CHAPTER II

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

Those who have had the patience to follow the detailed changes in rural organisation which have been described above will naturally ask, "What is the upshot of it all? What are the main landmarks which stand out from the bewildering variety of scenery? How does the agrarian England which is sleepily hunting out old guns and older bows on the eve of the Civil War differ from the England which saw the first Tudor 'with general applause and joy, in a kind of military election or recognition, saluted King?'"

At first sight it differs but little. To see our subject in its proper perspective we must emphasise the continuity of economic life between 1485 and 1642 as much as in the preceding pages we have emphasised the novelty of some of its experiments. We must turn from Fitzherbert and Hales to Arthur Young. We must set Latimer's lamentations over the decay of the yeomanry side by side with the figures of Gregory King and the boasts of Chamberlayne and Defoe. We must compare our sporadic enclosures with the two thousand six hundred Enclosure Acts which were passed between 1702 and 1810. The outward appearance of many English villages at the Revolution would be quite unrecognisable to-day, but it can have been but little altered from what it had been at the time of the Peasants' Revolt. It could still be said that three-fifths of the cultivated land of England was unenclosed. And if Piers Plowman had dreamed for four centuries on Malvern Hills he might still have woken to plough his half acre between the balks of a still open field, like that "very wide field," with crooked ways butting upon it and a wicket-gate on its shining horizon, through which Christian sped from Evangelist, crying "Life, Life, Eternal Life."

Ought we, then, to say that the agrarian revolution of the sixteenth century was insignificant, and that it has been magnified into importance only by the rhetorical complaints of unskilful observers? The answer has been given by implication in the preceding pages. The fact that statistical evidence reveals no startling disturbance in area enclosed or population displaced, is no bar to the belief that, both in immediate consequences and in ultimate effects, the heavy blows dealt in that age at the traditional organisation of agriculture were an episode of the first importance in economic and social development. The barometer which registers climatic variations yields no clue to their influence on the human constitution, and the quantitative rule by which we measure economic changes bends in our hands when we use it to appraise their results. The difference between prosperity and distress, or enterprise and routine, or security and its opposite, is scarcely more susceptible of expression in figures than is the difference between civilisation and barbarism itself. In the infinite complexity of human relationships, with their interplay of law with economics, and of economics with politics, and of all with the shifting hopes and fears, baseless anticipations and futile regrets, of countless individuals, a change which to the statistician concerned with quantities seems insignificant, may turn a wheel whose motion sets a world of unseen forces grinding painfully round into a new equilibrium. Not only our estimate of the importance of social alterations, but their actual importance itself, depends upon what we are accustomed to and what we expect. Just as modern manufacturing nations groan over a reduction in exports, which in the reign of Henry VIII. would have passed unnoticed, or are convulsed by a rise in general prices, which, when expressed in percentages, seems ridiculously small, so the stationary rural society of Tudor England may well have been shaken to its core by agrarian changes which, in a world where rural emigration is the rule, would appear almost too minute to be recorded. If contemporaries, to whom the very foundation of a healthy economic life seemed to be shattered, underestimated the capacity of society for readjustment, they were not mistaken in their supposition that the readjustment required would be so vast and painful as to involve the depression of important orders of men, and the recognition of new responsibilities by the State in the agony of transition. If we are busy planting small holders to-day, it is partly because sixteenth century Governments were so often busy with them in vain. The crude barbarities of tramp ward and workhouse were first struck out in an age when most of those who tramped and toiled, who sat in stocks and were whipped from town to town, were not the victims of trade depression or casual employment, but peasants thrown on the labour market by the agrarian revolution.

For, in truth, the change which was coming upon the world in the guise of mere technical improvements was vaster than in their highest hopes or their deepest despondency the men of the Tudor age could have foreseen, and its immediate effects on the technique of agriculture and the standard of rural prosperity were but the tiny beginnings of movements whose origins are overshadowed by their tremendous consequences. It is a shallow view which has no interest to spare for the rivulet because it is not yet a river. Though many tributaries from many sources must converge before economic society assumes a shape that is recognisable as modern, it is none the less true that in the sixteenth century we are among the hills from which great waters descend. By 1642 the channels which will carry some of them have been carved deep and sure. By that time the expansion of the woollen industry has made it certain that England will be a considerable manufacturing nation, and consequently that the ancient stable routine of subsistence farming will gradually give place to agricultural methods which swing this way and that, now towards pasture, now towards arable, according to the fluctuations of the market. It is certain that, sooner or later, the new and more profitable economy of enclosure will triumph. It is certain that the small holder will have a hard struggle to hold his own against the capitalist farmer. It is certain that, owing to the substitution of variable for fixed fines on admission to copyholds, and the conversion of many copyholds into leases for years, a great part of the fruits of economic progress will no longer be retained, as in the fifteenth century, by the mass of the peasants, but will pass, in the shape of increased payments for land, into the pockets of the great landed proprietors. It is almost certain that to any new developments which may be detrimental to them the peasants will be able to offer a much less effective resistance than they have in the past. For the security of many of their class has been undermined; the gulf which separates them from the landed gentry, though still bridged by the existence of many prosperous freeholders, has been widened; and, above all, the destruction of the absolute monarchy has entrenched the great landlords inexpugnably at the heart of government, both central and local, and has made their power as great as their ambitions. Both from below and from above they are unassailable. For a century and a half after the Revolution they have what power a Government can have to make and ruin England as they please.

If we cast our eye over the agrarian changes of our period, with a view to grouping their main elements under a few easily distinguishable categories, we do not find that they present themselves as a simple series of economic sequences. Behind them all there is, it is true, the fundamental economic fact of the decay of subsistence husbandry. The movement away from the strict communal organisation of the open field village was inevitable as soon as markets were sufficiently developed to make agricultural experiments profitable, because experiments could not easily be undertaken without to some extent individualising the methods of cultivation. In particular, the grand innovation of substituting pasture-farming for tillage, whether carried out on a large scale or on a small, was only practicable if individuals were able to break away from the established course of agriculture. But the relaxation of village customs, which allowed a wider scope to individual initiative, did not necessarily involve that formation of large estates out of peasant holdings, which was the special note of the sixteenth century problem, and in fact the gradual nibbling away of customary restrictions went on to some degree among quite small men, long before the enclosure of land by great capitalists became a serious grievance. In the fourteenth century, and even earlier, holdings are becoming partible and unequal, and strips are being interchanged for the purpose of more convenient, because compacter, management. In the sixteenth century there is a good deal of enclosure by the peasants themselves with a view to better arable cultivation or to the more successful keeping of stock. Nor must we forget the example of Kent, Essex, Devonshire, Somersetshire, and Cornwall. Without raising the question whether the predominance of small enclosures in the Western Counties is not partly to be ascribed to peculiarities in their original settlement, we may say without fear of contradiction that the early enclosures of Kent and Essex are the outcome of the spread of commercial forces in those seaboard counties at an earlier date than was possible in the inland districts. Even in the more conservative parts of the country, like the Midlands and Wiltshire, whose geographical position made them the last to respond to the influence of trade its gradual extension was slowly, and in isolated villages, bringing the same departure from the rigid arrangements of mediæval agriculture which in the East of England had developed much more swiftly. How far such enclosure by consent would have proceeded if no other forces had come into play we cannot say. It is not safe, however, to assume that, because in the eighteenth century many villages seemed to observers like Arthur Young to be living in a condition of organised torpor, therefore its effects in facilitating a more economical utilisation of the land are to be dismissed as negligible. Quite apart from the obvious bias given to Young's observations by his questionable doctrine that a high pecuniary return from the soil is the final criterion of successful agriculture, it may well be the case that the decline in the condition of the peasantry, which took place in the sixteenth century, discouraged initiative on the part of small men, and that, since one agent in that decline had been a movement which went by the name of enclosure, its effect was to make them cling all the more closely to the established routine in those parts of the country where they had not been violently shaken out of it.

On such conjectures, however, we need not enter. Even if the movement towards the rearrangement of holdings which has been traced among the peasants themselves was insignificant, and if the larger capitalists were the sole agents through whom a more alert and progressive agrarian régime could be introduced, it is none the less the case that the improvements in the technique of agriculture do not by themselves account for the special social consequences which flowed from the agrarian changes of the sixteenth century. The situation then is not at all similar to that which arose at a later date, when small landholders voluntarily threw up their holdings in order to engage in the more profitable urban industries, and when yeomen like the Peels of their own choice decided that the career of a cotton-spinner was more attractive than that of a farmer. In the period which we have been discussing men do not only leave the land; they are forced off it. Not only economic, but legal, issues are involved, and the latter give a decisive twist to the former. What made the new methods of agriculture not simply an important technical advance in the utilisation of the soil, but the beginning of a social revolution, was the insecurity of the tenure of large numbers of the peasantry, in the absence of which they might gradually have adapted themselves to the altered conditions, without any overwhelming shock to rural life such as was produced by the evictions and by the loss of rights of common. The way in which the economic movement towards enclosure and pasture-farming is crossed, and its consequences heightened, by the law of land tenure, is proved by the comparative immunity of the freeholders from the worst forms of agrarian oppression, by the fact that, even in the middle of the eighteenth century, the purely economic conditions of much of England were by no means unfavourable to small scale farming, and by the anxiety of landlords to induce tenants who had estates of inheritance to surrender them for leases. We cannot therefore agree with those writers who regard the decline in the position of the smaller landed classes, which took place in our period, as an inevitable step in economic progress, similar to the decay of one type of industry before the competition of another. If economic causes made a new system of farming profitable, it is none the less true that legal causes decided by whom the profits should be enjoyed. We have already pointed out that many customary tenants practised sheep-farming upon a considerable scale, and it is not easy to discover any economic reason why the cheap wool required for the development of the cloth-manufacturing industry should not have been supplied by the very peasants in whose cottages it was carded and spun and woven. The decisive factor, which ruled out this method of meeting the new situation created by the spread of pasture-farming, was the fact that the tenure of the vast majority of small cultivation left them free to be squeezed out by exorbitant fines, and to be evicted when the lives for which most of them held their copies came to an end. It was their misfortune that the protection given by the courts since the fifteenth century to copyholders did not extend to more than the enforcement of existing manorial customs. When, in our own day, the same causes which raised the cry of depopulation in sixteenth century England have operated in other countries, their influence has been circumscribed by governmental power, which has stepped ready armed into the field, and has turned customary titles into freeholds and cut back private jurisdictions with a heavy hand. To find a parallel to the sufferings of the English copyholders in the sixteenth century, we must turn to the sweeping invasion of tenant right which at one time made almost every Irishman into a Ket. But the comparison, incomplete in other respects, is most incomplete in this, that even if Tudor Governments, moved by considerations of national strength and order, would have helped the peasants if they could, they could hardly have helped them materially if they would, without a social and administrative revolution which was unthinkable, and which, if carried out, could only have meant political absolutism. Living, as they did, with the marks of villein tenure still upon them, the small cultivators of our period were fettered by the remnants of the legal rightlessness of the Middle Ages, without enjoying the practical security given by mediæval custom, and felt the bitter breath of modern commercialism, undefended by the protection of the all-inclusive modern State which alone can make it tolerable.

For, indeed, it is as a link in the development of modern economic relationships and modern conceptions of economic expediency, that the changes which we have been considering possess their greatest interest. The department of economic life in which, both for good and evil, the modern spirit comes in the sixteenth century most irresistibly to its own, is not agriculture but foreign commerce, company promoting, and the money market, where the relations of man to man are already conceived of as the necessary parts of a vast and complicated mechanism, whose iron levers thrust the individual into actions for the consequences of which he is not responsible, and under whose pressure unknown is driven by unknown to do that which he did not intend. But if the intoxication with dreams of boundless material possibilities, the divorce of economic from moral considerations, the restless experiment and initiative and contempt for restrictions that fetter them, which are the marks of that spirit's operations, are never quite so victorious in agriculture as they are in finance, it is nevertheless in transforming agrarian conditions that its nature and characteristics are most impressively revealed, not because it is felt there first or proceeds there furthest, but because the material which it encounters is so dense, so firmly organised, so intractable, that changes, which in a more mobile environment pass unnoticed, are seen there in high relief against the stable society which they undermine. In truth the agrarian revolution is but a current in the wake of mightier movements. The new world, which is painfully rising in so many English villages, is a tiny mirror of the new world which, on a mightier stage, is ushering modern history in amid storms and convulsions. The spirit which revolts against authority, frames a science that will subdue nature to its service, and thrusts the walls of the universe asunder into space, is the same--we must not hesitate to say it--as that which on the lips of grasping landlords and stubborn peasants wrangles over the respective merits of "several" and "common," weighs the profits of pasture in an economic scale against the profits of arable, batters down immemorial customs, and, regarding neither the honour of God nor the welfare of this realm of England, brings the livings of many into the hands of one. To the modern economist, who uses an ancient field map to trace the bewildering confusion of an open field village beneath the orderly lines of the dignified estate which lies upon it like a well written manuscript on the crabbed scrawl of a palimpsest, the wastefulness of the old régime, compared with the productiveness of the new, may well seem too obvious to leave room for any discussion of their relative advantages; and indeed the accession of material wealth which followed the first feeble approach towards the methods of modern agriculture is unquestionable. But the difference between such a standpoint and that of our peasants is not one of methods only but of objects, not of means but of ends. We can imagine that to an exposition of the advantages of large scale farming and enclosure, such as many stewards must have made to the juries of many manors, they would have answered something after this fashion:--"True, our system is wasteful, and fruitful of many small disputes. True, a large estate can be managed more economically than a small one. True, pasture-farming yields higher profits than tillage. Nevertheless, master steward, our wasteful husbandry feeds many households where your economical methods would feed few. In our ill-arranged fields and scrubby commons most families hold a share, though it be but a few roods. In our unenclosed village there are few rich, but there are few destitute, save when God sends a bad harvest, and we all starve together. We do not like your improvements which ruin half the honest men affected by them. We do not choose that the ancient customs of our village should be changed!" Such differences lie too deep to be settled by argument, whether they appear in the sixteenth century or in our own day.

APPENDIX I

(I)

[LETTER FROM A BAILIFF, ILLUSTRATING THE RELATIONS BETWEEN FARMER AND LORD, AND DIFFICULTIES WITH FREEHOLDERS]

_Merton MSS., No. 4381_

Good Sir lett me intreat you yf the colledge determyne to make survay this springe of the lands at Kibworth and Barkby to send Mr. Kay or me word a month or 3 weeks before your coming that we may have Beare and other necessaries. And I desire you to gather up all evidences that may be needful for ye Lordshipp, for all testimony will be little enough, the colledge land is soo mingled with Mr. Pochin's frehold and others in our towne. There is an awarde for the keepinge in of the old wol close in our ffields for [from?] Mr. Pochin's occupation, very needefulle for the ynhabitants yf that awarde can be founde at the colledge where yt was loste.

The composition betwixt Mr. Stanford and the towne wold we very gladly see, yt is for tythe willows and partinge grasse, wee thinke that they challenge more than of right they should have. I pray you gather upp what evidence you can for the rents due to the college out of [?], for when some of them are denied I know not where to distraine for them.

I pray you also give order that the evidences may be sought up for the lands lyinge in Barkby Thorpend alias Thurmaston in our parish and parcell of our lordship of the rent per ann. 3/4d. as alsoe the evidences of Peppers frehold rent per annum 1d. This rent is denied and not paidd this 20 yeares, and I cannot learne where I should distraine for the same, neither will he pay it unlesse he may knowe for what he payeth the same; he is towards the land [?], and his frehold lyeth in Thurmaston ut supra. And soe with remembrance of my duty desiringe you to pardon my breach of promise for the lease at last Michaelmas, and I hope before this yeare be ended to be as good as my worde, yf it will please you and the company to spare me with your favours untill then, ffor God is my judge I did not breake my promise wilfully nor willingly, but necessity hath noe law. I have lost this sum̃er 6 horses and was forced to buy in these for my carte. Day [?] groweth scant, therefore I must spare to write, only hoping and desiringe your favour at this tyme I humbly take my leave and rest as I have ever beene your wo{ps} at commandment. Henry Sayer.

Barkby, February 26{th}, 1608.

To the w{ll} his very singular ffriend Mr. Brent subwarden at Merton College in Oxon.

(II)

[IN ILLUSTRATION OF MANORIAL CUSTOMS, _cf._ pp. 124-131 and 297-301.]

_Manor of Aldeburgh, R.O., Misc. Bks., Treas. of Receipt, Vol. 163, Henry VIII._

The said Manor has one lete by the year ... and hath also the Court from 3 weeks to 3 weeks called the 3 weeks Court.

