328 THE PRICE OF LIVE STOCK. 



all cases oxen, and even cows, are exceptionally found at 

 higher rates in each year. 



Oxen are dearer than cows, and occasionally are far above 

 the average. In drawing this average I have taken no account 

 of c steers/ ( c juvenci' or c bovetti ' in the original accounts). But 

 I have always reckoned heifers among cows, as there is no 

 notable difference in the price of the several animals. Where 

 the price is so exceptionally low as to suggest that the animal 

 was unsound, I have followed the rule which I laid down for 

 myself in drawing corn averages, and have omitted the notice 

 altogether. These oxen were used for agricultural purposes, 

 and were shod, at least when engaged in draught. I have 

 found entries of shoes for oxen as well as for horses. 



There seems to be no great variety of breeds, at least there is 

 no notable difference of price between north and south country 

 cattle. In all likelihood the breed was the small ox now found 

 in Scotland and other mountainous regions. I have already 

 adverted to the fact, that unless cattle had deteriorated in 

 the sixteenth century, a circumstance by no means probable, 

 the carcase was light, for the oxen bought for victualling the 

 navy were not more than 4 cwt. in weight on the average. 

 Taking the hide, a very valuable part of the animal in the 

 Middle Ages, at an average value of J is. 6d. (it was sometimes 

 much dearer), the flesh of the average ox would be worth about 

 IDS. 6d. 



Walter de Henley a urges strongly on his grandson the superior 

 economy of employing oxen in preference to horses for agri- 

 cultural purposes. It is certain, he says, that ploughing by 

 oxen is far cheaper than that effected by horses, and equally 

 speedy ; though he admits that the c malice' of the servants is 

 the cause of the latter fact, who will not, he asserts, do more work 

 with their horses than they can help. He reckons that a team 

 of horses or oxen, beginning at day-break and leaving off at 

 3 p. m. (i. e. at the ninth hour), will plough three and a half 

 roods, or an acre of 'rebinatio,' that is of second or third 



n See above, p. 251. 



