ON THE PRICE OF METALS. 475 



during the epoch of the debased currency. In 1481 five and 

 a half hundreds of gold leaf are bought for the use of York 

 Cathedral at 6s. 6\d. the hundred. The gold leaf of the middle 

 ages was very stout, but I have no means for determining what 

 this hundred meant. 



SILVER. Entries of silver plate are numerous so numerous 

 that I have ventured on giving decennial averages, three de- 

 cades only being unrepresented. But raw silver is also not 

 unfrequently purchased. Thus in 1401 a large quantity, 58 Ibs. 

 5 ozs., is bought and sold at an average of 28.$-. $d. the pound. 

 In 1402 another quantity at 2s. 8d. ; in 1404 more at 3.$-. In 

 1426, 1428, and 1431, the Corporation of Norwich buy silver, 

 in order, on two occasions at least, to decorate the Mayor's 

 sword, at 2s. 8d., and in the first of these years a few ounces, 

 designated as 'de Amelyng,' which may be the name of the 

 dealer, at 2s. lod. In 1451 I find it again at 2s. 8d., and at 

 the same rate in 1458. In 1465 a silver tablet is valued at 

 2s. 8d., the mass being six pounds in weight. In 1498 and 

 1504 the price appears to be $s. 4^., though not quite clearly. 

 Old spoons, however, are sold in 1510 at this price. But 

 again, in 1515 silver plate, probably old, is sold in Oxford at 

 2s. lid., and a small quantity certainly bought at 3.9. In 1519 

 two ounces are purchased at 3.9. $d., but gilt plate is not much 

 dearer next year. In 1523 old silver is sold at 35-. 4^., in 

 1535 silver is bought at 35. yd. But in 1537 white plate is sold 

 at 3^. ^d. In 1557 old silver sells at 4^-. 8d. ; in 1560 at 

 $s. 4d. ; in 1573 at 5^. In 1577 a large quantity of unwrought 

 metal is bought, 85 Ibs. 3 ozs., at 4.$-. io^, and in 1582 old 

 metal is sold at 5.$-. 2d., prices in these later years closely ap- 

 proximating to the intrinsic value of the currency. 



Silver plate, plain or white, parcel-gilt or gilt, is also sold 

 almost without exception by the ounce. A large quantity 

 (36 Ibs.) of gilt plate is bought in Oxford in 1425 at prices vary- 

 ing from $s. 6d. to 3.$-. 3^., a smaller quantity (30 ozs.) of plain 

 plate at 3^-. In 1454 spoons are bought at 2s. nd. and 4^., the 

 latter, probably gilt, at Cambridge. In 1458 spoons are bought 



