"That there should be, in the year 1553, as much land, or more, put
wholly in tillage as had been at any time since the 1st Henry
VIII., under a penalty of 5s. per acre to the king; and in order to
secure this, it appoints commissioners, who were bound to ascertain
by inquests what land was in tillage and had been converted from
tillage into pasture. The commission issued precepts to the
sheriffs, who summoned jurors, and the inquests were to be
returned, certified, to the Court of Exchequer. Any prosecution for
penalties should take place within three years, and the act
continues for ten years."

2 and 3 Philip and Mary, cap. 2, recites the former acts of 4 Henry
VII., cap. 19, etc,, which it enforces. It enacts:

"That as some doubts had arisen as to the interpretation of the
words twenty acres of land, the act should apply to houses with
twenty acres of land, according to the measurement of the ancient
statute; and it appoints commissioners to inquire as to all houses
pulled down and all land converted from pasture into tillage since
the 4th Henry VII. The commissioners were to take security by
recognizance from offenders, and to re-edify the houses and re-
convert the land into tillage, and to assess the tenants for life
toward the repairs. The amount expended under order of the
commissioners was made recoverable against the estate, and the
occupiers were made liable to their orders; and they had power to
commit persons refusing to give security to carry out the act."

2 and 3 Philip and Mary, cap. 3, was passed to provide for the
increase of milch cattle, and it enacts: