[1641/8/224]¹

Act discharging the transportation of eggs

Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament find that it is necessary and expedient for the good of the public that the transporting of eggs out of this kingdom be restrained, in respect it brings not any considerable monies into the country in no way comparable to the loss, considering that the diet of poor labouring people and servants, who eat only bread and drink water, if eggs were restrained, might be bettered by getting eggs to his meat at an easy rate, or of his own, the breed of chickens, hens and capons would be in far greater abundance, so that they might sell at two pence, a groat and sixpence where they are now two groats, twelve pennies and eighteen pence, and where the eggs sell now at forty pennies sometimes, a groat might be sold for twelve pennies or eighteen pence, and where they give 5s 6d where the salt is made, they might sell their dearest for a tuppence, therefore to grant a restraint under the pain of confiscation of the eggs and £100 on every occasion to be incurred by the party transporter to be proved by witness or oath of party.