vs from God for our sustenance which being taken prouided may be brought or carried vnto cities townes and markets and there sold and vttered to such as wil buy on euerie day in the weeke and at all times and seasons when it is taken Herein we must consider that if it should so be obserued the vncertaintie of sale would cause the prouiders of fishe to forsake their trades and the fisherman his fishing in a short time first for that most men by nature in these daies are affectioned from fish for diuers causes by them conceiued secondly when the same is solde at a deare price so that their prouision may be made of flesh a great deale better cheape But we must consider that although wind and weather serueth wel at some times that there is great plentie of fish taken and by reason thereof solde reasonable good cheape yet other sometimes either the winde and weather or the time and season serueth not so that little store of fish is taken Neuerthelesse as afore hath bene said the fishermans liuing depending onely thereupon must haue a sufficient maintenance to liue for him and his familie beeing continued therein with great charges diuers waies and therefore if hee be not certaine to sell that small store of fish which he hath taken in such a time of scarsitie and that also at some good round price to recompence the trauell and charge which with the aduenture of his life and goods he hath obtained he neither would nor could continue his sayd trade and this hath bene and is the onely cause that many sea-faring men doe leaue the trade of fishing and settle themselues to other exercises rather hurtfull then beneficiall to the commonwealth Further it is to be considered concerning the vncertantie of time in prouiding salted fishe to be by the fishmonger readie seasoned for the peoples diet As Samon Lings Haberdines Greenefish Heringes and such like if there shoulde not be a certaine time for the spending the prouiders coulde in no case season or make the same readie to be sufficient for the eater or spender when it should be eaten or spent which being seasoned for one day will scarse serue for another Especially when the weather is warme and therefore being vncertaine of his sale although he make some prouision of fishe to sell drie or in the salte yet he will not season anie with water fit to be eaten for the vncertaintie of his sale by reason he knoweth not when the people are minded to eate fishe except a day or a time bee appoynted certaine for the same Also it is a victuall not to be had as biefes muttons veales and such like in the pastures feeding at al times in a readinesse to be spent but is at libertie in the wide and large seas vppon the taking and prouiding whereof diligent attendance must be giuen and also some sortes or kindes of fish must be taken and prouided long time before it will be sufficient to be spent so that if there be not certaine daies and times appoynted for the certaine expence of fishe The fisherman shall be vncertaine to sell as he may be a gainer thereby when the same is taken the marchant or vtterer of fish vnwilling and discouraged to buy and prouide for the markets and thereby a more scarsitie of fishe and a greater decay of fishing will dayly increase to the woonderfull decay of the Nauie and dammage of the whole realme sundrie waies It may well be thought therefore that this thing manie yeares since was carefully considered of with the commodities and discommodities that would grow by the vncertaintie of the vtterance of fish that certaine daies and times might be appointed for the fishe to be vttered and eaten whereby a certaine and sufficient prouision might be also made or prouided and although as before hath bene sayd abuse in continuance of time did growe by obseruation of the saide dayes and tymes so appointed yet the necessarie vse thereof considered it is not for the same to be refused especially for that by the assent and consent of her Maiesties learned and wise counsellors it hath bene not onely thought good for speciall cause that the accustomed times and seasons shoulde bee obserued But by her highnesse also straight commaundement and earnest charge giuen from time to time for the due obseruation thereof Concerning abstinence from fleshe there is a conscience to bee made in transgressing the lawe for what cause obedience herein ought to be shewed the iudgement of some men which answere thereto NOw for that I woulde not anie man shoulde mistake me concerning my opinion and true meaning in the premises I haue thought good vnder correction of the better learned to set downe the same as followeth Wherein I doe pronounce that the eating of fleshe or forbearing to eate fleshe is not anie matter or thing concerning saluation of man or that it is the seruice of God otherwaies then all other polliticke lawes are and be for it is not the abstinence from flesh that pleaseth God nor the