12 



peas 8s. the quarter. '• The wich beiuge as abovesaid, oui- countrj'^e 

 populos, our tillage scarcely convenyent to serve ourselves, 

 Devonshire adiojiiynge unto us beynge barreyne of wheate and 

 ayded thereof by us, from whence vre have diverse other 

 necessary p'vycons. We thinke wo maye not convenyentlye 

 spare any grayne." * 

 This was signed by fifteen J.P.'s, viz. : — • 



Thomas Poult. 

 John Stawell. 

 John Horner. 

 Henry Portman. 

 John Baynes. 

 Wyllya:m Hyll. 

 John Clyfton. 



Edward Popham. 

 Eichard Warr 

 John Wadhji. 



HUMFRY WaLROND. 



Edward Barer, 



John Bullor. 



John Brett. 



Rycharde Watkins. 

 At the same time, reports were fonvarded from other counties 

 adjoining, and the diiferences in local prices are clearly seen. 

 In Dorset, with "grain plenty," wheat was 16s. the quarter for 

 best, seconds 13s. id., rye 10s., barley 6s., oats 4s., beans 

 8s., and peas 6s. 8d. In Devonshire, best wheat was 26s. 8d., 

 seconds 24s., rye 21s. 4d., barley Ks., oats 8s. In Cornwall 

 there was yet a greater difference, wheat was 48s. for best, and 

 44s. for seconds, rye 32s., barley 26s. 8d., and oats 10s. the 

 quarter,t Winchester measure. 



These enquu-ies quickly aroused a suspicion that, as corn was 

 again dear in foreign parts, some Court favourites were to have 

 licenses for export. The growers as before at once withheld their 

 produce and waited for the higher prices. As soon as the con- 

 sequent rise began, a Commission was issued, directed against 

 these " covetous, greedie, and evill disposed farmours, and others," 

 who, "myndyng" theii- own lucre, made a "great scarcitie." 



• State Papers, 1572, 2nd July, Vol. Ixxxviii., fol. 52, No. 2. 

 t State Papers, 1572, Vol. Ixxxviii., fol. 52. 



