¶ The seuerall Rates and Taxations for wages, [...]e and set forth by the Iustices of peace, of the Countye of Northampton.
WHere in the Parliament holden at Westmynster the .xii. day of Ianuary, in the fifth yere of the reigne of our soueraigne Lady the Quenes Maiesty it was enacted by the Quene our sayd soueraigne Lady, the Lordes spirituall, and temporal, and the commons in that parliament assembled, that the Iustices of the peace of euery shyre, Riding, and liberty within the limites of theyr seuerall commissions, or the more part of them, being resiaunt wythin the same, and the sheriffe of the countie yf he conuenientlye myghte, and euerye Mayor Bayliffe, or other head officer within any Citie or towne corporate, wherin is any Iustices of the peace wythin the limittes of the sayd Citie or Towne, should by force of the said act, yerely after Easter at tymes conuenient appoynted by the same, assemble them selues together, and callynge before them such discrete and graue persons of the sayd Countie, Citie and Towne, as they should thinke meete, and conferring together, respecting the plenties or scarsitie of the time, and other circumstances necessarily to be considered, should by vertue of the sayd Act, within the limittes and precinctes of theyr seuerall Commissions, limytte, rate, and appoint the wages, aswell of such and so many of the sayd artificers, handie craftes men, husbandmen, or any other labourer, seruaunt, or workmen, whose wages in tymes past hath bene by any lawe or statute rated & appoynted, as also the wages of all other laborers, artificers, workemen or apprentices of husbandry, which haue not bene rated, as the same Iustices, Mayors, or head officers within theyr seuerall commissions or liberties, shoulde thinke meete by theyr discretions to be rated, lymytted, or appoynted. And the same rates and taxations should certifie into the Quenes highnes courte of Chauncery, before a certayne day, limitted in the sayde acte. Wherevpon it shoulde be lawefull for the Lorde Chaunceloure or Lorde Keper of the great seale of Englande for the tyme being, vpon declaration thereof to her highnes, her Heyres, or Successours, or to the lordes and others of her Maiesties priuie councel, to cause Proclamations to be printed and sent downe into euery of the sayd shyres and places, conteyning the seuerall rates appointed by the sayde Iustices and other head officers, commaundyng thereby, in her highnes name, al persons straightly to obserue and kepe the same, vpon the danger of the punishmēt and forfaytures limitted and appoynted by the sayd Act and statute.
And where also it is further enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayde, that all maner of person & persons after such Proclamation made, should obserue and kepe the said rates for wages, vpon paine of the forfaitures & penalties conteined in the same estatute, vntill further order by proclamation, according to the purport of the same estatute, it should be otherwise ordered & proclaymed, wherfore the Quenes Maiestie hauyng receyued into her sayd Court of Chauncery amongest diuers other Certificates, from sundrye of her hyghnes Shieres, Cityes and Townes, one certificate from her hyghnes County of Northampton, conteynyng the Rates for wages hereafter folowynge, made and appoynted by the Iustices of thys her sayd County of Northampton, accordyng to the tenor of the same Acte. And myndyng to haue the same rates put in execution in all pointes, as by the processe of the same acte is prescribed, lyke as her Maiesty hath and intendeth to do in all other her hyghnes Countyes and Shyres, and other places of libertye within thys her Realme: [...]refore her highnes straightlye chargeth and commaundeth all maner of person and persons within her sayde County of Northampton, to kepe and obserue in all poyntes, the sayd rates, taxations, orders, and appointmentes for wages hereafter folowyng, and set forthe, vpon the paines and forfaitures appointed by the saide estatute, and vpon payne of her highnes displeasure.
And further her hyghnes pleasure and expresse commaundement is, that all Iustices of peace, Sheriffes, and other heade officers of her sayd County of Northampton, shall see, and cause the same Rates duelye and seuerelye to be obserued and kept in all poyntes: And thys Proclamation to be vsed in euery behalfe accordynge to the tenor and effect of the same act. And her Maiesties further pleasure and commaundemente is, that if any question, scruple, or doubt, shall aryse vppon my of the taxations or rates for this her said County of Northampton, herevnder mentioned: That then the same shalbe resolued and determined by her hyghnes Iustices of peace that dyd make and ordayne the same taxations and rates: and that all persons shall perfourme and kepe the same resolutions orders and determinations[?] [...] [Page] resolued and determined by her hyghnes Iustices of peace that dyd make and ordayne the same taxations and rates: and that all persons shall perfourme and kepe the same resolutions, orders, and determinations, so by them to be made and determined touchyng the same.
The Countie of Northampton.
¶ Hereafter ensueth the certificate of the Iustices of Peace within the Countie of Northampton, touching thorder and rate taken by them, concernyng the wages of Artificers, Labourers, and Seruantes of husbandrie, and of other workemen, according to the acte made in the last Session of Parliament holden at Westminster in the fyfthe yere of the reigne of our Soueraigne Lady the Quene.
