maie bee shrouded vnder an vncleane Cloke And I doubte not also but the same reasons and duetie that bounde me this many yeres to trauell in this action to my greate coste and charge to finde out the waie and perfection thereof shall also binde thee and moue thee effectually to fauour it to further it in the Parliament house and to defende my imperfection against a sorte of Momus fecte and Zoilus bande that can rather finde fault with the man then with the matter be it neuer so well or any waie putte to their helpyng handes to amende the same if it bee not orderly My care hath been to please my Countrey and the honest and graue sorte thereof whiche if this my trauell shall doe content I haue cause to thanke almightie God for it and thinke my tyme well spēt For in this little booke gentill Reader thou shalt finde if the same be executed accordyng to lawe it importeth mutche matter bryngeth greate plentie and mutche wealthe and benefite to all the inhabitauntes of this Realme It prouideth for the poore in honest and decent maner brynging them to a good and a Godly vocation of life with many other speciall benefites to this Kyngdome and common wealth whiche for tediousnesse sake least I wearie thee I referre thee to the booke it self where thou maiest at large see them with thy eye Iudge them by thy good discretion wisedome and fauour and further them by thy good helpe and assistaunce at conuenient tyme. So fare thee hartly well Robert Hitchcocke Hitchcockes Newyeres gift to Englande THE GREAT CARE that the Queenes Maestie and her noble progenitors haue taken to banishe and roote out of their Dominions that lothesome monster Idelnesse the mother and breeder of Uacaboundes is moste apparaunt by their wholsome lawes and prouisions made from tyme to tyme Beginnyng at the woorthie reigne of Kyng Edward the third Kyng Richard the seconde and so descendyng to her Maiesties moste prudente and vertuous gouernement wherein aswell publique prouisions hath been to helpe the commonweale as some sharpe and seuere punishement prouided if common pollicie would not serue Yet neuerthelesse all these Lawes so circumspectly made could not nor cannot banishe that pestilent Canker out of this commonweale by any degree but that the same encreaseth daiely more more to the greate hurte and impouerishyng of this Realme For remedie whereof almightie GOD by the moste comodious scituation of this Islande and his blessynges bothe of the Lande thereof and of the Sea wherewith it is enuironed hath prouided a moste conuenient meane bothe for labor for the Idle and for food benefite and ritches for the Inhabitantes Whereby the lustie Uacabounds and Idell persones the rootes buddes and seedes of idelnesse shall at all handes and in al places be set on worke and labour willyngly and thereby proue good subiectes and profitable members of this Commonweale This realme and the inhabitantes Reade the preamble of the statute Henrie 8. Anno 33. cap 2. bordryng aswell vpon the sea as vpō the lande throughout thesame in short tyme to be meruailously inriched Nyne thousande Marriners more then now presētly there is to serue her Maiesties shippes at all tymes if neede bee The Coines of golde and siluer that issues plentefully out of this Realme to staie and abide within this lande For restraint whereof bothe her highnesse and her noble progenitors haue made diuerse lawes statutes but yet neuer could do thesame A redie meane to cause forrain wares to be brought hether Her Maiesties Customes and Subsidies greatly augmented Her Nauigation greatly increased The Tounes borderyng vpon the Sea coastes now in ruine and voide of Englishe inhabitauntes to bee peopled and inhabited by her maiesties owne peculer Subiectes to the greate strength of this Realme and terror of the enemie Besides the helpe that shal be ministered to twoo hundreth twentie and fiue decaied tounes in Englande and Wales with a stocke of two hundeth pounde to euery decaied toune to set the poore on worke And to eight principall Port tounes with in this lande appointed for sondrie causes apperteinyng to this Platte eighte thousande pounde whiche is to euery principall Porte Toune one thousande pounde to bee a stocke for euer Besides fower hundreth Fishing Shippes to continue for euer And twoo good Shippes of warre furnished warlike to defende the Fishyng Shippes All whiche thynges God willyng maie bee perfourmed within three yeres without coste or charges to any man as by this plat shall appere And also an infinite nomber of people as well rich as poore set to worke by diuerse meanes and degrees whiche thynges will releeue many a poore man and saue many a tall fellowe from the Gallowes For performaunce whereof first there must be made fower hundreth fishyng Shippes after the maner of Flemishe Busses of the burden of three score and tenne Tunne the Shippe or more but none vnder whiche will coste two hundreth poūd the Shippe with the furniture if it be readie furnished to the Sea in all thynges necessarie Euery Shippe requireth one skilfull Maister to gouerne it twelue Marriners or fishermen and xii of the strong lustie Beggers or poore men taken vp through this Lande Whiche in the whole amounteth to the nomber of tenne thousande persones at the firste mannyng of the Shippes So that with a little experience this Realme hath clearely increased nyne thousande Marriners more then was in this Lande before These Shippes so made furnished and manned must be appointed to sutche Roades and Hauen tounes as border vppon the Sea coastes compassyng this Realme rounde aboute Beginnyng an London and so orderly proceedyng accordyng to the Table herevnto annexed And beyng thus placed hauyng with theim to the Seas for their victualles sufficient Breade Bere Butter and Cheese with Barrelles emptie Caske and Salte with order also not to retourne vntill thei bee fullie loden shall goe yerely a fishyng and kill Herynges vpō the coastes of Englande and Irelande presently and alwaies as thei kille them to gill