RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS
The following extracts from a "roll of the expenses of Edward I., at Rhuddlan Castle, in Wales, in the tenth and eleventh years of his reign" (1281 and 1282), may perhaps amuse our readers, as showing the rates of wages paid to different workmen, tradesmen, archers, &c. at that period. Under the head of necessaries, are some curious items. Rhuddlan Castle was the head quarters of Edward, during an insurrection of the Welsh, under Llewellin, Prince of Wales, at which time it had many additions made to it:—
Paid to Master Peter de Brompton for the wages of 100 carpenters, each receiving 4d. per day, and their constable receiving 8d. per day; of which five are overseers of twenty, and each receives 6d. per day for his wages, from Sunday 23rd of August for the seven following days, 12l. 3s. 9d.
To two smiths, one receiving 4d. per day, and the other 3d. for their wages, from Sunday 23rd of August to Sunday l2th of September, each day being reckoned, for twenty one days, 12s. 3d.
Two shoeing smiths by the day, at 3d.
Paid to forty-seven sailors of the king for their wages, seven days; each receiving per diem 3d., except seven, each of whom received 6d. per day, 4l. 14s. 6d.
Paid to Geoffry le Chamberlin for the wages of twelve cross-bowmen and thirteen archers for twenty-four days; each cross-bowman receiving by the day 4d, and each archer 2d.,—7l. 8s.
Paid to one master mason, receiving 6d. per diem, and five masons at 4d., and one workman at 3d.; for twenty-eight days, 3l. 7s. 8d.
Sunday next, after the feast of St. John Baptist, paid to twenty-two mowers, each receiving 1-1/2d. per day for four days, 11s.
Wednesday following paid to twenty-three mowers, each receiving 6d. per day for their wages of two days, 1l. 3s.
Paid to fourscore and sixteen spreaders of hay for one day's wages, whereof fourscore received each per day 1-1/2d, and each of the others 2d., l2s. 8d.
Paid to 160 spreaders of hay for their wages, Sunday and Monday, 16s. 6d.
Necessaries.
For six carts, each with three horses, hired to carry the hay from the meadows to the castle of Rothelan, for one day, 6s. 10d.
For the carriage of turf, with which the house was covered in which the hay was placed, 1s. 5d.
For an iron fork bought to turn the hay, 3d.
For making a ditch about the house where the said hay was put, 1s. 8d.
For putting and piling up one rick of hay in the house, 1s. 8d.
Wages of two turf-cutters, seven days, at 5d. per day, 5s. 10d.
For the carriage of turves to cover the king's kitchen, 7s. 6d.
For twenty-two empty casks, bought to make paling for the queen's court yard, 18s. 4d.
To Wildbor, the fisherman, receiving 10d. per day, and his six companions, the queen's fishermen, at 3d. per day each, fishing in the sea, forty-two days, 4l. 18s.
Repairing a cart of the king's, conveying a pipe of honey from Aberconway to Rothelan, 1s. 4d.
To six men carrying shingles to cover the hall of the castle, at 2-1/2d each per day, seven days, 8s. 9d.
Gifts.
To a certain female spy, as a gift, 1s.
To a certain female spy, to purchase her a house, as a gift, 1l.
To Ralph le Vavasour, bringing news to the queen of the taking of Dolinthalien, as a gift, 5l.
To John de Moese, coming immediately after with the same news, with letters of the Earl of Gloucester, by way of gift, 5l.
To a certain player, as a gift, 1s.
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Swan with Two Necks.
It appears from the roll of swan's marks, in the time of Henry VIII., that the king's swans were doubly marked, and had what were called two nicks, or notches. The term, in process of time, not being understood, a double animal was invented, with the name of "The Swan with Two Necks." But this is not the only ludicrous mistake that has arisen on the subject, since "swan-upping," or the taking up of swans, performed annually by the swan companies, with the Lord Mayor at their head, for the purpose of marking them, has been changed, by an unlucky asperite, into swan-hopping, which is perfectly unintelligible.
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Trial of the Pix.
The invention of it, in this kingdom, or at least its introduction into our courts, is probably of high antiquity, being mentioned in the time of Edward I., as a mode well known and of common usage. At present it is seldom required, except on the removal of the master of the Mint from his office. Upon a memorial praying for a trial of the Pix by this officer, a summons issues to certain members of the privy council to meet on a day fixed. The Lord Chancellor also directs a precept to the wardens of the Goldsmith's company, requiring them to nominate a competent number of able freemen of their company, skilful to judge of, and to present the defaults of the coin, if such be found, to be of a jury. When the court is formed, twelve of these persons are sworn, who are directed by the president to examine whether the moneys were made according to the indenture, and standard trial pieces, and within the remedies. But in 1754, Lord Chancellor Talbot directed the jury to express precisely how much the money was within the remedies; and the practice which he thus enjoined is still continued. The Pix, or box containing the coins to be examined, is then delivered to the jury, who retire to the court room of the Duchy of Lancaster, whither the Pix is removed, together with the weights of the Exchequer and Mint, and where the scales used on this occasion are suspended; the beam of which is so delicate, that it will turn with six grains, when loaded with the whole of those weights, to the amount of 48 lbs. 8 oz. in each scale. The Pix is then opened, and the money which had been taken out of each delivery, and enclosed in a parcel under the seals of the warden, master, and comptroller of the Mint, is given to the foreman, who reads aloud the endorsement, and compares it with the account which lies before him; he then delivers the parcel to one of the jury, who opens it and examines whether its contents agree with the endorsement. When all the parcels have been opened, and found right, the moneys contained in them are mixed together in wooden bowls, and afterwards weighed. Out of the said moneys so mingled, the jury take a certain number of each species of coin, to the amount of one pound for the assay by fire. And the indented trial pieces of gold and silver, of the dates specified in the indenture, being produced by the proper officer, a sufficient quantity is cut from either of them, for the purpose of comparing with it the pound weight of gold or silver which is to be tried by the usual methods of assay. The jury then return their verdict, stating how much the coins examined have varied from the weight and fineness required, and whether the variations exceed or fall short of the remedies which are allowed; and according to the terms of the verdict, the master's quietus is either granted or withheld.
Note.—The remedies are an allowance of one sixth of a carat, or forty grains, in the pound weight of gold, and of two pennyweights in that of silver, considered either as to fineness or weight, or both of them taken together; the moneyers are, however, at this time so expert, that these quantities are much greater than are necessary.