EMPLOYED IN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY. 469 



great variation, beyond the effect of such causes as are men- 

 tioned above, till the time of the Great Plague. 



The price of lime was materially affected by the incidence 

 of the Plague. It rises in a greater degree than the product 

 of other ordinary labour does. Sometimes, indeed, higher 

 rates are due to the increased information from the details 

 of building accounts, but it is clear that the price was greatly 

 enhanced by the causes which have been so often adverted to, 

 the great increase, namely, in the wages of labour. The 

 amount is doubled at least, and sometimes is fully 150 per 

 cent, above the old rates. Nor does it appear, even though 

 it be admitted that many purchases were made for building 

 purposes, that the average rate would be much reduced, were 

 we in possession of evidence of a wider and more compre- 

 hensive character, for many of the places which supply in- 

 formation for the earlier period are in the eastern counties, 

 where lime was comparatively dear, while such localities are 

 but scantily represented in the later years of the enquiry. 



IRON AND STEEL. These are the most important materials 

 in medieval economy. In some shape or other, that is to say, 

 as raw material or manufactured into necessary implements, iron 

 is always found in the farm accounts. To determine its money 

 value in each and every form is a matter of great interest in 

 the records of prices at this time, but one which cannot be 

 always easily effected. 



Iron is derived from two sources, that is, it is either home- 

 made or foreign. Home-made iron was no doubt smelted, or 

 rather puddled, in many places. Thus, for instance, it is 

 known that the manufacture was carried on for ages in Sussex, 

 and that the forests of the Wealden failed finally to supply 

 material for working the ores. Again, it is manufactured, as 

 my accounts state, in Tendale, or Tindale, in Cumberland, and 

 (vol. ii. p. 467. ii.) at or near Gloucester. But, on the other 

 hand, it is also imported, the most frequent source of foreign 

 iron being that from Spain. The earliest example of this 

 foreign iron with which my accounts supply me is that quoted 



