# Statute of Labourers (1351)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1351-statute-of-labourers
Categories: main-event

Parliament attempted to cap wages and restrict workers' movement after the Black Death. Within the broader Medieval Kingdoms period, the English, Scottish and Welsh polities were reshaped by conquest, parliamentary development, dynastic conflict, plague and long wars with France. This event is placed at 1351 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The law revealed elite attempts to preserve the pre-plague social order in a radically changed labour market.

## Why it matters
The law revealed elite attempts to preserve the pre-plague social order in a radically changed labour market.

Ruler at the time: [Edward III](https://english-history.com/rulers/edward-iii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Statute of Labourers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Statute+of+Labourers&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Statute of Labourers](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Statute+of+Labourers)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%281000%E2%80%931499%29)
- [UK Parliament — Living Heritage](https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/)