CHAP. XIX. IN ENGLAND. 77 



of prices would give in fifty years an advance 

 from six shillings and eight-pence to twenty-six 

 shillings and eight-pence, or a threefold increase. 

 The Oxford tables, as compared with prices in 

 the Chronicon from eight shillings and ten-pence 

 to thirty-three shillings and three-pence, show 

 an increase of near fourfold. It is possible this 

 apparent discrepancy may arise from the difference 

 of measure. Mr. Lloyd's prices are calculated by 

 the Winchester bushel of eight gallons. By an 

 act passed in the 15th Richard II., cap. 4, corn is 

 ordered to be sold only by the quarter of eight 

 bushels; but it seems doubtful how far that law was 

 operative, for the Oxford prices, though reduced 

 into the quarter of eight bushels, are kept in 

 quarters of nine bushels, as are also those of Eaton. 

 In the sermons of Bishop Latimer, especially 

 in those preached before King Edward VI., are 

 to be found several allusions to the advance of 

 prices which had taken place at that early period 

 after the discovery of the mines of Potosi. The 

 first was delivered " in the shroudes at Paules 

 church in London, 17th day of January, 1548 :" 

 in that he relates the history of himself, or rather 

 of his family, saying, " My father was a yeoman, 

 " and had no landes of hys owne, onely he had a 

 " farme of three or four pounds by yeare at the 

 " uttermost, and hereupon he tilled so muche as 

 " kept halfe a dossen men. He had walke for an 

 " hundred sheepe, and my mother milked thirty 



