England, for all the East Lands [_Baltic Countries_], for the Suffolk
cloths: and they have their factors lying, all the year long, in all
those places where the Hollanders do vent their herrings, and where
the best price and sale is continually. And although that yet there be
no fishermen, yet have they store of seafaring men, and for Masters
for the Busses, they may have enough from Yarmouth and So[uth]w[o]ld
and the sea-coast towns [_villages_] down their river. From Nacton
and Chimton, Holbroke, Shotley, and Cowlness they may get men that
will soon be good fishermen with but little use. For understand
thus much! that there is a kind of emulation in Holland between the
fishermen that go to sea in Pinks and Line-boats, winter and summer;
and those fishermen that go in the Busses. For they in the Pinks make
a scorn of them in the Busses, and do call them _koe-milkens_ or
"cow-milkers": for indeed the most part of them be men of occupations
[_handicraftsmen_] in winter, or else countrymen; and do milk the cows
themselves and make all the Holland cheese, when they be at home.
This place is also most convenient for the erecting of salt-pans, for
the making of "Salt upon Salt." For that the harbour is so good that,
at all times, ships may come unto them with salt from Mayo, or Spanish
salt, to make brine or pickle; and also the Caravels from Newcastle
with coals for the boiling of it at the cheapest rates, at any time may
come thither.
To the north-east of this place, three or four leagues, is Orford
Haven; and in the towns of Orford and Aldborough especially be many
good fishermen. And there are belonging to those towns some forty
or fifty North Sea boats, that yearly go to sea, having seven men a
piece; and ten or twelve Iceland barks, which sometimes get something,
and sometimes little or nothing. If that these men's wealth were in
Busses and nets, and had but once the trade, they would put down
the Hollander! for they be great plyers of any voyage that they do
undertake.
[Sidenote: Dunwich in ancient times hath been the seat of the Kings of
the East Angles, but [is] now all ruined.]
About three leagues to the northward is So[uth]w[o]ld Haven, and in the
towns of So[uth]w[o]ld, Dunwich, and Walderswick be a very good breed
of fishermen; and there are belonging unto those three towns, of North
Sea boats some twenty sail; and of Iceland barks some fifty sail, which
yearly they send for Cod and Ling to Iceland.
[Sidenote: My father lived in this town until he was 98 years of age,
and gave these Composition Ling seventy years unto four Princes, viz.
King EDWARD, Queen MARY, Queen ELIZABETH, and until the sixth year
[1609] of the reign of our most gracious Sovereign. Which cometh to
much more than one thousand pounds, for one man of that town.]
This town of So[uth]w[o]ld, of a sea town, is the most beneficial unto
His Majesty, of all the towns in England; by reason all their trade is
unto Iceland for Ling, and His Majesty's Serjeant Caterer hath yearly
gratis out of every ship and bark, one hundred of the choicest and
fairest Lings, which be worth more than ten pound the hundred; and they
call them "Composition Fish." But these men of this place are greatly
hindered, and in a manner undone, by reason their haven is so bad, and
in a manner often stopped up with beach and shingle stone that the
wind and tide and the sea do beat thither, so that many time, in the
season, when they be ready to go to sea; they cannot get out when time
is to go to sea; neither can they get in when they return from sea,
but oftentimes do cast away their goods and themselves. This haven if
that it had but a south pier built of timber, would be a far better
haven than Yarmouth haven, with one quarter of the cost that hath been
bestowed on Yarmouth haven. They be now suitors unto His Majesty: GOD
grant that they may speed! For it is pitiful, the trouble and damage
that all the men of these three towns do daily sustain by their naughty
[_inadequate_] harbour.
To the northward of So[uth]w[o]ld Haven three leagues, are Kirkley and
Layestof [_Lowestoft_], decayed towns. They have six or seven North Sea
boats: but they of Lowestoft make benefit yearly of buying of herrings
of the Hollanders; for likewise these Hollanders be "hosted" with the
Lowestoft men, as they be with the Yarmouthians.
[Sidenote: In all His Majesty's kingdoms, not any town, comparable unto
it for brave buildings.]
