500 ON THE PRICE OF BUILDING MATERIALS. 



Standis or stantis-nails are found both before and after the 

 Plague, generally at Elham, but also at Chippenham and Lether- 

 head. The price, which is about $d. before the Plague, rises to 

 64. after it. 



Lead-nails are also found before and after the Plague, the 

 earliest entry being that of 1326, the latest that of 1399. In 

 the first period the average price is less than 2*/., in the second 

 more than 4^. 



Stone-nails occur at Barkby in Leicestershire in 1344, at 

 %\d. the thousand. They are probably to be identified with 

 the stonepriggs of Apuldrum in 1357, which are bought at 

 is. 6d. Transom-nails, quoted at Hornchurch in 1397, are 

 possibly similar. 



Oxford supplies a kind of nail which is quoted only once, 

 under the name of c sen-nail.' I can find no explanation of 

 this word. Staundon in Herts another kind, called c fot-nails.' 

 Both must have been very much of the same character as great 

 or spike-nails. York gives two unique names, c brags' and 

 c scot-nails,' under the year 1371. Lastly, in 1389 and 1398 

 c studs' are bought by New College in order to fasten on outer 

 doors, either as defence or ornament. These cost id. each. 



Two other kinds of nails, horseshoe and clout-nails, will be 

 commented on in a subsequent chapter. 



HINGES AND STAPLES. These articles, under the name 

 of c vertinelli' and c gumphi,' are frequently quoted in the 

 accounts, as needed for doors and windows. The price is of 

 course very various, depending entirely on the size of the 

 article ; as they were slight when employed for the casements 

 and lattices which shut the window, and very substantial when 

 required for the great door of hall or grange. Inside, the door 

 or window was fastened by locks or bolts. Hinges, staples, 

 and bolts were occasionally manufactured by the village smith, 

 from iron supplied him by the bailiff; but were more frequently 

 bought at the market-town or fair. 



GLASS. Mr. Hallam, quoting Harrison and the Northumber- 

 land House-book, suggests that glass in the Middle Ages must 



