Literacy rates in medieval times were not what they are today, but they’re still routinely underestimated. Most places, including peasant villages, would have had some people around who could read.

Then again, it also depends heavily in what part of the middle ages you are talking about. Early, high and late middle ages were almost different worlds in many regards.

Okay, so your answer rules out the possibilty that it was appeals against suspensions of false accounts. That’s something, I guess.

false account suspension appeals

Was it the account suspensions that were false or the appeals?

I can get a weeks worth of food for that kind of money

Well, maybe one week, and you still have to get creatively frugal there.

But I see your point.

I feel like this meme is five years old and describing a situation that is no longer reality.

Context?