A tithe dispute at North Luffenham in Rutlandshire throws considerable light on the financial position of the various classes interested in the land about 1576.  At the trial several witnesses were examined, who all made statements as to the amount of their worldly wealth, and it is a noteworthy fact that even the humblest had saved something; perhaps because there was no poor law or State pension fund to discourage thrift.[235] Thomas Blackburne, a husbandman, who had served his master as ‘chief baylie of his husbandrie’, had at the end of a long life saved L40.  Another, William Walker, eighty years of age, during forty years of service to Mr. John Wymarke had put by L10.  Robert Sculthorp, who had at one time been a farmer, was worth L26 6s. 8d., but the size of his farm is unfortunately not told us.  Roland Wymarke, a gentleman farmer, who had farmed for forty years at North Luffenham, was little better off than Thomas Blackburne, the baylie, for he estimated his capital at L50.  L50, however, must not be taken as representing the average wealth of a ‘gentleman’, though a few hundred pounds was then considered a considerable fortune.  In 1577 Thomas Corny, a prosperous landlord at Bassingthorpe, Lincolnshire, had a house with a hall, three parlours, seven chambers, a high garret, maid’s garret, five chambers for yeomen hinds, shepherd, &c., two kitchens, two larders, milk-house, brew-house, buttery, and cellar; and it was furnished with tables, carpets, cushions, pictures, beds, curtains, chairs, chests, and numerous kitchen and other utensils, besides a quantity of plate, which was then looked upon not only as a useful luxury but as a safe form of investment.  The small squire was not nearly so well off as this.  In 1527 the house of John Asfordby, who was of that degree, contained a hall, parlour, small parlour, low parlour, a chamber over the parlour, gallery chamber, buttery, and kitchen, and furniture was scanty, but the plate cupboard was well filled.[236] A prosperous yeoman was often comparatively better off than the small squire.  Richard Cust, of Pinchbeck in the same county, though his house was small, consisting only of a hall, parlour with chamber over, kitchen with chamber over, brew-house, milne-house (mill-house), and milk-house, was richer in furniture, possessing a folding-table, 4 chairs, 6 cushions, 27 pieces of pewter, 10 candlesticks, 4 basins, 1 laver, 6 beds, and other articles.[237]

FOOTNOTES: 

[215] See table at end, and Thorold Rogers’s prices in Vol.  V. of his great work.

[216] ‘A perfite platforme of a Hoppegarden’, in Arte of Gardening, by R. Scott, 1574.

[217] Tusser recommends that the hopyard be dug.  Thomas Tusser was born in Essex, about 1525, and died in 1580.  He led a roving life, which included a good deal of farming; but the statement that he died poor appears to be inaccurate.  Much of his advice is not very valuable.