eating thereof that offendeth him But it is the obedience which God requireth to be yeelded and borne vnto the Prince and the care of the benefite of hys people that pleaseth him and it is disobedience to the Prince and the neglecting of his peoples benefite that displeaseth hym I doe also affirme that there is no conscience to bee made in eating of fleshe at anie time as touching the fleshe that is eaten but there is conscience to be made in that the Prince is disobeyed whiche is a contempt of Gods ordinance and the peoples benefite neglected which God requireth to bee earnestly sought and therefore a disobedience of the Princes lawes cannot bee done without offence to God for as God hath ordained that Princes should gouerne so hath hee in sundrie places of the Scriptures commaunded that subiectes shoulde obey and the offence in euerie transgression is the more by how much the damage vnto the people thereby groweth greater For we are taught to obey the necessarie lawes and commaundementes of Princes and not to neglect and contemne them to labor and seeke for publike wealth and the vniuersall commoditie of others with carefulnes not to be wilfull ouerthrowers and destroyers of the same wherby we may gather that a man without offence may do all things which by y e scriptures are not forbidden vntill they are forbidden by lawfull authoritie Likewise what is commanded by lawfull authoritie and not by the scriptures forbidden a man is bound to obey cannot without offence omit the same We must also consider that God hath disposed things so by creation that the encrease of the earth doth not suffise for the sustentation of the people but such things as he hath created in the seas and waters must also be prouided and it may be remembred but few yeares past that fish did wel nigh as much sustentation to the people of this realme as the flesh and
notwithstanding I speake not this that it were necessarie for such trades to be left off or extinguished for thereby groweth great benefites to the Realme sundrie waies not onely for sufficient and seruiceable shipping but other necessarie commodities also But contrariewise concerning the trade of fishing it is all wayes commodious and no wayes discommodious it encreaseth wealth and prouision of sustenance but abateth none And the more for that fish is alwayes spent for the necessarie sustentation of mens bodies and not for superfluitie There is yet another thing to be considered off concerning the trade of marchandize that in all manner of trafickes where marchants must come within the Dominions of other Princes much daunger and perill may happen for that it is in the wils of those Princes within whose dominions they are to stay such shippes as there be and imploy them at their pleasures in their seruice And so England w t great perill may encrease mariners shipping to serue other Princes which may happen sometimes to be against our selues Also in diuers traficke many mariners trauell far iournies by meanes wherof it may be that the Realwe shal want them whē it should be needfull that they were at home to be imployed for the defence of y e realm Therefore it may plainely appeare that the trade of marchandize only for breeding maintenance of mariners though it be necessary needfull to the realme yet y e same is not w tout great doubts perils Wheras contrariwise by the trade of fishing if such fish might be certainly spent w tin this realme as might be takē proued a sufficient nūber of mariners other seafaringmē for y e supply of those y e then may want might be much more profitabler and saflier bredde and maintained at home all times in a readines to be imployed for the necessarie seruice and defence of the Realme how suddainely so euer the same should require Fishing is the greatest Nurse for to increase Marriners the deere prises of fish how it may become cheape THere is yet further to be considered that the trade of fishing is a wonderfull great Nurse for the breeding or bringing vp of Marrineas for whereas a Merchants shippe vsing the traficke with merchandize being furnished for the voyage with twentie men there is amongst them not past two or three boyes which in that trade is brought vp and instructed And if it be so the daunger of the voyage considered that these children can and commonly do endeuour to be brought vp and instructed herein yet the encrease of them will not be sufficient to furnish the Nauie especially in the time of wars But the Fisherman going to the sea or vpon other waters in great or small vessels for euerie one man there is of them commonly two boyes who being trained vp therein are so accustomed with the hardnesse and painefull toile which in that exercise they are vsed to that they are not onely able to sustaine al labour to a seafaring man belonging but in short time become a sufficient sailor master or Pilot as well for seruice in her maiesties shippes