In the three and twentith yeare of Henry the fecond, The black Book, containing the Orders and Rules of the Exchequer, was compiled; where in among other things is mentioned, That for provifion of the Kings houfhold from the time of King Henry the firit, the Officers of the Kings houfhold reducing their victualls into an Estimate of money, did value for a Measure of Wheat to make Bread for 100 men, xijd. for the carcaffe of a fat Ox, xijd. for a fat Sheepe 4d. and for the Provinder of twenty horfes 4d.

An. Dom. 1205.

In the feventh yeare of King Iohn, began a great Froft, which continued till the 22 of March, fo that the ground could not be tilled, whereof it came to paffe, that in the Summer following, a Quarter of Wheat was fold in many places of England for a Mark (which for the more part in the dayes of King Henry the fecond was fold for twelve pence) and a Quarter of Beanes or Peas for a Noble, and a quarter of Oates for 3. 4d. which were wont to be fold for

4d.

An. Dom. 1222.

In the feventh yeare of Henry the third, on Holy Rood Day was a great Thunder and Lightning throughout all

18. Henry the 3. was a great Froft át Chriftmaffe, which deftroyed the Corne in the ground, and the Roots of hearbs in the Gardens, continuing till Candlemaffe without any fnow, fo that no man could plough the ground, and all the yeare after was unfeafonable weather, fo that barrenneffe of all things enfued, and many poore folks dyed for want of victualls, the rich being fo bewitched with Avarice, that they could yeeld them no reliefe. Amongst whom Walter Gray then Archbishop of York, was not least covetous, of whom it is recorded that his Corne being then 5 yeares old, hee doubting the fame to be fpuild with vermine, did command that it fhould be delivered to the Husbandmen that inhabited his Mannours, upon condition, that they fhould pay him the like quantity of new Corn after Harvest, but would give

none

to the poore for Gods fake, whereupon it came to paffe, that when men came to a great Stack of his Corné, which stood neere the Towne of Rippon, there appeared in the Sheaves all over the fame, the heads of Wormes, Serpents, and Toads, befides, a voice was heard out of the Corne-mow, faying, Lay no hands on the Corne for the Archbishop, and all that hee bath is the Devills. To conclude, the Bailiffes were forced to build a high Wall round about the Corne, and then to fet it on fire, lelt the venemous wormes fhould have gotten out and poyfoned the Corne in other places.

How this Bishop died I have not read, and whether he went to God or the Devill, it is not for me to determine. An. Dom. 1248.

32 Henry. 3. by reafon of embafing the Coine a great penury followed. An. Dom. 1258.

43 Henry 3. A great dearth followed the wet yeare paft, for a quarter of Wheat was fold for 15s. and 20s. but the worst was in the end, there could be none found for money, wherethrough many poor people were conftrained to eat Barks of Trees, and horse flesh, but many ftarved for want of food, twenty thousand (as it was faid) in London.

D 2

An

An. Dom. 1299.

27 Edward 1. An Act of Common Counfell was made for prices of victualls to be fold at London by confent of the King, and Nobility, viz. a fat Cock for d. ob. Two Pullets id. ob. a fat Capon zd. ob. a Goofe 4d. a Mallard id.ob. a Partridge id. ob. a Phefant 4d. a Heron 6d. a Plover id. a Swan 3s. A Crane 12d. two Woodcocks id. ob. a fat Lamb from Chriftmaffe to Shrovetide 6d. and all the yeare after for 4d.

An. Dom. 1314.

In the eight yeare of King Edward the fecond, the price of victualls being fo exceffive, that the common people were not able to live, By Parliament at London 3. Febr. it was ordained, and the Kings Writs were published for prices of victualls not to exceed as followeth, viz. an Ox italled or Corne fed 24s. a graffe fed Ox 16s. a fat italled Cow 12s. another 10s, a fat Mutton Corne fed, or whofe wooll is well growne zod. another fat Mutton thorn 14d. a fat Hog of two yeares old 38. 4d. a fat Goofe 2d. ob. in the Citie 3d. a fat Capon 2d. in the Citie 2d. ob. a fat Hen id. in the Citie id. ob. Two Chickins id. in the Citie rd. ob. foure Pidgions id. in the Citie three 1d. 24 eggs 1d. in the

Citie 20 &c. Nevertheleffe, all things were fold deerer than before; no fleth could be had, Capons and Geefe were not to be found, Eggs were hard to come by, Sheepe died of the rott, Swine were out of the way, a quarter of wheat, Beanes, and Peas, was fold for 20s. of Malt for a Mark, of Salt for 35s. &c. An. Dom. 1315.

8 Edward 2. The King in Parliament at London, revoked the provifions before made for felling of victualls, and permitted all men to make the best of their owne. Nevertheleffe, the dearth increafed through the abundance of Raine that fell in Harveft, fo that a quarter of Wheat was fold before Midfummer for 30s. and after for 40s.

There followed hereupon a grievous mortalitie of people, fo that the living might hardly bury the dead, The Beafts and Cattel alfo through corruptneffe of the graffe whereon they fed, died. Horse flesh was accounted great Delicates: The poore ftole fat Dogs to eat; Thofe Dogs became fat by feeding on the Beafts and Cattell that died: Some others in hidden places did mitigate their hunger with the flesh of their owne Children. The Thieves that were in prison, did pluck in peeces thofe that were newly brought in amongst them, and greedily devour'd them halfe alive.

The Londoners, the fame yeare con fidering that Wheat was much confumed by the converting therof into Mault, ordained, that from thenceforth it should bee made of other graine, and alfo that a gallon of the better Ale thould be fold for 3 halfe pence, and of fmall Ale for one penny, not above.

