The next entry in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 was dated 2nd October. It was described as payment for 4 ells of cloth for smocks for Mistress Jane. The amount was 2 shillings 8 pence, which was the equivalent of about £58.84 today. The Mistress Jane referred to in this entry is Jane Harbottle, the widowed daughter of Sir Henry. An ell was an historic unit of measurement, particularly used in the fabric trade. The word ell comes from the Ol

The next five entries in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 were dated 25th September. The first was described as Sir Henry’s offering at the rood of Nottingham and the amount was 4 pence, which was the equivalent of about £7.35 today. The second was described as alms given at the same place and the amount was also 4 pence. The third was described as payment for 2 yards of fustian for a doublet for Master Catesby and the amount was 16 pence, whi

The next entry in the Middleton household accounts of Sir Henry Willoughby in 1525 was dated the 3rd May. It was a payment to Lady Alice Willoughby in order for her to buy “gear” (clothes) for Mistress Jane. The amount was 20 shillings, which was the equivalent of about £441.28 today or, in terms of equivalence at that time, would have been the cost of about three stones of wool or 33 days wages for a skilled tradesman. Mistress Jane was one of Sir Henry’s daughters by his

The next entry in the Middleton household accounts of Sir Henry Willoughby in 1525 was the sole entry in September and only dated as such. It was another payment to Lady Alice Willoughby in order for her to buy clothes for Mistress Jane. Mistress Jane was Sir Henry Willoughby’s widowed daughter. The amount was 6 shillings 8 pence, which was the equivalent of about £147.09 today or, in terms of equivalence at that time, would have been the cost of about one stone of wool or 11