6l8 SUNDRY ARTICLES. 



as I suggested in Vol. I, p. 643, that the high-priced vinegar, 

 which is sometimes found, and is dearer than wine, was 

 flavoured with condiments. On any other hypothesis, it is 

 difficult to understand how this article was worth 8d. a gallon 

 in 1433 and only id. in 1429. In 1460 it is ^d. a gallon, in 

 1463 it is 6d. y in 1464, \d. 



In early times the barrel and the cade were probably the 

 same measure, and contained no more, perhaps even less, than 

 a dozen gallons. Such are the entries of 1430, perhaps 1491, 

 1501, 1532, 1533, 1554, 1557 (when the puzzling word 'doleum' 

 is used), and in 1564. In 1567 a rundlet is employed to denote 

 the quantity, and in 1563 a rundlet is described as containing 

 thirteen gallons. 



An average from thirty entries between 1457 and 1538 gives 

 nearly 13^-. as the price of a hogshead of vinegar. An average 

 of eleven entries between 1545 and 1581 gives 2,8s. *jd. for the 

 same quantity. Once, 1458, it is sold by the pipe, apparently 

 of two hogsheads, and in 1566 by the tun, apparently of four 

 hogsheads. But in each case, if this estimate be correct, the 

 price is greatly reduced in the large quantity. In 1568 it is 

 bought by the rundlet, perhaps the quarter of the hogshead. 



Aleager and bereager are articles almost peculiar to Cam- 

 bridge. It is plain that they are malt vinegar, the former the 

 product of ale, i.e. malt liquor to which hops had not been 

 added, the latter of beer, i.e. of hopped malt liquor. Aleager 

 is found only three times in the earlier period (1401-1540), 

 and twice only in the fifteenth century. Bereager occurs for 

 the first time in 1535. 



The first entry of aleager is in 1423, when it is bought at 

 id. a gallon. It is next found in 1458, when a cade costs 5^. 

 In 1524 it is bought by Sion at id. the gallon. After 1541 it 

 is common, appearing nearly every year in the King's College 

 accounts and elsewhere in Cambridge^ It is estimated by the 

 cade, the kilderkin (the commonest measure), and the doleum. 

 It seems that the doleum was the same as the kilderkin. It 

 is probable that the kilderkin was a quarter hogshead, but 



