633 ON THE PRICE OF FOREIGN PRODUCE. 



cially when, as was the case with saffron, the dye could be 

 extracted and was permanent. 



FRUITS. Raisins, figs, currants, dates, pomegranates, and 

 almonds are quoted in the accounts. On one occasion raisins 

 are said to be Malaga (1284), and it is probable that they 

 were generally, if not always, Spanish fruit. The price varies 

 very much. The entries give an average of rather more than 

 2 \d. a pound. But raisins are also sold by the frail. Among the 

 entries given is one of the Countess of Leicester's purchases 

 in London, the price being very high. An average of three 

 others gives a price of y. 4^. for this quantity. If the price 

 of raisins by the frail corresponded with that by the pound, 

 the frail would contain about 14 Ibs. 



Figs are considerably cheaper, being worth not quite \\d. 

 the pound, from an average of eight' entries. Figs are also 

 sold by the frail ; one of these is bought, as before, by the 

 Countess of Leicester, and is exceptionally dear. The average 

 taken from four other entries is y. 7^. If, therefore, we 

 could rely on these relations of price, we should conclude that 

 the frail of figs contained 25 Ibs. 



Currants are quoted four times, generally as c raisins de 

 Corauntz,.' The average, most of the entries being late, is i\d. ; 

 the same price as raisins. 



Dates are quoted seven times. The price is nearly $d. No 

 intimation is given of the origin of this fruit. 



Pomegranates are quoted among the purchases of Earl Clare. 

 Two are bought in 1284 at a shilling each, six in 1285 at the 

 same rate, and six others at $d. 



The entry c arager in gobbets,' vol. ii. p. 545. iii., is pro- 

 bably candied orange-peel. 



ALMONDS. A number of entries are given of this foreign 

 fruit. Almonds are generally sold by the pound. If we can 

 rely on the evidence, as sufficient for purposes of inference, 

 almonds were worth rather more that i\d. a pound. They are 

 considerably cheaper before than after the Plague. 



They are also sold by the hundred. Eight such hundreds, 



