159 Domesday and Feudal Statistics 



Ib. W. Chaffers* states to have been used by the 

 Saxons, and known as the Cologne pound ; whether 

 or not there was a qr. of wheat in England com- 

 posed as above prior to Hen. III. I may not pre- 

 tend to discern, but certain it is that /. Hen. II. 

 and John, a quasi-standard quarter existed which 

 was of ^ (or less than ^) the dimensions of that 

 under notice. Two writers on agriculture (see 

 Walt, de Henley ', ed. R. H. S., and the more 

 valuable anonymous Husbandry incorporated in 

 same vol.), both perhaps /. Hen. III. evidently use 

 the larger qr. [vide feeding rations and seed sown 

 in vol., ut sup.} ; and a like one occurs in the 

 Rules of Robert Grostete (who died /. Hen. III.) 

 as appears from the statement that 180 loaves 

 (white and brown together), each weighing 5 marcs 

 (25,600 grains), are made from a quarter of wheat 

 in his Household ; at this present an average qr. of 

 Wheat, Barley, and Oats may be taken at 500, 

 440, and 336 Ibs. (avoirdupois, 7000 wheat grains 

 each) respectively ; this modern pound presumed 

 to be somewhat heavier than the older one of 64 

 to the bushel. That the quarter fromf 7680 wheat 

 grains was not /. Hen. II. and John the quasi- 

 standard one appears from divers entries on the 

 Miste Roll (14 John), as to the travels of the 

 King's cart horses, which are each allowed i bushel^ 



* Hall Marks n Plate. 



t Id est, 7680 x 64 x 8 wheat grains per qr. 



t It is, of course, not intended to convey that either 

 62 or 31 modern Ibs. of corn was consumed per horse; in 

 1261-1270, the larger qr. seems to have sold (for oats) at 

 2s.: there is no particular occasion to suppose an overstrained 

 morality either on the part of King John's grooms, or on that 

 of the servants of the hostels. 



