PART I: 1000-1485
SECTION I
THE EARLY ENGLISH MANOR AND BOROUGH

1.	Rights and Duties of All Persons (Rectitudines singularum personarum), c. 1000	5
2.	The form of the Domesday Inquest, 1086	9
3.	The borough of Dover, 1086	10
4.	The borough of Norwich, 1086	11
5.	The borough of Wallingford, 1086	13
6.	The customs of Berkshire, 1086	15
7.	Land of the Church of Worcester, 1086	15
8.	The manor of Rockland, 1086	16
9.	The manor of Halesowen, 1086	16
10.	The manor of Havering, 1086	17

SECTION II
THE FEUDAL STRUCTURE

1.	Frankalmoin, temp. Henry II	22
2.	Knight Service, 1308	23
3.	Grand Serjeanty, 1319	24
4.	Petty Serjeanty, 1329	25
5.	An action on the feudal incidents due from lands held by petty serjeanty, 1239-40	25
6.	Free socage, 1342	26
7.	Commutation of a serjeanty for knight service, 1254	27
8.	Commutation of service for rent, 1269	27
9.	Subinfeudation, 1278	28
10.	Licence for the widow of a tenant in chief to marry, 1316	29
11.	Marriage of a widow without licence, 1338	30
12.	Alienation of land by a tenant in chief without licence, 1273	30
13.	Wardship and marriage, 1179-80	30
14.	Grant of an heir's marriage, 1320	31
15.	Wardship, 1337	31
16.	Collection of a carucage, 1198	32
17.	An acquittance of the collectors of scutage of a sum of £10 levied by them and repaid, 1319	33
18.	Payment of fines in lieu of knight service, 1303	34
19.	The assessment of a tallage, 1314	35
20.	A writ Precipe, c. 1200	36
21.	Articles of enquiry touching rights and liberties and the state of the realm, 1274	36
22.	Wreck of sea, 1337	40

SECTION III
THE JEWS

1.	Charter of liberties to the Jews, 1201	44
2.	Ordinances of 1253	45
3.	Expulsion of a Jew, 1253	46
4.	Punishment for non-residence in a Jewry, 1270	47
5.	Grant of a Jew, 1271	47
6.	Ordinances of 1271	48
7.	Removal of Jewish communities from certain towns to others, 1275	50
8.	Disposition of debts due to Jews after their expulsion, 1290	50

SECTION IV
THE MANOR

1.	Extent of the manor of Havering, 1306-7	56
2.	Extracts from the Court Rolls of the manor of Bradford,1349-58	65
3.	Deed illustrating the distribution of strips, 1397	76
4.	Regulation of the common fields of Wimeswould, c. 1425	76
5.	Lease of a manor to the tenants, 1279	79
6.	Grant of a manor to the customary tenants at fee farm, ante 1272	81
7.	Lease of manorial holdings, 1332	82
8.	An agreement between lord and tenants, 1386	84
9.	Complaints against a reeve, 1278	84
10.	An eviction from copyhold land, temp. Henry IV.-Henry VI	85
11.	Statute of Merton, 1235-6	87
12.	An enclosure allowed, 1236-7	88
13.	An enclosure disallowed, 1236-7	89
14.	A villein on ancient demesne dismissed to his lord's court, 1224	89
15.	Claim to be on ancient demesne defeated, 1237-8	90
16.	The little writ of right, 1390	91
17.	Villeinage established, 1225	92
18.	Freedom and freehold established, 1236-7	93
19.	A villein pleads villeinage on one occasion and denies it on another, 1220	93
20.	An assize allowed to a villein, 1225	95
21.	A freeman holding in villeinage, 1228	96
22.	Land held by charter recovered from the lord, 1227	97
23.	The manumission of a villein, 1334	97
24.	Grant of a bondman, 1358	98
25.	Imprisonment of a gentleman claimed as a bondman, 1447	98
26.	Claim to a villein, temp. Henry IV-Henry VI	100
27.	The effect of the Black Death, 1350	102
28.	Accounts of the Iron Works of South Frith before and after the Black Death, 1345-50	103
29.	The Peasants' Revolt, 1381	105

