We will not err
far in calling the laborer's penny forty American cents. In 1350, then,
the skilled laborer earned 3 pence in a day. He paid of his dear money,
1 shilling 10-1/2 pence for a bushel of wheat, and L1 4 shillings 6
pence for an ox. This means that he paid eight days' (112 hours') labor
for his bushel of wheat, and 98 days' (1372 hours') labor for his ox.
The ox would to-day rate far below a "scalawag" at the Stock Yards of
Chicago or East St. Louis, weighing, perhaps, 400 pounds.
TWO HUNDRED YEARS LATER,
in 1550, the same kind of a laborer earned 4 pence in a day. He paid 1
shilling 10-1/2 pence for a bushel of wheat and L1 16 shillings 7 pence
for an ox. This means that he paid nearly six days' (about 80 hours')
labor for his bushel of wheat, and 110 days' (1540 hours') labor for his
ox. The high price of the latter was justified by its great improvement
in weight and quality.
IN THE FORTY-THIRD YEAR OF ELIZABETH
the coinage was lowered to about its present weight. In 1675, therefore,
we see the laborer getting 7-1/2 pence for a day's service. But he was
compelled to pay 4 shillings 6 pence for a bushel of wheat, and L3 6
shillings for an ox.
Pages:
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290