as in the merchants shippes They are also acquainted and know the rockes sandes and other daungers vpon the seacostes where they lye and how to auoid them by reason of their accustomed haunting the seas in the trade of fishing And by meanes of their trauell from one port to another for the sale or vtterance of the said fish and other things wherein at vnseasonable fishing times they are imployed These and diuers other arguments before rehearsed might be a sufficient occation to cause vs without penaltie or pennall law for the benefite of our countrie to restraine and bridle our selues from our accustomed and vnlawfull diet but many there be that will and may truely say the vtterers of fish sell the same at such excessiue prises diuers and sundrie times that it discourageth men to buy thereof And the more for that they can a great deale better cheape make their prouision with flesh as well for their familie as themselues Many arguments are to be made that will be sufficient to answere this matter And first we are to consider the times and seasons of the yeare that it serueth not alwaies alike for sufficient prouision of freshfish at which time little store being taken by reason of contagious and contrarie weather wherein the fisherman aduentureth both life and goods not onely himselfe but many other hath their liuings theron depending great reason is that the same be sold the dearer for besides his saide aduenture he hath bene at no lesse charge then though he had taken great quantities And for remedie hereof that mē might haue in such a scarsitie some other good sorts of fish not commonly vsed To satisfie their diet in times past there hath bene prouided for the markets these sorts of fish that is to say Puffens Tunney Porpus Seall Holibut finnes Holibut heads many other things wherof was made fine delicate dishes which now for lacke of vse is not onely left vnprouided but also vtterly forgotten how or in what sort it should be vsed dressed or serued and worst of all how it should be eaten and disgested for that the proportion and substance of them is by many forgotten and the vse and tast forgotten of all There were also the sounds heads of the Cods which in fishing time were salted and preserued to be a diet in such scarsitie for the poorer sort all these things being by Gods creation ordained for our sustenance ought rather to be thankefully receiued thē contemtiously cast off and refused Besides this that wind and wether being contrary for fishing is a great cause that fish is many times very scarse deere yet the chiefest thing that generally causeth the same is lacke of certaine vtterance as by these fewe arguments following doth plainly appeare wherein it may be said As vtterance encreaseth or abateth in any trade so the trade will encrease or abate The trade being abated the commoditie therein vsed will waxe scant and lesse prouision thereof made The lesse prouision that therof is made the dearer the commoditie is The cause of smal prouision is the vncertainty of sale or vtterance certaine sale or vtterance encourageth many prouiders to buy of the commoditie Which in the beginning though it be chargeable to y e buyer or spender it wil by certaintie of vtterance become cheaper For the dearenesse thereof will cause many prouiders of the same to encrease The encrease of thē wil make plentie of the commoditie The plentifulnes whereof doth make cheapnesse Whē there was spent in this realme more fish in one yeare then there is at this day in fiue yeare they might haue had for one shilling that which now we pay twaine God is the onely nurse or heardsman to feed cherish that kind of victuall without any helpe of man he blesseth multiplieth thē according to his good
a lawe made and not executed lieth dead small auaileth to the intēt for which it was made And as all pennall lawes at this day inforce appeare verie needefull to be obserued yet are some of them more requisite to be looked into for the vniuersall benefite of a common-wealth then some other for that by proofe they import matters of greater waight yet the effect not considered of they seeme of little valew Amongest which there is one a most necessarie and polliticke lawe not so much esteemed as the effect doth importe for diuers benefites that thereby may growe vnto the realme ordaine moste specially for better maintenance of the Nauie a thing earnestly to be regarded which concerneth the expence of fish and sparing of flesh And the same not onely ordayned for the sparing of flesh whereof thorow the great goodnesse of almightie God we are sufficiently furnished But for diuers and sundrie discommodities dangers and damages which thorow neglecting the times and seasons for expence of fishe not onely hath but dayly doth and will bring vpon our realme and the whole common wealth thereof except earnest reformation be had and vsed amongest the common people for