Prices of Corne Cattle Pultry &c.

Also theis Accompts will truely informe this noble Family what were the vsuall prices of Catle, Corne, Pultry and other provisions expended in the house of this lord, and as the same were vsually bought and sold in fayres and marketts duringe that twenty and seaven yeares of Edward the first raigne, wherein this Lord lived a Baron, viz\t.

And in the fifteenth yeare of Kinge Edward the second, when thys Lord dyed, the prices stood thus . viz\t.

And by a proclamation in the viij th. of this kinge, none might sell wine in theire Tavernes, above iij d. the gallon.

In the tyme of Kinge Edward the third, generally about theis rates as followe, but the further in his longe raigne of fiftye yeares, the dearer.

And in the tyme of Kinge Richard the second, for the two' and twenty yeares of his raigne, the prizes of graine, Cattle and pultry, were rather cheaper then dearer, but the difference in effect that was, was in the temperature and season of the yeare.

And at this day, wherein I write, Anno 1622, the Comon prizes of the like Comodities in the same place, is generally thus. viz\t.

And theis prizes stand in resemblance of the like corne and Cattle in my old former valuations; which as well for the instruction of him that delights herein, As for avoydance of the like error this lord fell into, I have clustered here togeather.

As for horses in those active old ages of the three Edwards, and of kinge Richard the second, the lord Berkeleys have payde for horses of service in the warrs, and for the saddle, and draught, as deere as nowe in our dayes; 100li., 100 markes, 50li., 30li., 20li., 10li. 20 nobles, 5li., &c.

But of yeares of dearth and of extremities, when through scarcity prizes were as deere as nowe, mentioned in divers Chronicles, I have not spoken; But desire to bee vnderstoode of the comon and usuall prizes in each ordinary and temperate yeare.

And theis Accompts will further informe this noble family, That when this lord was free from forren imployments, hee went often in progress from one of his Manor and farme houses to an other, scarce two miles a sunder, making his stay at each of then for one or twoe nights overseeing and directinge the forementioned husbandries, And soe backe to his standinge houses where his wife and family remayned, which was very great, as after appeareth, sometymes at Berkeley Castle, at Wotton, at Bradley, at Awre, at Portbury, And vsually in Lent, at Wike by Arlingham, for his better and neerer provision of Fish: where, for his famous weares of Rodly, Geron, and Put'house, he had a spetiall Officer called Piscator de Berkeley, whose annuall Accompts, comonly came vnto 30li. per Ann~; for fish there taken: Some of which doe speake, That of antient custome, the Constable of Berkeley Castle was vpon the first sunday in Lent allowed a salmon for his dinner, which in this Seaventh of Edward the second, cost---x d. ob~.