204 ON THE PRICE OF GRAIM 



later, have to sustain a siege. It is noteworthy that out of the four 

 statutory towns or cities, three were on the line of the campaign, and 

 one was actually occupied. But it appears that the Parliament, when 

 militant and when triumphant, did not meddle with the two great 

 schools and their foundations, though the victorious forces made 

 havoc enough in Winchester city. The average price of barley is 

 19-r. 8%d., this rate being again rather heightened by the Winchester 

 entry. Malt rents were at i8j. of</. at Cambridge, at 2os. in Oxford, 

 while at Hickstead the price is 22$. $d. Prices are however very 

 uniform throughout the year. Oats are at very various prices ; the 

 average at Cambridge is iu. 7|</., at Oxford i6s., while at Biggin 

 and Winchester they are 2os. Beans (19^.) are found at Oxford; 

 peas (20.?.) at Biggin. Some entries of peas, evidently from their 

 price garden produce, are found at Winchester. 



1643-4. My evidence is again entirely from Oxford and Cam- 

 bridge, but the entries are full and exact. Prices are generally rather 

 lower, and would I believe have been lower still but for the alarms 

 felt at Oxford. The Cambridge wheat rent is 30^. of </. The bake- 

 house purchases are 62 qrs. 3 bshs. in quantity, and 90 i6s. gd. in cost, 

 or at 2gs. i\d. New College, Oxford, beyond the purchases of wheat 

 and flour which it makes for its staff, purchases between Christmas and 

 Midsummer * in view of the siege/ the general averages being at the 

 rate of 37^. %%d. The wheat rents are at 38^. >jd., and the market 

 averages, still fortunately existent, at 375-. 2\d. By an oversight, the 

 flour purchase in the second quarter is printed by the bushel instead 

 of the quarter, and should be 48.?. instead of 6s. There is but little 

 fluctuation in price during the whole year. Barley is cheap at Oxford, 

 15.?. 3f</., dear at Winchester, where a small quantity is purchased. 

 The Cambridge malt rents are at i6s. nf^., in Oxford at 2os. In 

 these again there is little change, all the year through. Oats are 

 decidedly cheap, and so is oatmeal, entries of which will hereafter be 

 regular. Peas are given in one place only, and are there cheap, for 

 the entries at Oxford and Winchester are plainly of garden or pottage 

 peas. 



1644-5. Prices are a little higher. The Cambridge corn rents are 

 at 32^. g\d. The bakehouse purchases amount to 65qrs. 2 bshs., and 

 cost 101 5,$-. 3</., or 31.$-. a quarter. The Lady Day price at Eton 

 has been discovered, and the price at Lady Day is as high as any in 

 the year. But Eton also purchases a large quantity of wheat, gener- 

 ally by the load, between April and September, and generally at low 

 prices, so that the average in this place is 36,?. 8d. The Oxford 





