29 



watched, and vogues and vagabonds so severely punished that 

 but few passed that Avay, except Irish only, by whom, notwith- 

 standing "heavy punishment," that part was "abundantly 

 " pestered," wliich proved a " great oppression," as well in 

 relieving them as in the charge for "sending them back to 

 Ireland." To remedy this, they suggested that an order 

 should be sent to Ireland " to prevent them coming forth from 

 thence."* 



For the hundreds of Andersfield, North Petherton, Cannington, 

 Whitleigh, Huntspill and Puriton, on the 20th Dec. E. Poidett, 

 Robt. Cuff, Abraham Burrell, Wm. Bull, and Wm. Hill, mayor of 

 Bridgewater, certified their due diligence in executing the orders 

 sent them, and that after "vaew of the store, they found there was 

 a sufficient and plentiful supply and to spare, but the prices held 

 up somewhat dear, on account of the multitude of buyers and the 

 populousness of the district. Wheat was 8s., rye 5s. 6d., barley 

 6s., beans 4s. 2d., oats 2s. 6d. and peas 4s. the bushel. t 



From South Petherton, WilHam Walrond and Ja. Piosse, wrote 

 on the 23rd Dec, that there could be spared of all kinds of grain 

 from the hundreds of, Abdick 3,153 bushels, Bulstone 3,174, Kings- 

 bury 4,425, South Petherton 10,011, and Crewkerne 6,188, but 

 that these quantities would be consumed by the inhabitants before 

 next harvest. They had ordered a reasonable proportion to be 

 taken for sale every market day, and they usually attended per- 

 sonally to see this duly performed. The prices were wheat 

 8s., and thereabouts, barley, beans and peas 4s. 6d. and 

 oats 2s. 6d. X 



Next comes a minute report from He. Berkeley and James 

 Farewell, which notes not only the quantity of corn but the 

 number of " buyers" in each parish, in their hundreds. 



* State Papers, 1630, fol. clxxvi., fol. 55. 

 t State Papers, 1630, Vol. clxxvii., fol. 29. 

 : State Papers, 1630, Vol. clxxvii., fol. 40. 



