WHereas divers good Laws and Statutes have heretofore with great care and providence beén made and enacted for the due Observation of Lent , and other days appointed for Fish-days , as well for the sparing and increase of Flesh-victuals , as for the maintenance of the Navy and Shipping of this Realm , by the encouragement of Fishermen to go to the Seas for the taking of Fish ; which Laws and Politick Constitutions have heretofore beén quickned by sundry Proclamations , and other Acts and Ordinances of State in the times of Our Royal Predecessors . And whereas notwithstanding so many good Provisions heretofore had and made in that kinde , all sorts of people have for many years last past taken upon them such a Liberty to Kill , Dress , and Eat Flesh in the Lent season , and on other days and times prohibited , as now it is become so inveterate an evil , that it will require more then ordinary care to redress the same .

And taking notice of a Proclamation heretofore published in the time of Our Royal Father of ever blessed memory , for the restraining of Killing , Dress'ing , and Eating of Flesh in the time of Lent , and other days and times prohibited by the Laws , to the end that the same may now again be revived and quickned for the prevention of so great and growing a mischief and inconvenience as may happen to Our whole Kingdome , if so great a liberty should be permittted to kill , dress , and utter Flesh in the Lent-season , and on other dayes and times prohibited by Law , as of late yeares there hath been .

We therefore much affecting the Reformation of so great and growing an Evil , which is so great an Enemy to the Plenty of this Our Kingdome , have thought fit thus timely ( the better to take away all pretences of excuse ) to express Our Self and our Royal Commandment in this behalf , whereof We shall expect , and doe require from all Our loving Subjects , that due notice be taken , and that a strict conformity be yielded thereunto .

And for avoyding of Inconvenienties hereafter , Our will and pleasure is , That the Lord Mayor of our City of London , and the Iustices of Peace of Our City of Westminster and the Liberties thereof , shall yearly before Lent , or at the beginning thereof , cause all Inholders , Keepers of Ordinary Tables , Cooks , Butchers , Victuallers , Alehouse-keepers , and Taverners , within the said Cities and Liberties thereof , to appeare before them , And shall take Recognizances with two sufficient Sureties of every of them ( viz. ) the Principal in Forty pounds , and their Sureties in Twenty pounds apiece to Our use , That the Butchers shall kill no Flesh , and that the other persons before-mentioned shall not dress , nor suffer any Flesh to be eaten in their houses in the Lent time , or at any time prohibited , contrary to Law .

And to the end that Fishermen may employ themselves at Sea with better encouragement then heretofore , and that the Fishmongers may furnish themselves with such store from time to time hereafter as shall be expedient as well for the provision of the City , as for selling the same at reasonable rates , We will that they take notice of this Our Commandment and constant Resolution for observance of Lent and Fish-dayes , both now and hereafter , as by Law is required .

And furthermore , as We think it fit that every man should be a rule of order and abstinence in his own house , as well in respect of the publick , as of his private ease and benefit , so We streightly charge and command all Inholders , keepers of Ordinary Tables , Victuallers , Cooks , Alehouse-keepers , and Taverners , not to make any supper for any person or persons whatsoever upon Friday nights , either in Lent or out of Lent , nor suffer any meat to be then dressed , uttered , sold , or eaten in their houses , upon pain of such punishment as is due to those that shall contemn Our Royall Pleasure and Commandment , and as by due course of the Laws may be inflicted .

And forasmuch as upon further advice and consideration had of this Inconvenience , which too much liberty hath occasioned , We conceive that the restraint of killing and dressing of Flesh is no sufficient remedy alone for these Mischiefs , unless there be better care also taken to suppress the unlawful and inordinate eating of Flesh in the time of Lent , and on other dayes and times prohibited , wherewith Our Subjects have for severall years past accustomed themselves , rather for Delicacy then for Necessity . It is therefore Our Royal will and pleasure , and accordingly We do hereby streightly prohibit and forbid all Our subjects , of what degree or quality soever within this Realm , to eat any manner of Flesh in the time of Lent , or on other dayes now usually observed as Fish-dayes , without a special Licence first obtained from the Bishop of the Diocess , or such other as by the Law have power to give Licence in that behalf , according to Our Lawes in that case provided , which We will and command shall be sparingly granted .

