Speciall orders and directions by the Queenes Maiesties commandement to all iustices of peace, and all maiors, shiriffes, and all principall officers of cities, boroughs, and townes corporate, for stay and redresse of [dearth of graine]

¶ A new charge for execution of sundry Orders published the yeere 1595. for stay of dearth of Graine; Now this present yeere to bee well obserued and executed.

WHere in some parts of this Realme Corne without a∣ny iust cause for any thing that hath hitherto appea∣red is suddenly risen to a far greater price then hath bene expected. To the ende that the true cause thereof may bee knowen & found out, & that al good meanes may bee vsed to preuent all occasions that might mooue any further dearth of Graine hereafter; Her Maiestie hath thought good by the aduise of the Lords & other of her Priuie Coun∣sell, to publish and set foorth these Orders following from henceforth to be obserued.

1 THat the Iustices of Peace in euery County (not being ingrossers or buyers of Corne to the in∣tent to sell the same againe) deuide themselues into seuerall Lymits, and from time to time from hence∣foorth doe vse all care and diligence to be truely infor∣med

without partialitie to any person what store of Graine any person hath in any Parish to spare aboue what may be for his owne needfull vse and expences, and of what kinde.

2 That they vse for their better helpe herein, such persons and in such maner as they shall thinke most fit and conuenient for the furtherance of this seruice.

3 And to that end that they be charged diligently and carefully to informe themselues, and to make due inquirie, search and triall what quantitie of any ma∣ner of Graine they or any other within their Parish, aswell Iustices of the Peace as others whatsoeuer haue in their Barnes, Grayners, Lofts, Cellours, Floores or otherwise to bee deliuered vnto them vpon any bargaine, more then will conueniently serue for their owne needfull expences.

4 Item, what number of Badgers, Kidders, Broggers, or Carriers of Corne, Butter, Cheese or o∣ther like Victuals, inhabite within the said Parish, And whither they doe vse to cary their Corne or other Victuals which they doe buy, and where they do vsu∣ally buy the same, and what their names bee, and how long they haue vsed that trade, and by whose li∣cence, and to see the same Licences of what tenour they are of.

5. Item, what number of Malt-makers, Ba∣kers, Common brewers, Inkeepers or Tiplers, dwel within the saide Parish, and who they are by name, and howe long they haue vsed that trade, and howe much they bake or brewe in the weeke, and what o∣ther trade they haue whereby otherwise to liue.

6 Item, who within the said Parish be Ingros∣sers or buyers of Corne, or doe vse to buy or haue bought any Corne or Graine to sell againe, and what quantitie they haue bought, and of what kindes, and

at what price sithence Michaelmas last, and howe much thereof they haue sold, and at what prices. And aboue all others to take speciall care that the store∣houses and Grainers of al such Ingrossers, Badgers, and buyers of Corne to sell againe be throughly and perticularly viewed and looked vnto, and perfit notice taken what store of all kindes of Graine euery such person hath.

7 Item, whether any Tanner within the same Parish doth vse any Malt, Barly, or other Graine in or about the tanning of any kinde of Leather, if any doe, then what quantitie they vse or spend about the same.

8 Item, who within the same Parish buyeth, or haue bought or solde any Graine vpon the ground, of whom and to whom hath the same bent bought or solde, and at what price, and to certifie vnto the Iusti∣ces of the premisses, and of euery part thereof on the first day of Iuly now next comming, and to euery part of these Articles the parties assigned shall bring answere from point to point.

9 The Iustices of the Peace within their seueral Diuisions, shall take speciall care that the Orders en∣suing be well obserued, and duely put in execution, as themselues will answere the contrary, and that they once euery Moneth at the furthest, doe certifie vnto the Lords of her Maiesties Priuie Councill, in what state their Countrey standeth for plentie or scarcetie of Corne and Graine, and the prices thereof, and how the Orders ensuing be put in execution and obeyed, and whether they or any of them shalbe found by ex∣perience profitable and conuenient, or otherwise vn∣profitable or inconuenient to be put in execution in the same Countreys.