FINANCIAL POSITION OF VARIOUS CLASSES 103 



had served his master as ' chief baylie of his husbandrie ', had 

 at the end of a long life saved 40. Another, William Walker, 

 eighty years of age, during forty years of service to Mr. John 

 Wymarke had put by 10. Robert Sculthorp, who had at 

 one time been a farmer, was worth 26 6s. &, but the size 

 of his farm is unfortunately not told us. Roland Wymarke, 

 a gentleman farmer, who had farmed for forty years at North 

 Luffenham, was little better off than Thomas Blackburne, 

 the baylie, for he estimated his capital at 50. .50, however, 

 must not be taken as representing the average wealth of 

 a 'gentleman', though a few hundred pounds was then con- 

 sidered a considerable fortune. In 1577 Thomas Corny, 

 a prosperous landlord at Bassingthorpe, Lincolnshire, had 

 a house with a hall, three parlours, seven chambers, a high 

 garret, maid's garret, five chambers for yeomen hinds, shepherd, 

 &c., two kitchens, two larders, milk-house, brew-house, buttery, 

 and cellar ; and it was furnished with tables, carpets, cushions, 

 pictures, beds, curtains, chairs, chests, and numerous kitchen 

 and other utensils, besides a quantity of plate, which was 

 then looked upon not only as a useful luxury but as a safe 

 form of investment. The small squire was not nearly so well 

 off as this. In 1527 the house of John Asfordby, who was 

 of that degree, contained a hall, parlour, small parlour, low 

 parlour, a chamber over the parlour, gallery chamber, buttery, 

 and kitchen, and furniture was scanty, but the plate cupboard 

 was well filled. 1 A prosperous yeoman was often comparatively 

 better off than the small squire. Richard Cust, of Pinchbeck in 

 the same county, though his house was small, consisting only 

 of a hall, parlour with chamber over, kitchen with chamber 

 over, brew-house, milne-house (mill-house), and milk-house, 

 was richer in furniture, possessing a folding-table, 4 chairs, 

 6 cushions, 27 pieces of pewter, 10 candlesticks, 4 basins, I 

 laver, 6 beds, and other articles. 8 



1 Victoria County History : Lincolnshire, ii. 331. 

 8 See Records of Cust Family, i. 56. 