To the northward, two leagues, is the town of Great Yarmouth, very
beautifully built upon a very pleasant and sandy plain of three miles
in length. This town is a place of great resort of all the herring
fishermen of England. For thither do resort all the fishermen of the
Cinque Ports and the rest of the West Country men of England, as far
as Burport [_Bridport_], and Lyme [Regis] in Dorsetshire: and those
herrings that they do take they do not barrel, because their boats be
but small things, but they sell all unto the Yarmouth herring-buyers
for ready money. And also the fishermen of the north countries, beyond
Scarborough and Robin Hood's Bay, and some as far as the Bishopric of
Durham do thither resort yearly, in poor little boats called "Five-Men
Cobbles"; and all the herrings that they do take they do sell fresh
unto the Yarmouth men, to make red herrings.
Also to Yarmouth, do daily come into the haven up to the quay, all or
the most part of the great Fleet of Hollanders, which before I made
relation of, that go in the Sword-Pinks, Holland-Toads, Crab-Skuits,
Walnut-Shells, and great and small Yevers; one hundred and two hundred
sail at one time together, and all their herrings that they do bring
in, they do sell them all, for ready money, to the Yarmouth men.
And also the Frenchmen of Picardy and Normandy, some hundred sail of
them at a time, do come thither; and all the herrings they catch, they
sell fresh unto these Herring-mongers of Yarmouth, for ready money. So
that it amounteth unto a great sum of money, that the Hollanders and
Frenchmen do carry away from Yarmouth yearly into Holland and France:
which money doth never come again into England.
This town is very well governed by wise and civil [_prudent_]
Magistrates, and good orders carefully observed for the maintenance of
their Haven and Corporation. And this town, by reason of the situation,
and the fresh rivers that belong to it, one [_the Wensum_] up to the
city of Norwich; and another [_the Wavency_] that runneth far up into
Suffolk, a butter and cheese country, about Bunga [_Bungay_] and
Betkels [_Beccles_]; and a third [_the Bure_] that runneth far up into
Flegg [_by Aylesham_] a corn country; by reason whereof this town of
Yarmouth is always well served with all kind of provision at good and
cheap rates: whereby they of the town do relieve the strangers, and
also do benefit themselves.
To this town belongeth some twenty Iceland barks, which yearly they
do send for Cod and Ling, and some hundred and fifty sail of North
Sea boats. They make a shift to live; but if that they had the use
of Busses and also barrelled fish, they would excel all England and
Holland. For they be the only fishermen for North seas, and also the
best for the handling of their fish that be in all this land.
The herring buyers of Yarmouth doth profit more than doth the fishermen
of Yarmouth, by reason of the resort of the Hollanders; for that they
are suffered to sell all their roope-sick herrings at Yarmouth to
the Merchants there. And also the barrelled fish that the Flemings
do bring in winter to London, Ipswich, Lynn, and Hull do also gale
[_gaul_] them: but for that [_seeing that_] our fishermen may, if they
please, make barrelled fish themselves; and therefore I will not moan
[_bemoan_] them!
[Sidenote: Yarmouth haven is the only refuge, in distress of weather,
for all the fishermen of the Cinque Ports and all others that do fish
in those seas: and it is built all of timber, against the violence of
the main sea. It is now in great danger to come to ruin; if they have
not help in time.]
The merchant herring buyer of Yarmouth that hath a stock of his own,
so long as he can make his gains so certain with buying of roope-sick
herrings of the Hollanders, will never lay out his money to build or
set forth Busses; and the fishermen be now so poor, by reason that
they only do bear the whole charge of that costly haven, the merchant
herring buyers being not at any charge thereof: but all that great
cost cometh out of the fishermen's labours for the maintenance of that
wooden haven [_pier_], which amounteth to some five hundred pounds
a year, and some years more. So that though they be willing, yet
their ability will not suffer them to do it; neither can they forbear
[_invest_] their money to adventure their herrings into the East
[_Baltic_] Countries, where the best sales always be.
To the northward of Yarmouth eight leagues, are the towns of Blackney
and Wells, good harbours and fit for Busses: and they have good store
of fishermen. And these towns have some twenty Sail of barks that they
do yearly send unto Iceland. But these towns be greatly decayed, to
that they have been in times past: the which places, if that they had
but twenty Busses belonging to them, would soon grow rich towns in
short time.
Then is there [King's] Lynn, a proper gallant town for seafaring men,
and for men for Iceland. This is a rich town, and they have some twenty
Sail of Iceland ships, that they yearly send for Cod and Ling: and I am
in hope to see them fall to the use of Busses as soon as any men.
