The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-05-25 00:00:00

HIGH PRICES.

Five hundred years ago the people of England were
suffering from the same excessive pri& of provisions
that they complain of now. The complaints they
made and the remedy they obtained are set out in the
following writ issued by King Edward 11. in 1315,
which I send to you (writes a Southampton corres-
pondent of The Times), fanrying you may think it of
interest to some of your readers:—
- - •

"Conc,rning certain ordinances made to be observed upon
the side of oxen, cows, and divers other animate—The
King to the Mayor and Sheriffs of London, greeting. We
have received the complaint of the Archbishops, Bishops,
Earls, Barons, and others of the commonalty of cur realm
—contained in their petition exhibited before us and our
Council—of the present great and almost intolerable dear-
nesn of oxen, cows, sheep, pigs, geese, hens, capons, pullets,
pigeons, and eggs, to the great injury and inconvenience of
themselves and all others dwelling within our said realm,
and for which they earnestly entreat an to provide a
, suitable remedy. We, therefore, assenting to the said peti-
tion as seemeth fit for the common weal of the people of our
realm, do by the counsel and consent of the Prelates. Earls,
Barons, and others of our Council, in our last Parliament
held at Westrohister, Hain that the best live fat ox, not
corn fed, exposed for sale shall be sold for its. and no more,
and if fatted with corn, for 24a, at the most. And that
the best live tat now shall be sold for 125., a two-year-old '
fat pig for 40 pence, a fat sheep with the fleece for 20 pence,
and it shorn, for 14 pence a fat goose in our said city
for three pence, a good fat capon for two pence half-
penny, al at hen for one penny halfpenny, two pullets for
a penny half penny, three pigeons for a penny, and twenty
eggs for a penny. And if it shall happen that any person
or persons having such saleable articles be found unwilling
to sell them at the prices thus prescribed, then the afore.
said saleable articles shall lie forfeited to our use.
And whereas we will that the ordinance aforesaid be
forthwith tin-illy and inviolately observed in our
city aforesaid, we command you, firmly enjoining you
that you do publicly and distinctly cause the same to be
proclaimed in our said city and the au' .urbs thereof wherever
it may seem to you to be expedient, and do are that it be
kept inviolate In all and singular its articles under pain of the
the forfeiture aforesaid throughout your bailiwick. And
this, as you would avoid our wrath and keep yourselves un-
harmed, you may by no means neglect. Witness the King at
Westminster the 14th day of Mareh:"
• - • •

A similar writ was sent to all the Sheriffs cf England,
the King's Bailiff of Rochester., Queen Margaret's
Bailiff of Middleton in Kent, and the Chancellor and
Proctors of Oxford; with this difference, that the fat
goose was to be sold for 2id., the capon for 2d., the
hen for Id., two pullets for id, four pigeons for Id.,
and 24 eggs for 101., being a certain reduction of the
prices authorised to be demanded in London.
Assuming the value of money in those days to have
been—as is supposed—about 20 times greater than it is
now, the present prices are in most cases far in excess
of those which roused King Edward's wrath. Beef,
however, at present the special subject of complaint as
to the butcher's charges, seems really not much dearer,
£24 being a fair price for an average fat beast ; but
mutton and pork are more than twice as dear, and so
is poultry.