752 ON THE PURCHASING POWER OF WAGES. 



liberal in harvest time, when the wages of the farm hand were 

 fully up to those of the artisan, than it was at other times. 

 Thus at Teffonte, Wilts, in 1401, harvest men are paid 4^. a 

 day with their food, which certainly cost not less than a shilling 

 a week. The same payment is made at Alton Barnes, also in 

 Wilts, in 1403 and subsequent years. At ordinary times, the 

 labourer who was dieted had is. a week in money wages, as in 

 1407. Such persons are apparently single men. . 



The value of the food of labourers is constantly given in the 

 accounts of King's Hall, Cambridge, from 1414 onwards. By 

 this time low prices had begun to prevail. In these accounts it 

 is 8</., 8i*/., 9^., and lod. a week, according as the price of 

 provisions in any given year rose and fell. But it is most 

 generally %d. It is probable that, as the remuneration for food 

 is almost invariably paid to artisans, this arrangement was part 

 of the bargain made for their services. It is likely that when 

 the labourer was employed at a house in which a sufficient 

 establishment was regularly kept, especially at an opulent college, 

 the board is given in, the workman taking his place at the 

 servants' table, as at Perten Hall in 1518. In the same year 

 it is clear that board is reckoned in Hickling Priory at id. a 

 day. In 1533, 4> 5' ^ appears to be at about the same rate 

 in hirings of carpenters and sawyers at Lewes, or a little more, 

 as sawing by the hundred feet is at the common rate, is., when 

 the labourers are not maintained, 7^. when they are, for in this 

 case of course a pair of sawyers is intended. 



In 1542 board and lodging are still reckoned at id. a day. 

 The locality is Withingham, a place which I have not identified. 

 In 1543 board is set at is. ^d. the week in Ludlow. In 1551 and 

 1553 the board of workmen per diem is reckoned at rates vary- 

 ing from 3^. 6d. to zs. 6d. a week, the rise in prices being now 

 fully effected. In 1561 bread ' and drink for three men is 

 reckoned at 7^. a day together, and in 1563 bread and drink for 

 a slater and his man are set down at is. %d. for a week. I have 

 adverted before (p. 511) to contracts entered into in the years 

 1562, 1563, 1570, for boarding the Queen's workmen at the 



