ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 179 



a very cheap rate for seed bigg. Oats again are exceedingly 

 cheap, as is also oatmeal. Rye is sold at Hardwick at a low rate, 

 and peas at Cambridge and Worksop ; beans at Oxford, the price in 

 both cases being very moderate. The average price of wheat-flour 

 is unchanged from that of the previous year, oatmeal being slightly 

 cheaper. These facts indicate that not only was the harvest abundant, 

 but that its quality was high. 



1593-4. With this year the corn rents of S. John's, Cambridge, 

 are regularly commenced. It has this year only five of these days, 

 but subsequently it always gives six, ranging from September 29 to 

 August i. The price is comparatively low in all places as the year 

 begins, but becomes higher as the summer goes on, and the prospects 

 of the next harvest are forecast. This is seen in the Lammas price 

 (August i) at Cambridge and the second price at All Souls. Some 

 sales however at Worksop in September, 1594, are at comparatively 

 moderate prices. Wheat-flour is cheaper in London than it is at 

 Oxford, though it is described as fine. Barley and malt are also 

 cheap, though the latter rises as the year goes on. There is an entry 

 of barley-meal at London in June, the price of which is low. But all 

 other places point to the rise which takes place in the summer. I find 

 but one price of oats, where they are exceedingly cheap. But the 

 price of oatmeal and groats, though a little higher than before, is fairly 

 in accordance with other corn prices. Rye at Hardwick is at pro- 

 portionate prices, as ace also peas at Cambridge and Worksop, and 

 beans at Oxford, purchases being apparently made for the Corpus 

 stable every four weeks in the year. 



1594-5. We are now coming to a period of four years during 

 which prices were exceedingly high, two of them being years of 

 actual famine, the cause being, as usual, wet seasons. King's College 

 sold certain parcels of wheat and malt during the Christmas term, i. e. 

 from December 25 to March 25, and some malt in the next term. 

 These sales are made at lower rates than is indicated by the S. John's 

 corn rents, which stand unchanged at 401. all through the year. Eton 

 also buys at 401. The average rate of the Oxford rents is 44^. g\d. t 

 the second All Souls rent indicating a slight fall. But the general 

 ige is lessened by the Worksop sales, which are made from 

 October to March at an average of 26s. 8J</., though the price is 

 highest towards the end of the series. The Lancashire price does 

 not differ much from that at Cambridge. The sales of barley and 

 bigg are few. Barley is cheap in Lancashire, even when it is seed. 

 Bigg is dear in Notts. The malt sales of King's College are at an 



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