Other complaints were made of clothiers who forced their workpeople to take goods instead of money in payment of wages. At Southampton in 1666 thirty-two clothiers, beginning with Joseph Delamot, Alderman, were presented for forcing their spinners “to take goods for their work whereby the poor were much wronged, being contrary to the statute, for all which they were amerced severally.” The records however do not state that the fine was exacted.[234] Footnote 234: Davies (J. S.) _Southampton_, p. 272. Low as were the spinster’s wages even in seasons of prosperity, they, in common with the better-paid weavers endured the seasons of depression, which were characteristic of the woollen industry. The English community was as helpless before a period of trade depression as before a season of drought or flood. Employment ceased, the masters who had no sale for their goods, gave out no material to their workers, and men and women alike, who were without land as a resource in this time of need, were faced with starvation and despair.[235] The utmost social demoralisation ensued, and family life with all its valuable traditions was in many cases destroyed. Footnote 235: A report to the council from the High Sheriff of Somerset says: “Yet I thincke it my duty to acquaynt your Lordshipps that there are such a multytude of poore cottages builte upon the highwaies and odd corners in every countrie parishe within this countye, and soe stufte with poore people that in many of those parishes there are three or fower hundred poore of men and women and children that did gett most of their lyvinge by spinnyng, carding and such imployments aboute wooll and cloath. And the deadness of that trade and want of money is such that they are for the most parte without worke, and knowe not how to live. This _is_ a great grievance amongst us and tendeth much to mutinye.” (_S.P.D._, cxxx., 73, May 14, 1622, High Sheriff of Somersetshire to the Council.) Complaints from the clothing counties state “That the Poor’s Rates are doubled, and in some Places trebbled by the Multitude of Poor Perishing and Starving Women and Children being come to the Parishes, while their Husbands and Fathers _not able to bear the cries which they could not relieve_, are fled into _France_ ... to seek their Bread.”[236] Footnote 236: _Second Humble Address from the poor Weavers._ These conditions caused grave anxiety to the Government who attempted to force the clothiers to provide for their workpeople.[237] Footnote 237: