Hi Shoemaker
From the thirteenth century the price and quality of
bread, the staple diet of the peasantry,was controlled
by law. (There was a similar statute for ale, the two
usually being enforced together as the Assize of Bread
and Ale.) Fundamental to this legislation was that the
weight of a fixed-price loaf should vary according to
the current price of corn. Until the 17th century
bakers were regularly presented in the manorial or
other local courts for breaches of the Assize.
So loaves that were 'made less than a penny or half
penny whitebread' would be judged to be under the
required weight for a white loaf costing a penny or
halfpenny.
Many historians now think that charges under the Act
quickly became a legal fiction for lords of manors to
extort revenues.
Regards
Graham Javes
--- shoemaker dry <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> To all,
>
> Could you please tell me the meaning of loaves that
> were made less than
> penny or half penny whitebread?
>
> Shoemaker
>
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