Orders Appointed by His Maiestie to be Straitly Observed, For the...
Orders Regulating Grain Allotment Among the Poor [Great Britain]. Charles I [1600-1649], King of England. Orders Appointed by His Maiestie to be Straitly Observed, For the Preventing and Remedying of the Dearth of Graine and Victuall: With His Maiesties Proclamation, Declaring His Royall Pleasure and Further Commandement Therein. London: Imprinted...by Robert Barker and by the Assignes of Iohn Bill, 1630. [xviii], 27, [1] pp. First leaf, a blank, signed "A." Quarto (7" x 5"). Stab-stitched pamphlet bound in recent three-quarter morocco over marbled boards, blind rules to morocco edges, raised bands and gilt title to spine, top-edge gilt. Negligible light rubbing to extremities, boards very slightly bowed. Light toning to interior, very light foxing and soiling to a few leaves, early ownership signature (of Sir Robert Gordon) and brief early notation to title page. A handsome copy. $1,250. * Only edition. A collection of orders to justices of the peace and other overseers of the poor dictating how they were to respond to food scarcity in their communities. As the proclamation itself notes, this was largely an expansion of similar orders and reforms to the poor laws made by Elizabeth I and James I. (The practice of grain market regulation after crop failures had expanded significantly under Elizabeth in 1586.) Among other requirements, the orders mandated that corn be sold in an open market and that justices of the peace be present to ensure fair prices and prevent hoarding. Our copy was owned by Scottish politician and courtier Sir Robert Gordon [1580-1656], whose extensive private library was sold at auction in 1816. OCLC locates 5 copies of this title in North America (Harvard, University of Illinois, University of Pennsylvania, Boston Public Library, Huntington Library). The ESTC adds a North American copy at Northwestern. English Short-Title Catalogue (ESTC) S101037.
Price: $1,250.00
Book number 74849