A brief NOTE OF The Benefits that grow to this Realm by the observation of fish-days.  
With a reason and cause wherefore the Law in that behalf made, is ordained: Very necessary to be kept in the houses of all men; especially common Victuallers.  
Together with an estimate of what beeves might be spared in a year, in the city of London, by one days' abstinence in a week.  
Collected out of several Statutes in the reign of Queen ELIZABETH.  
Published by John Erswicke Gentleman.  
London printed for Tho: banks. 1642.   

A brief note of the benefits that grow to this realm by the observation of fish-days.  
WHere heretofore by the Queen's most excellent majesty, of her clemency and care conceived, for divers private benefits that might grow to her loving Subjects, especially for the Navy of this Land, hath with the assent of the whole State of her realm, caused to be made and published sundry Statutes, laws, and Proclamations for the expense of fish, and observation of fish-days, with great penalties to be laid on the offenders; that by the certain observation thereof, fishermen (the chiefest Nurse for mariners) might be increased and maintained. The common sort of people contemning this observation, to avoid the ceremony in times past therein used, and not certainly knowing the benefits thereby growing to this realm; nor remembering the penalties by the same laws appointed, do not only fall into the danger of the said laws, but by the same hath caused a great decay to fishing, whereby groweth many other great detriments to the commonwealth of this realm: For the better instruction therefore of such persons, as for the benefit of their Country will be persuaded: In this brief Table is set down the punishment appointed for the offenders, the discommodities that happen to the realm by the said contempt, and the great benefit that might grow to the people by the observation hereof, with the opinion that ought to be conceived in the eating of fish at the days and times prescribed, being briefly set down as hereafter followeth.  

The breaches of the Statutes.  
In the fift year of her majesty's most gracious reign, it was ordained that it should not be lawful for any person within this realm, to eat any flesh upon any days then usually observed as fish-days, upon pain to forfeit three pounds for every time he offended; or suffer three months of imprisonment, without bail or main prize. And every person within whose house any such offence shall be done, being privy, and knowing thereof, and not effectually punishing or disclosing the same to some public officer, having authority to punish the same, to forfeit for every such offence forty shillings: The said penalty being great, and many of poor estate favoured by reason thereof, but the offence thought necessary not to be left unpunished: The Queen's majesty of Her great clemency in the Parliament holden in the 34. year of Her most gracious reign, hath caused the forfeiture for the eater to be but twenty shillings; and for him in whose house it is eaten▪ but 13s. 4d which being executed, will prove very damageable to the offenders.  
In the 17. ye●re of Her highness' reign it is further ordained, and remaineth still in force; That no inn-holder, Vintner, Ale-house-keeper, common Victualler, common cook, or common Tablekeeper, shall utter or put to sale, upon any Friday, Saturday, or other days appointed to be fish days, or any day in time of Lent, any kind of flesh victual, upon pain of the forfeiture of five pounds, and shall suffer ten days' imprisonment, without bail, mainprize, or remove, for every time so offending.   

