272 ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 



then a dear year. Then a cheap year, then a year slightly 

 above the average. Then seven cheap years, and two dear 

 years. Two moderately cheap and one dear year. Then five 

 average years, followed by three of great dearth, in which the 

 middle year is the worst and the worst of the century. Then 

 come five cheap years, followed by a slightly dearer year. Four 

 fair years come next, and two rather deficient follow. Then 

 eight cheap years and two dear years ; followed by seven cheap. 

 Then comes a dear year, followed again by seven cheap years. 

 Then come two rather dear years, two cheap years, and three 

 very dear years, the middle being again the worst, the interval 

 between these two periods of great scarcity being forty-four 

 years. Then come seven good years, and one rather poor year, 

 followed by nine good years, when three dear years follow. 

 Then come eight cheap years, and two dear, one, the first, being 

 very dear. Then one cheap, one dear, one cheap again, one 

 dear, one cheap again, and three dear, the middle being the 

 dearest. Then come four average or cheap years, to be followed 

 by thirteen years in all of which wheat prices are above the 

 average. Two cheap years conclude the first period. 



In the second period, during which the general average is 

 j$s. lojdf., there are first four years a great deal below it, fol- 

 lowed by one considerably above it. Then come three cheap 

 years and three dear years, then two cheap and three very dear 

 years, one being the highest of the period. Then come three 

 cheap years, and two dear, one cheap, one dear, two cheap, one 

 dear, five cheap, and one very dear. In none of the subsequent 

 years, from 1574 to 1582 inclusive, does the price of wheat fall 

 below the general average. In point of fact prices were steadily 

 rising, and no recurrence to old money values was possible. 



The average price of barley is 3.$-. 8^. Evidence is wanting 

 for 1512, 1529, J543, 1544, in t^ e second of which malt is als< 

 wanting, in 1550, 1551, in 1554, when malt is also again 

 wanting, in 1569, 1570, 1575-6-7, in 1579 and 1581. But in al! 

 the years except those noted, where the price of barley is absent 

 that of malt is found. The fact is, duiing considerable parts 



