ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 22,1 



possible the course of the market, and making such comments 

 as the evidence suggests, or as may be inferred from notes 

 either contained in the evidence or supplied from other sources 

 of information. 



1401-2. The evidence is derived generally from Southern Eng- 

 land, though the Midlands and the East are represented. Prices 

 are not quite so high as in the preceding year, when wheat was nearly 

 8s. a quarter, it having now fallen to 7^. 5f</. Still it stands at over 

 IQS. in several places, at Alton Barnes, Bromham, Hornchurch, Stert, 

 and Takley. Rye is proportionately high. Oats and barley are also 

 dear, though they are not so high as might be expected. The com- 

 paratively high price of malt however suggests that the quality of the 

 barley was inferior, and the harvest like that of the preceding year was 

 probably wet, shortening the supply of wheat and lowering the malt- 

 ing quality of the barley. Beans, peas, and vetches do not appear to 

 have been much below an average crop. Pulse at Stert and Pershore 

 it seems is peas. If so, the price is nearly the same as that in other 

 places. 



1402-3. The price of grain is declining, and the average would 

 have been lower, but for the high price paid in the North East at 

 Jarrow and Wearmouth. These, it is probable, are purchases in the 

 later part of 1402, when the price was still high. The two northern 

 monasteries have to pay as high prices for barley, beans and peas. 

 Generally, however, prices have fallen considerably, and in many 

 places are not above the average. The evidence is abundant and exten- 

 sive, but is chiefly from the southern counties. The price of rye 

 corresponds to that of wheat, barley, and oats, a little cheaper than 

 the average. Beans, peas, and vetches of the last there is very 

 little information are at rates which are proportional to the average. 

 To judge generally, the harvest must have been better in the South 

 and West than it was in the Midland counties and in the East ; 

 for, omitting the two prices mentioned above, the highest rates realized 

 are at Heyford Warren, Hornchurch, and Kington, all in the Midlands 

 and Eastern England. It is not infrequently the case that when wet 

 is local, it is worst in the Midlands and Eastern counties. 



1403-4. The evidence of the price of wheat is derived from a 

 fairly wide range, extending over the Southern counties, and some 

 districts in the Midland and East. The price has fallen considerably, 

 the average being 4$. ii\d. In one or two places the price is high, 

 probably a relic of the last year's deficiency. But on the other hand 



