ACcording to an Order of this Honourable Court of the 23 of December last past ; We whose Names are subscribed Committees thereby appointed to consider of the Matters contained in the Petition of divers poor Women , in , and about this City , ( especially in the Parishes of St. Botolph's Bishops-gate and Aldgate ) Selling of Fish , for Liberty and Protection to continue their said Imployment , and means of Livelihood , free from Disturbance , and Actions at Law , which have lately been prosecuted against them , to their great Vexation and Impoverishment ; Do humbly certifie , that having for our better Information called to our Assistance , our Deputies , and the Common Council-Men of the Wards of Portsoaken , and Bishops-gate ; And having had also before us some of the Company of Fishmongers , as also the Fisher-Men , who serve the Markets of this City with Fish , and also the Petitioners ; and having heard them touching the said Petitioners Complaints ; We do find , that the Prosecutions and Trouble occasioned to the Petitioners , have been by the Direction and Order of the Trading Fishmongers , ( as they themselves confessed ) upon the pretence of the Petitioners Ingrossing , and unlawful obtaining into their Hands , the Fish brought for the use of this City , when in truth their real meaning thereby , is to weary out , and utterly to discourage the said Petitioners from following their Imployments ; that thereby they may wholly get the Trade into their own Hands , and Sell their Fish at unreasonable and excessive Rates , and Prises , to the abuse of His Majesties Subjects ; For to Us it is made out , that the Fishmongers themselves , as to the Ingrossing of that Victual , and Forestalling of the Market ; ( not to excuse the Petitioners , who are also gross Offenders , ) are as faulty , as the Petitioners , they , either by themselves , or their Servants going in the Night time to Billings-gate , and sometimes down the River , to Buy up the Fish there brought , or intended to be brought , not at all observing the Hours for opening and beginning the Market ; so that by , and many times before these Hours , the Fish are wholly bought up by the Fishmongers ; and the Petitioners , and many Citizens , who would otherwise supply themselves at the first Hand , are herein disappointed . That it doth appear to us , it hath been heretofore allowed to certain Women , being the Wives and Widows of Free-Men , and other Antient Dwellers within this City , and Liberties , to Buy up the middle and worser sort of Fish , such as were left , and refused by the Fishmongers ; provided the same were siseable and wholsom , and to utter , and put to Sale the same again within this City , and Liberties , for the Benefit and Relief of the Poor ; And ( as the Fishermen do aver ) unless some such be continued , they cannot possibly utter the great quantities of Fish they bring to this City , but must be forced to throw away a great part thereof , to their great discouragement and loss ; the middle and worser sort of Fish , ( although siseable ) being the greatest part of what they bring to the Markets of this City . But we do also find that this Liberty of late years has been abused ; for that a great number and sort of disorderly , and lewd Women , and Maids , fitter for more Painful and Laborious Service , appropriating to themselves the Benefit of this allowance ; do take upon them to Sell , and carry Fish up and down the Streets , and Liberties of this City ; and under that pretence , do practice many wicked and unlawful things ; And many of the Petitioners themselves do take upon them to keep Maid-Servants , and Apprentices to assist them in their Imployments , which they ought not to do .

NOW to Redress these , and many other Disorders and Abuses of the like nature , We humb●●●ffer it as our Opinions :

I. That as to the Hours for beginning the Market at Billings-gate ; the same from henceforth be from Lady-Day to Michaelmas , from Four of the Clock in the Morning ; and from Michaelmas , to Lady-Day , from Five of the Clock in the Morning ; and that before those Hours , no person or persons shall presume to Buy or Sell any sorts of Fish at the said Market , excepting Herrings , Sprats , Maycril , and Shell-Fish , upon pain to be proceeded against as Forestallers of the Markets ; And that a Bell be hung up at Billings-gate as formerly , to be Rung at those Hours , for direction of the People therein .

