2 $6 ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 



of 1 6 chaldrons at Finchale. The average in London is 5.?. 4^., in 

 Durham 5J. 6d. Prices are therefore low, and for such distant places 

 very uniform. It is probable that the harvest was good and that 

 prices were low in the eastern counties. Finchale buys 2 2 chaldrons 

 of barley at 4^. $d. the quarter, which again corresponds with the 

 malt prices at Sion, where 43 purchases are made at an average of 

 4s. S^d., the Cambridge contracts being at 3^. Oats are rather dear, 

 as is also meal. A purchase of rye is made at Finchale, which gives 

 low prices of wheat, oats, and beans at a very high rate. Beans and 

 peas are cheap. 



1526-7. The evidence is not large. The King's Hall account is 

 at an average of 5^. 6d., and it appears that the price is steadily 

 growing. The Sion average, for the purchases are given in gross, 

 is 7-r. 3f</., the general average being 6s. 2d. Barley is only repre- 

 sented by Finchale, and is dear. Malt is found at Cambridge, at 

 which its average is 5-r. i</. 3 and at Sion where it is nearly as dear as 

 wheat. Oats are dear both in Oxford and Middlesex, and oatmeal is 

 at a considerably higher price. Beans and peas, returned from Sion 

 only, are dear. 



1527-8. The evidence is abundant. Wheat is very dear on the 

 eastern side of England, rising to i Ss. $d. at Cambridge and 1 8 s. Sd. 

 at Bardney, at each on one occasion. The evidence from Bardney 

 is very copious, and, though undated, is continuous, the average being 

 13.?. i\d. That of Cambridge is 15^. zd. That of Sion is i2s. old. 

 But it seems that corn was cheaper in the second half of the year than 

 it was in the first, owing to the foresight of the coming harvest. Barley 

 is cheap at Bardney, dear at Cambridge. Malt is dear at Bardney, 

 Cambridge, and Sion, where the averages are gs. 3^., 9^. 4^., and 

 los. gd., 450 quarters being bought at Sion.' It is cheaper at a 

 Wiltshire estate, the name of which is lost in the roll. But it is even 

 cheaper in the second half of the year. Oats are clear, as is also 

 meal. Beans and peas are at high prices. 



1528-9. W'heat is cheaper, though it is still high locally, standing 

 at 15.$-. to i6s. at Bardney, the former price being dated on Ascension 

 Day. It is also dear at Cambridge, and generally on the eastern side 

 of England, falling as the summer advances. The high comparative 

 price of barley is to be ascribed to the same cause, for it is plain that 

 prices are generally maintained in the earlier part of the year. Malt 

 is, however, cheaper. Oats are very dear at Bardney, but cheaper at 

 Finchale and Metingham Colege, where they are not above average 

 prices. Oatmeal appears to be dear, but the enlry mixes the price of 



