PEASANT REVOLTS 107 



away, it is estimated, nearly one half of the population. 

 The cultivators of the soil, thus reduced in numbers, 

 were in demand everywhere. They naturally, in the 

 face of the demand, sought to better their material 

 condition. This was resented by the landlord class, 

 who insisted on the old rates of payment and the old 

 conditions of service. 



Before the " Black Death " a large number of serfs 

 had gained their freedom, some by flight, others by 

 manumission. Now, however, labour being scarce, 

 the dominant class sought to thrust these men back 

 again into bondage. The landed aristocracy secured 

 the passing of the most stringent laws and ordinances 

 to compel the people to submit to their tyrannous will. 

 The infamous " Statute of Labourers " was enacted in 

 1349,^ the year after the great pestilence. 



After the following preamble — " Because a great 

 part of the people, and especially the workmen and 

 servants, have late died of the pestilence, and seeing 

 the necessity of the masters and scarcity of servants, 

 who will not serve unless they receive excessive 

 wages," etc., the Statute proceeds, "After deliberation 

 with the prelates, the nobles and learned men assisting 

 us of their mutual consent, it is ordained that every 

 one, bond or free (with a few exceptions named), shall 

 be bound to serve anyone that shall require him at 

 the same wages as in the 20th of our reign" (in 1347). 

 Anyone who refused was to be "committed to the 

 next gaol, there to remain under strait keeping till 

 he find surety to serve in the form aforesaid." The 

 peasants, however, were stubborn. They sought by 

 flight and other means to evade these cruel restrictions. 

 But the feudal aristocracy were inexorable. In the 



^ 23 Edward III, chaps, i. to v. 