Item.--Every tenant payeth for a cottage ground not buylded if it conteyn 80 ft. every way 1d. Item.--Every tenant payeth for half a cottage which is 40 ft. every way 1/2d. Item.--For every curtilage containing 40 ft. or under 1/2d. Item.--For every fyne of every cotage buylded 2/- Item.--For every fyne of every cotage ground unbuilded 1/- Item.--Every tenant that taketh any cotage ground to build upon if he build not within three years he forfeiteth the ground by him taken. Item.--Every tenant having a cotage or parcel of a cotage wherein any tenant dwelleth and keepeth a fire, they owe to pay for the same a Russhe hen or else 2d. which is for the rushes that they gather upon the lord's common there. Item.--If 2 tenants dwell in one house having 2 severall rooms in the same they to pay yearlie 2 rush hennes or 4d. for them. Item.--Every freeholder having by copy any arable land or pasture ground in the field payeth yearly for the same at terms accustomed the rent of old time due at [Michaelmas & Easter] by even porcions; and for all fines cessed upon the tenaunts for land in the fields is at the will of the lord, as well at the alienations made as at the death of any tenant. Item.--The tenants and copyholders shall do no waste upon the lord's common ne otherwise upon pain of forfeiture of their tenements. Item.--All the freeholders shall [pay] double their rent at every death or alienation made, as relief. Item.--Certain freeholders and copyholders pay heriot after the death of any tenant. Item.--Neither the freeholders nor copyholders shall not surcharge the lord's comon but to keep after the rate of his tenure. If he otherwise do he shall be amerced. Item.--No man shall encroche on lord's lands on pain of forfeiture of his tenure. Item.--Every boat going to the sea on fishing and having 4 men therein payeth yearly to the lord 8d., and 6 men 12d., and so after the rate, for each man 2d., which is by a late composition. Item.--There is a service paid by certain tenants there called Oryell, which is for the liberty of the common that tenants have in the said lordship. Item.--The lords of Aldeburgh have the moietie of all wreck of the sea being cast on land or found near the shore within the limits of the same lordship, and the finder thereof hath the other half.

(III)

[IN ILLUSTRATION OF THE PEASANTS' GRIEVANCES]

_Holkham MSS., Fulmordeston MSS., Bdle. 6_

To the Right Honble. Sir Edward Cooke, Knight, Attorney-Generall unto the King's Ma{tie}.

Humblie sheweth unto your good lord yo{r} poore and dayley orators Thomas Ffawcett, Thomas Humphry, and Nicolas Farnes [?] yo{r} worshippes tenants of the Manor of Ffulmordeston cum Croxton in the Duchie of Lancaster and the moste parte of the tenants of the same Manor that whereas yo{r} said orators in the Hillary Term laste commenced suite in the Duchie Courte against Thomas Odbert and Roger Salisbury, Gent., who have enclosed their grounds contrary to the custom of the Manor, whereby your wor. loseth your shack due out of those grounds, common lane or way for passengers is stopped up, and your worshippes poore orators lose their accustomed shack in those grounds, and the said Roger Salisbury taketh also the whole benefit of theire comons from them, keepinge there his sheepe in grasinge and debarringe them of their libertie there which for comon right belongeth unto them:--

Which suite and controversie, forasmuch as the same manor is nowe come unto your lordshippe's hands by his most excellent Ma{ties} gracious disposinge thereof, youre poore oratours thought it theire duty to impart and lay open unto your wor{pp}, and doe most humblie pray and beseech your wor{pp} that they may have your lawfull favour herein for the furtherance of their proceedings in this theire suite of lawe, so that the greatness of the said parties adversant unto them, on which they much relie, may not be the more strengthened by your worship's favour, whereby your poore orators may have and enjoy theire former liberties in peace, and be the better able to maintaine themselves in their callings rights and dueties which unto your wor. is belonging and due uppon their Tenures in the saide Mannor.

And according to theire bounden duety your sayde poor orators shall dayly pray to God for your wor. in all encrease of prosperitie and worshippe long to continew.

21 Aug. 1604. I have considered of this peticion, and seeinge I am lord of the mannor I will do my best endeavour upon hearing of both parties to end the controversie and the defend{ts} need not appeare nor the cause to proceed in the duchy. EDW. COKE.

(IV)

[IN ILLUSTRATION OF THE PEASANTS' GRIEVANCES]

_S. P. Dom. Charles I. Vol. 151, No. 38._

To the Kings most Excellent Ma{tie}.

The humble peticoɳ of yo{r} Ma{te} poore and distressed Tennants of yo{r} Mannor of North Wheatley in the Countie of Nottingham belonging to yo{r} Ma{ties} Duchie of Lancaster.

Most humbly shewing. That yo{r} poore Subiects have tyme out of mynd byn Coppieholders of lands of inheritaunce to them and their heires for ever of the Mannor aforesaid, and paid for every Oxgang of land xvj{s} viijᵭ rent, and paid heretofore vpon every Alienacoɳ xijᵭ for every Oxgang, but nowe of late, about 4{0} Jacobi by an order of the Duchie Court they paie ij{s} s vj{d} d vpon euery Alienacoɳ for every acre, w{ch} ch amounteth nowe to 45{s} an Oxgang.

And whereas some of yo{r} Tennants of the said Mannor have heretofore held and doe nowe hold certayne Oxganges of lands belonging to the said Manor by Coppie from xxj yeres to xxj yeares, and have paid for the same vpon eⱱy Coppy ij{s}, and for every Oxgang xvj{s} viij{d} ᵱ Anɳ; they nowe of late by an order in the Duchie Court hold the same by lease vnder the Duchie Seale, and paie vj{li} xiij{s} iiij{d} for a Fyne vpon every lease and xvj{s} viij{d} rent w{th} an increase of vj{s} viij{d} more towards yo{r} Ma{ties} prouision.

And whereas in 11{0} Edw: 4{0} yo{r} peticon͠ers did by Copy of Court Roll hold the demeanes of the said Mannor for tearme of yeres att ix{li} vj{s} viij{d} ᵱ anɳ, they afterwards in 6{0} Eliz: held the same demeanes by lease vnder the seale of the duchie for xxj yeares, att the like rent; and Tenne yeres before their lease was expired, they ymployed one M{r} Markham in trust to gett their lease renewed, whoe procured a newe lease of the demeanes in his owne name for xxj yeres att the old rent, and afterwards contrary to the trust Comitted to him increased and raised the rent thereof vpon the Tenants to his owne privat benefitt to 56{li} ᵱ annư.

And whereas the woods belonging to the said Mannor hath within the memory of Man byn the only Com̃on belonging to the said Towne, paying yerelie for the herbage and pannage thereof vj{s} viijᵭ, they nowe alsoe hold the same vnder the Duchie Seale att xvj{li} li xvj{s} ijᵭ ᵱ annư.

And whereas the Court Rolls and Records of the said Mannor, have alwaies heretofore byn kept vnder severall Locks and Keys, whereof yo{r} Ma{ts} Stewards have kepte one key and yo{r} Ma{ties} Tennant (in regard it Concerned their ᵱticuler inheritances) have kept an other keye. But nowe they are att the pleasure of the Stewards and Officers transported from place to place, and the nowe purchasers doe demaund the Custody of them, w{ch} may be most preiudiciall to yo{r} Ma{te} te poore Tennants.

Now for asmuch as yo{r} Matie: hath byn pleased to sell the said Mannor vnto the Cittie of London, whoe have sold the same vnto M{r} John Cartwright and M{r} Tho: Brudnell gent: And for that yo{r} petico͠ners and Tennants there (beinge in nomber Two hundred poore men, and there being xj of yo{r} Ma{te} Tennants there that beare Armes for the defence of yo{r} Ma{te} Realme, and xij that paie yo{r} Ma{tie} Subsidies fifteens and Loanes) are all nowe like to be vtterlie vndon, in Case the said M{r} Cartwright and M{r} Brudnell should (as they saie they will) take awaie from yo{r} Tennants the said demeanes and woods after thexpiracoɳ of their leases, and that yo{r} poore Tennants should be left to the wills of the purchasers for their Fynes, or that the Records and Court rowles should not be kept as in former tymes in some private place, where the purchasers and Tennants maie both have the custody and viewe of them as occasion shall serve.

Maie it therefore please yo{r} Sacred Maj{tie} That such order may be taken in the premisses for the reliefe of yo{r} poore Tennants of the Mannor aforesaid That they maie not be dispossessed of the demeanes and leases, and that they may knowe the Certayntie of their Fynes for the Coppieholds demeanes and leases and maie have the Court Rolls & Records safely kepte as formerly they have byn. And that yo{r} Ma{tie} wilbe further pleased to referr the Consideracoɳ hearing, ordering and determynacoɳ of the premisses vnto such Noble men, or other 4 gent: of esteeme in the Country whome yo{r} Ma{tie} shalbe pleased to appoint, that are neighbours vnto yo{r} Ten{ã}nts, and doe best knowe their estate & greevances. That they or any two or three of them may take such order, and soe Cettell the busynes betweene the purchasers & yo{r} poore Tennants, as they in their wisdoms and discressions shall judge to be reasonable and fitting, or to Certifie yo{r} Ma{tie} howe they fynd the same, and in whose defalt it is they cannot determyne thereof. And yo{r} poore Tennn͠ts as in all humble dutie bound will daielie pray for yo{r} Ma{tie}.

Whitehall this 10 of Novemb{r} 1629.

His Ma[~] is graciously pleased to referre the consideration of this request to the Com̃ission{rs} for sale of his lands, that vpon the report vnto his Ma[~] of their opinion and advise his Ma[~] may give further order therein. DORCHESTER.

[Endorsed.] Divers Tenants of his Ma{te} mañor of North Wheatley in the Countie of Nottingham.

(V)

[PAPER ON THE EVILS OF ENCLOSURE, BY AN APPLICANT FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT]

_S. P. Dom. Charles I. Vol. 206, No. 70_

Right Ho{le}

Uppon the ix{th} of July and also the 23{d} of Septemb{r} I deliⱱd petitions vnto yo{r} Lo{pp} desireinge to shew y{e} great hurt y{t} ys done to his Ma{tie} & y{e} land by inclosiers w{ch} decay tillage, & depopulate townes in ye best naturall corne countryes, w{ch} affore supplyed the wants of others every way beinge in y{e} middle of y{e} land, for yt their is dearths vppon any vnseasonable seedes tyme or springe, and is a great cause of decayinge of trades and vndoeinge many thousands w{ch} before lived well & now for want of Imployment & dearth of corne, y{er} is multitudes of poor & vagrants complayninge of their miseryes; and are dangerous to y{e} peacable state of y{e} land, by y{er} desire of troubles to revenge them selves. Ye know what lamentable broyles & bloodshedinges were betwixt ye gileadites & ephramites & Israelites & benjamites for ye levits wife & Abia & Jeroboam & Ahay & Peka where was slaine above 700,000 men of warr & many of other sorts, w{ch} was more crewell then by any foraigne enymyes, & wee have incrochinge enemyes y{t} would take y{er} advantage vppon such opertunytyes as y{ei} did when y{e} leaguers in France made warrs against theire Kinge ... for many are of oppinyon that ye Kinges Ma{tie} nor ye lordes doe not truly vnderstand ye secret mischief es w{ch} is done by covetous men by ye cuninge misterie of depopulation nor ye oppressions and causes of dearthes and poverty nor know y{e} readyest waye for remedyes, y{et} beinge as unacquainted in tyllage & husbandrye as in other arts: as appeared by y{e} booke of orders y{e} last yere w{ch} shewed that his Ma{tie} and the lordes had a good desire to remedy the dearth but y{e} corn masters & malsters &c. used such closse dealinges y{t} y{e} dearth was worse as y{e} like in former tymes: soe that no orders will ease dearthes but by causeing more tyllage & y{t} would make plenty & then every man will sell willinglye....

Also many are much deceived by inclosier because there are countries are enclosed & be rich, but these were inclosed when there were but few people & these maintain tyllage husbandry & hospitallyty & sett people on work & have tenements for labourers, these are lyable to musters & all services requirable for ye Kinge & country & taxes & charitable collections but y{e} depopulators in ye champian countryes destroy all meanes of doeinge help or servise for ye Kinge & country what neede soever come.

And although this was the fruitfullest somer that was in many yeares, yet corne holds almost duble price to that which most men expected, because rich men will sell but litle corne before they see the strength of May past & if corne does not prosper then they will keep it expecting a dearth the next yere. Another cause is that all men see how tyllag is yearly decayed in the best champian countryes & people & drunknes increased & no hope of remedy because of y{e} inyquity of y{e} tyme & gentlemen & other have great friends & favour & may doe what they list. And maltsters & ingrossers buy corn as fast as they can, & doe use wayes to have it brought home what lawes or orders to the contrary expectinge a dearth if ye next spring prove not very fruitfull. And if his Ma{ty} & ye lords doe not take some speedy course to cause more tyllage there beinge good ground enough before wete seeds tymes come, then will dearth ensue. And y{n} ye poore hungry people may cry ... where ys corne; And y{n} it will be too late to remedy dearths by any lawes or orders. And now it might be done there beinge aboundance of old resty fatt ground in y{e} champian countryes which if it were plowed & sowne w{t} corne, no wett seeds tyme could hurt it soe that they would yield corne to supply all wants beinge in y{e} midle of y{e} land my lord if you please to give me leave I will give you y{e} names of many decayed townes in ye counties of Leic{s} & Northampt, &c., and who decayed them & now the Lord hath swept away y{e} inclosiers & their posterity out of all & strangers have their houses & pastures. And my desire is y{t} yo{r} Lo{p} might be acquainted with y{e} country dissorders & the remydes to reforme y{e} evills and then ye may better judge of them & acquaint his Ma{tie} & y{e} lords, that by his & their good directions, we shall have plenty and bring much more to his ma{ties} treasures & the whole land....

Also I doe humbly intreate yo{r} Lo{ps} favor to let me shew how there may be ymploym{t} for people & wealth to ye Kinge & ye Kingdome & plenty & cheapnes & have ingrossers frustrated of their game & have lesse wast of corne in ale & beer & less sinninge: & lesse dangers & soe ye lorde keepe you: w{th} my humble sute, to accept of my poore desires for ye deede, with my attendance vpon your Lop{s} pleasure.

Your Lop{s} to Com̃and

[Endorsed:--] RICHARD SANDES.

Sandes touching Indigence.

(VI)

[IN ILLUSTRATION OF ACTION AGAINST ENCLOSURES BY JUSTICES]

_S. P. Dom. Charles I. Vol. 185, No. 86_

Most Honor{ble}

Wee have caused a view to bee made according to yo{r} Lo{ps} Late Lrẽs of all _Inclosures and conv{r}sions of Arrable Land to meadow and pasture_, w{ch} are now in hand or haue beene made w{th}in two yeares Last past, And wee haue signifyed yo{r} Lo{ps} direcco͠ns vnto such ᵱsons as are causers of any such Inclosures & Conⱱtions and have given them notice that they ought not to ᵱcede w{th} hedgeing or dytchinge in of any such grounds but to Let them so rest vntill wee shall have furder orders from yo{r}: hon{ors}: And wee further conceaue that if depopulaco͠ns may bee reformed it will bring a great good to the whole Kingƌ: for where houses are pulled downe the People are forced to seeke new habitations. In other townes & cuntryes by meanes whereof those Townes where they get a setling are pestred so as they are hardly able to live one by an other, and it is likewise the cause of erecting new Cottages vppon the wasts and other places who are not able to releive themselves nor any such townes able to sustaine or set them on worke w{ch} Causes Rogues & vagabonds to encrease. Moreover it doth appeare that in those townes w{ch} are depopulated the People being expelled There are few or none Left to serve the King when Souldjours are to bee lodged to appeare at Musters for his Ma{te} seruice w{ch} is also a cause that poore Townes where many people are, are put to greater charg in setting forth of souldjours & depopulated Townes are much eased and the Subsidie decayed. All w{ch} wee humbly submit to yo{r} Lo{ps} great wisdome. And will eⱱ rest.

At yo{r} hon{ble} service humbly to bee comaunded

Fran: Thornhagh Ro: Sutton vic. Matth Palmer W. Cooper Gervas Fevery Tym: Pilsy Gilᵬt Millington W̴iɫl Coke Will Moseley Jo: Woods

Wee doe herew{th} ᵱsent vnto yo{r} Hon{rs} the names of all such as have made any Inclosures or conⱱsions w{th} in two yeares Last past or that were in hand to make the same.

