368 ON THE PRICE OF FARM PRODUCE. 



rule, they must have used rushes stripped on two sides, and 

 dipped in grease for occasional light 1 . But with increased 

 wages and cheaper articles, artificial light was far more acces- 

 sible in the fifteenth century. 



The New College accounts give certain entries of lichinum, 

 that is, of loosely plaited wick. This is of two qualities, 

 described as melitis and pejus^ and is generally bought at id. 

 and \\d. the Ib. Wick is also purchased under the English 

 name in other places and at the same prices. 



Cotton for wicks, of which there are thirteen entries in the 

 tables of sundry articles, was very dear, though not so costly as 

 it was in the fourteenth century. It fluctuates considerably; 

 6s. %d. and 6s. 4^. the dozen Ibs. in 1455, Ss. 6d. in 1459, Js. 

 in 1460, 4^. in 1462, when it is called wick yarn, nearly los. in 

 1466, 7y. in 1482, 3^. 9< in 1494, 6s. in 1518, 1521, and 1524, in 

 which last year it is also bought at 5^. 4^., 5^. %d. in 1522, 8^. 

 in 1529 and 1530. But in 1571 it is bought for 3^. 



Candles are frequently described as of Paris, especially in the 

 middle part of the period. These are sometimes dearer than 

 English produce, though frequently of the same price. But they 

 are not found in the later part. The purchases are occasionally 

 very large, probably because it was known that candles are the 

 better for keeping. Thus Sion Abbey buys between 100 

 and 200 dozen in the year, and at one time. Metingham 

 College purchases 406 dozen in 1528. Cambridge (King's 

 College) 120 dozen in 1547. 



Metingham College buys candles by thecwt., and in the two 

 years' account of this college pays Ss. 6d. and Ss. yd. for the 

 hundred. The hundred-weight is also used at Kirling, which 

 gives late information (in 1577 the cwt. is z$s., in 1578 and 

 1579 32^., in 1580 30.?.), and at Cambridge in 1581, where it 

 is 255-. By this time the price had risen to 3^. and 3^-. 6d. the 

 dozen, though occasionally purchases are made at cheaper 

 rates. 



The rise in the price is exceedingly suggestive, but com- 



1 Candle rushes may be found in Vol. III. p. 565 i, 566 i, &c. 



