his Majesty be pleased to call in the Patent of late granted to the Hollanders, for inhabiting the Lewis, where they are crept in of purpose to set up a Fishing on that Coast, to defeat his Majesties Subjects of that benefit.

2. That his Majestie grant Immunities to his Subjects of Eng∣land, Scotland and Ireland, to inhabit there, and erect Towns, Villages, Store-houses, and all manner of Manufactories and Trades, so that hereafter we need not to supply those Islands, but shall find there all things to our hands, as in other places of Europe where Trades are upheld and maintained.

3. That his Majesty do constitute a Governour to be there resident for the space of three years, and not to exceed that time, lest in longer continuance abuses should creep in by the Avarice of Governors.

4. That in every Island there be erected one principal Town above the rest, and a Cittadell in it to keep the people in obe∣dience; for naturally the Inhabitants of those Islands are incli∣ned to Incivility, Treachery, and love of Liberty, which are next neighbours to Rebellion.

5. That every Child be taught the English or Scotch tongue, and that their educations be according to their abilities of body and disposition of mind, some in Learning, and some in manu∣ring and husbanding of ground; but the most part in Fishing and Sea-affairs, as having so convenient a seat for the same.

6. That the native inhabitants of those Islands hold no Cor∣respondency with the Highlanders upon the main Continent more then is needfull, considering the danger that may ensue by their too great familiarity, they being naturally the most dange∣rous and worst people of all his Majesties Dominions: and that there be a special care, that they marry one with another in the Island, or with the English or Scotch, and in any case to prohibit all marriage betwixt them and the Highlanders, as aforesaid.

I Have annexed hereunto, as you see, what I think fitting to be put in present execution for planting the Islands of Hebrides; which being done, all the good mentioned before will follow upon it, besides other things which I forbear to touch, as mat∣ters of State, and too high for me to meddle with.

I have at length brought my intention to an end, and laid open the mischiefs our State hath long suffered by neglecting Fishing, which the Hollanders have made good use of to them∣selves: I have made appear how easie it is to enrich our selves by it, and to restore our selves unto what we have lost, and shewed the profit all kinds of people may reap by it, if Will and Money be not wanting: I have made it plain to as many as de∣sire the truth, that the increase of Shipping in Europe is occasio∣ned by the taking and transporting of our Fish, that 9000. Hol∣land Vessels are begot out of it, and all their people daily set on

work by it; insomuch as I dare boldly say, if the feeding upon Fish were prohibited all sorts of Christians, and the Com∣mand duly observed, it would lessen the number of Shipping three parts in five.

And therefore, seeing that our Fish is able to make us happy, and this Narration laies down the way how to attain to that Happinesse, let neither Excuses, Calumniations, false pretences, or affection to the Hollanders divert us from it, as it did in the year 1609. when by Proclamation the Hollanders were bound to resort to the City of London for licence to fish upon the Coast of England, and to Edenburgh for the like liberty in Scotland, yet neither of these two things were performed, nor the Contempt questioned.

Two hundred Usurers, with willing minds and forward pur∣ses, are able to master this work: but I fear the Devil will not allow them a Gain so well gotten. The excessive practice of Usurie is the decay of Commonwealths, repugnant to all Hu∣manity, Charity, and natural benevolence; and a slavery to themselves, who desire to live poor, and to die rich.

But to speak truth, it is pity that a work of so great good and gain should have to doe with men of so penurious a Con∣dition, who are neither good nor evil by the disposition of ano∣ther, but by their own perverse will and nature. God, I fear, will blesse our actions the worse for them, that are like trees that bear no blossoms in the Spring, and therefore no fruit at the Fall.

This work is unspotted, and pittie it should be defiled with the sin of Avarice. His Majesties Greatnesse and Glory will appear by it: For nothing can be to a Prince more Royal and renowned, then to make the state of his Realm better then when he found it, and of idle and slothfull persons to make profita∣ble members to a Commonwealth.

FINIS.