circuit. Wither appeared on May 16th, 1632, and agreed to prosecute the matter in the Star Chamber because it was of too great importance to be delayed. The result does not appear.

Both these examples illustrate not only the assiduous attention with which the Council considered disputes, but also afford some indication of the type of difficulty with which the Commissioner had to deal. But the outstanding controversy which marked the bitterness of the relations between the justices and Anthony Wither was undoubtedly that which concerned the question of the market spinners. In all the counties the justices supported the market spinners while Wither allied himself with the "white" clothiers. There exists a document which is a copy of a statement of abuses delivered by Wither to the Council, and to it is affixed a note entreating the continuance of Wither's good work for which all good clothiers will give thanks. This is signed by some of the most substantial clothiers of the west-one at least professed to employ a thousand spinners —all of whom had a great interest in condemning the market spinners. Under cover of this dispute the justices began to show contempt for the person and wishes of Anthony Wither. On the petition of the clothiers the Council had recommended that the question of market spinning should be discussed in their "local clothing divisions," but in both Wiltshire and Gloucestershire the justices decided to unite so that the matter should be discussed in one meeting for the whole county. In Wiltshire where the discussion was in the hands of Sir John Danvers, the latter's clerk "gave ayme and intelligence to Sir Francis Seymour (one of the justices) of all private speeches betwixt myself and the clothiers at the lower end, and often as I was speaking he was observed by divers to use many gestures towards Sir Francis in derision of me."2 In Gloucestershire the justices were "with much partiality inciting and encouraging market spinners affronting and controlling the clothiers in all their speeches so that Market Spinners are encouraged to proceed and to increase their falsehood

to the destruction of trade and of making white cloth in a short time."3 Unfortunately for himself, Wither attempted to bribe five Wiltshire clothiers who usually bought their yarn in the market, to testify to the falsity of the yarn sold in the market. The clothiers, however, brought the matter before Sir Francis Seymour, who seized the opportunity of exposing it to the Council. This justice was apparently determined to secure the complete discomfiture of the commissioner. Later in the same year (1634) he brought a personal complaint before the notice of the Council to the effect that Wither had declared him to be "fitter to be a cobbler than a Justice of the Peace," whereupon, at the instigation of the Council, Wither State Papers, Dom., Chas. I., CCCCVIII., 15, 1638 ?

2 State Papers, Dom., Chas. I., CCVI., 57, 1631 Report of Wither to Council.

3 State Papers, Dom., Chas. I., CCVI., 56, 1631 Report of Wither to Council.

State Papers, Dom., Chas. I., CCLXVII., 17, 2nd May, 1634. Information given by Sir F. Seymour and other J.P.s. of Wilts against Wither. Privy Council Reg., vol. XLIV., p. 170, 22nd Oct., 1634.

5

was compelled to make a written apology for his conduct. This is the last incident recorded of the proceedings of the commission under Anthony Wither. From what subsequently transpired it appeared that his methods of investigation not only roused the animosity of the local authorities but were regarded with apprehension by his employers, the Merchant Adventurers. They feared that the suits which had been prosecuted in the Star Chamber against clothiers, and the benefit which the merchants received in forfeitures which were allowed to them under the clothing statutes, would bring the company into disrepute. The suit against Sir Edward Baynton in particular, was felt to be doing nothing to increase the prestige of the company. For this reason an application made by Wither for the payment of £150 for law suits, including 100 marks for the suit against Sir Edward Baynton, was temporarily set aside. In the following year the settlement of the account was again postponed until the Star Chamber proceedings between Wither and Sir Edward Baynton were ended. What the result of this was is not known, but the Merchant Adventurers were obviously anxious to dispense with the Commissioner's services without satisfying his demands. Wither finally appealed to the King for payment. In his letter he stated that he expected reward for his services from either the King or the Merchant Adventurers. The latter had paid him sufficient for the first two years, then had decreased the payment, and finally thrust him out of his place without acquainting the King of the fact. The reason he assigned for this action was that others had offered to perform the office more efficiently and at less cost. From this it would appear that Wither was dismissed, but a petition from the Merchant Adventurers, probably early in 1636, stated that Wither had "deserted ye ymploymt by him undertaken as Agent and Com' authorized under y greate seale for y true ordering of wooll and clothmaking," and petitioned for the substitution of John Holland for Wither. When the Council considered the new appointment, Wither was summoned before them. His defence does not appear, but the Council conceded the wishes of the merchants and confirmed the appointment of John Holland on 3rd February, 1535/6.8

