ON THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 221 



August, and has to pay at a higher rate (34*. 2d.) than it receives. 

 The Eton wheat rents are at 39^. 3^., the purchases at 3 ST. lod. The 

 Oxford rate is 40 s. Sd. Portsmouth gives an assise on April i at 34^. 

 The Winchester grants are at 32^., the purchases at 295. 4 \d. The Win- 

 chester rents are at 30^. ioj</. Prices are on the whole slightly higher. 

 The Cambridge malt rents are at an average of i8s., those of Eton 

 are at 22*. $\d. t while the purchases are at 2 is. The Oxford average 

 is 2o.r. 8d. The Winchester grants are at 20.?., the purchases at 

 ipj. 2d., while the rents are at 19*. $\d. The quality of the wheat and 

 barley crop was apparently high, and there is little trace of any concern 

 as to the coming harvest. There are only a few entries of oats. 

 They are rather dearer, 12$. at Cambridge, 14*. $d. at Winchester. 

 But on the other hand, oatmeal is little cheaper. Peas and beans are 

 at moderate prices, but are a little dearer than before. 



1673-4. The price of wheat is greatly enhanced. The average 

 of the Cambridge wheat rents is 47^. 5 \d. The bakehouse makes only 

 one purchase, a large quantity in June at 46 s. lod. The Eton average 

 is 66s. 3</., and the purchases, all dated, and extending from October 15 

 to September 23, give an average of 64^. 8</. At Cambridge, the 

 highest price is at Lady Day; at Eton, Candlemas ; and it is clear that a 

 very sharp rise occurred in January. The same fact is noticeable 

 at Oxford, where the average is 65*. Sd., the price at Lady Day being 74,1-. 

 There is an assise return from Portsmouth at 40^., but this is on Octo- 

 ber i , when the harvest was not so seriously discounted as it was later on. 

 The Winchester grants are at 48^., the purchases at 53*. 6d. The Win- 

 chester rents are at an average of 56^.4^. The price of malt is not so 

 enhanced as that of wheat, for, as we have often noticed, a luxury is 

 stinted when a necessary is dear. The Cambridge malt rents are at 

 23^. 6\d., those of Eton at 28*. ijd., while the purchases are at 251.5^. 

 The Oxford averages are at 29*. +d. The Winchester grants are 

 at the same price as the purchases, at 24*. 6</. ; the rents are 

 at 251. $\d. Oats are not so much enhanced in price, for, as I have 

 observed before, the consumption of oats was mainly in the winter and 

 early spring, and the rise in all kinds of grain is highest in all places 

 at or about Lady Day. The average at Cambridge is 131. At Eton 

 they are very dear, at 22*. The Winchester average is 13*. i\d. 

 But the College records an oat rent on Lady Day, and the price 

 is i8j. Oatmeal is dearer at 551. Peas, of which only one entry 

 is found, and as I know a December price, are cheap as far as the 

 entry goes. But beans are dear. They are the same price at Eton 

 and in Essex. 



