A lady in frayed alpaca, carrying a house-flannel, came to hearken.

vain toil    a vain attempt

$300 a day may seem like a lot, but it's all relative.

The xviii day of May in the fourth yeare of the Raigne of the kinge most excellent Monarche and in the year of our lord god 1606 I Thomas Knages of Lythe within the county of york husbandman sicke in body but whole in mynde and in perfect remembrance praised be to god do make and ordayne this my last will and testament in manner and forme following . . -