114 



HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE 



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



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

 destruction of much gallant land.^ 



The average price of wheat during the seventeenth century 

 was 4ii'. a quarter, of barley 22s., and oats 14s. S^d. Oxen 

 averaged about £^ apiece, cows much less, about £^, and 

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

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

 of the century from £^ to ;^io, in the second half from ;^8 to 

 £1^. Beef rose from 2d. a lb. in the early part of the century 

 to 3</. at the close of it. Wool remained stationary at from gd. 

 to IS. per lb. 



^A proclamation of 1633 fixed the following prices for 

 London poulterers and victuallers : — 



According to the Manydown Manor Rolls the Wootton 

 churchwardens in 1600 paid from 8j. to iij. for calves, 4^. A^d. 

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

 a couple of chickens, i.f. 6d. for 500 faggots.^ 



After the restoration in 1660 another period of prosperity 

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

 farmers and manufacturers. The newly established Royal 

 Society materially helped agriculture. 'Since his majesty's 



^ 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 ? ' 



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



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



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