SECTION V
TOWNS AND GILDS

1.	Payments made to the Crown by gilds in the twelfth century, 1179-80	114
2.	Charter of liberties to the borough of Tewkesbury, 1314	116
3.	Charter of liberties to the borough of Gloucester, 1227	119
4.	Dispute between towns touching the payment of toll, 1222	121
5.	Dispute with a lord touching a gild merchant, 1223-4	123
6.	The affiliation of boroughs, 1227	124
7.	Bondman received in a borough, 1237-8	125
8.	An inter-municipal agreement in respect of toll, 1239	126
9.	Enforcement of charter granting freedom from toll, 1416	126
10.	Licence for an alien to be of the Gild Merchant of London,1252	127
11.	Dispute between a gild merchant and an abbot, 1304	128
12.	Complaints of the men of Leicester against the lord, 1322	131
13.	Grant of pavage to the lord of a town, 1328	133
14.	Misappropriation of the tolls levied for pavage, 1336	135
15.	Ordinances of the White Tawyers of London, 1346	136
16.	Dispute between Masters and Journeymen, 1396	138
17.	Ordinances of the Dyers of Bristol, 1407	141
18.	Incorporation of the Haberdashers of London, 1448	144
19.	Indenture of Apprenticeship, 1459	147
20.	A runaway apprentice, c. 1425	148
21.	Incorporation of a gild for religious and charitable uses, 1447	148

SECTION VI
THE REGULATION OF TRADE, INDUSTRY, AND COMMERCE

1.	Assize of Measures, 1197	154
2.	Grant to the lord of a manor of the assize of bread and ale and other liberties, 1307	155
3.	An offence against the assize of bread, 1316	156
4.	Inquisition touching a proposed market and fair, 1252	157
5.	Grant of a fair at St. Ives to the abbot of Ramsey, 1202	158
6.	Grant of a market at St. Ives to the abbot of Ramsey, 1293	158
7.	Proceedings in the court at the fair of St. Ives, 1288	159
8.	The Statute of Winchester, 1285	160
9.	The recovery of debt on a recognisance, 1293	161
10.	Procedure at a fair pursuant to the Statute for Merchants, 1287	162
11.	The aulnage of cloth, 1291	163
12.	The Ordinance of Labourers, 1349	164
13.	Presentments made before the Justices of Labourers, 1351	167
14.	Excessive prices charged by craftsmen, 1354	169
15.	Fines levied for excessive wages, 1351	169
16.	Writ to enforce payment of excess of wages to the collectors of a subsidy, 1350	170
17.	Application of fines for excessive wages to a subsidy, 1351-2	171
18.	Labour Legislation: the Statute of 12 Richard II, 1388	171
19.	Labour Legislation: a Bill in Parliament, 23 Henry VI, 1444-5	176
20.	Organisation of the Staple, 1313	178
21.	Arguments for the establishment of home staple towns, 1319	180
22.	Ordinances of the Staple, 1326	181
23.	The election of the mayor and constables of a Staple town, 1358	184
24.	Royal letters patent over-ruled by the custom of the Staple, c. 1436	185
25.	Prohibition of export of materials for making cloth, 1326	186
26.	Commercial policy, temp. Edward IV	187
27.	The perils of foreign travel, 1315	188
28.	Grant of letters of marque and reprisals, 1447	190
29.	Grant of liberties to the merchants of Douai, 1260	192
30.	Aliens at a fair, 1270	193
31.	Confirmation of liberties to the merchants of Almain, 1280	194
32.	Alien weavers in London, 1362	195
33.	The hosting of aliens, 1442	197
34.	An offence against Stat. 18 Henry VI for the hosting of aliens, 1440	198
35.	Imprisonment of an alien craftsman, c. 1440	199
36.	Petition against usury, 1376	200
37.	Action upon usury, c. 1480	201

