For the selling of Herrings in and near the town of Yarmouth during the Faire there yearly kept, and for the setting at certainty of the liberties of the said Faire, and jurisdiction of the said town during the same.  

The Preamble.  
1. THat there is and time out of mind hath been a free Faire yearly kept at Yarmouth, beginning at Michaelmas 
31. Ed. 3.  and continuing 40. daies, which is the principal time of Herring fishing vpon the Seacoasts of norfolk, and suffolk.  
2. That the government of the said Faire,' doth of right, and anciently did belong, to the Barons or Bailiffs of 
31. Ed. 3.  the Cinque-ports.  
3. That during the said Faire, no Herrings ought to be bought or sold by way of forestalling, by Yarmouth men 
31. Ed. 3. and Charter of Yarmouth 46. Ed. 3. revived 10. R. 2.  or others, on the Sea, or else where, within 7 miles distance of the said Faire, but onely in the said open fair, and that after the Fishers ships or boats be come into the haven of Yarmouth with their Herrings, and haue the cables drawn to the land, nor any Herrings till then to be discharged out of the said ships or boats. As by diuers Statutes and Charters appeareth.  
4. That it is doubtful upon the words of the said Statutes and Charters, how far from the said Faire the prohibition of buying or selling of Herrings, out of the said Faire, doth extend.  
5. That Yarmouth men by colour of the said Statutes and Charters, and of certain liberties authority and admiral 
grievance.  jurisdiction to them lately granted, do use( during the time of the Faire) to buy Herrings in great numbers, of the said fishers, before their ships be come into the haven with their Herrings, and yet restrain fishers dwelling in remote parts, from selling to any other save to themselves,( either within the said 7. miles, or in the roads of Lowestofe which are 8. or 9. miles distance.  
6. That when the said Fishermen do come with their ships or boats into the haven of Yarmouth, the men of Yarmouth, haue such devises and practices &c. that by means thereof, the masters of Fishers ships of remote partes 
grievance.  are enforced to be hosted with some freeman of the said town, and not permitted to sell to any other but to their said hosts, whereby they make a Monopoly of Merchandizing of Herrings, contrary to the meaning of the said Statutes and Charters, to the great hurt of the Common wealth, and to the discouragement and undoing of the said Fishers, for that they being restrained, and disturbed for selling their Herrings in roading places aforesaid, they haue lost the one half of the profit of their Fishing( which otherwise they might haue had) and oftentimes more.  
For remedy whereof and nevertheless for the preservation of the true and ancient liberties of the said Faire according to the true meaning of ancient Statutes& Charters now in force concerning the same be it enacted, &c.   

The Act.  
1. THat noe Herrings during the said Faire, be bought or sold( by way of merchandise) within 7 miles of the 
31. Ed. 3. 10. R. 2.  said Faire, by Yarmouth men nor others, but in the said open Faire.  
The penalty is, that the buyer shall forfeit the value of the Herrings so bought, out of the said Faire,( and within the said 7 miles) half to the King, and half to him that will sue for the same.  
provided that ships or boats, that haue not in them above a last and a half, may sell, within the said 7 miles, 
32. Ed. 3.  and out of the said Faire( after they be anchored) and shall not be enforced, to enter the haven, and bring them to the said Faire.  
2. That the 7 miles shall be measured, from the Crane Key in Yarmouth, where the said Faire is kept, every mile 
16 May 1596. The Remedy sought for.  to contain 8 furlongs, every furlong 40 pole, and every pole 16 foot and a half.  
3. That it shall be lawful for the Fishers to sell their Herrings in the said Faire, to any that will buy the same, and as lawful for every man there to buy, as for the Hostlers and townsmen of Yarmouth, and to carry away the same by land or by water, as they shall think good.  
4. That all Fishers at all times shall haue free liberty to sell their Herrings in any road or other place,( out of the said 7 miles) to any person or persons there, to buy without restraint.  
5. That the Corporation of Yarmouth shall haue no power to restrain the buying and selling of Herrings,( in any place without the said 7 miles) nor to take anchorage for ships or boats( out of the said 7 miles.) Or to intermeddle with any bargain or contract,( out of the said 7 miles) made or to be made for Herrings. 
31. Ed. 3. 32. Ed. 3. 33. Ed. 3.   
6. That the Barons or bailiffs of the Cinque-ports, shall haue the government of the said Faire, and of doing Iustice there in such manner, as heretofore they haue used to do.  
7. That no by Lawe, or ordinance heretofore made or hereafter to be made, by the said Corporation of Yarmouth( touching the government of the said faire) shall be put in execution, till the same be seen and approved off, by the Iudges of the Assizes for suffolk and norfolk.  
The penalty is 40 Lib. for him that shall do any thing contrary to this Act.