whose commoditie the said law was made with a great penaltie vpon the offender And for that the greatest number of people doth not perfectly vnderstand the commodities that may grow vnto them by obseruation heereof nor the discommodities that may happen by neglecting the same neyther yet the certaine cause wherefore this lawe of abstinence is ordained For the better instruction and pesrwasion of such persons hereafter followeth certaine argumentes which concerne a reason and cause that this law amongst others ought most carefully to be obserued That although feare of the penaltie will not force them or forgetfulnes of dutiful obedience hath caused a neglegence or y e ceremonicall abuse which in times past thereby was vsed doth perswade a contempt yet a consideration had of the commodities that may therby growe the discommodities that may happen wil happily perswade such persons as beare a christian and brotherly loue to their countrie after the counsell of Saint Paul to obey euen for conscience sake considering the same doth concerne not onely their owne benefite but the benefite of their children that shall come after them Great numbers of shippes haue bene maintained by the certaine expence of fish The cause of their decay A remedie sought to repaire them againe TO this realme of England in times past belonged a strong nauie of shippes maintained chiefly by fishing wherewith the Prince and countrie were compassed for their defence as with a forcible wall the repaire whereof was very well supplied by the certaine vtterance and expence of such fishe as was taken and prouided which grewe by the obseruation of suche daies as was appointed for the abstinence from fleshe and eating of fish and thus was this wall or nauie kept in a sufficient repaire as a redye defence for the Prince and this Realme agaynst all forraine assaultes whensoeuer or howsoeuer the same shoulde happen vntill the superstitious abuse thereby vsed caused some fewe to omit the obseruation of fishe daies according to the accustomed order which at the first appeared no harme Then some moe did the like and yet little harme appeared But in continuance of time in maner the whole multitude by ensample of others did breake that order some in part and some in the whole whereby the accustomed buying and expence of fish whereupon the continuall maintenance of the sayde Nauie grewe became so small that there appeared a great decay in the Nauie neuerthelesse euerie man proceeded from time to time in breache of the said accustomed order which before was certainely obserued and so in fewe yeares the Nauie was abated from fiue shippes to two in diuers partes of this realme whereupon the force thereof touching that matter was weakened much to the great perill of this realme and incouragement of the enemie In auoiding whereof with earnest consideration had by the nobles and commons of the whole realme considering the danger that thereby might ensue it was by them thought necessarie to deuise some meanes how the nauie might be repaired againe being assembled in the parliament holden at Westminster the fift yeare of the Queenes highnesse most gratious raigne a law was there made and ordained that the accustomed order for fish daies should be obserued in abstaining from flesh that fish might be the more plentifullier spent Which law for a time of great numbers was obserued but from thence grewe not sufficient contribution to repaire and maintaine the Nauie for that the vniuersall multitude had litle regard thereunto whose ensample diuers other followed and so manie of the greater sort ioyning with the lesser sort became more carelesse for want of due execution then anie time before they had bin And thus the trade of fishing and prouision of fish out of which exceeding great maintenance grew vnto y e Nauy was brought frō great to greater decay which decay increseth For which cause her Maiestie with the nobles and commons of the realme considering the disordered behauior concerning breach of y e said lawe most commonly vsed in many common Iunes tauerns tabling-houses cookes houses and other cōmon vitlers in which place a wonderful nūber of fish might be spent if the said law by them were duely obserued In a parliament holden at Westminster the 27. yeere of her most gratious raigne a law for the better obseruation of the said dayes and times was further ordayned against them with a greater penaltie then before had bin set downe for the other that reformation therein might be had if by anie meanes it were possible But thereof in like case so little care of obedience is vsed that the offence in most places rather increaseth then decreaseth to the wonderfull great damage of this realme as by the argumentes following may well be considered Certain arguments concerning vnlawful diet Reasons alleaged for the expence of flesh with the answers to thē The Nauy may be maintained by