ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 223 



once at Crownish in 1343. Vetches are given at this place 

 also, and the other kinds of grain are represented. 



Onions and onion seed. Onions are priced five times; in 

 1320 at Sr., in 1333 at 4^., in 1347 at 5*. 4^. and 4?. 8<^., 

 in 1358 at 3*. 8^. the quarter. The price of wheat in 

 these years was respectively 6s. 5^., 4$-. 2^., 6s. 7f*/., and 



Onion seed is sold by the pound. It is also found five 

 times; first in 1280 at sixpence, in 1283 at a shilling, in 1294 

 at fourpence, in 1325 at fivepence, in 1326 at twopence, in 

 1376 at sevenpence. The first two quotations are from Ire- 

 land. 



Leek seed is found once in 1326, at twopence the pound. 



Mustard seed is found seven times. It is sold in 1285 at 

 is. 8</., in 1286 at is. $d. the quarter. But in 1298 it is sold 

 at 6s. 8^/., in 1334 at 6s. y in 1347 at 15^., in 1376 at 161., and 

 in 1395 at 41. 8d. The last three purchases are made by 

 Boxley Priory. I cannot account for so remarkable a varia- 

 tion in the market price of this article, except on the 

 ground that the demand on the large scale was very fluc- 

 tuating. Mustard was used very commonly as a condiment. 

 It occurs perpetually in the itineraries under the name of 

 c senapium.' 



There yet remain two kinds of seed hemp and linseed. 



Linseed is quoted five times; in 1306 at 12*., in 1325 at 

 los. 8^., in 1334 at 9^. 4^., in 1341 at 12^., in 1342 at 

 7*. 4</. 



The evidence supplied for the price of hempseed is far more 

 copious, and would probably supply a general average of 

 sufficient accuracy. 



Prices of hempseed are found for thirty-seven years, from 

 forty-eight places, and with fifty-one entries. The average 

 price for the whole period, entries being found between the 

 years 1271 1393? is 51. 7^. the quarter. 



Hempseed is as low as is. %d. in 1290, 1291, 1293, I 35? 

 and 1361. But it is sold at 7*. 4^. in 1272; at Ss. in 1298, 



