ON THE COST OF CARRIAGE. 



1284, 25 quarters of wheat are sent by water from Middleton 

 in Kent to London at a similar rate, and 46 from the same 

 place to Weybridge at a little over id. In 1292, 50 quarters of 

 wheat are sent by water from Weston in Herts to London at 

 2^., in 1298, ii quarters of oats, from the Isle of Wight to 

 Southampton, at a freight of less than i^.; and a larger importa- 

 tion is made in 1300 at equally low rates. In 1316, 50 quarters 

 of oats are sent from Westshene (Richmond) to London by 

 water at a halfpenny the quarter. In 1330 upwards of 41 

 quarters of wheat are carried from the Isle of Wight to South- 

 ampton at id. the quarter. This probably includes landing, as 

 GOD'S House was close to the water. 



The conveyance of rather less than a fother and three- 

 quarters of lead from Worcester to St. BriaveFs in 1374 is 

 entirely, or almost entirely, effected by water. The material is 

 first carried down the Severn to Bristol, then sent back by the 

 Ouse and up the Wye to Monmouth, the short distance between 

 this last town and the place for which the lead was destined 

 being effected by land. If we take into account the necessary 

 length of the journey, the charges for transport (13*. 6d.) are 

 not at all high. 



The charges incurred in sending munitions from Bristol tc 

 Carnarvon Castle in the year 1297 are also instructive. The 

 voyage round the Principality is taken in the winter, and the 

 time occupied in the passage includes, no doubt, the return 

 voyage. But the ship with its complement of sailors is hirec 

 at less than is. a-day. The carriage of the munitions from tht 

 armourers in Small Street, Bristol, to the castle, and thenct 

 to the ship, is duly entered, and must certainly have beer 

 bargained for, since exactly a halfpenny the coffer is paid foi 

 the service of carriage from the shop to the castle, and the 

 same sum for carriage from the castle to the vessel. The shif 

 took also a tun of honey divided into four barrels. 



So, again, a vessel is hired to take 1725 fagots from Chippen- 

 ham manor to the Tower. Here the rate paid is much higher, 

 the journey probably in this case (the return is not included 



