A HISTORY OF SUSSEX 



great was the distress and disorder to which it gave rise that justices of the 

 peace throughout the kingdom received special directions for dealing with 

 engrossers of corn, and providing for the poor and suppressing vagrancy, and 

 were ordered to send frequent reports of their proceedings to the Privy 

 Council. 



From these reports it is clear that the scarcity was principally felt 

 in Sussex in the Weald districts. In February, 1630, the justices stated that 

 in several divisions of the county there was not half enough corn to support 

 the inhabitants until the next harvest, and in consequence of the scarcity the 

 price of wheat had risen in a comparatively short time from 6s. to 8j. the 

 bushel, and that of other grain in proportion. 213 The ensuing season, moreover, 

 brought little relief, in Arundel rape in the following December, though 

 the markets at Arundel and Petworth were reasonably well supplied, the prices 

 were still high, wheat being at 6j., rye 5-r. 6d., barley %s. ^d., oats zod. and 

 pease 3.?. the bushel. The justices were active in trying to alleviate the 

 distress. They had issued orders that no corn should be sold in the markets 

 to any but the poor until two hours after the market bell had been rung, and 

 they reported that they had lessened the numbers of badgers who were sus- 

 pected to be forestallers of grain, and had ordered such maltsters as had engrossed 

 any quantity of grain to serve the market weekly at a reasonable rate. There 

 were at this time but few farmers in the rape who had more than sufficient corn 

 for the support of their own families, but those who had any surplus had been 

 warned to supply the markets according to their store and 'to have considera- 

 tion of the poor in their parish.' All export of grain from Arundel port had 

 been forbidden. 213 



A similar return of scarcity was made in February, 1631, but on 23 April 

 the justices of Lewes rape notified that there was sufficient corn 'to serve the 

 people and to help the wildish parts of the county.' The poor, they added, 

 bought chiefly barley for their bread, it was then sold at 5^. a bushel, while 

 wheat was at 8j. 2U Lewes, however, was evidently specially fortunate at this 

 time, for in Hastings rape there was ' not sufficient quantity to suffice by 

 full a third part,' 216 and the scarcity was still so great in the Wealden division 

 of Pevensey rape that the justices had been obliged to make special appeals to 

 the ' more substantial inhabitants of those parishes where the poor did most 

 abound, to afford some liberal help to their poor people, who, partly by the 

 persuasion of us and of their own charitable dispositions have laid down in 

 some one parish about 30, in another 20, some less, according to the 

 extent and ability of their parishes.' Badgers had been appointed in every 

 parish to buy corn and sell it to the poor ' i zd. in every bushel better cheaper 

 than it did cost.' There was no lack of work in this part of the county, for 

 the vicinity of the clothiers of Kent afforded employment to the women and 

 children, while the Sussex iron-works gave employment ' for the stronger 

 bodies.' 



The scarcity in the Weald parishes and elsewhere throughout the king- 

 dom naturally affected prices in the more fortunate districts. The justices of 

 the division including the east part of the Sussex Downs reported in May that 



"' S.P. Dom. Chas. I, vol. 185, No. 80. 



114 Cat. S.P. Dom. 1631-3, p. 18. 



m S.P. Dom. Chas. I, vol. 192, No. 99. 



ni Ibid. vol. 177, No. 61. 

 Ili Ibid. 37. 



194 