SECTION VII
TAXATION, CUSTOMS AND CURRENCY

1.	Form of the taxation of a fifteenth and tenth, 1336	204
2.	Disposition of a subsidy of tonnage and poundage, 1382	206
3.	The king's prise of wines, 1320	206
4.	The custom on wool, 1275	207
5.	The custom on wine, 1302	208
6.	The custom on general imports, 1303	211
7.	Administration of the search for money exported, 1303	216
8.	Provisions for the currency, 1335	217
9.	Opinions on the state of English money, 1381-2	220

PART II: 1485-1660
SECTION I
RURAL CONDITIONS

1.	Villeinage in the Reign of Elizabeth, 1561	231
2.	Customs of the Manor of High Furness, 1576	232
3.	Petition in Chancery for Restoration to a Copyhold, c.1550	234
4.	Petition in Chancery for Protection against Breach of Manorial Customs, 1568	241
5.	Lease of the manor of Ablode to a Farmer, 1516	245
6.	Lease of the Manor of South Newton to a Farmer, 1568	246
7.	The Agrarian Programme of the Pilgrimage of Grace, 1536	247
8.	The Demands of the Rebels led by Ket, 1549	247
9.	Petition to Court of Requests from Tenants Ruined by Transference of a Monastic Estate to lay hands, 1553	251
10.	Petition to Court of Requests to stay Proceedings against Tenants Pending the Hearing of their Case by the Council of the North, 1576	254
11.	Petition from Freeholders of Wootton Bassett for Restoration of Rights of Common, temp. Charles I	255
12.	Petition to Crown of Copyholders of North Wheatley, 1629	258
13.	An Act Avoiding Pulling Down of Towns, 1515	260
14.	The Commission of Enquiry Touching Enclosures, 1517	262
15.	An Act Concerning Farms and Sheep, 1533	264
16.	Intervention of Privy Council under Somerset to Protect Tenants, 1549	266
17.	An Act for the Maintenance of Husbandry and Tillage, 1597	268
18.	Speech in House of Commons on Enclosures, 1597	270
19.	Speeches in House of Commons on Enclosures, 1601	274
20.	Return to Privy Council of Enclosers furnished by Justices of Lincolnshire, 1637	275
21.	Complaint of Laud's Action on the Commission for Depopulation, 1641	276

SECTION II
TOWNS AND GILDS

1.	A Protest at Coventry against a Gild's Exclusiveness, 1495	282
2.	A Complaint from Coventry as to Inter-Municipal Tariffs, 1498	282
3.	The Municipal Regulation of Wages at Norwich, 1518	282
4.	The Municipal Regulation of Markets at Coventry, 1520	283
5.	The Municipal Regulation of Wages at Coventry, 1524	284
6.	An Act for Avoiding of Exactions taken upon Apprentices in Cities, Boroughs, and Towns Corporate, 1536	284
7.	An Act whereby certain Chantries, Colleges, Free Chapels and the Possessions of the same be given to the King's Majesty, 1547	286
8.	Regrant to Coventry and Lynn of Gild Lands Confiscated under 1 Edward VI, c. xiv (the preceding Act), 1548	291
9.	A Petition of the Bakers of Rye to the Mayor, Jurats, and Council to prevent the Brewers taking their trade, 1575	294
10.	Letter to Lord Cobham from the Mayor and Jurats of Rye concerning the Preceding Petition, 1575	295
11.	The Municipal Regulation of the Entry into Trade at Nottingham, 1578-9	295
12.	The Municipal Regulation of Markets at Southampton, 1587	296
13.	The Municipal Regulation of Wages at Chester, 1591	296
14.	The Company of Journeymen Weavers of Gloucester, 1602	297
15.	Petition of Weavers who are not Burgesses, 1604-5	299
16.	Extracts from the London Clothworkers' Court Book, 1537-1627	300
17.	The Feltmakers Joint-Stock Project, 1611	302
18.	The Case of the Tailors of Ipswich, 1615	305
19.	The Grievances of the Journeymen Weavers of London, c. 1649	307

