PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE JUSTICES 



91 



few instances where a direct comparison between old 

 and new rates is possible ; in one case sellers of meat and 

 also of wine are described as making profits beyond 

 what is reasonable, and the price of their wine is men- 

 tioned as 2d. per gallon ; ' in another case it is said that a 

 gallon of beer is sold at id. ob. instead of at id. ;^ and 

 in still another, a potter is accused of making ollas ereas 

 and selling them ad triplex.^ It is interesting to find a 

 vicar refusing to perform the marriage ceremony except 

 for what is said to be an extortionate fee of 5s. or 6s.-* 

 The incident of the Lincolnshire ploughman really tells 

 the whole story ; he refuses to serve except by the day 

 and unless he has fresh meat instead of salt and finally 

 leaves the town because no one dares engage him on 

 these terms. 5 



Although emphatically disclaiming the intention of 

 presenting these few specific instances as conclusive 

 proof of a given rate of increase in wages and prices, 

 it is my own belief that they are indicative of the general 

 trend and that the countless cases of the receipt of excess 

 will bear out the high rates just quoted. For once the 



'168. ^201. "170. 



*I7I. A contrast to Chaucer's " Frere " in the Prologue to the 

 Canterbury Tales: 



" He hadde maad ful many a mariage 

 Of yonge wommen, at his owne cost." 

 Verses 212-213. 



* C/. Piers Plowman, . A. Passus vii, 295-299: 



" Laborers that haue no lond to lieien en bote hcore honden, 

 Deyne not to dyne a day niht-olde wortes. 

 Moi no peny-ale hem paye ne no pece of bacun, 

 Bote hit wecre fresch flesch or elles fisch i — friyet, 

 Both chaud ^nA pluschaud for chele of heore mawe." 

 Cf. Oman, The Great Revolt, 9. 



