u 



which purpose it was determined to export 40,000 quarters.* 

 The Council, hy letters dated 25th Nov., 1581, required the 

 Somerset Commissioners to certify what grain could be spared 

 towards serving such a license, and they, having assembled and 

 considered the question, replied from Bridgewater on the 16th 

 December, that the price of wheat was 3s. 4d. the bushel, and 

 in many markets 3s. 8d. to 4s. ; and barley, 2s. As the " times 

 of tillage" had been unseasonable, the last harvest bad, and no 

 store reserved for the past five years, they thought prices must 

 rise, and so concluded that none could be spared.t The report 

 is signed by George Rogers, George Sydenham, Edward Popham, 

 John Colles, Thomas Poult, John Hornei-, and Arthur Hopton. 



Any exportation except under the royal license and supervision 

 was jealously guarded against, but was as constantly practised 

 where possible. In May, 1585, a minute was sent to the Lords 

 Lieutenant and Commissioners, that on account of the scarcity and 

 unseasonableness of the year they were carefully to prevent this, 

 which was being done under pretence of moving corn fi'oni port 

 to port. J The Somerset Commissioners were — Lord Thomas 

 Pawlett, Sir John Horner, Sir Geo. Rogers, Sir Jo. Clifton, Sir 

 Jo. Stowell, Sir Geo. Sydenham, Sir Hen. Barkley, Edward 

 Popham, Arthur Hopton and Jo. Coles. 



With this continued scarcity, the prices of all necessaries per- 

 sistently rose ; a cap usually sold for 1 4d. was now 2s. 6d. ; a pair 

 of shoes 12d., instead of 6d. ; shoeing a horse lOd. for 6d. The 

 tenants laid all the l^lame upon their landlords, for raising the 

 rents ; these replied that what they did was in self-defence, for 

 once they could buy the best pig or goose for 4d., for which then 

 the tenant charged 12d. ; a good capon for 3d. or 4d., a chicken 

 Id., a hen 2d., all of which were now doubled or trebled in value. 



* State Papers, 1581, Vol. cl., fol. 88. 



t State Papers, 1581, Vol. el., fol. 84. 



X State Papers, May, 1585, Vol. clxxviii., fol. 82. 



