254 ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 



average, 6s. &d. It appears that wheat was dear at the beginning of 

 the harvest year, and fell greatly towards its conclusion. I have 

 omitted the price of Wearmouth barley from my average, as the rate 

 per chaldron is excessive. Oats, beans, and peas have not been 

 found, and malt from Cambridge only. The price of malt fluctuates 

 largely, the average however corresponding to barley, 3^. 1 1 \d. 



1518-9. The King's College account for this year has been 

 found, as also that of Sion, the former, as usual, being dated. The 

 price of wheat is slightly above the average, large quantities having 

 been purchased at Cambridge in September 1519, probably in an- 

 ticipation of the next harvest, for the rate at which it stands in 

 October 1518 is only half that at which it is bought in the following 

 summer. The Cambridge average is 5^. 5f</., the Sion 5^. 7</., the 

 general average being 5,?. n^d. Barley is cheaper. Malt, returned 

 from Sion only (594 quarters), being nearly as dear as wheat. Oats 

 again are found at Sion only. Oatmeal is rather dear. Rye corre- 

 sponds to wheat. Beans and peas are at full prices. I have omitted 

 one entry of peas from Sion, for the price constrains me to believe 

 that it is one of garden peas. 



1519-20. The price of wheat is considerably higher. The general 

 average is 7-r. zd., that of Sion, 7^. 7<, that of Cambridge, 7^. 3^. 

 One parcel is bought at the last-named place at IQS. nd., and 20 

 quarters at Sion at los. 4\d. The price it is clear rose greatly with 

 the prospects of the next harvest, which we shall see was scanty. 

 Malt is derived from three sources ; Cambridge, where the average is 

 4^. 4\d., Sion, where it is 6,r. 7^., and Hunstanton, where it is less 

 than half the Sion price. Oats are not very dear. Malt is cheap at 

 Hunstanton, rather dear at Sion. Rye is cheap. Beans, of which 

 only one entry is given, and that a charge for a day's purchase by 

 travellers, are dear. Peas are cheap at Hunstanton, as are also seed 

 vetches. But an entry of peas at Sion is probably again of garden 

 produce. 



1520-1. The price of wheat is much dearer, the fullest account 

 being supplied by Sion, where the average is 8.r. 9^</., against 9.?. 4^/., 

 the general average, this being the highest price reached by wheat 

 since 1438. The London market fluctuates between 6^. the lowest 

 at Sion, and 13^. %d. the highest. The highest Cambridge price is 

 that of September 20, 1520, on which day a contract was made for 

 10 quarters at i2s., 25 at IQJ-., and 20 at 71., the variation on the 

 same day implying that the quality of the grain was generally low. 

 Barley, from the Sion and Hunstanton entries, was at an average of 





