By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson. 271 



occasion for. He is a free consumer : who bends his elbow too 

 often. But formerly, the tipler was the man who kept the house : 

 so it is that words change their meaning. 



There was also an oflBcer in the town, to see that the worthy 

 inhabitants were not defrauded in the quality of their drink. 



This officer was called the " Ale-taster," or " Ale-conner." 

 Now this was an office that must have been beset with much 

 temptation : and it is to be hoped that the good man who discharged 

 it, followed the very wise ^'caution" painted up in large letters 

 over the wine warehouses in the London Docks : — " taste but don't 



SWALLOW." 



Last of all : in the matter of provision for bodily comfort, it was 

 ordered, that if any butchers, bakers, poulterers, cooks, or the like 

 conspired to sell within this Borough, at any other price than the 

 price fixed, every one convicted of so doing should forfeit £10 to 

 the Queen [if he had so much], or else suffer imprisonment 20 

 days, having only bread and water. 



There was no ward for casual paupers in those days : but there 

 was a regulation, that every innkeeper, great or small, was to keep 

 one bed always ready, for any person sent by the constables, or for 

 any wayfaring man. 



And there was an odd regulation for market and fair days. 

 " No hostler of any inn was to wander abroad upon the market 

 day, to ask or crave for any horse to be tied up in any stable for 

 any less price than one penny. No blacksmith was to take in 

 more horses than he could well tie up under his penthouse : any 

 hostler or blacksmith breaking this rule was to forfeit 12d. to the 

 poor man's box. 



Neither was any person to allow a tub or pail full of water to 

 stand at his door between the 1st May and the 12th September. 



The bailiff, when he was admitted into office, after taking the 

 oath of supremacy to the Queen, was further sworn to see that no 

 corrupt victuals were sold to the Queen's liege subjects : that the 

 chandlers of the town made their candles of sufficient light, and 

 that the butchers bring the hide and tallow with the flesh. 



Nobody in the whole Borough was to use ill language to the 