And as these Orders are to be executed in Our Cities of London and Westminster , and the places near to the same , so it is our express pleasure and commandment , That Our Iustices of Peace in all Shires within their Rule , and all other Majors , Bailiffs , and chief Officers in Towns Corporate , or in any Liberties within their Precincts , shall cause the same to be observed and performed in like manner . Further charging and commanding the Lord Major of our City of London , the Iustices of Assize in their several Circuits , the Majors and chief Officers of all other Cities and Towns Corporate , Iustices of Peace , Lords of Liberties , and all other Officers and Ministers within the several Counties of this Our Realm , that they and every of them fully obey this Our pleasure , and cause the same to be obeyed and executed by others , as they will answer the contrary at their utmost perils .

And for the due execution of the Premisses in all other the Counties of this Our Realm , as well as in Our Cities of London and Westminster , We do hereby streightly charge and command all Our Iustices of Peace within the same Counties , as well within Liberties as without , That yearly and every year hereafter before Lent , they cause to come and appear before them , all keepers of Ordinary-tables , Inholders , Cooks , Taverners , Alehouse-keepers , Butchers , and other Victuallers whatsoever , and to require and take of them to Our use several Recognizances with Sureties for the observation of the Premisses ( viz. ) the Principals in Ten pounds , and their two Sureties in Five pounds apiece : And if they shall refuse or neglect to enter into such Recognizances , then the said Iustices shall suppress such Persons so refusing from Victualling any more , and shall also cause them forthwith to become bound by Recognizance with Sureties to Our use ( viz. ) the Principals in Twenty pounds , and their two Sureties in Ten pounds apiece , not to Victual , or sell Beer or Ale from henceforth ; which if they shall refuse to do , then the said Iustices to commit to Prison all such Persons so refusing to enter into such Recognizances , until they shall submit themselves , and become bound as aforesaid . And further , all such keepers of Ordinary-Tables , Inholders , Cooks , Taberners , Alehouse-keepers , Butchers , and other Victuallers , as shall not appear before the said Iustices as aforesaid , That they may immediately send forth their Warrants , or grant Process against them and every of them so making default , to appear and answer their contempt at the next General Sessions of the Peace .

And further , for the more due punishment of Inholders , Keepers of Ordinary-tables , Cooks , Butchers , Victuallers , Alehouse-keepers , Taverners and such like , who shall forfeit their Recognizances , by Killing , Dressing of Flesh , or suffering it to be eaten in their houses in the Lent-time and other Fish-dayes ; And to the end that the same may be as well taken in due form of Law , as duely certified into Our Exchequer : We do will and require all Iustices of Peace , as well within Liberties as without , That at such times as they shall meet within their several Divisions for the taking of such Recognizances , that they give notice to the Clerks of the Peace or their Deputies , to attend them for that purpose , Of whom We will require a strict Accompt for the Legal taking and returning of the same Recognizances into Our said Exchequer .

And because these Directions are for the better observation of Order and due keeping of the Lent , according to our Laws , which Our Ministers and Officers are to see executed of Office , without making the same grievous unto Our People , by taking of excessive Fees for their entring into Recognizances to observe these Orders : We therefore streightly charge and command , That no Town-Clerk , Clerk of the Peace , nor other Officer , shall or do presume to demand or take any Fee or reward above the Summ of Twelve pence , although more hath been heretofore limited to be taken by the Town-Clerks , and Clerks of the Peace of the several Counties , for taking and certifying any such Recognizances , nor shall give any Fee or Reward for returning the same into Our Exchequer .

And Lastly , for that the Fishmongers ( upon the observation of the aforesaid Orders ) may perhaps take occasion thereby to inhaunce the prices as well of Fresh as Sea-fish ; We do therefore hereby further charge and command all Fishmongers whatsoever , That they Sell and utter their Fish at moderate and usual Rates and Prices . And that all Iustices of Peace , Mayors , Bayliffs , and other Officers , as well within Liberties as without , to whom it shall appertain , shall from time to time take such Order with the said Fishmongers , that Our Subjects be not grieved by any such Inhauncement or increase of Prices upon Fish , upon pain of Our high displeasure , and such further punishment as may be inflicted upon them by Our Laws .