underwood. And this is to be seen in France and Italy, and some
other parts abroad, where in effect all is nobles or peasantry. I
speak of people out of towns, and no middle people; and therefore
no good forces of foot: insomuch as they are enforced to employ
mercenary bands of Switzers and the like for their battalions of
foot, whereby also it comes to pass, that those nations have much
people and few soldiers. Whereas the king saw that contrariwise it
would follow, that England, though much less in territory, yet
should have infinitely more soldiers of their native forces than
those other nations have. Thus did the king secretly sow Hydra's
teeth; whereupon (according to the poet's fiction) should rise up
armed men for the service of this kingdom."

The enactment above quoted was followed by others in that reign of
a similar character, but it would appear they were not successful.
The evil grew apace. Houses were pulled down, farms went out of
tillage. The people, evicted from their farms, and having neither
occupation nor means of living, were idle, and suffering.
Succeeding sovereigns strove also to check this disorder? and
statute after statute was passed. Among them are the 7th Henry
VIII., cap. 1. It recites:

"That great inconveniency did daily increase by dissolution,
pulling down, and destruction of houses, and laying to pasture,
lands which customarily had been manured and occupied with tillage
and husbandry, whereby idleness doth increase; for where, in some
town-lands, hundreds of persons and their ancestors, time out of
mind, were daily occupied with sowing of corn and graynes, breeding
of cattle, and other increase of husbandry, that now the said
persons and their progeny are disunited and decreased. It further