42 



This report of newly-made pasture was quickly noticed, and 

 brought out a commission in 1632, for Somerset and some other 

 counties, to enquire touching any depopulation and conversion of 

 arable into pasture since the 10th Elizabeth. For Somerset the 

 Commissioners were Sir Ealph Hopton, K.B., Sir John Homer 

 and Sir John Hippisley, Knts., Charles Harbord, Esq., H.M. 

 Sui'veyor General, Thos. Wynn, Esq., one of H.M. Auditors, 

 Edward Kirton and Thomas Hughes, Esqrs., or any two or more 

 of them,* but no account of their proceedings seems to have been 

 preserved. 



From this time there is only an occasional certificate and these 

 are very much shortened. Thus John Wyndham and Thomas 

 Windham, "lovinge kinsmen and ffriends," notified to sheriiF 

 Thomas Luttrell that they had endeavoured to relieve the poor in 

 their hundreds and had " quickened" the constables in aU things 

 recommended in their " Instructions, "t Willia. Frauncis and 

 Willia. Every, on the 26th June, also declared that they had done 

 their best, J and Roger Hill, mayor of Taunton, and Hugh Pitcher, 

 J.P. for the borough, writing to William Walrond, sheriff, on 4th 

 of March, 1633, gave the prices there, as wheat 4s. 8d., rye 3s., 

 barley 2s. 8d., beans 2s. 6d., peas 3s., oats Is. 4d.§ 



Three returns only are found in 1634. On the 1st August, 

 Thos. Windham and Thos. Luttrell for Williton, Freemanors, 

 and Carhampton, certified to Sii- John Carew, sheriff, that wheat 

 was 6s. 8d. the busheLJI In September there was one certificate, 

 " a very good one," from Geo. Speke, Wm. Walrond, Eo. 

 Hanley and James Rosse,11 and on the 1st Oct. was the last, from 



* State Papers, 1632, Vol. ccxxix., fol. 112. 

 + State Papers, 1632, Vol. ccxxx., fol. 55. 



t State Papers, 1632, Vol. ccxix., fol. 27. 



§ State Papers, 1633, Vol. ccxxxiii., fol. 26. 



II 163i, p. 444, Vol. cclxxiii., No. 5. 



IT 1634, Robt. Reade to Secy Windebank. 



