48 AN AGRICULTURAL FAGGOT. 



the Reports of the Inland Revenue Commissioners throw 

 some light. In the year ending April 5th, 1890, the 

 following was the amount of the gross assessment to 

 Schedule D of the income tax under the head of " Markets, 

 Tolls, etc." : — 



England ...... 528,441 



Scotland 25,413 



Ireland 47> 86 7 



United Kingdom ..... 601,721 



There has been no great variation in the amount 

 during the last ten years at least. Thus, in 1880-81, 

 the total amount was £601,577. 



Closely connected with the right of holding a market 

 was that of keeping standard weights and measures ; 

 and it may be added that the market owners in some cases 

 at least provided sworn meters for measuring cloth, 

 corn, salt, etc. Possibly to this cause — in part at least — 

 is due the remarkable diversity of local weights and 

 measures, each being recognised as a standard in its 

 particular district. So far as the regulation of markets 

 was concerned, the main object of all the ancient laws 

 and usages was to promote fair dealing, and to prevent 

 and punish chicanery. The following passage quoted 

 from the Liber Albus of the city of London is a good 

 instance both of the " tricks of the trade " current in 

 mediaeval times, and of the solicitude with which the 

 authorities sought to defeat them : — 1 



And whereas some buyers and brokers of corn do buy corn 

 in the city of country folks who bring it to the city to sell, and 

 give, on the bargain being made, a penny or halfpenny by way 

 of earnest ; and tell the peasants to take the corn to their 

 house, and that there they shall receive their pay. And when 

 they come and think to have their payment directly, the buyer 

 says that his wife at his house has gone out and has taken the 

 key of the room, so that he cannot get at his money ; but that 

 the other must go away, and come again soon and receive his 



1 First Report of Market Rights and Tolls Commission, Vol. I., 

 p. 47. 



