228 O.Y THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 



to say, at an inn. Beans are dearer beyond proportion. Peas have 

 not been found, for, as in the case last year, the Winchester peas are 

 plainly garden produce. 



1686-7. The price of wheat is rather higher. The wheat rents 

 at Cambridge give an average of 28^. %\d. The bakehouse buys its 

 whole year's stock in March at 26s. \d. The Eton average is 36.$-. 7 \d., 

 while it purchases at 35^. 2\d. The Oxford rate is 33.?. ^d. The 

 Portsmouth assise on October i, the cheapest period of the year, for 

 prices increase slightly till Midsummer and then fall, is at 28-$-. The 

 Winchester grants are at 33^. 4</., the purchases at 35^. 4 j</., the rents 

 at 36 s. i%d. At Winchester the Michaelmas and Midsummer prices 

 are at the same rate, the highest price being at Lady Day. It is pro- 

 bable that the crop was underestimated and turned out to be better 

 than was expected. The Cambridge malt rents give an average of 

 iSs. sld. Those of Eton are at 24^. $\d., while the purchases are 

 effected at 22^. nd. The Oxford average is 23^. ^d. The Winchester 

 grants are at 23^. 6d., the purchases at 23^. \d,, the rents at 23^. -$\d. 

 There is a purchase of barley at Winchester at 245-. Oats are i2s. at 

 Cambridge, iSs. at Eton, and at an average of 14^. %\d. at Winchester. 

 I have included with some misgiving a considerable purchase at a 

 London inn at a high rate. Meal is a little cheaper. Peas have not 

 been found. Beans are dear, and I have not ventured to exclude 

 the Winchester entry, though I have a small purchase made at a 

 London inn. 



1687-8. All kinds of grain are cheaper. The Cambridge wheat 

 rents give an average of 2is. id., the price sinking slowly towards the 

 summer. The bakehouse buys at 2i,r. ^d. The Eton average is 37^., 

 while it purchases at 34^. The Oxford average is unchanged, at 

 27^. 4</. The Portsmouth assise on October ist is 25^. The Win- 

 chester grants are at 40^., the purchases at 26^. 2|</., the rents being 

 at 27-r. if</. Here also the continuous fall noticed in Cambridge is 

 also discernible. Malt at Cambridge is very cheap, the average of 

 the rents being only 15^. io\d. At Eton the average is 225. iof</., the 

 purchases being made at 2os. 6d. The Oxford rate is the highest. 

 Here it is unchanged, at 24.$-. The grants at Winchester are at 19^., 

 the purchases at 19,?. 9^., the rents at 19.$-. ^d. Oats are cheaper, 

 13*. id. at Biggin, us. $d. at Cambridge, uj. 6d. at Winchester, 

 i6j*. gd. at Eton. Here I am compelled to exclude a London inn 

 change, for I find it is always at the same rate. Meal is considerably 

 cheaper. Peas and beans are cheap. Here again I am constrained to 

 exclude certain entries of peas and beans. 



