Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/358

 266 EEXT-ROLL OF THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. details necessary, in order to lead us to a correct conclusion as to tins point, would compel me to trespass upon jour time far longer than would be acceptable. Those who may feel interested in the subject may consult — 1. Bishop Fleetwood's Chronicon Preciosum ; 2. The History of England, by Dr. Henry ; 3. The Tables, drawn up with so much care, by Rear-Admiral Rainier, in 1833,' and 4. Mr. Hallam's Work on the Middle Ages, where some very judicious observations on this subject will be found. Still our endeavours to adjust a multiplier for expressing the real value of a sum in the days of Henry VI. in terms of our present money, or its equivalent value, in commanding commodities in the present da}", are attended with difficulties — 1. From the difference of opinion which prevails amongst writers on the subject ; 2. From the great variations in the price of wheat, taken as a criterion ; and 3. In the shifting value of money. In order, therefore, to prove the mao'nitude of the Duke of Buckinoham's income, I would endeavour to show how very much could be effected in different ways at that period with sums of far less amount. It may be remarked that this income exceeded that of the powerful peer before alluded to, the Duke of Warwick, by some hundreds per annum, and we may compare it with the revenues of the greatest religious houses at the Dissolution. Whilst thus eno;ao;ed, we must never fail to bear in mind Johnson's judicious remark, that "custom, or the different needs of artificial hfe, make that revenue little at one time which is great at another. Men are rich and poor, not only in proportion to what they have, but what the}" want." Ascham's pension of 10/., granted him by Henry VIIL, reckoning the wants he could supply, and those from which he was exempt, Johnson (seventy 3'ears ago) computed at more than 100/. a year. Although a great nobleman at this period had, as we shall presently see, many heavy calls upon his purse, yet people had few imaginary wants. Our habits, in this age of luxury, when contrasted with the severe simplicity of ancient times, must differ almost as wideh^ in some respects, as did those of the inhabitants of the Friendly Islands with the English, when the former were visited by Captain Cook. " Obligingly lent by the Earl of Qiichester, at the instance of my friend R. W. Blencowe, Es(j.