A Discourse of Coin and Coinage [26]
the old rate. By the said Statute of 25th Edward III
the work of a master Carpenter is rated at iii pence a day, a
second Carpenter ii pence, a Tyler iii pence, and the Servant of
either of them one penny half penny, in the Summer time, without
meat or drink or any other courtesie. By the said rate of
Middlesex (17th James I) master Carpenters and Tylers are rated
at xx pence a day, which accounteth to near seven times the old
rate. The second sort of the said work men at 16 pence a day,
which amounteth unto 8 times the old; and Labourers of the best
sort at 12 pence a day, of the second sort at ten pence a day,
which, by medium, is neer eight times the old rate. By the said
rate in Essex, Master Carpenters and Tylers are rate at 16 pence
a day, which is not six times the old rate, their Servants 12
pence, which is eight times the old rate.
It is said in the said Statute of 25th of Edward III that in
those Counties where wheat was wont to be given for work, they
should take ten pence for the bushel or Wheat at the will of the
Giver, by which clause it appeareth that 10 pence was then a
large price, even in those Counties where the Bushel was bigger,
or else it had been a great Rigour to leave it to the will of the
Giver.
By the Statute of the 12th Richard the Second, the yearly
wages of a Bayliff was rated at thirteen shillings and four
pence, and by the aforesaid rate in Essex the wages of a Bayliff
is rated at three pounds three shillings and eight pence, which
is (near) five times the old Rate. By the said Statute of 12 R. a
master Hind is rated at ten shillings, a Carter at ten shillings,
a Shepheard at ten shillings, an Ox-heard at six shillings and
eight pence, a Cowheard at six shillings and eight pence. By the
said Rate in Middlesex Carters are rated five pound wages, which
is ten times the old rate. By the said rate in Middlesex the best
sort of Plough-men, Carters, or Shepheards are rated at three
pound. The second sort of Hinds and all Servants in Husbandry at
two pound six shillings and eight pence, which amounteth in the
first, to six times the old rate, and in the second to seven
times the old rate; a woman labourer or Dairy woman by the said
Statute at Six shillings. By the said rate in Middlesex, the best
women servants are rated at forty shillings a year, the second
sort at thirty three shillings and fourpence, which by medium
amounts to six times the old rate, and somewhat more; and by the
said rate in Essex, the best women are rated at thirty three
shillings and four pence, the second sort at one pound six
shillings and eight pence, which by a medium amounts to five
times the old Rate.
And if any many shall object, That the present rates will
not, generally through the whole Kingdome, hold thus high, though
they are thus rated in the parts near adjoyning to London:
It may be answered. That by the old Statutes it was provided,
that in no place any higher rates than these should be given; but
they might give less, where less in former times had been used to
be given.
But on the other side it may be much more probably objected,
That the rates are now greater than they are here set down,
because it is not so strictly observed as it should be; whereas
when the old Statutes were first made it is probable that that
the Rates were with the largest, and were more strictly observed
than they now are: and although this computation of the wages and
hire of Servants and Labourers be (as I conceive) the most
certain way of comparison of the prices of all things between
that time of King Edward the third and this present; yet for
Confirmation I will add unto it another Observation, wherein we
shall find the same Proportion to hold in a Subject much more
general, and therefore so exactly calculated. But therein I must
appeal to the well grounded Judgment of my Reader, and that is
that I will set down the entire receipts as I find them by
undoubted Records of divers years of Edward the Third; and then I
will briefly represent the actions
the work of a master Carpenter is rated at iii pence a day, a
second Carpenter ii pence, a Tyler iii pence, and the Servant of
either of them one penny half penny, in the Summer time, without
meat or drink or any other courtesie. By the said rate of
Middlesex (17th James I) master Carpenters and Tylers are rated
at xx pence a day, which accounteth to near seven times the old
rate. The second sort of the said work men at 16 pence a day,
which amounteth unto 8 times the old; and Labourers of the best
sort at 12 pence a day, of the second sort at ten pence a day,
which, by medium, is neer eight times the old rate. By the said
rate in Essex, Master Carpenters and Tylers are rate at 16 pence
a day, which is not six times the old rate, their Servants 12
pence, which is eight times the old rate.
It is said in the said Statute of 25th of Edward III that in
those Counties where wheat was wont to be given for work, they
should take ten pence for the bushel or Wheat at the will of the
Giver, by which clause it appeareth that 10 pence was then a
large price, even in those Counties where the Bushel was bigger,
or else it had been a great Rigour to leave it to the will of the
Giver.
By the Statute of the 12th Richard the Second, the yearly
wages of a Bayliff was rated at thirteen shillings and four
pence, and by the aforesaid rate in Essex the wages of a Bayliff
is rated at three pounds three shillings and eight pence, which
is (near) five times the old Rate. By the said Statute of 12 R. a
master Hind is rated at ten shillings, a Carter at ten shillings,
a Shepheard at ten shillings, an Ox-heard at six shillings and
eight pence, a Cowheard at six shillings and eight pence. By the
said Rate in Middlesex Carters are rated five pound wages, which
is ten times the old rate. By the said rate in Middlesex the best
sort of Plough-men, Carters, or Shepheards are rated at three
pound. The second sort of Hinds and all Servants in Husbandry at
two pound six shillings and eight pence, which amounteth in the
first, to six times the old rate, and in the second to seven
times the old rate; a woman labourer or Dairy woman by the said
Statute at Six shillings. By the said rate in Middlesex, the best
women servants are rated at forty shillings a year, the second
sort at thirty three shillings and fourpence, which by medium
amounts to six times the old rate, and somewhat more; and by the
said rate in Essex, the best women are rated at thirty three
shillings and four pence, the second sort at one pound six
shillings and eight pence, which by a medium amounts to five
times the old Rate.
And if any many shall object, That the present rates will
not, generally through the whole Kingdome, hold thus high, though
they are thus rated in the parts near adjoyning to London:
It may be answered. That by the old Statutes it was provided,
that in no place any higher rates than these should be given; but
they might give less, where less in former times had been used to
be given.
But on the other side it may be much more probably objected,
That the rates are now greater than they are here set down,
because it is not so strictly observed as it should be; whereas
when the old Statutes were first made it is probable that that
the Rates were with the largest, and were more strictly observed
than they now are: and although this computation of the wages and
hire of Servants and Labourers be (as I conceive) the most
certain way of comparison of the prices of all things between
that time of King Edward the third and this present; yet for
Confirmation I will add unto it another Observation, wherein we
shall find the same Proportion to hold in a Subject much more
general, and therefore so exactly calculated. But therein I must
appeal to the well grounded Judgment of my Reader, and that is
that I will set down the entire receipts as I find them by
undoubted Records of divers years of Edward the Third; and then I
will briefly represent the actions