16 



counties of Somerset and Wilts. It is certified by Sii' John Clyfton 

 and Tlios. Phellipps. A similar " Protection " was given for the 

 house of Plymjiton St. Mary, co. Devon, granted to Robert 

 Chyvers, " guider " there, to " gather " in the counties of Devon 

 and Somerset, and certified by Sir Thomas Southcote and Thomas 

 Eidgeway. There was another on the 29th November, for the 

 poor house of St. Leonards, alias Gilmerton in Cornwall, granted 

 to John Ewyns, " guider " there, to " gather " in Somerset and 

 Dorset. This is certified by Peter Edgecombe and George 

 Grenville.* A fourth differs someAvhat, and is a " Protection " 

 for " burninge," granted to Oliver Palmer, of Whitchurch, Devon, 

 on testimonial of Wm., Earl of Bath, Sir John St. Leger and other 

 justices, to "gather " in cos. Devon and Somerset.t This was for 

 personal losses by fire. Each license cost two shillings. 



It will be observed that whilst these named counties are 

 suffering at the same time, Somerset collects in Somerset and 

 Devon ; Devon in Devon and Somerset ; Cornwall in Somerset and 

 Dorset ; and Devon again in Devon and Somerset. Why each 

 should not have collected at home for its own wants, does not 

 appear. 



Notwithstanding the attempts to check it, the enclosing of 

 commons continued. With this the price of corn rose, and the 

 discontent between the gentry and commonalty widened, and 

 grew almost to petty rebellion. Although there is no account 

 from Somerset, there was a rising in Oxfordshire in 1597, chiefly 

 of the young unmarried men, on behalf as they said, of their poor 

 married neighbours, who lived in misery and could hardly find 

 bread and water for their -vnves and children. Their determina- 

 tion was to destroy the hedges round the new enclosures, cut off 

 the gentlemen's heads, pull the corn out of the rich men's houses 

 and so live merrily awhile. With these intentions they assembled 



* State Papers, 1591, Vol. ccxl, 29th November, 

 t Docquets, Domestic, 1591, Elizabeth, Vol. ii., fols. 93-98, 



