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some articles have risen ata still more rapid rate; wheat is 
trebled, lambs have trebled ; but while this increase was going 
on nothing similar was going on in the rate of wages. The 
master-mason who built Gawthorpe received for his work, what 
may appear to us a small sum, 30/- a quarter, or about 6d. a 
day ; with this he would also have provisions. His subordinates 
had to content themselves with 2d. to 4d. a day and their eatables. 
Hence it will be seen that wages had not only not increased 
during the later Tudor period, but had actually decreased. 
Speaking generally I should say that the prices had about doubled 
between 1550 and 1600, and I judge it from the following 
particulars :—Froude says at the former period geese were worth 
4d., in our manuscript they are 8d.; fat wethers were 3/4, in 
our time they were 8/- or 10/- ; fat oxen were 26/8, over £4 with 
us ; fat calves 3/4, as contrasted with 6/8 or 10/-; but as I have 
incidentally remarked before, there were some things the price 
of which had undoubtedly trebled. It would no doubt be inter- 
esting to inquire whether the Lincolnshire or Lancashire prices 
for stock were the higher. I have not had time to go thoroughly 
into the matter, but 1am inclined to say that the Lancashire were 
a little higher than the Lincolnshire, but it is a conclusion which I 
cannot confidently affirm. It was probable that Lincolnshire, 
lying as it did then among the manufacturing counties of 
England, would have great encouragement for cattle rearing ; 
Lancashire could not enter into competition because of the 
additional cost of conveyance. The competition in those days 
would be confined to one’s own district, and the cost of carriage 
to an out of the way part hike Lancashire would prevent cheaper 
commodities coming in to lower the Lancashire prices. The 
reader then gave a few curious entries in the manuscript, and 
proceeded: Christopher Towneley began to keep the accounts, 
if change of writing is a correct guide, about May 1604 ; in 1608, 
after the death of John Towneley, Christopher and his brother 
Charles examine the accounts and enter as follows :—The sume 
of all the foresaide debts owinge by John Towneley of Towneley 
Esquire my father latelie deceased amounteth unto two hundrethe 
poundes one shillinge four pence half pennie,” to which statement 
they put their signatures. On the 7th of May, 1609, the entries 
of the receipts end; and on the 15th of December, 1620, brother 
Christopher settles with Charles. It was time to do so. The 
settling is in Charles’ handwriting. 
*« My brother Christopher his receipts in all are as appeareth 
before £1593 2s. whereunto adding £9 7s. 1d. being the remain of 
his last accompt and £6 7s. found delivered unto him by myself 
and £17 14s. 4d. being one half year’s rent for Metheringham 
and unentered in his receipts do make his charge in all 
£1626. 10s. 5d. 
