Analytical Index to the Series of Records Known as the Remembrancia 1579-1664. Originally published by EJ Francis, London, 1878.
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'Provisions, flesh, fish, etc.', in Analytical Index to the Series of Records Known as the Remembrancia 1579-1664, ed. W H Overall, H C Overall( London, 1878), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/index-remembrancia/1579-1664/pp391-406 [accessed 10 December 2024].
'Provisions, flesh, fish, etc.', in Analytical Index to the Series of Records Known as the Remembrancia 1579-1664. Edited by W H Overall, H C Overall( London, 1878), British History Online, accessed December 10, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/index-remembrancia/1579-1664/pp391-406.
"Provisions, flesh, fish, etc.". Analytical Index to the Series of Records Known as the Remembrancia 1579-1664. Ed. W H Overall, H C Overall(London, 1878), , British History Online. Web. 10 December 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/index-remembrancia/1579-1664/pp391-406.
Provisions (flesh, fish, &c).
I. 70. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer,
stating that upon being reminded as to the keeping of the laws of
abstinence from flesh, (fn. 1) he had gathered together such Ordered as had
been formerly observed within the City, to which he had added such
others as by experience had been found most convenient; also reporting the steps taken with reference to the abuses in the purveyance of
wood for Her Majesty's service.
10th January, 1579.
I. 71. Copies of the Orders heretofore observed in London for abstinence from flesh in Lent, and on Fish days. The means proposed to be observed are also annexed.
I. 88. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Bishop of
London (Aylmer), in reply to his request for permission for his
butcher to kill flesh. The Lords of the Council had permitted the
Lord Mayor to license certain persons to kill flesh for the sick; the
number so licensed were bound to give weekly an account in writing
of every joint they uttered, which bond his butcher refused. In order
that his Lordship might not want, order had been taken to supply
him by such as had given bond.
25th February, 1579.
I. 186. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer. As
Lent was approaching, he had gathered together such Orders as had
been given from time to time for the abstinence from flesh, and
requested his advice as to the issue and observation of the same, or
others.
23rd January, 1580.
I. 300. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor.
They had been informed that flesh was commonly eaten in Lent in
sundry tabling houses, and that forty butchers were suffered to kill
and sell flesh within the liberties of the City to all comers. The
Fishmongers complained that they could not sell their wares, whereby
the navigation and trade of Mariners would be discouraged and fall
into decay. They desired to be informed of the truth of this statement; of the number of butchers licensed to kill flesh, and what steps
had been taken by the Aldermen for restraining of the tabling and
other houses.
9th March, 1581.
I. 301. Reply of the Lord Mayor. The number of butchers
had been restrained to five, four for the whole City, namely, two
in either shambles and one for the borought of Southwark, and these
had been bound not to utter flesh to any but such as were, by
sickness or otherwise, lawfully licensed to eat flesh. As touching
table-keepers, cooks, innholders, and other victuallers, a great multitude had been already dealt with according to former usage
and the rest would be proceeded against at once, and restrained
from infringing Her Majesty's proclamation.
11th March, 1581.
I. 332. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Chancellor.
It had been the custom, in order to carry out the Queen's proclamation for the observation of abstinence from flesh in Lent and
other forbidden times, for the Aldermen of the City to make certificate
of the number of offenders in their wards to the Court of Chancery
at the beginning of Easter Term, which certificates had been received
by the Officers in Chancery without fee or charge. The Officers
now demanded a fee of 2s. for every presentment which would
amount in the whole to 5l. He begged that directions might be
given to the Officers to receive the presentments without charge.
5th May, 1582.
I. 463. Letter from William Lord Burghley to the Lord Mayor,
acknowledging his Letter requesting instructions touching the abstaining from flesh in Lent, and recommending that the former
Orders of the Council should be observed. As to licensing butchers
to kill flesh, he thought it quite unnecessary, infirm persons being
allowed poultry. In a large liberty where he had jurisdiction, he
did not permit any butchers' wares to be killed.
