CONTENTS. XV 



America. Consumption of gold and silver influenced by 

 the manners of the people. Coin in the hands of the 

 Jews. Gold and silver used as plate. Small quantity 

 used in personal ornaments. Considerable quantity in 

 gilding . . . Page 301 



CHAPTER XII. 



On the effect of the decrease of the precious metals on the 

 price of commodities in the period extending from the 

 dissolution of the western Roman empire, to the discovery 

 of America. Assumed quantity of coin when the mines 

 of Hungary and Germany began to be worked. Great 

 variations of prices. Scarcity of money, probably greatest 

 at the time of the Saxon heptarchy. "Living money." 

 Wealth of Alfred the Great. List of prices in the reign 

 of Ethelred. Scarcity of money in France under Charles 

 the bold. Its high value in Germany. Rate of wages 

 paid. Norman and Saxon money. Variations in the 

 value of money in England. Its value shown by the 

 ransom of Richard first and Lewis of France. By the 

 expense of public entertainments, and low price of the 

 necessaries of life. Details of both. Prices of wine and 

 of ships. Variable prices of corn. Supply of wool. 

 Fluctuating supply of corn. Table of prices of wheat 



311 



CHAPTER XIII. 



On the interchange of the precious metals between the eastern 

 and western parts of the civilized world, in the period 

 between the dissolution of the western Roman empire, 

 and the discovery of America. Trade of the Italians 

 with the Mahomedans. Effect of the crusades on the 