The cause and reason.  
First, forasmuch as our Country is (for the most part) compassed with the Seas, & the greatest force for defence under God, is the King's majesty's Navy of Ships, for maintenance and increase of the said Navy, this Law for abstinence hath been most carefully ordained, that by the certain expense of fish, fishing and fishermen might be the more increased and the better maintained, for that the said Trade is the chiefest Nurse, not only for the bringing up of youth for Shipping, but great numbers of ships therein are used, furnished with sufficient mariners, men at all times in readiness for his majesty's service in those affairs.  
The second cause, for that many towns and Villages upon the Sea coasts grow of late wonderfully decayed, and some wonderfully depopulated, which in times past were replenished; not only with fisher men and great store of shipping, but sundry other Artificers, as Shipwrights, Smiths, Rope-makers, Nett-makers, Saile-makers, Weavers, Dressers, Carriers, and Utterers of Fish, maintained chiefly by fishing, that they hereby again might be renewed, the want thereof is, and hath been cause of great numbers of idle persons, with whom this realm at this time is greatly damaged: and this happeneth by reason of the uncertainty of the sale of fish, and the contempt which in eating of fish is conceived.  
Furthermore it is considered, that the Trade for grazing of cattle, through the excessive expense of flesh, is so much increased, that many Farme-houses and Villages, wherein were maintained great numbers of people, and by them the Markets plentifully served with corn and other victuals, is now utterly decayed, and put down for the feeding and grazing of beeves and Muttons only, by means whereof the people which in such places were maintained, are not only made vagrant, but also Calves, Hogs, Pigs, Geefe, Hens, Chickens, Capons, eggs, Butter, Cheese, and the like things, do become exceeding scarce and dear, by want of their increase in those places, so that the Markets are not, nor cannot be served, as in times past it hath been.  
Many other things for confirmation hereof might be spoken, as the great number of Ships decayed, which hath been maintained by fishing; the wealth and commodity that fishing bringeth to this Realm; the cause that certain days and times for expense of fish, must of necessity be observed, grown by reason the provision of flesh for the people's diet must be certainly provided, whereof the gentle Reader shall be more at large instructed in a little book, published to that effect; with sundry other arguments, which for brevity is omitted, in hope the consideration hereof will be sufficient to persuade such persons as esteem more the benefit of the country than their own lust or appetite; setting before their eyes the fear of God, in obedience to the King's commandment, especially in such things as concern the benefit of a Commonwealth; considering S. Paul saith, There is no Power but of God: The Powers (Saith he) that be, are ordained of God; and those that resist these Powers, resist the Ordinance of God.  
It is further to be considered, that there is no conscience to be made in the kind or nature of the meat being Flesh or Fish, as in times past a famed ceremony therein was used, neither is the meat concerning itself unlawful to be eaten at any time, but the use thereof unlawful, being forbidden to eat by the Prince, having power and authority from God, and done by the consent of the Parliament: For a commonwealth, wherein obedience ought to be showed, not for fear of punishment only, as S. Paul saith, but for conscience sake; not esteeming the meat, nor the day, but obedience to the Law, and benefit to our country and poor Brethren; remembering, that the Magistrate beareth not the Sword for nought, but to take vengeance upon them that do evil: For S. Paul saith further, he that will live without fear of punishment, must do well, and so shall he have praise for the same.  
And although fear of punishment will not reform such persons as by affection continued hath been addicted from the expense of Fish, and the observation of fish-days; yet the foresaid things considered, let obedience to their Prince, and benefit to their country, persuade them to bridle their affectioned lust for a small time, so shall they both see and feel the great benefits thereby growing, and escape the punishment for the offence appointed. And for that the commodities may in some part more plainly appear, hereafter followeth an Estimate of the Beeves that were killed and uttered in the city of London and Suburbs for a year, and what number of them might be spared in the said year by one days' abstinence in a week; by which also may be conjectured, what may be spared in this whole realm.   

An Estimate what Beeves might be spared in a year, in the city of London, by one days' abstinence in a week; Collected out of several Statutes in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.  
FIrst, in the year are 52 weeks, for every week seven days, in all 365. The Lent, with Friday and Saturday in every week, and the other accustomed fish-days, being collected together, extends to 153. So, in the year is 153 fish-days, and 212 flesh-days, that is, 59 flesh-days more than Fish.  
So the year being 52 weeks, abate seven for the time of Lent, wherein no Beeves ought to be killed, and there remaineth but 45 weeks. Then let us say, there be 60 Butchers that be freemen within the city, and every Butcher to kill weekly the one with the other five Beeves a piece; that same amounteth to 13500 Beeves.  
The foreigners in the Suburbs, and such as come out of the country to serve the Markets in the city, as it is credibly affirmed, kill and utter in the city weekly four times so many as the freemen▪ which amounteth to 54000. So joining the Beeves uttered by the freemen and Farriners together, they extend to 67500.  
If we will now know, what number of beeves might be spared in a year, by one days' abstinence in a week; let us say, in the week are five days accustomably served with Flesh, (for that Friday and Saturday by the Law are days of abstinence) whereof one being taken away, the rest but four; in like case, divide the said 67500 into five parts, and the fifth part spared by the fifth days abstinence, is 13500.  
By this is not meant, that any more fish-days should be ordained then already are, but that Friday and Saturday might be in better sort observed, for that Flesh Victuals on those days, in most places, are as commonly spent as on flesh-days, and therefore may well be accounted for the expense of one Flesh-day; the due observation whereof would spare the number of Beeves aforesaid, or more, besides those things sold by the Poulterers, and other small cattle, as Calves, sheep, and Lambs innumerable killed by the Butchers.  
Seen and allowed by the most honourable privy council in Anno 1642. the 22 of February.    
FINIS.