King Edward III of England drew up Ordinance of Laborers, 1349 (click title to entry - thank you).
Poor Edward, literally, through stresses of famine among his people was short of laborers. His tax revenue was fading because the Lords of his Kingdom had to pay handsomely for laborers.
To reduce the labor cost to his Lords and increase the King's treasury, he drew up the Ordinance of Laborers of 1349.
Heck of a way to become valuable as a laborer. Survive a famine and ask a handsome price for your services.
Buoy!
