File:The agrarian problem in the sixteenth century (1912) (14596626680).jpg

Identifier: agrarianproblem00tawn (find matches)
Title: The agrarian problem in the sixteenth century
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Tawney, R. H. (Richard Henry), 1880-1962
Subjects: Land tenure Peasants Agriculture
Publisher: London New York : Longmans, Green and Co.
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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e has noauthority. This side of the enclosing movement, moreproperly described as redivision and reallotraent than asenclosure, develops earliest in those parts of the countrywhich, owing to their geographical position, are particularlyexposed to the dissolving forces of trade and of a moneyeconomy. But with the improvement in the condition ofthe peasantry and the growth of pasture farming it spreadsfar afield, and by the middle of the sixteenth century, quiteapart from the large changes introduced by lords of manorsand capitalist farmers, it has eflected a considerable altera-tion in the methods of agricultiire even of the more station-ary inland counties. Such piecemeal alterations are agradual process ; they are not regarded unfavourably by thepeasantry; and a balance between their tentative individual-ism and the rule of communal custom is preserved by theaction of the manorial court. They are to be carefully immu^^^M^ II. MAP OF PART ()J THE MANOR OF EDGEWARErN aIiDDEESEX (1537.)
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V THE PEASANTRY 173 distinguished from the sweeping innovations of the sixteenth /century, which alone deserve the name of an AgrarianRevolution. But they are closely connected with that revolu- tion. For by making a breach in the walls of custom theybring us to the edge of two great problems, the growth ofcompetitive rents, and the formation, of large pasture farmsout of the holdings of evicted tenants, j We have spoken at length of the prosperity of thepeasants, because it is necessary to appreciate it in order tosympathise with the point of view from which they and theircontemporaries regarded the agrarian problem. But evil daysare coming upon the rural middle classes. Indeed theyhave already come. There is by this time much anger ^against depopulating landlords, much talk of the goodcustoms of Henry VII., much murmuring lest men bebrought to that slavery the Frenchman be in. We mustleave the light and follow them into the shadow. nb PART II THE TRANSITION TO CAPITALIST AGRICULTURE

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