38 



From Taunton, Jo. Symes and Thos. Brereton found, that the 

 cornmasters having obeyed the orders given them, and brought 

 to market what they could spare, the prices had abated, wheat 

 being 7s. 6d., rye 6s., barley 5s. 4d., beans 5s. 8d., peas 5s., oats 

 2s. 4d.* 



From Wliitelackington, George Speke, Wm. Wahond, and Ja. 

 Rosse, certified that the constables and churchwardens of every 

 parish being "precepted" to come before them once a month, 

 some offenders had by their information been fined and others 

 sent to gaol for the next assizes.t 



But notwithstanding that prices were generally lower, the Privy 

 CouncU chose to be dissatisfied and issued a second letter on the 

 19th October, asking the cause of the continued extreme rates and 

 requesting a closer enquiiy as to any hoarding, combinations, or 

 secret transportations. 



The first reply is by Geo. Speke and Wm. Walrond, from 

 Ilminster, who advertised theu- " L'pps" that they had foimd no 

 man in their division with above five or six bushels of old corn at 

 the time of the last reaping, and but very few even that. There 

 was however one exception in Master Atkins, of Winsham, who 

 was presented by the viewers of his parish on the 23rd Nov., the 

 day the letter is dated, as having threescore bushels remaining, 

 although he had been oftentimes commanded to bring it forth. 

 To which Atkins replied that he had kept it for his own use, as he 

 had grown none that year. They found that prices were not kept 

 up by any combinations or indirect practices, or any othc^r cause 

 than bad harvests, the yield being last year less by half than 

 usual, in some places not above a third, and the old crop " clean 

 spent." They woiUd do all they could to keep down prices. 

 Wheat was 5s. a bushel and other corn proportionate. J 



• State Papers, 1631, Vol, cxcvL, fol. 4, 1st July. 

 + State Papers, 1631, Vol. cxcvii., fol. 58, 30 July. 

 } State Papers, 163], Vol. cciii,, fol. 65, 23 Nov. 