theim salte pickle and barrill theim after the Flemishe maner with salte vpon salte whiche is the beste kinde of Salt And shall fishe for Herynges yerely duryng the tyme of Heryng Fishyng whiche is fowertene or fiftene weekes In which tyme by Gods grace euery Shippe will kill at the least fiftie Laste of the beste sort of Herynges amountyng in the whole to twentie thousande Laste Euery Laste beyng sold but for ten pound whiche is xvi s. viii d. the Barrell draweth to twoo hundreth thousande poundes yerely for the beste Herynges onely Perhaps thei maie loade their Shippes yerely twice with Herynges and then the somme is doubled in that tyme of Herryng Fishyng And to the ende the Herynges shall be wholesome for the subiecte Straunger or for whom so euer shall buy them and that the good vsage therof maie get credite where thei shall happen to bee vttered Thei shall accompte in makyng of their Herynges vpon the Sea so as sixtene Barrelles made
there make but twelue Barrelles at their home commyng to their seuerall Portes when thei shal be newe sorted seuered couched and truly and iustly packed by sutche honest and substanciall men as shal be sworne and purposely chosen for that intente and thei to haue twoo pence of euery Barrell accordyng to the Statute for that purpose prouided Deuiding the full Heringes in to twoo seuerall sortes markyng the beggest and beste Heringes with this seuerall marke B. The seconde with the second marke M. Also the shotten Herynges with this proper marke S. to the ende no man maie be abused Euery Barrell conteinyng twoo and thirtie Gallons accordyng to the statute made Anno 22. Edward 4. Chapiter 2. whiche twelue Barrelles makes a Laste Out of whiche saied nomber of twentie thousande Laste of Herynges nine or tenne thousand Laste will be a sufficient rate or portion to satisfie this whole Realme The residue beeyng tenne or eleuen thousande Laste drawing to one hundred thousande pounde beyng ordered as a foresaied will be of as great estimation in Fraunce as the Flemishe Herynges be And will be solde and vttered in diuerse partes of that Regiō As in Normandie in Nantes in Burdeux and in Rochell And the further South that the Countries doe lye the better vtteraunce for Fishe For these Herynges retourne will be made of all sutche necessaries as we want in this Realme viz Wine and Woades for whiche is alwaies paied redie gold Salt Canuas Uitere Doulas and diuers other thynges The Custome also for the Queenes Maiestie beyng paied vppon euery Laste of that shall bee transported and solde beyonde the Sea cometh to fiue thousande pounde after the rate of Pondage for this nomber of Herynges onely The other part of this greate blessing of God maie aptly be taken and applied viz These fower hundreth Busses or fishyng Shippes maie take Codd and Lyng and Newlande Fishe The aduauntage and profite whereof this Realme and Subiectes of late yeres for the moste parte haue loste and suffered straungers the Fleminges and other Nations to take who seeyng our carelesse dealyng haue not onely taken this beneficiall Fishyng frō vs but verie warely doeth sell the same commoditie vnto vs. And thereby carieth out of this lande bothe Gold and Siluer and a merueilous quantitie of double double Beere and other thynges satisfiyng vs with these Fishes whiche through our owne slothe we lose whiche beeyng taken by our selues as a speciall blessyng of God appointed vnto vs and so solde to thē and others it must nedes folowe that we should saue a great masse of gold within this land And for that fishe thei now vtter vnto vs we should receiue of them the comodities of the Lowe Countries viz Hollande clothe Rape oile Hoppes Madder all sortes of Wier and diuerse other Marchandize Or els their ready Golde and Money whereby this realme and subiectes should be mightly enriched This greate benefite is no lesse to bee valued for the profite of this Realme and subiectes then the benefite of the Herynges For euery Shippe beeyng but of the burden of lxx tunne if God blesse it with safe retourne from Newfounde lande will bryng home to his Port in August twētie thousande of the beste and middle sort of wette fishe at the leaste called blanckfishe and tenne thousande drie fishe whiche beyng solde vppon the Shippes retourne as it maie be at Newhauen in Fraunce but for fourtie shillynges the hundreth of wette fishe whiche is not fower pence the fishe And xxshillynges the hundreth of drie fishe which is not twoo pence the fishe amounteth to fiue hundreth pound at the least Likewise any other of the shippes but of the like burden goyng a fishyng to the ward house to Islande to the North seas of Englande and Scotlande or to Irelande commeth home at the same tyme loden with fifteene thousande Codde and tenne thousande Lyng whiche beyng sold but for fourtie shillinges the hundreth one with an other amounteth to fiue C. pounde And besides that euery shippe will bryng home to his Port fower or fiue tunne of oile made of fishe liuers worthe to be sold for xii pound the tunne The waie how this Platte shal be brought to passe and performed without coste or charges to any manne is by borowyng of fower score thousande pounde for three yeres whiche fourtie men in a Shire will and maie easily accomplishe if euery man lende but fiftie pounde vpon good assuraunce after the rate of tenne pound yerely vpon euery hundreth pounde lent whiche sommes shal be repaied again within three yeres at twoo paimentes In what sort this money shal be leuied is set doune in the first table followyng The second table doeth declare to whom and to what principall Porte tounes the money shall bee deliuered how it shal be vsed who shall giue assuraunce for thesame and therewith prouide the forsaied shippes The third table doeth shewe to what hauen tounes these fishyng Shippes shal be placed and how the money shal be leuied to make paiment of the money borowed and to answere all charges And in the fowerth table is set doune how many decaied tounes in euery Shire