ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 363 



1552-3. Prices fall on an average at Cambridge to less than half 

 the rates of the previous year. They rise again, however, in the 

 summer, probably owing to local scarcity, the highest price being 

 reached on June 30, 14^., while the lowest was in January, 7.?. The 

 Wardrobe price is much higher than that at Cambridge, and it 

 appears from the price of wheaten flour &c. that corn was as dear in 

 Oxford as it had been in 1550-1. The Cambridge average is gs. 9f</. 

 Barley and malt returned from Oxford are not exceptionally high. 

 Oats are dear, as are also beans. 



1553-4. Wheat is a little cheaper on the average, but the market 

 fluctuates greatly. The highest prices at King's College are reached 

 in July, when wheat is bought at 13.?. 6d. But Pembroke College 

 buys wheat at i6s. Meal is very dear at Oxford. Barley and malt 

 are also dear. Oats are a little lower, but the price at the Wardrobe 

 is unchanged. Beans and peas are not found. 



1554-5. The King's College account is the only trustworthy 

 record of wheat prices. Unfortunately the account is, except in one 

 case, undated. The highest price, reached far on in the season, is 

 32.?., a price never paralleled except in one entry at Hatfield in 1551. 

 The price of flour at Oxford is much lower, and it seems that the 

 scarcity at Cambridge was to some extent local. The Wardrobe price 

 is too suspicious for entry, being at an average 9^. 3f<, i.e. less than 

 half that at Cambridge. Barley and malt are wanting. Oats are 

 dear. Beans and peas returned from Oxford are relatively cheap, 

 and strengthen the impression that the scarcity was local. 



1555-6. Prices rise still higher. One purchase of fifteen quarters 

 is made by Pembroke College at 32^. The King's College prices do 

 not fluctuate much, but as the account has only two dates, it is not quite 

 clear when the rise was effected, though, to judge from the character 

 of the harvest in 1556-7, it must have been when the prospects of 

 that year were foreseen. The highest King's College price is 265. 8d. 

 It is plain that the scarcity was general, for flour at Oxford is very 

 dear. Barley, found at Oxford only, is nearly as dear as wheat. Oats, 

 at Wardrobe prices, are unchanged. Beans and peas are very dear. 

 Malt has not been found. 



1 556-7 ' This year is one of famine. A few small purchases are 

 made in one or two places at low rates, probably by some stroke of 

 good fortune. But the price of wheat at King's College bears 

 evidence of the severity of the crisis. Before Christmas the price was 

 32J-. 8</. The lowest figure reached in the winter is 25^. \d. From 

 March to May the price is 40^. It falls slightly after this, and a little is 



