Abstract：This paper investigates the scale of the vagrant population during the Tudor Enclosure Movement from two perspectives. First, it analyzes the condition of vagrants by examining the scale of enclosure and the prevalence of illegal and violent enclosures. Second, it assesses the scale of vagrancy from a long-term perspective of population migration history. Regarding the scale of enclosure, the research is divided into a national analysis and a study of key regions. In the analysis of key enclosure areas, the author builds upon and expands the data of L. A. Parker to render it more comprehensive. The author concludes that approximately 25% of the agricultural and pastoral land in Leicestershire was enclosed, a finding that is largely consistent with Parker's data. From the standpoint of long-term demographic history, national migration data spanning two centuries indicates that the population migration rate during the Tudor period did not increase significantly, remaining at a mere 0.15%. This offers more macroscopic and reliable evidence concerning the scale of the vagrant population.

Key words: Tudor Period; Scale of Vagrancy; Key Enclosure Regions; Demographic History

supported by the major historical issues research project of the Chinese Academy of History under the National Social Science Fund of China (Project No. LSYZD21020)

Published on World History Studies, 2025 ,12 (02).