To the northward is Boston, a proper town; and like unto Holland's
soil, for low ground and sands coming in: but yet there are but few
fishermen; but it is a most fit place for Busses. If that they had but
once the taste of them, they would soon find good liking.
Next to Boston, some twenty leagues to the northward, is the great
river of Humber, wherein there is Hull, a very proper town of sailors
and shipping: but there be but few fishermen. But it is a most
convenient place for to adventure Busses.
There are also Grimsby, Paul, and Patrington. In all these places
now there is great store of poor and idle people, that know not how
to live; and the most of all these places be decayed, and the best
of them all grow worse and worse: which with the use of Busses would
soon grow rich merchant towns, as is in Holland. For to these places
would be transported of the East lands all manner of commodities for
the use of Busses; and houses and work-yards erected for coopers, and
ropemakers, and great numbers of net-makers. And with the recourse of
the ships that shall bring salt and other commodities, and ships that
shall lade away their herrings and fish, these places shall soon become
populous; and money stirring plentifully in these places returned for
the procedue [_proceeds_] of fish and herrings: which places now be
exceeding poor and beggarly.
In all these fisher towns, that I have before named, as Colchester,
Harwich, Orford, Aldborough, Dunwich, Walderswick, So[uth]w[o]ld,
Yarmouth, Blackney, Wells, Lynn, Boston, and Hull--these be all the
chiefest towns; and all that useth the North seas in summer: and all
these towns, it is well known, be ruinated.
[Sidenote: I crave pardon, for that I omit the particular numbers and
total sum; which I could here set down if I were commanded.[7]]
In all these towns I know to be ---- Iceland barks, and ---- North Sea
boats; and all these fishermen having ---- men a piece amounteth to
the sum of ----. But admit that there are in all the West Country of
England of fisherboats, tag and rag, that bringeth home all fresh fish,
which seldom or never useth any salt; say, that they have other ----
men a piece which makes the sum of ---- in all England.
But in all these I have not reckoned the fishermen, mackerel-catchers,
nor the Cobble-men of the north country, which having ---- men a piece,
cometh to ---- men in all England.
But so many in all England, and I have truly showed before, that the
Hollander hath in one fleet of Busses, twenty thousand fishermen;
besides all them that goeth in the Sword-Pinks, Flat-Bottoms,
Crab-Skuits, Walnut-Shells, and Great Yevers, wherein there are not
less than twelve thousand more: and all these are only for to catch
herrings in the North seas. Besides all they that go in the Fly-boats
for Shetland Ling, and the Pinks for barrelled fish, and Trammel-boats:
which cometh unto five thousand more.
So that it is most true, that as they have the sum of ---- fishermen
more than there is in all this land: and by reason of their Busses and
Pinks and fishermen that set their Merchant-ships on work [_a work_];
so have they ---- ships and ---- mariners more than we.
* * * * *
Now in our sum of ---- fishermen; let us see what vent [_sale_] have
we for our fish into other countries? and what commodities and coin
is brought into this kingdom? and what ships are set on work by them,
whereby mariners are bred or employed? Not one! It is pitiful!
For when our fishermen cometh home the first voyage [_i.e., in the
summer_] from the North Seas, they go either to London, Ipswich,
Yarmouth, Lynn, Hull, or Scarborough; and there they do sell, at good
rates, the first voyage. But the second voyage (because that they which
be now the fishermen, have not yet the right use of making of barrelled
fish, wherewith they might serve France, as do the Hollanders) they be
now constrained to sell in England. For that it is staple [_standard_]
fish; and not being barrelled, the French will not buy it.
But if that our fishermen had but once the use of Pinks and Line-boats
and barrelled fish; then they might serve France as well as the
Hollanders: which by this new trade of Busses being once erected, and
Pinks, and Line-boats after the Holland manner; there will be fishermen
enough to manage the Pinks for barrelled fish, from November unto
the beginning of May, only the most part of those men that shall be
maintained by the Busses. For that, when the Busses do leave work, in
the winter, their men shall have employment by the Pinks for barrelled
fish; which men now do little or nothing. For this last winter at
Yarmouth, there were three hundred idle men that could get nothing to
do, living very poor for lack of employment; which most gladly would
have gone to sea in Pinks, if there had been any for them to go in.
[Sidenote: No more English but two ships this year laded there.]
[Sidenote: Note here how the Hollanders employ themselves and their
Ships! First, in taking of the herrings quick [_alive_]; and yet are
not content! but catch them again, after they be dead! and do set both
their ships and mariners on work: and English ships lie up a rotting!]