shall haue a continuall stocke of twoo hundreth pound a peece to sette the poore on woorke for euer Also how euery man shall bee pleased and liberally considered that shall bee appointed to the execution of this Platte And how the paimentes of the money borowed with the interest money for the tyme of for bearaunce shal be made and paied at twoo paimentes ORDERS IN primis euery one of these eight principall Port tounes Londō Yarmouth Hull New castell Chester Bristow Exeter and Southampton muste haue twoo honest and substanciall men of credite to be chief and principall officers of euery these saied Portes who shall as Treasurers and Puruiours ioyntly deale togethers in all causes to this Platte apperteinyng First in receiuyng all sommes of money that bee appointed to euery the saied Portes laiyng it vp safely with their tounes treasure And there with to prouide fiftie Fishyng shippes with all thinges needefull for them redy to the Seas with sutche carefull consideration as the money were their owne And that euery shippe be bothe strong and good and not vnder the burden of three score and tenne tunne And then for to appoint them to the Roades and Hauen tounes in the third Table of this Platte specified that is to saie fiue shippes to euery Fishyng toune Takyng order also that euery of these shippes maie haue one skilfull maister to gouerne it twelue Marriners coaste men or Fishermen and twelue poore men taken vp to serue in euery of them And to take bondes of euery toune wherevnto the saied fiue shippes shal bee deliuered for the paiemente of one hundreth and fiftie pounde out of euery Shippe yerely duryng three yeres This beyng doen the saied fiue shippes shall bee giuen to the Fishyng toune for euer with Preuiso that if any Shippe or shippes of the whole nomber miscary or be loste by any kinde
of chaunce or degree then all the reste viz Euerie shippe of the nomber remainyng shall paie tenne shillynges towardes the newe makyng of euery shippe so wanting to the cheef officers where the shippe is lackyng with whiche money thei shall prouide againe one other newe shippe furnished with all thynges as aforesaid Whiche lawe shal be kept vnuiolately emongest them for euer vpon paine euery shipp that shal be found in fault at any tyme to forfet for euery offēce fiue pound And the same to be leuied and receiued by the order of statute Lawe but the whole benefite to the same toune or tounes where the shippe or shippes bee wantyng And the same sixteene cheef Officers shall haue allowed them for their fees yerely duryng the saied three yeres xvi hundreth poundes that is to euery officer one hundreth pounde yerely Also in the ende of the thirde yere there shall be giuen in recompence to euery of the saied eight principall Port tounes one thousande pound to be a stocke to remain to the same tounes for euer as hereafter shal be declared These Busses or fishyng Shippes thus placed in fower score fishyng tounes as fiue shippes to euery fishyng toune shall bee sette forthe to the Seas by the Gouernours of euery seuerall Fishyng Toune to take fishe as the tymes and seasons of the yere doeth serue Firste in Marche hauyng victualls for fiue monethes with hokes lines and salt prouided by the saied Gouernours and their assistances thei shal bee sette out to fishe for Lodd and Lyng where the saied Gouernors by the consent of the Toune liketh beste or els to Newfounde lande for Newlande fishe And by the grace of God in Auguste at the furthest thei shall come home to their seuerall Portes Loden with fishe and Trane oile made of fishe Liuers Whiche fishe shall forthwith be deuided into thre equall partes The first parte to the maister and fishermen for their paines The seconde parte to them that were at the charges of victualls Salt lines and hookes The third parte to be laied vp vnder safe keepyng vntill tyme serue beste to sell the same or to be vented where moste profit maie bee made Then againe with all speede presently after the fishe is deuided euery Ship beeyng victaled for sixe weekes with Nettes Laske and Salte thei must be set out to fishe for Herringes tariyng vpon the Seas vntill thei be fully loden Then thei returne againe to their seuerall Portes if God blesse theim with good lucke and safe retourne loden with fiftie Laste of the beste Herrynges Euery Shippe if winde and weather serue maie returne twice loden with Herrynges in that time of Herryng fishing And alwaies as the shippes with Herrynges doe come to their seuerall Portes the saied Gouernours shall cause the saied Herrynges to bee deuided into fower equall partes The first parte to the Maister and the Marriners for their paines The secōd part to them that prouides the Salte and Uictualles The thirde parte to theim that findes the Caske and Nettes And the fowerth parte to bee laied vp vnder safe keepyng vntill it maie bee vented Out of the whiche portion of Herrynges and of the other fishe aforefaid shal be paied the first daie of Aprill yerely nexte after the first yere that the Shippes of this Platte beginneth to fishe one hundreth and fiftie pounde for euery Ship yerely duryng three yeres by the Gouernours of euery fishyng toune that so shall haue regard of their retournes and vse of the goods where the Shippes be placed Whiche paimente shall bee paied to the cheef officers of that principall Port that did place the saied fiue Shippes to the same Toune And then after the thre yeres be expired the third parte of greate fishe and the fowerth part of Herrynges shal bee and remaine for euer to euery Fishyng toune where the fishyng shippes bee at the daie of the laste paimente Out of whiche the fiue shippes shall yerely bee repaired and maintained by euery fishyng toune for the profite of the same Toune and the benefite of the Common weale When Herryng fishyng is past then with all conueniente speede the Gouernours aforesaid shall appoint some of their Shipps to take fishe vpon the coastes of Englande Scotlande or Ireland And sende other some into Fraunce