Special Orders and directions By the Queen's majesties commandment, to all justices of Peace, and all Majors, sheriffs, and all principal Officers of Cities, Boroughs, and Towns corporate, for stay and redress of dearth of Grain;  
¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, printer to the Queen's most excellent Majesty. ANNO 1600.   

  

¶ A new charge for execution of sundry Orders published the year 1595. for stay of dearth of Grain; Now this present year to be well observed and executed.  
WHere in some parts of this Realm Corn without any just cause for any thing that hath hitherto appeared is suddenly risen to a far greater price than hath been expected. To the end that the true cause thereof may be known & found out, & that all good means may be used to prevent all occasions that might move any further dearth of Grain hereafter; Her Majesty hath thought good by the advise of the Lords & other of her Privy Counsel, to publish and set forth these Orders following from henceforth to be observed.  
1 THat the justices of Peace in every County (not being engrossers or buyers of Corn to the intent to sell the same again) divide themselves into several Limits, and from time to time from henceforth do use all care and diligence to be truly informed without partiality to any person what store of Grain any person hath in any Parish to spare above what may be for his own needful use and expenses, and of what kind.  
2 That they use for their better help herein, such persons and in such manner as they shall think most fit and convenient for the furtherance of this service.  
3 And to that end that they be charged diligently and carefully to inform themselves, and to make due inquiry, search and trial what quantity of any manner of Grain they or any other within their Parish, aswell justices of the Peace as others whatsoever have in their Barns, Grayners, Lofts, Cellours, floors or otherwise to be delivered unto them upon any bargain, more than will conveniently serve for their own needful expenses.  
4 Item, what number of Badgers, Kidders, Broggers, or Carriers of Corn, Butter, Cheese or other like Victuals, inhabit within the said Parish, And whither they do use to carry their Corn or other Victuals which they do buy, and where they do usually buy the same, and what their names be, and how long they have used that trade, and by whose licence, and to see the same Licences of what tenor they are of.  
5. Item, what number of Malt-makers, Bakers, Common brewers, innkeepers or tipplers, dwell within the said Parish, and who they are by name, and how long they have used that trade, and how much they bake or brew in the week, and what other trade they have whereby otherwise to live.  
6 Item, who within the said Parish be Engrossers or buyers of Corn, or do use to buy or have bought any Corn or Grain to sell again, and what quantity they have bought, and of what kinds, and at what price since Michaelmas last, and how much thereof they have sold, and at what prices. And above all others to take special care that the storehouses and Grainers of all such Engrossers, Badgers, and buyers of Corn to sell again be thoroughly and particularly viewed and looked unto, and perfect notice taken what store of all kinds of Grain every such person hath.  
7 Item, whether any Tanner within the same Parish doth use any Malt, Barley, or other Grain in or about the tanning of any kind of Leather, if any do, than what quantity they use or spend about the same.  
8 Item, who within the same Parish buyeth, or have bought or sold any Grain upon the ground, of whom and to whom hath the same bent bought or sold, and at what price, and to certify unto the justices of the premises, and of every part thereof on the first day of july now next coming, and to every part of these Articles the parties assigned shall bring answer from point to point.  
9 The justices of the Peace within their several Divisions, shall take special care that the Orders ensuing be well observed, and duly put in execution, as themselves will answer the contrary, and that they once every month at the furthest, do certify unto the Lords of her majesties Privy Council, in what state their Country standeth for plenty or scarcity of Corn and Graine, and the prices thereof, and how the Orders ensuing be put in execution and obeyed, and whether they or any of them shallbe found by experience profitable and convenient, or otherwise unprofitable or inconvenient to be put in execution in the same countries.   

The Orders to be observed are these. Viz.  
THat none be permitted to buy nor sell any manner of Corn but in the open Market, unless the same be by special licence, or by commission or warrant for her majesties service, or to some poor handicrafts men, or day labourers within the Parish wherein they do dwell, that cannot conveniently come to the Market towns by reason of distance of place, according to such direction as shall be given in that behalf by the justices of the Peace of that Division within which they do dwell, or two of them: & to none of these poor above one bushel at a time, and thereof the party shall keep a particular note in writing to whom he shall so sell weekly, and at what prices, so as the same may appear to the justices to be done without fraud or abuse.  
