A HARD-WORKING DIET. 407 



A Brief Note of the Benefits that growe to this Realme J. Erswicke, 

 by the Observation of Fish-daies. With a Reason * 

 and Cause wJterefore 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 