or els where with Codd Lyng Herrynges and Newe lande fishe there to vtter them makyng retourne with sutche commodities as will be beste vttered here or els with Salt and money By whiche returne it will bee tyme to make ready for the Fishyng in Marche as before Thus the whole yere is spent in Fishyng There must be an Auditour for receiuyng all accomptes that shall appertaine and depende vpon the execution of this Plat Sutche as it shall please the Parliamēt house to nominate and appointe Who shall receiue of the sixtene cheef officers aforesaied eight hundreth pounde yerely duryng three yeres viz of the cheef officers of euery principall Porte vpon his quittaunce one hundreth pounde for his Fee Whiche saied Auditour must ride from euery principall Porte to other to see and to prouide that all and euery of the fiue decaied counes within euery Shire in England and also twentie decaied tounes in Wales haue the stocke of twoo hundreth poundes truly paied to euery one of them accordyng to this Plat and that it bee vsed accordyngly viz that the Gouernour of euery the decaied tounes with the saied stocke of twoo hundreth pounde shall diligentely and carefully prouide yerely sutche comodities to set the poore on woorke as the nature of the coūtrey dooeth yelde for moste profite And that the poore people that laboreth be paied weekely their wages conuertyng the benefite of their trauell in to the increase of the same stocke And that the said Auditour take knowledge how many there be at woorke in euery place by that meanes and with what comodities the saied poore people are set to woorke in euery Shire And for that there shall be no percialitie in naming of the decaied tounes The twoo Parliamente Knightes with twoo Iustices of Peace in euery their Shire to name and appoint the auncient decaied tounes in euery Shire for to haue the said stocke of twoo hundreth pound according to the fourth table of this Plat. And beyng subscribed vnder their handes to deliuer it to the saied Auditour in the first yere that the Fishyng shippes aforesaid bee sette to the Sea to Fishe There must also bee a Comptroler ioyned in Commission with the cheef officers of euery principall Porte toune for the prouidyng of all thynges needefull at the beste hande Who muste ride to euery Port and Fishing toune and to all other places where these Shippes bee either made bought or placed to see that all thynges maie bee iustly performed accordyng to the true meanyng of this Platt and to be doen with all expedition Who maie by this order and without greef to this Platte receiue for his Fee eight hundreth pounde yerely duryng three yeres viz of the cheef officers
therof in the trade or craft of fishyng And when this is doen and brought to passe I will declare a deuice appertainyng to this plat that shall if it please God bee worthe tenne thousande pounde yearely for euer without coste or charges to any man neither offendyng or incrochyng vppon any parson with the same deuice Whiche is to maintaine the foresaied Shippes of warre warlike yearely for euer with wages victualls Soldiours and Marrynours and all other kinde of charges And also to maintaine all the aforesaied officers and Preachers their yerely fees for euer Unto either of the same two ships of warre there must be appointed one skilfull and valiaunt maister the maisters mate foure quarter maisters a Purser a maister Gūner and one hundreth and twentie Soldiours and Marrynours The Maister to haue for wages foure shillynges the daie euery other Officer two shillinges the daie and euery Soldiour or Marrynour twelue pence the daie for wages The order for their diet of victualls all the whole yeare and what monye is to be allowed for the yearely repracions of the saied twoo Shippes of warre and how all this shal bee mayntained for euer I haue sette doune in writyng And after this Plat with the greate benefits growyng vniuersall to this Realme shal be throughly considered drawen into perfect forme and put in execution by authoritie of Parlament whiche is the power of the whole comonaltie of Englande I will deliuer the same where it shall be thought meete The tymes and places of the yearly fishyng for Codde and Lyng FIrst for Codde vpon the Coaste of Lancashire beginnyng at Ester and continueth vntill midsommer For Hakes in the deepes betwixt Wales and Ireland from Whitsontyde vntill sainct Iames tyde For Codde and Lyng about Padsiowe within the landes ende of Seuerne is good fishyng from Christmas vntill midlent There is an excellent good fishyng for Codde about Irelande where doeth come yerely to fishe three or fower hundreth saile of Shippes and Barkes out of Biskey Galiza and Portugale about the Southwest partes neare to Mackertymors countrey and doeth continewe Aprill Maie Iune and Iulie Also for Codde and Lyng on the West and Northwest of Irelande beginning at Christmas and continueth vntill Marche And there is one other excelent good fishyng vpon the North of Irelande Also for Newelande fishe vpon the bankes of Newfoundlande The shippes goeth forth from Englande and Irelande in Marche and comes home loden in August There is an excelent good fishyng for theim that will goe further for Codd and Lyng in the Riuers of Backlasse continuyng Aprill Maie Iune and Iulie Also for Codde and Lyng vppon the Northe coasts of England and vpon the coasts of Scotlande and the Northe Iles of Scotlande continuyng from Ester vntill midsomer The like for Codde vpon the East coastes of Freselande Norwaie and Shotlande from Easter vntill midsomer To fishe for Codde and Lyng in Islande the Shippes commonly must goe forthe in Marche and returnes loden in August The like maner and tyme is vsed for Cod and Lyng from Englande to the warde house where is excelent good fishyng Aprill Maie and Iune The tymes and places of the yerely fishyng for Herynges THe Herrynges shootes out of the deepes on both sides of Scotlande and England and beginneth vpon the Scots coaste at midsomer and be not Marchaundable but yet