VINEGAR. ALEAGER. BEREAGER. VERJUICE. 619 



much dearer proportionately than the larger quantity. An 

 average of twenty entries by the kilderkin, cade, and doleum, 

 assumed to be identical after 1541, gives $s.$\d. 



Bereager is far less frequent, and here it appears that the 

 doleum and the hogshead are of the same magnitude, while 

 the cade, which occurs only once, is a fourth of the quantity. 

 The barrel of 1570 seems to be also a hogshead. The average 

 of eight entries is 6s. $\d. The hogshead of aleager is ios. in 

 1551 and 1563. Aleager becomes dearer from 1575, but bere- 

 ager is rather cheaper. I conclude that the latter was less in 

 demand than the former. 



The price of verjuice is very fluctuating, and the article is 

 measured in various quantities. In 1448, 1449, anc * 1488, it is 

 bought by the gallon, in the first year at 3^., in the other two 

 at id. In 1510 it costs $\d. the gallon ; in 1557 and 1558, is. ; 

 i n T 573> Is - %d. Sometimes the quantity purchased by the 

 gallon is large, 63 gallons in 1448, 72 in 1449; sometimes it 

 is small. In 1506 it is bought at 6d. the dozen, and it may 

 be noted that vinegar is very cheap this year. In 1528 it is 

 bought by the vessel at Nottingham, and in 1535 by the firkin 

 at Cambridge, when it is again very cheap. 



It is sold by the pipe in 1504, i6s., and in 1524, 2Oj. ; by 

 the hogshead in 1516, 1525, 1529, 1550, and 1567, at an average 

 of ios. nd. 



It may be convenient here to say a little about the price of 

 crabs, the fruit from which verjuice was pressed. The price 

 fluctuates greatly. Crabs are always bought by the quarter. 

 In 1414 they are 6d. the quarter, in 1415, 6s. id. The first 

 was a very dry year, and probably the crop was very abundant. 

 They are again at 3.$-. 6d. in 1460, and at %d. in 1465. They are 

 again 5^. 4^. the quarter in 1557. An average of nineteen 

 entries gives is. io\d the quarter. 



THE OFFICES. The economy of the kitchen leads one to 

 that of the offices. Barrels cost about iid. each, casks at a 

 later period is. id.> hogsheads are only ^\d. in 1504, and is. 

 in 1577 and 1580. 



