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Animal Rights History Timeline » [1450-1660] Renaisance » Animal Rights Law

Slaughter of Beasts Act 1488

Great Britain Parliament

[4 & 5 Henry VII. c. 3.] An Act that No Butcher Flea any Manner of Beast within the Walls of London

"By corrupt Airs engendered in the said Parishes, by Occasion of Blood, and other fouler Things, by reason of the Slaughter of Beasts, and Scalding of Swine, had and done in the Butchery of Saint Nicholas's Flesh Shambles, whose Corruption [and foul Ordure,] by Violence of unclean, [corrupt,] and putrified Waters…lest it might engender Sickness, unto the Destruction of the People…that no Butcher, nor his servant, slay no Manner of Beast…within the Walls of London"

[1488] "An Act that No Butcher Flea any Manner of Beast within the Walls of London ," in The Statutes at Large of England and of Great Britain, vol. 2 (London, 1811; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks1742-3.

ITEM, It was shewed by a Petition put to the King our said Sovereign Lord, in the said Parliament, by his Subjects and Parishioners of the Parish of Saint Faith's and Saint Gregory's in London, near adjoining unto the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul's that [whereas '] great Concourse of People, as well of his Royal Person, as of other great Lords and States, with other his true Subjects, oftentimes was had unto the said Cathedral Church of Saint Paul's, and that for the most Part throughout the [Parishes] aforesaid, the which oftentimes [been] greatly annoyed and [distempered] by corrupt Airs engendered in the said Parishes, by Occasion of Blood, and other fouler Things, by reason of the Slaughter of Beasts, and Scalding of Swine, had and done in the Butchery of Saint Nicholas's Flesh Shambles, whose Corruption [and foul Ordure,] by Violence of unclean, [corrupt,] and putrified Waters, is borne down through the said Parishes, and compasseth Two Parts of the Palace, where the King's most Royal Person is wont to abide when he cometh to the Cathedral Church for any Act there to be done, to the jeopardous abiding of his most noble Person, and to over great Annoyance of the Parishioners there, and of other the King's Subjects and Strangers that pass by the same; Complaint whereof, at many and divers Season:, [also] by the Space of Sixteen Years continually, as well by the Canons and Petty Canons of the said Cathedral Church, Landlords there, as also by many other of the King's Subjects of right honest Behaviour, hath been made unto divers Mayors and Aldermen of the City of London, and no Remedy had ne found; that it may please our said Sovereign Lord, of his abundant Grace, to provide for the Conservation as well of his most Royal Person, as to succour his poor Subjects and Suppliants in this Behalf, considering that in few noble Cities and Towns, or none within Christendom, whereas travelling Men have laboured, the common Slaughter House of Beasts should be kept in any special Part within the Walls of the same, left it might engender Sickness, unto the Destruction of the People: The King our Sovereign Lord, in Consideration of the Premises, hath, by the Advice and Assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons, of the said Parliament assembled, and by Authority of the same, ordained and [enacted,] That no Butcher, nor his Servant, slay no Manner Beast within the said House called tin: Scalding House, or within the Walls of London, upon Pain to forfeit for every Ox Twelve-pence, and every Cow, and every other Beast Eight-pence; the one Half thereof to the King our Sovereign Lord, and the other Half to every of the King's Lieges that will sue for the same by Action of Debt, and no Protection or Essoin be allowed to any of the Defendants against whom any such Action shall be conceived; and that in the same Action of Debt such Process be made, as in other Actions of Debt sued at the Common Law.

II. And over this it is ordained and enacted by the said Authority, That the said Ordinance, Act, and Law, extend, and be observed and kept in every [City,] Borough, and Town walled within his Realm of England, and in the Town of Cambridge, (the Towns of Berwick and Carlisle, except and foreprised). Provided this present Act begin and take Effect at the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lady next ensuing, and not afore.