[MR] BBC: Norfolk Farmer at Bosworth

[Marybeth Lavrakas]

10 pounds is a lot of money! To give an idea, gentlemen with 40 pounds a year in annual income were technically required to become knights...I used to know off the top of my head the annual average wages for various levels of people in early Tudor England, but grad school is now too far in my past and I'd have to look it up.  Anyone in the tavern know?

Kateryn Rous



________________________________
From: Garth Groff <ggg9y at virginia.edu>
To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org; isenfir at virginia.edu
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 7:19 AM
Subject: [MR] BBC: Norfolk Farmer at Bosworth

Noble friends,

Here is an interesting piece from the BBC on the will of Thomas Longe, a Norfolk farmer who apparently was killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14715466 . Longe's circumstances suggest several likely assumptions about common soldiers in the Yorkist armies (and no doubt the Lancastrian as well). They waere likely unarmored, and apparently provided their own weapons (one envisions them carrying spears, and most certainly daggers). This is very much in line with various assizes of arms, which usually required light armor and a helmet for men worth 10 pounds.

It is a sad tale, but fascinating.

Kind regards,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot

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