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We attempt to give here some values of household commodities in order to reflect the values of the 17th century. Some are common, others less so, but they indicate the problems of trying to carry our own values back thriough time. It is an entirely idiosyncratic list, just for fun!
Typical wages for a labourer were 8d a day for a man, and 6d a day for a woman (but this might well be 2d less in poorer areas such as the north of England).
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Candles, 1 pound
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5d
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Book of Psalms
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5 shillings
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Wine bottles (6 dozen)
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19 shillings
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Brimstone, 1 pound
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4d
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Chalk for cleaning plate, 1 stone
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4d
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Cloth - cambric, 1 ell
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6 shillings
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Cloth - canvas, 1 yard
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1 shilling to 1s 4½d
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Cloth - velvet, 1 yard
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14 shillings
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Razor (shaving)
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1 shilling to 2s 6d
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Boots, man's
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10 shillings
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Washballs, 1 dozen
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1 shilling to 1s 6d
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Paper, 1 quire
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4d to 4 ½d
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Feather (plume for hat)
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4 to 6 shillings
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Felt hat
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1 shilling
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Pins - 2,000
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1 s 6d
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Making a lady's ruff
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3½d
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Stockings - silk, pair
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£1 - 15 - 0
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Stockings - other
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7d to 4 shillings
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Gold weights - set
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3s 10d
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Sugar loaf (13lb 11 oz)
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£1 - 7 - 8
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Powder sugar
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1 shilling to 1s 1d
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Wool cards
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3d to 2 shillings
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Starch - pound
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3½d
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