6 



being checked in Devon and Cornwall many fled from those paiis 

 to Bridgewater, and there endeavoured to renew the struggle, but 

 found their efforts speedUy stopped.* 



Enquiries seem to have been made, perhaps privately, as to this 

 " unyversall dearthe of vytells" and a report is preserved naming 

 tlu'ee chief causes. 1st. The lack of breading and rearyng of 

 cattell and poultrie ware ; for it is not possible to have that good 

 cheape, that is not. Secondly, Kegrating; when most part of 

 vytells be gathered into few men's hands, who may defer to sell 

 but Avhen they see the most profit. Thii'dly, the Kynges pro- 

 visions ; when vytels is taken from the poore people that be the 

 breaders, against their will, and have neither ready money for 

 theu' wares nor yet so much as it is worth. Which discourageth 

 the people to breade and causeth the prices of all things, because 

 there is not plenty of them, to be increased, t + 



To remedy this " excessyve pryce," directions were issued to the 

 Justices, to take means to have the markets well supplied. They 

 were to view and " trie out," what quantity and sorts of grain 

 every person had, and to order all that could be spared to be sent 

 to market by weekly portions, under the heavy penalty of £10, 

 or three months' imprisonment. The names of all farmers, with 

 the quantities expected weekly from each, were to be returned to 

 the clerk of every market,§ and one at least of the J.P.'s was to 

 be " alwaies, from tyme to tyme jjersonally present" in every 



* Harl. MSS., No. 6021. + State Papers, 1518, Vol. v., folio 20. 

 X On this question of the King's Purveyors, differences had already occurred 

 in Somerset ; and when in 1537 certain Commissioners went into the county 

 to take up corn, the people rose against them, but by the exertions of the 

 Paulets the commotion was suppressed. The leaders with about sixty others 

 were condemned, and of these fourteen were hanged and quartered. This 

 episode is not more fully noticed, as the papers relating to it, if any, are not at 

 present available. 



Mus. Brit. England, Edward VI., p. 1386. 



