The Act did not apply to—
- (1) Land that had been pasture for 40 years.
- (2) Waste ground, common downs, fens, moors, marshes.
- (3) Lawful warren.
- (4) Woodland converted into pasture.
- (5) Land in deer parks.
- (6) Salt marshes and inundated land.
- (7) Land enclosed by licence of the King or his predecessor.
2 & 3 Philip and Mary (1555–6), c. 2.
This cites and confirms the original Depopulation Act of 4 Henry VII. and makes it apply to all houses with 20 acres of land, whether the land is in tillage or not.
Commissioners to be appointed to enquire into all grounds converted into pasture since St. George’s Day, in the 20th year of Henry VIII. to see to the re-edifying of houses, and the reconversion of pasture into tillage. The exceptions permitted are where lands have been enclosed by the King’s licence, and by discretion of the Commissioners in cases where no public benefit, but individual hardship would ensue by the execution of the Act.
Rents increased on the conversion of tillage into pasture were to be abated; re-edified houses were to be let with 20 acres of land or 10 acres if the owner has no more.
The penalty of laying land down into pasture was again fixed at 5s. per acre per annum, half to be paid to the Crown, half to the informer.
5 Elizabeth (1563), c. 2.
By this Act the more recent Depopulation Acts, 27 Henry VIII. c. 28, 5 & 6 Edward VI. c. 5, and 2 & 3 Philip and Mary, c. 2, were repealed as ineffectual; but the earlier ones, 4 Henry VII. c. 19, 7 Henry VIII. c. 22 and 27 Henry VIII. c. 22, ordered to be put into execution.