340 ON THE PRICE OF STOCK AND MEAT. 



Southdowns, the latter to a comparatively recent period having 

 been small. But on the other hand, in the case of the four 

 muttons bought at Bath in July 1617-18 and of the twenty 

 at Northiam in 1618-19 at 22J., the weight of the sheep, mutton 

 selling these years at $d. a pound, could hardly have been less 

 than 80 Ibs. and 88 Ibs. respectively. And on the other hand, 

 in the first of these years Eton buys 911 at an average of 

 9^. 6\d., and in the next 859 at qs. 6\d. These should weigh 

 in the carcass a little over 38 Ibs. In 1617, the New College 

 sheep weigh on an average 42 Ibs. 6 oz. In the same year 

 (1617) Cambridge buys 201 sheep at an average of 9^. nd., 

 and in the next (1618) 243 at TOJ. Even lower rates are paid 

 at Theydon, sheep, apparently for the table, being often 

 bought at 7^. 



By far the largest part of my entries are purchases for 

 consumption, and as time goes on, purchases by the carcass. 

 But it is clear from the accounts of Magdalen College and 

 Eton, that these corporations purchased lean stock, or at least 

 store stock, which they herded, and consumed as occasion 

 required. As in the case of cattle, purchases of sheep were 

 always effected on the best terms late in the year, and by 

 those who could keep them on hay or other fodder through 

 the winter, grass being extensively used for the purpose. Still 

 there are some distinctly agricultural accounts from which 

 I have derived information, for the country gentleman of the 

 seventeenth century constantly cultivated a portion of his 

 estate. Thus in 1583 and onwards Lord North buys store 

 wethers; in 1584 Magdalen College buys ewes with lambs, 

 and Lord Pembroke hoggs and tups. And similarly in the 

 last few years of the period, the owner of Foxcombe buys a 

 considerable flock in November, no less than 587 different 

 kinds, wethers, tegs, and ewes, designating the latter as Dorset. 

 Similar facts could be supplied from other entries. 



Comparatively little evidence is found of mutton by the 

 pound or stone, and when it is given it is most frequently 

 indirect, that is, the sheep is bought by the carcass, with the 