And whereas I said before, that there was not one ship set on work by
our fishermen: there may be objected against me this. That there doth
every year commonly lade at Yarmouth four or five London ships for the
Straits [_of Gibraltar_], which is sometimes true. And the Yarmouth
men themselves do yearly send two or three ships to Bordeaux, and two
or three boats laden with herrings, to Rouen, or to Nantes, or Saint
Malo: whereby there are returned salt, wines, and Normandy canvas;
whereby the King hath some custom. But there is no _money_ returned
into England for these herrings, which cost the Yarmouthians _ready
gold_, before that they had them of the Hollanders and Frenchmen to
lade these ships: and therefore I may boldly say, Not one!
And this last year now the Hollanders themselves have also gotten
that trade, for there did lade twelve sail of Holland ships with red
herrings at Yarmouth for Civita Vecchia, Leghorn, Genoa, and Marseilles
and Toulon. Most of them being ladened by the English merchants. So
that if this be suffered, the English owners of ships shall have but
small employment for theirs.
* * * * *
Now to show truly, what the whole charge of a Buss will be, with all
her furniture, as masts, sails, anchors, cables, and with all her
fisher's implements and appurtenances, at the first provided all new.
It is a great charge, she being between thirty and forty Last [= _60 to
80 Tons_] and will cost some five hundred pounds [= _about £2,250 in
present value_].
By the grace of GOD, the Ship or Buss will continue twenty years, with
small cost and reparations: but the yearly slite [_fraying_] and wear
of her tackle and war-ropes and nets will cost some eighty pounds.
And the whole charge for the keeping of her at sea for the whole
summer, or three voyages; for the fitting of a hundred Last of caske or
barrels.
[Sidenote: If any will know all the particulars of Weys of Salt, or
Barrels of Beer, or Hundred[weight]s of Biscuits, I will willingly
resolve [_explain to_] him; but here is the whole charge, and with
the most [_at the outside_.]]
100 Last of Barrels £72
For Salt, four months 88
Beer, four months 42
For Bread, four months 21
Bacon and Butter 18
For Pease, four months 3
For Billet, four months 3
For men's wages, four months 88
----
£335
One hundred Last of herrings, filled and sold at £10 the Last, cometh
to one thousand pounds.
Herrings £1000
The whole charge 335
----
Gotten £665
[See full particulars in the later work _Britain's Buss_ in Vol.
III. p. 621.]
Here plainly appeareth that there is gotten £665 in one summer,
whereout if that you do deduct £100 for the wear of the ship and the
reparations of her nets against the next summer; yet still there £565
remaining for clear gains, by one Buss in one year.
[Sidenote: And I have rated the Herrings, but at £10 the Last; which is
with the least. For they be commonly sold by the Hollanders at Dantsic
for £15 and £20 the Last.]
The Hollanders do make [_consider_] the profit of their Busses so
certain, that they do lay out their own children's money, given them by
their deceased friends, in adventuring in the Busses; and also there is
in Holland a Treasury for Orphans opened and laid out in adventuring in
the Busses.
[Sidenote: Ready money; or tallies, which are as Bills of Exchange, to
be paid at first sight.]
The Hollanders do make both a profitable and a pleasant trade of this
summer fishing. For there was one of them that having a gallant great
new Buss of his own, and he having a daughter married unto one that
was his Mate in the Buss: the Owner that was Master of this Buss did
take his wife with him aboard, and his Mate his wife; and so they
did set sail for the North seas, with the two women with them, the
mother and the daughter. Where, having a fair wind, and being fishing
in the North seas, they had soon filled their Buss with herrings;
and a Herring-Yager cometh unto them, and brings them gold and fresh
supplies, and copeth [_bargaineth_] with them, and taketh in their
herrings for ready money, and delivereth them more barrels and salt;
and away goeth the Yager for the first market into Sprucia [_Prussia_].
And still is the Buss fishing at sea, and soon after again was full
laden and boone [_bound_] home: but then another Yager cometh unto him
as did the former, and delivering them more provision of barrels, salt,
and ready money, and bids them farewell. And still the Buss lieth at
sea, with the mother and daughter, so long, and not very long before
they had again all their barrels full; and then they sailed home into
Holland, with the two women, and the buss laden with herrings, and a
thousand pounds of ready money.
