PREFACE 



IN the last of the series of Gilbey Lectures, 1 delivered 

 in the University of Cambridge in the May Term, 

 1906, the object has been to present a general view 

 from the historical standpoint of the Relations of 

 Rents, Profits and Wages in English Agriculture, 

 and to discuss the bearing on Rural Depopulation, 

 and other questions of popular interest at the present 

 time, e.g.) Small Holdings. 



In a brief survey extending over six centuries, 

 it was necessary to confine the attention to the 

 main lines of development, although throughout 

 the economic tendencies have been brought to the 

 test of crucial facts. 



For the earlier history I am much indebted to 

 Thorold Roger's " History of Agriculture and Prices," 

 and " Six Centuries of English Work and Wages " ; 

 Mr. Seebohm's " English Village Community " ; Dr. 

 Cunningham's " Growth of English Industry and 



1 In 1904 the subject of the Lectures was the " History of 

 the English Corn Laws"; and in 1905 "Rates and 

 Taxes as affecting Agriculture," both published by Messrs. 

 Sonnenschein, uniform with this edition. 



v 



