p-prices-msg – 6/6/08
Prices for various medieval items.
NOTE: See also the files: commerce-msg, measures-art, measures-msg, guilds-msg, coins-msg, occupations-msg, p-Engsh-coins-lst, p-lawyers-msg.
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NOTICE -
This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.
This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org
I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.
The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors.
Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s).
Thank you,
Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous
Stefan at florilegium.org
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From: lee at sq.sq.com (Liam R. E. Quin)
Date: 18 Aug 91 22:56:48 GMT
Organization: SoftQuad Inc., Toronto, Canada
I have lots more stuff like this, some with prices for more every-day sorts
of things. If I get replies, I'll see if I can post some more. If you
reply, please say where you saw this article...
I don't believe there could be 13,340 poor people at a funeral, or at any
rate I find it strange, but that's what it says!
Lee
As usual in these postings, _l_ _s_ _d_ are Pounds, Shillings and Pence:
12_d_ = 1s, 20_s_ = 1_l_.
I've kept the old spelling, but with s for tall-s. _Italics_ ; [[my notes]]
_A shorte draught of the charge of the buriall of our lord and maister
[Henry Percy] earl of Northum-
berland : [who died 28. Apr. 1489.] whose soule Jesu pardon._ [[see footnote]]
_From a_ MS. _sheet ( once Peter Le Neve's esq.) now in the hands of the
publisher._
April 28.
4.H.7.1489. [[printed in the margin next to the large `F']]
First, for the balmynge, fencyng and scowering of the corse, _l_._s_._d_.
with the webbe of led and chest -- --- 13 6 8
_Item_, for the wax of the herse, by estimation --- 26 13 4
_Item_, for the tymber and paynting of the herse --- 5 0 0
_Item_, for 400 torches, after 2_s_. 8_d_. the peece -- 53 6 8
_Item_, for a standart -- -- -- --- 4 0 0
_Item_, for a baner --- ---- -- 3 6 8
_Item_, for his cote armer of seynet, betyn with his amys -- 5 0 0
_Item_, for 12 baners of sarcenet, betyn with my lord's armys,
at 10 _s_. the pece --- --- 6 0 0
_Item_, for 100 pensells of sarcenet, at 12 _d_. the pece 5 0 0
_Item_, for 60 scutchions of buckeram betyn with my lord's
armys (hole armys) at 12 _d_ the pece, for the chaire,
herse, and church --- --- --- 3 0 0
_Item_, to 40 poor men, for the bering of torches on horseback,
one day (from Wresill to Lekinfield) 18 myles at 2_s_. a man --- 4 0 0
_Item_, for 100 men on foote, at 6_d_.a man a day; _viz_. from
Lekinfield to Beverley 1 day; and at Beverley the day of the
burial, 1 day --- --- 5 0 0
_Item_, for the suffrages of 6 churchas the wil met the corse
by the way, after 13_s_. 4_d_. the church (besids the torches) - 4 0 0
_Item_, for the reward to two officers of armys, for their
helpe and payne in orduring, during the said buriall, at 10 _l_.