[Addressed:] To the right hon{ble} the Lords of his Mat{s} hon{ble} Privy Counsell humbly present these.

[Endorsed:] Feb. 1630. From the County of Nottingham touching Inclosures. The inconveniencies of Depopulation.

[No Enclosures]

[This letter is printed by Miss Leonard, _Trans. Royal Hist. Soc._, New Series, vol. xix. She refers it to Norfolk, which is apparently a mistake.]

(VII)

[IN ILLUSTRATION OF ACTION AGAINST ENCLOSURES BY JUSTICES]

_S. P. Dom. Charles I. Vol. 206, No. 71_

Lincoln

An abstract of such depopulators as have bene hetherto dealt withall in Lincolnshyre, & receyued their pardon.

The persons in number 9 The som?e of their fynes 300_l_ The number of houses by bond to bee erected 33 The tyme for the erecco? within one yere. The number of farmes to be contynued that are now standing 22 The fynes are already payd.

Sir Charles Hussey Kn{t.} Fyne, 80ɫ. Bond of 200 ᶆkes, w{th} Condicoɳ to sett up in Homingtoɳ 8 farmhouses w{th} Barnes &c. and to lay to eⱱye house 30 acres of land, and to keepe 10 acres thereof yearlye in tyllage.

S{r} Henry Ayscough Knt. Fyne, 20ɫ. Bond 200 ᶆkes. To sett vp 8 farmhouses in Blibroughe w{th} 30 acres to eⱱy farme, and 12 thereof to be kept yearlie in tylthe.

S{r} Hamond Whichcoote Knt. Fyne, 40ɫ. Bond 200 ᶆkes. To set up 8 farmhouses &c. in Harpswell, w{th} 40 acres to eưy house; and 16 thereof in tyllage.

S{r} Edward Carre Kt. Fyne, 30ɫ. Bond 100ɫ. To sett vp 2 Farmhouses in Branswell, and 1 in Aswarby w{th} 40 acres to eưy house, 16 in tyllage.

S{r} Willᶆ Wraye, Kn{t.} Fyne, 30ɫ. Bond 100ɫ. To sett up in Graynesby 2 farmhouses w{th} 2 acres at least to either, 10 in tyllage & to contynue 2 farmes more in Grainsby & 3 in Newbell & Longworth, w{th} the same quantity, as is now used them, a third ᵱte in tylthe. ͠ S{r} Edmund Bussye K{t.} Fyne, 10ɫ. Bond 100ɫ. To set vp one farmhouse in Thorpe w{th} 40 acres, 14 thereof in tyllage, And to contynue 14 farmes in Hedor, Oseby, Aseby, & Thorpe, as they now are, w{th} a third ᵱte in tyllage.

Richard Roseto{r} Esq{ṛ} Fyne, 10ɫ. Bond 50ɫ. To set vp one farme in Lymber w{th} 40 acres, 16 in tyllage, and to continewe 1 farme in Limber, and 2 in Sereby, vt sup{ạ}

Robert Tirwhilt Esq{ṛ} Fyne, 10ɫ. Bond 50ɫ.

To set vp one farme in Camtringt{a}un w{th} 40 acres. 16 in tyllage.

John Fredway gent. Fyne, 10ɫ. Bond 40ɫ. To set up one farme in Gelson w{th} 30 acres, 10 thereof in tyllage.

[Endorsed:] Lincolɳ Depopulatoɽ Fyned & pardoned and the reformacons to bee made. [No date]

(VIII)

[COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE PROCEDURE OF ARCHBISHOP LAUD IN DEALING WITH ENCLOSURES]

_S. P. Dom. Charles I. Vol. 499, No. 10_

That vpon the Commission of enquiry after depopulacoñ The Lord Archbishopp of Canȶ and other the Commissioners at the solicitacoñ of Tho: Hussey gent. did direct a leɽ in nature of a Coᶆission to certain persons w{th} in the County of Wilts to certifie what number of Acres in South Marston in the ᵱish of Highworth were converted from arable to pasture and what number of ploughes were laid downe &c.

Wherevpon the Archdeacon with two others did retourne Certificate, to the Lord Archbishopp &c.

Upon this Certificate, M{r} Anth: Hungerford, M{r} Southby with 15 others were convented before his Grace and the other Commissioners at the Councell Board, where being charged with Conversion.

M{r} Anth: Hungerford & M{r} Southby with some others did averre that they had made noe conversion, other then they had when they came to be owners thereof.

His Grace said that they were to looke noe further then to the owners, And Certificate was retourned that soe many Acres were converted and soe many ploughes let downe.

They alladged that this Certificate was false & made without their privity, and therefore M{r} Hungerford in the behalfe of the rest did desire that they might not be iudged upon that Certificate. But that they might haue the like favour as M{r} Hussey had, to have Ceɽs of the same nature directed to other Commissioners, or a Commission if it might be granted to examine vpon oath whereby the trueth might better appeare.

His Grace replyed to M{r} Hungerford since you desire it & are soe earnest for it you shall not have it.

They did offer to make prove that since the conversion there were more habitacoɳs of men of ability & fewer poore. And that whereas the King had before 4 or 5 souldiers of the Trayned Band he had nowe 9 there. That the Impropriacoɳ was much better to be lett.

His Grace said to the rest of the Lords, wee must deale with these genȶ as with those of Tedbury to take 150ɫ fine, and to lay open the inclosures.

Which they refusing to doe they were there threatned with an informacoñ to be brought ag{t} them in the Starrchamᵬ And accordingly were within a shorte tyme after by the said M{r} Hussey served with sub penas at M{r} Attorney his suite in the Starr chamber: And this as M{r} Hussey told M{r} Hungf{d} was done by my Lo: Archbp his command.

[Endorsed:] Depopulation--M{r} Hungerford & M{r} Southby [1641].

APPENDIX II

TABLE I (p. 25)

This table is based on documents relating to the following manors:--

1. Northumberland.

Acklington (1567, _Northumberland County History_, vol. v. pp. 367-8); Buston (1567, _ibid._, vol. v. p. 209); Thirston (1567, _ibid._, vol. vii. pp. 305-6); Birling (1567, _ibid._, vol. v. pp. 200-1); Amble (1608, _ibid._, vol. v. p. 281); Hexham (1608, _ibid._, vol. iii. pp. 86-104).

2. Lancashire.

Warton (Hen. VIII., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 19, No. 7, ff. 79-87); Whyttington (Hen. VIII., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 19, No. 7, ff. 47-9); Ashton (Hen. VIII., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Portf. 19, No. 7, ff. 69-72); Overton (4 Eliz. R.O. Duchy of Lanc., Special Commission, No. 67); Widnes (10 Eliz. R.O. Duchy of Lanc., Special Commission, No. 181); Cartmel (Hen. VIII.(?) R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 22, No. 75); Rochdale (1626, from information kindly supplied by Lieut.-Colonel Fishwick of Rochdale, from a Survey in the Chetham Library, Manchester), Lands of Cockersand Abbey (1501, _Chetham Miscellanies_, vol. iii.).

3. Staffordshire.

Barton (Ph. and M.(?) R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 14, No. 70); Burton Bondend (1597, R.O. Land Rev. Misc. Bks., vol. 185, ff. 70-74); Drayton Basset (1579, R.O. Land Rev. Misc. Bks., vol. 185, ff. 54-68); Wotton in Elishall (1 Ed. VI., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 14, No. 83); Agarsley (1611, R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Duchy of Lancs., Bdle. 8, No. 29).

4. Leicestershire.

Ulverscroft Priory (31 Hen. VIII., R.O. Land Rev. Misc. Bks., vol. 182, f. 35); Broughton Astley (Eliz. R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Bdle. 10, No. 4); Barkby (Hen. VIII., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Roll 382); Stapleford (10 Eliz., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Duchy of Lanc., Portf. 6, No. 15); Priory of Launde (31 Hen. VIII, R.O. Land Rev. Misc. Bks. 182, f. 1); College of St. Mary, Leicester (1595, R.O. Rentals, Duchy of Lanc. 6/12); Garradon Abbey (Hen. VIII., R.O. Augm. Off., Misc. Bks. 403, f. 123); Kibworth Beauchamp (1 & 2 Ph. and M., R.O. Land Rev. Misc. Bks. 182, f. 284); Kibworth Harcourt (1636, Merton MSS., Book labelled Kibworth and Barkby, 1636).

5. Northamptonshire.

Duston (3 Eliz., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Portf. 13, No. 23); Yelvertoft (11 Eliz., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Portf. 13, No. 52); Warmington and Eaglethorpe (30 Eliz., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Portf. 13, No. 21); Brigstock (4 James I., R.O. Land Rev. Misc. Bks., vol. 221, f. l); Higham Ferrers (8 James I., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Portf. 13, No. 34); Paulspurie, _alias_ Westpury (32 Hen. VIII., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, vol. 419, f. 3).

6. Norfolk.

Ormesby (7 Hen. VIII., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 22, No. 18); Barney (29 Hen. VIII., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 26, No. 57); Great Walsingham (29 Hen. VIII., _ibid._); Gunthorpe (29 Hen. VIII., _ibid._); Skerning (Ed. VI., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 3, No. 23); Metherwolde (1575, R.O. Duchy of Lanc., Rentals and Surveys, Bdle. 7, No. 29_a_); Brisingham (31 Eliz., R.O. Misc. Bks., Land Rev., vol. 220, f. 220); Aylsham (James I., R.O. Misc. Bks., Augm. Off., vol. 360, f. 1); Scratbye Bardolphes (date uncertain, R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 12, No. 52); Burghe Vaux (1620, R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 12, No. 52); Castons (_c._ 1620(?), R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 12, No. 52 p. 10d); Massingham (Hen. VIII.(?), R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 30, No. 25); Northendall (date uncertain, R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Roll 478, m. 3); Drayton Hall (date uncertain, R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 20, No. 53); East Dereham (1649, R.O. Parliamentary Surveys, Norfolk, No. 10); West Lexham (1595, Holkham MSS., West Lexham MSS., No. 87); Longham Hall and Gunton (1611, Holkham MSS., Tittleshall Bks., No. 62); Longham and Watlington (1611, Holkham MSS., Tittleshall Bks., No. 62); Watlington and Priors (1611, Holkham MSS., Tittleshall Bks., No. 62); Billingford (1565, Holkham MSS., Billingford and Bintry MSS., Bdle. No. 9); Foxley (1568, Holkham MSS., Billingford and Bintry MSS., Bdle. No. 9); Peakhall (1578, Holkham MSS., Tittleshall Bks., No. 12); Wellingham (1611, Holkham MSS., Tittleshall Bks., No. 62); Tittleshall Newhall (Holkham MSS., Tittleshall Bks., No. 62). I have included one manor (R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 3, No. 21), of which I have mislaid the name.

7. Suffolk.

Snape (Hen. VIII., R.O. Misc. Bks., Treas. of Receipt, vol. 163, f. 187); Ashfield (Hen. VIII., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 14, No. 85); Otley (Hen. VIII., R.O. Misc. Bks., Treas. of Receipt, vol. 163, f. 145); Rodstrete and Brimdishe (Ed. VI., R.O. Misc. Bks., Augm. Off., vol. 414, f. 19-22); Dennington (Ed. VI., R.O. Misc. Bks., vol. 414, f. 22b); Harrolds in Cretingham (Ed. VI., R.O. Aug. Off., vol. 414, f. 25b); Stratford juxta Higham (17 James I., R.O. Duchy of Lanc., Rentals and Surveys, 9/13); Denham (date uncertain, R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 27, No. 32); Dunstall (date uncertain, R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 27, No. 32); Dalham (date uncertain, R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 27, No. 32); Kentford (date uncertain, R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 27, No. 32); Nedham (date uncertain, R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 27, No. 32); Desnage Talmaye, and Cressness[?] in Gaseleye (date uncertain, R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 27, No. 32); Higham (date uncertain, R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 27, No. 32).

8. Wiltshire, Somerset, and Devon.

All are contained in the _Surveys of the Lands of William, Earl of Pembroke_, published by the Roxburgh Club, and edited by Straton, 1565-1573. There are twenty-seven manors in Wiltshire, four in Somersetshire, and one in Devonshire.

9. Hampshire.

Crondal, and Sutton Warblington (_Crondal Records_, Part I., Baigent).

10. Ten other manors in the South of England.

Castle Combe (Wilts, 1454, Scrope, _History of Castle Combe_); Ibstone (Bucks, 1483, Merton MSS., No. 5902); Cuxham (Oxford, 1483, Merton MSS., No. 5902); Malden (Surrey, 1496, Merton MSS., Survey of Malden); Aspley Guise (Bedford, 1542, from information kindly supplied by Mr. G.H. Fowler, of Aspley Guise); Ewerne (Dorset, 1568, _Topographer and Genealogist_, vol i.); Edgeware (Middlesex, 1597, All Souls Estate Maps); Kingsbury (Middlesex, 1597, All Souls Estate Maps); Gamlingay Merton (Cambridge, 1601, Merton Estate Maps); Gamlingay Avenells (Cambridge, 1601, Merton Estate Maps).

* * * * *

The chief criticisms which may be made upon this table are:--

(i) Some of the documents from which the figures are taken are separated from each other by a very long interval of time, so that they do not all represent approximately the same stage of agrarian development. This is a disadvantage. It is possible, for example, that, if the manor of Rochdale could be examined in 1526 instead of in 1626, it would be found that the proportion of copyholders to leaseholders was higher than it is at the later date. This defect, however, is perhaps not so great as to outweigh the value of the general picture of the relative proportion of different classes given by the table. A great majority of the documents from which it is compiled belong to the sixteenth century, and are dated as follows: Those of 10 manors are of an uncertain date, those of 3 fall between 1450 and 1485, of 2 in the reign of Henry VII., of 19 in that of Henry VIII., of 5 in that of Edward VI., of 3 in that of Philip and Mary, of 60 in that of Elizabeth, of 13 in that of James I., of 2 in that of Charles I., of 1 in 1649.

(ii) The lists of tenants given by the surveyors may sometimes not be exhaustive. I am not sure, for example, that all the freeholders on the manor of Crondal, or all the leaseholders at Gamlingay Merton and Gamlingay Avenells, are recorded.

(iii) It is sometimes not clear under what category a tenant should be entered. When there is no clue at all I have entered such tenants as "uncertain." In some cases, however, though there is no entry by the surveyor, there are indications that the tenants are freeholders, customary tenants, or leaseholders, and, when that is so, I have grouped them in the table according to the probabilities of the case. But I do not doubt that I have made some mistakes.

(iv) A special word must be said about Norfolk and Suffolk. In these counties it is quite common to find the same tenant holding both by free and by customary tenure. When this is so, I have entered him both under "freeholders" and under "customary tenants" in the table. This means, of course, that the numbers entered for these two counties in the table exceed the number of individual landholders. As, however, my object was to ascertain the distribution of different classes of tenures, this course, though not satisfactory, seemed the best one to follow. In other counties a similar difficulty hardly ever occurs, a fact which is of some interest as showing the relatively advanced agrarian conditions of Norfolk and Suffolk. In the few cases in which it does occur I have followed the same plan as I have for those two counties.

TABLE II. (pp. 32 and 33)

This table is based on documents relating to the undermentioned manors. The sources from which the information is taken are given in the explanation of Table I., and I therefore do not repeat them.

1. Norfolk.

Metherwolde, Northendall, Brisingham, Massingham, Skerning Billingford.

2. Suffolk.

Ashfield, Stratford juxta Higham, Kentford, Dunstall.

3. Staffordshire.

Drayton Basset, Barton, Burton Bondend.

4. Lancashire.

Warton, Overton, Widnes.

5. Northamptonshire.

Paulespurie, Brigstock, Higham Ferrers, Duston.

6. Wiltshire.

South Newton.

7. Leicestershire.

Barkby.

I have thought it worth while to insert this table, but I am not satisfied with it. (i) I am inclined to think that, as stated in the text, fuller information would show that medium-sized holdings of between 20 and 60 acres were more common than it suggests. It is plain that surveyors often could not locate the properties of freeholders, and the larger the property the harder their task. (ii) Even where the holding is set out by the surveyor, one cannot always form an accurate judgment of its size. For example, rights of common, though often expressed in acres, are often expressed in some other way, _e.g._ in the terms of the number of beasts which the tenant may graze; and, again, a man is sometimes said to hold so many acres "cum pertinentiis." What I have done is simply to enter the acreage as given in the surveys. In some cases, therefore, the size of the holding is certainly underestimated.

