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APPENDIX II. 



LEGISLATION AGAINST PASTURE FAEMS ON SOCIAL GROUNDS. 



(a) In the 4th year of Henry VII. an Act was passed 

 relating to the Isle of Wight, to prevent the mischief arising 

 from throwing small holdings into one large farm. The Pre- 

 amble recites : — 



' Forasmuch as it is to the king, &c., great surety, and also 

 the surety of this realm of England, that the Isle of Wight be 

 well inhabited with English people, &c., the which isle is 

 lately decayed of people, by reason that many towns and vil- 

 lages have been beaten down, and the Fields ditched, &c., and 

 many dwelling-places, ferms, and ferm-holds taken into one 

 man's hands, that of old time were wont to be in many several 

 persons holds and hands, and many several households kept in 

 them, and thereby much people multiplied, and the same isle 

 thereby well inhabited ; the which now, by the occasion afore- 

 said, is desolate, and not inhabited, but occupied with beasts 

 and cattle ; so that if hasty remedy be not provided, that isle 

 cannot be kept and defended, but will be open and ready to 

 the king's enemies, which God forbid : — For remedy whereof 

 it is ordained,' &c. 



(b) i Henry VII. c. 19 is more general. The Preamble 

 recites as follows :— 



* The king our sovereign lord having a singular pleasure 

 above all things to avoid such enormities and mischiefs as 

 be hurtful and prejudicial to the common weal of this his land, 

 and his subjects of the same, remembereth that among other 

 things great inconveniences daily do increase by desolation, 

 and puUing do'WTi, and wilful waste of houses within this 