26th January, 1582.
I. 468. Letter from Charles Lord Howard of Effingham,
requesting that a licence to kill flesh in Lent might be granted to
David Newholt, of Little Eastchcap.
24th January, 1582.
I. 469. Letter from the Lord Mayor in reply, regreting that he
had not the power, except by warrant from the Council, under
which three butchers had been already appointed. The Lord
Treasurer had refused to license any in Westminster.
1st February, 1582.
I. 470. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer,
requesting his instructions as to the number of butchers to be
licensed to kill flesh in Lent. At present he had only appointed
two for the one shambles and one for the other, and none for
Southwark.
25th January, 1582.
I. 574. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, complaining, of the non-observance of the Orders issued by
the Council for the killing of flesh in Lent, and directing steps to
be at once taken to carry the same into execution, and the names
of those to whom licences had been already granted to be forwarded
to them.
30th January, 1586.
I. 580. Letter from the Lord Mayor to Sir Francis Walsingham. Great disorders had been yearly committed by the butchers
of the City, who, being of a rude and uncivil kind, could hardly
be kept from killing flesh in Lent. A number of honourable
persons usually made request to have certain persons licensed, who
were dissatisfied upon refusal. He had therefore thought it better
that the Council should take the power of granting licences into
their own hands, and for their information he enclosed a list of those
who had been recommended to be licensed.
24th January, 1587.
I. 588. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer.
He had been charged before the Council by Mr. Ashley, one of the
Clerks of the Council, with some indirect dealing in the admittance
of the butchers to be licensed to kill flesh this Lent, and had sent a
reply, which, by some mischance had not been laid before their
Lordships. He enclosed a copy, with a request that it might be read
at their next meeting.
9th March, 1590.
I. 606. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council.
Upon receipt of their charge concerning the killing and eating of
flesh, he had taken every precaution to restrain the same, and had
taken bonds of all victuallers, innholders, and other such like traders
within the City's jurisdiction. The principal cause of the disorders
committed was the great number of butchers licensed to kill flesh
within the privileged places, and the licentious behaviour of such
victuallers and tablers as dwelt within the said liberties and exempt
places, who set open their houses and kept common tables for all
sorts of people. He requested that some further order might be
taken for their restraint or moderation.
12th March, 1590.
I. 613. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer. He
had been already importuned about the licensing of butchers in the
coming Lent. There being only six to be selected, he anticipated
much dissatisfaction would be felt by the persons recommending their
butchers; the late Lord Mayor had been reviled and threatened by
certain officers of the Court and others of high place, for not being
able to comply with their requests.
12th December, 1591.
I. 614. Letter from the Lord Mayor to Sir Robert Cecil. In
accordance with his Letter he had licensed Nicholas Simons to kill
flesh next Lent. As there were only six to be appointed, he
requested him to intercede with those who would be disappointed by
not having similar requests gratified.
13th December, 1591.
I. 625. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Chamberlain,
acknowledging his Letter, recommending Richard Wise, butcher, of
St. Nicholas shambles, for a licence to kill flesh in Lent. The number
(limited by the Council to six) had been already appointed, but he
would license Wise if his lordship would stand between him and any
displeasure which might arise at the Council. As the Lord Treasurer
had directed that every butcher so licensed should pay a certain sum
of money towards the relief of maimed soldiers, he requested that
Wise should be directed to repair to him and pay the fine before
being licensed.
11th January, 1591.
I. 630. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council,
acknowledging the receipt of their Orders for the restraint of killing
and eating flesh during Lent, in which provision had been made that
certain persons should watch at the gates of the City and other like
places in the suburbs, to intercept all flesh brought in for the supply
of persons not licensed to cat the same, the flesh to be sold to the
use of the hospitals and prisons within the City. The watchmen
hired to perform this duty had not carried it out strictly, and the
Lord Mayor recommended the Council, for the encouragement of the
men in diligence, to allow them half the flesh so taken instead of
wages, the other half to be used for the establishments before named.
