cultural laborers without distinction were paid in the intervals between Easter and Michaelmas three pence a day with an allowance of food, or seven without. From Michaelmas to Easter, on the other hand, the remuneration of the same class was two pence a day if meat were added, and six pence if not. In 1684, the ordinary agricultural laborer in Warwickshire was paid eight pence a day, the artisan one shilling. The wages of the same classes in Suffolk were lower than they had been in the early part of the century. In the interval between 1600 and 1700, the remuneration of the agricultural laborer by the week advanced from five shillings to eight, while the average price of a quarter of wheat, in the interval between 1564 and 1700, advanced from about nineteen shillings a quarter to forty shillings, eleven and one-fourth pence. The price of malt rose to about twenty-two shillings, oatmeal to about fifty-two, and beef to three pence a pound.[1]
It was estimated that the smallest sum upon which a family could be maintained during a period of twelve months was twenty pounds and eleven shillings, including the cost of renting a cottage and the price of the necessary amount of bread, meat, fuel, and clothing.
The annual wages of an agricultural laborer in 1618, were eight pounds, eight shillings and nine pence, and in the interval between 1643 and 1700, fifteen pounds and nineteen shillings.[2] The industry and frugality of a life-time
- ↑ Rogers’ History of Agriculture and Prices in England, vol. V, pp. 97, 98, 829, 830. Craik’s History of England, vol. III, pp. 658, 905-912.
- ↑ Rogers’ History of Agriculture and Prices in England, vol. V, pp. 622, 829. It is only proper to say that the wages received did not constitute the only means of subsistence which the laborer in all parts of England possessed. In some parts of the kingdom, the laborer enjoyed in addition (1) the produce of his garden or a large plat of ground; (2) certain rights of commonage; (3) proceeds of bye industries, especially the production of yarn for the flourishing wool manufactures. In my account