vendable because they be so fat by reason whereof they will growe reastie if they bee kept And therefore they be presently solde The seconde and beste fishyng beginneth at Bartholmewtyde at Skarbrough and so procedeth alōg the coaste vntill they come to Thames mouth continuyng very good vntill Hollentyde All whiche tyme they bee very good and Marchaundable and will abide the saltyng very well The thirde fishyng is from Thames mouthe through the narrowe Seas yet not certaine for after that tyme they shoote sodenly through the same Seas vpō any extreame weather on both sides of Irelande Whiche fishyng doth continue vntill the feast of sainct Androwe Also vpon the coaste of Irelande is very good fishyng from Michaelmasse vntill Christmasse For there is greate plentie of Herringes Also vpon the Northwest Seas of Englande ouer against Carlell in Cumberlande aboute Wirkington is good fishyng for Herynges from Bartholmewtide vntill foretene daies after Michaelmasse Also from Holentyde till Christmasse vpon the coaste of Norwaie that serues all the Easte coūtries called the Mall sande where all straungers doe fishe paiyng their custome a Youghendale vppon euery Laste to the King of Denmarke But some tymes the Frostes bee so greate there that the Heringes will not take salte There is an other exercise to breede profitte called the huntyng of the Whaile whiche continueth all the Sommer The Whaile is vpon the coastes of Rushe towardes Muskouy and sainct Nicholasse The killyng of the Whaile is bothe pleasaunt and profitable and without greate charges yelding greate plentie of Oyle the tunne wherof is worth tenne pound One of the Shippes maie bryng home to his Porte fiftie Tunne the whiche is worthe fiue hundreth pounde Obiections and aunsweres of the Author ¶ First what moues you to thinke that there will bee founde fortie men in euery Shire of Englande that will lende fiftie pounde a man for three yeares in this couetous tyme when euery man is for him self THis Realme of Englande and Wales is very populos and the moste parte be the poorer sorte of people who daiely doeth harken when the worlde should amende with them They are indifferent in what sorte so that their state were relieued And so parhappes apte to assiste Rebellion or to ioyne with whom soeuer dare inuade this noble Ilande if any sutche attempte should bee made Then are they meete Guides to bryng the Soldiours or men of warre to the riche mens wealth For they can pointe with their finger there it is yonder it is here it is and he hath it and she hath it that will dooe vs muche good And so procure Martyrdome with murder to many wealthie parsons for their wealth Therfore the wise and wealthie men of this lande had neede by greate discretion to deuise some speedy helpe herein that his poorerer sorte of people maie bee sette to some good Artes Science Occupacions Craftes and labours by whiche meanes they might be able to reliue them selues of their greate nede and want And beyng brought to suche vocation of life hauyng some good trade to liue vppon there is no doubt but they will proue good and profitable subiects and be careful to see this commō wealth florishe and will spende their liues and bloud to defende the same and their little wealth their liberties their wifes and children For hauyng nothing they are desperate but hauing some little goods they will dye before thei leese it Wherefore if this matter bee looked into with eyes of iudgement there is no doubt of borowing the money vpon the assurance and interest For I doe know in some Shires fower men that will gladly lende so
much money as the whole Shire is appointed to lende In Hollande and Sealande the riche men makes so sure accounte of their fishyng that they appointe their children Portions to bee increased by that vse ¶ I praie you shewe me by what occacion or meanes this huge nomber of Beggers and Vacaboundes doe breede here in Englande And why you appointe twelue of them to euery Shipp I thinke they maie carie the Shippe awaie become Pirates IF you consider the pouerty that is and doth remaine in the Shire tounes and Market tounes within this Realme of England and Wales which tounes being inhabited with greate store of poore householders who by their pouertie are driuē to bring vp their youth idlely and if they liue vntill they come to mans state then are they past all remedie to be brought to woorke Therfore at suche tyme as their Parentes fayles them they beginne to shifte and acquainte them selues with some one like brought vppe that hath made his shifte with dicyng cosenyng picking or cutting of purses or els if he be of courage plaine robbing by the waie side which they count an honest shift for the time and so come they daiely to the Gallowes Hereby growes the greate and huge nomber of Beggers and Uacaboundes which by no reasonable meanes or lawes could yet be brought to woorke being thus idely brought vp Whiche perilous state and imminent daunger that they now stande in I thought it good to auoide by placeyng twelue of these poore people into euery fishyng Shippe accordyng to this Platte Who when they shall finde and perceiue that their diet for all the whole yeare is prouided and that twoo vyoges euery yeare will yeelde to euery man for his paines xx pound cleare and for euer to continue By which honest trade they shal be able to liue in estimacion emongest men whereas before they were hated whipped almoste sterued poore and naked imprisoned and in daunger daiely to be marked with a burnyng Iron for a Roge and to be hanged for a Uacabounde When they shall finde these daungers to be auoyded by their trauaile and thereby an encrease of wealth to ensewe they will be glad to continue this good and profitable vocacion of life and shunne the other Besides that it is well knowen that sixe Marryners or Seafaring mē is able to rule and gouerne twelue lande menne that be not acquainted with the Sea And therfore not to bee doubted that this kinde of people will proue Pirates they bee so base