8th February, 1591.
I. 642. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer. He
had received a Letter from Mr. Awbrey, Master of the Court of
Requests, signifying the Queen's pleasure for granting a licence to
kill flesh in Lent to John Scrogge, butcher, at the suit of one Froe
Gilham, an attendant upon Her Majesty. The number of butchers
to be appointed being already full, and the liberty and disorder of
killing flesh in exempt places and suburbs being very great, he had
suggested that a portion of the money gathered from the butchers
should be given to the said Froe Gilham instead of increasing the
number of licensed butchers.
29th January, 1591.
I. 653. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Chamberlain.
It had always been the privilege of the Lord Mayor to appoint and
license the several butchers within the City to kill flesh in Lent.
During the mayoralty of Sir John Abbott, his predecessor, the Lords
of the Council had bestowed the privilege upon the Clerks of the
Council, to the prejudice and injury of the City. It was therefore not
in his power to appoint the person named by his Lordship.
17th March, 1591.
II. 93. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council,
touching the scarcity of fresh and salt fish, and the intercepting by
pirates of fishing boats coming to the City, and suggesting the repeal
of the statute made in the 23rd of Elizabeth. (fn. 2)
3rd April, 1595.
II. 116. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council,
enclosing petition from the Company that traded for butter and cheese
within the City, complaining that restraint had been made by the
Justices of the Peace within the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, and
Essex, whereby they were inhibited from bringing from thence such
provisions, to the great distress of the poor housekeepers of the City,
and requesting their Lordships to direct their warrant to the Justices
and officers of the ports within those shires to remove the restraint.
29th October, 1595.
II. 129. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council,
requesting them to grant a warrant for the bringing of a small
quantity of butter and cheese out of the counties of Suffolk and
Essex.
31st December, 1595.
II. 130. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer, as
to the number of butchers licensed to kill flesh during Lent within the
City and Liberties.
4th January, 1595.
II. 143. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Commissioners,
appointed by the Privy Council, for the County of Suffolk, requesting
them to direct the transporting of 646 wey of butter and cheese for
the use of the City in this time of scarcity, and enclosing a Schedule
of Traders, and the quantity to be supplied to each.
31st January, 1595.
II. 146. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Earl of Essex,
explaining the reasons why Andrew Woodcock had not been appointed
among the number of butchers to kill flesh in Lent.
7th February, 1595.
II. 148. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer,
touching the application of the Queen's musicians to license two
butchers for this Lent time, above the number ordered by the Privy
Council.
2nd March, 1595.
II. 192. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council,
requesting the withdrawal of their prohibition against the transportation of herrings from Yarmouth.
18th October, 1602.
II. 226. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord High Admiral,
in answer to his communication soliciting a butcher's place during this
Lent for his servant, and informing him of the Orders received from
the Council thereon.
20th January, 1602.
II. 244. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the
Council. According to their commands, he had taken bond from
the Poulterers of the City, prohibiting them from selling pheasants,
partridges, and rabbits before the 6th of June. The Poulterers of
Westminster and the suburbs sold the same at all times, to the injury
of the Citizens. He prayed that they might be restrained.
20th May, 1604.
II. 281. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Board of Green
Cloth, as to the conduct of the buyers of bacon for the supply of His
Majesty's household from the Markets.
15th February, 1606.
III. 3. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor,
referring to the Laws made and Orders published every year for
the due observation of Lent, "because it is the time of increase
which supplieth the rest of the year with provision of victuals." They
had from time to time written to his predecessors to see such Orders
and Directions duly observed, and to restrain the excessive killing and
eating of flesh, yet they found the Orders every year neglected
and less observed. They requested him to confer with the Justices of
the Peace for Middlesex and Surrey, and consider how the same
might be suppressed, and to attend with the Recorder and some of
the Aldermen at the Council on the next Sunday.
14th January, 1610.