2 That the justices of the Peace within their several Divisions have special regard that Engrossers of Corn be carefully seen unto, and that thereupon they may be severely proceeded with, and punished according to the Law: and to see that none be permitted to by any Corn to sell again, but by special licence; and such to be drawn to sell some reasonable portion to the poor at reasonable prices both in the Markets and otherwise.  
3 That no Badgers be permitted, but such as the Statute doth limit; and that no servant of any be licensed to be a Badger, except six of the justices at the least shall in open Sessions for some necessary cause allow any such, and that none at all be allowed a Badger, except he be allowed in open Sessions, & the Badger allowed, not to make provision or sell in any foreign country but with the privity and allowance of some justices of the Peace of that country. And furthermore, that none be permitted to buy or provide Corn in the Market in gross, as a Badger or Baker, Brewer or purveyor, and such like, upon pain of imprisonment, until two hours after the full Market be begun in the Summer time, and one hour in the Winter time, that the poor may be first served.  
4 Where in some parts of the Realm divers Millers, who ought only to serve for grinding of Corn that shall be brought to their mills, have begun lately a very corrupt trade, to be common buyers of Corn, both in Markets and out of Markets, and the same do grind into meal, and do use as Badgers, or otherwise to sell the same at Markets and in other places, seeking thereby an inordinate gain, besides the misusing of other men's Corn brought thither to be ground, by delay of grinding, or that worse is, by changing and altering of their good Corn to the worse: It is thought very necessary that the justices of the Peace, who are not owners by any title of any mills, nor masters or landlords to any Millers, shall first inhibit all Millers upon pain both of imprisonment and fine to use any such trade of buying of any grain to be sold either in Corn or Meal, but to charge them to continue the orderly use of grinding of all manner of Corn that shall be brought to them, in reasonable good sort, and upon reasonable toll. And for better performance hereof, some of the justices not affectionated to the Millers shall sometime personally themselves resort to the mills to oversee the doings of the said Millers, and compel them to do their duties. And where none of the justices can as need shallbe weekly look thereto, they shall appoint certain honest persons weekly to attend thereto, and to inform themselves of the poorer sort how they are used in this time of dearth for their grinding & their toll, and present the defaults to the justices, to be speedily reform with all due severity.  
5 Higlers and purveyors for the City of London or any other City, not to be permitted to buy Corn or other victual but in open Market, & that two hours after the full Market in the Summer and one hour in the Winter. Nevertheless, for the better furnishing of the said Cities with necessary provisions and in convenient manner it is ordered that further provisions shall be from time to time made for them in such sort as the Lords of her majesties Council shall further direct in that behalf.  
6 That the justices use all other good means possible that are not mentioned in these orders, that the Markets may be well served, and the poor relieved in their provisions during all times of dearth. And that in times of dearth no expense of any grain meet for bread to feed men be wasted upon feeding of dogs or other beasts, neither that any at any time be spent in making stuff called Starch, or in tanning of any kind of leather.  
7 That where need shall so require all good means and persuasions be used by the justices in their several Divisions, and by admonitions and exhortations in Sermons in the Churches by the Preachers and Mimsters of the Word, that the poor may be served of Corn at convenient and charitable prices. And to the furtherance thereof, that the richer sort be earnestly moved by Christian charity to cause their grain to be sold under the common prices of the Market to the poorer sort: A deed of mercy that will doubtless be rewarded of Almighty God.  
8 That the justices be straightly commanded to see by all good means that houses of Correction be provided and furnished, and there idle vagabonds to be punished, and set on work according to the statute.  
9 That the justices do their best to have convenient stocks of money or wares to be provided in every Division or other places, according to the statute, for setting the poor on work: and the justices to use all other good and politic means within their several Divisions to continue and maintain the poor people in work within the Parish, according to the statute, and namely in clothing countries to charge the Clothiers that have in former times gained by that trade, to continue the same, whereby the poor may be set on work.  
10 That the maimed and hurt Soldier, and all other impotent persons, be carefully seen unto to be relieved within their several Parishes, Hundreds or Divisions, according to the Law there in provided: and that where the provisions formerly made and assessed upon the householders in every parish be not sufficient, it may be now for this time of dearth charitably increased. And where any Parish is not able to give sufficient relief to such their poor, that parish to have the supply of such other parishes near adjoining as have fewer poor, & are better able to give relief. And no vagabond or any other be suffered to wander abroad under colour of begging in any town, field or high way, but that the statute in that behalf be duly put in execution.  
