Bulmer, N. Riding, April 26th 6/- to 7/- do. 3/6 to 4/4 do. Vol. 189, 35
Westminster, April 28th, Vol. 12/8 1st qu., 11/8 2nd 189, 48
But the great price was not always the worst of the trouble. The justices of Devonshire tell us that corn could not be had for money, and the statement is confirmed by Fitz-Geffrie in his _Curse of Corne-horders_, "O miserable condition! the poore man is put to a double labour, first to get a little money for Corne and then to get a little corne for money & this last is the hardest labour; he might haue earned almost halfe a bushell while hee runnes about begging to buy halfe a pecke[466]."
[466] Fitz Geffrie, _Curse of Corne-Horders_ (Printed 1631) p. 37.
We must remember the narrowness of the market; the excessive fluctuations in price, and the difficulty of finding a seller willing to sell a small quantity of grain, before we can criticise fairly the organisation which was established during these years of high-priced corn.
In any case the corn orders of the Government seem to have helped to maintain the public peace. In 1527, in 1551, in 1587, in 1597, and in 1623 the rise in the price of corn immediately occasioned disorder[467], and even in 1630 attacks were made on the carts carrying corn, and there were other signs of disturbance[468]. But in this last season of scarcity there was no serious outburst. The orders of the Government probably relieved the distress and certainly helped to convince the people that their rulers were trying to help them.
[468] As early as Nov. 18, 1630, the justices of Berkshire were uneasy and ordered the constables of several parishes not to allow the people to assemble, to charge the churchwardens and overseers to double the poor rates; to forbid the brewers to serve the alehouse keepers and the alehouse keepers to sell ale at all. (_Cal. of State Papers_, Nov. 18, 1630.)
In Kent the Sheriff reports signs of disorder; the people, he said, fell on the carriers of corn and the following lines of doggerel were picked up in the minister's porch:--
The corne is so dear I dout mani will starve this yeare If you see not to this Sum of you will speed amis Our souls they are dear For our bodyes have sume ceare Before we arise Less will safise Note. The poor there is more Than goes from dore to dore etc.