74 i ADVANCE OF PRICES 



CHAP. XIX. 



plentiful that a barrel of beere was sold for eight- 

 pence, and four great loaves of bread for one penny 

 and a farthing. In 1557 (5th Mary) wheat was 

 sold before harvest at thirty shillings the quarter, 

 but after harvest, at seven and sixpence, so that a 

 penny loafe, which weighed in London the last 

 yeere but ten ounces troy, weighed now twenty- 

 six ounces. In 1558 wheat rose again to twenty- 

 .three shillings the quarter. In 1573 (8th Eliza- 

 beth) about Lammas, wheat was sold in London 

 at three shillings and three-pence the bushel, but 

 shortly after it was raised to four shillings and 

 four-pence, five shillings and sixpence, six shillings 

 and sixpence, and seven shillings and nine-pence, 

 which continued long after, yet there was no want 

 to him that wanted not money." 



In other accounts, especially in the Chronicon 

 Preciosum, we find the prices at some intervals of 

 the period very low; as in 1494 at six shillings 

 per quarter, in 1495 at five shillings, in 1499 at 

 six shillings; and at other times, as in the years 

 1551, 1552, 1553, 1554, 1555, 1556, 155?, 1558, 

 1559, 1560, 1561, 1562, there was no variation, 

 the price being in each of those years eight shil- 

 lings the quarter, or eight shillings and ten-pence 

 of our present money 1 . 



1 It is observed by Fleetwood (page 122) that the price of 

 wheat did not remain fixed exactly at eight shillings during 

 the whole interval, but that the variations were so incon- 

 siderable that the proprietors of the land, in settling the rent 

 of it with the farmers, agreed that it should be estimated at 

 that price during the whole twelve years. 



