HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 379 



outward condition 'mean*/ nevertheless it may be affirmed, that 

 his condition was superior to that of many ministers in the 

 present day whose income amounts to no more than .200. a-year j 

 for, in his time, it is not improbable, that land set at four or five 

 shillings an acre. At the time J. B. was minister of Whitmore, 

 land within ten miles of the place set at nearly one-tenth of its 

 present rent. About fifty-three years after J. B/s death, rich glebe 

 land set in an adjoining parish at about six shillings an acre, which 

 said land now rents for upwards of two pounds ; so that when he 

 first entered upon the ministry, it is not improbable that '2Q. a-year 

 was equal to the rent of a good farm of 100 acres extent and more. 

 And in regard to the comparative price of food, labour, &c. the fol- 

 lowing statements have appeared in print. Some of them are prior 

 and others subsequent to J. B/s time, but by taking the average 

 price, a fair estimate may be made. 



" In the reign of Henry VIII. it was enacted that butchers 

 should sell their meat by weight : beef for one halfpenny per pound, 

 and mutton at three farthings. At that time fat oxen (for cows 

 were not then slaughtered) were sold for thirty shillings and eight 

 pence each ; fat wethers for three shillings and four pence, a/a lamb 

 for twelve pence." Stowe. 



" T. 35 Henry VIII. the fearme of onecow, 8*. 



The rent of a church yard house for six years, 6d. 



The rent of one half a close for six years, 6d." 



" 1581. At that time 200/. a-year would have kept a gentleman's 

 or knight's house, when such were wont to keep each * halfe a 

 score of clean men in his house, and xx or xxiv other persons be- 

 sides, every day in the weeke ; sixteen years before 200 markes 

 would have been sufficient/ In regard to apparel, half a crown 

 was thought a great price for a cap, since it could have been had, 

 a few years before, for Is. 2d. A pair of shoes cost I2d. which 

 used to be 6d." 



" 1594 and 1595. Butter 3d. per Ib. ; a fore quarter of lamb, 

 with the head, in March, 2s. 2d. ; a capon Is. 2d. ; a dozen of 

 pidgeons 2s. 4c?. ; 28 eggs Sd. ; beef per stone Is. 6d. ; a lamb in 

 April 5s. ; a side of veal in April 8s. ; a calf s head 10d." 



In the reign of James I. wheat is stated as having sold as low 

 as 11s. 6rf. the quarter, or Is. 5|c?. per bushel; and in the succeed- 

 ing reign of Charles I. at 14s. the quarter, or Is. 9d. the bushel. 

 In the reign of James I. one full quart of the best beer or ale was 

 one penny. 



