37 



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

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

 commences, " as within these few yeeres 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, NewfoundLmd, Ireland, nnd 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 summcs 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 bijuc 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 1563, which provided 

 ^^tkat as icell for the mmntcnancc of shi2^pi?ig, the increase of fishtrmcn and 

 marines, and the rcimiring of port-toicns, us for the sj^aring of the fresh 

 victual of the realm, it shall tiot be laivful for any one to cat Jlesh on Wed- 

 nesdaijs and Saturdays,* unless under the forfeiture of ^3 for each offence, 

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

 For these licenses 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 cat 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 



thfire ajjo, nifknesspR anfl diuerso infirniiiies, is iudiicd by the skilful (as I am iuforincd) to be 

 verj- hiirtfiill to tln-ir bodies, and likt'lje to brccdc and ]»riiig diuerse diseases and sicknesses 

 upon rhcni : 'I'hcy then-fore haiie recjiieste me, tiieire minister, the promises considered, to 

 give and tinut them license, this time of Lent, to eate flesli, for the better avoidinpe of siek- 

 neiises and di.s<'ases wliieh, by their alisteyning fni flesh, mi^ht growe ui>i>on them: Know yo, 

 therefore, that I Adam I'dylhe, Mr. of Arts nnd of Okeiionrne aforesaid, Viccar, dueiye eoii- 

 Biderin^ this theire s(» iawfiill re(iuesf, and tendering the heltli and wellfare of the said Mr. 

 Richard Voinif; and Mris. Ann Vonnu, his natiirall iind ajred motii<'r, have t;iven and f,'ranfed, 

 aiid by tliese presents do j,'ive and ijrant lo tiie said Mr. K'iejiard Vouni; and Mris. Ann ^'oiiiii:, 

 and U> (foiire persons more, b-ave, power and license, (so farr as in me lietli, and I)y lawe safely 

 I may without danger, and no further) to dresse or cause to be dressed, for tiiem to cafe, lleJi 

 tills time of Lent nowe, (olbiwin};, prohil)itin<.'e nrur.r (lultssr, and by this tiriint forhiilili/i// tlirm, 

 all miinnrr of sluimhlt mi/Ucs irhatxurrrr. In witness whereof, to this present license I liavo 

 put to my hand nnd seale. L)al<jd and given at my lioiisi.' in Ukebourne aforesaid, H'obruajy 

 tiiui xiiitiie, IGlti. 



Ky me, Aoam Ui.vtiie, the \'iccar il)id." 



' I'al^rave, in liis Tlistorj' of the Anp;b>-Saxi>ns, obser\es of the ori;,'in of tlie names of the 

 days of the week in the Saxon mythology, tiuit "Lastly cam(! Suftrr, from whom Saturday is 

 named. He was rej>resented as standini; upon a (i^<ll, and he held a bucket in his hand, eo 

 tiuit Lu appcurti to have beeu a wut«r deity." — Loudou ed., p. G^. 