III. 4. Further Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, reminding him of the former Orders, and of the following
additions which they thought meet to be effectually observed, viz.: That
the printed Orders should be more duly kept, for the better performance
whereof he should not suffer any butchers that were to be allowed
within the City to take partners, whereby they might kill a greater
proportion, and should cause an oath to be administered to each of
them, according to a form conceived and presented to the Council by
the Recorder. Whereas the butchers had been accustomed to provide
and kill against Shrovetide an excessive proportion of all manner of
flesh, more than could be uttered in any reasonable time, he should take
order that if any butcher, not licensed, should be found with any flesh
after Shrove Tuesday at night, such flesh should be disposed and given
to the prisons and other poor, as might be thought meet. Further,
whereas keepers of taverns, inns, and ordinaries in time of Lent
dressed and uttered flesh in their houses, he should direct that such
places should be often visited and searched, and the offenders
proceeded against without favour or connivance.
28th January, 1610.
A Postscript directs that the Lord Mayor should take the same course with the Poulterers as with the Butchers.
III. 37. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor
and Aldermen, with respect to the restraint of killing and eating of
flesh in Lent, and exhorting them to carry a strict hand over taverns,
ordinaries, and tippling-houses, on account of the late high prices of
victuals, without any known or apparent cause.
19th February, 1611.
III. 38. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the
Council, with reference to their determination not to permit licences to
be granted as heretofore to butchers to kill and utter flesh during
Lent, and setting out several reasons against the same, such as the
scarcity and dearness of fish, butter, cheese, bacon, and eggs, the
prevalence of ague, &c. Did not the necessity of the time, both in
policy and discretion, move him, he should pray their Lordships that
all licences might be forborne, there being nothing that brought to
the City more displeasure from great persons, whom they refused to
gratify, or more blame from the Council, than the licensing of butchers
to sell flesh in Lent.
14th February, 1611.
A note in the margin states in effect that, upon consideration of this Letter, the Lords allowed the Lord Mayor to license eight butchers.
III. 72. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor.
So great had been the abuse and contempt of the former Orders for
the keeping of Lent, that His Majesty had been enforced to prohibit
absolutely the killing of flesh by any butcher or other person in the
City, or any other part of the kingdom, during this Lent, and had
therefore caused certain new Orders to be printed and published for
that purpose.
9th February, 1612.
III. 73. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council
with reference to the foregoing, requesting them to prescribe with certainty the manner in which he should carry out the Orders for keeping
Lent, otherwise he should fear that he was left to the strict performance of His Majesty's directions.
10th February, 1612.
III. 78. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council,
suggesting sundry reasons, such as the scarcity and dearness of fish,
butter, cheese, and bacon, the prevalence of ague and other infirmities,
for the allowance of some flesh to be killed and uttered during Lent.
18th February, 1612.
III. 82. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor. It was not intended that all poulterers should be
restrained from killing and uttering their wares, but that, for the
comfort of the infirm and sickly, he might freely license as many
poulterers within the City and Liberties as he deemed meet and
convenient.
25th February, 1612.
III. 91. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to
the Lords of the Council. They were informed the Council had given
warrant to certain messengers to search within the City for such
butchers as killed and sold flesh during Lent, and to bring the offenders
before them to answer the contempt. They hoped the Council would
not grant any warrants to messengers to search within the City, but
would address their letters and warrants to the Lord Mayor. It was
a matter which much concerned their charter and the ancient customs
and franchises of the City, for any foreign officer to execute, in
person, any warrant in the City without the assistance and direction
of the Lord Mayor. The messengers having attached the body of a
butcher dwelling within the shambles, without acquainting the Lord
Mayor or requiring his aid or direction, the Court of Aldermen had
committed the butcher to prison, till the pleasure of the Council
should be further signified.
11th March, 1612.
III. 134. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, authorizing him, for the service of the Ambassadors here
resident, and sick persons, to license one butcher to kill and utter
flesh in Lent, and to give notice at the Ambassadors' houses of
the name and address of such butcher.
