76 ENFORCEMENT OF THE STATUTES OF LABOURERS 



as are also producers of man)^ commodities not specified 

 by the statute. ' 



It is to be observed that the statute had provided that 

 the justices should exercise their discretion in fixing the 

 Vvinter wages of certain artisans/ I find tv^^o noteworthy 

 instances where they exercise similar powers, not com- 

 ing under this clause. In one case they establish the 

 rate of the yearly wages of a carter ; ^ and in another, 

 they are ordered by a writ of the king and council to buy 

 up all the linen cloth in their district, — pro certo ptecio 

 per vos ordi7iato indc soluendo colore commissionis nostre, 

 — and to deliver it to the clerk of the wardrobe or ap- 

 pear in person before the council to explain why they 

 had not obeyed the writ.'' 



In turning to the remaining offences noted in the ses- 

 sional records, the following are important. The oaths 

 taken by labourers to observe the law are frequently 

 mentioned : men who have been sworn in the presence 

 of the justices, break their oaths;' one man, on being 

 summoned into court and ordered to swear, refuses to 

 do so.^ The constables report long lists of labourers who 

 are rebellious and refuse to take oaths of obedience to 

 tlie statutes;^ their reports vary between two extremes; 

 all the labourers in their district are obeying the law, or 

 all are guilty of infringements.^ In the matter of the 

 supervision of the local ofiBcials, the justices are kept 



' 233-234; sec especially the printed Wiltshire roll passim. 



^14. '200, 



* Claus., 31, m. 7, 22 Oct.; " De panno lineo clerico magne garderobe 

 Regis liberando." The v.rit is directed: " Willelmo de Surflet et 

 Lai'rencio de Leek iusticiariis suis ad ordinacionem et statutum de 

 operariis, seruientibus et artificibus in partibns de Holand de comitatu 

 Lincoln' custodienda assignrtis." 



^170; 171; IQQ. '156. '223-224. '*202;20I. 



