The Early History of English Poor ReliefLeonard, E. M., of Girton College
History
The Early History of English Poor Relief
Leonard, E. M., of Girton College
Poor laws -- Great Britain -- History
[461] _D. S. P._, Chas. I., Vol. 187, 22; Vol. 189, 39. The High
Sheriff of Suffolk states that "much good haue ensued."
[462] _Dom. S. P._, Chas. I., Vol. 187, 12.
But the strongest argument that on the whole these measures were
beneficial is to be found in the fact that they were enforced
throughout the country by the justices with very few protests. The
justices would as a rule be landlords and generally corn owners; the
regulations were against their interests, and, unless they had thought
that they contributed to the public welfare, they would have complained
more and performed less. When they thought a course objectionable they
said so: many of them did not approve of a second search of the stocks
of corn[463]; in several instances they said that the order to prevent
millers from buying corn was not beneficial, because the millers sold
in small quantities to the poor who did not come to market[464]. But
the rest of the orders concerning corn were enforced nearly always
without comment or with approval.
[463] _Ib._ Vol. 188, 92, Vol. 189, 12, 29.
[464] _Cal. of State Papers_, Jan. 27, 1623, _Dom. S. P._, Chas. I.,
Vol. 182, Nos. 2, 1 and 67.
[Sidenote: 3. Reasons for the adoption of the corn regulations.]
It is not difficult to see reasons for the success of such an
organisation. Corn fluctuated violently in price because of the
narrowness of the area from which the supplies came. Even with our
own worldwide supply a corner in wheat has been attempted and for a
time maintained. When little corn was imported into England, and even
counties were largely self-supporting, farmers might easily raise the
price by keeping back their corn from market[465].
[465] The following examples show that prices varied considerably in
different parts of the country at the same date.
_Dom. S. P._, Chas. I. Price of bushel of wheat. Barley.
Cornwall, Feb. 5th, Vol. 184, 16 9_d._ a gall. or 6/- 5¼_d._ 3/6
for eight galls. for eight
Flint, Feb. 10, Vol. 184. 61 5/- a bushel 3/6 a bushel
Kingsbridge and Dodbrooke Devon, 8/- for 13 galls. 5/8 for 13 or
1630/1, Vol. 184, 3 or 4/11 for eight 3/7 for eight galls.
Edwinsey and Odsey, Feb. 18th 8/- a bushel 5/2 a bushel
Vol. 185, 27
Appletree, Derby, Feb. 21st, 8/- do. 6/- do.
Vol. 185, 41
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
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