the retinue of the lord; and it was their interest to obtain money
rents. Then commenced a struggle of the most fearful character. The
nobles cleared their lands, pulled down the houses, and displaced
the people. Vagrancy, on a most unparalleled scale, took place.
Henry VII., to check this cruel, unexpected, and harsh outcome of
his own policy, resorted to legislation, which proved nearly
ineffectual. As early as the fourth year of his reign these efforts
commenced with an enactment (cap. 19) for keeping up houses and
encouraging husbandry; it is very quaint, and is as follows:

"The King, our Sovereign Lord, having singular pleasure above all
things to avoid such enormities and mischiefs as be hurtful and
prejudicial to the commonwealth of this his land and his subjects
of the same, remembereth that, among other things, great
inconvenience daily doth increase by dissolution, and pulling down,
and wilful waste of houses and towns within this his realm, and
laying to pasture lands, which continually have been in tilth,
WHEREBY IDLENESS, THE GROUND AND BEGINNING OF ALL MISCHIEF, daily
do increase; for where, in some towns 200 persons were occupied,
and lived by those lawful labors, now there be occupied two or
three herdsmen, and the residue full of idleness. The husbandry,
which is one of the greatest commodities of the realm, is greatly
decayed. Churches destroyed, the service of God withdrawn, the
bodies there buried not prayed for, the patrons and curates
wronged, the defence of the land against outward enemies feebled
and impaired, to the great displeasure of God, the subversion of
the policy and good rule of this land, if remedy be not hastily
therefor purveyed: Wherefore, the King, our Sovereign Lord, by the
assent and advice, etc., etc., ordereth, enacteth, and establisheth
that no person, what estate, degree, or condition he be, that hath