16 LandmarJis in British Farming, 
exhausted fertility of the soil, all pointed to a considerable 
change in methods of cultivation. The break-up of feudalism 
tended decidedly in the same direction. It was more the 
interest of Tudor landlords to multiply rents than retainers. 
Fitzherbert, in his treatise upon Surveyinge, holds a brief for 
enclosures. But, even with this fact in our minds, it is signi- 
ficant that he estimates an acre of common on a hill-side, 
sprinkled with gorse and furze, as equal in value to two acres 
of arable land. 
The two great changes which were effected in this period 
were (1) the exchange of enclosed for open-field farms ; (2) the 
conversion of arable land into pasture. 
The first inroad was made on oi^en-field farms. Enclosures 
became common. Lords of manors not only withdrew their 
demesne lands from the common farm, but also enclosed their 
wastes. The process was often high-handed ; it had been originally 
adopted for sporting purposes. Maurice, Earl of Berkeley in 
the fourteenth century, anticipated the movement, which did 
not become general till 150 years later. He had a wood called 
Whitclyve Wood, which “ hee fancieth to reduce into a parke.” 
He treated with his tenants and freeholders for the exchange or 
sale of their lands, and with the commoners for the purchase of 
their rights of common. 
After some labour spent, and not prevaillnge to such effect as bee 
aymed at, be rememberetb, as it seemetb, tbe Adage multa non laudantur 
nisi prim peracta ; “ many actions are not praiseworthy till they bee done.” 
Hee tlierefore on a sodaine resolutely inclosetb soe much of each mans land 
into bis sayd wood as bee desired ; maketb it a parke, placetb keepers, and 
storetb it with Deere. And called it, as to this day it is, Whitclyve Parke. 
They seeing what was done, and this lord offeringe compositions and ex- 
changes as before, most of them soone agreed, when there was noe remedy. 
And bee soone after bad tbeire grants and releases of land and common as 
bee at first desired unguentum pimgit pungentem rusticus ungit ; “ it is not 
for a Lord too long to make curtesey to tbe clowted shoo.” Those fewe 
that remayned obstinate, fell after upon bis sonne with suites to their small 
comfort and less games.* 
The practice of enclosures was now adapted not so much 
for hunting as for profitable farming. Common rights, upon 
which the very existence of agrarian associations depended, 
were extinguished by force or by mutual consent. Manorial 
estates were consolidated, partly by the withdrawal of the 
demesne from the common farm, partly by the enclosure of 
wastes. Many of the agrarian partnerships were thus dis- 
solved. The joint system of co-operative farming was also 
' Zire.i of the Berhelegs. By John Smyth of Barton. Bristol and Glou- 
cester Archaeological Society. 1883. 4to. 
