But with the ravages of the Black Death and the decrease of population labour at once became scarce and dear.

There was a general rise of wages, and the farmers of the country as well as the wealthier craftsmen of the town saw themselves threatened with ruin by what seemed to their age the extravagant demands of the labour class.

Meanwhile the country was torn with riot and disorder.

An outbreak of lawless self-indulgence which followed everywhere in the wake of the plague told especially upon the "landless men," workers wandering in search of work who found themselves for the first time masters of the labour market; and the wandering labourer or artizan turned easily into the "sturdy beggar," or the bandit of the woods.

A summary redress for these evils was at once provided by the Crown in a royal proclamation.