An English Garner: Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (4 of 8)
History
An English Garner: Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (4 of 8)
English literature
The which they do transport unto the foresaid countries; and return
for the procedue [_proceeds_] of fish and herrings, the forenamed
commodities: whereby their ships and mariners are set on work, and
continually multiplied; and into their countries is plentiful store of
money and gold daily brought, only [_solely_] for the sales of fish and
herrings.
And their country being, as it were, a small plot of ground in
comparison of Great Britain; for two of His Majesty's counties, Suffolk
and Norfolk, do equal, if not exceed, in spaciousness, all their
Provinces: and yet it is manifest, that for shipping and seafaring men,
all England, Scotland, France, and Spain, for quantity of shipping and
fishermen, cannot make so great a number.
Howsoever this may seem strange unto many that do not know it; yet do
I assure myself, that a great number besides myself, know I affirm
nothing herein but the truth. Wherefore seeing the great benefit
that this business by the Busses, bonadventures, or fisherships;
by erecting of this profitable and new trade, which will bring
plenty unto His Majesty's Kingdoms and be for the general good of
the Common wealth; in setting of many thousands of poor people on
work, which now know not how to live; and also for the increasing
of ships and fishermen, which shall be employed about the taking of
fish and herrings out of His Majesty's own streams; and also for the
employing of ships, and increasing of mariners for the strengthening
of the Kingdom against all foreign invasions; and for the enriching
of Merchants with transportation of fish and herrings into other
countries; and also for the bringing in of gold and money: which now is
grown but scarce, by reason that the Dutch and Hollanders have so long
time been suffered to carry away our money and best gold for fish and
herrings taken out of His Majesty's own streams; which His Majesty's
own subjects do want and still are like[ly] to do, if that they be not
forbidden for bringing us fish and herrings; and this worthy common
wealth's business of Busses fostered and furthered by His Majesty's
honourable Council, and the worshipful and wealthy subjects; by putting
to their helping Adventures now at the first, for that those that be
now the fishermen, of themselves be not able to begin.
Those poor boats and sorry nets that our fishermen of England now
have, are all their chiefest wealth; but were their ability better,
they would soon be employing themselves: for that it is certain that
all the fishermen of England do rejoice now at the very name and news
of building of Busses, with a most joyful applaud, praying to GOD to
further it! for what great profit and pleasure it will bring they do
well understand, and I will hereafter declare.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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