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===Legislation=== In Tudor England the ever increasing demand for wool had a dramatic effect on the landscape. The attraction of large profits to be made from wool encouraged manorial lords to enclose common land and convert it from arable to (mainly) sheep pasture. The consequent eviction of commoners or villagers from their homes and loss of their livelihoods became an important political issue for the Tudors.{{sfn|Bowden|2015|pp=110β111}} The resulting depopulation was financially disadvantageous to the Crown. The authorities were concerned that many of the people subsequently dispossessed would become [[vagabond (person)|vagabonds]] and thieves. Also the [[depopulation]] of villages would produce a weakened workforce and enfeeble the military strength of the state.{{sfn|Bowden|2015|pp=110β111}} From the time of Henry VII, Parliament began passing acts either to stop enclosure, to limit its effects, or at least to fine those responsible. The so-called 'tillage acts', were passed between 1489 and 1597.{{efn|The first being in 1489, the [[Tillage Act 1488]] ([[4 Hen. 7]]. c. 19); this was followed by four acts under Henry VIII, the [[Tillage Act 1514]] ([[6 Hen. 8]]. c. 5), the [[Tillage Act 1515]] ([[7 Hen. 8]]. c. 1), the [[Tillage Act 1533]] ([[25 Hen. 8]]. c. 13) and the [[Tillage Act 1535]] ([[27 Hen. 8]]. c. 22); one under Edward VI, the [[Tillage Act 1551]] ([[5 & 6 Edw. 6]]. c. 5); one under Mary, the [[Tillage Act 1555]] ([[2 & 3 Ph. & M.]] c. 2); and three under Elizabeth I, including the [[Tillage Act 1562]] ([[5 Eliz. 1]]. c. 2), the [[Tillage Act 1571]] ([[13 Eliz. 1]]. c. 13) and the [[Tillage Act 1597]] ([[39 Eliz. 1]]. c. 2).{{sfn|Thompson|2008|pages=621β642}}}} The people who were responsible for the enforcement of the acts were the same people who were actually opposed to them. Consequently, the acts were not strictly enforced.{{efn|The government also appointed eight [[royal commission]]s between 1517 and 1636.{{sfn|Bowden|2015|pp=110β111}}}} Ultimately with rising popular opposition to sheep farming, the [[Tillage Act 1533]] ([[25 Hen. 8]]. c. 13) restricted the size of flocks of sheep to no more than 2,400. Then the [[Taxation Act 1549]] ([[3 & 4 Edw. 6]]. c. 23) was introduced that imposed a [[poll tax]] on sheep that was coupled with a levy on home produced cloth. The result made sheep farming less profitable.{{sfn|Bowden|2015|pp=110β111}} However, in the end it was market forces that were responsible for stopping the conversion of arable into pasture. An increase in corn prices during the second half of the 16th century made arable farming more attractive, so although enclosures continued the emphasis was more on efficient use of the arable land.{{sfn|Bowden|2015|pp=110β111}}
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