SECTION III
THE REGULATION OF INDUSTRY BY THE STATE

1.	Proposals for the Regulation of the Cloth Manufacture (temp. Henry VIII)	317
2.	Administrative Difficulties in the Regulation of the Manufacture of Cloth, 1537	319
3.	An Act Touching Weavers, 1555	320
4.	Enactment of Common Council of London as to Age of Ending Apprenticeship, 1556	323
5.	William Cecil's Industrial Programme, 1559	323
6.	The Statute of Artificers, 1563	325
7.	Proposals for the Better Administration of the Statute of Artificers, 1572	333
8.	Draft of a Bill Fixing Minimum Rates for Spinners and Weavers, 1593	336
9.	Draft Piece-list Submitted for Ratification to the Wiltshire Justices by Clothiers and Weavers, 1602	341
10.	An Act empowering Justices to fix Minimum Rates of Payment, 1603-04	342
11.	Administration of Acts Regulating the Manufacture of Cloth, 1603	344
12.	Assessment made by the Justices of Wiltshire, dealing mainly with other than Textile Workers, 1604	345
13.	Assessment made by the Justices of Wiltshire, dealing mainly with Textile Workers, 1605	351
14.	Administration of Wage Clauses of Statute of Artificers, 1605-08	352
15.	Administration of Apprenticeship Clauses of the Statute of Artificers, 1607-08	353
16.	The Organisation of the Woollen Industry, 1615	354
17.	Proceedings on the Apprenticeship Clauses of the Statute of Artificers, 1615	356
18.	A Petition to Fix Wages Addressed to the Justices by the Textile Workers of Wiltshire, 1623	356
19.	Appointment by Privy Council of Commissioners to Investigate Grievances of Textile Workers in East Anglia, 1630	357
20.	Report to Privy Council of Commissioners appointed above, 1630	358
21.	High Wages in the New World, 1645	360
22.	Young Men and Maids ordered to enter Service, 1655	360
23.	Request to Justices of Grand Jury of Worcestershire to assess Wages, 1661	361
24.	Proceedings on the Apprenticeship Clauses of the Statute of Artificers, 1669	361

SECTION IV
THE RELIEF OF THE POOR AND THE REGULATION OF PRICES

1.	Regulations made at Chester as to Beggars, 1539	366
2.	A Proclamation concerning Corn and Grain to be brought into open Markets to be sold, 1545	367
3.	Administration of Poor Relief at Norwich, 1571	369
4.	The first Act Directing the Levy of a Compulsory Poor Rate, 1572	372
5.	The first Act requiring the Unemployed to be set to Work, 1575-6	373
6.	Report of Justices to Council Concerning Scarcity in Norfolk, 1586	373
7.	Orders devised by the Special Commandment of the Queen's Majesty for the Relief and Ease of the Present Dearth of Grain within the Realm, 1586	374
8.	The Poor Law Act, 1601	380
9.	A note of the Grievances of the Parish of Eldersfield, 1618	381
10.	Petition to Justices of Wiltshire for Permission to Settle in a Parish, 1618	382
11.	Letter from Privy Council to Justices of Cloth-making Counties, 1621-2	382
12.	Letter from Privy Council to the Deputy Lieutenants and Justices of the Peace in the Counties of Suffolk and Essex concerning the Employment of the Poor, 1629	383
13.	The Licensing of Badgers in Somersetshire, 1630	385
14.	Badgers Licensed at Somersetshire Quarter Sessions, 1630	385
15.	The Supplying of Bristol with Grain, 1630-1	385
16.	Proceedings against Engrossers and other Offenders, 1631	386
17.	Order of Somersetshire Justices Granting a Settlement to a Labourer, 1630-1	386
18.	Report of Derbyshire Justices on their Proceedings, 1631	387
19.	Letter from Privy Council to Justices of Rutlandshire, 1631	390
20.	Judgment in the Star Chamber against an Engrosser of Corn, 1631	391