12th March, 1613.
III. 144. Letter from the Lords of the Council to Sir Edward
Coke, Knight, Chief Justice of England, Sir Henry Hubbart, (fn. 3) Knight
and Baronet, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and Sir Lawrence
Tanfield, Knight, Chief Baron of the Exchequer, informing them
that the Council, having authorized the Lord Mayor to appoint
a butcher to kill flesh during Lent for the service of Foreign
Ambassadors, he had, for the relief of three poor men, allowed
them to join in partnership to make provision of flesh in a private
place within Guildhall, for the use of the said Ambassadors. These
butchers had since been served with process to appear to some
information for uttering flesh in Lent. The Council required that
orders should be given for stay thereof, and that they should be no
further troubled.
Whitehall, 13th May, 1614.
IV. 13. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council.
Their lordships having for the last three years thought fit to restrain
the licensing of butchers during Lent, the Court of Aldermen had considered the inconveniences and contrary effects produced thereby. The
butchers without number sold flesh, and all manner of people, weak
and sound of body, bought it, as commonly as in open time, which
would not be the case if some few butchers were licensed, and
forbidden to sell to other than those licensed to buy. A special
eye should also be had to the great excesses and abuses committed
in taverns, tabling houses, victualling houses, and inns, and also
to the abuse of Friday night suppers. The Fishmongers made
an extraordinary use of the time in the price of all manner of fish.
Eggs were six and seven a groat, butter 8d. per pound, and cheese
and bacon excessively dear. If Essex and Herts had no sale for
their calves, as they had been accustomed to have in Lent, butter
and cheese would rise to an excessive rate.
26th January, 1615.
IV. 14. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, forwarding to him the same Orders for the keeping of
Lent as last year. As the execution thereof would wholly
depend upon him, so the contrary would be imputed to him as a
great neglect of the King's commands.
28th January, 1615.
IV. 16. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, authorizing him to license as many poulterers as he might
think meet for the provision of the sick and infirm within the
City during Lent.
4th February, 1615.
IV. 19. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Archbishop of
Canterbury (Abbott). He had been very much importuned by
divers physicians, who stated there was an absolute necessity, for
the safety of men's lives, that some mutton and veal should be
killed, to make broth for the diet of the sick during the present
Lent. He had therefore thought it his duty to address himself
to the Archbishop, to whom he conceived the matter most especially
appertained.
10th February, 1615.
Note in margin.—Upon this Letter my Lord of Canterbury very honourably procured the Lords to assent for the licensing of one butcher.
IV. 20. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, authorizing him during the present Lent to license one
butcher to kill mutton and veal only, and to sell the same to such
as had licence according to law.
20th February, 1615.
IV. 27. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen
to the Lords of the Council, forwarding a Petition from Freemen
of the City trading in butter and cheese, complaining that they
were vexed and sued by informers upon two penal statutes of
the reign of Edward the Sixth, against such as bought butter and
cheese and other dead victuals to sell again. Since they found
the putting of those statutes strictly in force would not only hinder
the victualling of the City and adjoining parts, and also the navy
and merchant shipping, but would enforce the Petitioners either
to give up their trade or fall into the hands of informers, they
recommended their Petition to the Council, and requested that
they might be heard by counsel thereon.
13th April, 1616.
IV. 60. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, authorizing him to license as many poulterers as he might
think necessary, and one butcher to kill mutton and veal only,
during Lent, for the service and provision of Foreign Ambassadors,
and to such others as were licensed according to law.
23rd February, 1616.
IV. 61. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, enclosing the same Orders as formerly for the keeping of
Lent.
23rd February, 1616.
IV. 95. Similar Letter to No. 60.
23rd January, 1617.
