FOURTEENTH CENTURY 71 
A little later (cirea 1384) when Richard II. had come to the 
throne, it appears from the “ Liber Albus ”’* an emended list 
of prices was issued, for the control of poulterers, in which 
cygnets rank at a much lower figure :— 
A best cygnet was to be ..  fourpence 
» », purcel (little pig) was to be six ,, 
» 5, teal Us de two ,, 
5 iver mallard ae three ,, 
» > Snipe ey aks one penny 
yy 5, Woodcock ode threepence 
» », partridge eee four - 
3,» 9», Plover sete three e 
» 9» pheasant Near twelve _,, 
» 5 curlew ae six a 
» »»  bittern ce Lah eighteen ,, 
» 95, heron eee sixteen _,, 
» », brewe (? whimbrel) ,, _,, eighteen ,, 
Four © larks ane one penny 
Twelve thrushes Seamer sixpence 
» finches ai os one penny 
MARKING THE BEAK AND FEET OF A SWAN. 
These prices were assessed by the Mayor, and proclaimed 
from time to time to the people, who were informed that any 
person selling unsound birds was liable to be set on the pillory. 
This is also a memorable century as marking the gradual 
rise of letters, and especially as being the period in which 
* “The White Book of the City of London, compiled a.p. 1419,” 
translate | by H.'T. Riley, 1861, p. 401. 