TABLE III. (p. 48)

The figures in this table are an analysis of the figures given under the heading of "Customary Tenants" in Table I., and the source from which they are taken will be found by looking at the explanation of that table given above. As I have pointed out in the text, it is probable that not all the "Tenants at Will" should have been entered as "Customary Tenants" in that table. I hope that any error which may have arisen through their inclusion under that heading there may be neutralised by setting them out here. It will be seen that they are not numerous.

TABLE IV. (pp. 64 and 65)

This table is based on documents relating to the undermentioned manors. The sources from which the information is taken are given, with a few exceptions (see below), in the explanation of Table I.

1. Wiltshire and Somerset.

South Newton, Byshopeston, Washerne, Knyghton, Donnington, Estoverton and Phipheld, Wynterbourne Basset (all in Wilts), South Brent and Huish (Somerset).

2. Suffolk.

Stratford juxta Higham, Ashfield, Snape, Desnage Talmaye, Chaterham Hall (the last Hen. VIII. R.O. Misc. Bks., Treas. of Receipt, vol. 163, ff. 109-114).

3. Norfolk.

Barney, Great Walsingham, Gunthorpe, Brisingham, Aylsham, Ormesby, Northendall, and one manor, the name of which I have mislaid (see explanation of Table I.).

4. Staffordshire.

Barton, Wotton in Elishall, Agarsley.

5. Lancashire.

Ashton, Whytyngton, Warton, Widnes.

6. Northamptonshire.

Higham Ferrers, Brigstock.

7. Leicestershire.

Launde Priory, Barkby, Kibworth.

8. Northumberland.

High Buston, Acklington, Birling, Thirston, Preston, East Chirton, Middle Chirton, Whitney, Monkseaton, Eardon (the last six all 1539, _Northumberland County History_, vol. viii. p. 230, ff.).

9. Nine manors elsewhere in South of England.

Crondal, Sutton Warblington, Edgeware, Kingsbury, Aspley Guise, Gamlingay Merton, Gamlingay Avenells, Salford, Weedon Weston (two last from surveys on back of All Souls Maps).

In this table are included a few landholders as to whose tenure I am not certain. It has the defect stated in connection with Table I., that in a considerable number of instances the holdings of tenants are not fully expressed in terms of acres, and that therefore it probably somewhat underestimates their area. On the other hand, the holdings of the customary tenants are usually set out by the surveyors much more fully than those of the freeholders.

TABLE V. (p. 107)

1. Northumberland and Lancashire.

Acklington, Birling, High Buston, Thirston, Whytyngton.

2. Wiltshire and Dorsetshire.

South Newton, Estoverton and Phipheld, Winterbourne Basset, Washerne, Donyngton, Byshopeston, Knyghton, Ewerne (the last in Dorsetshire, _Topographer and Genealogist_, vol. i. There are only three customary tenants on this manor, and only one is represented in the table, as the use made by the others of their land is not ascertainable).

3. Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Staffordshire, Leicestershire.

Salford, Weedon Weston, Wotton in Elishall, Kibworth Harcourt.

In connection with this table the following points should be noticed:--

(i) I am not certain that all the tenants represented in it are customary tenants. But with one or two exceptions the holdings of all are not larger than those of the customary tenants on other manors, so that there is no reason to suppose that their agricultural economy differed from that usually followed by the latter.

(ii) More serious, the figures are not completely accurate. I have entered under each denomination, "arable," "meadow," or "pasture," land so entered by the surveyor. In some cases, however, the character of the land is not specified. _E.g._ it is described simply as a "close," or a tenant is said to hold so many acres of arable "with appurtenances." Further, tenants frequently possess rights of pasture which are not expressed in terms of acres, but are either measured by the number of beasts which they may graze, or are not measured at all (_e.g._ "catalla sine extento"). In the latter case, which does not affect any except the Wiltshire manors, I have not attempted to form any estimate, but have simply taken their holdings as stated by the surveyor. When there is no clue to the character of the land, I have omitted it. When it is plain that the land falls under a special denomination, though this is not specified in the survey, I have placed it under that denomination in my table. _E.g._ at Donyngton nearly every tenant holds "unum clausum noviter extractum de communia," and together they hold in such "closes" 132 acres. I have entered these as "pasture."

TABLE VI. (pp. 115-117)

1. Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire: Massingberd, Ingoldmells Court Rolls, Preface, p. vii. I quote the words of the editor, "In 1086 the annual value of the manor of Ingoldmells was £10.... In 1295 the rents of the free and bondage tenants were £51, 17s. 1d.... In 1347 the same rents were £61, 9s. 4d., and in 1421 they were £71, 10s. 3d.... But in 1485 £3, 7s. 4d. had to be deducted for lost rents ... from a total of £72, 6s. 8d.... When the manor was sold in 1628 by Charles I., the reserved rent ... was only £73, 17s. 2d.... It is therefore clear that at Ingoldmells the tenants appropriated virtually the whole of the increase in the value of the land."

2. Crondall, Hampshire: Baigent, _Crondal Records_, Part I., pp. 135 and 383.

3. Sutton Warblington, Hampshire: _ibid._, pp. 141 and 383. At the later date Sutton Warblington appears to have been treated as part of the manor of Crondal, though still itself called a manor.

4. Birling, Northumberland: _Northumberland County History_, vol. v.

5. Acklington, Northumberland: _ibid._, vol. v.

6. High Buston, Northumberland: _ibid._, vol. v. (Tenants at will and copyholders only).

7. Amble, Northumberland: _ibid._, vol. v.

8. Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire. These figures were kindly supplied me by Dr. G.H. Fowler of Aspley Guise as the result of his researches in the Record Office into the history of the manor.

9. South Newton, Wiltshire: Roxburghe Club, _Surveys of Lands of William, first Earl of Pembroke_, edited by Straton. Note (a) The manor of South Newton included the parishes of Childhampton, Stoford, Little Wishford, and North Ugford. I have dealt here only with the Parish of South Newton, (b) The figures relate only to the customary tenants, and do not include the payments of freeholders and _convencionarii_. I have obtained the figure of £8, 3s. 11-1/2d. by adding together the tenants' money payments and the value of their works, which are set down in terms of money. But I am not sure that it is correct. I have omitted the payments of fowls (made at both dates) and the small payments for church shot and maltsilver.

10. Cuxham, Oxfordshire: Merton MSS., Nos. 5902 and 5905.

11. Ibstone, Buckinghamshire: _ibid._, Nos. 5902 and 5209. (In the earlier rental freeholders as well as customary tenants, and in the later possibly leaseholders as well, are included.)

12. Malden, Surrey: Merton MSS. MSS. both headed "Maldon, Thorncroft, and Farleigh 1841," and giving extracts from early court rolls and rentals.

13. Kibworth, Leicestershire: Merton MSS., Nos. 6375 (Rental), 6362, and 6356 (ministers' accounts). The earliest entry is the payments of the copyholders only: the two later entries are "rents of assize."

14. Standen, Hertfordshire: R.O. Mins. Accts., Gen. Ser., Bdle. 868, No. 17; Bdle. 869, No. 8; Bdle. 869, No. 15; Bdle. 870, No. 4. The earliest entry is "Rents assized £18, 17s. 3d. Lands let at will of lord 60s." The second, third, and fourth give the total income.

15. Feering, Essex: R.O. Mins. Accts., Gen. Ser., Bdle. 841, No. 5; Bdle. 841, No. 23; Mins. Accts., Hen. VIII., No. 951. The first two entries are totals of quarterly rents paid at Christmas, Easter, Birth of St. John the Baptist, and Michaelmas. The last is "assized rent." It is possible, therefore, that the apparent diminution is due to the earlier rentals having included payments not given in the last.

16. Appledrum, Sussex: R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Rolls 643, 644, and Mins. Accts., Gen. Ser., Bdle. 1019, No. 15.

17. Minchinhampton: R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Rolls 237 and 241. In the earlier documents the "total rent yearly" is given as £41, 14s. 4d., and the "sum total of works" as £4, 15s.

18. Langley Marish, Berkshire: R.O. Mins. Accts., Gen. Ser., Bdle. 761, No. 4, and Bdle. 762, No. 5; Land Rev. Misc. Bks., vol. 188, f. 196ff. The first entry is the sum total of rents paid quarterly, together with 7s. 4d. of a custom called "vaccage," and 13s. 4d. of common fine at view of frank pledge. (Exactly the same items are entered in the following year.) The second entry is "profits and issues of the manor," and is headed "account of the manor for 83 days," but the similarity of the figure with that of the earlier date makes it hard to believe that the "profits" relate to less than one quarter of the year. The third entry is made up of rents of free and customary tenants, demesne lands held by copy, and customary rents called "Hedage" and "Duply," producing 23s. 3-1/2d.

19. Lewisham, Kent: R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Roll 361; Misc. Bks., Treas. of Receipt, vol. 174, f. 1-34; Misc. Bks., Aug. Off., vol. 414, f. 33-4. The first entry is "Rent of the tenants of the manor of Lewisham," the second "Rental of the lordship of Lewisham." The third "Rent of free tenants £17, 12s. 10-1/2d., Rent of tenants _per dimissionem_ £72, 9s. 8-1/2d., Rents of tenants at will 9d."

20. Cuddington, Surrey: R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Rolls 669 and 624, Aug. Off., Misc. Bks., vol. 414, f. 3-16. The first entry is "Rents belonging to the manor at the terms of Easter and Michaelmas," i.e. it is for half a year only, and therefore I have ventured to double it. The second and third entries consist of the annual rent of all classes of tenants.

21. Isleworth, Middlesex: R.O. Mins. Accts., Gen. Ser., Bdle. 916, Nos. 11, 21, and 25. The figures at each date refer to the assized rent. At the two earlier dates the assized rent is given for all four quarters of the year. At the last date it is given only for the Michaelmas quarter. In order to make comparison possible, I have given the rents for the Michaelmas quarter throughout. The full entries for the two earlier dates are: 1314-15, £15, 5s. 6d. at Christmas, £17, 1s. 9-3/4d. at Easter, £15, 5s. 6d. at June 24, £21, 16s. 10d. at Michaelmas, works sold 22s. 1-1/2d; 1386-7, £14, 13s. at Christmas, £16, 19s. 7d. at Easter, £13, 13s. at June 24, £23, 3s. 10-1/2d. at Michaelmas, works sold 106s. 10d.

22. Wootton, Oxfordshire: R.O. Misc. Accts., Bdle. 962, No. 20; Bdle. 963, No. 14; Aug. Off., Misc. Bks., vol. 414, f. 38b. At the two earlier dates the figures given are the assized rents of free and bond tenants and _cotarii_, at the last date they are the rents of free and customary tenants. At that time there was also a rent of 30s. 8-1/2d. from assarts, and a rent of £13, 0s. 11d. from tenants by demission. I have omitted the last two items as there is nothing comparable to them in the earlier entries.

23. Speen, Berkshire: R.O. Mins. Accts., Gen. Ser., Bdle. 750, No. 22; Misc. Bks. Land Revenue, vol. 187, f. 97-101. At the earlier date the figures refer to the assized rents, at the later date to the rents of free tenants, customary tenants, and "firms."

24. Schitlington, Bedfordshire: R.O. Mins. Accts., Gen. Ser., Bdle. 741, Nos. 16, 19, and 27. At the first date the figures refer to the assized rent, and include "Tallage of the vill £10." At the second date they cover the same entries as at the first. At the last date they refer to the rent as it appears in the Rental. At this time there are certain additional entries, viz., "Firm of land £8, 5s. 0-1/4d., Firm of the manor £4, 15s. 4d., Increase of Rent [of a mill(?)] 13s. 4d., Increase of Rent of 1 messuage, 1 virgate with croft and meadow 13s. 7-1/2d." These I have omitted.

25. Cranfield, Bedfordshire: R.O. Mins. Accts., Gen. Ser., Bdle. 740, Nos. 18, and 25; Mins. Accts., Hen. VIII., No. 4. At the first two dates the figures include rents of free and native tenants and ferm of lands. At the last date the entry is "Rent of the vill, as by the rental, £72, 2s. 1-3/4d."

26. Holywell, Huntingdonshire: R.O. Mins. Accts., Gen. Ser., Bdle. 877, No. 17, Bdle. 878, No. 1. At the first date the entries include rents assized, and certain miscellaneous items such as "Hewesilver," "Heringsilver," "Brensilver"; at the later date "Rents assized of free and villein tenants £4, 19s. 8d., customary rent lately in works and in new rent £15, 6s. for 17 virgates paying 18s. each, £6, 15s., for 25 cotmen paying 9s. each, 6s. 8d. increment of rent."

The suggestion that it might be of interest to try to discover how far rents were stationary over long periods came to me from reading the article by Maitland on "The History of a Cambridgeshire Manor" in _E. H. R._, vol. ix., where he points out that copyholders must have enjoyed a considerable unearned increment. The table of rents explained above is unsatisfactory, because of the difficulty of finding a basis for the comparison of payments at different periods. Thus at the earlier dates there are the tenants' works, and (occasionally) tallages to be considered; at the later the rent obtained from leasing the demense. The variety of the sources of manorial revenue makes it impossible to discover a common form to which the payments on all manors can be reduced. The ideal would be to take the villeins' payments and works in (say) the fourteenth century, and to compare them with the payments of the copyhold tenants in the sixteenth century. But since the commonest entry is simply "rents of assize," which included the rents of freeholders as well as of customary tenants, this simple procedure is often impossible.

While the table given on pages 115-117 is certainly not what could be desired, I am inclined to think its inaccuracies do not lie in the direction of exaggerating the fixity of rents, but rather, if anything, in underestimating it, because (i) when a total rent is given for the fifteenth or sixteenth century, without further particulars, it probably often included the rent paid by the farmer of the demesne, which at the earlier period was non-existent, (ii) at the later period the total rent often included payments made for new encroachments in the waste. When this is evidently the case, as at Wootton, and the amount of the new payments is stated, I have omitted them, my object being to compare, when possible, the rents paid by customary tenants at different periods. But often it is not possible to make such an allowance, and therefore I am disposed to think that the figures for the later dates are more likely to be weighted with irrelevant items than are the figures for the earlier dates. This makes the comparatively slow increase in the rents of some manors all the more worthy of notice.

TABLE VIII (p. 212)

1. Norfolk.

Massingham Priory (two farms, Hen. VIII., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 24, No. 4, f. 46); Wymondham (Hen. VIII., R.O. Augm. Off., Misc. Bks. 408, f. 25); Marshams (Marham(?), Hen. VIII., Augm. Off., Misc. Bks. 408, f. 19); Thetford (Hen. VIII., Augm. Off., Misc. Bks. 408, f. 22); Bockenham (Hen. VIII., R.O. Augm. Off., Misc. Bks. 408, f. 9-10); Langley (Hen. VIII., R.O. Augm. Off., Misc. Bks. 399, f. 228-9); Walsingham (Hen. VIII., R.O. Augm. Off., Misc. Bks. 399, f. 201); Brisingham (31 Eliz., R.O. Misc. Bks. 220, f. 236); Farfield (31 Eliz., _ibid._); Wighton (17 Eliz., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Duchy of Lanc, Bdle. 7, No. 34); Peakhall (1575, Holkham MSS., Tittleshall Bks., No. 12); West Lexham (1575, Holkham MSS., West Lexham MSS., No. 87); Foxley (1568, Holkham MSS., Billingford and Bintry MSS., Bdle. No. 9); Sparham (1590, Holkham MSS., Sparham MSS., Bdle. No. 5); Billingford (between 1564 and 1606, Holkham MSS., Billingford and Bintry MSS., Bdle. No. 9); Fulmordeston (1614, Holkham MSS., Map No. 59).

2. Wiltshire.

South Newton, Estoverton, Wynterbourne Basset, Byshopeston, Donnington, Knyghton, Domerham, Burdonsball, Foughlestone, Brudecomb, Westoverton, Sutton Maundeville, Stockton, Albedeston, Chalke, Bulbridge, Dichampton, Patney, Wyley, Berwick St. John, Remesbury, Staunton, Chilmerke (all 1565-73, Roxburgh Club, _Surveys of Lands of William, First Earl of Pembroke_).

