A Discourse of Coin and Coinage [24]
Moneys, the other the great abundance of Gold and
silver coming into these parts, in this latter age, out of the
Indies: And although the hire of Labourers did continually rise
(when Money was raised), yet it did rise so much and no more, as
its value was raised; but after the Discoverie of the Indies, you
shall finde the price of the Labourers wages raised in Proportion
far exceeding the raising of Moneys, and therefore, for my part,
I am certainly perswaded that as long as the values of Moneys are
raised, and the Indies do yield that abundance of Gold and Silver
which they do, that both the hire of Labourers, and generally the
price of all things, especially of things necessary for life,
will rise, although for a year, two or three, through uncertain
Accidents, sundry particulars may stand at a stay or abate: But
that the hire of Labourers and Servants carrieth with it a
resultance of the prices of all things generally necessary for a
mans life: Besides, that Reason doth convince that there must be
a convenient Proportion between their Wages and their Food and
Raiment, the Wisdom of the Statute doth confirm it, which doth
always direct the Rate of Labourers and Servants to be made with
a regard of Prices of Victuals, Apparel, and other things
necessary to their use. In the 25th year of Edward the Third, it
was provided that in time of Hay-making, none should pay above
our penny in the day; that for threshing of one quarter of Wheat
or Rye, none should pay above 2 1/2 d., and for threshing of a
quarter of Oats, Barly, Beans and Pease, above one penny half
penny; that a Master Carpenter shall have 3 pence, another
Carpenter but 2d. a day; a Master free-Mason but 4 pence, a Tyler
3 pence; but either of their servants, a penny half penny: all
this is in the summer time, for in the Winter wages lessened, and
without meat or drink, or any other courtesie, and that in the
Country, where Wheat was wont to be given, they shall take for
the Bushel ten pence, or Wheat at the will of the Giver.
In the Twelvth year of Richard the Second these Rates did
still continue (so likewise the Money did still continue the same
in goodness) but there was further added like wise a yearly rate
for Servants wages; and there was allowed by the year for a
Bailiff 13s. 4 pence, with a Livery: a Master Hind was rated at
10s. a Carter at 10s. a Shepheard at 10s. an Ox-heard or
Cow-heard at 6s. 8d. a Driver of a Plough at 7s. at the most: and
all these but the Bailiff, without cloathing or other courtesie.
In the Thirteenth of Richard the Second, It was provided that the
Justices of the Peace might rate the Day-labourers according to
the dearth of Victuals, which seemed to have growth through some
accidental Dearth, which then happened: in the Thirteenth of
Henry the Fourth there was raising of Moneys to about the 6th
part more, by Advice in Parliament, but there was no new Rate for
Servants Wages, until the sixth of Henry the Sixth,the price of
things growing higher by reason of the raising of Moneys: It was
provided by Statute that the Justices of the Peace might rate as
well the Hire of day labourers as the Wages of Servants,as they
should find fit in the Sessions, notwithstanding the former
Statute of the 25th of Edward the Third, and 12th of Richard the
Second, and notwithstanding the Money had not been raised above a
sixth part, which I attribute to the great want of Servants and
Labourers, the Kingdom being then exceedingly exhausted by the
long continuance of the Wars in France: but in the 49th of Henry
the Sixth Money was exceedingly raised, so as a pound of Sterling
Gold made 22l. 10s. and a pound of Sterling Silver together was
half as much more as they were valued, in the 25th of Edward the
Third.
In the 11th of Henry the Seventh (c. 22) there was a new
Statute for the rating of Servants wages and the hire of
day-laborers, which in a manner doth agree with the 23rd of Henry
the Sixth: but I find this almost only difference between them,
that by the 23rd of Henry the Sixth,
silver coming into these parts, in this latter age, out of the
Indies: And although the hire of Labourers did continually rise
(when Money was raised), yet it did rise so much and no more, as
its value was raised; but after the Discoverie of the Indies, you
shall finde the price of the Labourers wages raised in Proportion
far exceeding the raising of Moneys, and therefore, for my part,
I am certainly perswaded that as long as the values of Moneys are
raised, and the Indies do yield that abundance of Gold and Silver
which they do, that both the hire of Labourers, and generally the
price of all things, especially of things necessary for life,
will rise, although for a year, two or three, through uncertain
Accidents, sundry particulars may stand at a stay or abate: But
that the hire of Labourers and Servants carrieth with it a
resultance of the prices of all things generally necessary for a
mans life: Besides, that Reason doth convince that there must be
a convenient Proportion between their Wages and their Food and
Raiment, the Wisdom of the Statute doth confirm it, which doth
always direct the Rate of Labourers and Servants to be made with
a regard of Prices of Victuals, Apparel, and other things
necessary to their use. In the 25th year of Edward the Third, it
was provided that in time of Hay-making, none should pay above
our penny in the day; that for threshing of one quarter of Wheat
or Rye, none should pay above 2 1/2 d., and for threshing of a
quarter of Oats, Barly, Beans and Pease, above one penny half
penny; that a Master Carpenter shall have 3 pence, another
Carpenter but 2d. a day; a Master free-Mason but 4 pence, a Tyler
3 pence; but either of their servants, a penny half penny: all
this is in the summer time, for in the Winter wages lessened, and
without meat or drink, or any other courtesie, and that in the
Country, where Wheat was wont to be given, they shall take for
the Bushel ten pence, or Wheat at the will of the Giver.
In the Twelvth year of Richard the Second these Rates did
still continue (so likewise the Money did still continue the same
in goodness) but there was further added like wise a yearly rate
for Servants wages; and there was allowed by the year for a
Bailiff 13s. 4 pence, with a Livery: a Master Hind was rated at
10s. a Carter at 10s. a Shepheard at 10s. an Ox-heard or
Cow-heard at 6s. 8d. a Driver of a Plough at 7s. at the most: and
all these but the Bailiff, without cloathing or other courtesie.
In the Thirteenth of Richard the Second, It was provided that the
Justices of the Peace might rate the Day-labourers according to
the dearth of Victuals, which seemed to have growth through some
accidental Dearth, which then happened: in the Thirteenth of
Henry the Fourth there was raising of Moneys to about the 6th
part more, by Advice in Parliament, but there was no new Rate for
Servants Wages, until the sixth of Henry the Sixth,the price of
things growing higher by reason of the raising of Moneys: It was
provided by Statute that the Justices of the Peace might rate as
well the Hire of day labourers as the Wages of Servants,as they
should find fit in the Sessions, notwithstanding the former
Statute of the 25th of Edward the Third, and 12th of Richard the
Second, and notwithstanding the Money had not been raised above a
sixth part, which I attribute to the great want of Servants and
Labourers, the Kingdom being then exceedingly exhausted by the
long continuance of the Wars in France: but in the 49th of Henry
the Sixth Money was exceedingly raised, so as a pound of Sterling
Gold made 22l. 10s. and a pound of Sterling Silver together was
half as much more as they were valued, in the 25th of Edward the
Third.
In the 11th of Henry the Seventh (c. 22) there was a new
Statute for the rating of Servants wages and the hire of
day-laborers, which in a manner doth agree with the 23rd of Henry
the Sixth: but I find this almost only difference between them,
that by the 23rd of Henry the Sixth,