ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 267 



1571-2. The entries are numerous and varied. Wheat rises 

 considerably. The average at King's College is 13^. g^d., that of 

 Pembroke, I2J. i\d., of Oxford, 13^. 4^., so that this year Oxford 

 prices are slightly in excess of those at Cambridge. The general 

 average is 12.9. $^d. Barley and malt are both proportionate, but 

 slightly cheaper. Oats are hardly changed. Peas are a little cheaper. 

 Beans are not found. 



1572-3. The evidence of wheat prices is again copious and varied. 

 The average at Cambridge is 17^. iod., the price being heightened 

 by purchases probably made towards the end of the year, when the 

 maximum recorded, 26 s. io^d., is paid for six quarters. The Oxford 

 average is i2s. iod., the general average being 13^. 6\d. It is 

 probable that the prospects of the coming harvest seriously affected 

 later purchases. Barley in two places is dear. Malt, of which several 

 entries have been found, is nominally cheap. Rye follows wheat. 

 Oats are scarcely changed. Beans are not found. Eeas are rather 

 dear. 



1 573-4- The price of wheat is greatly exalted. The entries, as 

 before, are numerous. Cambridge and eastern England, however, at 

 which the average is 19.?. 4%.d., do not appear to have been com- 

 pelled to such high prices as the rest of the country, particularly 

 midland and south England, where 29^. ^d. is a common price. The 

 general average is 26s. s%d., that of Oxford being 24^. >jd. The price 

 of wheat was declared in the Corpus Christi College (Oxford) book 

 to be inaudita caristia in 1566, where once in the "year it rose to 

 26s. 8d., and stood all the year through at an average of over 19-$-. 

 Barley is not at a corresponding price, but malt is as dear as might 

 be expected. Beans and peas do not rise to their proportion, nor 

 does rye. Oats are dearer, at 8^. in Oxford. 



1 574-5- The price of wheat falls to a little more than half the 

 average of the previous year. Large quantities are bought for 

 military purposes at i6,r. The Cambridge average is nearly the same 

 as the general average, 14^. 3^. to 14^. z\d. Oxford prices are high, 

 the average being 17^. Sd. Barley is at its natural relation to wheat, 

 and malt follows the same rule. Oats are not so cheap as might be 

 expected, and oatmeal is rather dear. Peas and beans are dear. 



1 57 5-6. The evidence for the price of wheat is copious. The 

 rate, i^s. nd., is higher than in the previous year. Cambridge 

 wheat is bought at an average of 14^. 6d., Oxford at iSs. g^d. Prices 

 fluctuate greatly in the latter locality, ranging from i3>r. 4^. to 

 29^. \d. Barley has not been found. Malt follows the course of 



