Landholding in England

by Mary A. M. Marks

LANDHOLDING IN

ENGLAND

Considered in Relation to Poverty

BY

MARY A. M. MARKS

AUTHOR OF
"ENGLAND AND AMERICA," "THE CORN LAWS," ETC.

LONDON
A. C. FIFIELD, 44 FLEET STREET, E.C.
1908

All Rights Reserved

THE RIVERSIDE PRESS LIMITED, EDINBURGH

TO THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE

EARL CARRINGTON, K.G.

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

THIS BOOK IS BY PERMISSION

Dedicated

WITH THE DEEPEST RESPECT FOR HIS LABOURS IN

RESTORING THE LAND TO THE LANDLESS

THE LANDLESS TO THE LAND

CONTENTS

			PAGE
PREFACE			6
CHAPTER
I.		IN SAXON TIMES	7
II.		UNDER THE NORMANS	15
III.		THE THREE STATUTES OF EDWARD I.	22
IV.		THE BLACK DEATH	30
V.		PRIMOGENITURE	40
VI.		THE RISE OF THE CHANCERY	44
VII.		ENGLAND BEFORE THE SUPPRESSION	50
VIII.		THE GROWTH OF THE POWER OF THE CROWN	54
IX.		HENRY VIII.'S STATUTE OF USES	59
X.		THE TAKING OF THE ABBEY LANDS	62
XI.		THE TESTIMONY OF THE REFORMERS	71
XII.		THE STATUTE OF VAGABONDS	80
XIII.		THE REBELLIONS OF THE POOR COMMONS	87
XIV.		THE DEGRADATION OF THE POOR	95
XV.		THE LEVELLERS	105
XVI.		THE DIGGERS	113
XVII.		THE END OF THE FEUDAL SYSTEM	119
XVIII.		THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY IN THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES	123
XIX.		ENCLOSURE IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY	130
XX.		ENCLOSURE IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY	147
XXI.		THE WORKING OF ENTAIL	154
XXII.		LEASEHOLD versus FREEHOLD	167
XXIII.		CONCLUSION	184