V. 12. Copy of Warrant from the Lords of the Council to
Nicholas Stott and Edmund Perce, Messengers of His Majesty's
Chamber, requiring them to repair to any place within the City of
London and the exempt and privileged places thereof, or within
the City and Liberties of Westminster and the counties of Middlesex,
Surrey, Essex, Kent, and Herts, and to search for and make stay
of all manner of cattle, flesh, poultry, and other wares prohibited
by the Orders of the Council to be killed and eaten, and to apprehend
all graziers, drovers, and others offending, and bring them, together
with all such victuallers, innholders, vintners, and keepers of
ordinaries dressing or uttering any flesh meats contrary to such
Orders before the Council to answer their contempts; and to
require all butchers, poulterers, &c., killing or uttering flesh or
poultry in the cities and counties aforesaid to produce to the Clerk
of the Council their licences; and further to call upon all mayors,
sheriffs, justices of the peace, &c., to be aiding and assisting them
in the execution of the warrant.
7th February, 1618.
V. 33. Suggestions from the Company of meere Poulters to the
Lord Mayor (Sir Sebastian Harvey) for the prevention of forestalling and engrossing of their wares in the markets; for limiting
the times within which such wares should be sold therein; for preventing their sale by haglers, carriers, and chapmen in shops, inns,
or hostelries; and for punishing such as maintained haglers, &c.,
without entering them according to Acts of Common Council and
their own Orders.
(Circa 1618–9.)
V. 61. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor and Court of Aldermen as to the keeping of Lent, authorizing
the Lord Mayor to license three butchers and four or five poulterers
to kill and utter flesh and poultry, and requiring them to call the
Fishmongers before them, and give order that the City should be
stored with fresh and salt fish at reasonable prices and rates.
Whitehall, 16th February (1619).
V. 98. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the
Council, acknowledging the receipt of their Letters and Orders for the
due observance of Lent, with authority for the licensing of three
butchers and three or four poulterers, and stating his reasons for
desiring the number to be enlarged.
4th February, 1620.
VI. 80. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, authorizing him to license eight butchers and eight poulterers
during the ensuing Lent.
Whitehall, 14th February, 1625.
VI. 130. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, requiring him to take effectual means for the due execution
of the orders against killing and eating of flesh during Lent, and
admonishing him to cause sufficient provision and other Lent victuals
to be made, that the want thereof might not be a cause for the
breach of order, as it had been in former years; and further authorizing him to take the same steps as last year for the licensing of
butchers.
Whitehall, 26th January, 1627.
VI. 161. Similar in effect to No. 80.
Whitehall, 22nd January, 1628.
VII. 85. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor. They had been informed that the Fishmongers and others
within the City and suburbs, dealing in fresh and salt fish, had taken
advantage of the late Proclamation prohibiting the eating of flesh in
Lent, on vigils and other fasting days, to raise the price of fish to
excessive rates, and required him and all whom it might concern to
take such effectual order for the future, that there might be no further
cause of complaint.
Whitehall, last of January, 1632.
VII. 86. Letter from the Lord Mayor in reply, reporting his
proceedings, and requesting the Council to stop the killing and selling
of flesh in the outskirts of the City, whereby the Fishmongers would
be encouraged to make plentiful provision of fish, which would fill
the markets at reasonable rates.
Dated in margin, 9th February, 1632.
VII. 102. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, Aldermen, and Recorder, with respect to the abuses owing to
the excessive number of taverns, and the exactions used in the
immoderate prices of provisions in ordinaries and hostelries, which had
appeared in nothing more than in the excessive price of poultry of
all sorts; requiring them to set prices for all small acates (fn. 4) and other
provisions, setting up the same in public tables, and varying the prices
from time to time as they should think fit, reporting thereon quarterly.
30th December, 1633.
VII. 104. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor and Court of Aldermen, approving of the Orders given by
them with respect to the prices of small acates, and requesting them
to see the same strictly enforced; further directing their attention to
the excessive prices of butter, candles, and all sorts of fuel, especially
charcoal, and the abuses in the measuring, and requiring them, when
they had resolved upon a set moderation for prices, to cause a
schedule to be printed and published.
17th January, 1633.
