They typically worked under the auspices of the aristocracy or the Catholic Church , who owned much of the land .
In the traditional open field system , many subsistence farmers cropped strips of land in large fields held in common and divided the produce .
subsistence farmers typically worked under the auspices of the aristocracy or the Catholic Church , who owned much of the land .
In the traditional open field system , many subsistence farmers cropped strips of land in large fields held in common and divided the produce .