CHAPTER IV 



CHANGES IN RURAL LIFE 

 (FIFTEENTH CENTURY) 



" Stock-and-Land " Leases. 



The Black Death and the Peasants' Revolt had proved 

 to the great landowners that labour could no longer be 

 obtained at the old rates. It is doubtful whether there 

 was labour enough to go round, even if the higher rate 

 of wages had been forthcoming. A few toilers continued 

 to work for their lords without receiving wages at all. 

 But it was evident that a difficult problem had arisen. 



Some lords found a solution of the difficulty in the 

 " Stock-and-Land " Lease system which was already in 

 operation. By means of this method land, together with 

 the stock on it, was leased to the tenant as "a going con- 

 cern." The tenant was required to pay either in money 

 or kind at the expiration of the lease. It was his business 

 to find the necessary labour for the working of the land. 

 As the holding was usually small, the tenant and his family 

 for the most part did the work. Sometimes hired labour 

 was obtainable. Thus there came into existence the land- 

 lord who received rent, the farmer who paid rent and took 

 the profit, and the labourer who received wages. 



For the most part, the " Stock-and-Land " Lease system 

 was profitable to the holder. He was " working for him- 

 self " : hence he took pains. Heavier crops, better stock, 

 and increased yield resulted. It frequently happened that 

 such a tenant became sufficiently rich to purchase his 

 holding. Sometimes he and his heirs remained so long 

 on the " farm " that they were regarded as the owners. 

 In such cases their names would be inscribed on the manor 

 roll, a copy of which became their title : that is, they 

 became " copy holders." These " small men," actually 

 working their own farms, were known as " yeoman farmers." 



It is important to bear in mind that the rent paid by 

 the yeoman farmer differed from that paid to the lord of 



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