Ale-stake

No one was permitted to brew ale so long as any church-ale lasted, nor so long as the keeper of the park had any to sell, nor at any time without licence of the lord or court ; nor to sell without a sign, or, during the fair, without an ale-stake hung out, nor to ask a higher price for ale than that fixed by the jury of assize, nor to lower the quality below what the ale-tasters approved, nor to sell at times of Divine service, nor after nine o'clock at night, nor to sell at all without entering into a bond for ₤10, with a surety of ₤5, to keep orderly houses.

If you ran a public drinking house, you were required to have an ale-stake to show that you were conducting a business where ale was being brewed for sale.

This was effected by the brewer putting an ale-stake outside of his establishment, with a branch or bush attached to the end of it (Figure 6.1).