From the National Archives of Scotland
Document of the Month (September)
The new ferry
service from Rosyth to Zebrugge has been operating
regularly this summer but links between Scotland and
the Low Countries are as old as ocean-going trade in
this part of the world.
As evidence here is a letter written to Charles II in
1664 by Scottish traders with the Low Countries. (also see
larger illustration below)
The trading links often centred on the port of Antwerp,
40 miles from Zebrugge. Long before Belgium became an
independent state in 1830, it was known under many
different names, such as 'The Spanish (and Austrian)
Netherlands' and 'North Burgundy'.
Trading links between Scotland and the Low Countries
were often enhanced politically, not least in 1449 by the
marriage of the Scottish King, James II, to Mary of
Guelph.
Mary was the daughter of the Duke of Gelderland
(situated in the north of the Netherlands near Arnhem). She
became the mother of James III and through her
great-great-great grandson James VI (James I of England)
the British royal family can be traced directly from
her.
Most royal marriages in the past were made for
diplomatic or political advantage and the match between
James and Mary underlines the importance of the North Sea
routes to Scottish trade. Scotland also strengthened North
Sea trade by creating a permanent commercial centre, or
staple, at Veere in the Netherlands.
In this letter of 1664 to Charles II, representatives of
Scotland's merchants and Burghs appealed to the King in
London asking him to intervene in an awkward situation in
the North Sea, where Scottish shipping to Flanders was
being disrupted by the 'wearschippis' [warships] of the
Estates of Holland. They point out that disruption to trade
affects not only their own profitability but also the
crown's customs revenue. Charles' reaction to this letter
is unknown, but since the following year saw a declaration
of war between Britain and the United Provinces of the
Netherlands (the Second Anglo-Dutch War), the Scottish
merchants obviously did not succeed in securing the free
passage they hoped for.
Text of the letter:
Most Secred Souerayne
Understanding of the Great Ambassidis cumed
unto yr Majestie from all forayne princess, and
specialye from the King of Spagne, Archeduik of
flanderis, and Estates off Holand and Zeland, and of
the great treatiess, betwixt yr Sacred Majestie, and
the sundrie princess and Estates, We haiff thought good
to insinuat to yr Majestie as our maist Gracious Lord
and Souarayne, nocht onlye in our awin nayme and for
our enteres, Bot als in nayme and behalff of all the
remanent Borowises of this your Majesties kingdome, The
great hinder quhilk the haill Burrowis of the Land hes
susteyned, this manye and diverse years through want of
the free tred, with the Countrie of flanderis,
quhairfraa thay are debarred, Bye the Wearschippis of
the Estates of Holand allanerlie, Quhilk is nocht onlye
hinderfull to the tred of merchandice and merchand
estate of this Countrie Bot hinderfull also to yr
Sacred Majesties customs, quhilk is ever mair and less,
as the Tred of Merchandice incressis or decayce.
Quhairfore we wald maist humblye beseik yr Sacred
Majestie, to obteyne, bye onye treatie or moyanis with
the saides princess and Estates, That the haill
Schippes and merchandice of this yr Majesties Kingdom,
might have free passage to gang and cum, and Liberties
to By and sell with onye of the Townis or Provinces of
flanderis untroubled or molested ather by the King of
Spayne and Archeduik, Thair subjectis and servandis, or
be the Estaites of Holand or thair Weareschippis,
Quhilk wald inlairge and amplifye by far, the traffique
of yr Majesties subjectis in yr kingdom and mak ane
great augmentation also yearlye to yr Majesties
customes. This nocht doubting Bot yr Majestie will
consider, with that Gracious Eye yr hienes is
accustomat to luik on all, that may be for yr subjectis
weal and prosperitie Maist humblye taking our Leive
Pray to The Eternall God fra all our heartes To Prosper
and maintein yr Gracious hienes sceptre and Authoritie
Long above us.
We rest
Your Sacred Majesties
Maist humbell and obedient
Subjectis and Servandis
Edinburgh
February
1664
Previous Documents of the Month
May
Treaty of Perpetual Peace
June
Register of Sasines
July
Architectural sketch of seaside shelter
August
The shirt with a message in Hindustani
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