LANTERNS. CHARGES FOR THE DAIRY. 525 



equation of demand and supply being removed, always affects 

 that labour the most which was worst paid before the events 

 on which the increase arose. 



LANTERNS. It has been observed above, p. 31, that the 

 lambing time was the most anxious part of the shep- 

 herd's year. In order to supply the conveniences needful for 

 watching his charge, candles, a luxury seldom indulged in on 

 other occasions in farm-houses, were purchased, and to protect 

 them while consumed, lanterns were provided. Eleven entries 

 of these articles have been found in the accounts, not all of 

 which, however, were destined for the sheepfold. The cost 

 of lanterns varies very considerably. But omitting an entry 

 given under 1328, at a price so low as either to suggest that 

 some error exists in the account, or that it was purchased 

 second-hand, the value of a lantern before the Plague is about 

 4^., after that event about 9^. The highest price is found 

 at Elham in 1364, when a lantern is quoted at is. z\d. But 

 1364 was the dearest of dear times, and Kent was a dear 

 county. This article was not intended for the sheepfold, as 

 the Elham estate kept no sheep, but for the stable. The 

 lanterns of 1378 are bought in London, and form part of the 

 munitions purchased for the defence of Cherbourg. 



SHEEP-BELLS. Five entries have been found of these articles, 

 four of which are bought before 1350, at an average price of 

 3^.; the remaining bell is bought in 1395, and costs 5^. The 

 entries have no other value than as shewing that the custom 

 of allowing sheep to range prevailed, as might be expected, 

 in that day, and that the shepherd was guided to his flock by 

 the sound of bell. Sheep-dogs were kept, and are occasionally 

 referred to, an allowance of corn being made annually for their 

 maintenance. I am not aware whether, in the time before me, 

 sheep-dogs were purposely mutilated in order to prevent their 

 running game down. We know that in an earlier period at least 

 dogs were lawed. 



CHARGES FOR THE DAIRY. Some of the most important of 

 these, as salt, have been commented on already; others, as 



