The Agrarian Problem in the Sixteenth Century

by R. H. Tawney

(V)

[Paper on the Evils of Enclosure, by an Applicant for Government Employment]

S. P. Dom. Charles I. Vol. 206, No. 70

Right Ho^le

Uppon the ix^th of July and also the 23^d of Septemb^r I deliⱱd petitions vnto yo^r Lo^pp desireinge to shew y^e great hurt y^t ys done to his Ma^tie & y^e land by inclosiers w^ch decay tillage, & depopulate townes in ye best naturall corne countryes, w^ch affore supplyed the wants of others every way beinge in y^e middle of y^e land, for yt their is dearths vppon any vnseasonable seedes tyme or springe, and is a great cause of decayinge of trades and vndoeinge many thousands w^ch before lived well & now for want of Imployment & dearth of corne, y^er is multitudes of poor & vagrants complayninge of their miseryes; and are dangerous to y^e peacable state of y^e land, by y^er desire of troubles to revenge them selves. Ye know what lamentable broyles & bloodshedinges were betwixt ye gileadites & ephramites & Israelites & benjamites for ye levits wife & Abia & Jeroboam & Ahay & Peka where was slaine above 700,000 men of warr & many of other sorts, w^ch was more crewell then by any foraigne enymyes, & wee have incrochinge enemyes y^t would take y^er advantage vppon such opertunytyes as y^ei did when y^e leaguers in France made warrs against theire Kinge ... for many are of oppinyon that ye Kinges Ma^tie nor ye lordes doe not truly vnderstand ye secret mischief es w^ch is done by covetous men by ye cuninge misterie of depopulation nor ye oppressions and causes of dearthes and poverty nor know y^e readyest waye for remedyes, y^et beinge as unacquainted in tyllage & husbandrye as in other arts: as appeared by y^e booke of orders y^e last yere w^ch shewed that his Ma^tie and the lordes had a good desire to remedy the dearth but y^e corn masters & malsters &c. used such closse dealinges y^t y^e dearth was worse as y^e like in former tymes: soe that no orders will ease dearthes but by causeing more tyllage & y^t would make plenty & then every man will sell willinglye....

Also many are much deceived by inclosier because there are countries are enclosed & be rich, but these were inclosed when there were but few people & these maintain tyllage husbandry & hospitallyty & sett people on work & have tenements for labourers, these are lyable to musters & all services requirable for ye Kinge & country & taxes & charitable collections but y^e depopulators in ye champian countryes destroy all meanes of doeinge help or servise for ye Kinge & country what neede soever come.

And although this was the fruitfullest somer that was in many yeares, yet corne holds almost duble price to that which most men expected, because rich men will sell but litle corne before they see the strength of May past & if corne does not prosper then they will keep it expecting a dearth the next yere. Another cause is that all men see how tyllag is yearly decayed in the best champian countryes & people & drunknes increased & no hope of remedy because of y^e inyquity of y^e tyme & gentlemen & other have great friends & favour & may doe what they list. And maltsters & ingrossers buy corn as fast as they can, & doe use wayes to have it brought home what lawes or orders to the contrary expectinge a dearth if ye next spring prove not very fruitfull. And if his Ma^ty & ye lords doe not take some speedy course to cause more tyllage there beinge good ground enough before wete seeds tymes come, then will dearth ensue. And yⁿ ye poore hungry people may cry ... where ys corne; And yⁿ it will be too late to remedy dearths by any lawes or orders. And now it might be done there beinge aboundance of old resty fatt ground in y^e champian countryes which if it were plowed & sowne w^t corne, no wett seeds tyme could hurt it soe that they would yield corne to supply all wants beinge in y^e midle of y^e land my lord if you please to give me leave I will give you y^e names of many decayed townes in ye counties of Leic^s & Northampt, &c., and who decayed them & now the Lord hath swept away y^e inclosiers & their posterity out of all & strangers have their houses & pastures. And my desire is y^t yo^r Lo^p might be acquainted with y^e country dissorders & the remydes to reforme y^e evills and then ye may better judge of them & acquaint his Ma^tie & y^e lords, that by his & their good directions, we shall have plenty and bring much more to his ma^ties treasures & the whole land....

Also I doe humbly intreate yo^r Lo^ps favor to let me shew how there may be ymploym^t for people & wealth to ye Kinge & ye Kingdome & plenty & cheapnes & have ingrossers frustrated of their game & have lesse wast of corne in ale & beer & less sinninge: & lesse dangers & soe ye lorde keepe you: w^th my humble sute, to accept of my poore desires for ye deede, with my attendance vpon your Lop^s pleasure.

Your Lop^s to Co[~m]and
[Endorsed:—] Richard Sandes.
Sandes touching Indigence.

(VI)