DIARY of WILLIAM WHITE WAY. 73 



Nov. 8. " This time corn grew very scarce which was sold in our 

 market for 8s. the bushel, in other towns of the county for 10s., 

 and in the west country far dearer, by means of the last wet 

 winter, which year there were commissioners sent down to the 

 justices to command all men to bring to market a certain quantity. 

 In this year Mr. Mayor bought up corn and sold it to the poor at 

 6s. 8d." 



The practice of relieving the poor in times of scarcity by buying up 

 corn and selling to them at less than cost price was not uncommon. The 

 Mayor of Lyme entered in his account : 1587 Item that was lost upon 10 

 peck of rye, that was sold to the poor 4s. 6d. 



1631, Jan. 24. "This day there was a mighty tempest at 

 Weymouth with thunder and lightening. Eight men were danger- 

 ously hurt with it in the Pilgrim, and two slain." 



1632, April5. "The Archdeacon visited and Mr. Sacheverell 

 preached." It is recorded of this year that " the winter season was 

 very unhealthy by reason of the excessive rains in the autumn and 

 winter, and little frost." Many deaths took place in the neigh- 

 bourhood and it was wrongly reputed they died of the plague." 

 On March 21, through the negligence of a cooper, there was a fire 

 at Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, in which 2 houses were 

 burnt. 



1633, " JohnPaulit, of Hinton, came with his family to live at 

 Stinsford for a while out of his love to the hunting of the "hair," 

 which he much affects and in which this county excells." 



Amongst the deaths which occurred in this year was that of Mr. 

 Allen, parson of Abbotsbury, on May 5. Mr. Allen was drowned 

 "as he was going into France to fetch home Sir John Strangwais 

 his son, having a little before married his sister, Mrs. Manning." 



June 11. "Mr. Thomas Newman and Mr. Robt. Angell came 

 hither with their wives, and Co Peter Middleton, and staid here one 

 week." 



Dec. 29. " Mr. Mayor commanded the posts to be cut down, 

 which those of Fordington had put up at the inner end of .... 

 Lane." 