mynded For the harte minde and value of a man is suche and his spirite so greate that hee will trauaile all the kingdomes of Princes to seeke interteinmente rather then he will shew his face to begg or craue reliefe of thousandes of people that be vnworthie to vnbuckle his shooes And in his greate want will take with force and courage from them that hath to serue his necessitie thinkyng it more happie to dye speedely then to liue defamed and miserablely Of whiche sorte of people at the breaking vppe of warres there is a greate nomber of worthie and valiaunt Soldiours that hath serued in the Warres with inuinceable myndes who through wante of liuyng either departe as aforesaied or els if they tarie in Englande hangyng is the ende of the moste parte of them ¶ Howe maie so many Shippes bee prouided for want of Tymber Mastes Cables Pytche and Iron And where shall Maisters and Marryners be had with other nedefull things as Salt Nets Caske TO that I must put you in mynde of Hollande Sellande and Freeselande that of late yeares hath florished with Shippes Marryners and Fisher men and therby proued of merueilous wealthe no Countrey more And all the Timber they vsed for their Shippes came from the Domynions of other Princes Their Cables Mastes Pytch and Terre came from the coūtryes vnder the King of Denmarke The Sailes for their Shippes the threede for their Nettes came from Normandie and Brittaine Their Salte came from Fraunce Portugale and Spaine And their Iron came from the countries of other Princes We neede not doubt of these thinges for there are Shippes presently to be bought for the sommes of money appointed for euery Shippe bothe here in this Realme and in Hollande Fraunce and in other places And if there were not I could name the places within this Realme where is plentie of Timber If you doe remember the greate and wonderfull woods of Tymber Trees that is in Irelande you will shake of that doubt And for Iron there is greate plentie made within this lande I maie call to witnesse the inhabytaunts of the forest of Deane the countie of Sussex with other places And for all other needefull thinges the Hauens Portes and Realme of Englande lyeth nearer to those countries where plentie is then the Flemminges doeth And for Maisters there is plentie of coaste mē which will gladly serue that place that be sufficient men And for Marriners there is greate store of poore Fisher men all along the coaste of Englande and Wales that will willyngly serue in these fishyng shippes and vse the crafte of fishyng their gaine will be so greate And for Salte there is greate plentie made at the Witches in Chesshire and in diuers other places Besides many Salte houses standyng vpon the coaste of Englande that makes Salte by sething of salte Sea water And besides the greate store of salte that wil be brought yerely into Englande by the Marchauntes and others to make salte vppon salte Also for Caske there is greate store of Oke Ashe and Beeche growyng in many places of Englande so that there can be no want of Caske if there be vse to vse it nor yet of any other thing aforesaied if good consideracion be hadde This Platte beyng put in execution will breede sutche store of Marryners that when so euer the noble Nauie of Englande shal bee sette to the Seas for the safegarde of this lande there shal be no wante of Marriners to serue in the same where as now they be both scant and harde to be founde Looke backe into Hollande where practize is vsed and see what store is there ¶ You appoynte ten thousande Laste of Herrynges to be solde in Fraunce How can that be so long as the Flemmynges the French men and other Nations doe fishe who hath all readie wonne the credite of their Fishe They shall sell when wee can not Then where shall the fishe taken by vs bee vttered THere is no doubt but there wil bee tenne thousande Laste of Heringes to spare this Realme beyng serued if these fowre hundreth fishing shippes with these fishermen be appointed to the Seas for they will take their place to fishe within the Queenes Maiesties Seas And so shall serue both England and Fraunce plentifully and also better cheape then the Flemminges are able to doe And the Herrynges Codde and Newlandefishe beyng vsed in sutche sorte as the Flemminges doeth will be of as greate estimacion as thers be and maie yearely bee
solde and vttered in Fraunce as at Deepe that serues and victualles all Pickardie at Newhauen that serues all base Normandie and at the Toune of Rone that serues all the hie con̄tries of Fraunce for thether cometh yearely three hundreth Lighters called Gabers with Wines of ten hundreth tunne or twelue a Gaber and there beste returne is Fishe and Salte And for the other partes of Fran̄ce at Rochell and Burdeux Also the Marchaunts that trauailes into Spaine Portugale Italy Barbarie and Affrica cariyng Fishe the further South and Southweste that the fishe well vsed is caryed the dearer it is and greatly desired Wherefore lette all men fishe that will of what couutrey so euer for there is fishe plentie in these Northren Seas for them all if there were a thousande saile of fishyng Shippes moe then there is And the Englishe nation shall and maie wearie them out for their trauaile and labour where they shall fishe is not farre their Portes Harbours and Roades bee at hande their shippes coste the Fisher men nothing Therefore the Englishe menne shall better bee able to sell good cheape then any other Nation by meanes wherof they shall sell when others can not And so the Flemminges beyng put from vttering their Herringes in Fraunce shal bee driuen to leaue their greate Shippes and to fishe in smaller Uesselles neare the shore to serue their owne turnes as hetherto they haue caused vs to dooe for feare of them and euery tempest triumphyng at our folly for not takyng this greate benefite and blessyng of God powred into our laps ¶ Howe doe you knowe that nine or ten thousande Laste of Herrynges will serue all Englande And when warres shall happen betwene Fraunce