Seasonable orders offered from former precedents whereby the price of corn, with all sorts of other grain may be much abated, to the great benefit of all, especially the poor of this nation. Published for the general good.

Where Justices are wanting in any Hundred, for to appoint some rich persons to supply the want.

If there shall be any Hundred, Rape, or Wapentake, within the said County, within the which or near thereunto no sufficient num∣ber of the said Justices of the Peace do dwell or inhabit, the said Sheriff and four Justices of the Peace of that County, shall in that case appoint some other honest Gentleman, or the high Constables, under Constables, or such other grave, honest, and substantial per∣sons, not being Corn masters, dwelling within the the said Hundred, Rape, or Wapentake, as they shall by their discretions think conve∣nient, to have the charge, doing the execution of these orders there: whom they shall also instruct how to execute the same diligently and uprightly.

That Ministers and Preachers exhort the rich sort to be liberal to help the more with money or victual needful.

That all good means and perswasions be used by the Justices in their several Divisions, and by admonitions and exhortations in Ser∣mons in the Churches, by the Preachers and Ministers of the Word, that the poor may be served of Corn at convenient and charitable prices. And to the furtherance thereof, that the richer sort be ear∣nestly moved by Christian charity, to cause their Grain to be sold un∣der the common prices of the Market to the poorer sort: A deed of mercy, that will be doubtless rewarded of Almighty God.

That there be no buying or bargaining of any kinde of Corn but in

open Market and that the Justices in their several Divisions, restrain common Maultsters of making Barley Mault, in those Countreyes and places where there be Oats sufficient to make Mault of for the use of the people, and to restrain as well the brewing of Barley Mault, by or for Alehouses or common Tiplers in those Countreyes and pla∣ces, as also the excess use of any kinde of Mault, by all common Brewers, Maulsters, and common Tiplers, according to the true meaning of this Article: And that the unnecessary number of Ale∣houses and common Tiplers, be forthwith suppressed in all places, and that direction be given to all Tipling-houses, Taverns, and Ale∣houses, not to suffer any persons to repair thither to eat and drink at unseasonable times, or to continue in such houses longer, than to sa∣tisfie their necessity of eating and drinking.

No waste of Bread Corn superfluously, nor any expense thereof but for feeding of people.

That the Justices use all other good means possible that are not men∣tioned in these orders, that the Markets may be well served, and the poor relieved in their provisions during this time of dearth. And that no expence of any Grain meet for bread to feed men, be wasted upon feeding of dogs or other beasts, neither that any be spent in making stuffe called Starch, as of late there hath been discovered great quantity expended in that vain matter, being in no sort to be suffered to continue, the rather also for that there are other things not hurtful to the food of man, that may serve for such purposes, if such purposes at least were requisite.

Able poor People to be set at Work.

That the Justices be straightly commanded to see by all good means, that the able people be set on work in houses of Correction provided and furnished, and there idle Vagabonds to be punished.

Stocks of Money for provision of Works for poor People.

That the Justices do their best to have convenient stocks of money or wares, to be provided in every Division, or other places accord∣ing to the Statute, for setting the Poor on work, and the Justices to use all other good and politick means within their several Divisions, to continue and maintain the poor people in work within the Parish, or at the furthest within the Hundred, or Division, and namely in clothing Countreyes to charge the Clothiers, that have in former

times gained by that trade, not now in this time of dearth to leave off his trade, whereby the poor may be set on work.

Souldiers hurt, and impotent People, to be relieved in their dwelling places.

That the maimed and hurt Souldiers, and all other impotent per∣sons, be carefully seen unto to be relieved within their several Pa∣rishes, Hundreds, or Divisions, according to the Law therein provi∣ded: and that where the provisions formerly made and assessed upon the Housholders in every Parish be not sufficient, it may be now for this time of dearth charitably encreased. And where any Parish is not able to give sufficient relief to such their poor, that Parish to have the supply of such other Parishes near adjoyning, as have fewer poor, and are better able to give relief. And no Vagabond or sturdy Begger, or any that may otherwise get their living by their labours, be suffered to wander abroad under colour of begging in any Town, Field, or High-way, and that the Justices do presently give order that there be able persons appointed, and sufficiently weaponed, to assist the Constables of every Town to attach such Vagabonds, both in their Towns, Fields, and High-wayes, and to commit them to prison without bayl of any such, but as two of the Justices of the Peace within that Division shall order. And if any Township shall not observe this order, for the attaching and punishing of the said Vagabonds, then the Justices shall see due punishment by fine upon the whole Township, or upon such parties in the Town, as shall be found in fault.

That no Millers be suffered to be common Buyers of Corn, nor to sell Meal, but to attend to the true grinding of the Corn brought, and to use measurable Toll these dear Seasons.

Where in some parts of the Realm, divers Millers, who ought only to serve for grinding of Corn that shall be brought to their Mills, have begun lately a very corrupt trade, to be common buyers of Corn, both in Markets, and out of Markets, and the same do grinde into meal, and do use as Badgers, or otherwise to sell the same at Markets, and in other places, seeking thereby an inordinate gain, besides the misusing of other mens Corn brought thither to be ground, by delay of grinding, or, what worse is, by changing and al∣tering of their good Corn to the worse: It is thought very necessa∣ry,

that the Justices of the Peace who are not owners by any title of any Mills, nor Masters or Landlords to any Millers, shall first inhibit all Millers upon pain both of imprisonment and fine, to use any such trade of buying of any grain to be sold either in Corn or meal, but to charge them to continue the orderly use of grinding of all manner of Corn that shall be brought to them, in reasonable good sort, and upon reasonable Toll. And for bettter performance hereof, some of the Justices not affectionated to the Millers, shall sometimes perso∣nally themselves resort to the Mills to oversee the doings of the said Millers, and compel them to do their duties. And where none of the Justices can as need shall be, weekly look thereto personally, they shall appoint certain honest persons weekly to attend thereto, and to inform themselves of the poorer sort, how they are used in this time of dearth, for their grinding and their toll, and present the defaults to the Justices, to be speedily reformed with all due severity.

