[472] This table of food was approved by the city rulers on 30th June, 1632 (Norwich Court Books). The keeper of the orphanage was sold wheat and rye from the granary at 12_s._ a combe and was given £4. 6_s._ 8_d._ for each child every year. He had also their work and certain allowances for their clothing.
It is these fluctuations that were the chief source of misery, and by lessening their effect the scarcity measures of the time were of enormous importance to the whole of the labouring class.
But relief in times of emergency was afforded to the needy in other times of exceptional distress.
[Sidenote: 5. Provision of fuel for the poor in Winter.]
In Winter fuel was provided. Thus at St Albans, wood was bought for the poor in the reign of Queen Elizabeth[473]. In London there was a coal yard before 1590, and early in the reign of James I. the City authorities obtained permission to import four thousand chaldron of "sea cole" free of duty for the purpose of supplying those in need of help[474]. Payments for fuel formed part of the regular organisation at Norwich[475], and directions to secure a supply to the poor of their district are contained also in the orders to the overseers of 1623[476]. This provision is another illustration of the fact that a great deal of the relief given was designed to protect the people from excessive fluctuations in price.
[473] _Corporation Records of St Albans_, A. E. Gibbs, June 10th, 1587, p. 28.
[474] _Remembrancia_, I. No. 586, II. No. 255 and VII. No. 193. In October 1630, the store of coal was larger than in former years. _Ib._ VII. No. 50.
[475] "Maioris Booke for the Poore" Norwich.
[Sidenote: 6. Help in times of sickness and plague.]
Methods of relieving the poor in times of sickness were also numerous. The Great Plague of London was not an isolated attack; throughout the seventeenth century few years pass without an outbreak in one of the large towns. Special orders were drawn up to prevent the spread of infection; watchmen were appointed to guard stricken houses, and the inmates for the time had to be supported by the community[477]. The cost of this severely taxed local resources. At Cambridge we hear that in 1630, 2800 claimed relief and only seven score were able to contribute. In this case a brief was issued authorising collections from other parts[478], and London and Norwich sent generous contributions[479]. One town seems to have helped another frequently when this scourge broke out: New Sarum sent aid to London, Norwich to Yarmouth, and both New Sarum and Bury thanked the Londoners for the help they had themselves received under like circumstances[480].