The King according to the Statute of London, fent his Writs through the Realme, commanding that in Cities, Boroughes, Townes, and Villages, as well within the Liberties as without, a gallon of Ale fhould bee fold for one penny. And that from thenceforth, no Wheat should be made into Mault, which if he had not the fooner caufed to be proclaimed, the greatest part of the people fhould have perished through famine.

An. Dom. 1369.

43 E. 3. Was a great Dearth of corne, fo that a Bufhell of wheat at London was fold for 2 fhil. 6 pence, of Barly for 20 pence, of Oates for 12 pence.

The occafion of this Dearth might bee fuppofed the exceffivenelle of a Feaft in the yeare before, where the meats that were brought from the Table, would fufficiently have ferved ten thousand men.

An. Dom. 1379. In the third yeare of Richard the fecond, a Bufhell of wheat was fold for 6 pence, a gallon of white wine for 6 pence, of red for 4 pence.

An. Dom. 1387.

10 Rich. 2. In the beginning of the yeare, at Leicester, 100 quarters of Barly were fold for 100 fhillings.,

An. Dom. 1391.

15 R. 2. Dearth of Corne now almoft continued for two yeares, whereby it came to paffe, that when the time of fruits, as Nuts, Apples, Plummes, Peares, &c. was come, many poore people through over-feeding thereof died of the Flux. And if the commendable care of Adam Baume, then Major of London had not relieved the Commons,

who continually provided, that from the parts beyond the Seas, Corne was brought to London to the Reliefe of the whole Realme, where otherwife without doubt neither had the Country fufficed the Citie, nor the Citie fuccoured the Country.

To the furtherance of which good work in relieving the poore; The Maior and Citizens of London took out of the Orphans Cheft in their Guildhall, 2000 Marks to buy Corn, and other Victualls from beyond the Seas, and the Aldermen, each of them layd out 20 pound, to the like purpose of buying corn, which was bestowed in divers places, where the poore might buy at an appointed price, and fuch as lacked money to pay downe, did put in Surety to pay in the yeare following, in which yeare, When Harvest came, the Fields yeelded plentifull encrease, and fo the price of Corne began to decreafe.

An. Dom. 1527.

19. H. 8. Such fcarcitie of Bread was at London, and throughout England, that many dyed for want thereof. The King fent to the Citie, of his owne provifion, fix hundred Quarters; The Bread-Carts then comming from Stratford towards London, were met at the Miles end by a great number of Citizens, fo that the Maior and Sheriffes were forced to goe and refcue the fame, and fee them brought to the Markets appointed; Wheat being then at 15 Thillings the Quarter. But fhortly after, the Merchants of the Stiliard brought from Danjke fuch ftore of Wheat and Rye, that it was better cheape at London, then in any other part of the Realme.

An. Dom. 1553. In the first yeere of Queene Mary, at her Majefties comming to the Crowne, Victuals were fo plentifull, that a Barrell of Beere was fold for fix pence, with the Caske, and foure great Loaves of Bread for one penny.

An. Dom. 1557.

5. Mary, Wheat was fold before Harvelt, for foure Marks the Quarter; but after Harveft, for five fhillings: fo that a penny Loafe, which weighed in London the last yeere but 11 ounces Troy, weighed now 26 ounces Troy.

An. Dom. 1558.

6. Mary. Corne rofe to 14 fhillings the Quarter.

An. Dom. 1573. About Lammas, Wheat was fold at London for 3 thillings the Bufhell, but thortly after, it was rayfed to 4 fhillings, shillings, 6 fhillings, and before Christmas, to a Noble, and 7 thillings;

which fo continued long after yet there was no want to him that wanted not Money. An. Dom. 1586.

In the 29 yeere of Queene Elizabeth, about Ianuarie, her Majeftie obferving the generall Dearth of Corne, and other Victuals, growne partly through the unfeafonableneffe of the yeere then paft, and partly through the uncharita ble greedineffe of Corne-Mafters, but efpecially through the unlawfull and over-much tranfporting of Graine in forreine parts; by the advice of her most Honourable Privie Councell, published a Proclamation, and a Booke of Orders to be taken by the Juftices, for reliefe of the Poore: notwithstanding all which, the exceffive prices of Graine ftill encreased; fo that Wheat in Meale was fold at London for 8 fhillings the Bufhell, and in fome other parts of this Realme above that price.

An. Dom. 1594.

36. Elix. In May fell many great fhowers of Raine, but in June and July much more, for it commonly rained day and night till Saint James Five; and on S. James day in the afternoone it began againe, and continued for two dayes together. Notwithstanding, there followed a faire Harveft. But in September, great Raines rayfed high waters, fuch as ftayed the Carriages, and bare downe Bridges, as at Cambridge, Ware, and elsewhere. Alfo Graine grew to be of a great Price, a Bushell of Wheat at 6, 7, or 8 fhillings, &c. which Dearth happened more through the Merchants over-much tranfporting, then the unfeasonableneffe of the weather past.

An. Dom. 1595.

3. Eliz. by the late Tranfportations of Graine into forreine parts, the fame was here growne to an exceffive price, as in fome parts of this Realme, from 14 hillings to 4 Marks the Quarter, and more, as the Poore did feele; and all other things whatfoever were made to fuftain man, were likewife rayfed, without all confcience and reafon. For remedie whereof, our Merchants brought back from Danke much Rye and Wheat, but paffing deere; though not of the best, yet ferving the turne in fuch extremitie. Some Prentices and other young people about the Citie of London, being pinched of their Victuals more then they had beene accuftomed, tooke Butter from the Market folkes in Southwarke, paying but three pence, where the owners would not

afford