recites the evil consequences resulting from this state of things,
and provides that all these buildings and habitations shall be re-
edificed and repaired within one year; and all tillage lands turned
into pasture shall be again restored into tillage; and in default,
half the value of the lands and houses forfeited to the king, or
lord of the fee, until they were re-edificed. On failure of the
next lord, the lord above him might seize."

This act did not produce that increased tilth which was
anticipated. Farmers' attention was turned to sheepbreeding; and in
order to supply the deficiency of cattle, an act was passed in the
21st Henry VIII., to enforce the rearing of calves; and every
farmer was, under a penalty of 6s. 8d. (about L3 of our currency),
compelled to rear all his calves for a period of three years; and
in the 24th Henry VIII. the act was further continued for two
years. The culture of flax and hemp was also encouraged by
legislation. The 24th Henry VIII., cap. 14, requires every person
occupying land apt for tillage, to sow a quarter of an acre of flax
or hemp for every sixty acres of land, under a penalty of 3s. 4d.

The profit which arose from sheep-farming led to the depasturage
of the land; and in order to check it, an act, 25 Henry VIII., cap.
13, was passed. It commences thus:

"Forasmuch as divers and sundry persons of the king's subjects of
this realm, to whom God of His goodness hath disposed great plenty
and abundance of movable substance, now of late, within few years,
have daily studied, practised, and invented ways and means how they
might gather and accumulate together into few hands, as well great
multitude of farms, as great plenty of cattle and in especial