[455] _Dom. S. P._, Chas. I., Vol. 189, Nos. 11, 39, 92.
Still the balance of evidence is in favour of the orders. When they were first put in force they seem to have had a considerable effect in lowering the price. Many of the reports sent in during the last half of December and beginning of January tell us that this was the case[459], though after the beginning of the year prices again rose, because the corn was wanted for seed as well as for food. However even as late as April 30th a report from the district of Horncastle in Lincolnshire informs us that the writers have ordered the markets to be furnished every week with a particular quantity, and that the price of oatmeal, which was the chief food of the poor in that part of the country, had been lowered from eight groats to one shilling and tenpence[460].
[459] _Dom. S. P._, Chas. I., Vol. 177. Contains reports between Dec. 15th and 30th, 1630, and the following state that prices have lessened:--
Dec. 20th, No. 29. Anderfield etc., Co. Somerset prices decrease.
Dec. 21st, No. 31. Eight hundreds of York. Wheat 7_s._ and 6_s._ 6_d._ where formerly 9_s._ 6_d._
Dec. 21st, No. 32. Hundred of Lexden etc. Essex, "So as whereas before there was a great scarcitie and want of graine in every market and the price every-daie risinge nowe by these endeav^{ rs} the markets are fully served w^{ th}out any want and the prices of corne decreasinge."
Dec. 24th, No. 43. Dunmow etc. Essex. By means of "princely care" wheat has fallen from 8_s._ 6_d._ to 7_s._
Similar reports occur from Jan. 1 to 14th, 1630/1, _D. S. P._, Vol. 182, No. 2, 7, 39, 81.
In 1623 the approval of the justices expressly concerns the suppression of alehouses.
Feb. 14th, 1623, the Mayor of Launcester states that the price of a bushel of wheat has fallen from 12_s._ to 10_s._ and that the quantity of barley brought to market has doubled. (_Cal. of State Papers._)
The Mayor of Liverpool also reports that much good has been done by the suppression of alehouses. _Ib._ 20th Feb. 1623.
[460] _D. S. P._, Chas. I., Vol. 189, 58.
There are other statements of the same kind[461], but one of the most strongly expressed of these is from the justices of Suffolk, "We giue y^r lo(rdshi)ps many humble thanks for your great fauours shewed unto vs and to the whole state of this county in these necessiteouse times by those most prudent, compassionate and charitable considerations deliuered in your bookes of directions and sent vnto vs w^{ ch} we haue w^{ th} our uttermost endeauours laboured in euery parte to see accomplished as well by o^rselues as others. And we must acknowledge with o^r and the countryes great thankfulnesse unto y^r lo(rdshi)ps that y^e benefit w^{ ch} hereof hath arisen hath bine beyonde all expectation inestemable and of wonderful effect[462]."