[188] Vol. 191, No. 12. See Appendix. In Bedfordshire the justices for the hundreds of Manshed, Flett and Redbornestoke state that "the farmers do sell to the poore labourers barley for xx^d y^e bushell and ii^s the most," and that have so "promysed to do untill August next." The ordinary price of barley as reported in the same document was 2_s._ 8_d._ the bushel. Vol. 200, No. 10. I. [189] Vol. 190, 14. But, although the orders issued in 1587 especially command the provision as well of adequate support for the impotent as of work for the able-bodied, very few of the replies report any special action with reference to these matters. There are however one or two exceptions. Thus Arthur Hopton, a justice responsible for the hundred of Blithing, states that 500 poor in adjacent towns were relieved with "bred and other victuall," and that this should be continued for twenty-three weeks[190]. Certain justices of Hemlingford also give an especial charge to the collectors to see that all "the poore aged and impotent persons w^tin everie township and hamlet be sufficientlie releeved as they ought to be," and to "adde a weekelie supplie to the same former reliefe," if the relief they had previously ordered were "too slender for them by reason of the dearth." The justices also especially charge the overseers[191] to see "that all the poore and idle persons in everie towneship and hamlet w^{ch} are able to labour and want worke be daylie set on worke ... towards the getting of their living according also to the former orders made to that effect[192]." But generally the action taken by the justices both in 1586 and 1587 mainly concerns the supply of corn. Still the whole organisation was made chiefly in the interests of the poor, and both the reports and the orders themselves notice this fact[193]. [190] Vol. 198, 74. [191] The appointment of overseers or collectors for the poor was first ordered by the statute of 1572. In Hemlingford they seem to have been two distinct offices. [192] Vol. 198, No. 77. IV. [193] In the orders themselves the justices are ordered to "use all other good meanes that ar not menconed in these orders that the marketts be well served and the pore releyved ... duringe this time of dearth." The letters sent with them stated that the orders were devised because of "Her Majestie's care for the releefe of the poore in this tyme of derthe." See note above. Many reports show that the orders were intended to help the poor. One from Kington, Warwickshire, is signed by the Sir Thomas Lucy of Shakespearian fame and by Richard Verney. The report is said to be sent "in the execution of the orders sett downe by the lords of her mat^s moste honorable privie councell for the desposinge of corne and graine in reliefe of the poore and furnishinge the marketts." _Ib._, Vol. 198, 77. I. See also Beds. justices report orders taken "for the staie of the dearthe of graine and the reliefe of the poore therof." _D. S. P._ Vol. 200, No. 10.