3. Manors in other counties.

Ashton (Lancs., Hen. VIII., R.O. Rentals and Surveys, Gen. Ser., Portf. 19, No. 7, ff. 69-72); Prestwood (Staffs., R.O. Misc. Bks. Land Rev., vol. 185, ff. 155b-7); Gamlingay Merton (Cambridgeshire, 1601, Merton Estate Maps); Gamlingay Avenells (_ibid._); Salford (Bedfordshire, 1595, All Souls Estate Maps); Weedon Weston (Northants, c. 1595, _ibid._); Edgeware (Middlesex, 1597, All Souls Estate Maps); Kingsbury (Middlesex, 1597, _ibid._); Greenham (Bucks, 1595, _ibid._); Crendon (Bucks, c. 1595, _ibid._); Harlesden Farm (Middlesex, 1599, _ibid._); Land in the Parish of Hendon (Middlesex, c. 1599, _ibid._); Whadborough (Leicestershire, 1620, _ibid._).

The fact that this table is compiled from documents of different dates makes it impossible to use it as an index of the size of the large leasehold farms at any one period in the sixteenth century. Nor can I hope to have escaped errors of calculation. I hope, however, it may be of some use in illustrating the considerable scale on which some farms were conducted.

TABLES IX, X, and XI (pp. 218, 225-226 and 227)

The farms from which these tables are compiled are included in the list given in explanation of Table VIII. (with one exception, Ewerne in Dorsetshire, _Topographer and Genealogist_, vol. i.), and it is therefore unnecessary to set them out in detail here. The figures as to arable, pasture, and meadow on the demesne of 41 monasteries are taken from Savine, "English Monasteries on the Eve of the Dissolution," _Oxford Studies in Social and Legal History_, vol. i. p. 172.

TABLE XIII (p. 300)

This table is compiled from documents relating to the undermentioned manors. When the reference has already been given I do not repeat it here:--23 manors in Wilts, Somerset, and Devon, Roxburghe Club, _Surveys of Lands of William, First Earl of Pembroke_. West Lexham (Norfolk), Sparham (Norfolk), East Dereham (Norfolk), Wighton (Norfolk), Stockton Socon (Norfolk, 1649, R.O. Parly. Surveys, Norf. No. 14); Aldeburgh (Suffolk, Hen. VIII., R.O. Misc. Bks., Treas. of Receipt, vol. 163); St. Edmund (Suffolk, 1650, R.O. Parly. Surveys, Suff. No. 14); Dodnash (Suffolk, Hen. VIII., R.O. Misc. Bks., Treas. of Receipt, vol. 163, f. 79); Chatesham, Suffolk (Hen. VIII., R.O. Misc. Bks., Treas. of Receipt, vol. 163, f. 91); Falkenham (Suffolk, Hen. VIII., R.O. Treas. of Receipt, vol. 163, f. 181); Stratford juxta Higham (Suffolk), Mettingham (Suffolk, _Victoria County History_, chapter on Social and Economic History); Mark Soham (Suffolk, _ibid._); Bushey (Herts, 7 Eliz., from Court Rolls lent me by the late Miss Toulmin Smith); Ewerne (Dorset, 1567, _Topographer and Genealogist_, vol. i.); Corton (Somerset, _ibid._); Rolleston (Staffs., _ibid._); Hewlington (Denbighshire, 4 Eliz., Wrexham Library, Ancient Local Records, vol. ii.); Holt (Denbighshire, _ibid._); Wotton in Elishall (Staffs.); Burton Bondend (Staffs.); Agarsley (Staffs.); High Furness (Lancs., 28 Eliz., R.O. Duchy of Lancs., Special Commissions, No. 398); Crondal (Hants); Edgeware (Middlesex); Kingsbury (Middlesex); Malden (Surrey, Merton MSS., book labelled Malden, Thorncroft, and Farleigh); Thorncroft (Surrey, _ibid._); Farleigh (Surrey, _ibid._); 14 manors in Northumberland (_Northumberland County History_, vol. viii., p. 238); Bradford (Somerset, Selden Society, vol. xii., Leadam, Select Cases in the Court of Requests); Shepton Mallet, Somerset (Calendar of Proceedings in Chancery, _temp._ Eliz. H.h. i. 27); Newton Tracye (Devon, _ibid._, H.h. 23, 17); Chudlye (Devon, _ibid._, L.l. 8, 31); Powlton (Wilts, _ibid._, M.m. 13); Kibworth Harcourt (Leicestershire, Merton MSS., book containing extracts from Merton Court Rolls); Barkby (Leicestershire, _ibid._).

* * * * *

NOTE.--(i) The names of the manors from which Dr. Savine takes his figures are not given. Consequently his information and mine may sometimes overlap, (ii) The MSS. book from which the customs of Farleigh, Thorncroft, and Malden are taken is dated 1841, but it purports to give customs based on ancient court rolls. The same applies to the information as to Kibworth Harcourt and Barkby.

GENERAL INDEX

Abbeys, _see_ Monasteries

Act of Parliament, Enclosure by in 18th century, 183-184

Acts of Parliament-- Statute of Merton, 1235, 87, 180, 248, 371-372 15 Hen. VI. c. 2, sanctioning export of corn, 113, 197 23 Hen. VI. c. 5, sanctioning export of corn, 113, 197 3 Ed. IV. c. 2, restricting import of corn, 113, 197 4 Hen. VII. c. 14, against depopulation, 11, 353 6 Hen. VIII. c. 5, against depopulation, 353 7 Hen. VIII. c. 1, against depopulation, 353 25 Hen. VIII. c. 13, against depopulation, 354 27 Hen. VIII. c. 25, for relieving impotent beggars, 269 1 Ed. VI. c. 2, legalising enslavement of vagabonds, 44, 269 2 and 3 Ed. VI. c. 12, giving good titles to Duke of Somerset's tenants, 294, 365 3 and 4 Ed. VI. c. 3, re-enacting Statute of Merton with amendments, 371-372 5 and 6 Ed. VI. c. 5, against depopulation, 354 2 and 3 Phil, and M. c. 2, against depopulation, 354 5 Eliz. c. 2, Statute of Artificers, 23, 45, 100, 353 14 Eliz. c. 5, directing compulsory assessment for relief of poor, 269 18 Eliz. c. 3, directing provision of materials for setting unemployed to work, 269 31 Eliz. c. 7, requiring cottages to be let with 4 acres of land attached, 277, 354 35 Eliz. c. 7, against depopulation, but repeating clauses in previous Acts forbidding conversion to pasture, 354 39 Eliz. c. 1, against depopulation, 354-355 39 Eliz. c. 2, against depopulation, 354-355 4 Jac. I. c. 11, for enclosure of certain parishes in Herefordshire, 395 21 Jac. I. c. 28, continuing certain Acts and repealing others, 355

Action of trespass-- copyholders' remedy by, 289 freeholders' remedy by, 248

Administration-- of land by peasants, 102, 159-161, 244-246. _See also_ Agriculture, Commons, Communism of Acts against Depopulation-- difficulty of, 377-386 irregularity of, 391-393 occasional effectiveness of, 386-387, 390-392 opposition of landlords to, 367-368, 370, 397-398 petition of rebels for, 335, 337

Administrative Courts, _see_ Council, Courts

Administrative interference-- with economic matters, 355-357 with enclosures-- under Henry VII., 359-360 " Henry VIII., 360-362 " Edward VI., 362-372 " Elizabeth, 372-374 " James I., 374-375 " Charles I., 376-377 final cessation of, 397-400

Admission fines, _see_ Fines

Agrarian changes, the-- causes of, 6-7, 12-13, 185-200 contemporary accounts of, 6-8 general effect of, 403-404 localities most affected by, 153-154, 182, 262, 405 of fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, 11-12, 79-95, 136-147, 161-162 of sixteenth century, 6-8, 147-173, 213-230, 301-310 of eighteenth century, 34, 183-184, 406 part played by capitalist farmers in, 200-202, 213-266 part played by peasants in, 136-173 reaction of on peasantry, 7-8, 231-280 resistance of peasants to, 302-304, 317-340 _See also_ Agriculture, Enclosure, Land, Pasture

Agreements to enclose, 151-153, 156-158, 180-182

Agriculture-- capitalist, 6-7, 200-204, 210-230 cattle, importance of to, 113-115, 239-242 changes in methods of, _see_ Agrarian changes commercial development, effect of on, 185-188, 195-197 common rights, importance of to, 238-242 communal elements in, 128-131, 159-161, 205-207, 243-246 corn growing, part played by in, 105-112 corn laws, effect of on, 112-113, 197 custom, effect of on, 75-78, 124-131, 292-301 enclosure by peasants, effect of on, 152-153, 158, 169-173 enclosure by manorial authorities, effect of on, 216-223 farmer of demesne, part played by in, 201-204, 210-230 for market, 214-216 for subsistence, 111-112 improvements in, 110-111, 170-172 markets, effect of on, 196-197, 214-215 mediæval, not incompatible with change, 75-97, 172, 404-405 methods of-- in Cornwall, 262, 405 " Devonshire, 167, 262, 405 " Essex, 167, 262, 405 " Kent, 167, 262, 405 " Lancashire, 63, 65 " Midlands, 65, 167, 192 " Norfolk, 63, 65, 405 " Northumberland, 63, 65, 189-192 " Suffolk, 63, 262 " Somerset, 110-111, 171, 262, 405 " Staffordshire, 63, 65 " Wiltshire, 63, 65, 212 on demesne farms, 200-230 " monastic estates, 382-383 " peasants' holdings, 105-115 open field system of, _see_ Open field system pasture farming instead of, _see_ Pasture rise in prices, effects of on, 197-200, 304-310 social importance of, 341-347 speculation, effects of on, 381-383 views as to, of Clarkson, 5, 189-190 " " Fitzherbert, 5, 109, 112, 117-118, 150, 151-152, 242 " " Norden, 5, 108, 110-111, 118, 150, 151, 171, 308 woollen industry, effects of on, 6, 195-197

Alien, _see_ Immigration

Alienation of land, effect of free, 86, 138-139 fines on, 127 _See also_ Speculation

Apprenticeship, effect of on marriage, 104-106

Arable land-- backbone of peasants' livelihood, 105-108 common rights, necessary for cultivation of, 239-242 conversion of to pasture, 223-230, 232-233, 258 corn yielded by acre of, 110-111 enclosure of for better cultivation by large farmers, 10, 221-224 enclosure of for better cultivation by peasants, 151-153, 162-164 estimated number of persons maintained by holding of, 261 proportion of to pasture and meadow in Staffordshire, 392-393 proportion of to pasture and meadow on demesne farms, 225-228 proportion of to pasture and meadow on peasants' holdings, 107 reconversion of pasture to-- Acts for, 353-355 by Royal Commissions, 359-360, 366-367, 374-375 " Council, 360-361 " Justices of Assize, 376 " Justices of Peace, 386, 418-420 " landlords, 390-391

Aristocracy-- acquisition of monastic estates by some of the, 380-384 attack of on Somerset's land policy, 367-368, 370-372 contrast between mediæval and that of sixteenth century, 191-194 growth of commerce, effect of, on the, 187-188, 191-194 Harrington's account of social changes in the, 38, 191 landholding peasants not an, 100-102 part played by in Pilgrimage of Grace, 322-324 relations of to tenants in North and South contrasted, 188-191 Tudor policy, effect of on powers of the, 188-195 unpopularity of administrative Courts with the. 397-400 _See also_ Index of Persons, Bath, Brudenell, Darcy, Derby, Englefield, Harrington, Herbert, St. John, Shrewsbury, Saye and Sele, Somerset, Warwick, Willoughby, Wolsey, Yorke, Leicester, Northumberland.

Assessment-- of subsidies, 169, 344-347 " enclosed land, 169 " wages, 23, 100, 308

Assize-- Justices of, disputes as to land referred to by Council, 373, 375-376 " " punishment of depopulating landlords by, 375-376, 419-420 rents of, 118

Assize of Novel Disseisin-- establishment of by Henry II., 122 remedy of freeholders by, 248

Authorities-- manorial, _see_ Manorial authorities, the

Authority-- part played by in organisation of manor, 92, 128-129 tendency of to stereotype manorial arrangements, 75-78, 92-93

Bailiffs, 82, 123, 209

Barton land, division of among peasants, 95

Beasts-- importance of for plough, 240-242 number of kept by peasants, 113

Black Death, _see_ Great Plague

Bodger, the, 349

Bondage, _see_ Villeinage

Bondman, _see_ Villeinage

Bord land, 95

Border-- agrarian conservatism on, 63-66, 188-191 copyholders on, 188-191 military importance of numerous tenantry on, 188-191 substitution of leases for copies on, 301-304

Border tenure-- Coke's remarks upon, 299 Customs involved in, 299 decision of Courts as to, 299 discussion by Long Parliament as to, 191 effect of Union of Crowns on, 190-191 service with horse and harness, an incident of, 190

Boundaries-- importance of to commoners, 241 uncertainty of, 235-236

Bovate, _see_ Virgate

Canon Law, the, as to usury, 307

Capital-- accumulation of by peasants, 82-83, 118 dealings in on money market, 186 investments of in farm stock, 6, 113-115, 170-172, 220 " " " joint-stock companies, 186 " " " land, 7

Capitalists-- appearance of among peasants, 71, 81-84, 136-139 farming on a large scale by, 6-7, 200-204, 210-230 loans by, 108-110 purchase of land by small, 78-95 results of growth of small, 95-97, 136-139 signs of appearance of large, 215 _See also_ Demesne land, Farmers, Enclosure, Pasture

Catholic-- conspiracy, supposed complicity of peasants in, 329 " fear of, reason for popular agrarian policy, 340-341 landlords, special measures suggested for, 341 revolts, parties in, 318-319, 323-324

Cattle, _see_ Agriculture, Beasts, Common Land

Chancery, _see_ Court

Chevage, 53

Childwite, still paid in seventeenth century, 54

Classes of landholders, see Peasants

Collective bargain by peasants with lord, 130, 295

Combinations-- among peasants, 131, 330-331 to reduce rents and prices, and to break down enclosures, illegal, 371

Commerce-- attention given by Tudor governments to, 185-186, 197 backwardness of in North, 190 effect of in breaking down equality of peasants' holdings, 66, 84-85 engaged in by aristocracy, 187-188 expansion of in fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, 185-186, 196 influence of on social conditions and land tenure, 187-188, 196-197

Commission of sewers, 395

Commissions, Royal-- activity of Hales in connection with, 167, 366-368, 371 " " Laud in connection with, 399, 420-421 " " Somerset in connection with, 362-370 anger of landlords at, 367-368, 370 appointment of on enclosure and depopulation in 1517, 261, 359 " " " " 1548, 261, 366 " " " " 1566, 261, " " " " 1607, 261, 375 " " " " 1632, 261, 376 " " " " 1635, 261, 376 " " " " 1636, 261, 376 causes of appointment of, 358 counties visited by, 366 disappointment of peasants with, 319, 366 effects of in checking depopulation, 391-393, 419-420 evidence before, how collected, 263, 366-367 " " interpretation of, 263-265 fines imposed by, 391, 419-420 fiscal motives for, under Charles I., 391 statistics derived from, as to average area of enclosures, 154-155 " " " " acreage enclosed, value of, 262-265 " " " " population displaced, value of, 262-265

Commons-- grant made by Lords to the, 335 "information and petition against the oppressors of the poor commons," 366 proclamation of the, 323-324 prosperous condition of, 132-135

Commons, House of, _see_ Parliament

Common field system, _see_ Open field system

Common Land-- administration of, by Manorial Courts, 159-162, 244-246 " " at Burnham, 245 " " " Southampton, 245-246 " " " Wootton Basset, 251-252 beasts kept on by peasants, 113-114 colonising of by evicted tenants, 277-279 demands of Norfolk rebels as to, 335-336 division of by peasants, 157 enclosure of by peasants, 157, 169-170 " " manorial authorities, 219-221 " " Johnson on unimportance of, 9 importance of, reasons for, 239-242 " " Clarkson on, 189 " " Fitzherbert on, 242 " " Hales on, 4, 239-240 " " Hamberstone on, 240, 241 improvement of by capitalists, 394-395 monopolising of by large farmer, 220-221, 242-243 overstocking of, 170-172, 242-243 sale of at Burnham, 245 stinting of, 160, 241 view taken in seventeenth century as to, 394-396 _See also_ Common, Bights of, Meadow land, Pasture, Waste

Common Law-- complaints of landlords as to interference of government with, 397-398 complaints of Long Parliament as to interference of government with, 399 doctrine of as to Rights of Common, 246-250 ineffective remedy offered to customary tenants by, 358, 400 protection of copyholders by, 289, 291, 296 tenants at will at, 289

