364 DAIRY PRODUCE, EGGS AND POULTRY. 



comparatively dear. Like butter too, they vary in price with 

 the season, eggs bought in December being often double the 

 price of those bought in April. They are, like cream, pur- 

 chased for feasts. At Winchester in the spring they are 

 bought largely for making ' caudle,' this beverage being pro- 

 vided occasionally for the servants. I think it probable that 

 the latest given price is about the average of this and the 

 residue of the period. It is taken from a published price of 

 provisions issued by the authority of the Oxford Vice-Chan- 

 cellor, and in accordance with the universal custom of the time. 

 In August, 1677-8, Lord Lovelace buys turkeys' eggs (the only 

 entrance I have found of this produce) for breeding purposes. 



POULTRY. The universal practice of keeping poultry, even 

 by the cottagers, is a reason why the entries of poultry are so 

 few. I am able indeed to give decennial averages of capons 

 and pullets or hens ; but my accounts of this kind of produce 

 show a serious gap, speaking generally, during the reign of 

 Charles II. Enough has however been collected to indicate 

 what maximum and general prices were during the period. 



Capons have been found for fifty-four years, and are 

 occasionally purchased in considerable numbers, for College 

 and other feasts. Among these accounts are the details of a 

 feast provided for the members of the Star Chamber in 

 January i594~5> an d again in the February following. For the 

 entertainment of these dignified persons the best was of course 

 provided, and consequently in this year the price is very high. 

 The costs again of an official dinner in 1617-18 at Bath 

 are to be found, in which, the banquet being of considerable 

 magnitude, the prices are also high. Making allowance for 

 three exceptional entries, the price of capons appears to be a 

 little under 2s. apiece during the first half, and a little over 

 2s. 6d. during the last half of the period. On the other hand, 

 at Winchester, where poultry is largely consumed, the price of 

 capons is lower than elsewhere. Unless however one is 

 informed as to the breed and feeding of poultry (we know that 

 in the early sixteenth century fowls were crammed), it is not 