VII. 109. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor and Court of Aldermen, with reference to their former directions touching the regulating the prices of small acates. They had
forborne to require so strict an account as otherwise they would have
done in regard to the intervention of the time of Lent; but now that
Lent was past they required that their former directions should be
exactly performed, and all offenders indicated at the next Quarter
Sessions.
7th April, 1634.
VII. 119. Order in Council directing the Lord Mayor, or such
as he should appoint, with a view to the further prevention of abuses
concerning the excessive prices of small acates, to call before them
all innkeepers, or such as should be thought fit, and cause them to
give bond, with good sureties, not to permit any small acates, butter,
&c., to be sold within their houses, or any other places belonging to
them, by country people; also to take bonds of the poulterers not
to sell any small acates above the rates limited, and if any refused
to conform, to report them to the Council.
30th May, 1634.
VII. 124. Order in Council, reciting that it appeared by information taken on oath by Sir Hugh Hamersley, Knight, (fn. 5) and pre
sented to the Board, that the prices of oysters had so much increased
within eighteen or twenty years, that Whitstable oysters, which then
sold for 4d. per bushel, were now sold at 2s.; that the best and largest
oysters were transported, and none but the refuse left for His Majesty's
subjects, and that at a very dear rate. The Council, therefore, order
that this being a droit d' Amiral, the Lords and Commissioners of
the Admiralty should be required to take the same into their care,
and if they deemed fit, direct the Judge of the Admiralty and the
Farmers of the Customs to attend them, and, after hearing their
opinions, to advise some fit course to prevent the abuse complained
of, and speedily to put the same into execution.
Hampton Court, 27th September, 1634.
VII. 126. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, complaining of his remissness in carrying out the former
Order of the Council for the rating and apprizing of small acates, &c.,
and requiring him to forward a list of offenders, and to report his
proceedings by the first of the next month; and to state what had
been done under their former Order, by the ensuing Wednesday.
15th October, 1634.
VII. 127. Order of the Star Chamber, reciting that an account
had been given them by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City
of London and the Justices of the Peace of Westminster, Middlesex,
and Surrey, as to the execution of the King's Proclamation, and the
Orders of the Board, with respect to the prices of poultry, small
acates, hay, oats, &c., and the taking of recognizances from innkeepers,
poulterers, &c., for the observance thereof. The Board, thinking it
just and reasonable that the prices to be set by Proclamation should
be varied according to the change of the times, direct the Lord
Mayor and certain Justices of the parts mentioned to meet and confer
as to the setting down of such new rates and prices as should be
indifferent, and present the same to the Council by the 14th proximo.
Star Chamber, 24th October, 1634.
VII. 131. Copy of Letter from the Lord Mayor and the Justices
before mentioned, forwarding their Certificate of the prices to be set
down for poultry, &c., as required by Letter No. 127.
17th November, 1634.
(The particulars of the prices are not given.)
VII. 134. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lords and
Commissioners of the Admiralty with respect to the prices of oysters,
requesting them to give order to Sir Henry Marten, (fn. 6) Knight, Judge
of the Admiralty, and to the Marshal and all other officers of the
Admiralty, not to suffer oysters to be transported by strangers or in
strangers' vessels, but to cause all such vessels to be arrested, and the
owners, their farmers and agents, committed to prison until they gave
bond, with surety, not to offend in like manner in future.
Whitehall, 19th December, 1634.
VIII. 111. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord
Mayor, to the same effect as No. 85, Vol. VII.
31st January, 1633.
VIII. 118. Same as No. 102, Vol. VII.
30th December, 1633.
VIII. 119. Same as No. 104, Vol. VII.
17th January, 1633.
VIII. 133. Same as No. 126, Vol. VII.
15th October, 1634.
VIII. 134. Same as No. 109, Vol. VII.
7th April, 1634.
VIII. 135. Same as No. 119, Vol. VII.
30th May, 1634.
And see "Vintners, Victuallers," etc.