other trades then fishing but not without perill the commoditie of fishing IF the realme in defence thereof be furnished with fiue hundred ships and that we should suffer the enemie by pollicie or open force to consume or destroy three hundred of them were it not a great and a reprooueable negligence But if the naturall subiectes of this realme by their negligent maners shall consume or destroy three hundred of them is not their so doing worthy grieuous punishment But if they shall obstinately or wilfully doe the same what punishment such ought to haue I leaue to the iudgement of those that haue a wisedome to consider thereof In asmuch therefore as by our dyet we abate the Nauie by proportion from fiue ships to two is it not to bee accompted great negligence and worthie of punishment But after we haue espied this negligence wee doe wilfully continue the the same can it bee
pleasure wil. The contempt of whose blessings may be cause of the scarsitie that now is in taking of fish more then in then in times past hath bin and no doubt but the imbracing therof with thankfulnes for the same God may and will cause it againe to multiply The harmes that happeÌ„ to the realme by the vnlawful expence of flesh what numbers of people are thereby put froÌ„ their liuings the discommodity therof the remedy FVrther and greater matters then yet hath bene spoken off are to be considered that by the vsuall and vnlawfull eating of flesh the vttrance of fiâ—h being small vncertain hath caused a great number to forsake the accustomed haunting of y e seas for taking of fish whereby three things doth happen The Nauie decaied a multitude of persons are put out of worke and the prouision of sustenance for the people greatly abated from which other three euils do spring The strength of the realme decaieth much idlenes many Rogues and theeues are bred and famine and distres the rather happeneth amongst the people These are such euils as bring decay and daunger vnto the common welth and therefore it may be said that the vsual and vnlawfull eating of flesh bringeth decay and daunger vnto the common welth It may further be saide that by the small vtterance of fish the accustomed haunting of the seas for taking of fish is abated from fiue parts to one By the abating whereof we may make account that tenne thousand persons which heretofore haue might still liue by fishing on the seas are thereby put out of worke and liuing Also there were very many besides fishermeÌ„ that by means of fishing liued vpon the land As shipwrites cowpars smithes weauers sailemakers netmakers dressars vtterars and cariars of fish with such like which may be accounted to extende in number to other ten thousand these are hereby in like case put from their liuing and maintenance and so in number they are togither twenty thousand persons their wiues women-seruants children whose liuings did depend on them now by their want made destitute of maintenaÌ„ce are thirty thousand at the least these in the whole extend to fiftie thousand persons whose liuings depended on fishing and is now abated Besides the vallew of the fish that was yearely taken and spent more then there is now towards the sustentation of the people which by estimation was worth three hundred thousand pounds at the least for there may be verie probable reasons giuen that there hath bene the vallue of so much fish spent yearely in this realme more then now there is Hereby we may vnderstand that a great number of able meÌ„ for seruice in time of war as masters pilates marriners sailers are greatly decaied abated by means wherof y e streÌ„gth of y e realm must needs be much weakned made of lesse force to encouÌ„ter or resist y e enimy vpon y e seas which is hath bene great part of defeÌ„ce seruice to y e realm by abating y e taking of fish vttrance thereof y e trade maintenance of the people on y e sea costes must needs abate also amoÌ„gst al sorts of people especially artificers whereby porte townes hath and dally doth fal in decaie waxing depopulated so daily grow of lesse and lesse habilitie to resist the enemy when necessitie shall require Also it is to be vnderstood that by the vsuall and vnlawfull eating of flesh the same victuall groweth or becommeth the dearer The dearenes of the said flesh victuall causeth great gaines to be raised by the fatting of cattell The rasing of such gaines causeth men to conuert their grounds and farmes from tillage to pasture By that meanes a multitude of people are put out of worke and from their liuings Therby a great number of them are constrained to become idle Roges or to practise other superfluous vaine things that breede diuers other great vices These be things that bring great detriment and decay vnto the common-welth and therefore as afore hath bene saide the vsuall and vnlawfull eating of flesh bringeth great detriment and decay vnto the common-welth Hereby it may also be