II . That for One Hour , to be accounted from the first opening of that Market , the Women which shall be Licensed , Allowed , and Appointed to Sell , and Cry Fish within this City , shall not be permitted or allowed to Buy any of the Fish brought to the said Market , except Herrings , Sprats , Maycril , and Shell-fish in their several Seasons ; to the end that the Fishmongers , and such Citizens , and other Inhabitants as will , may in that time supply themselves with such quantities as they shall have occasion for ; But that from , and after that Hour , ( which shall be made known by the Ringing of the Market-Bell a second time , ) It shall be lawful for the said Women to Buy off what shall be left by the Fishmongers , ( provided the same be wholsom and siseable , ) such quantities as by the Act or 〈◇〉 - Council after-mentioned , is permitted and allowed unto them .

III . That an Act of Common-Council of the 6th of March One Thousand Six Hundred and Eleven , in the Ninth Year of the Raign of Our Late Soveraign Lord King JAMES ; PEMBERTON MAYOR , made for Regulation and Ordering of such as should be admitted to Sell and Cry Fish , and other Victuals within this City , be in all the Articles and Points thereof from and after the First of March next , observed and put in Execution ; Except

First , That as to the Hours therein mentioned , for the beginning the said Market ; That the same be as before are appointed . And

Secondly , That whereas that Act Declares , that such Women as shall be allowed to S , and Cry Fish , and other Victuals within this City , shall be admitted and appointed by the Alderman , Deputy , ●nd Common Council-Men of every such Ward wherein they are allowed ; That now besides such admittance , They , if Free-Mens Widows , and the Husbands of such as be Married , be also Licensed by Three Justices of the Peace of this City , according to the Statute 5. Edw . 6. Cap. 14.

IV . That such Women as shall be Licensed , Admitted , and allowed , as aforesaid ; and do not cry Fish up and down the Streets of th●s City ; shall on the Market-days for Fish , Sit , and be placed in the Market-places , at the lower end of the Markets , with their Badges on , to distinguish them ; that so at all times the Fisher-Men , their Wives , and Servants , who bring Fish to serve the Markets of this City , may be placed , and have the preheminence of them in the said Markets . And further , that on the said Market-days for Fish , ( viz. ) Wednesdays and Fridays ; the said Women shall not presume to Stand , Abide , or Remain in any place or Street of this City , and Liberties , to Sell , Utter , and put to Sale , their Fish . But that on other days they shall be Allowed and Permitted to Stand , Remain , and Abide for Sale of their Fish , in such places of the several Wards for which they are Allowed , as shall be assigned them by the Alderman , Deputy , and the Common-Council-Men of the said Ward .

V. That at all times hereafter , the Persons to be Admitted , Licensed , and Appointed , as aforesaid , shall Sell , Utter , and put to Sale no other than such sorts of Fish , as shall be wholsome and siseable , upon pain that the party who shall be found to offend herein , shall not only Forfeit such Fish so exposed and offered to Sale ; but shall have His or Her Badge taken away , and her License from thenceforth to be utterly void , and He or She for ever afterwards made uncapable of following such Imployment , as was granted and permitted unto Him or Her by the said Licence .

VI . That the persons to be Admitted , Licensed , and appointed , as aforesaid , shall from time to time , and at all times hereafter , Sell , and offer to Sale their Fish , at reasonable and moderate Rates and Prizes , and not by agreement among themselves , or otherwise , presume or offer to Enhance 〈◇〉 , or Sell at unjust and excessive Rates their said Fish , upon pain to Forfeit such Fish , and to undergo such other Punishment as the nature of the offence shall deserve .

VII . And lastly , That all and every the Officers Enjoined and Required in , and by the said Act of Common-Council , to see to the Observance and due Execution thereof ; shall also take like care to see that all and every the particulars before-mentioned ( which are not included in the said Act , ) be also duly observed , performed , and effectually executed .

All which nevertheless , We humbly submit to the further consideration of this Honourable Court .