[361] Ibid., pp. 40–41.
[362] Camden Society (1847), Italian Relation of England.
[363] Camden Society (third series, vol. i.), Cely Papers. In 1480 the elder Cely writes: “I have not bought this year a loke of woll, for the woll of Cottyswolde is bought by the Lombardys” and in the following year, “Ye avyse me for to buye woll in Cottyswolde, bot it is at grate prise, 3s. 4d. a tod, and gret ryding for woll in Cottyswolde as was any yere this vii yere.”
[364] Cunningham, Growth of English Industry and Commerce, Early and Middle Ages, pp. 447–448. The statute sanctioning export without licence when the price was below 6s. 8d. was 15 Hen. VI., c. 2, which was made perpetual by 23 Hen. VI., c. 5. 3 Ed. IV., c. 2, forbade the importation of foreign corn except when the price reached 6s. 8d.
[365] Ibid., Modern Times, Part I., p. 85.
[366] e.g. The Commonweal of this Realm of England, pp. 54–60.
[367] See the whole question discussed in Schanz, Englische Handelspolitik, Band II., pp. 481–540.
[368] Northumberland County History, vol. viii. p. 232. In 1595 a dispute as to corn rents arose between the Earl of Northumberland and the Tynemouthshire tenants, the Earl insisting on payment by the Newcastle measure, the tenants demanding to pay by the Winchester measure, on the ground that they are so poor that “they are not able with horse, furniture, and geare to serve as their ancestors have done, as it appeared upon the late muster.” Evidence given by an ancient yeoman before the Commission appointed to hear the case showed that the tenants had formerly paid in money, and that the change from money to corn had been introduced in the time of the last Prior for the sake of the tenants, not for the sake of the Priory.
[369] Steffen, Studien zur Geschichte der Englischen Lohnarbeiter, Band I., pp. 254–255 and 365–366.
[370] The Commonweal of this Realm of England (Lamond), especially p. 81: “Knight: What sorte is that which youe said had greater loss thereby then those men had profitte? Doctor: It is all noblemen, and gentlemen, and all other that live by a fixed rent, or stipend, or doe not maner the grounde, or do occupie no byinge or sellinge.... He that maie spend £300 a yeare by such revennewes and fees, may kepe no better porte then his father, or anie before him, that could spend but £200. And so ye maie perceave, it is a great abatement of a man's countenance to take awaie the third part of his livinge. And therefore gentlemen doe so much studie the Increase of theire landes, enhauncing of their rentes, and so take farmes and pastures into theire owne hands.”