CHAP. XXX.

IN ENGLAND.

77

°f prices would give in fifty years an advancesix shillings and eight-pence to twenty-sixshillings and eight-pence, or a threefold increase.The Oxford tables, as compared with prices inthe Chronicon from eight shillings and ten-penceto thirty-three shillings and three-pence, showan increase of near fourfold. It is possible thisa Pparent discrepancy may arise from the difference°f measure. Mr. Lloyd’s prices are calculated bythe Winchester bushel of eight gallons. By anac t passed in the 15 th Richard II., cap . 4, corn isordered to be sold only by the quarter of eightbushels; but it seems doubtful how far that law wasoperative, for the Oxford prices, though reducedmto the quarter of eight bushels, are kept inquarters of nine bushels, as are also those of Eaton.

In the sermons of Bishop Latimer, especially1Q those preached before King Edward VI. , arefr be found several allusions to the advance ofprices which had taken place at that early perioda fter the discovery of the mines of Potosi. Thefirst was delivered “ in the shroudes at Paulesohurch in London , 17 th day of January, 1548111 that he relates the history of himself, or rather°f his family, saying, “ My father was a yeoman,an d had no landes of hys owne, onely he had a

an J

mrme of three or four pounds by yeare at theuttermost, and hereupon he tilled so muche ast k e Pt halfe a dossen men. He had walke for anhundred sheepe, and my mother milked thirty