¶ The several Rates and Taxations for wages, e and set forth by the Iustices of peace, of the county of Northampton.  
WHere in the Parliament holden at westminster the .xii. day of january, in the fifth year of the reign of our sovereign Lady the queens majesty it was enacted by the queen our said sovereign Lady, the lords spiritual, and temporal, and the commons in that parliament assembled, that the Iustices of the peace of every shire, Riding, and liberty within the limits of their several commissions, or the more part of them, being resiant within the same, and the sheriff of the county yf he conveniently might, and every Mayor bailiff, or other head officer within any city or town corporate, wherein is any Iustices of the peace within the limits of the said city or town, should by force of the said act, yearly after Easter at times convenient appoynted by the same, assemble themselves together, and calling before them such discrete and grave persons of the said county, city and town, as they should think meet, and conferring together, respecting the plenties or scarcity of the time, and other circumstances necessary to be considered, should by virtue of the said Act, within the limits and precincts of their several Commissions, limytte, rate, and appoint the wages, as well of such and so many of the said artificers, handy crafts men, husbandmen, or any other labourer, servant, or workmen, whose wages in times past hath been by any lawe or statute ranted & appoynted, as also the wages of all other labourers, artificers, workmen or apprentices of husbandry, which haue not been ranted, as the same Iustices, Mayors, or head officers within their several commissions or liberties, should think meet by their discretions to be ranted, limited, or appoynted. And the same rates and taxations should certify into the queens highnes court of chancery, before a certain day, limited in the said act. whereupon it should be lawful for the lord Chaunceloure or lord keeper of the great seal of england for the time being, vpon declaration thereof to her highnes, her heirs, or successors, or to the lords and others of her majesties privy council, to cause Proclamations to be printed and sent down into every of the said shires and places, containing the several rates appointed by the said Iustices and other head officers, commanding thereby, in her highnes name, al persons straightly to observe and keep the same, vpon the danger of the punishment and forfaytures limited and appoynted by the said Act and statute.  
And where also it is further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all maner of person & persons after such Proclamation made, should observe and keep the said rates for wages, vpon pain of the forfeitures & penalties contained in the same statute, until further order by proclamation, according to the purport of the same statute, it should be otherwise ordered & proclaimed, wherefore the queens majesty having received into her said Court of chancery amongst diuers other Certificates, from sundry of her highness shires, cities and towns, one certificate from her highness County of Northampton, containing the Rates for wages hereafter following, made and appoynted by the Iustices of this her said County of Northampton, according to the tenor of the same act. And minding to haue the same rates put in execution in all points, as by the process of the same act is prescribed, like as her majesty hath and intendeth to do in all other her highness counties and shires, and other places of liberty within this her realm: ●●●●refore her highnes straightly chargeth and commandeth all maner of person and persons within her said County of Northampton, to keep and observe in all poyntes, the said rates, taxations, orders, and appointmentes for wages hereafter following, and set forth, vpon the pains and forfeitures appointed by the said statute, and vpon pain of her highnes displeasure.  
And further her highness pleasure and express commandment is, that all Iustices of peace, Sheriffes, and other head officers of her said County of Northampton, shall see, and cause the same Rates duly and seuerelye to be observed and kept in all poyntes: And this Proclamation to be used in every behalf according to the tenor and effect of the same act. And her majesties further pleasure and commandment is, that if any question, scruple, or doubt, shall arise upon my of the taxations or rates for this her said County of Northampton, herevnder mentioned: That then the same shalbe resolved and determined by her highness Iustices of peace that did make and ordain the same taxations and rates: and that all persons shall perform and keep the same resolutions orders and determinations 〈…〉 resolved and determined by her highness Iustices of peace that did make and ordain the same taxations and rates: and that all persons shall perform and keep the same resolutions, orders, and determinations, so by them to be made and determined touching the same.   

The county of Northampton.  
¶ Hereafter ensueth the certificate of the Iustices of Peace within the county of Northampton, touching thorder and rate taken by them, concerning the wages of Artificers, Labourers, and servants of husbandry, and of other workmen, according to the act made in the last Session of Parliament holden at Westminster in the fifth year of the reign of our sovereign Lady the queen.  