the pece for coming from London, their costs and reward -- 20 0 0
_Item_, for al maner of dues belongiong to the churche where
the corse shall rest --- --- --- -- 20 0 0
_Item_, for 12 gownes, for lords (after 3 yerds in a gowne,
at 5 _s_. the yerd) --- --- --- 21 0 0
_Item_, for 20 gownes for gentlewomen (after 3 yerds in a
gowne, at 5 _s_. the yerd) --- --- 15 0 0
_Item_, for 24 gownes with hods, for lords and knyghts (at
10 _s_. the yerd, and after 5 yerds in every gowne and
hode) with the executors --- --- --- 60 0 0
_Item_, for 60 gownes with typets for squyers and gentlemen
(at 6 _s_. 8 _d_. th yerd, and after 4 yerds in every gowne
and typett) --- --- --- 80 0 0
_Item_, for 200 gownes for yeomen an headfor. . . . . (after
3 _s_. 4 _d_. the yerd, and after 3 yerds in every gowne) -- 120 0 0
_Item_, for 160 gownes of course black, for pore folke, for
torch bearers and outher (after 3 yerds in a gowne, and after
2 _s_. the yerd) --- --- --- 42 0 0
_Item_, for 400 yerds of course black, for hangonge the
church & the chapells, (at 2 _s_. the yerd) --- --- 40 0 0
_Item_, for 500 priests that will come to the said buriall;
& if they do not, the outher must be fulfilled the next day;
after 12 _d_. the pece, according to the will. --- 25 0 0
_Item_, for 1000 clerks that comyth to the said buriall,
after 4 _d_. the pece --- --- --- 16 13 4
_Item_, for 100 gownes for gromes & gentlemen's servants
(after 3 _s_. 4 _d_. the yerd, & after 3 yerds in every gowne) 50 0 0
_Item_, for the dole at the said buriall, after 2 _d_. to
every pore body that comyth the day of the burial; [allowing
the number of the said poor folks to be, as I presume they were
on the said day of burial] 13340, after 2 _d_. the pece,
according to the will --- --- --- 123 6 8
_Item_, for the costs & expencs of meat and drinke, &
horse-meate, going and comyng to the said buriall (_viz_. one
day from Wresil to Lekinfeld, by the space of 18 myles; and
one day tarrying at Beverley, for the buriall; & one day,
returning from Beverley to Wresil, 18 myles) --- 266 13 4
_Item_, for the mortuaries, his armys, his huishe-men, his
maister of the horse, and all such other things to be had of
my lord's owen store in the house.
-------------
Sum of all the said charges
-------------
[[the space for the sum is blank]]
This was reprinted in Francis Peck [1692-1743]'s _Desiderata Curiosa: Or,
A Collection of Divers Scarce And Curious Pieces Relating To Matters Of
English History; Consisting Of Choice Tracts, Memoirs, Letters, Wills,
Epitaphs, &c... A New Edition, Greatly Corrected, With Some Memoirs Of The
Life And Writings Of Mr. Peck_ [By T. Evans], Printed in London for
Thomas Evans, 1779.
Apart from being a hot contender in the Longest Title Awards of the time :-),
it's quite fun...
There is a footnote on the first page of this:
Note 1: Henry Percy, E. of Northumberland, in the 4. H.
7. being lieutenant of Yorkshire, and commanded by
the king to levy those moneys, which were then extorted
from the country, to carry on the war in Brittany;
the vulgar, conceiving him to be the cause of that tax,
tumultuously murthered him at Cockledge near Thresk
(eighteen mules north of York) upon the day of S. Vitalis
the martyr. Whereopun he was buried at Beverley,
where he hath a stately monment, but much defaced.
_Baron_. Vol.I. p.282. _b_.
--
Liam Quin, lee at sq.com, SoftQuad, Toronto, 416 239-4801; the barefoot programmer
From: lee at sq.sq.com (Liam R. E. Quin)
Subject: Mediaeval Prices
Organization: SoftQuad Inc., Toronto, Canada
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 93 00:49:54 GMT
// This is one of a very occasional series of articles from old books; I post
// an installment every few months. This one is from an 1883 transcription
// of a 16th Century collection of old manuscripts relating to Berkeley (in
// England, not California... Pronounced `barkly').
// The document gives prices from Edward Ist's reign and for two later times.
//
// Notes on Orthography (letters & spelling) and on Units of Money at the end
// of this document. In general, the original spelling is retained.
*
(The Lives of the Berkeleyes, Vol I, p. 161, 1321)
*
Prices of Corne Cattle Pultry &c.
*Also* theis Accompts will truely informe this noble Family what were the
vsuall prices of Catle, Corne, Pultry and other provisions expended in the
house of this lord, and as the same were vsually bought and sold in fayres
and marketts duringe that twenty and seaven yeares of Edward the first
raigne, wherein this Lord lived a Baron, viz\t.
