THE PRICE OF WOOL. 381 



both for sheep and lambs' wool, are high-priced. The single sale 

 of lambs' wool by weight is that from Wolrichston, and is high. 



1379. The general average hardly suffers a change. Prices are 

 lower at Alton Barnes, but higher at Pershore and Wolrichston. 

 Ponteland wool is quoted at rather higher rates. This appears to 

 conclude a series of dear years, which has continued with no inter- 

 ruption except of a trivial character since 1366, and during which wool 

 has sold at prices which exceed, on an average, those of any other 

 term which could be in the period before us. Only one year, viz. 1320, 

 exceeds the price of 1375 and 1377, and it seldom happens that the 

 general average of the decennial period 1371-1380, i. e. 2s. 8f</., has 

 been previously reached in any single year. It will be seen that 

 this high price of wool tallies with other high prices at about this 

 time, as, for instance, cattle and stock. 



1380. No positive or direct evidence has been discovered for this 

 year. It seems clear, however, that prices are tending downwards. 

 If, for instance, we take an estimate from the price of inferior wool at 

 Weedon, and compare it with sales of similar quality in 1381 and 

 1383, we should not, I think, be far wrong in setting the average at 

 2s. 4,d. Ponteland gives an entry at this price, but this has not been 

 taken into calculation. The fleeces at Letherhead are low, but remain 

 at this rate during the next year, and vary very little from those of 

 Maldon in the year before. 



1381. The fall effected in wool is plainly discernible in this year. 

 Wolrichston produce is 50 per cent, lower than in 1379, and that 

 from Pershore is not very much more than half the price of that 

 given also in 1379. If we can judge from the Weedon sale of 

 inferior wool the rate was less than in the preceding year. 



1382. The evidence is supplied from Alton Barnes and Donyng- 

 ton, and gives the same average as in the previous year. The latter 

 estate appears to be situated in Lincolnshire. The entries of lambs' 

 wool are a little more frequent. 



1383. The only information comes from Wolrichston, the pro- 

 duce of which is sold at higher rates than in the year 1381. It 

 seems, then, that there was a rise, and that prices recovered to nearly 

 the same rate which prevailed in the last of the dear years. The 

 Weedon inferior wool is also relatively high. On the other hand, 

 the entry from Ponteland is very low. 



1384. There is no positive evidence for this year. Only one 

 entry is found in which wool is priced, that from Ponteland, the rate 

 of which will be found to be double that of the year before. It seems 