Artificers.
FRee masons, Carpenters, Ioyners, Caruers, Sawiers, Whelewrightes, Ropers, Coller makers, Brickelaiers, Roughe masons, Bowiers, Plumbers, Canners, Glasiers, Curriers, Bakers, Boochers, Shomakers, Plasterers, Tylers, Slaters, Tailors, Glouers, Turners, Fletchers, Sadlers and Coupers, the best sort, by the daie from the middest of September vnto the middest of Marche, with meat and drinke .iiii. d. without .vii. d. From the middest of Marche vnto the middest of September, with meat and drinke .vi. d. without .viii. d. By the whole yere with Liuerie .xl. s. Without Liuerie .xlvi. s .viii. d.
The second sort by the day from the middest of September to the middest of March with meate and drinke .iii. d. Without .vi. d. From the middest of Marche to the middest of September with meat and drinke .v. d. Wihout .vii. d. With liuerie xxxiii. s .iiii. d. Without .xl. s
Maister Carpenter, Plumber, Freemason hauing three or foure men, and able to take charge of worke with meate and drink .vi. d. Without .x. d. according to the rate: and in Winter .iiii. d. with meat & drink, & without .viii. d.
Laborers all the yere.
Common Laborers by the day, from the middest of September to the middest of Marche, with meate and drinke ii. d. without .iiii. d. From the middest of Marche vnto the middest of September with meat and drinke .iii. d. without .vi. d.
Thatchers, Latherenders, Moletakers, by the day from the middest of September vnto the middest of Marche with meate and drinke .iiii. d. without .vi. d. From the middest of Marche vnto the middest of September with meat and drinke .iiii. d. without .vi. d.
Seruauntes.
A Carter which vseth cariage by the highe waie, with liuery .xl. without liuerie .xlvi. s .viii. d.
A Seruant able to be a Bailife of Husbandrie, with liuerie .xxxiii. s .iiii. d. without liuerie .xl. s.
A Hinde seruant of the best sorte, with liuerie .xxvi. s .viii. d. without liuerie .xxxiii. s .iiii. d.
A Hynd seruant of the second sort with liuerie .xx. s. Without liuerie .xxv. s.
A Mayde seruant of the best sort with liuery .xvi. s. Without liuerie .xx. s.
A Mayde seruant of the second sort, with liuerie .xii. s. Without liuerie .xvi. s.
A Mowier by the daie.
A mowier of Corne or Grasse, with meat and drinke .v. d. without .viii. d.
A man reaping Corne, with meat and drinke .iiii. d. without .vii. d.
A woman reaping Corne, with meat and drinke .iii. d. without .v. d.
A man for Haie or haruest workes, with meate and drinke .iii. d. without .vi. d.
A woman for the lyke workes, with meate and drinke .ii. d. without .iiii. d.
A mowier of Grasse well growen, for euery acre .viii. d. Barley and Otes, for euery acre wel growen .iiii. d. Beanes Pease, Fetches, and suche like, for euery acre .v. d. Wheate, Rye, Stoble, and Hawme for euery acre .v. d.
A Reaper for reaping, bynding and laying in shockes, Wheate and Rie, for euery acre .v. s.
A Thresher of Wheate and Rye, for euery quarter .vi. d. Barley and Otes, for euery quarter .iiii. d. Beanes and Pease for euery quarter .v. d.
For making a quicke hedge well plashed, for euery Pole conteyning .xviii. foote .ii. d.
A dead hedge well made, for euery Pole conteyning .xviii. foote .i. d. ob.
For making a Diche out of the grounde, being .iii. foote depe .iiii. foote wide, and one foote wide in the botome, and double set with quicke sett, for euery Pole .v. d.
And for a dyche of .iii. foote wide and .ii. foote and a halfe depe, with lyke quicke sette, for euery pole .iiii. d.
A Plowe wright for aring euery Carte .iiii. d. And making euery Ploughe .vii. d.
A Lathe render, for euery. C. Lathe well made .ii. d. ob.
A maker of Fagottes, for euery. C. Fagottes .ix. d
Sawiers for sawing of Bordes, for euery. C .xvi. d. for sawing of slit worke, euery. C .xviii. d.
A Myller that can take charge to cogge and rounde, and to laie on newe Mylstones, and all other thinges perteyning to a Myller .xl. s.
A Myller of the second sorte .xxxiii. s .iiii. d.
A Sheparde of the beste sorte for the Fallowe fielde .xxx. s.
And it is thought good by vs the Iustices, that in that parte of the Syre where any lesse wages of late time hath bene vsually geuen or taken then is aboue limitted and appointed, that the same lesse wages to be continued. Any rate of wages herein lymitted and appointed to the contrarie notwithstanding.
God saue the Quene.
Anno. 1566. Mense Iunij.