REGULATION OF HOURS AND WAGES 87 



imported into England. In 1482 a cwt. was sold for Hs. and 

 I cwt. 21 lb, for igs. 6d., an early example of that fluctuation 

 in price which has long characterized them.^ Their average 

 price about this time seems to have been 14s. o\d. a cwt. 



During the Tudor period the number of day labourers 

 increased, largely owing to the enclosures having deprived the 

 small holder and commoner of their land and rights. But 

 judging by the statutes those paid yearly and boarded in the 

 farm house were still most numerous. 



In 1495 the hours of labourers were first regulated by law. 

 The statute 11 Hen. VII, c. 22, says that 23 Hen. VI, c. 12,^ 

 was insufficiently observed ; and besides increasing wages 

 slightly set forth the following hours for work on the farm : the 

 labourer was to be at his work from the middle of March to 

 the middle of September before 5 a.m., and have half an hour 

 for breakfast and an hour and a half for dinner and sleep, when 

 sleep was allowed, that is from the middle of May to the middle 

 of August ; when sleep was not allowed, an hour for dinner and 

 half an hour for his nonemete or lunch ; and he was to work 

 till between 7 and 8 p.m. During the rest of the year he was 

 to work from daylight to dark. The attempt to regulate hours, 

 which seem fair and reasonable, no doubt met with better 

 success than that to regulate wages, for 6 Hen. VIII, c. 3 (1514), 

 says the previous statutes had been very much disregarded, 

 and sets down the rates once more : — 



A bailiflTs yearly wages, with diet, were to be not more than £\ 6s. Sd., 



and 5J. for clothes. 

 A chief hind, carter, or chief shepherd, with diet, not more than £1, 



and s^. for clothes. 

 A common servant or labourer, with diet, not more than i6i-. Sd., and 



4J. for clothes. 

 A woman servant, with diet, not more than los., and 4^. for clothes. 



By the day, except in harvest, a common labourer from 



* Thorold Rogers, History of Agriculture and Prices, iii. 254. 

 ' See p. 71. 



