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Cutting a Garment

Some Workmen's Wages in 1588

From a statute given at Westminster 24 August 1588

These are wages for hire given "to the best and most skillful workmen, journeymen, and hired servants of any of the companies hereunder named." Masters paying these wages surely make rather more.

Having a special care and regard to the high and very chargeable prices of victuals, fuel, raiment, and apparel both linen and woolen, and also of house rents and other special and accidental charges wherewith artificers and labourers dwelling within the city are very many and sundry times, after their power and substance charged and burdened with the residue of the citizens of the same.

To the best and most skillful workmen, journeymen, and hired servants of any of the companies hereunder named.

Wages by the year, with meat and drink
Clothworkers £5
Fullers £5
Shearmen £5
Dyers £6 13s 8d
Tailor's hosier £4
Drapers, being hosiers £4
Shoemakers £4
Pewterers £3 6s 8d
Whitebakers £4 6s 8d
Brewers £10
   The underbrewer £6
   The foredrayman £6
   The miller £6
   The other draymen £3 6s 8d
   The tunman £3 6s 8d
Alebrewers by the year £6
Alebrewers by the day 8d
Saddlers £4
Turners £4 6s 8d
Cutlers £4 6s 8d
Blacksmiths £6
Curriers £6
Brownbakers £3 6s 8d
Farriers £4
Glovers £3 6s 8d
Cappers £4 13s 4d
Hatmakers & feltmakers£4 13s 4d
Butchers £6
Cooks £6
To the workmen, journeymen or hired servants of any companies hereunder named
Craft
Terms
Wage
GoldsmithsWith meat and drink, By the year£5
 By the week3s 4d
 By the day7d
 Without meat and drink, By the week6s
 By the day.12d
Skinners With meat and drink, By the year£4
 By the week3s 4d
 By the day8d
 Without meat & drink By the week6s
 By the day13d
Painter stainers With meat & drink, By the year£4
 By the week4s
 By the day9d
Without meat & drinkBy the year£8
 By the week6s 8d
 By the day13d
Linen weavers .With meat and drink, By the year£4
 By the day6d
 Without meat & drink, By the day10d
Glaziers With meat & drink, By the day9d
 Without meat & drink, By the day13d
Longbow stringmakersWith meat & drink, By the year£4
 By the day8d
  Without meat & drink, By the day12d
Founders With meat and drink, By the year£5
 By the day12d
 Without meat & drink, By the day16d
Barbers With meat and drink, By the year £3
 By the week 20d
Carmen
(carters & drayers)
With meat and drink, By the week2s 6d
WatermenWith meat and drink, By the year4d

Source:
Aughterson, The English Renaissance

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11 March 2010 mps