this realm, to the diminishing king's people, and the let of the
cloth making, whereby many poor people hath been accustomed to be
set on work; and in conclusion, if remedy be not found, it may turn
to the utter destruction and dissolution of this realm which God
defend."

It was enacted that no person shall have or keep on lands not their
own inheritance more than 2000 sheep, under a penalty of 3s. 4d.
per annum for each sheep; lambs under a year old not to be counted;
and that no person shall occupy two farms.

Further measures appeared needful to prevent the evil; and the 27th
Henry VIII., cap. 22, states that the 4th Henry VII., cap. 19, for
keeping houses in repair, and for the tillage of the land, had been
enforced on lands holden of the king, but neglected by other lords.
It, therefore, enacted that the king shall have the moiety of the
profits of lands converted from tillage to pasture, since the
passing of the 4th Henry VII., until a proper house is built, and
the land returned to tillage; and in default of the immediate lord
taking the profits as under that act, the king might take the same.
This act extended to the counties of Lincoln, Nottingham,
Leicester, Warwick, Rutland, Northampton, Bedford, Buckingham,
Oxford, Berkshire, Isle of Wight, Hertford, and Cambridge.

The simple fact was, that those who had formerly paid the rent of
their land by service as soldiers were without the capital or means
of paying rent in money; they were evicted and became vagrants.
Henry VIII. took a short course with these vagrants, and it is
asserted upon apparently good authority that in the course of his
reign, thirty-six years, he hanged no less than 72,000 persons for