1160 MISCELLANEOUS. 



years, and in the infancy of distant and perilous voyages, their 

 adventures had attracted the attention of three other nations to the 

 extent just stated, is to allow an increase of flags and of vessels so 

 rapid as to still require explanation, without a knowledge of the fishing 

 enthusiasm of the period. Besides, some forty or fifty houses for the 

 accommodation of fishermen were built at Newfoundland as early as 

 1522. 



A letter is preserved in the Memoir of Sebastian Cabot, written by 

 John Rut to Henry the Eighth, and dated at St. John, Newfoundland, 

 August 3, 1527, which seemingly warrants the conclusion that the 

 English fishery, at that time, was of little consequence, since he states 

 that he found "eleven saile of Normans, and one Brittaine, and two 

 Portugall barkes" in that harbor, but makes mention of no others, 

 and proposes to sail along the coast to "meete" the only vessel of his 

 own flag known by him to be in that region. 



An effort to found a colony was made, however, hi 1536, under the 

 auspices and at the expense of Mr. Hore, a wealthy merchant of Lon- 

 don. A company of one hundred and twenty persons was formed, of 

 whom thirty were gentlemen of education and character. They ar- 

 rived at Newfoundland, but accomplished nothing. Many perished 

 of starvation. The survivors fed on the bodies of the dead, and 

 finally reached England. 



Twelve years later, we find that the fishery was considered of great 

 national importance, and worthy of legislative encouragement. Thus, 

 an act was passed by Parliament imposing severe penalties on persons 

 eating flesh on fish-days. The punishment for the first offence was a 

 fine of ten shillings, ten days' imprisonment, and abstinence from meat 

 during the same time; while for the second, these inflictions were 

 doubled. The sick and aged, to whom flesh was necessary, were ex- 

 empted on obtaining licenses from the ecclesiastical authorities.* 



Another act, of 1548, and remarkable as the first of England which 

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

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



* A license to eat meat on fish-days is too great a curiosity, in our time, to be omitted. 

 The following is a copy of one, granted in the reign of James the First, of England: 



"Whereas Mr. Richard Young, of Okebourne St. George, in the county e of Wiltes, 

 Esquire, is a Gent, of good age, subject to many sicknesses, diverse infirmities, and 

 in bodye of a very weak constitution, and hath with him in his house his mother, Mris. 

 Ann Young, widowe, a Gent, of great age (above four score) very sicklye, feeble, and 

 subject to diuerse maladies, and having others in his house sicke, and have long bine, 

 to whom, fish, by reason of theire age, sicknesses and diuerse infirmities, is iudged by 

 the skilful (as I am informed) to be very hurtfull to their bodies, and likelye to breede 

 and bring diuerse diseases and sicknesses upon them: They therefore haue requeste 

 me, theire minister, the promises considered, to give and grant them license, this time 

 of Lent, to eate flesh, for the better avoidinge of sicknesses and diseases which, by 

 their absteyning fro flesh, might growe uppon them: Know ye, therefore, that I Adam 

 Blvthe, Mr. of Arts and of Okebourne aforesaid, Viccar, duelye considering this theire 

 so lawfull request, and tendering the helth and wellfare of the said Mr. Richard Young 

 and Mris. Ann Young, his naturall and aged mother, have given and granted, and by 

 these presents do give and grant to the said Mr. Richard Young and Mris. Ann Young, 

 and to ffoure persons more, leave, power and license, (so farr as in me lieth, and by 

 lawe safely I may without danger, and no further) to dresse or cause to be dressed, for 

 them to eate, flesh this time of Lent nowe following, prohibitinge neuer the lesse, and by 

 this grant forbidding them, all manner of shamble meates whatsoever. In witness whereof, 

 to this present license I have put to my hand and scale. Dated and given at my house 

 in Okebourne aforesaid, ffebruary this xnithe, 1618. 



By me, ADAM BLYTHE, the Viccar ibid." 



