WHereas Our Royal Father of Blessed Memory, did in the Year One thousand six hundred thirty and two, Constitute and Establish a So­ciety of Fishers, and declared, That He was resolved by all good oc­casions, favorably to Assist, and graciously Accept the forwardness of all those that should express their Zeal to His Majesties Service in so general and publick an undertaking, It being then Resolved and Concluded by His Majesty, that it was very honorable and necessary for this Kingdom. Now that the true Managing, and most advant­ageous prosecution thereof, is by experience discovered by Philip late Earl of Pembroke and Mountgomery, and his Associates, who did cause sundry Fishing-Vessels to be provided and built, which employed many Families in making of Nets and other Provisions (one Vessel employing Twenty Fami­lies in work) besides the breéding of Country-Youths to be made serviceable Mariners in short time, as by the Book called The Royal Herring Buss Fishings presented unto Vs, doth plainly ap­pear. And whereas We are informed, that the Nation doth abound with great numbers of poor Families and Vagrants, who for want of employment are like to perish, unless some speédy care be taken for their relief; and that the several Wards and Suburbs of this Our City of London, and Hamlets adjacent, are burthened with multitudes of poor people, not onely which are born in the said places, but such as come out of sundry Countries to seék Relief. For redress whereof, We do hereby recommend unto the care of you Our Lord Major of the said City, to advise with each Alderman, and cause his Ward-moot Inquest to give in a particular of all the poor Inhabitants within his Ward, what their employment is, and how many are without employment, and present the same to the rest of the Inhabitants in his Ward, with a Copy thereof, and excite them to a freé Subscription for raising a stock to buy Hemp and Clap-boards to make Herring Fishing-Nets and Barrels, for the furnishing and fitting out of one Buss or Fishing-Vessel to belong to the said Ward; which will give all the Poor and Vagrants employ­ment, the said Ward husbanding the same to their best advantage. The which We shall in like manner recommend to all the Counties, Cities, and Towns within Our Dominions, whereby to make it a National employment for the general good, and will give all fitting assistance unto the Vndertakers for their encouragement; that so when Provisions shall be made ready, and Store-houses built in commodious places about the River of Thames, (where breaches have beén made) and the like, in the several Ports; Magazines may be fitted with Nets, Cask, Salt, and all things in readiness, the Busses may all go forth to Our Island of Sheetland as their Rendez­vous to keép together in their Fishing, according to certain Orders prescribed in the aforesaid Book; and to take that priviledge of the Fishing-grounds which belongs to Vs before all Nati­ons whatsoever. And so We bid you heartily farewel.

Given at Our Court at Whitehal this Three and twentieth day of July, in the Twelfth year of Our Reign.

To Our Right Trusty and Welbeloved, the Lord Major of Our City of London, to be Commu­nicated to the Court of Aldermen.