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 II Hen. VII, c. 22, says that 23 Hen. VI, c. 12,[214] 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 bailiff's yearly wages, with diet, were to be not more than £1 6s. 8d., and 5s. for clothes.
A chief hind, carter, or chief shepherd, with diet, not more than £1, and 5s. for clothes.
A common servant or labourer, with diet, not more than 16s. 8d., and 4s. for clothes.
A woman servant, with diet, not more than 10s., and 4s. for clothes.
By the day, except in harvest, a common labourer from Easter to Michaelmas was to have 2d. with food and drink, 4d. without; and from Michaelmas to Easter 1-1/2d. with food and drink, and 3d. without. In harvest:--
A mower, with food, 4d. a day; without, 6d. A reaper, with food, 3d. a day; without, 5d. A carter, with food, 3d.; without, 5d. Other labourers, with food, 2-1/2d.; without, 4-1/2d. Women, with food, 2-1/2d.; without, 4-1/2d.
[205] _Booke of Husbandry_ (ed. 1568), fol. 5. The surveyor of Fitzherbert's day combined some of the duties of the modern bailiff and land agent: he bought and sold for his employer, valued his property, and supervised the rents.