vnderstood that by the decaie of tillage twentie thousand persons which haue and might still liue thereby are put from their accustomed worke and liuings Their wiues women seruants and children whose maintenance did on them depende are in number thirtie thousande at the least these in the whole extend to fiftie thousande beside the increase of a great number of sundrie fortes of victuall which in a farme house is encreased towards the sustentation of the people For a farme containing sixscore Acres of ground being imployed to pasture onely for the breeding and feeding of cattell there doth come no further increase of victuall but Biefes and Muttons onely and yt may bee prooued that the yearely encrease thereof will not finde yearely aboue ten persons of those that make their common and onely foode of flesh But let this farme be imployed into tillage there will be a reasonable encrease of Biefe and Muttons then is there account to be made of al kind of graine as wel for bread as drink which is the chiefest victuall for maintenance of the people Further there is in the said farme raysed and increased Veale Porke Bacon Pigges Geese Ducks Hennes Chickens Capons Milke Butter Cheese Egges and Fruite Drawe all these togither in accompt or comparison and they will sustaine and finde yearely twentie persons at the least I meane not those onely that are kept in the farme but such as are sustayned with the victuals that be sold out of the farme at the markets whereby it appeareth that ten persons that are fed and nourished with those victuals that are increased of the farme in pasture doth eate vp ten of those persons that should haue bene fed with such victuall as might haue bene increased of the same farme if it were in tillage This is a wonderfull decay in a common-wealth and ought with christian charitie of all men to be lamented That for the satisfieng of our lust contrarie to a good and commendable lawe for a common-wealth ordained we seeke our owne hurt and the vtter decay of our poore christian brethren may not this be called the eating vp of Gods people like bread agaynst whome the Psalmist earnestly crieth Psal 14.35 Thus we are to consider that by the vnlawfull eating of flesh three speciall dammages fall vpon vs. The realme is weakened and made of lesse force to encounter and resist the enemie both on the sea and seacoastes An hundred thousand persons are put from their worke and maintenance And of the victualles which heeretofore hath bene and still might be increased there is the vallew of three hundred thousand poundes yearely abated by reason whereof three greater damages and dangers proceedes that is to say By abating the force of the realm on the sea and seacoastes it is in the greater danger of
the enemie Also by putting of an huÌ„dred thousand persons out of worke and maintenance there must needes grow the greater increase of idlenesse roges and theeues with which sorte of people it greeueth them to be indamaged and indangered that breedes them for we would haue no ashes and yet still increase the fire Also we would sayle in safetie and yet bore holes through the bottome of the shippe Further by the yearely abating of three hundred thousand poundes-worth of victualles there must of necessitie growe a great want of sufficient sustenance especially for the common sort of people The miserie whereof although it be not felt by the rich yet the same greeuously lighteth amongest the poore for ponderous thinges fall to the bottome and they that strike others feele not the smart themselues For remedie herein there hath bene diuers deuises plots made and set downe how fishermen might be set a worke fish might bee taken brought in and prouided for seruice of the realme and straight lawes made for the expence and vtterance thereof but little is said or done that the said lawe might be certainely executed and obserued for as before hath bene sayd that it is vtterance that maintaineth the trade of anie thing and as vtterance increaseth or abateth so the trade will increase and abate For ensample the great increase and vtterance of flesh that hath growne by the vnlawfull eating of flesh hath so increased the trade for grasing and fatting of cattell to be spent and vttered that thereby hath growne all such detriments as before hath bin set down to happen by the decay of tillage Also therby as before hath bene said the vtterance of fish is become so small and vncertaine and the trade of fishing and the buying and selling of fish by the same so abated that all the rest of such dangers and damages as before are set down haue by that meanes growne and happened Therefore as the increase of the vtterance of flesh and the abating of the vtterance of fishe hath bene cause of the euils aforesaid So the increase of the vtterance of fishe and the abating of the vtterance of flesh must be cause of the remedie What fleshe may be spared in