62 THE SILVERY HOSTS OF THE NORTH SEA. 



great feast by way of requital, or of a kind farewell, 

 when all sorts of delicacies be provided, which may 

 be had for money." 



In Edward III.'s reign complaint was made by the 

 Commons of the realm, " That the people of Great 

 Yarmouth do encounter the fishers bringing herring 

 to the said town in the time of the fair, and do buy 

 and forestall the herring before they do come to the 

 town. And also the hostelers of the same town ; 

 that lodge the fishers coming thither with their 

 herring, will not suffer the said fishers to sell their 

 said herring nor meddle with the sale thereof, but 

 sell them at their own will, as dear as they will, and 

 give to the fishers that pleaseth them, whereby the 

 fishers do withdraw themselves to come thither, and 

 so is the herring set at much greater price than ever 

 it was, to the great damage of our lord the king, of 

 the lords, and of all the people." Upon this a statute 

 was made, called the " Herring Statute," by which 

 it was ordained that no herring be bought or sold in 

 the sea, nor until the cable of the ship be drawn 

 to land. Fishers to be free to sell their herrings 

 to whom they will, without hindrance from their 

 hostelers or any other, but only between sunrise 

 and sunset. 



No one to buy herring to hang in their houses at 

 a higher price than 4os. per last, " but less in as 

 much as he may." No one to go by land or by sea 

 to forestall herring, "but the herring shall come 

 freely, unsold, unto the haven." 



" No pyker to make buying of fresh herring in the 