Common meadow, _see_ Meadow land

Common pastures, _see_ Pasture

Common waste, _see_ Waste

Common, rights of-- Bracton on, 247 Coke on, 248 communal element in, 244-246 compensation for loss of, 243 copyholders' remedy for loss of, 248-249, 287-301 cottagers' claim to, 247 difficulty of poor in enforcing, 252-253 dispute as to at Coventry, 250-251 " " " Wootton Basset, 251-253 Fitzherbert on, 249 freeholders' remedy for loss of, 248-249 legal theory as to common appendant, 247 " " " " appurtenant, 247 " " " " in gross, 247 " " " " par cause de vicinage, 247 Maitland on, 244 peasants' view of, 243-246 not conferred by residence, 247 tenements attached to, 247 _sicut quantitatem tenuræ_, 241 Vinogradoff on, 244 _See_ Common Land, Copyholders, Meadow land, Pasture, Waste

Communism-- denounced by landlords, 324, 384 elements of in manorial arrangements, 159-161, 206-207, 243-246 practical nature of in demands of rebels in sixteenth century, 338 theoretical nature of in demands of Diggers, 338 views as to, of Maitland, 244 " " " Vinogradoff, 244

Community, the village, _see_ Manor

Commutation, _see_ Labour services

Competitive rents, _see_ Rents

Consolidation of holdings, _see_ Holdings

Conversion to pasture, _see_ Pasture

Copyholders-- act to give security to, on Somerset's demesne lands, 294, 365 attitude of, to State, 122-124 cases as to, 296 compelled to surrender copies for leases, 301-304 customs affecting, at Aldeburgh, 411-412 customs affecting, at Bushey, 126-127 dependence of on custom of manor, 124-131, 292-301 effect on of fall in value of money, 304-310 fines paid by, 305-307 labour services rendered by, 52-53 marks of personal villeinage among, 53-54 on new land, 289-290, 293-294 preponderance of over other classes shown by statistics, 25, 48 rights of common enjoyed by, 248-258 rents of fixed by custom, 115-121 surplus enjoyed by, 119-121 subletting of land by, 81 tenure of, changes in, in sixteenth century, 1-2, 310-311 " definition of, 47 " demands of rebels as to, 334-337 " duration of, statistics as to, 300 " fines incidental to, certain or uncertain, statistics as to, 300 " origin in villein tenure, 50 " protected by custom of manor, 129-131, 292-297 " " " Court of Chancery, 289, 291-292, 294-295, 398 " " " Courts of Common Law, 289, 291, 294-295 " " " Court of Requests, 362, 367, 397 " " " Court of Star Chamber, 360 " " " Council, 296, 359, 373-374, 397 " theories as to, of Ashley, 290-292 " " " Coke, 289, 299 " " " Fitzherbert, 288-289 " " " Kitchin, 289 " " " Leadam, 289-290 " " " Norden, 47 " " " Savine, 287, 292, 297, 300 _See also_ Customary tenants, Manor

Corn-- consumed at home, 111-112 export of encouraged, 113 export of discouraged, 197 import of checked, 113 loans of, 109 output of per acre, 110-111 trade in, 111

Corn-growing-- backbone of peasants' livelihood, 105-112 commercial policy towards, 112-113, 197 conditions making profitable, 110-113 in Norfolk, 111-112 pastures broken up for at Coventry, 20 proposals for encouragement of, 416-417 unemployment caused by abandonment of, 232-233 wastes to be reclaimed for, 394-395

Corn laws, _see_ Corn

Cottagers-- commons used by, 247 driven from enclosed into open field villages, 277-279 loss of commons by, 7 statistics as to among freeholders, 31-33 " " " customary tenants, 63-66

Cottages-- Act requiring four acres to be attached to, 277, 354 erection of on waste, 277-278

Council-- Agrarian policy of under Charles I., 391, 399 attack on Somerset by, 370, 380 grantees of monastic estates members of, 380 intervention of to protect peasants, 357-359, 361-362, 372-376, 391, 399 of the North, 355, 374, 398 of Wales, 355, 373 returns made by Justices to, 356, 375-376, 386, 419-420

Court of Chancery-- cases heard in by Wolsey, 397-398 petitions to from peasants, 294 protection of customary tenants by in fifteenth century, 289, 291-292

Court of Manor-- agricultural arrangements of village controlled by, 159-162, 244-246 cases of villeinage heard in, 292 customs enforced by, 125 enclosers fined by, 161-162 pastures stinted by, 170, 241 villein land transferred in, 78-79, 86

Court of Requests-- cases before as to copyholds, 362 " " " fold-courses, 374, 397 " " " rack-renting, 285, 390 " " " villeinage, 42 constitution of, 357 Hall on, 357 popularity of with poorer classes, 357 powers of curtailed by prohibitions, 399 Somerset's use of, 367 unpopularity of with landlords, 397-398

Court of Star Chamber-- abolition of in 1641, 399 cases before, as to breach of peace, 374 " " " copyholds, 359, 360 " " " enclosure, 360, 391, 421 " " " villeinage, 43 constitution of, 357 denounced in Grand Remonstrance, 399 Sir Thomas Smith on, 358 unpopularity of with landlords, 397-398

Court Leet-- of Coventry, 20, 162, 181, 249, 251 of Southampton, 162, 170, 241, 245-246

Court Rolls-- evidence of, as to enclosure, 159 " " " encroachments on waste, 87-89 " " " land speculation, 75, 78-81 " " " tenure of copyholders, 362 " " " villeinage, 43

Courts of Common Law, _see_ Common Law.

Cultivation, _see_ Agriculture

Cultivators, _see_ Peasants

Crown, the, _see_ Council, Court, and Index of Persons

Crown tenants-- at Wheatley 302, 413-415 in Wales, 298, 302 on Northumbrian border, 190-191, 299

Custom of the Manor, the, _see_ Copyholders, Manor

Customary-- of Aldeburgh, 411-412 " Bushey, 126-128 " High Furness, 101

Customary Court, _see_ Court of Manor

Customary tenants-- statistics of, 24-26, 48 _see also_ Copyholders

Dairy farming, 215

Day work of copyholders, 52-53

Demesne land-- absent from some northern manors, 203 acreage of farms on, 212-213 added to peasants' holdings, 93-95, 204-209 changes in use of after Great Plague, 93-95, 204-209 conversion to pasture of, 223-228 customary routine of agriculture on, 217, 228-229 difficulty of discriminating between peasants' land and, 95 effect of division of among peasants, 91-93 foundation of large farm in sixteenth century, 202-203 gradual consolidation of, 221-223, 254-256 insecurity of copyholders on, 289, 293-294 leased to capitalist farmer, 210-212 leased to smallholders, 94-95, 204-205 leased to village community, 205-207 lying in compact blocks, 221-223, 254-256 lying in scattered strips, 221-222 peasants' land merged in, 257-258 progress of enclosure on, 216-223 proportion of manorial area formed by, 259 rents paid for, 256 rights of common over, 234 statistics as to use of, 225-226 unemployment caused by enclosure of, 232-233

Depopulation-- Commissions of Inquiry into, _see_ Commissions counties most affected by, 8-9, 153-154, 262-263, 404-405 contemporary accounts of, 6-8 effect of on pauperism, _see_ Poor Law individual instances of, 257, 260-261 proposals for checking, 416-417 statistics of Royal Commissions as to, 261-265 Statutes against, _see_ Acts of Parliament views of Gay as to exaggerated accounts of, 10-11, 263-265

Diggers, 321, 337-338

Dissolution of monasteries, _see_ Monasteries

Domesday Book-- large extent of arable land in, 228 _liberi homines_ and _sochemanni_ in, 27

Domesday of Enclosures-- classes entered in as enclosing, 154-155 enclosing by _villata_ in, 156 size of enclosures in, 154-155 _See also_ Enclosures

Economic rent, _see_ Rent, Copyholders

Education obtained by some peasants, 134-135

Enclosure-- by agreement, between individuals, 162-165 " " better cultivation produced by, 169-172 " " early progress of in East and South-West, 167-168, 405 " " Fitzherbert on, 150, 152-153, 171 " " Hales on, 151, 167, 171 " " Lee on, 151 " " Moore on, 167 " " Norden on, 150, 151, 171 " " no harm resulting from, 152-153, 172-173 " " of arable land, 157, 162-165 " " of meadow and pasture, 157, 161-162 " " of whole village, 156-158 " " opposed by Court of Manor, 159-162 " " peasants' approval of, 168-170 by manorial authorities, attitude of Government to, _see_ Acts, Council, Court " " " counties most affected by, 8-9, 182, 262-263 " " " in Middle Ages, 180-182 " " " motives for, 185-200 " " " of arable land, 221-223 " " " of eighteenth century, 183-184 " " " of meadow and pasture, 219-221 " " " of peasants' holdings, 150-173 " " " peasants' dislike of, 147-150 " " " preceded by consolidation, 222-223 " " " reaction of on peasants, 231-280

Encroachments-- on lords' land, 235-236 on peasants' land, 234-235 on waste, 87-89, 285-287

Engrossing-- of corn, 274 of holdings, 253-265

Equality-- of holdings, disappearance of in South and East, 63-66 " " influence of trade on, 66, 84-85 " " maintained in dividing demesne, 206-207 " " survival of in North, 63-66, 189-190

Escheats of freehold land unascertainable, 30

Eviction-- liability to of copyholders, 287-301 " " leaseholders, 282-287 " " tenants at will, 282-287 number displaced by, 260-265 _See also_ Depopulation

Exchange, the, 186-187

Exchanging of strips, 164-165, 395-396

Exports of woollen piece goods, 196-197 " " corn, _see_ Corn

Famines-- fear of, 35 local, 112

Farm, _see_ Demesne, Farmers

Farmers-- acreage occupied by large, 212 advantage to lord of letting land to large, 213-216 agents through whom agrarian change took place, 201-202 capitalists among, 215-216 consolidation of strips by, 221-223, 254-256 conversion to pasture by, 225-228 demesnes leased to large, 209-211 disputes between peasants and, 234-237 economic conditions favouring, 214-216 enclosing practised by, of arable land, 221-223 " " " common meadow and pasture, 219-221 importance in sixteenth century of large, 204 manorial rights leased to, 211 peasant subtenants of, 211 soldiers recruited from, 343-344 subsidies collected from, 344-347, 415, 418

Feudal-- conditions of land tenure, decay of in South, 191-195 " " " " among freeholders, 29-30 " " " Harrington on decay of, 38, 191 conditions of land tenure, survival of in North, 190-191 lords, character of, 191-192

Final concords in Staffordshire, 392-393

Financial, _see_ Fiscal

Fines-- for depopulation, 391, 419-421 of copyholders, customs as to, 127, 295-301, 411-412, 413-415 " " declared unreasonable by courts, 296 " " demand for reasonable, 294, 307, 335-336 " " rise in prices, effect of on, 308-309 " " statistical analysis of, 300 " " upward movement in, 305-310 of freeholders, 127

Fiscal reasons for protecting peasants, 344-347

Fold-courses, cases as to, 374, 395

Forests-- claim of Crown to under Charles I., 391 enclosures of to be spared, 335

Freedom, growth of personal, _see_ Villeinage

Freeholds-- interference of Council with, 399 _See also_ Freeholders

Freeholders-- enclosing by, 32-33, 157-158, 236 eviction of in fifteenth century, 37 holdings of, statistics as to, 32-33 independence of, 30, 35-38 large numbers of in Norfolk and Suffolk, 24-27 little affected by agrarian changes, 28-29, 134, 406 loss of rights of common by, 250-253 political interests of, 121-122 rents of, 29-30 rights of common of, how protected, 247-249 social importance of, 34-37 suits of Court due from, 29 statistics as to, 25 upward movement among in sixteenth century, 37-40 _See also_ Yeomen

Gentlemen-- complaints of by peasants, 193 copyholders among, 55-56 distrust of by rebels, 323-324 part played in rebellions by, 322-323 yeomen made into, 383

Geographical distribution of enclosures, _see_ Enclosures

Germany-- survival of serfdom in, 43-44 social distinctions in, 187 Reformation in, 339

German peasants-- programme of, 339 revolt of, 368

Gilds-- apprenticeship insisted on by, 105-106 exclusion of immigrants by, 275-276 loans by, 109 meadows belonging to, 369

Government, the, _see_ Acts of Parliament, Council, Court

Grazier, _see_ Pasture

Grazing, _see_ Pasture

Great Plague-- effect of on land tenure, 90-91, 208-209, 286 " " population, 138 remembered in reign of Elizabeth, 130

Half-virgate, _see_ Virgates

Hallmote tenants, land sublet to, 81

Hedges, _see_ Enclosure

Heriots, 43, 53, 126-131

Holdings-- added to demesne farm, 257-258 addition to, of demesne land, 93-95 " " of waste, 87-89 enclosing of, _see_ Enclosure equality of, in North, 63-66, 189 exchanging of, 164-165, 395-396 formation of compact, 162-165 growth in size of, 70 held by same family for many years, 189 inequality of in South and East, 63-66, 70-72 of customary tenants, statistics as to, 63-66 " freeholders, 32-33 " land, basis of economic life of village, 99-104 rents of, on customary land, 115-119, 141-147 " " on new encroachments, 141-147 services due from, 76-77 subdivision of, 79-80 subletting of, 80-81 use made of by peasants, 105-108 _See also_ Agriculture, Farmers

Horse and harness, tenure by, _see_ Border tenure

Hospitality, meaning of, 233

Households, equipment of with land, _see_ Holdings

Husbandry, _see_ Agriculture

Immigration-- caused by enclosures, 3-4, 275 from enclosed to open field villages, 277-279 into towns, 275-277

Imports, _see_ Commerce

Import duties, _see_ Corn

Indenture, tenants by, _see_ Leaseholders

Industry-- backwardness of in North, 63-66, 189-190 growth of in sixteenth century, 185-188, 192 progress of in East and South, 63-66, 84-85 _See also_ Commerce, Woollen industry

Inequality-- of holdings, absence of in North, 63-66, 189 " " general in South and East, 63-66 " " effect of trade in producing, 84-85 " " transference of land, 78-79, 86

Inmates, statute of, 4, 277, 279

Intensive cultivation, 110-111, 171

Intimidation of tenants by landlords, 7, 251-253, 263, 302-304, 325

Judges-- decisions of as to fines, 296, 299, 307 " " " foldcourses, 395-396 address of Lord Coventry to, 398 _See also_ Court.

