396 ON THE PLACE OF FISH IN 



1401-1540, the second that of 1541 and 1582, the 

 third is the ratio of the rise in the later period 

 approximately calculating to two places of decimals, 

 the first column being taken as a unity. 



There is also another entry. 



Before the Reformation religious houses consumed 

 a vast amount of fish, and a fish diet, partly ecclesias- 

 tical rule, partly from necessity, occupied a large 

 portion of the year. After the Reformation the 

 Anglican Church continued to prescribe a fish diet on 

 fast days and in Lent, partly to sustain a national 

 industry, partly as a relic of ancient rule. Most of 

 the prices here collected are of salt fish for keeping, 

 for winter and Lenten diet. Monks are said to have 

 imported the grayling of the Shropshire and Here- 

 fordshire streams. 



All fish was dear at the beginning of the fifteenth 

 century, lowest during the forty years 1481-1520 

 inclusive. 



White herring were purchased at Cambridge only, 

 the red at Oxford also. 



Fresh salmon, Canterbury, 1404, sold at the enor- 

 mous price of 7s. each ; at Bicester and Cambridge in 

 1439 fr m IO< ^ to !* io< At Oxford in 1450 price 



from is. ^d. to is. lod. 



s. d. 

 At Netley Abbey 1455 at i 4 



Cambridge . 1461 i 3 



1463 i 2 



Oxford . . 1471 ,,05 



Wymondham 1492 i 2 



Cambridge . 1495 o 8 



Thornbury . 1507 3 o 



