They established a maximum upon corn.

The skippers who had run their cargoes through the gauntlet, all the way from Flushing to Antwerp, found on their arrival, that, instead of being rewarded, according to the natural laws of demand and supply, they were required to exchange their wheat, rye, butter, and beef, against the exact sum which the Board of Schepens thought proper to consider a reasonable remuneration.

Moreover, in order to prevent the accumulation of provisions in private magazines, it was enacted, that all consumers of grain should be compelled to make their purchases directly from the ships.

These two measures were almost as fatal as the preservation of the Blaw-garen Dyke, in the interest of the butchers.

Winter and famine were staring the city in the face, and the maximum now stood sentinel against the gate, to prevent the admission of food.