If that any man should make question of the truth of this, it will be
very credibly approved by divers of good credit that be now in the city
of London.
Now to show the charge of a Pink of eighteen or twenty Last [= _36
to 40 tons_]. The Pink being built new, and all things new into her,
will not cost £260, with all her lines, hooks, and all her fisher
appurtenances.
And
15 Last of barrels will cost £10
5 Weys of "Salt upon Salt" 15
For Beer and Cask 7
For Bread 3
For Butter 1
For the Petty Tally 1
For men's wages for two months, Master
and all together 20
---
£57
Fifteen Last of barrelled fish at £14 8s. the Last, which is but
twenty-four shillings the barrel, amounteth to £216; whereout if that
you do deduct £57 for the charge of setting her to sea, there is still
resting £159 clear gain by one Pink, with fifteen Last of fish, for two
months.
Wherefore, seeing the profit so plain; and, by the grace of GOD, so
certain; both by the Busses and Line-boats, whereby the Hollanders have
so long gained by: let all noble, worshipful, and wealthy subjects put
to their adventuring and helping hands, for the speedy launching and
floating forward of this great good common wealth business, for the
strengthening of His Majesty's dominions with two principal pillars,
which are, with plenty of coin brought in for Fish and herrings from
other nations, and also for the increasing of mariners against all
common invasions. And also for the bettering of trades and occupations,
and setting of thousands of poor and idle people on work, which now
know not how to live; which by this Trade of Busses shall be employed:
as daily we see is done, before our eyes, by the Hollanders. And, as
always it hath been seen, that those that be now the fishermen of
England have been always found to be sufficient to serve His Majesty's
ships in former time, when there has been employment: which fellows,
by this new trade of building and setting forth of Busses will be
greatly multiplied and increased in this land. Which fellows, as we
see the Hollanders, being well fed in fishing affairs, and strong[er]
and lustier than the sailors that use the long southern voyages that
sometimes are greatly surfeited and hunger-pined: but these courageous,
young, lusty, fed-strong younkers, that shall be bred in the Busses,
when His Majesty shall have occasion for their service in war against
the enemy, will be fellows for the nonce! and will put more strength
to an iron crow at a piece of great ordnance in traversing of a cannon
or culvering, with the direction of the experimented [_experienced_]
Master Gunner, than two or three of the forenamed surfeited sailors.
And in distress of wind-grown sea, and foul winter's weather, for
flying forward to their labour, for pulling in a topsail or a
spritsail, or shaking off a bonnet in a dark night! for wet and cold
cannot make them shrink, nor stain that the North seas and the Busses
and Pinks have dyed in the grain, for such purposes.
And whosoever shall go to sea for Captain to command in martial
affairs, or to take charge for Master in trade of merchandise (as in
times past I have done both) will make choice of these fellows: for I
have seen their resolution in the face of their enemy, when they have
been _legeramenta_ [Italian for _light-hearted_] and frolicsome, and as
forward as about their ordinary labours or business.
[Sidenote: It is not unknown, that last year [1613] there was a general
press along the coast of England, from Hull in Yorkshire unto St.
Michael's Mount in Cornwall, only for sailors to furnish but seven
ships, for the wafting over [_conveying_] of the Count Palantine and
his noble Princess but twenty-eight leagues.]
And when His Majesty shall have occasion and employment for the
furnishing of his Navy, there will be no want of Masters, Pilots,
Commanders, and sufficient directors of a course and keeping of
computation; but now there is a pitiful want of sufficient good men to
do the offices and labours before spoken of. All which, these men of
the Busses and Pinks will worthily supply.
And to the art of sailing they may happily attain. For hitherto it
hath been commonly seen, that those men that have been brought up in
their youth in fishery, have deserved as well as any in the land for
artificial [_scientific_] sailing: for at this time is practised all
the projections of circular and mathematical scales and arithmetical
sailing by divers of the young men of the sea-coast towns, even as
commonly amongst them, as amongst the Thamesers.
[Sidenote: Some of these be 60 and 80 tons, the burden.]
Besides all the Hollanders before spoken of, the Frenchmen of Picardy
have also a hundred sail of fishermen, only [_solely_] for herrings on
His Majesty's seas every year in the summer season; and they be almost
like unto the Busses: but they have not any Yagers that cometh unto
them, but they do lade themselves, and return home twice every year;
and find great profit by their making but two voyages every summer
season.