5- The want of a law compelling all men to kill moles. 



6. The excessive number of water-mills 3 to the great 

 destruction of much gallant land. 1 



The average price of wheat during the seventeenth century 

 was 4is. a quarter, of barley 22s., and oats 14^. %\d. Oxen 

 averaged about $ apiece, cows much less, about 3, and 

 there was not much change in their value during the century. 

 Sheep were about los. 6d., and a cart-horse in the first half 

 of the century from $ to .10, in the second half from 8 to 

 15. Beef rose from zd. a Ib. in the early part of the century 

 to $d. at the close of it. Wool remained stationary at from gd. 

 to is. per Ib. 



2 A proclamation of 1633 fixed the following prices for 

 London poulterers and victuallers : 



Best turkey-cock 

 Duck. . . . 

 Best hen .... 

 3 eggs .... 

 I Ib. best fresh butter in 

 winter. . , 



d. 



4 

 8 

 o 

 I 



I Ib. best fresh butter in 



summer 



i Ib. best salt butter . 

 Best fat goose . 



,, crammed capon . 



pullet .... 



,, chicken 



s. d. 



5 



4i 



o 



6 



6 



6 



According to the Manydown Manor Rolls the Wootton 

 churchwardens in 1600 paid from 8s. to iu. for calves, 4,s. ^d. 

 for a fat lamb, 8s. for a sheep, 6s. 8d. for a barren ewe, 6d. for 

 a couple of chickens, i s. 6d. for 500 faggots. 3 



After the restoration in 1660 another period of prosperity! 

 set in, 4 and altogether the century was a prosperous one for | 

 farmers and manufacturers. The newly established Royal 

 Society materially helped agriculture. 'Since his majesty's 



1 Blyth was a great advocate of enclosure. ' Live the commoners do 

 indeed ', he says, ' very many in a mean, low condition, with hunger and 

 ease. Better do these in Bridewell. What they get they spend. And can 

 they make even at the year's rent ? ' 



2 Rymer, Foedera (Orig. ed.), xix. 512. 



3 Manydown Manor Rolls, Hampshire Record Society, p. 172. 



4 Thorold Rogers, Work and Wages, p. 459. 