Conferences to be had betwixt the Justices of Peace in the Shires, and the principal Officers of Cities and Towns Corporate for provisions of Grain, for the inhabitants in Cities and Corporate Towns.

Item, Where there are within the circuit of any Shire, or thereto adjoyning any Cities that are incorporated as Towns within them∣selves, or any other Towns incorporate, that have by good autority Justices of Peace of their own inhabitants, for that commonly such Cities and Towns have there greatest number of housholders that are no owners of Grain, bu•• ••ave common Bakers and Brewers, must of necessity buy and provide their Corn or Meal at the Markets near thereto, to serve all other the inhabitants and resiants within the said Cities and Towns: For the provision of all such Cities and Towns, it shall be necessary that the Justices of the Peace of the Shires next to the same Cities and Towns, shall have a meeting and conference with the head Officers of the said Cities and Towns, how and in what good manner the Bakers and Brewers, and other houshoulders that shall also have need to provide Corn or Meal for the necessary use of the private housholds, may be provided at the Markets near to the same. And after due conference had hereof, there shall be by the Ju∣stices of Peace, and the foresaid head Officers some good Orders set down, such as both may serve for the needful use of the same Towns and Cities, and also may not by abuse give cause of raising of prices

in the Markets and places near adjoyning. And where there shall be adjoyning to the same Cities and Towns, or not far distant, divers Shires, (as in many places such is the situation of them) there some of the Justices of every Shire so adjoyning, or not far distant, shall use such conference and take such orders with the said Officers as afore is mentioned. And in such cases the Justices of every such Shire shall be informed mutually from the one Shire unto the other, of the need∣ful provisions to be made from time to time for the said Cities and Towns, so as every Shire may proportionably yield reasonable succor and relief out of their Markets to the Purveyors, or to the Bakers and Brewers, as shall be requisite without burthening of the one more then the other may reasonably bear. And if need shall require, the foresaid principal Officers shall not refuse to acquaint the Justices, from whence the provision shall be bought and provided, how such provisions so had and bought in Markets are spent, that by colour of such provisions no abuse be committed to increase the prices, and so to leave the poor unable to be relieved.

Order for places exempted from the Jurisdiction of the Justices of Peace in the bodies of the Shires.

If there be any special part within any Shire, that hath, as a Liberty by special Commissions, any Justices of the Peace within the same, the Sheriff of the Shire shall send unto the principal owner or Officer of such Liberties, notice of these Orders, and shall charge them that the Justices of the Peace within such Liberty do their duties for execution of all these Orders, as far forth as shall be requisite, and therein also to use by conference the advice of some other Justices next adjoining.

Regard to stay all Transportation of Grain out of the Realm.

That in all Counties maritine where Ports or Creeks are, by which any Corn may be carried out of the Realm, though also there are Commissioners appointed under the great Seal of England, to take care that no Corn be shipped or laden in any Vessel to pass out of the Realm: Yet nevertheless, the Justices of the Peace that are not pla∣ced in that Commission, if they be no owners of Corn to sell, shall also use their diligence to stay such lading of Corn, either in Ports or Creeks, or upon any Rivers leading to the same. And if the foresaid Commissioners shall not do their duties therein by authority of their Commission, then any other Justice by authority of these Orders

shall make stay of all such Transportation, and in his so doing, shall be allowed and maintained. And this is thought meet to be in this sort directed, for that it may be doubted, that amongst so many as are ap∣pointed in the foresaid Commission against transportation, some may be mistaken, being themselves either transporters, or friends or favorers to transporters, or negligent in the execution of the charge commit∣ted to them.

Certificate to be made of the execution of these Orders monethy to the Sheriff, and he to certifie the same to the Privy Councel within every forty dayes.

That the Justices of the Peace do once every moneth certifie their doings and proceedings by force of these Instructions unto the Sheriff of the said County, in which Certificate they shall also make Certifi∣cate of such Justices as shall be absent from any of these services, and the true cause of their absence, and shall also certifie the usual prices of all kinds of Grain in their Markets for that month past: Of all which the same Sheriff shall certifie to the Privy Councel without any delay, so as he do certifie once in every forty dayes at the furthest, and so as also the default in any Justice that shall be absent without necessary cause, may be duly considered, and reformed by authority of her Ma∣jesties Councel, as reason shall require, whereby such persons as are placed as Justices for their credit, may not continue in those rooms wherein they shall be found not disposed to attend such necessary and godly services as this is, but that others of better disposition may sup∣ply those rooms, if there shall be need of any such number, as in most places it is thought not very needful, the number of late years being in common opinion more hurtful then profitable to Justice.

And if any shall offend against the true meaning of these Instructi∣ons, or of any part thereof, or shall use any sinister mean to the de∣frauding thereof, that such be severely punished according to the Laws; and for such obstinate persons as shall not conform them∣selves, the Justices shall at their pleasure binde them to appear before the Queens Majesties Privy Councel by a day certain, there to be fur∣ther dealt with by severe punishment, for the better example of all others.