all the afternoon, and the host to pay 10s.; and in 1632, the innholder of the Crown was fined 10s. for entertaining a dancer and some servants of the town late at night, and in a disorderly manner. In cases of slander and evil speaking, a similar authority was exercised. Thus, in 1608, a woman was ordered to leave the town who had been guilty of slander; and when, a few days later, it was discovered that she had not gone away, and had repeated the offence, she was condemned "to be set in a cadge with a paper before her." In 1633, Mrs. Knott was committed to the workhouse for scolding, brawling, and fighting with the wife of another man; while there is a presentment in more than one year, that "there is sad want in this town of a cacing stool, for the punishment of scowlds and such like male-factors;" a method of punishment now altogether obsolete, and, owing to the change of manners, less salutary and necessary than in former ages; but one which from more than one occurrence of the name among these papers, we presume to have been a formidable object of terror.
Nor was the enforcement of necessary discipline the only instance of a direct control over the town. We find many instances in which the mayor and corporation interfered directly with the prices of different articles of consumption. Thus, in 1606, "the Mayor and Justices of the Peace, finding that the price of malt is now sold after two shillings the bushel and not above," order "that, from and after Easter Day next, the beer-drawers of this town shall not make nor sell but two sorts of beer; and shall sell the double beer at 3s. 4d. the barrel, and their ordinarie at 2s. and not at anie other price whatsoever." A few years later, on the humble suit of the brewers, stating that malt was at 2s. the bushel, and hops at 8s. the hundred, order was given that they should brew and sell their double beer at 4s. and ordinary at 2s. A similar order is laid more than once upon the chandlers, and, in 1631, the vintners are enjoined not to sell their Gascoigne wine at more than 6d. the quart. Again, we find regulations as to the price of horse-hire, which throw considerable light on the value of money and the price of labour at the period. Thus, in 1577, there is an order, that none keeping horses or beasts for hire shall take for a journey of eight days or under, to London or Bristowe above 6s. 8d., and for every day after the said eight days be expired, not above
