AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS AND TOOLS. 425 



1423 for Js. Afd. ; a sailyard and nails at Brightwalton in 

 1425 for IQS. ^d. ; two mill-wheels, a cog, and a water wheel, 

 for 29^. 4d. at Yartcombe in 1428 ; a cogwheel at Coleshull for 

 gs. 6d. in 1439, and for 13.9. ^d. in 1477 5 a molucrum or y a ke 

 of a mill at the same place for 4^. in 1448 ; a water and cog- 

 wheel at Writtle in 1541 for 53.$-. ^d. 



It appears however that the lessors of mills generally under- 

 took repairs themselves. Towards the latter end of my earlier 

 period I found that the entries of particulars, even of millstones, 

 became scantier, though the great cost of these articles, when 

 of the best kind, disabled or discouraged in many cases the 

 miller from incurring the outlay. 



I have however been able to collect sufficient evidence for 

 my purpose. As before, there are great varieties in the price 

 of these articles, and it is clear that some are local and English, 

 while the best are those of Paris or Andernach. Those ob- 

 tained in the west of England are generally cheap. So are 

 some in the more northern midlands, in Bucks, in Durham, 

 and in parts of eastern England. The millstones bought at 

 Sion and at Cambridge are generally cheap. A considerable 

 entry from Bastlow refers to sales from the local quarries. 



The best millstones were very costly. One is bought at 

 London in 1410 for io6s. 8d. One at Worminghurst in 1425 

 for 14 1 s. 8d., and three others at the same place in 1428 at /u. 

 each. Hornchurch gives Sos. in 1446 ; Lynn 8cs. in 1449. ^ n 

 1457 a stone is purchased at Lymington for 73^. ^d. ; one at 

 Oxford in 1489, described as fifteen hands in diameter, for 

 66s. 8d. ; two at Ramsey in 1496 for 66s. 8d. and 63^. 4^.; one 

 at an unknown place in Devonshire in 1517 for 86s. 8d.; 

 two at Bischanger, a New College estate, for 73.$-. ^d. and 



But the largest and most expensive purchases are made by 

 the city of Oxford in 1567, 1572, 1574, and 1581. 



In the first of these years two stones are bought at j los. 

 each, the carriage being 3 6s. 8d. In the next, two more, the 

 cost of carriage being included, for 17 19^. id., i.e. deducting 



