ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 197 



1629-30. Prices begin at an average amount and steadily rise 

 up to the end of the agricultural year, wheat being i u. a quarter 

 dearer in August than it was in September. The rise however is 

 entirely due to anticipations of the coming harvest, anticipations which 

 were fully realised. This fact is illustrated by all the localities. The 

 average price of the Cambridge wheat rents is 37^. The bakehouse 

 purchases, which are not made later than May, and therefore escape the 

 rise, amount to 152 qrs. 7 bshs., and cost 247 is. Sd. t i.e. 32^. 7f</. 

 a quarter. There is only a penny difference between the Michaelmas 

 and Lady Day price at Eton, and the same fact may be noted at 

 Cambridge and Oxford. The New College purchases scarcely vary 

 for the first three quarters, and then rise by nearly iys., the general 

 average being 47,?. 2d. The Oxford corn rents, exalted by the 

 second All Souls entry and the assises of June and September, are 

 at 47^. 2 1</., while market averages of the twelve-months give 445. 8f</., 

 the course of the rise being very marked here. Barley and malt are 

 similarly affected, but by no means to the same extent. The average of 

 malt at Cambridge is 22.?. g\d., at Eton 28^. io</., at Oxford 2*js. 4d., 

 while the market averages are 25*. $\d. Oats are a good deal dearer, 

 except at Elmswell, where the purchases are made in the late autumn ; 

 and oatmeal at Oxford, purchased every quarter, sustains a rise. Beans 

 at Oxford are a little dearer, peas a great deal dearer. I should add that 

 wheat-flour follows the rise in the price of wheat, being nearly always ex- 

 hibited when the New College accounts for the year have been preserved. 



1630-1. This was a year of famine, the price of wheat rising in 

 one place to Sos. The character of the harvest had been anticipated, 

 and the agricultural year begins everywhere with high and nearly 

 identical prices, but little below, or rather over 6os. a quarter. The 

 highest rates are from Christmas to Lady Day, while in the fourth 

 quarter, i.e. from Midsummer to Michaelmas, there is a decline. 

 Had it not been for the effect which this induces on the averages, the 

 scarcity price would have been more marked. The Cambridge corn 

 rents give on the whole year an average of 49*. 6\d. The bakehouse 

 purchases, 126 qrs. 2 bshs. in amount, cost 376 2s. 3</., or 59J. 7</. the 

 quarter. The highest prices are 72*. at Christmas according to the 

 King's College register, and 70*. Sd. at Lady Day in that of S. John's. 

 The bakehouse bought at 6Ss. about the same time. At Eton the 

 Michaelmas rent was 66s., the Lady Day Sos. An entry has been ob- 

 tained from Lewes at 64*. in April. The average at which New College, 

 Oxford, purchases for the whole year is 62s. 8</., but for six months it 

 buys at 72*. The wheat rent and assise returns give an average of 



