238 ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 



Wearmouth are small. Barley is dearer, and malt, of which large 

 quantities are bought at Cambridge and Sion, is at a much higher 

 price, the purchases of the latter place being 340 quarters at an 

 average of 6s. 4^., while the Cambridge malt is bought for 4$. ^d. 

 There is, after several years, another entry of drage. Oats are dearer, 

 and the price of oatmeal is higher than it was in the previous year. 

 Rye fairly corresponds to wheat. Beans and peas, if I can rely on 

 very scanty entries, are dearer, and correspond to the price of oats. 



1454-5. The information is extensive and wide. All kinds of 

 grain are cheap. Wheat is at a lower price than at any year in the 

 century, and barley and malt are also very cheap. The Cambridge 

 purchases are obtained at %s. 5</. on an average on 257 quarters, those 

 of Sion are at 5^. 3! </. on over 383 quarters. Oats and oatmeal are 

 similarly cheap. I have found no price of either rye or beans for the 

 year. Peas and vetches are low. In no part of England are there 

 high prices, and the year must have been one of exceptional abund- 

 ance. The reader will remember that in the summer of 1455 occurred 

 the first battle of St. Alban's, the virtual commencement of the 

 civil war. 



1 455-6. The evidence, though not so extensive, is sufficient. The 

 price of wheat rises to its average amount. It is, however, dear at 

 Lullington, above the average in eastern England, and below it in 

 the midland district. The Sion purchases are nearly at the general 

 average, being 5,$-. %\d. t a proof that grain was plentiful in London. 

 Barley and malt have risen, but the Sion purchases, 320 quarters, are 

 obtained at a less rate ($s.) than in the preceding year. Oats rise 

 slightly in price, as does also meal. Peas are cheap. One lot of seed 

 vetches is high priced. I have no entry of drage or of beans for 

 the year. 



1456-7. The entries of this year are very numerous, though the 

 localities are few. They contain entries from King's Hall, Cambridge, 

 which are undated, but continuous from King's College, which are 

 dated from Sept. 30, 1456, to October, 1457, perhaps to November 

 in the same year, and another long series from Fountains Abbey. The 

 average from each of these localities is 4^. io\d., $s. 2^., and 5-r. 

 It appears that in July and early in September there was a sudden and 

 sharp rise, due probably to anticipations of a defective harvest for 

 the next year. This is particularly marked at Fountains, but is dis- 

 cernible also at Cambridge. The general average is close upon 

 Barley, however, is low, the average at Fountains, in which more than 

 358 quarters are bought, being 3.9. 6|^/., while elsewhere, especially in 