SECTION V
THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE

1.	Letters Patent granted to the Cabots by Henry VII, 1496	400
2.	The Merchant Adventurers' Case for Allowing the Export of Undressed Cloth, 1514-36	402
3.	The Rise in Prices, the Encouragement of Corn growing, and the Protection of Manufactures, c. 1549	404
4.	Sir Thomas Gresham on the Fall of the Exchanges, 1558	416
5.	The reasons why Bullion is Exported (temp. Eliz.)	419
6.	The Italian Merchants Explain the Foreign Exchanges, 1576	420
7.	An Act Avoiding divers Foreign Wares made by Handicraftsmen Beyond the Seas, 1562	424
8.	An Act Touching Cloth Workers and Cloth Ready Wrought to be Shipped over the Sea, 1566	426
9.	Incorporation of a Joint Stock Mining Company, 1568	427
10.	An Act for the Increase of Tillage, 1571	428
11.	Instructions for an English Factor in Turkey, 1582	431
12.	The Advantages of Colonies, 1583	434
13.	Lord Burghley to Sir Christopher Hatton on the State of Trade, 1587	438
14.	A List of Patents and Monopolies, 1603	440
15.	Instructions Touching the Bill for Free Trade, 1604	443
16.	The Establishment of a Company to export Dyed and Dressed Cloth in place of the Merchant Adventurers, 1616-17	454
17.	Sir Julius CÆsar's proposals for Reviving the Trade in Cloths, 1616	460
18.	The Grant of a Monopoly for the Manufacture of Soap, 1623	461
19.	The Statute of Monopolies, 1623-4	465
20.	An Act for the Free Trade of Welsh Cloths, 1623-4	468
21.	The Economic Policy of Strafford in Ireland, 1636	470
22.	Revocation of Commissions, Patents and Monopolies Granted by the Crown, 1639	472
23.	Ordinance establishing an Excise, 1643	475

PART III: 1660-1846
SECTION I
INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATION AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

1.	Defoe's account of the West Riding Cloth Industry, 1724	482
2.	Defoe's account of the Woollen Trade (temp. George II)	483
3.	Defoe's account of the Corn Trade (temp. George II)	487
4.	Defoe's account of the Coal Trade (temp. George II)	491
5.	A description of Middlemen in the Woollen Industry, 1739	492
6.	Report on the Condition of Children in Lancashire Cotton Factories, 1796	495
7.	Newcastle Coal Vend, 1771-1830	497
8.	The Old Apprenticeship System in the Woollen Industry, 1806	499
9.	A Petition of Cotton Weavers, 1807	500
10.	Depression of Wages and its Causes in the Cotton Industry, 1812	501
11.	Evidence of the Condition of Children in Factories, 1816	502
12.	Change in the Cotton Industry and the Introduction of Power Loom Weaving, 1785-1807	505
13.	Evidence by Factory Workers of the Condition of Children, 1832	510
14.	Women's and Children's Labour in Mines, 1842	516
15.	Description of the Condition of Manchester by John Robertson, Surgeon, 1840	519

SECTION II
AGRICULTURE AND ENCLOSURE

1.	Enclosure Proceedings in the Court of Chancery, 1671	525
2.	Advice to the Stewards of Estates, 1731	526
3.	Procedure for Enclosure by Private Act, 1766	528
4.	Farming in Norfolk, 1771	530
5.	A Petition against Enclosure, 1797	531
6.	Extracts on Enclosure from the Surveys of the Board of Agriculture, 1798-1809	532
7.	Arthur Young's Criticism of Enclosure, 1801	536
8.	Enclosure Consolidating Act, 1801	537
9.	General Enclosure Act, 1845	541

SECTION III
GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF WAGES, CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT, AND PUBLIC HEALTH

