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EARLY TUDOR GARDENS. 103 



with the seasons, and the quality of the fruit. The difficulty of 

 conveying fruit to market must have kept up the price. One 

 gardener might have great abundance of a certain fruit, while 

 at no great distance a high price was being paid for like wares, 

 but owing to the difficulties of communication, he would be 

 unable to take advantage of this market for his goods. But 

 that they made as much profit as they could, and were 

 not always fair in their dealing, the following Law proves : 

 " 2 & 3 Edward VI. c. 15. Forasmuch as of late divers sellers 

 of victuals not contented with moderate and reasonable gain 

 .... have conspired and covenanted together, to sell their 

 victuals at unreasonable prices butchers, brewers, bakers .... 

 costermongers, or fruiterers, 10 fine or twenty days 

 imprisonment and bread and water for his sustenance, second 

 offence 20 and the pillory, third offence 40 or pillory and 

 ears cut off." 



The increase in the number of orchards seems to have 

 rendered their legal protection necessary, as another very 

 curious act was passed : 37th Henry VIII. c. 6, sect. 3. .... 

 " Any person maliciously, willingly or unlawfully, after the said 

 first May (1545) cut or cause to be cut off the ear or ears of 

 any of the King's subjects otherwise than by authority of the 

 law, chance-medley, sudden affray, or adventure : (6) or after 

 the said day maliciously, willingly or unlawfully, bark any 

 apple trees, pear trees, or other fruit trees of any other person 

 or persons (7) that then every such offender and offenders 

 shall not only lose and forfeit unto the party grieved treble 

 damages for such offence or offences, the same to be recovered 

 by action of trespass, to be taken at the common law, but also 

 shall lose and forfeit to the King's Majesty and his heirs, for 

 every such offence X sterling in the name of a fine." 



Saffron continued to be largely used and grown for the 

 market, and sold at a high price. In the accounts of the 

 Monastery of Durham, " Crocus," or saffron, is of frequent 

 occurrence. In 1531 half a pound was bought in July; the 

 same quantity in August and in November, a quarter of a pound 

 in September, and a pound and a half in October ; these items 

 give us some idea of the consumption. In 1539-40 the saffron 



