13 



The Comtnissioners for Somerset, by appoiutiuent of 21st Oct., 

 1573, Avere Lord Thomas Poulett, Sir Morice Barklio, Sir John 

 Honier, Sir George Rogers, Sii* John Clifton, George Sydenham, 

 Esq., Edward Popham, Esq., and John Coles, Esq.* These 

 were to search or examine rigorously, such persons as were 

 vehemently suspected to be offenders ;t to order them to bring 

 their corn to market and sell it at a reasonable price, or suffer 

 imprisonment until the Queen's pleasure should be known ; and 

 further to be bound to appear " presenthe" " and forthwith" 

 befol-e the Privy Council to answer their contempt. At the 

 same time it was ordered that no grain should be exported, 

 but only carried from port to port, to relieve the scarcity at 

 home "in those parts tliat lacketh." 



Either because the Justices were still slack, or as an extra 

 assistance for them, licenses, with powers to enforce the various 

 regulations, were granted to individuals as infomiers. These 

 licenses lasted for twenty-one years, and the profit to them 

 arose from throe-fourths of all fines or forfeitures. J As in the 

 other cases, this constant interference produced what it was 

 intended to correct. It so discouraged production, that com 

 next became dear from a real scarcity, so that in the following 

 year, 1574, it was found necessary to consider some means for 

 the maintenance of tillage. To tliis end a limited export was 

 suggested, the quantity to be fixed annually by the Justices, 

 with a duty of 2s. 6d. per quarter on wheat, and 12d. on barley, 

 beans and peas.§ 



This plan of raising money by an export duty was attempted 

 a few years later for the reparation of Dover Harbour, for 



* State Papers, 1573, Vol. xcii., fol. 41, 

 + Commission for providing markets. 

 I State Papers, 1572, Vol. xc, fol. 36. 

 § State Papers, 1574, Vol. xeix., fol. -54. A Decree for the maintenance 

 of Tillage. 



