ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 



in the earlier part of the period. Between 1501 and 1538 

 inclusive, evidence is accorded for twenty-three years. But 

 from 1539 to 1569, I have found only three entries, none in 

 the decade 1541-1550, two in that from 1551 to 1560, one 

 in that from 1561 to 1570. During the last twelve years there 

 are eight entries. 



I have generally commented on the price of oatmeal as I 

 treated of the harvest of each ~year, and as suggestive at once 

 of ordinary corn prices, and as indicating the quality of the 

 oats. The entries come, almost without exception, from the 

 records of collegiate and monastic houses, and especially from 

 the several Cambridge Colleges. The purchases are generally 

 of very small quantities, and, as I have suggested in my earlier 

 volumes, it must have been ordinarily used for thickening 

 soup. 



Though the information is so scanty for the latter part of 

 the period, the rise in price is almost exactly equivalent during 

 the last forty-two years, for which I have only eleven entries, 

 to that which is seen to be effected in other kinds of corn, 

 i.e. about 2 4 times on the average of the first 140 years (i.e. the 

 new prices are as five to two), and thus affords, coordinately 

 with similar evidence, an illustration of the change which was 

 gradually effected in the purchasing power of money after Henry 

 the Eighth had debased the currency, and Elizabeth was won- 

 dering when she restored it, that prices were still high and the 

 old relations of money and value were permanently altered. 



GARDEN PEAS AND BEANS. This kind of seed, under the 

 names of pottage, green, grey, and white peas, and garden 

 beans, is found frequently, especially in the expenditure of 

 collegiate and monastic houses. Between the years 1403- 

 1538, after which date such entries entirely disappear, there 

 are 61 years in which there are entries of green peas, 56 in 

 which I have found pottage or porridge peas, four in which 

 white peas, evidently garden produce, and five in which grey 

 peas, of a similar character, are entered. Garden beans, 

 always at a very high relative price, even when other legumes 



T 2 



