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； the Meat and Drink of the
Day…labourer is valued but three halfpence； but by the 11th of
Henry the Sixth； the Pound of sterling Gold being （then brought
from 16l。 13s。 4d。 to 22 l。 10s。 0d。 and the silver from 30s to
37 s 6d。： From the 11th of Henry the Seventh until the 6th of
Henry the Eight； there was no new Rate upon hire of Labourers or
Servants wages： but that year there was a new Statute； which
notwithstanding was little or nothing different in the Rates from
the former； except in some Particulars which are not pertinent to
this Inquiry。
So likewise hitherto did the value of the King's Money remain
the same； and so continued until the 18th of Henry the Eight；
when the Commission was given for the Alteration of the Coins to
Cardinal Wolsey； which brought in great Confusions among the
values of Money； which together with the excessive quantities of
Gold and Silver； which about those times began to be brought into
Christendom out of the West Indies； were the occasion that the
Statutes for Labourers and Servants were no further observed
because the prices of all things being much inhansed； Labourers
and Servants could not live upon their Hire and Wages ordained by
the Statute： and this is acknowledged in the Preamble of the
Statute of the 5th of Q。 Elizabeth （which is the next Statute for
the rating of Servants and Labourers wages； after the 6th of
Henry the Eighth） by which Statute all former Statutes for
Labourers and Servants are repealed； and an exact Course set down
how the Rates for the Wages of Servants； and Hire of Labourers
shall hereafter be set down by the Justices of Peace； in
Sessions； having regard to the price of victuals； and other
things for maintenance： so having thus deduced the Rates of
Servants and Labourers from time to time。 It remaineth now only
that I examine some of the late Rates set down in the Counties
Adjacent； and compare them with those of the 25th of Edward the
Third； and 12th of Richard the Second； and that I do calculate
how much these later Rates do exceed the Ancient： and deducted
from the later Rates do exceed the Ancient： and deducting from
the later Rates so much as the values of the Moneys of Gold and
Silver hath been raised； which induceth rather a nominal than a
real Increase of the price； it will follow； That whatsoever
increase hath been more of the Rates； that it hath grown from the
great quantities of Gold and Silver brought into Spain out of the
Indies； within these Hundred years。
In the Statute of 25th of Edward the Third； the threshing of
a Quarter of Wheat or Rye； is rated at ijd。 ob。 By the Rate； in
Middlesex； of the 17th of King James； which is the last Rate made
there； the Threshing of a quarter of Wheat is eighteen pence；
which is above seven times as much as in the old Statute； the
stone； either of Wheat or Rye in Essex by the rate now in force
is 16d which is above six for one； wherein it is to be observed
that in that they shall give more： and yet we know that the
Bushel； and consequently the Quarter in many of the remoter
sheirs containeth half as much more as in these Counties near
unto London。 The threshing of a quarter of Barley； Oats； Pease；
or Beans； by the Statute of 25th of Edw。 the Third； is rated at 1
1/2 d。 ob； but by the said Rate in Middlesex the quarter of
Barley is rated at 10d and Beans and Peas at nine pence； which；
by a medium comes to be between six and seven times as much。 And
by the said rate in Essex they are rated at ten pence and eight
pence which by a medium； comes to six times as much； and in this
likewise the aforesaid Observation of the difference of the
measure doth hold。
By the said Statute of 25th Edward III it is provided that in
time of Hay making none shall pay above a penny for hay making；
but by the said rate in Middlesex； the hire of a man a day for
hay…making is 10 pence； for a woman viii pence； and by the same
rate in Essex； the hire of a man is rated at xii pence； and the
hire of a woman at ix pence； which； by the medium； is ten times
as much as 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 of War in the said years；
besides the ordinary expence and the said actions of War could be
now mainta