11 If there be any special part within any Shire that hath as a liberty by special Commissions any justices of the Peace within the same, the Sheriff of the Shire shall send unto the principal owner or officer of such Liberty notice of these orders, and shall charge them that the justices of the Peace within such Liberty do their duties for execution of all these orders, as far forth as shall be requisite, and therein also to use by conference the advice of some other justices next adjoining.  
12 That no transportation of Corn or Victual be but from port to port within this Realm, and that but in cases needful, as for the provisions of London, shipping, her majesties service, or such like. And that be done by the view and overseeing of her majesties officers of the Custom house of the Port where the same shall be laden, or of the most part of them, and of the chief Magistrates of the Town in which that port is, and also of some of the Commissioners of the County in which that port is, and for that purpose assigned. And that in such case good bonds with sufficient sureties be taken to her majesties use for the delivery thereof at the Port to which the same shall be assigned. And for bringing back in convenient time not only a true Certificate of the unlading thereof at the same port so assigned from her majesties officers of the Custom house of that port to the Customer of the port where the same was laden, but also another Certificate from the chief Magistrate of the Town of that port where the same shallbe assigned to be unladen: and from some of the Commissioners of the County in which that Town is for the purpose assigned, unto the Commissioners & chief magistrate of that port where the same was laden, of the due and just unlading thereof at the port assigned. And transcripts of those certificates to be made and certified into the Exchequer in the beginning of every Term.  
13 And if the commissioners for that purpose assigned shall not do their best endeavours to make stay of the transporting of Corn, as by authority of their commission they ought to do, than any other justice by authority of these orders shall make stay of all such transportation, and in his so doing shall be allowed and maintained. And this is thought meet to be in this sort directed, for that it may be doubted that amongst so many as are appointed in the foresaid commission against transportation some may be mistaken, being themselves either transporters, or friends or favourers to transporters, or negligent in the execution of the charge committed to them.  
14 That special care be taken that the Fishdays and days of Fasting and abstinence be very strictly and duly kept.  
15 That those that are Engrossers or hoorders up of Corn, and bring little quantity to the Market, that from such person's provision may be made for her majesties shipping, the service of Ireland, and other public services, as need shall require.  
16 To take order that the multitude of Badgers and buyers both of Butter & Cheese, as also of Corn to sell again, may in every County upon conference amongst the justices be reduced to a competent number, and those of the fittest persons for that purpose, and the residue to be removed.  
17 That such of these Badgers & buyers as shall remain, be only permitted to make provision to furnish the Markets of such Cities and other great Towns and places, which otherwise are not able to be sufficiently provided for, of those provisions in the countries near adjoining, for that they are only needful for those places.  
18 To foresee that no covenous practices be used between the Farmer or Maulster, and the Badger, Baker, Brewer, or buyer to sell again, whereby the Farmer or other should detain his Corn or Malt do the end of the Market to the hindrance of the Market: But if any such be found then such offender to be duly punished.  
19 That in such Towns and Parishes where any dearth shallbe, the justices of those Limits or places do from time to time assign some one honest person to be a Baker, to serve only the poorer sort, and to make for them such bread, & at such assize and price as the said justices shall assign, allowing to such person as shall take the pains therein, a reasonable proportion of gain for his or her travail and charges, as shallbe thought fit by the same justices, And that the justices have special care that the Assize of bread and drink be duly seen, and that weights and measures be according to the Standards.  
20 After view taken of the number of Alehouses, Victualling houses, and Tippling houses in every Town, parish, village and Hamlet within their jurisdictions, to consider what number of them is necessary and fit for every Town, parish, village & hamlet to continue. And thereupon to discharge the superfluous number, and such as are unmeet to keep the same, and to allow but a convenient number, and no more than shallbe needful, and those but in places necessary, & the same to be in the midst & heart of the said Towns and villages, and in no sort to allow any at the ends of any Town, village, or hamlet, nor in out places or places distant from the rest of the town or village. And hereafter no licence to be granted for Victualling or tippling, but in the open quarter Sessions, and that by the consent of the most part of the justices there present, whereof some of them to be of the Lymite in which the house is, whose names with the number of the houses licensed in every town or village, the Clerk of the Peace shall insert in a Book, or roll to be kept for that purpose. And that no greater number be hereafter admitted to keep Tippling houses in any Town, village or place, but such as shall be agreed at this first view, and order to be taken therein.  