1.	An Act against Truck, 1701	545
2.	A Wages Assessment at a Warwickshire Quarter Sessions, 1738	546
3.	Spitalfields Weavers Act, 1773	547
4.	A Middlesex Wages Assessment under the Spitalfields Act, 1773	551
5.	Agricultural Labourers' Proposals for a Sliding Scale of Wages, 1795	552
6.	Debates on Whitbread's Minimum Wage Bill, 1795-6	554
7.	Arbitration Act for the Cotton Industry, 1800	568
8.	Amendment of the Arbitration Act, 1804	570
9.	The First Factory Act, 1802	571
9A.	Minutes of Committee on Children in Factories	573
10.	Calico Printers' Petition for Regulation, 1804	573
11.	Report on Calico Printers' Petition, 1806	574
12.	Cotton Weavers' Petition against the Repeal of 5 Elizabeth, c. 4, 1813	576
13.	Debates on the Regulation of Apprentices, 1813-14	577
14.	Resolutions of the Watchmakers on Apprenticeship, 1817	588
15.	Report of the Committee on the Ribbon Weavers, 1818	590
16.	The Cotton Factory Act of 1819	591
17.	Oastler's First Letter on Yorkshire Slavery, 1830	592
18.	Factory Act, 1833	594
19.	Proposals for a Wages Board for Hand-Loom Weavers, 1834	596
20.	Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1842	598
21.	Debate on Factory Legislation, 1844	599
22.	Factory Act, 1844	612
23.	Recommendations of the Commission on the Health of Towns, 1845	614

SECTION IV
COMBINATIONS OF WORKMEN

1.	A Strike of the Journeymen Feltmakers, 1696-99	619
2.	A Petition of Master Tailors against Combination among the Journeymen, 1721	622
3.	A Dispute in the Northumberland and Durham Coal Industry, 1765	625
4.	Sickness and Unemployment Benefit Clubs among the Woolcombers, 1794	626
5.	Combination Act, 1799	626
6.	Combination Act, 1800	627
7.	The Scottish Weavers' Strike, 1812	631
8.	The Repeal of the Combination Acts, 1824	633
9.	A Prosecution of Strikers under the Common Law of Conspiracy, 1810	635
10.	An Act Revising the Law affecting Combinations, 1825	636
11.	The Conviction of the Dorchester Labourers, 1834	638
12.	An Address of the Working Men's Association to Queen Victoria, 1837	641
13.	A Chartist Manifesto on the Sacred Month, 1839	642
14.	The Rochdale Pioneers, 1844	643

SECTION V
THE RELIEF OF THE POOR

1.	Settlement Law, 1662	647
2.	Defoe's Pamphlet "Giving Alms no Charity", 1704	649
3.	The Workhouse Test Act, 1722	650
4.	Gilbert's Act, 1782	652
5.	Speenhamland "Act of Parliament", 1795	655
6.	The Workhouse System, 1797	657
7.	Two Varieties of the Roundsman System of Relief, 1797	660
8.	Another Example of the Roundsman System, 1808	660
9.	A Report of the Poor Law Commission, 1834	661
10.	The Poor Law Amendment Act, 1834	663
11.	Outdoor Relief Prohibitory Order, 1844	664

SECTION VI
FINANCE AND FOREIGN TRADE

1.	Act abolishing Tenure by Knight Service, etc., 1660	670
2.	Navigation Act, 1660	670
3.	Proposals for Free Exportation of Gold and Silver, 1660	671
4.	An Attack on the Navigation Act, c. 1663	672
5.	Free Coinage at the Mint Proclaimed, 1666	674
6.	The East India Company and the Interlopers, 1684	675
7.	Foundation of the Bank of England, 1694	676
8.	The Need for the Recoinage of 1696	677
9.	Speech by Sir Robert Walpole on the Salt Duties, 1732	678
10.	Pitt's Sinking Fund Act, 1786	679
11.	The Suspension of Cash Payments, 1797	681
12.	Pitt's Speech on the Income Tax, 1798	683
13.	Foreign Trade in the early Nineteenth Century, 1812	689
14.	Debate on the Corn Laws, 1815	692
15.	The Corn Law of 1815	697
16.	Free Trade Petition, 1820	698
17.	The Foundation of the Anti-Corn-Law League, 1839	701
18.	The Bank Charter Act, 1844	702
19.	Debate on the Corn Laws, 1846	705

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