a yeare by one daies abstinence in a weeke For what cause there ought to be certaine daies and times appointed for the expence of fish ANd for that it may the more plainlier appeare what great numbers of Biefes Muttons and other kindes of fleshe victuall may be spared in the realme yearely by one daies abstinence in a weeke to the woonderfull great increase of the said victuall and comfort of the whole common-wealth I haue thought good to set downe an estimate of the same supposed to be spent within the citie of London and the suburbes of the same to be considered of with patience of the gentle Reader First it is to be considered that in the yeare are 52. weekes and in euerie weeke seuen daies which are in all for the yeare 364. daies The lent with friday and saterday in euerie weeke and the the other accustomed fish daies appoynted by the lawes of the realme to be obserued being collected togither extend to 153. So in the yeare there is 153. fishe daies and 211. flesh daies which amounteth vnto 58. flesh daies more then fish dayes Now touching the expence of flesh in London and the Suburbes thereof and what may be spared in those places onely by one dayes abstinence in a weeke First the yeare beeing 52. weekes let seuen of them be excepted for the time of lent wherein no Biefes ought to be killed and then remaineth but 45. weekes wherein butchers doe kill cattell Then let vs say there be threescore butchers freemen of the citie of London that commonly kill Biefes and euerie butcher to kill weekely one with the other fiue Biefes which is for 45. weekes in the whole 300. Biefes which amounteth for the said 45. weeks to 13500. killed by the sayd freemen The forrenners dwelling in the suburbes of London and such as come out of the countrie to serue the markets of the citie on the market daies kill and vtter there as the butchers of London affirme foure times so much as the freemen of the citie which amounteth yearly to 54000. Biefes so ioyning the biefes killed vttered by the freemen of London the forrenners together â—hey extend in al for y e yeare to 67500. biefes It is herein to be noted y t the account by this estimat is but for fiue daies in the weeke for y e friday and saterday are daies of abstinence from fleshe and therefore out of the sayde fiue dayes we must suppose to take one and the account aforesayd is so to be made for that in them fleshe is certainly spent otherwise there can no certaine accompt be made Now if we would knowe what number of Biefes might be spared as afore is said let vs say there be in the weeke fiue fleshe dayes accustomably serued with the expence of fleshe whereof one being taken away there resteth but foure In like sorte let vs deuide the proportion of Biefes that are killed for London and the suburbes for a yeare into fiue partes And the fift part supposed to be saued by the fift dayes abstinence is 13500. the iust number killed for a yeare by the freemen of the Citie It is also reported and well knowne that for euerie Biefe killed there is killed ten sheep at the least Then if there might be spared yearely in the places aforesaid by one daies abstinence 13500. beastes there will by that reckning bee spared 135000. sheepe besides lambes calues and hogges whereof like proportion is to be made according to the times of the yeare wherein they be spent or should be spent But the abuse therein is great by killing them at vnlawfull times contrarie to good lawes and ordinances carefully made and prouided for the increase of cattell whereby woonderfull great dammages groweth vnto the realme as by sundrie probable argumentes might be expressed Moreouer there is like accompt to be made of such fine flesh victuall as is vttered by the poultars which on the fastingdaies is most commonly spent By this estimate concerning the Citie of London and the suburbes it may be easily decerned of what might be spared thorow the whole realme which being well considered may happily perswade some men the more to the obseruation of such good lawes and ordinances as for obseruation of fishdaies is prouided But concerning this the expence of fishe many there be that perhaps will say we agree that the taking vttering and spending of fishe is laudable and well to be liked of but wherefore should wee make choyse of dayes or times seeing there is no prescribed rule from God for the choyse of meates at any one day more then another and that it hath pleased almightie God to giue vs his blessinges with multitudes of the same in the seas confessing the same also to be giuen
