A Collection of such Statutes as are now in force, and made in the Reigns of K. Ed. 6. Queen Eliz. K. James 1st. & K. Charles the 1st. Which enjoin the Observation of LENT, And other Fish days throughout the Year, with the Reasons for enjoining the same.  
AND be it further enacted by the Authority 
The Reason's for the keeping of Lent expressed in the Stat. 5. Eliz. cap. 5.  aforesaid, for the benefit and Commodity of this Realm to grow, as well in maintenance of the Navy; as in sparing and increase of Flesh Victual of this Realm.  
It shall not be lawful for any Person within 
The forfeiture of him that eateth Flesh upon Fish days, and the forfeiture of him in whose house it is eaten.  this Realm to eat any Flesh upon any days now usually observed as Fish days (upon pain to forfeit Twenty Shillings for every time he shall offend, or else suffer one Months close Imprisonment without Bail or Mainprize. (35 Eliz. 7.) And every Person within whose house any such offence shall be done: and being privy and knowing thereof, and not effectually punished, and disclousing the same unto some public Officer, having Authority to punish the same for every such offence, shall forfeit Thirteen Shillings and four pence (35 Eliz. 7) All which forfeitures for not abstaining from Meats shall be divided into three equal parts: That is, one part to the use of the Queen, the other ' t● the Informer, the third to the Common use of the Parish where the offence shall be committed, and to be levied by the Churchwardens after any Conviction in that behalf. (5 Eliz. 5.)  
But this Act concerning eating of Flesh shall not extend to any Persons having special 
Condition upon Licence, and what shall be given to the Poor upon each Licence.  Licences upon causes contained in the same, and grounded according to the Laws of this Realm; every of which Licences shall be void, unless the same contain these conditions. viz. Every Licence made to any Person of the degree of a Lord of the Parliament, and his Wife, shall be upon condition that they shall pay to the Poor men's Box, within the Parish where they remain, etc. In the Feast of the Purification of our Lady, or within six days after, Twenty Six Shillings Eight Pence, and to be paid within one Month next after the same Feast, upon pain of forfeiture of the same Licence. A Knight and his Wife shall pay Yearly Thirteen Shillings Four Pence. Every Person under the said degree shall pay Yearly Six Sshillings Eight Pence to the said use at the aforesaid time, and upon the aforesaid Condition. 5 Eliz. 5.  
All Persons which by notorious sickness 
Who may have Licence and who may give Licence to eat Flesh upon Fish days, and the Fee.  shall be enforced for the Recovery of their Health to eat Flesh for the time of their sickness, shall be Licenced by the Bishop of the Diocese, or by the Parson, Vicar, or Curate, of such Parish where such Person is sick, or of one of the next Parish adjoining, (if there be no Curate, etc. In the same Parish, or if he be wilful, which Licence shall be signed by the Bishop, Parson, etc. And endure no longer than the time of sickness. And if the sikness continue above Eight days after the Licence granted, it shall be Registered in the Church Book, with the knowledge of one of the Churchwardens, and the party Licenced, shall give to the Curate Four Pence for every entry, and it shall endure no longer but for his sickness, and if any Licence by any Parson, Vicar, or Curate, be granted to any Person, other than such as Evidently appear to have need thereof, by reason of their sickness, not only every such Licence shall be void, but also every such Parson, Curate, or Vicar, shall forfeit for every such Licence, otherwise granted, Five Marks. (5 Eliz. 5.)  
Such Persons as have upon good Considerations, 
Such as have Licence to eat Flesh upon Fish days. must have one dish of Sea Fish.  any Lawful Licence to eat Flesh upon any Fish days, be bound to have for every one Dish of Flesh served to be eaten at their Table, one usual Dish of Sea Fish, fresh or salt, to be likewise served at the same Table & to be eaten, or spent, without fraud, or covin as the like kind is, or shall be, usually eaten on, or spent on Saturdays, (except such Persons as for sickness, shall for that time be Licenced by the Bishop, Curate, etc. Or by reason of Age, or other Impediment allowed heretofore, by the Ecclesiastical Laws of this Realm,) upon the pain aforesaid. (5 Eliz. 5. 1 Jac. 25.)  
