+Source.+--Holinshed, p. 659.
About this time the King having regard to the common wealth of his
realm, considered how for the space of fifty years past and more, the
nobles and gentlemen of England had been given to grazing of cattle,
and keeping of sheep, and inventing a means how to increase their
yearly revenues, to the great decaying and undoing of husbandmen of
the land. For the said nobles and gentlemen, after the manner of the
Numidians, more studying how to increase their pastures, than to
maintain tillage, began to decay husband tacks[9] and tenements, and
to convert arable land into pasture, furnishing the same with beasts
and sheep, and also deer, so inclosing the field with hedges, ditches,
and pales, which they held in their own hands, ingrossing[10] wools,
and selling the same, and also sheep and beasts at their own prices,
and as might stand most with their own private commodity.
Hereof a threefold evil chanced to the commonwealth, as Polydore
noteth. One, for that thereby the number of husbandmen was sore
diminished, the which the prince useth chiefly in his service for the
wars: another for that many towns and villages were left desolate and
became ruinous: the third, for that both wool and cloth made thereof,
and the flesh of all manner of beasts used to be eaten, was sold at
far higher prices than was accustomed. These enormities at the first
beginning being not redressed, grew in short space to such force and
vigour by evil custom, that afterwards they gathered to such an united
force, that hardly they could be remedied. Much like a disease, which
in the beginning with little pain to the patient, and less labour to
the surgeon may be cured; whereas the same by delay and negligence
being suffered to putrify, becometh a desperate sore, and then are
medicines nothing available, and not to be applied. The King therefore
causing such good statutes as had been devised and established for
reformation in this behalf to be reviewed and called upon, took order
by directing forth his commissions unto the justices of peace, and
other such magistrates, that presentment should be had and made of all
such inclosures, and decay of husbandry, as had chanced within the
space of fifty years before that present time. The justices and other
magistrates, according to their commission, executed the same. And so
commandment was given, that the decayed houses should be built up
again, that the husbandmen should be placed eftsoones in the same, and
that inclosed grounds should be laid open, and sore punishment
appointed against them that disobeyed.
These so good and wholesome ordinances shortly after were defeated by
means of bribes given unto the cardinal: for when the nobles and
gentlemen which had for their pleasures imparted the common fields,
were loath to have the same again disparked, they redeemed their
vexation with good sums of money; and so had licence to keep their
parks and grounds inclosed as before.
Thus the great expectation which men had conceived of a general
redress, proved void: howbeit, some profit the husbandmen in some
parts of the realm got by the moving of this matter, where inclosures
were already laid open, ere Mistress Money could prevent them; and so
they enjoyed their commons, which before had been taken from them.
[Footnote 9: = rented farms.]
[Footnote 10: = "cornering."]