[anonymouskimmer]

Worse than that:

> the swan mark would have to be purchased at the price of six shillings - swans not included. This was about the same amount as a year’s wages for a household servant.

One pound would be over three years wages for a household servant.

[sportslife]

You caught me skimming the article!

The National Archives gives one pound in 1480 as the 33 days' wages for a skilled tradesman's labour, so I can see why they'd want to join a guild.

[anonymouskimmer]

To be fair, a household servant got room and board too.