1

1 State Papers, Dom., Chas. I., CCLXXVII., 101, 1634, Nov. 26th.

3 Discours.

2

The precise nature of this suit is not known.

on Freedom of Trade (anon.), 1645, p. 34. Quotation

from Court Book of Merchant Adventurers, 4th March, 1634/5.

* Court of Merchant Adventurers, 23th Aug, 1635.

State Papers, Dom., Chas. I, CCCCVII, 78, 1638? Comparing this with the date of the appointment of John Holland, the correct date should be the end of 1635.

Whatever the cause of the dismissal of Wither, it did not reflect upon his capacity to judge the value of cloth. In 1640 he was appointed as one of the eleven commissioners to report upon "say dyed cloth." State Papers, Dom, Chas. I., CCCCLIV., 84, 23rd May, 1640.

7 A John Holland is encountered as a merchant in 1640 buying Spanish cloth. See Privy Council Register, vol. LI., p. 373, 18th March, 1639/40. 8 Privy Council Register, vol. XLV., p. 412.

It is difficult to estimate the actual result of the commission upon the clothing industry in the West. Anthony Wither declared he saved the merchants £10,000 annually in freedom from abatements in Holland alone, where they sold but one half of their cloth.' This estimate is not an unbiassed one, but the merchants must have appreciated the benefits they had gained, for they appealed again and again for the renewal of the commission. The incompleteness of our information leaves much to the imagination. The reports of Anthony Wither are not all preserved, and none exist from the pen of John Holland. But other sources of information indicate that the advantages gained by the commission were very limited. Decrees of the Council were frustrated by inaction. The principle of Government control was accepted without question in the early seventeenth century, but at the same time capitalist action with a view to avoiding and stultifying that control was an indication of the approach of Laissez-Faire, in which the production of "true" cloth should be governed by the hope of a ready market and not by Government regulation.

1 State Papers, Dom., Chas. I., CCCCVII., 78, 1638?

SAVERNAKE FOREST FUNGI.

By CECIL P. HURST.

Savernake Forest affords great scope for mycological work and in it the British Mycological Society reaped a rich harvest when they visited Marlborough in 1903. The following gilled fungi or agarics, popularly known as "toadstools," over 160 in number, have recently been observed by me in the Forest, around the adjoining village of Great Bedwyn, and in the neighbouring woods. Rare or uncommon plants recorded are Pluteus cervinus var. patricius on a sawdust heap in Birch Copse, Flammula alnicola at the base of beeches in Wilton Brails and in Savernake Forest, the mushroom Psalliota Bernardii in a field at Newtown Shalbourne (it is a species which generally grows in pastures near the sea), Psilocbya spadicea not uncommon in woods in this district on stumps, Coprinus sterquilinus upon sawdust near Rhododendron Drive, the rare Magpie Mushroom (C. picaceus) on a ride in Tottenham Park near the Grand Avenue, the unpleasant smelling Hygrophorus fœtens observed near the village of Great Bedwyn, the beautiful orange-banded Lactarius zonarius in Bedwyn Brails, and the rare Panus conchatus on a stump in a field between Wilton Brails and Bedwyn Brails. The little Grey Chantarelle (Cantharellus cinereus) noticed in Noke Wood may also be mentioned among the uncommon species. The names and order of Mr. J. Ramsbottom's "A Handbook of the Larger British Fungi" have been followed, and Mr. E. W. Swanton, ex-President of the British Mycological Society has very kindly named the plants.

Amanita phalloides. The most dangerous fungus known, causing over 90 per cent. of the deaths due to fungi; many fatalities have resulted from eating this deadly agaric. Common in the woods; Bedwyn Brails, near Rhododendron Drive, etc. In De Lisle Hay's Fungus Hunter's Guide" this fatal species is very appropriately called the Archbane. Some account of the poisonous qualities of this plant is given at the end of this paper.

