Under the common field system there had always existed closes, or small fenced pieces of land attached to the owner’s dwelling-house or farm. It was also a lawful practice in the thirteenth century for lords or wealthy men to “approve,” i.e., enclose and cultivate portions of the land hitherto lying waste.
The enclosures of the sixteenth century differ from these. The growth before 1400 of the wool industry for export, and after that period for the English manufacture into cloth, raised the value of sheep-farming, and combined with the shortage of labour to bring about great sheep farms and a capitalistic system. Wealth was concentrated in the hands of big merchants, nobles or corporations. In the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century new methods of farming; rotation of crops, including roots; dairying; great drainage schemes led to the desire to escape from the unprogressive open field system; by enclosing, dairy farms became possible, and the famous brands of English cattle, sheep and horses could be developed.
The effect of these changes is noted by A. Young in his tours (see p. 229, etc.).
Holinshed gives a short, clear account of the risings which were brought about by rich or progressive owners enclosing their share of the common fields, and often more than their share. The illustrations from Cambridge documents give some of those details which alone enable children to grasp these social changes.
ORDINANCES RESPECTING TOURNAMENTS
(MS. I, 26, College of Arms. Antiquarian Repertory, Vol. I, p. 144.)
First: whoso breaketh most spears, as they ought to be broken, shall have the prize.
Item: whoso hitteth three times in the helm, shall have the prize.
Item: whoso meeteth three times coronell to coronell shall have the prize.
How the prize should be lost.