250 ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 



1502-3. The evidence is more extensive, being derived from 

 numerous localities. Wheat is slightly cheaper, and is evidently 

 falling. The purchases at King's Hall are effected at an average of 

 6s. n\d., those at the other Colleges at dearer rates, the whole 

 Cambridge average being 7^. ^d. against 8,r. ofd., the general average. 

 Only a portion of the Sion purchases are preserved. These are high, 

 being ios., a price reached in only one other locality, Icklesham. 

 Barley is dearer than in the previous year, but is not at excessive 

 prices. Malt, derived from Cambridge and. Norfolk entries only, is 

 much cheaper than in the previous year. Rye corresponds to wheat. 

 Oats are rather dear, and there is no entry of oatmeal. Beans, of 

 which there are regularly dated entries at King's College, Cambridge, 

 from Dec. 1502 to Sept. 1503, are very cheap. There is no entry 

 of peas. 



1503-4. The entries from Cambridge are very numerous. In this 

 year King's College purchases all the year through by its three 

 bursars, the first effecting his purchases at 5^. >j%d., the second 

 (chiefly in May and June) at 6s. 3^., the third, principally in April, 

 at 6s. Sd. The Cambridge average therefore is nearly identical with 

 the general average derived from Wilts, London, and Norfolk. 

 Prices have fallen considerably. Barley is generally unchanged. But 

 malt, priced at Cambridge, Chesterton, and Norfolk, is low. Oats 

 again are cheaper, as is also rye, which follows wheat. Beans are 

 regularly purchased at King's College from October to August, at 

 prices ranging from 2s. Sd. to 4.?. 4^., the purchases being dated. At 

 the same place a single purchase of peas is effected at a price corre- 

 sponding to that of beans. 



i54-5- The price of wheat has fallen considerably, the average 

 at Cambridge being 5.5-. z\d. against $s. o\d., the general average. 

 At Sion, the accounts of which have only partially been preserved, it 

 is ^s. As the evidence is taken from a wide area, it will be seen that 

 prices are uniformly low. Barley is as dear as wheat, dearer than 

 malt, even in the locality from which sales of both are effected. Oats 

 are dear. Rye fairly corresponds to wheat. There is no entry of 

 oatmeal, or of beans and peas. 



1505-6. The evidence is scanty, but derived from scattered 

 sources. Wheat is still cheaper. It is 5^. *\d. at Cambridge, which 

 is considerably above the average, 4$. 10^. The produce of Isle- 

 worth is that of the Sion home farm. Barley is cheap at Isleworth, but 

 bought at a high price at Wearmouth. Malt, from the eastern 

 counties only, is cheap. Oats are derived from the Isleworth account 