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A. muscaria. Fly Agaric. A large very handsome toadstool with scarlet cap spotted with white, growing under birches, on the roots of which it is probably parasitic; common under birches, very fine in Birch Copse.

A. rubescens. Very common in the woods; with a warty cap and white flesh instantly turning red when broken; Rhododendron Drive, etc., etc.

Lepiota procera. The Parasol Mushroom. Not uncommon in grassy places near trees and bushes; a large noticeable species.

Armillaria mellea. Very common on stumps in autumn; a conspicuous tawny toadstool growing in large tufts, and very variable.

A. mucida. On beeches; a beautiful species with pure white glutinous cap, extending sometimes to a great height on the trunk and branches of the trees; not uncommon in the Forest.

Tricholoma imbricatum. Marlborough Downs, near Hackpen Hill; entirely biscuit-coloured; upon Marlborough Downs, it was observed growing with T. personatum, on the 5th October, 1922.

T. saponaceum. An agaric with very rigid dark greyish cap and white flesh, sometimes turning reddish when bruised; not uncommon, under trees near Burridge Heath; Foxbury Wood.

T. sulphureum. A dingy yellow fungus with a strong smell of gas-tar; copse near Rhododendron Drive. In the "Fungus Hunters' Guide,” mentioned above, this plant is called "The Yellow Reptile," from its penetrating odour of gas-tar and its suspicious character.

T. gambosum. St. George's Mushroom. A large white species appearing about St. George's Day, the 23rd April, hence the popular name; not uncommon; on a grassy slope near Bloxham Copse; near Bedwyn Brails (a small form); at Thistleland, Great Bedwyn (May, 1924).

T. personatum. A large, conspicuous, and well-known species with a broad pale tan-coloured cap and stem covered with bluish fibrils; very common, Marlborough Downs, Tidcombe Downs, etc. ; often called blue-leg, blueitt, or bluette; the bluish fibrils on the stem render it easy of identification. This plant was at one time sold in Covent Garden Market.

T. nudum. A largish, beautiful violet-coloured toadstool, rather common in the woods, and becoming discoloured with age; Bedwyn Brails, near Bloxham Copse, etc., etc. Clitocybe nebularis. A big Clitocybe with broad smoky-brown cap, common in the woods; its large size (the pileus is sometimes half a foot across) and gregarious habit make it conspicuous; near Rhododendron Drive, in Savernake Forest, near the Bath Road, etc.

C. maxima. A huge species with a funnel-shaped cap occasionally a foot across, not uncommon around Great Bedwyn in woods, very scarce in some districts; Bedwyn Brails, Wilton Brails, near Rhododendron Drive. This species, like the next, often grows in large rings.

C geotropus. A very big toadstool, not unlike the previous species, but with a basin-shaped not infundibuliform cap; bearing brown spots when young, and almond-scented; close to the Grand Avenue, and near Rhododendron Drive.

C. cyathiformis. A very dark, almost black, agaric, occurring from August to February, possessing a cup-shaped pileus, and an easily-identified species. It is a winter fungus conspicuous during December, and I saw very characteristic examples near Botley Great Copse on the 29th Dec. of this year (1923).

C. laccata. An extremely common flesh-coloured toadstool, occurring everywhere in the woods, Bedwyn Brails, Forest, etc., etc., often called Laccaria laccata; the beautiful violet var. amethystina is also frequent in the woods, with the type; I have seen it in Bedwyn Brails, etc.

Collybia radicata has a very sticky grey cap, shining white gills, and whitish stem prolonged in the ground into a long tapering tap-root; not uncommon; in the Wilderness, at Marlborough: near Wilton Brails.

C. fusipes. A largish common reddish-brown agaric with ventricose cartilaginous stem; Foxbury Wood.

C. maculata. A big toadstool possessing a cream-coloured cap spotted with red and a hard striated ventricose stem also maculated with rufous spots, common in woods, very fine examples near Rhododendron Drive.