Wheat the Quarter at ... ... 2s 4d, 3s, 4s and 5s
Maslin the Quarter at ... ... 2s, 2s 4d, 3s and 4s
Barly the Quarter at ... ... 20d, 2s 8d, 3s 4d, and 4s
Beanes the Quarter at ... ... 2s, 2s 8d, 3s 4d, and 4s
Otes the Quarter at ... ... 20d, 2s, 2s 4d | [f.193]
Pillcorne, from the Mill,
the Quarter at ... ... ... 3s, 3s 8d
An Oxe at ... ... ... ... 10s---11s---12s
A Cowe and Calfe at ... ... ... 9s---10s
A bacon Hogg at ... ... ... 5s---5s 6d
A fat porket at ... ... ... 2s---2s 2d
A fat sheep at ... ... ... 17d---18d---20d---2s
A Lamb at ... ... ... ... 10d---12d
A Goose at ... ... ... ... 3d
A Capon at ... ... ... ... 2d [p.162]
A Hen at ... ... ... ... 1d ob~
A Duck at ... ... ... ... 1d
4 Pigeons ... ... ... ... 1d
20 Eggs ... ... ... ... 1d
*And* in the fifteenth yeare of Kinge Edward the second, when thys Lord dyed,
the prices stood thus . viz\t.
*Wheat*, the quarter ... ... ... 4s
Maslin the quarter ... ... ... 3s
Barly the quarter ... ... ... 3s
Beanes the quarter ... ... ... 3s
Otes the quarter ... ... ... 2s
Fetches the quarter ... ... ... 20d
Malt of wheat the Quarter ... ... 6s
Malt of Otes the Quarter ... ... 2s 2d
Malt of Barly the Quarter, ... ... 4s
A Quarter of Apples ... ... ... 10d
A Sturgeon in the xix th. of Edward the }
second sold for } 26s 8d
An oxe at ... ... ... ... 20s
An Oxe hide ... ... ... 3s 6d
A Cowe and a Calfe, at ... ... 12s---13s---15s
A sheep, beetweene ... ... ... 17d and 2s
A Sheepskyn, accordinge to the growth of
the fell, at 4d., 5d., 6d. such as were killed
for provision of the house.
A Lambe, at ... ... ... ... 12d
A goat Skin, at ... ... ... 4d ob~
A Goose, at ... ... ... ... 3d
A Ducke, at ... ... ... ... 1d q/r
The rest as before.
Threashing a quarter of wheat ... 2d
Threashing a quarter of beanes ... 1d ob~
Threashing a quarter of Oates ... 1d
Wages of a day laborer ... ... ob~ q/r // laborer _sic_.
A yeomans bord wages, per diem ... 1d ob~
A groome or Pages boord wages per diem 1d // orig. p/~ di&e-bar;
// p. 163
And by a proclamation in the viij th. of this kinge, none might sell
wine in theire Tavernes, above iij d. the gallon.
// Margin note: Claus: 8. E. 2. m: 2.
*In the* tyme of Kinge Edward the third, generally about theis rates as
followe, but the further in his longe raigne of fiftye yeares, the dearer.
As thus viz\t.
Wheat the quarter ... ... ... 5s 4d---7s---10s
Barly the quarter ... ... ... 4s---5s 4d
Beanes the quarter ... ... ... 4s
Otes the quarter ... ... ... 2s 8d---3s 4d
Bay salt the quarter, ... ... 18d
An Oxe from 14s. to ... ... ... 24s
A Sowe and six pigs ... ... ... 5s
A boare ... ... ... ... 4s
A Calfe ... ... ... ... 2s
A Store pigge or shote ... ... 12d
Pigeons, the dozen ... ... ... 3d---3d ob~---4d
An Haggard Falcon ... ... ... 20s
In the residue little variation | [f.195]
*And* in the tyme of Kinge Richard the second, for the two' and twenty yeares
of his raigne, the prizes of graine, Cattle and pultry, were rather cheaper
then dearer, but the difference in effect that was, was in
the temperature and season of the yeare. // prizes, _sic_. for prices.
