36 Decay of the Manor 



6j., the ploughman js. at most, and every other labourer and 

 servant according to his degree. . . . Further it is ordained that 

 he or she who is employed in labouring at the plough or cart or 

 other labour or service of husbandry until they be of the age of 

 1 2 years shall remain thenceforward at that labour without being 

 put to a mistery or craft, and if any covenant or bond of apprentice 

 be made henceforth to the contrary it shall be holden for nought.' 



This legislation did not accomplish what it was meant to do. 

 Less than sixty years later, in 1444, another Act was passed 

 providing for heavier penalties but at the same time fixing the 

 wages of chief hinds, carters, and chief shepherds at 2OJ. and 

 clothing worth 4J-. with meat and drink. Stocks were to be 

 erected in every town, and if a wandering servant or labourer 

 had not a letter issued under the King's seal, authorizing his 

 movement, he was to be kept in the stocks l until he have found 

 surety to return to his service, or to serve or labour in the town 

 from which he comes.' 



What had happened was that the Black Death had opened up 

 to the peasants the vision and possibility of a fuller and freer life. 

 Their masters, the nobles, abbots, and all landlords, stepped in 

 front to bar the way to this new world. They tried to exact 

 work for low wages from the free labourers ; they claimed more 

 services from their villains who were still bound to labour for 

 them, and forced those who regarded themselves as free from this 

 to prove it by law. Abbeys like St. Albans were holding the 

 abbey towns under restrictions that had long been galling, forcing 

 the townsmen to grind their corn at the abbot's mill. The 

 wealthier villains supported those who were poorer in their 

 agitation. The wars in France had made new and heavy taxation 

 necessary. It was not because they were suffering from poverty 

 in 1381 that the Peasants' Revolt took place, but rather because 

 they had been irritated by the deliberate attempts to deprive 

 them of the little freedom they had gained, and to shut them out 



