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He who had some pence by him converted them immediately into

bread and flour, which was piled in chests, in small casks, and

even in vessels of earthen ware. In thus attempting to extend the

advantages of the moment, their long duration was rendered, I do

not say impossible, for it was so already; but even their

momentary continuance thus became still more difficult.

On the fifteenth of November, Antony Ferrer, "_by the order of

his excellency_," published a decree in which it was forbidden to

any one, having any quantity of grain or flour in his house, to

purchase more; and to the rest of the people to buy bread beyond

that which was necessary for two days, "_under pecuniary and

corporal penalties at the discretion of his excellency." The

decree ordered the anziani_ (officers of justice), and invited

every body, as a duty, to denounce the offenders; it commanded

the judges to cause search to be made in every house which might

be mentioned to them, issuing at the same time a new command to

the bakers to keep their shops well furnished with bread, "_under

penalty of five years in the galleys, and still greater

punishment at the discretion of his excellency_." A great effort

of imagination would be required to believe that such orders were

easy of execution.