A weight of wool (beinge . 21 pound) called pondus, ... 5s.
A sacke of wool at ... ... 7li. 6s. 8d.---8li.
Onions, a Bushell ... ... ... ... ... 8d.
Eggs . 20 for a peny, which in 150. yeares did never rise nor fall.
*And at* this day, wherein I write, Anno 1622, the Comon prizes of the like
Comodities in the same place, is generally thus. viz\t.
Wheat the Quarter ... ... ... 36s
Maslin the Quarter ... ... ... 26s 8d
Barly the Quarter ... ... ... 20s
Barly malt the Quarter ... ... 24s
Beanes the Quarter ... ... ... 20s
A draught Oxe, about ... ... 5l. // l. [sic] for li.
// page 164
A Cowe and a calfe about ... ... 3li.10s.
A Sheepe about ... ... ... 8s
Eggs 5 for ... ... ... ... 1d
*And* theis prizes stand in resemblance of the like corne and Cattle in my
old former valuations; which as well for the instruction of him that delights
herein, As for avoydance of the like error this lord fell into, I have
clustered here togeather.
*As for* horses in those active old ages of the three Edwards, and of kinge
Richard the second, the lord Berkeleys have payde for horses of service in
the warrs, and for the saddle, and draught, as deere as nowe in our dayes;
100li., 100 markes, 50li., 30li., 20li., 10li. 20 nobles, 5li., &c.
// Margin note:
// Polichr: lib: 7
// cap: 38.
*But* of yeares of dearth and of extremities, when through scarcity prizes
were as deere as nowe, mentioned in divers Chronicles, I have not spoken; But
desire to bee vnderstoode of the comon and usuall prizes in each ordinary
and temperate yeare.
// Margin note:
// com&p-tilde;i predc&t-tilde;. in
// Castro de Berkeley.
*And* theis Accompts will further informe this noble family, That when this
lord was free from forren imployments, hee went often in progress from one of
his Manor and farme houses to an other, scarce two miles a sunder, making his
stay at each of then for one or twoe nights overseeing and directinge the
forementioned husbandries, And soe backe to | his standinge houses // [f.196]
where his wife and family remayned, which was very great, as after appeareth,
sometymes at Berkeley Castle, at Wotton, at Bradley, at Awre, at Portbury,
And vsually in Lent, at Wike by Arlingham, for his better and neerer
provision of Fish: where, for his famous
// Margin note:
// Com: 6. et 7. E:
// 2.inCastro do Berk:
weares of Rodly, Geron, and Put'house, he had a spetiall Officer called
Piscator de Berkeley, whose annuall Accompts, comonly came vnto 30li. per Ann~;
for fish there taken: Some of which doe speake, That of antient custome, the
Constable of Berkeley Castle was vpon the first sunday in Lent allowed a salmon
for his dinner, which in this Seaventh of Edward the second, cost---x d. ob~.
*
Monies, Weights and Measures, and Other Terms:
Taken from Chambers' English Dictionary, except some marked [SOED] which
are from the Shorter Oxford English Dictionar (2 Vols, Oxford).
q/r = quadrans = farthing = quarter of a penny (0.25d)
ob~ = obulus = halfpenny (0.5d)
1d is a penny (denarius, plural is danarii)
1s is a shilling (solidus, plural is solidii), worth 12d
1li is a pound (librum, plural libra), woh 20 shillings, i.e. 240d.
a noble was a gold coin worth 6s 8d. (80d, or 1/3 of a pound)
a mark was the value of 8 ounces of gold or silver; 123 4d (!)
a Quarter is eight bushels.
a bushel is (a dry measure of) 8 gallons.
A Quarter of corn may have weighed about a quarter of a ton at
one time, I don't know if it still would!
Fetch = Vetch, a grain [SOED]
Maslin = Mixed Grain, esp. rye mixed with wheat.
Also, bread made of the same. [SOED]
Pilcorn = A kind of oat, in which the glumes or husks do not adhere to
the grain, but leave it bare. Also called pilled oats. [SOED]