ALbeit the Kynges Subiectes nowe hauyng a more perfite and clere light of the Gospel and true word of God through the infinite clemencte and mercie of almyghtie God by the handes of the Kynges maiestie and hys moste noble father of famous memorie promulgate , shewed , declared and opened , and therby perceyuing that one day or one kinde of meate of it selfe is not more holye , more pure or more cleane then an other , for that all daies and all meates be of theyr nature of one equall puritie , cleanes and holynes , and that all men shoulde by them lyue to the glorie of God , and at all tymes , and for all meetes geue thankes vnto him , of which meates none can defyle Christen menne or make them vncleane at any tyme , to whome all meates be lawfull and pure , so that they be not vsed in disobedience or vice : yet for asmuche as diuerse of the Kynges su●iectes turnyng theyr knowledge therin to satis●ie theyr sensualitie , wher they should therby increase in vertue , haue of late tyme , more then in tymes paste , broken and contemned suche absti●ence , whych hath ben vsed in thys realme vpon the frydayes and saturdaies , the ymbring dayes and other dayes commonly called vigilles , and in the tyme commonly called Lente and other accustumed tymes : The Kynges maiestie considering that due and godly abstinence is a meane to vertue and to subdue mennes bodyes to theyr soule and spirite , and considering also specially that Fishers , and men vsynge the trade of liuyng by fyshing in the Sea , maye therby the rather be sette on worke , and that by eatyng of fyshe , muche fleshe shall be saued and increased , and also for diuetse other considerations and commodities of thys Realme , doth ordeigne and enacte wyth thassent of the Lordes Spiritual and Temporall & commons in this present parliament assembled , and by thaucthoritie of the same , that al maner of Statutes , Lawes , constitucions and vsages , concernyng any maner of fasting or abstinence from any kynd of meates heretofore in this Realme made or vsed , shall frome the fyrst day of Maye nexte ensuing , lese theyr force and strength , & be voyde & of none effec● . And also that no person or persons of what estate , degre or condicion he or she be , shall at any tyme after the sayde fyrste daye of May in the yere of our Lord God . M.D.xlix . wyllinglie & wyttingly eate any maner of fleshe , after what maner of kynd or sort it shal be ordred , dressed or vsed , vpon any Frydaye , or Saturdaye , or the ymbryng dayes or in any daye in the tyme commonly called Lent , nor at any suche other daie as is , or shal be at any tyme here after commonly accepted , & reputed as a fyshe daie within this Realme of England , wherin it hath ben commonly vsed for to eate fyshe & not fleshe , vpon payne that euery person eatyng any maner of fleshe vpon any of the sayd dates or times prohibited by this acte , to forsayte for the sawe fyrste offence ten shyllynges of lawful money of England , and also to suffre enprisonment by the space of ten dayes , and duryng the tyme of his or her sayde emprisonment , to abstayne frome eatyng of any maner of fleshe .

AND if any person after he shall be lawfully conuict of any offence contrary to this acte , do efesones offende contrarye to this acte , and be therof lawfully conuict , that then euery person so offending the seconde tyme , shall for hys seconde offence forfayte twenty shyllynges of lawfull money of Englande , and also suffer emprisonment by the space of twentie dayes , and duryng the tyme of hys or hir sayde emprisonment , to abstayne frome eatyng of any m●●er of fleshe , and so lyke payne and emprisonment as often as he or she afterwarde shall offende .

AND furthermore , it is ordeyned and enacted by thaucthoritie aforesayd , that Iustices of gaole de liuerie or Iustices of peace , in all and singuler Counties , Cyties , Townes corporate , and other places within this Realme of England and other the Kinges dominions , shal haue ful power and aucthoritie to inquyre , heare , and determine , all and all maner offences that shal be committed or done , contrarie to this acte , in lyke maner and fourme as they maye inquire , heare , & determine any trespas or other offence agaynst the Kynges peace committed or done within the limites or place where they then shal be Iustices of gaole deliuerie or Iustices of peace : And the moytie of euery suche forfeyture shal be to our Souereigne Lord the Kyng , his heyres and successoures , and shal be extreated into the courte of the Excheker , in lyke maner and fourme as fynes for any trespas or other offence committed against the Kynges peace ought or should be extreated : And thother moytie of the sayde forfeyture , shal be to hym that wyll sue for the same , by byll , playnte , information or otherwyse in any of the Kynges courtes of Recorde , in whiche no essoyne , protection or wager of lawe shal be allowed .

PROVIDED alwayes , and be it ordeigned & enacted by thaucthoritie aforesayde , that this acte or any thyng therin conteyned shall not in any wise extend to any person or persons that heretofore hath or hereafter shall haue obteyned any licence of our souereygne Lord the Kyng , his heyres or successors , nor to any person being in greate age , & in debilitie , and weakenes therby , nor to any person being sicke or notably hurte , wythout fraude or couine , duryng the tymne of his or her saide syckenes , nor to any woman being with chylde , or liynge in chyldebed for eatyng of suche one kynde of fleshe as she shall haue greate lust vnto , nor to any person beyng in pryson for any other offence then for any offence contrarie to this acte , neyther to any that is or hereafter shal be the Kynges hyghnes Lieftenaunt , deputie or Capitayne of any hys maiesties armie , holde , or fortresse , but the same them selues maye eate fleshe , and lycence and permit theyr Souldiers to do the same in tymes prohibited , vpon the wante and lacke of other kynd of vitall , neyther shall extende to sainct Laurence euen , sainct Markes daye or any other day or euen being abrogat , neither to any suche as heretofore haue obteyned any lycence in due forme of the Archebyshop of Cantorburie .

AND further be it enacted , by thaucthoritie aforesayd that all Archebyshops , Byshops , Archedeacons and their officers , or thofficers of any of them , shall haue power to inquire of thoffenders in the premisses , and presente the same to suche from time to time , as by vertue of thys acte haue aucthoritie to heare and determine the same .

PROVIDED alwayes and be it enacted , that no maner of person or persons be empeached , molested or troubled , or shall incurre any peyne , penaltie or forfeyture for any offence contrarie to the acte before rehearsed , committed or done , except he or they be accused , conuented or indited of & for the sayd offence according to the tenor of this Satute with in thre monethes next after the committing of the sayd offence .