Juries-- address of Hales to, 366-367 evidence as to depopulation before, 263, 366-367, 385 packed by landlords, 263, 385 service of 40s. freeholders on, 28, 36, 121

Justices-- of Assize, cases referred to, 373-376 " " action taken by, 374-376 of the Peace, actions taken by against depopulation in Lincolnshire, 386, 419-420 of the Peace, actions taken by against depopulation in Nottinghamshire, 386, 418-419 of the Peace, assessment of enclosed land by in Warwickshire, 169 " " failure of to administer Acts against depopulation, 384-385, 390 of the Peace, letters of Council to, 358, 376 " " orders of as to relief of poor in Cornwall, 272 " " presentments before of enclosers in Yorkshire, 375 " " returns sent to Government by, 386 " " social prejudices of, 384-385 " " views of as to enclosing in Nottinghamshire, 418-449

Kind, rent paid in, 211-212

King, _see_ Council, Court, and Index of Persons

Knight service, tenure by, 29

Labour, _see_ Labourers

Labour services-- Commutation of, 52, 58, 93, 98 of copyholders, 52-53

Labourers-- assessment of wages of, 23, 100, 308 at Axholme, 104 commons used by, 247 effect of enclosing on habits of, 106 immobility of, 270-272 immigration to towns of, 275-277 in Norfolk, 21-22 " Worcestershire, 23 " Yorkshire, 22 King's estimate of number of, 21 on monastic estates, 22 scarcity of, 100 social unimportance of, 342 unemployment of, 232-233

Land-- speculation in, 78-86, 381-382 wide distribution of, 99-104 _See also_ Agriculture, Arable land, Common land, Demesne, Holdings, Meadow land, Pasture, Waste

Landholders, _see_ Peasants

Landless population, _see_ Labourers

Landlords, _see_ Manorial authorities

Land tenure, _see_ Copyholders, Freeholders, Leaseholders

Leasehold tenure-- advantages of to lord, 213-214 competitive rents under, 141-147 early development of among peasants, 80-81 effect of plague on, 93-95. 208, 286 on demesne land, 93-95, 201-214 on waste, 87-89, 141-144 substitution of for copyhold tenure, 301-304

Leaseholders-- division of demesne among small, 93-95, 204-209 eviction of, 283-287 letting of demesne to large, 210-211 manorial rights held by, 211 rack-renting of, 285 statistics as to, 25 rents paid by, 256 _See also_ Leasehold tenure

Levellers, complaints by as to enclosing, 149, 320-321

Leyrwite, 53

Lords of manors, _see_ Manorial authorities

Manor, the-- agricultural routine of, 102 changes in, produced by Great Plague, 88-95, 207-209 classification of tenants on, 25, 48 communism in, 159-161, 243-246, 338 copyholders kernel of, 288 court of, 47, 78-79, 86, 125, 159-160, 244-246, 292 custom of, 47, 124-131, 292-301 customs of, at Aldeburgh, 411-412 " " Bushey, 126-128 " " High Furness, 101 fiscal interests of lord in, 76-77 interpretation of documents relating to, 75-78 leased in sixteenth century, 201-213 part played in by authority and communal arrangements, 92-93 rigidity of exaggerated, 76, 89-90, 172 views of held by Maitland, 244, 305, 433 " " " Seebohm, 163 " " " Vinogradoff, 77, 92, 244, 290 unprofitableness of to lord, 304

Manorial authorities, the-- bargains made by with villagers, 205-207 bound by custom, 128-129 contemporary accounts of action of, 6-8 effect on of Tudor policy, 191, 197 " " rise in prices, 195-196 " " growth of woollen industry, 197-200 enclosing by, _see_ Enclosures eviction by, _see_ Eviction identity of interests of peasants with those of, 229, 257 large enclosures made by, 148-150, 154-155, 216-223 leasing of demesne by, _see_ Demesne, Leasehold tenure opposition of to interference of Government, 397-399 " " " Somerset's policy, 367-368, 370 pasture-farming by, _see_ Pasture permission to enclose given by, 157 petitions of copyholders to, 302-304 rack-renting by, 141-147, 285 resumption of land by, 285-287 small control of over freeholders, 29-30 speculation in land by, 381-382 villeins claimed by, 42-43

Maps, consolidation of strips shown by, 163, 222-223, 254-255

Map-- of Crendon, 221 " Edgeware, 172 " Maids' Moreton, 221 " Salford, 163 " Weedon Weston, 222 " Whadborough, 223

Markets-- effect of growth of, 215 in Norfolk, 22, 111-112 small development of, 110-112

Marriage, age of, 104-106

Meadow land-- belonging to a gild, 369-370 divided among peasants, 208 enclosed by manorial authorities, 219-221 " " peasants, 157

Mercantile system, the, 185, 313-315

Merchants, _see_ Commerce

Merchet, immunity from claimed by peasants, 53-54

Middleman, the farmer a, 234

Midlands-- chiefly affected by enclosure and conversion, 8-9, 167, 262-263, 405, 416-417 economic condition of, 63-66, 107 granary of country, 262 legal classification of tenants on manors in, 24-26

Military defence, importance of peasants for, 343-344, 415, 416, 418

Mobility of labour checked by law, 270-272

Monasteries-- agriculture on estates of, 225 demesne lands of leased, 203 oppression of tenants by, 43, 382 pasture-farming on estates of, 225, 382 persons acquiring estates of, 380 political effects of dissolution of, 383-384 rebellions partly motived by, 318-319, 322-323 social effects of dissolution of, 380-384 views of Aske on dissolution of, 319, 383 " " Cobbett on dissolution of, 382 " " Hibbert on dissolution of, 383 " " Gasquet on dissolution of, 383

Money-- increase in supply of in sixteenth century, 197-200 " " " effects of, 199-200, 304, 308-310 scarcity of, 198

Money rents-- corn payments substituted for, 198 general in sixteenth century, 211-212

"Nativi," _see_ Villeinage

New allotments-- distinction between customary holdings and, 95, 284-287, 289-290, 293-294 rents on, 141-147 resumption by lords of, 285-287

North of England-- absence of demesne from some manors in, 203 administration of Acts against depopulation in, 374-375 copyhold tenure in, 190-191 customary of a manor in, 101 demands of rebels in, 335-336, _see also_ Pilgrimage of Grace economic conservatism of, 63-66, 189-191 enclosing by peasants in, 157-158 equality of holdings in, 63-66, 189 eviction from a manor in, 257-258 importance of numerous tenantry in, 189-191 labour services on a manor in, 52-53 preponderance of customary tenants in, 25-26 rebellions in, _see_ Pilgrimage of Grace relations between lords and tenants in, 189-191 size of enclosures in, 154 undermining of customary tenures in, 303-305

Open field system, the-- advantage of, to peasants, 103-104 arrangement of demesne land under, 222-223, 254-256 early decay of in Kent, Essex, and Devonshire, 167, 202-263, 405 gradual modification of by peasants, 165-166, 172 ideas underlying, 169-170 inconvenience of, 171-172 picture of in maps, 163-164, 222-223 prevalence of in seventeenth century, 401-402 uncertainty of boundaries under, 235-236 _See also_ Common Land, Enclosures, Maps, Strips

Pannage paid by copyholders in sixteenth century, 53

Parks-- made by landlords, 148, 201 spared in Pilgrimage of Grace, 335

Parliament-- Act of to fix fines demanded, 335 Acts of, ineffectiveness of, 352-353, 355 attitude of freeholders to, 36, 39, 121-122 debates in on Enclosures, 343, 387-388 " " Poor Law, 273-275 " " subsidies, 345-346 petition of peasants to, 251 request to return member to refused, 387 _See also_ Acts of Parliament

Pasture-- acreage of held by customary tenants, 107 " " " farmers of demesnes, 225-226 " " on monastic estates, 225 administration of by village, 102, 159-161, 243-246 apportionment of to arable holdings, 240-241, 247 conversion of arable to, 223-230 division of by peasants, 157 enclosure of by peasants, 157, 170 " " manorial authorities, 219-221 importance of to peasants, 235, 239-242 reconversion of to arable, 367, 391-393 _See also_ Agriculture, Common Land, Farmers

Pasture-farming, _see_ Agriculture, Common Land, Farmers, Pasture

Pauperism, _see_ Poor Law

Peasants, the-- agricultural methods of, 105-112 contemporary pictures of, 132-134 demands of, 334-337 education of, 134-135 effect of loss of common rights on, 240-241, 253 enclosure by, 151-173 encroachments on waste by, 87-89, 284-287 eviction of, 253-265 helplessness of, 302-304, 325 importance of, fiscal, 344-347 " " military, 343-344 independence of, 29-30, 34-39, 132-134, 325-328 leasing of demesne by, 94-95, 204-210 national pride in, 20-21, 132-134 pauperism among, 270, 273-279 prosperity of, 132-134, 325 protection of by Government, 316-317, 351-400 rebellions of, 317-340 rents of, 115-121, 141-147 size of holdings of, 32-33, 64-65 upward movement among, 72, 75, 81-84, 96-98, 136 _See also_ Agriculture, Copyholders, Freeholders, Leaseholders, Tenants at will

Pilgrimage of Grace-- agrarian demands put forward in, 322-324, 334-335 classes taking part in, 318-319, 322-324

Plague, _see_ Great Plague, the

Plantations, emigration to suggested, 270

Ploughmen, military importance of, 343-344

Policy, agrarian, _see_ Council, Court, Acts of Parliament

Poor Law, the-- agrarian causes of, 272-275 debates in Parliament on, 273-275 expenditure on caused by depopulation, 278-279, 418 Mackay's view as to origin of, 266-267 mobility discouraged by, 270-272 Orders of 1631, 279 slow development of, 269 vagrancy chief problem of, 268-269

Population, checks upon, 104-106

Population, the manorial, _see_ Peasants, Copyholders, Leaseholders, Freeholders

Poverty, _see_ Poor Law

Prices-- effects of rise in, 199, 304, 308-310 regulation of, 308 Steffen's statistics of, 198

Programme of peasants-- in Pilgrimage of Grace, 334-335 " Norfolk, 335-337

Proletariat, peasants not a, 102

Protector, the-- Act protecting tenants on demesne lands of, 294, 365 attack of colleagues on, 367-368, 370 Court of Requests used by, 367 difficulties of agrarian policy of, 362-364 fall of, 370 proclamation against enclosures issued by, 367 " pardoning rioters issued by, 367 Royal Commission appointed by, 366 _See also_ Council, Court

Rackrents, _see_ Rents, Fines

Reaction, under Warwick against Somerset's agrarian policy, 367-368, 370, 372, 380

Reformation, the 339, 380-384

Rents-- competitive, growth of, 139-147 fixed, demand for in Peasants' Revolt, 146 " effect of on landlords, 199-200, 304-310 " " " peasants, 117-121 " neutralised by exorbitant fines, 118, 120, 305-307 " statistics as to, 115-117 fixing of by commissioners, 354 " " council, 369 paid in kind, 211 per acre of demesne land, 256 racking of, complaints as to, 235, 414 reasonable, demand for, 336

Revolts, agrarian, the-- conservative aims of, 333, 338-340 counties affected by, 318-320 directed against landlords, 323-324 in North of England, 318, 322-324 " Derbyshire, 329 " Norfolk, 324, 331-333 objects of, 333-337 organised character of, 325-326, 330-332 political importance of, 329, 340-341 sixteenth century, last age of, 318

Riots, agrarian, _see_ Revolts

Royal Commissions, _see_ Commissions

Salt silver, paid by copyholders, 53

Serf, _see_ Villeins

Service, _see_ Knight service

Services, labour, _see_ Labour services

Servants-- number of, employed in agriculture, 21-23 scarcity of, 21-23, 100 wages of, 100

Settlement laws-- origin of, 269, 275-276 popularity of, 276

Sewers, the Commission of, 395

Shack, common of, 234

Sheep-- driving of, 326 number of kept by peasants, 113 slaughtering of, 331, 332

Sheep-farming-- Acts restricting, 353-354, 360 by peasants, 113-115 by manorial authorities, 223-228

Slavery, legalisation of in 1547, 44, 269

Socage-- freeholders holding by, 29 tenants, rent of, 29

Sochemanni, large number of in East Anglia, 26-27

South of England-- contrast between conditions of North and of, 57, 63-66, 97, 103, 189 holdings of peasants in, 63-66

Speculation-- in land by peasants, 78-81 in monastic estates, 380-382 on money market, 186

Statutes, _see_ Acts of Parliament

Stinting of pastures, 160, 220, 241

Strikes, agrarian, 131, 330

Strips-- advantage of scattered, 103-104 difficulty of enclosing, 162-163 exchanging of, 164-165 formed into compact blocks by peasants, 163-165 " " " " manorial authorities, 221-223 inconvenience of to manorial authorities, 254-255 merged in demesne farm, 256 picture of, in maps, 163, 222-223

Subletting of land by peasants, 80-81

Subsidiary income of peasants from woollen industry, 114-115

Subsidies-- assessment of enclosed land to, 169 difficulty of collecting, 346 how assessed, 344-345 payment of by yeomen, 345-346

Subsistence, farming for, 111-112

Sub-tenants, taking of forbidden, 275-276

Surplus over rent retained by tenants, 118-121, 304-305

Surveyors-- account of agrarian conditions by, 5 attitude of in Northumberland, 189-191 unpopularity of, 349

Tallages, 53-54

Taxation, _see_ Subsidies

Tenants, _see_ Copyholders, Freeholders, Leaseholders, Tenants at will, Peasants

Tenants at will-- insecurity of, 283 landlord compelled to grant leases to, 362 meanings of phrase, 47 statistics of number of, 48

Textile industries, the, _see_ Woollen industry, the

Tillage, _see_ Arable land

Trade, _see_ Commerce

Trade unionism among peasants, 131, 330

Tramps, _see_ Vagrancy

Transferring, the, of land-- facilities offered by court of manor for, 86 importance of in building up a middle class, 78, 85, 97 instances of, 80-81

Tudors, the, _see_ Index of Persons, Henry VII., Henry VIII., Edward VI., Elizabeth

Unemployment-- caused by enclosure, 232-233, 273, 278 methods of coping with, 269

Uses, Statute of, 323

Usury, 20, 109, 147, 307, 349

Vagrancy, chief feature of pauperism in sixteenth century, 268 effect of on towns, 275-277 " " open field/villages, 277-279 obstacles in the way of, 270-272 punishment of, 44, 269

Village community, the, _see_ Manor, the

Villagers, _see_ Peasants

Villeinage-- attitude of State towards, 43, 359 compatible with considerable prosperity, 43 examples of in sixteenth century, 42-43 reference to in Somersett's case, 44 traces of among copyholders, 52-54 views on of Fitzherbert, 46 " " Norden, 46 " " Savine, 41 " " Smith, 46

Virgates-- aggregation of in fewer hands, 59-60, 66-70, 72-75 examples of arrangement of, 66-67, 73-74 use of as a measure, 67-68

Virgators, _see_ Virgates

Wages, assessment of, 23, 100, 308

Wage labour, _see_ Labourers

Waste land of manor-- enclosure of by manorial authorities, 219-221 encroachments on, 87-89, 285-287 erection of cottages on, 277-278 great extent of, 88-89 improvement of under Statute of Merton, 87, 248 insecurity of tenants on, 285-287 overstocking of, 172, 242-243 reclamation of by capitalists, 394-395 rents of, 140-147 stinting of, 160, 220

Wool, _see_ Woollen industry

Woollen industry-- chief manufacture in sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, 3, 186 effect of on agrarian conditions, 195-197 encouraged by Government, 197 expansion of in fifteenth century, 113, 196 spread of in rural districts, 114 Schanz's figures as to growth of, 196

Yeomen-- accounts of by Bacon, 28 " " Coke, 133 " " Fuller, 36-37 " " Harrison, 132 " " Latimer, 134 " " Reyce, 40 " " Smith, 28 education of children of, 134-135 forcible disseisin of, 37 legal definition of, 27-28 importance of, fiscal, 344-347 " " military, 343-344 " " social, 34-40, 132 national pride in, 20-21 _See also_ Freeholders, Peasants

INDEX OF PERSONS

Abbey of St. Albans, the, improvement of wastes by, 87

Abbot of Cerne, the, agreement by to enclose, 181 " Glastonbury, the, agreement by to enclose, 181 " Malmesbury, the, agreement by to enclose, 180-181 " Peterborough, the, dispute of with copyholders, 360 " St. Peter's, Gloucester, the, agreement by to enclose, 181

All Souls College-- enclosing on estates of, 156 scale of landholding, 69-70 maps of, 163, 172, 221, 222, 223 petition of in Chancery, 235-236

Ashley, Professor W.J.-- views of as to date of enclosing movement, 11 " " " legal position of copyholders, 290-292

Aske, Robert-- evidence of as to agrarian grievances, 319 " " " monastic economy, 383 Pilgrimage of Grace led by, 134, 319

Bacon, Francis-- bills against depopulation introduced by, 387 history of King Henry VII. by quoted, 28, 346 ideal of government of, 398 use of word "yeoman" by, 28 views as to pauperism of, 274

Bath, the Earl of, property of villeins seized by, 42-43

Becon, views of as to agrarian changes, 6, 7

Bell, William, commons enclosed by, 373

Berkeley, Lord Thomas, agreement by to enclose, 181

Bolen, Sir William, enclosing by, 380

Bracton-- on assize of novel disseisin, 122 villeinage, 292

Brudenell, Lord, fine imposed on for enclosing, 391

Buckingham, the Duke of-- enclosing by, 380 park made by, 148

Burleigh, Lord, advice of to Queen Elizabeth, 341

Cade, Jack, 194

Captain Pouch, part played by in revolt of 1607, 318

Cecil, Sir Robert-- views of on poor law, 273-274 " " military importance of ploughmen, 343 " " Statute of Inmates, 4, 279

Cecil, Sir William, letter to concerning Somerset's policy, 347-348, 368

Celys, the, wool purchased by, 196

Charles I., agrarian policy of government of, 391, 398, 399

Clarkson-- Northumbrian manors surveyed by, 5 views of as to equal use of commons, 235 " " " importance of commons, 160 " " " importance of numerous tenantry, 189-190

Cobbett, view of as to social effects of reformation, 382

Coke, Sir Edward-- petition of tenants to, 412-413 reports of, 247 view of as to acts against depopulation, 379 " " " copyholders, 289, 291 " " " border tenure, 299 " " " Statute of Merton, 248

