18 



From the scant cultivation and uncertain supply there was con- 

 stantly a great and wide range in prices. Immediately after harvest 

 and during the winter the markets were generally well supplied, 

 but many stores being exhausted by Lady Day, the prices then 

 rose and would continue to rise until the new harvest. Therefore 

 those who could afford to hold the whole or part of their stocks 

 would wisely do so and wait the highest price. This was the 

 plan objected to as "greedie and uncharitable." These corn- 

 holders were called traitors to nature, cormorants and enemies of 

 the Commonwealth, and vexers, scourgers and torturers of the 

 store of the year. The labourer, it was asserted, with his groat or 

 threepence a day and a house " full of small children," could not 

 obtain from them a peck of barley, but found it harder labour to 

 get corn for his money, than money wherewith to buy the corn. 

 He could earn half a bushel whilst running over the parish to buy 

 a peck.* 



In 1621 the price of corn fell so very low that wheat was sold 

 at 2s. to 2s. 8d. the bushel, and rye Is. 3d. to Is. 4d., when the 

 poor, formerly glad with rye-bread, now searched the markets for 

 the finest wheats. At these prices the value of land fell, from 

 twenty, to sixteen or seventeen years' purchase. The next 

 year, 1622, wheat was 6s. 8d. to 8s., barley 3s. 8d. to 5s. 4d. 

 the bushel, and the poor as usual " quickly and sharply" 

 complained.t Eiots again occurred in Somerset and corn was 

 taken by violence. The Council sent down enquiries, but 

 by the 20th May the Under-Sheriff, Matt. Jenings, was able 

 to reply, that " the riotous assemblies in Somerset aboute the 

 takinge away of corn from people travaylinge to the markett," 

 were repressed and " pacyfied," and the " countreys is now 

 quiett, and hath binn ever since, for ony yt I know or can 

 understande.":}: 



* Curse of Cornholders, C. Fitz-Geofirey. 

 t Diary of Walter Yonge, pp. 17, 42,55. 

 j State Papers, 1622, Vol. cxxx., fol. 99. 



