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Labourers wages,after the 6th of Henry the Eighth)by which Statute all former Statutes for Labourers and Servants are repealed,and an exact Course set down how the Rates for the Wages of Servants,and Hire of Labourers shall hereafter be set down by the Justices of Peace,in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 11/2d.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 10pence,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 IIIthe 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 16pence a day,which amounteth unto 8times the old;and Labourers of the best sort at 12pence 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 16pence a day,which is not six times the old rate,their Servants 12pence,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 10pence 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 12R.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.