No Butcher or other Person, whether he be Licenced or not Licenced to Kill Flesh, 
Flesh not to be Killed in Lent.  shall from henceforth at any time, in the time of Lent, kill or dress to the intent to put to Sale any Ox or Oxen, Beve or Beves, Hogs, Calves, Rams, Ewes, or Weathers, except Oxen or Beves for Victualling of Ships into Foreign Parts, and except all Flesh to be Killed three days before Easter Yearly, upon pain to forfeit and lose the same Oxen, Beves, etc. So Killed, and dressed contrary to this Statute, or the value of them. 1 Jac. 29.  
All Justices of the Peace, Mayor, Bailiffs, 
Officers searching for Flesh Killed in Lent.  head Officers, and Constables as well of Cities and Towns Corporate as in every County of this Realm, shall have full Authority Yearly in time of Lent, to enter into all Houses of Victuallers and Common Victualling Houses within their Jurisdiction where such offences shall be suspected to be committed, and finding any such Oxen, Beves, etc. So Killed or Dressed, or any part of parcel of the same, contrary to this Statute, shall take and seize the same as forfeited, and shall give and distribute the same to Prisoners, and other poor folks by their discretion. 1 Jac 29.  
Every Taverner, Innkeeper, keeper of 
Victuallers dressing of Flesh.  every common Tabling-house, Common Tipler, Common Cook, or Alehousekeeper, Offending at any time hereafter in the dressing of any Flesh Victual contrary to the Statute of Anno 5. Eliz. Or contrary to this Statute, shall not only forfeitall the Flesh▪ but so desired also the penalty imposed by the said Statute of 5. Eliz. for every Offence to be committed, the one half of all which forfeitures, except such forfeitures as shall be found, and taken by the Justices of Peace, Mayor, Bailiffs, Head-Officers and Constables according to the Tenor of this Act shall be to the KING, and the other half to such Person or Persons, as shall sue or inform in any Court of Record for the same, by Action of Debt, Bill, Plaint, or Information, wherein no Essoine, Protection, or Wager of Law shall be allowed, etc. 1 Jac. 29. To continue till the end of the first Session of the next Parliament.  
A Clause in an Act. 3 Car. 1. 4. And so 
Continuance of the former Statute.  much of an Act made the 5th Year of the Reign of the late Queen Eliz. Entitled, An Act touching certain politic Constitutions made for the maintenance of the Navy, as it is not repealed by any Statute, nor doth concern the eating of Flesh, or using of Fish upon the Wednesday, etc. together, withal, and every other additions, Explanations, and alterations made, theteunto, or thereof or of any part thereof by any Statute, or Statutes made since the making of the last mentioned Act. And in force the last day of the S●ssion of Parliament that was in the 25th. Year of the Reign of the late KING JAMES, etc. Shall continue in force until the end of the next Session of Parliament. 
Made Perpetual.   
By a Clause in an Act of 17. Car. 1. Cap. 4. The aforesaid Statute is made Perpetual, see the Abridgements of the late Statutes, Title Continuance:  
Note, that all the time of Lent, and every Vigil (or Holy-day-eve) and every Friday, and Saturday, except Christmas Day falls thereon) and the Ember days throughout the whole Year, were usually observed by the Laws and Customs of the Realm, as Fish-days, which is proved by the preamble of the Statute. 2. & 3. Edw. 6. Cap. 19 whereby also it is Enacted, that in those time● such abstinence should be used, and the Stat▪ 5. & 6. Edw. 6. Cap. 3. Appoints wha● days shall be kept Holy, the Eves of whic● are only to be observed for Fish days.  
And by the Stat. 5 Eliz. 5. Every Wednesday in the Year, (which shall not happen to fal● in Christmas or Easter week) is limited 〈◊〉 be observed as a Fish day on which day 〈◊〉 manner of Person shall eat Flesh, otherwise then ought to be on the Common Saturday.   
FINIS:  By T. H. Gent. 

LONDON, Printed by H. Hills Jun. For R. Taylor near Statione●● Hall. 1685.