343 THE PRICE OF LIVE STOCK. 



entries of swans and cygnets, also it appears called synetts, 

 than have come under my notice in the previous period. There 

 are also a few entries of game. 



Capons are found very frequently in the earlier part of the 

 period. They are dearer during the fifteenth century than they 

 were in the fourteenth, when the average was ^d. It is now 

 4*/. up to 1470, when it rises to 4J<, and in the following 

 decade (1481-90) to 5^., in the next to 6f^., in the next to 

 9J^., in the next to is. o\d., in the next is as high as is. 4f</., 

 the highest rate, with the exception of 1551-60, at which it 

 stands. The explanation as before is to be found in the facts 

 that I have taken the highest price, and that the sales are 

 those of the best quality. Frequently these capons are pur- 

 chased for royal and noble persons, or for banquets, when 

 exceptional outlay was expected and incurred. A distinction 

 is drawn towards the latter end of the period, between coarse 

 capons and capons of grease, the latter being the choicest 

 produce of the farm-yard. The better quality is also described 

 as Kent capons. Thus, in 1527, three capons of grease are 

 bought for a feast given by the king (Henry VIII) at Windsor 

 on Feb. 25 (1528), when the price of poultry is exceedingly 

 high, capons being charged 2s. ^d. each, fat hens is., and 

 pigeons zs. the dozen, no parallel to these prices being found 

 before, or indeed for some time afterwards. It may be stated, 

 however, that poultry is almost universally dear during this 

 year. During the last years of the period the price of capons 

 is generally derived from the Oxford city feasts, for the ex- 

 penditure of the Colleges is greatly curtailed, owing to the 

 general rise in prices and the inelastic character of rent. 



The average price of the best hen during the first 140 years 

 is z\d. The evidence is fairly continuous, down to the later 

 part of the second period, when it is a great deal broken. 

 The average from such information as is forthcoming is ^\d. 

 The average price of chickens in the earlier period is ij^/., 

 and it rises to 3^. in the later period, when more evidence is 

 found than there is for hens. There are only a few entries of 



