Some were hedgers, ditchers, ploughmen, reapers,
shepherds, and herdsmen. The cottagers' typical earnings of about
1s. a day amounted to about 200 shillings a year, which was almost
subsistence level. Accordingly they also farmed a little on their
four acres of land with garden. Some also had a few animals. They
lived in a one or two room cottage of clay and branches of trees
or wood, sometimes with a brick fireplace and chimney, and few
windows. They ate bread, cheese, lard, soup, and greens. If a
laborer was unmarried, he lived with the farmer. Theirs was a
constant battle for survival. They often moved because of
deprivation to seek opportunity elsewhere. The town wage-earning
laborers ranged from journeymen craftsmen to poor casual laborers.
The mass of workers in London were not members of guilds, and the
crime rate was high.
The last three classes also contained rural craftsmen and
tradesmen, who also farmed. The variety of trades became very
large, e.g. tinsmiths, chain smiths, pewterers, violin makers, and
glass painters. The curriers, who prepared hides for shoemakers,
coachmakers, saddlers, and bookbinders, were incorporated.
The fourth and fifth classes comprised about three fourths of the
population.
Then there were the maritime groups: traders, shipowners, master
and seamen, and the fishers.
Over one fourth of all households had servants. They were the
social equals of day laborers, but materially better off with food
and clothing plus an allowance of money of two pounds [40s.
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