Alterations in the Temnx of Land. 223 



error, repealed the new law within a few months of its enact- 

 ment. But in 1349 a similar attempt was again directed 

 against nature, when a pestilence had diminished the market 

 supply of labour. In fact, throughout the reigns of Edward I., 

 Edward III., and Richard II., and even up to the Reformation 

 era, this absurd duel between man and the Deity, artificial 

 and natural law, the decrees of Enghsh statesmanship and the 

 visitation of God, continued. These iniquitous statutes com- 

 menced plausibly enough with a preamble directed against 

 idleness and able-bodied pauperism ; but, as we read on, it is 

 apparent that they utterly destroyed all freedom of contract 

 (if not that of the subject himself), and placed on equal foot- 

 ings the skilled and the ignorant, the idle and the diligent, 

 the neat and the awkward, the strong and the weak, and the 

 rogue and the honest man. Goldsmiths, horsesmiths, spinners, 

 coriers, tanners, whitetawers, cordwainers, tailors, carpenters, 

 masons, tilers, shipwrights, carters, and aU other artificers were 

 bound down to accept not only the wages they had accepted 

 during times of competition, but even to refuse under penalty 

 of imprisonment more advantageous offers, were such forth- 

 coming. The wages of carters, ploughmen, drivers of the 

 plough, shepherds, swineherds, d'eyes, and all other farm ser- 

 vants were fixed at certain low prices, and their compulsory 

 term of service was extended to one year. Workmen were 

 compelled to publicly hire themselves out in the market. Ex- 

 cept in harvest time, townsmen were not allowed to seek hire 

 in the country. Trades-unionism was guarded against by a 

 clause prohibiting alliances, covins, congregations, chapters, 

 ordinances, and oaths. Labourers were unable, under pain of 

 the stocks, to leave the hundred in which they served, without 

 letters patent under the king's seal. Artificers, people of "mis- 

 tery," and apprentices " of no great avoir " were obliged to 

 serve in the harvest ; and the justice's proclamation once a 

 year settled the husbandman's yearly wages, and twice a year 

 those of the artificer,^ Labourers were prohibited from playing 

 healthy games such as tennis, football, and quoits, nor were 



1 23 Ed. III. ; 34 Ed. III. ; 37 Ed. III. ; 12 Eich. 11. ; 13 Eich. II. ; G 

 Hen. VI. c. 3; 23 Hen. VI. c. 13. 



