37 



relates to America, had special reference to Newfoundland, and to the 

 abuses that existed there. Its preamble is quaint. "Forasmuch," it 

 commences, "as within these fewyeeres now last past there have bene 

 levied, perceived, and taken by certain officers of the admiraltie, of 

 such marchants and fishermen as have used and practised the adven- 

 tures and journeys into Iceland, Newfoundldud, Ireland, and other 

 places commodious for fishing, and the getting of fish, in and upon the 

 seas and otherwise, by wey of marchants in those partees, divers great 

 exactions, as summes of money, doles or shares of fish, and such other 

 like things, to the great discouragement and hindrance of the same 

 marchants and fishermen, and to no little dammage of the whole com- 

 monwealth, and thereof also great complaints have bene made, and in- 

 formations also yerely to the King's Majesties most honorable councell; 

 for reformation whereof," &c., &c. From this period, and in conse- 

 quence of the measures adopted, rewards to officers of the government 

 were discontinued, and the Newfoundland fishery became entirely free 

 to every inhabitant of the realm. 



It is 'of interest to remark that the foreign trade of England was then 

 limited to the Flemish towns, and to the fishing grounds. To extend 

 commerce by still further encouragement to the branch of industry be- 

 fore us, a curious act of Parliament was passed in 15G3, which provided 

 ''''that as ivell for the mahitenance of shijiping, the increase cf fishermen and 

 marities, and the repairing of port-towns, as for the spariiig of the fresh 

 victual of the realm, it shall not be lawful for any one to eat flesh on. Wed- 

 nesdays and Saturdays,* unless under the forfeiture of £'3 for each offence, 

 excepting in cases of sickness and those of special licenses to he obtained.^^ 

 For these hcenses peers were required to pay about six dollars, knights 

 and their wives about three dollars, and other persons one dollar and a 

 half; but neither peer nor commoner could eat beef on the two prohib- 

 ited days. As will be remembered, this was a sort of transition period 

 in religion; and, fearing that the act would be considered as popish, it 

 was provided that "whoever shall, by preaching, teaching, writing, or 

 open speech, notify that any eating offish, or forbearing of flesh, men- 

 tioned in this statute, is of any necessity for the serving of the soul of 



theire age, sicknesses and diuerse infinnities, is iudged by the skilful (as I am informed) to be 

 very hurtful! to their bodies, and likelye to breede and bring diuerse diseases and sicknesses 

 upon them : They therefore haue requeste me, theire minister, the promises cfinsidered, to 

 give and grant them license, this time of Lent, to eate flesh, for the better avoidinge of sick- 

 nesses and diseases which, by their absteyning fro flesh, might growe uppon them: Know ye, 

 tiierefore, that I Adam Blythe, Mr. of Arts and of Okebourue aforesaid, Viccar, duelye con- 

 sidering this theire so lawfuU request, and tendering the helth and wellflire of the said Mr. 

 Richard Young and Mris. Ann Young, his naturall and aged mother, have given and granted, 

 and by these presents do give and grant to the said Mr. Richard Young and Mris. Ann Young, 

 and to ftbure persons more, leave, power and license, (so farr as in me lieth, and by lawe safely 

 I may without danger, and no farther) to dresse or cause to be dressed, for them to eate, flesh 

 this time of Lent nowe following, pi'ohibitinge neiier the lesse, and by this ffrant forbidding them, 

 all manner of shamble meates iphatsoevcr. In witness whereof, to this i)resent license I have 

 put to my hand and seale. Dated and given at my house in Okebourne aforesaid, fiebruary 

 this xiiithe, 1618. 



By me, Adam Blythe, the Viccar ibid." 



* Palgrave, in his History of the Anglo-Saxons, observes of the origin of the names of the 

 days of the week iu the Saxon mythology, that " Lastly came Saeter, from whom Saturday is 

 named. He was represented as standing upon a fish, and he held a bucket iu his hand, so 

 that he appears to have been a water deity." — London ed., p. 53. 