therefore to omit this reliefe must needs encrease a scarsitie of victuall diuers and sundrie waies Furthermore some men more rash then true in their iudgement will not onely thinke but say he that thus earnestly perswadeth for an abstinence from flesh is either one of these three that followeth or all that is to say a superstitious person an hypocrite or a Papist And first he is accounted a superstitious person for that he is a forbidder of meates perswading the people thereunto and maketh conscience where no cause of conscience is esteeming that vnlawfull which is not by God forbidden Herein such rash giuers of iudgement are greatly deceiued for in truth he is a forbidder of meates that forbiddeth it at all times and in all respects like as in the Apostles time some superstitious Iewes perswaded the Christians but forbidding of the vse at certaine times appointed by lawfull authoritie done for a common-welth is not an vtter forbidding of the thing the cause and reason being considered and therefore no conscience to be made in the kinde or nature of the meate but for the commoditie of those for whose cause it is forborne or forbidden and so the meate is not vnlawful but the vse vnlawfull being eaten at a time forbidden by such as haue authoritie from God to forbid it done for the benefite of his people for although it be lawfull for a man to spend or vse the things that he commeth lawfully by it is vnlawfull to spende or vse the things that he commeth vnlawfully by for then the commandement is transgressed so although it be lawfull to eate flesh at all times as the creatures of God giuen for the sustenance of man it is vnlawful to eate the same at times forbidden by lawfull authoritie for therein Gods ordinance is contemned and the benefite of his people neglected Secondly some perhaps may name him to be an hypocrite because he wil not eate flesh on such dayes that he might seeme holy and one that more careth for his saluation then other people as thinking to obtaine the same by abstaining from eating flesh on a few prescribed daies and times but of wise men this is to be considered that hypocrisie is priuie sinne couched in the minde and intention of man and although iudgement may be giuē in or by the dealings of some persons yet in truth the thing cannot be generally discerned in any man but by the wisedome of God onely For what vertue soeuer any person vseth if it be done for the praise of man and not in consideration of the duetie which God requireth is none other but flat hypocrisie For example who so accustometh to reade or heare the holy scriptures preached and taught with a shew of holines therby to be praised of men and not learne to liue or bring forth fruites according to the same he may be accounted a meere hypocrite neuerthelesse the reading and hearing of the scriptures is not hypocrisie but being vnfainedly and rightly done is the liuely nourishment and foode of mans soule So abstinence from flesh is not to be accounted hypocrisie when it is done for obedience to the law in respect of that law and duetie which God requireth of euery man to be borne towards his neighbour Thirdly he is called a Papist for that saith some also he thinketh it is necessarie to abstaine from eating of flesh doth like allow of those lawes and deuices made and vsed in the time of Papistrie and by auncient authoritie of the Pope whō we should not in any thing imitate but rather in all thinges be contrarie Here may be said is zeale without knowledge vnderstanding blinded and a great want of true iudgemēt for ensample mine enemie teacheth me two things the one I finde euill by experience the other good and because I will not follow the counsell of my aduersary shall I cast away the good for the euils sake Or thus it may be said I am taught by mine aduersarie to run into the fire and escape the water but because contrarie to the minde or teaching of mine aduersarie I haue escaped the fire shall I therefore of mine owne will run into the water and drowne my selfe many good lawes and ordinances in the time of papistrie was by them made and ordained but the same is not therfore to be contemned or neglected for that their deuise in many things for the benefite of a common welth cannot be amended Much more might be said concerning this matter but few words are sufficient to satisfie such as are wise and discreete whose wisedome can sufficiently conceaue by this smal treatise what thing of the author is intended whose heart and minde is knowne to God that for the benefite of his countrie he hath taken this smal paines crauing patience of the gentle Reader for his rudenes being in respect of many others but simplie trained vp in learning requireth herein of the wise to be accepted And that these his simple perswasions might be an occasion without the paine and penalties of the law to perswade an obedience in the premises amongst his natiue countrimen both for themselues and their families Then the author shall thinke himselfe recompenced and such as liue but few yeares both see and feele the great benefits to them therby growing not onely for encrease of victuall and better maintenance of the people but great strength to the Nauie for the more seruice and defence of this Realme FINIS