History notes from
The Mists of Time

Food Costs During the Period 1272 - 1327

being a detail taken from
Abstracts And Extracts From
Smyth's Lives of the Berkeley Family, MS.


Agriculture

In the time of Edwards I. and II. they set beans by the hand, and leazed the seed wheat from the ear itself.   Id. p. 136.

Prices of Articles temp. Edward I. &c. - Malt made of Wheat and Oats

"Wheat per Quarter,
2s.4d. - 3s. - 4s. - 5s.
Maslyn [Wheat and Rye mixed], per Quarter, 2s. - 2.4d. - 3s. - 4s.
Barley, per Quarter, 20d. - 2s.8d. - 3s - 3s.4d. - 4s.
Beanes, per Quarter, 2s. - 2s.8d. - 3s - 3s.4d. - 4s.
Oates, per Quarter, 20d. - 2s. - 2s.4d.
Pill-corne from the Mills,
per Quarter,

3s. or 3s.8d.
An Oxe, 10s. - 11s. - 12s.
Cow and Calf, 9s. - 10s.
Bacon Hog, 5s. - 5s.6d.
Fat Porkett, 2s. - 2s.2d.
Fat Sheepe, 17d. - 18d. - 20d. - 2s.
Lambe, 10d. or 12d.
Goose, 3d.
Capon, 2d.
A Hen, 1d
Duck, 1d.
Four Pigeons, 1d.
20 eggs, 1d.

15 Edward II.


Wheat, per Quarter, 4s.
Malt, ditto, 3s.
Barley, ditto, 3s.
Beans, ditto, 3s.
Oats, ditto, 2s.
ffetches, 20d.
Malt [of wheat]
    -   [of Barley],
    -   [of Oats],
6s.
4s.
2s.2d.
Apples, Quarter of, 10d.

19 Edward II.


A Sturgeon, 26s.8d.
An Oxe, 20s.
An Oxe-hide, 3s.6d.
Cow and Calf, 12s. - 13s. - 15s.
Sheepe, betweene 17d. and 2s.
Sheep-skin, according to his Growth, 4d. - 5d. - 6d.
Lambe, 12s.
Goat-skin, 4d
Goose, 3d.
Duck, 1d
      The rest as before.
Threshing a Quarter of:
  -   Wheat,
  -   Beans,
  -   Oates,
 
2d.
1d
1d.
Wages of a Day-labourer, three-farthings.
A Yoeman's Bord-wages by the day, 1d
A Grome or Page's, 1d.
    and by proclamation 8 Edward II. the maximum of Wine was 3d. the Gallon.

Latter End of Edward III.


Wheat, per Quarter, 5s.4d. to 10s.
Barley, ditto, 4s. to 5s.4d.
Beanes, ditto, 4s.
Oates, ditto, 2s.8d. to 3s. 4d.
Bay-salt, ditto, 18d.
An Oxe, 14s. to 24s.
Sowe and Six Piggs, 5s.
Boare, 4s.
Calfe, 2s.
Store Pigge, or Shote, 12d.
Pigeons, per dozen, 3d. to 4d.
Haggard Faulcon, 20s.
In the residue little variation.


    "and in the reign of Richard II. for 22 yeares of his reign, the Prices of Graine, Cattle, and Poultry were rather cheaper than dearer; but the difference in effect that was, was in the temperature and season of the yeare.""   MS. Veel, p. 141, seq.


A weight of Wolle, being 21 pound called Pondus

5s.
A Sacke of Woll, 6s.8d.
Onyons, a Bushell, 8d.
Eggs twenty for a penny, which neither rose nor fell for 160 yeares.


    and at this day, wherein I write, A.D. 1622, the common Prizes (prices) of the like commodities are, in the same place, generally thus:


Wheate, per Quarter, 36s.
Maltyn, ditto, 26s.8d.
Barley, ditto, 20s.
Barley Malt, 24s.
Beanes, 20s.
A Draught Oxe, 5l.
Cow and Calf, 3l.10s.
Sheepe, 6s.
Eggs, five for 1d.
and for Horses in those active old ages of three
Edwards and Richard II. the Lord Berkeleys have
paid for Horses of service in the warres, and for
the sadle and draught, as deere as now in our daies
100l. - 100 markes - 50l. - 30l. 20l. - 10l. - 20 nobles, &c.

Return to Berkeley Notes

The Mists of Time
Magdnet
Nusquamnunquam
Glossary