21 To take strait order by bond or otherwise with the common Brewers, that they serve no Beer or Ale to any junekeeper, Alehousekeeper, Victualler or Tipler, but at such rate and price as by the justices of the Peace shallbe set down and appointed by authority of the Statute of 23. Hen. 8. Cap. 4. And yet the same to be well sodden, and well brewed of wholesome Grain as it ought to be, which order is thought fit to be done at the quarter Sessions by a general consent.  
22 That no Innkeeper or Tipler that may conveniently be served from any Brewer, be suffered to brew in their houses, but that they take from the Brewers such drink only and of such reasonable size, as shall be fit for traveilers and passengers, and as the justices of the Peace of that place or Limit shall assign or set down as fit for that purpose, wherein they are to have special respect that the drink be such only as may serve for necessary use, and not for drunkenness or excess; And that no Victualling or Tippling house have drink of any better goodness than another.  
23 That the same justices take order in like manner where no Common brewer may be had, to serve these houses, that some one house of these brew for themselves & the other innkeepers & tipplers in that town Beer of one assize and urice, as the same justices shall set down & appoint so be sold as is aforesaid.  
24 That such as usually haunt Taverns, Inns or other Tippling houses, and shallbe there found tippling extraordinarily, and such other as use to drink in these places to drunkenness, or other extraordinary excess, be bound with good Sureties to their good behaviour, which if they shall refuse to do, than the justices to commit such so refusing to the common gail, there to remain until they shall find such Sureties as is aforesaid.  
25 That they which shallbe allowed to be Alehouse keepers and Victuallers shall be of honest conversation, and of reasonable value, and to enter bonds with good sureties to her majesties use to perform the orders following: which bonds shallbe by the Clerk of the Peace presented to the justices in their Sessions to be seen whether the conditions are broken: and thereupon the Custos Rotulorum or his deputy to certify the same into the Exchequer, and such of them as shall refuse to be bound not to be permitted to keep any Alehouse or Victualling house.  
26 That no Victuallers, tipplers, & Alehouse keepers have in their houses, or do permit to be brought into their houses any Cards, Dice, or Tables, nor to suffer any to play in their houses, yards, or backsides, at any Cards, tables, dice, or other unlawful games.  
27 That no Victualler, Tipler, or Alehouse keeper shall dress or suffer to be dressed or eaten within his house any flesh upon any forbidden day, saving in case of necessity of sickness, according to the statute in that behalf provided.  
28 That they suffer none to eat & tipple, or victual in their houses but such as are wayfaring men, that shall take the same to refresh themselves in their passage or journey, or such as shallbe appointed to lodge or take diet in their houses, but to deliver out of their houses that quantity of drink which their neighbours of the poorer sort shall have need of, to be drunk in the houses of those who fetch or send for the same, and not elsewhere.  
29 To permit no drunkenness in their house, nor any tippling at all on the Sabbath day, or holy day in time of Divine service, nor after eight of the clock in the afternoon.  
30 That no Victualler, Tipler, or Alehouse keeper shall permit and suffer any person or persons to lodge in his house above a day and a night, but such as he will answer for, as the statutes in that behalf made do require.  
31 To give straight order and charge to every Constable or other inferior officer to whom it may appertain, that every of them shall once in every fifteen days search and inquire of the defaults and disorders aforesaid, and shall inform the justices of the Peace of the same defaults and disorders if any be, that the offenders therein may thereupon be proceeded on and punished according to the law. And if it shall seem to the justice that the petty constable be either a Victualler, or one that shall favour the Victuallers in their faults, than some other meet person to be appointed to make the said Inquisition and Certificate.  
32 No Tipler to buy any goods of any wayfaring man, or other that shall bring the same to their houses to sell, but of such as shall be well known unto them to be of honest conversation, and whom they shall be able always to produce, or have to be forth coming.  
33 All these with such other necessary Articles as the justices of the several Counties (to whom the estate of the Shire is best known) shall think necessary in the several Counties to be added, the Alehouse keepers and Victuallers shall be bound to observe.  
34 Whosoever shall use tippling or victualling without licence, or shall break the Orders as aforesaid to be prescribed to them, to be proceeded withal, and severely punished, according to the statute and law in that behalf, and to be displaced.  
35 Lastly, and if any shall offend against the true meaning of these instructions, or of any part thereof, or shall use any sinister mean to the defrauding thereof, that such be severely punished according to the Laws: and for such obstinate persons as shall not conform themselves the justices shall at their discretion bind them to appear before the Queen's majesties Privy council by a day certain, there to be further dealt with by severe punishment, for the betterensample of all others.