56 THE SILVERY HOSTS OF THE NORTH SEA. 



yearly about the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, 

 resorted thither, where they continued in tents made 

 for the purpose by the space of forty days, about the 

 killing, trimming, salting, and selling of herrings to 

 all that hither came for that purpose ; whereunto did 

 resort the merchants of London, Norwich, and other 

 places to buy herrings during that season, and then 

 departed. ... So in short time after, as that 

 sand became firm land, and that thereby traffic began 

 more and more to be increased, men finding the same 

 to be a commodious place to dwell and inhabit in, 

 did for that purpose gather themselves together to 

 have a continual residence therein, and began to 

 build houses (' more comely and soon after superb ') 

 of which came streets, and of those streets this 

 flourishing township." 



The frail tent gave place to the well built house, 

 and the six weeks' sojourn became a permanent resi- 

 dence. As the fame of this place as a fishing station, 

 during the six weeks that the season lasted, drew 

 together people from different countries, and of 

 opposing interests, it was found needful to provide 

 some kind of government to keep order, and to settle 

 disputes. The Barons of the Cinque Ports, being 

 the chief fishermen of England, were authorized to 

 send their bailiffs at the beginning of the " herring 

 fair," to "govern all that fishing season." At the 

 first, the Barons of the Cinque Ports, through their 

 bailiffs, had the sole government ; but, " by reason 

 of the constant increase of the inhabitants, and the 

 great concourse of fishermen, traders, and merchants 



