Folios 229-232. Folios 229 and 231. Letter dated at Sibton Abbey, [near Saxmundham],...

Folios 229-232. Folios 229 and 231. Letter dated at Sibton Abbey, [near Saxmundham], Suffolk from J [John] F [Freston] Scrivener to [Lord Rochford] bringing to his attention a possible outbreak of horned cattle distemper in the dairy cows and calves belonging to John Smith of Laxfield. Scrivener says that a cattle dealer of whom he made enquiry assures him that he knows of no distemper anywhere else 'within many miles or in England'. He suggests that the disease must be imported in hides by Yarmouth to Norwich where Smith bought a cow and calf, the calf being the first to sicken. In a post script Scrivener writes 'As the man has been very careful, on account of a large remaining stock, tis possible, but I fear not probable that it may go no further, the stench he says, even when alive, makes it impossible to wear the clothes he attends in, for a considerable time after'. Folio 230. The Information of John Smith of Laxfield, Suffolk farmer regarding the outbreak of what he believes to be 'the contagious distemper that has been so destructive to the horned cattle' in his herd of dairy cows. Folio 232. Letter dated at St James's from Sir Stanier Porten to the Clerk of the Council in waiting enclosing the foregoing letter and Information to be put immediately before the Lord President.