October 10, 1520. Memorandum that the Xth day of October and in the [eleventh] year of the reign of King Henry VIII, then Master John Bond being Mayor of the City of Coventry, the price of all manner of corn and grain began to rise. Whereupon a view was taken by the said Mayor and his brethren what stores of all manner of corn, and what number of people was then within the said city, men, women and children, etc.
[Here follow particulars of the number of persons and amount of grain in each ward.]
| Summa Totalis of } | { In Malt, 2405 qrs. | |
| the people then } | { In Rye and Mastlin, 100 qrs. 1 strike. | |
| being within the city, } | Summa Totalis | { In wheat, 47 qrs. |
| of men, women } | 6601 persons. | { In Oats, 39 qrs. 2 strike. |
| and children. } | { In Pease, 18 qrs. 2 strike. |
Also a view by him taken what substance of malt was then brewed within the city weekly by the common brewers that brewed to sell.... The number of all the common brewers in the city ... 68. Item, they brewed weekly in malt 146 qrs. 1 bus.
Mem., that there was brought into this said city the Friday before Christmas Day in the year of the said John Bond then being Mayor, by his labour and his friends, to help sustain the city with corn, of all manner of grain Summa 97 qrs. 6 strike.
Mem., that there was at that time 43 bakers within the city, which did bake weekly amongst all 120 qrs. of wheat and 12, besides pease and rye.
5. The Municipal Regulation of Wages at Coventry [Coventry Leet Book, Part III, pp. 688-9], 1524.
[Enacted] that the weavers of this city shall have for the weaving of every cloth, to the making whereof goeth and is put 80 and 8 lb. of wool or more to the number of 80 lb. and 16, 5s. for the weaving of every such cloth; and if the said cloth contain above the said number then the weaving to be paid for as the parties can agree, and if the cloth contain under the said number, then the owner to pay for weaving but 4s. 6d. And if the cloth be made of rests or green wool, then to pay as the parties can agree; and the payment to be made in ready money and not in wares as it is wont to be, and who refuses thus to do, and so proved before Master Mayor, to forfeit for every said default 3s. 4d., to be levied by the searchers of the said craft of weavers, with an officer to them appointed by the said Mayor, to the use of the common box. [Enacted] that every clothier within this city shall pay for walking of every cloth of green wool or middle work, 3s. 4d., and for every cloth of fine wool as the clothier and walker can agree, and that the clothier do pay therefore in ready money and not in wares.
6. An Act for Avoiding of Exactions Taken Upon Apprentices in Cities, Boroughs and Towns Corporate [28 Hen. VIII, c. 5. Statutes of the Realm, Vol. IV, Part I, pp. 286-8], 1536.