Combe, William, enclosing by, 375

Cotton, Sir J., enclosing by, 380

Coventry, Lord, address of to Judges of Assize, 398

Cromwell, Thomas-- letter of to Henry VIII., 360-361 " " Rich, 361 responsibility of for agrarian distress, 360 tenants protected by, 361

Crowley-- "Information and Petition against the Oppressors of the Poor Commons" by, 365-366 views of as to agrarian changes, 6, 179 " " " attitude of landlords, 384 " " " excessive fines and rents, 307

Cunningham, Dr., account of origin of corn laws, 3

Cushman, Robert, remarks of on emigration, 270

Danbury, Lord, enclosing by, 380

Darcy, Lord-- dispute of with tenants, 380 letter to from Commons of Westmoreland, 322

Darrell, William, complaints of tenants against, 374

Davenport, Miss-- evidence as to leasing of demesne, 209 " " " progress of pasture-farming, 224

Dawney, Sir John, ordered to reinstate tenants, 361

De Malynes, Gerard, views of as to effect of rise in prices, 199-200

Defoe, "Giving Alms no Charity" by, 105

Delavale, Joshua-- account of depopulation at Hartley by, 258 "Seaton Delavale," 257

Delavale, Robert, enclosing and depopulation carried out by, 192, 257-258

Derby, the Earl of, eviction of tenants by, 361

Durham, the Dean of, account of depopulation by, 261

Edward VI.-- agrarian policy in reign of, 352, 362-372 Book of Private Prayer of quoted, 20 Remains of quoted, 6

Elizabeth, agrarian policy in reign of, 14, 372-374

Ely, the Bishop of, letter of Lord North to, 349

Englefield, Sir Francis, enclosing by, 148, 251-252

Everard, diggers led by, 321

Firth, _The House of Lords during the Civil War_ by, 38

Fitzherbert-- _Book of Husbandry_ and _Surveying_ by, 5 " " " on commons, 242 " " " borrowing, 109 " " " duty of housewives, 112 " " " enclosing, 151 _Surveying_ on commons, 249 " " copyholders, 288-289 " " enclosing, 150, 152 " " land taken from demesne or waste, 285 " " rack-renting, 150

Fortescue-- _On the Governance of England_ by, quoted as to fiscal importance, 346 " " " " " prosperity of peasants, 98, 133

Fowler, Dr. G.H., evidence of as to conditions at Aspley Guise, 73

Fuller-- _The Holy and Profane State_ by, quoted as to yeomen, 36-37 " " " " " fiscal importance, 346

Gairdner-- _Letters and Papers of Henry VIII._ edited by, quoted, 319, 322, 323, 324, 326, 327, 330, 334, 343, 347, 350, 361, 380 _Constitutional Documents of the Puritan Revolution_ by, quoted, 399

Gardiner, _History of England_ 1603-1642 by, quoted, 398

Gaskell-- _Artisans and Machinery_ by, 106 _The Manufacturing Population of Great Britain_, 106

Gasquet, _Henry VIII. and the English Monasteries_ by, 383

Gay, Professor-- views of as to progress of pasture-farming, 10, 195, 224, 263-265 " " revolt of 1607, 318, 320 " " small disturbance caused by enclosure, 11

Gneist, R. von, 400

Gonner, Professor-- evidence of as to continuity of enclosures, 11 " " " enclosures of eighteenth century, 263 " " " fines for depopulation, 386 " " " immigration into towns, 275

Grenvilles, the, lands of Buckland Abbey granted to, 194

Hales, John-- bills introduced by, 367, 385 charge to juries by, 367 departure from England of, 371 evidence of as to enclosing by peasants, 151, 167 " " " in fifteenth century, 11-12, 166 " " population, 105 " " rack-renting, 199 " " rise in prices, 199 part played by on Royal Commission of 1548-1549, 167, 360-367 remarks of on commons, 7 value of evidence of, 5-6, 386 Warwick's attack on, 368

Hammond, J.L. and Barbara, views of as to enclosures of eighteenth century, 3, 183

Harrington, Sir J.-- views of as to decay of feudalism, 191 " " " effect of Tudor agrarian policy, 388-389 " " " rise of middle-classes, 38

Harrison-- views of on copyholders, 49, 56-57 " " depopulation, 105 " " diet of artificers and husbandmen, 132-133 " " Poor Laws, 271, 273 " " prosperity of yeomen, 10, 21, 40 " " superfluous trades, 19

Harry Clowte, 333

Hasbach-- quotation by as to advantages of copyhold tenure, 86 views of on age of marriage, 106 " " effects of Tudor commercial policy, 13

Henry II., Assize of Novel Disseisin established by, 122

Henry VII.-- commercial policy of, 112-113, 197 demand of peasants for conditions obtaining under, 98-99 enclosures made before reign of, 11-12, 166

Harrington on agrarian policy of, 38, 191, 388-389

Henry VIII.-- commercial policy of, 112-113, 197 intervention to protect tenants under, 360-362 letter of Cromwell to, 360-361

Herbert, Lord, _History of King Henry VIII._ by, quoted, 398

Herbert, William, Earl of Pembroke-- estates of, consolidation of peasant holdings on, 67-69 " " demesne lands on usually leased, 203 " " " " leased to capitalist farmers, 210 " " " " " " small holders, 204-205 " " " " " " village, 205-206 " " " " " proportion of pasture on, 225-226 " " statistics of duration of tenure and of fines on, 298 " " " " tenants on, 25 " " villeins on, 42 park of attacked by peasants, 194, 326 rebellion in West put down by, 324 share of in monastic estates, 324, 380

Humberstone-- manors of Duke of Devonshire surveyed by, 5 remarks of, on relation of lords to tenants, 349-350 " " on variety of manorial customs, 293

Huntingdon, the Earl of, request to elect his nominee, 387

Jack of the North, 333

Jack of the Style, 318

Jackson, Cyril, Report of on Boy Labour, 342

James I., agrarian policy of Government of, 374-375, 394, 398

Johnson, the Rev. A.H.-- views of, on decay of yeomanry in nineteenth century, 139 " " enclosure of commons, 9 " " entailing of land, 39 " " geographical distribution of enclosures, 261

Kalm, _Account of a Visit to England_ (translated by J. Lucas) by, on open field system, 389

Ket, Robert-- manor held by, 326 programme of agrarian reform put forward by, 334-337 rebellion in Norfolk led by, 331-333

King, Gregory-- statistics of as to population, 21 " " " yield of an acre, 111

Kitchin, _Court Leet_ by, on copyhold tenure, 289

Latimer, Bishop-- complaints of by landlords, 368 remarks of on education of yeomen, 134-135 views of on agrarian changes, 6, 134-135, 347, 365, 386

Laud, Archbishop-- activity of on Depopulation Commission, 391, 399, 420-421 complaints of by landlords, 420-421

Lamond, Miss E.M., introduction by to _The Commonweal of this Realm of England_, 7, 11, 105, 263, 331, 364, 366, 367, 368, 377, 385

Leadam, I.-- evidence of as to independence of peasants, 120-121, 325, 330 " " " protection of tenants by Government, 357, 360, 362 " " " size of enclosures, 154-155 " " " status of enclosers, 154-155 views of on copyhold tenure, 289-290, 292, 293 " " enclosing for arable, 10, 195, 224 " " geographical distribution of enclosures, 8, 262

Lee, J.-- _A Vindication of a Regulated Enclosure_ by, evidence of as to enclosures of seventeenth century, 11, 151 number of labourers employed, 22 views of on uselessness of legislation, 319 " " yardlands, 67

Leicester, the Earl of, manor purchased by, 502

Leonard, Miss E.M.-- evidence of as to exclusion of immigrants by towns, 376 letter from Justices quoted by, 278-279 views of on enclosures of seventeenth century, 11 " " results of agrarian policy of Tudors and Stuarts, 348, 389-390

Lever, sermons by, 6

Lloyd, oppression of tenants by, 390

Locke, _Two Treatises of Government_ by, quoted as to limits of Government action, 400

Mackay, T., views of on origin of Poor Law, 266-267

Maitland, F.W.-- evidence of as to fixed copyhold rents, 119, 305 view of as to nature of common rights, 244

Merton College-- letter to subwarden of, 30, 410-411 rents on estates of, 119 scale of landholding on estates of, 66-68, 73, 76, 85, 163

Moore, John-- evidence of as to enclosures of seventeenth century, 5, 11, 167 " " " pauperism caused by enclosures, 278

More, Sir Thomas-- evidence of as to enclosing for pasture, 6 " " " monastic economy, 382 remarks of on condition of workmen and artificers, 45 " " " nature of Government, 274, 372

Nasse, view of as to objects of enclosure, 10

Norden-- evidence of as to agriculture in Somersetshire, 110-111, 171 " " " constitution of a manor, 350 " " " copyhold and customary tenure, 47, 50 " " " enclosure by peasants, 151 " " " fixity of copyholders' rents, 118 " " " relations between lords and freeholders, 30 " " " rise in prices, 308 " " " security of freeholders, 30, 35 " " " unpopularity of surveyors, 349 " " " villeinage, 46 " " " wickedness of depopulation, 150

North, Lord, letter of to Bishop of Ely, 349

Northumberland, the Earl of-- fines on estates of, 299, 305 letter to, 303 petition to, 303-304

Page, statistics of as to commutation of labour services, 52

Paget, Sir William, letter of to Somerset on peasants' revolts, 319, 338-339, 368

Parker, Archbishop, address of to Norfolk rebels, 332

Pembroke, the Earl of, _see_ Herbert, Sir William

Petruschevsky-- _The Rebellion of Wat Tyler_ by, on improvement of wastes, 87 on land speculation by peasants, 81

Pollard, Professor, 264, 371

Pollock and Maitland, _see_ Maitland

Powell, E., _The East Anglian Rising_ by, evidence of as to landholders, 21-22

Poyntz, Sir Nicholas, oppression of tenant by, 362

Pseudonismus-- _Considerations concerning Common Fields and Enclosures_ and _A Vindication of the Considerations concerning Common Fields and Enclosures_, evidence of as to the abuse of commons, 171, 278 evidence of as to depopulation, 167 " " " enclosing in seventeenth century, 11, 388 " " " legislation checking conversion to pasture, 388

Pyrce Plowman, 202, 318, 333

Raleigh, Walter (junior), on subsidies, 346

Raleigh, Walter (senior), part played in revolt of 1549, 194

Reyce, account by of prosperity of freeholders in Suffolk, 40

Rich, Lord-- enclosing by, 380 letter of Cromwell to, 361

Rogers, Thorold, statistics of as to prices, 13, 196, 198

Rous, evidence of as to enclosing in fifteenth century, 12

Russell, _Ket's Rebellion in Norfolk_ by, quoted, 98, 321, 324, 335, 368

St. John, Sir John, oppression of tenants by, 362

Sanders, part played by in agrarian dispute at Coventry, 326

Sandes, Richard, paper by on the evils of depopulation, 416-417

Sandys, Archbishop, letter of to Queen Elizabeth, 48-49

Savine, Dr. A.-- views of on copyhold tenure, 287, 292, 300 " " monastic economy, 203, 225, 226, 383 " " villeinage in sixteenth century, 41

Saye and Sele, Lord, name of returned among enclosers, 376

Schanz, Professor G., statistics of as to export of woollen cloth, 196

Seebohm, Dr. F., Domesday statistics quoted by, 27

Shakespeare, references to works of, 194, 343

Sheffield, Sir R., enclosing by, 380

Shrewsbury, the Earl of-- dispute of with tenants, 327 enclosing by, 380 letter from, 338-339

Slater, Dr. G.--

Summary of Depopulation Acts by, 353 views of on effect of statutes against depopulation, 389 " " geographical distribution of enclosures, 262 " " policy of Clarendon, 400

Smith, Sir Thomas-- _De Republica Anglorum_ by, on copyholders, 56-57 " " " " Court of Star Chamber, 358 " " " " villeinage, 46 " " " " yeomen, 28, 32

Somerset, the Duke of-- Act giving security to tenants on demesnes of, 294, 365 agrarian policy of, 362-370 Commission on Enclosures appointed by, 366 Court of Requests used by, 367 execution of, 370 proclamation issued by, 7, 367

Starkey, Thomas, _A Dialogue between Cardinal Pole and Thomas Lupset_ by, on agrarian changes, 5

Starkey, Thomas, _A Dialogue between Cardinal Pole and Thomas Lupset_ by, on encouragement of marriage, 105

Starkey, Thomas, _A Dialogue between Cardinal Pole and Thomas Lupset_ by, on entailing of lands, 39

Starkey, Thomas, _A Dialogue between Cardinal Pole and Thomas Lupset_ by, on relations between lords and tenants, 195

Steffen, Dr. G., statistics of as to price changes, 13, 198

Strype, J., _Ecclesiastical Memorials_ by, quoted, 315, 331, 366, 367, 368, 370, 380

Stuarts, the, _see_ Charles I., James I.

Throgmorton, Sir John, oppression of tenants by, 373

Tom of Trumpington, 333

Tusser, _Six Hundred Points of Husbandry_ by, evidence of as to agrarian changes, 5

Unwin, Professor G.-- evidence of as to formation of compact holdings by peasants, 84, 164 " " " growth of capitalists in woollen industry, 186

Vermuyden, engaged to drain Great Level, 395

Vinogradoff, Professor P.-- Domesday statistics quoted by, 27 rights of common explained by, 244 views of as to equality of shares in fields, 77, 92

Walter of Henley on yield of an acre, 111

Warwick, the Earl of-- attack of on Hales, 368 " on Somerset led by, 380 character of Government of, 371-372 Ket's rebellion crushed by, 324, 332 share of in monastic estates, 380

Westmoreland, the Earl of, disputes of with tenants, 380

Willoughbys, the, 192

Wilson, Dr. Thomas-- views of on Canon Law, 307 " " usury, 109, 147, 307

Winstanley-- diggers led by, 321, 337-338, 376 views of, 337-338

Witte, Sir J., enclosing by, 380

Wolsey, Cardinal, agrarian policy of, 359-360, 397-398

Yorke, Sir John-- land speculation by, 381 oppression of tenants by, 285, 390

Young, Arthur-- views of as to open field system, 401, 405 " " " rents, 118

THE END

Transcriber's Notes

Obvious punctuation errors and omissions have been silently corrected, while those requiring interpretation have been left open.

"philosphical" changed to "philosophical" (page viii)

"engineeers" changed to "engineers" (page ix)

"For willsof husbandmen" corrected to "For wills of husbandmen" (page 2)

"he" corrected to "the" (page 3)

the closing parenthesis was added to "(19.04%)" in Table I (page 25)

"Christain" corrected to "Christian" (page 42)

Footnote 145 had no anchor in the text; placement is based on context (page 69)

A spurious ")" was removed following "No 324" (page 81)

an unclear fraction was rendered as "6-1/8" (page 107)

"writtings" corrected to "writings" (page 114)

"Wordonand Bilton" changed to "Wordon and Bilton" (page 158)

"Asslegge" was changed to "Asselegge" (page 181)

"Harrington's _The Art of Lawgiving_" was corrected to "Harrington's _The Art of Law-giving_" (page 191, note 346)

Footnote 399 had no entry in the text, its placement is speculative, based on the context (page 211)

"arbitarily" was corrected to "arbitrarily" (page 248)

"clases" was changed to "classes" (page 282)

"ntromittere" was corrected to "intromittere" (note 511) (page 292)

"beantiful" was corrected to "beautiful" (page 327)

"protecting the clsss" was corrected to "protecting the class" (page 340)

"impoverishing the fines fighting material" was corrected to "impoverishing the finest fighting material" (page 343)

Footnote 670 had no entry in the text, its placement is speculative, based on context. (page 371)

"wasloste" was corrected to "was loste" (page 410)

"commonweath" was changed to "commonweal" (page 461)

The index page reference for the Earl of Leicester of "502" was corrected to "302"

Hyphenation is sometimes inconsistent in the text. These inconsistencies have been retained:

bye-laws/byelaws re-action/reaction reallotment/re-allotment sub-let/sublet land-holding/landholding over-stocking/overstocking sub-tenants/subtenants corn-fields/cornfields sub-letting /subletting foodstuffs/food-stuffs lease-holders/leaseholders countryside/country-side re-adjustment/readjustment sub-divided/subdivided re-arranged/rearranged re-arrangement/rearrangement over-estimated/overestimated

If the discrepancies is between the text and the indexes, the indexes have been corrected to match the text.

"rackrenting" was changed to "rack-renting" "foldcourses" was changed to "fold-courses"