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nominal) ſhillings; each ſhilling being equal in weight to three of our preſent ſhillings, as was the Norman pound equal in weight to three of our modern pounds. Therefore, to make the value of the lands perfectly intelligible, we muſt multiply the antient valuation by three, by which the money of thoſe days will be nearly brought to the ſame ſterling ſtandard, as the preſent coin.
We muſt next proceed to aſcertain, as well as we are able, the proportionate value that money bore at that diſtant period, to what it does at the preſent inſtant though, I am afraid, to do this with any degree of accuracy, will be attended with almoſt inſuperable difficulties.
The uſual method of making this eſtimate, has generally been, to form a compariſon between the the prices of wheat at the two periods. But this muſt be exceedingly fallacious,as nothing fluctuated ſo much, in thoſe early times, as the value of corn. We ſometimes find the price of wheat, by the load, under ten ſhillings (of the preſent ſtandard), and, perhaps, in the following year at the enormous price of twenty pounds, and in the next ſeaſon again reduced to leſs than ten ſhillings.—When the difference of the value of money is conſidered, the ſum of 20l. for a load of wheat muſt
