A HARD-WORKING DIET. 77 
A Brief Note of the Benefits that growe to this Reale J. Erswicke, 
by the Observation of Fish-daies. With a Reason ae 
and Cause wherefore the Law in that behalf is 
made,—J. ERSWICKE, 1642. 
The first cause mentioned is for the maintenance of 
the navy. 
Second cause, that many towns and villages upon 
the sea coast are of late years wonderfully decayed, 
and some depopulated, which in times past were 
replenished not only with fishermen and great store of 
shipping, but sundry other artificers, as shipwrightes, 
smiths, rope-makers, net, sail makers, &c., and others 
mainly supported by fishing. That hereby they may 
be renewed, the want wereof is, and has been, a cause 
of numbers of idle persons with whom the realm is 
greatly damaged; and this happeneth by the un- 
certainty of the sale of fish, and the contempt which 
in eating of, fish is conceived. 
Many other things for confirmation hereof might 
be spoken, the weath and commodity that fishing 
doth bring to this realm; the cause that certain days 
and times for expence of fish must of necessity be 
observed, growne by reason the provision of fish for 
the people’s diet must be certainly provided. . . will 
be sufficient to persuade such persons as esteem more 
the benefit of their country than their own lust or 
appetite, setting before their eyes the fear of God in 
obedience to the Prince’s commandment, especially in 
such things as concern the benefit of a common- 
wealth. 
An estimate of what beefs may be spared in a year 
in the City of London by one day’s abstinence in 
