In the eyes of the Earls of the Northern Counties, Jacob Wycliffe, Earl of Lancashire, was almost a "poor" nobleman. His territory was so "poor", and so was his material life—lackluster. For the other county counts, they were able to show their noble and noble status with their living expenses in terms of clothing, food, housing, and transportation. However, for the "poor" Earl of Lancashire, these spendings were only a necessity for survival.

In fact, the Earl of Lancashire was not poor. Morecambe Bay on the west coast of the county is bordered by the Irish Sea, with a long and winding coastline of the Pennines foothills to the east, marshland to the south, forests to the north, and lowlands with moraines and marshes to the west. The county is not only fed by the River Ribre, which originates on the western slopes of the Pennines, but is also rich in deposits of coal, salt, limestone and glass sand. In the western and northern agricultural areas, dairy and meat husbandry are also more developed. However, the Earl of Lancashire, a devout Catholic, did not know how to make use of the rich natural resources of his domain.

Although he could not be generous with the nature of showing off his wealth, the necessary aristocratic consumption still had to be valued and emphasized. In terms of residence, he and his family live in the family castle, which does not cost much to maintain every year, and can also save a lot of money. Horseback riding and horse-drawn carriage rides are all available.

Only food and clothing must be in a way that matches the status and status of the county earl. In terms of clothing, while seeking to keep warm and avoid the cold, it is necessary to comply with the 5 Kingdom Decrees and 12 Royal Decrees passed by the Parliament, which set strict requirements for the dress of different social classes.

When it comes to eating, food is a sign of the social status of each person and of the civilization or culture that surrounds him. Only when the food meets the scale and requirements of the aristocratic class can it highlight its aristocratic status. After all, this was one of the important principles of the material life of the nobility: "Knowing what you eat, you can tell what your identity is".

On the last Monday of June, two full-time servants working for Baron Walton, the cashier and the purchaser, led several male servants with a crate of cane sugar and a crate of hides from the manor and headed for Yorktown, some 30 miles to the southeast. Before leaving, Miss Isabel, the daughter of the lord Baron Walton, instructed them both, "These two boxes of goods must be sold for no less than 70 times the market price, nor more than 100 times the market price." ”

The purchaser was well aware of the market prices of various consumer goods in Yorktown, and he was extremely shocked by the words of the lord's daughter. He was not at all convinced that these luxuries, which were reserved for the consumption of the aristocracy, could fetch such high prices, and replied with some hesitation and some confusion: "Mademoiselle, according to my purchasing experience, the best cane sugar in the South can only be sold for a pound (about 0.91 catties) for 9 pence or 10 pence. So, what you said... I'm afraid the price will not be accepted by the purchasers of other noble families. ”

Miss Isabel smiled contemptuously, "In the past, when you went to the city to buy all kinds of goods, food, and drink, you would always keep the price down to a level that my parents could accept, didn't you?" ”

"Yes, miss."

"Now, what you have to do is to sell goods, and you have to make the other noble purchasers feel the power of your words. You want to let all the purchasers know that these rare goods come from the overseas territories of the Spaniards in the Caribbean. Do you understand? Isabel paused deliberately so that the purchaser could understand her.

Later, he taught the purchaser the art of selling, "You must use all your strength and proudly tell everyone that there is no such beautiful and strange goods in the whole kingdom." If anyone finds this cargo anywhere north of the Trent River, I'll compensate him 10 times as much! ”

"Yes, miss, I see." The purchaser stared at a pair of eyes and didn't dare to ask any more, but swallowed.

"You have to remember every word I have said, you must not say it wrong, you can't say a word less!" Isabel commanded with some sternness, and she was a little skeptical that the purchaser would be able to remember her words.

At 10 a.m. on Monday, the cashier and purchaser arrived at the souk near Shember Street in York City. In a short time, the two boxes of goods placed on the carriage attracted the attention of several gentlemen, Yoman, and several purchasers of nobles and knights. Among the many buyers who choose and negotiate prices, the Earl of Lancashire's purchasers happen to be among them.

After consulting with the cashier, the purchaser summoned all the courage to speak the words of the lord's daughter word for word. As soon as the words were finished, it immediately caused a sensation at the scene. While everyone was pointing and talking about the goods, an old reserved gentleman looked at the purchaser and the others with contempt, and then looked coldly at the number robes on these people.

Unhurriedly stroked his beard, and said leisurely, "Purchaser, who taught you these words?" Don't forget that lying is punished by God. ”

The cashier next to the purchaser snorted lightly, squinted at the gentleman and said disdainfully, "Gentleman, you can be rude to us. However, you can't be rude to our lord, Lord Walton! ”

"Cashier, I can tell from your uniform that your lord is Lord Walton. It's just that I have some doubts about the truth of the purchaser's words. Caribbean, what is it? Where are the overseas territories of the Spaniards? ”

"Gentleman, these words were told to us by Miss Isabel, the lord's daughter. If you don't believe me, you can go to the Lord's Manor in Kircrington to find out. ”

The gentleman looked at the two full-time manservants who were rightful and did not refute any more, and thought secretly, "I can't doubt what the nobleman's daughter said. If the candy and hides do come from overseas, I can buy them as gifts for other gentlemen! ”

While the gentleman was pondering whether to buy the goods, the Earl of Lancashire's purchaser with a few manservants and guards brutally rushed to the front of the onlookers. The purchaser pointed to the two boxes of goods on the carriage and said loudly to the two full-time servants beside him, "I want all these sugars and hides!" Tell me, what's the price? ”

Baron Walton's cashier recognized the Earl of Lancashire's insignia on the other man's garment, and smiled kindly, "Oh, it's Lord Lancashire's purchaser." Listen, this box of sugar sells for £350, and this crate of hides sells for £400! ”

Before, the purchaser's words had already amazed everyone. Now, the cashier's words have caused an uproar at the sales scene.