and Englande where shall we sell the rest of our Herrynges and other fishe The Flemmynges beyng prouided for by their owne people BY estemacion fiue thousande Laste of Herrynges doeth serue London out of which portion all the Shires aboute London are serued And by the like estemacion fiue thousande laste more will serue all England And if warres should happen betwene Fraunce and Englande then the Italianes Spaniardes Flemmynges and other Nations doeth bryng into Englande all sortes of Frenche commodities as Wines Woades Lockromes and Canuas of all sortes These Marchaunts will daiely looke for profite and in tyme of warres nothing doeth passe with lesse daunger soner is vented and made readie money then these Herrynges Codde Lyng and Newlandfish So there is no doubt of vtterance for fishe either in warres or in peace Let experience of other Countries serue for this whollie And I thinke it good to let you vnderstande how Herrynges were solde in Fraunce Anno. 1577. The beste Flemmishe Herrynges were solde for fower and twentie pounde tenne shillynges the Laste Yarmouth Herringes who of late doeth vse and order their Herynges as the Flemmings doeth were solde for twentie pounde twelue shillinges the Laste Irishe Herringes for eightene pounde the Laste Coaste Herringes and Scottishe Herrynges for a leuen pounde the Laste These defferences be in Heringes whiche beyng vsed as is set doune in this Platte will bee in all places with in a little tyme equall in goodnesse with the Flemmishe Herringes ¶ In what order doeth the Flemminges the Frenchmen and others fishe for Herrynges Codde and Newlandefishe FIrst beholde this Sea Plat or proportiture here set doune shewing how the same Straungers doe fishe in their great Shippes vpon the Englishe coaste And how our Englishe men for feare of them and euery tempest as aforesaied doe fishe in small Uesselles neare the shore THe Flemminges sets out of Flanders Hollande and Sealande yearely at Bartholmewtide fower or fiue hundreth Busses to fishe for Heringes vppon the East coaste of Englande where before they fishe they aske leaue at Scarbrough as euer more they haue doen with which honor and no profite this Realme and Subiectes hath hetherto beene vainely fedde And amongest theim this is the order one man prouides the Shippe an other victualls and Salte the thirde Caske the fowerth Nets And when the shippes comes home deuides the Fishe There goeth out of Fraunce commonly fiue hundreth saile of shippes yearely in Marche to Newefoundlande to fishe for Newlande fishe and comes home againe in August Amongest many of theim this is the order tenne or twelue Marryners doeth conferre with a Money man who furnisheth them with money to buy Shippes Uictualls Salte Lines and Hookes to be paied his money at the shippes returne either in fishe or in money with fiue and thirtie pounde vpon the hundreth pounde in money lent Likewise here in Englande in the West countrey the like order is vsed the fishermen conferres with the money man who furnisheth them with money to prouide victualls salte all other needefull thinges to be paied twentie fiue pounde at the shippes returne vpon the hundreth pound in money lent And some of the same money men doth borowe money vpon ten pounde in the hundreth pounde and puts it forthe in this order to the Fishermen And for to be assured of the money ventered they will haue it assured geuyng sixe pounde for the assuring of euery hundreth pound to hym that abides the venture of the Shippes returne as thus A shippe of Excester is gone to the Warde house to fishe for Codd and Lyng the venture of the Shippe Salte and Uictualls is three hundreth pounde for eightene pound all is assured So that if the ship neuer returne yet the money man gaineth declaro fortie and eight pon̄d and his principall againe So by these reasons there seameth greate good to bee doen by fishyng when other men beyng at such charges doe proue riche by vsing this trade Shall not the Englishe nacion that thus shall fishe the greatest charges cut of bee more able to sell good cheape then any others maie and so wearie thē out as aforesaied ¶ You saie that muche golde goeth forthe of this lande for Wynes and other Frenche commodities I praie you to what value in the yeare doth the Wynes of Fraunce brought into England amounte vnto And what seuerall sortes of Englishe wares bee solde in Fraunce to buy the same I doe esteeme to come into Englande euery yeare ten thousande Tunne of Gascoine and Rochell Wines which at twentie Crounes the Tunne amounteth in Englishe paymente to threescore thousande pounde The flete that goeth from London to Burdeux carieth commonly victualls Ballace and some Cloth for the money is alwaies made ouer by exchaunge out of London out of Flaūders and out of Spaine And the ships that goeth frō other places of this Realme as from Bristowe Wales Westchester Newcastle Hull and elswhere to the Uintage caryeth contrary to the law Lether Calueskins Butter and Tallowe with readie golde as they maie prouide it all the whole yeare before At Rone in Fraūce which is the chefest vent be solde our Englishe wares as Welche and Manchester Cottons Northerne Carseis Whites Leade and Tinne Whiche money is commonly imployed in Normandie and Brittaine
