1662
Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia
- George Douglas, MP of Orkney and Shetland, was born.
September
- 5th
The Scots Parliament passed legislation allowing the northern isles to continue trade with foreigners: The estates of parliament, haveing heard a supplication presented unto them in name of William, earle of Mortoun, for himselff and in behalff of the inhabitants of Orknay and Zetland, mentioning that the inhabitants of these yles haveing formerlie lived by their commerce with forranners, and that traffecque, being now taken away be ane act of the first session of this parliament anent the fishings, these yles are lyke to be quyt deserted and dispeopled, his majesties' rents ther altogether weakned, and many hundred families and poore ones redacted to great indigency, and inrespect the said act is not as yet made practicable; humbly desireing warrand and liberty to the inhabitants of the saids iles to fish and trade with forraners as formerly untill the act anent fishing be put in practise, as the said supplication bears; which, with the report of the lords of the articles being taken into consideration, the king's majestie, with advice of his estates of parliament, doth grant warrand and libertie to the inhabitants of Orknay and Zetland to fish and trade with forraners as formerlie and to enjoy all the freedomes mentioned in the threttie-nynt act of the first session of this parliament made in Junij 1661, anent fishings and erecting of companies for promoveing the same wntill such tyme as the said act be put in practise, conforme to the tenor thairof.