Artificers.  
FRee masons, Carpenters, Ioyners, carvers, Sawiers, Whelewrightes, Ropers, Coller makers, Brickelaiers, rough masons, Bowiers, Plumbers, Canners, glaziers, Curriers, Bakers, Boochers, Shomakers, Plasterers, tilers, Slaters, Tailors, glovers, Turners, Fletchers, Sadlers and Coupers, the best sort, by the day from the midst of September unto the midst of march, with meat and drink .iiii. d. without .vii. d. From the midst of march unto the midst of September, with meat and drink .vi. d. without .viii. d. By the whole year with livery .xl. s. Without livery .xlvi. s. d.  
The second sort by the day from the midst of September to the midst of March with meate and drink .iii. d. Without .vi. d. From the midst of march to the midst of September with meat and drink .v. d. without .vii. d. With livery xxxiii. s .iiii. d. Without .xl. s  
master Carpenter, Plumber, Freemason having three or four men, and able to take charge of work with meate and drink .vi. d. Without .x. d. according to the rate: and in Winter .iiii. d. with meat & drink, & without .viii. d.   

labourers all the year.  
Common labourers by the day, from the midst of September to the midst of march, with meate and drink ii. d. without .iiii. d. From the midst of march unto the midst of September with meat and drink .iii. d. without .vi. d.  
Thatchers, Latherenders, Moletakers, by the day from the midst of September unto the midst of march with meate and drink .iiii. d. without .vi. d. From the midst of march unto the midst of September with meat and drink .iiii. d. without .vi. d.   

servants.  
A Carter which useth carriage by the high way, with livery .xl. without livery .xlvi. s. d.  
A Seruant able to be a bailiff of husbandry, with livery .xxxiii. s. d. without livery .xl. s.  
A hind seruant of the best sort, with livery .xxvi. s. d. without livery .xxxiii. s. d.  
A hind seruant of the second sort with livery .xx. s. Without livery .xxv. s.  
A maid seruant of the best sort with livery .xvi. s. Without livery .xx. s.  
A maid seruant of the second sort, with livery .xii. s. Without livery .xvi. s.   

A Mowier by the day.  
A mowier of corn or grass, with meat and drink .v. d. without .viii. d.  
A man reaping corn, with meat and drink .iiii. d. without .vii. d.  
A woman reaping corn, with meat and drink .iii. d. without .v. d.  
A man for hay or harvest works, with meate and drink .iii. d. without .vi. d.  
A woman for the like works, with meate and drink .ii. d. without .iiii. d.  
A mowier of grass well grown, for every acre .viii. d. Barley and oats, for every acre well grown .iiii. d. beans Pease, Fetches, and such like, for every acre .v. d. wheat, Rye, Stoble, and Hawme for every acre .v. d.  
A Reaper for reaping, binding and laying in shockes, wheat and rye, for every acre .v. s.  
A Thresher of wheat and Rye, for every quarter .vi. d. Barley and oats, for every quarter .iiii. d. beans and Pease for every quarter .v. d.  
For making a quick hedge well plashed, for every Pole containing .xviii. foot .ii. d.  
A dead hedge well made, for every Pole containing .xviii. foot .i. d. ob.  
For making a ditch out of the ground, being .iii. foot deep .iiii. foot wide, and one foot wide in the bottom, and double set with quick set, for every Pole .v. d.  
And for a ditch of .iii. foot wide and .ii. foot and a half deep, with like quick set, for every pole .iiii. d.  
A plough wright for aring every cart .iiii. d. And making every thorough .vii. d.  
A lethe render, for every. C. lethe well made .ii. d. ob.  
A maker of Fagottes, for every. C. Fagottes .ix. d  
Sawiers for sawing of boards, for every. C .xvi. d. for sawing of slit work, every. C .xviii. d.  
A Myller that can take charge to cogge and round, and to lay on new Mylstones, and all other things pertaining to a Myller .xl. s.  
A Myller of the second sort .xxxiii. s. d.  
A shepherd of the beste sort for the fallow field .xxx. s.  
And it is thought good by us the Iustices, that in that parte of the sire where any less wages of late time hath been usually given or taken then is above limited and appointed, that the same less wages to be continued. Any rate of wages herein limited and appointed to the contrary notwithstanding.    
God save the queen. 
 Anno. 1566. mensae weak.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Richard jug and John Cawood Printers to the queens majesty.   

Cum privilegio Regiae Maiestatis.