in all sortes of Canuasses with other small wares in Lockromes Uiterie and Dowlasse Pouldauis Olyraunce and Myndernex parte for readie money parte for commoditie And Woades is commonly lodē at Burdeux and vttered there to our Natiō and others for money and Clothe or els not These sortes of wares bought in Fraunce besides the Wines amounts by estimacion to sixe tymes so muche as all the Englishe wares bee solde for in Fraunce euery yeare And for a truthe this trade of fishyng is the best and of lightest coste that can bee founde to counteruaile the valewes of the Frenche commodities Experience doeth shewe the same by the Flemminges Who with their greene fishe barreled Cod and Heringes caryeth out of Englande for the same yearely both golde and siluer and other comodities and at the leaste tenne thousande tunne of dubble dubble Beare and hath also all kinde of Frenche commodities continually both in tyme of warres and peace by their trade onely of fishyng Thus the greate summes of golde that is caried yerely out of this lande to the vintage as appeareth by this Plat following will staie And the Wines neuerthelesse and other frenche waires of all sortes wil be had and obteyned for Herrynges and fishe ¶ When you put your fishyng Platte into the Parliament house what did you conseaue by the speache of suche Burgesses as you conferred with of the same IN the eightene yeare of the Queenes Maiesties raigne fiue or sixe daies before the Parliamēt house brake vp I hadde the Burgesses almoste of all the stately Porte tounes of Englande and Wales at a Dynner with mee at Westminster emongest whom the substaunce of my Platte was red and of euery man well lyked so that some were desirous to haue a Lopie of the same and saied that they would of their owne coste and charges set so many Shippes to the Sea as was to their tounes appointed without the assistaunce of any other Of the like minde were the Burgesses of Rye and some saied it were good to leuye a subsidie of twoo shillynges lande and sixteene pence goods for the makyng of these fishyng Shippes Of whiche minde the speaker maister Bell was saying a Parliament hath beene called for a lesse cause other some saied it were good to giue a subsidie for this purpose to shippe these kinde of people in this sorte for if they should neuer retourne and so auoided the land were happie for it is but riddaunce of a nomber of idle and euill disposed people But these men that so doth thinke wil bee of an other minde with in two yeares nexte after this Platte take effecte as when they shall see by this occacion onely such a nomber of Larpenters and Shipwrightes set on worke suche a nomber of Cowpers imployed suche nombers of people makyng Lynes Ropes and Cables dressors of Hempe spinners of threede and makers of Nets so many Salte houses set vp to make salte and salte vpon salte And what a nomber of Marryners is made of poore men and what a nomber of poore people is set on woorke in those Shires all along vpon the Sea coaste in Englande and Wales in splettyng of fishe washyng of fishe packyng of fishe salting of fishe caryng and recaring of fishe and seruing all the countries in England with fishe And to serue all those occupacions aforesaied there must depende an infinite nomber of seruaunts boyes and daie laborers for the vse of thinges needefull And with all to remember how that aboute Englande and Wales there is established in fower score Hauen tounes fiue fishyng Shippes to euery toune to continue for euer whiche will breede plentie of fishe in euery Market and that will make fleshe good cheape And that by the onely helpe of God and these fishermen there shal be established within Englande and Wales to two hundreth fiue and twentie decaied tounes a stocke of two hundreth pounde to euery decaied toune whiche shall continue for euer to set the poore people on worke And to conclude I doe carie that minde that with in fewe yeares there will bee of these fishyng tounes of suche wealth that they will cast Ditches aboute their Tounes and walle the same defensiue against the Enemie to garde them their wealthe in more saiftie What Englishe man is he thinke you that will not reioyce to see these things come to passe And for my parte I perceiue nothing but good successe is like to come of this Platte To further thesame I gaue a Copie hereof to my Lorde of Leicester sixe yeares paste one other copie to the Queenes Maiestie fower yeares paste Also to sundrie of her Maiesties priuie Councell certaine copies And in the ende of the laste Parliament holden in the saied eightene yeare of her Maiesties Raigne I gaue twelue Copies to Councellors of the lawe and other men of greate credite hopyng that God would stirre vppe some good man to set out this woorke whiche the Author beyng a Soldiour trained vp in the warres and not in scholles with greate charges and trauaile of mynde for his countrie sake hath deuised and laied as a foundacion for them that hath iudgement to buylde vppon Amongest whome Maister Leonerd Digges a proper Gentilman and a wise had one Copie who being a Burgesse of the house tooke occasion there vppon to desire licence to speake his mynd concerning this Plat saieyng he spake for the common wealthe of all England and for no priuate cause He by report did so worthely frame his speach for the common weale of his countrye that he hath gained thereby bothe fame and greate good likyng of all the hearers and so concluded desiryng that this deuice might be red whiche for want of tyme was deferred vntill their next assembly in Parliamēt FINIS THE FIRST TABLE THE SECOND TABLE THE THIRD TABLE THE FOVRTH TABLE The order of borowyng lxxx thousande pound for three yeres not chargyng aboue xl persones in any one Shire to lende fiftie li. a man of the lordes Bushops Knightes Gentlemen Merchauntes and other riche men Spirituall and temporall in these Shires folowyng accomptyng London for a shire all Southwales for a shire and all North wales for a shire And for that it is for the commō weale the twoo Parliament Knightes and twoo Iustices of the peace of euery Shire to name the parties in euery their Shires that shall lende the maney and appoint one sufficiēt man of good credite in euery shire to collect the same money and then to deliuer it to the chéef officers of euery the eight principall Port tounes in the next Table The cheef officers of euery of these eight principal Port tounes herevnder writtē shall giue the seale of euery Port toune for the assurance of euery seuerall sonnne borowed to be repaied againe within iif yeres at twoo paintentes And with the saeid money to them deliuered shall prouide I. fishyng ships redy furnished to the sea accordyng to the true meanyng hereof And deliuer them to the hauen tounes in