86 DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH IN ENGLAND 



nuisance ; and by the fourth chapter of the same session 

 enacted the well-known law directing the burial of all persons 

 in woollen materials. Again, by 22 Car. II. cap. 13 they fixed 

 the import duties on wheat at i6s. when the price did not 

 exceed 535. ^d. a quarter, and at 8.y. when it stood between that 

 price and 8oj. ; that on rye at i6s. when the price was at or 

 below 40.?., on barley and malt at 1 6s. when the price is not 

 above 32*., on oats at $s. ^d. when the price is at or below i6s., 

 and at i6s. on beans and peas when the price does not exceed 

 4Os. ; and further enacted that when the price of corn is above 

 any of these rates, the old customs shall be paid, and permitted 

 the exportation of meat and dairy produce however high the 

 price may be. As a consequence of these laws, fire-raising 

 and cattle-slaying became common, and were made capital 

 felonies. They gave special advantages to the heir-at-law, 

 under the Statute of Distributions, 22 & 23 Car. II. cap. 10. 



By 29 Charles II. cap. 3, the famous statute for the pre- 

 vention of frauds and perjuries was passed. The history of 

 this Act is singular. It was introduced for the first time in 

 the Lords on April 14, 1674, read a second time and com- 

 mitted on April 15, and reported on May 10 ; Lord Aylesbury 

 stating that the Committee had made amendments in it upon 

 the advice of the Judges. It was passed on May 12, and sent to 

 the Commons. But as the Commons were in the heat of their 

 quarrel with the Lords over the case of Shirley and Fagg, no 

 notice was taken of the bill, and the Houses were prorogued 

 on June 9. 



On October 13, 1675, the Houses reassembled, and the King 

 in his speech alluded to the bill which was dropped in the 

 previous session. It was reintroduced in the Lords on 

 October 14 and read a first time, and committed on November 

 12, the Lord Chief Baron and Mr. Baron Littleton being 

 required to assist the Committee. But it went no further, the 

 Houses being prorogued again on November 22, till February 

 J 5 ^77. On February 17 it was read a first time, read a 

 second time and committed on February 19 ; on this occasion 



