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Poor.
All these last (and such others) having ability and
strength of Body,
but not sufficient means to maintain themselves, are to be holden, or set
to
work by the Overseers; and being not able to live by their work, are in
charity further to be relieved in some reasonable proportion, according
to
their several wants and necessities.
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Chap. 73. |
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3. Thriftless Poor.
1. The Riotous and Prodigal person, that consumeth
all with Play, or
Drinking, &c.
2. The Dissolute person, as the Strumper, Pilferer,
&c.
3. The Slothful person, that refuseth to work.
4. All such as wilfully spoil or imbezle their
work, &c.
5. The Vagabond, that will abide in no service
or place. |
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For all these last, the House of Correction is fittest;
and there such
persons being able in body are to be compelled to labor, that by labour
and punishment of their bodies, their froward natures may be bridled,
their evil minds bettered, and others by their examples terrified.
Also the
Rule od the Apostle is, That such as would not work, should not eat,
2 Thes.
3.10. |
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And all such persons sent to the House of Correction,
must there live
by their own labor and work, without charging the Town or Country for
any allowance. See to that purpose the Statute of 7 Jac. cap.
4. |
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But for the Overseers to suffer such persons (or
any other persons,
which can live of their labors or otherwise) to be chargeable to the Town,
or to relieve such, were a means to nourish them in their lewdness or idleness
which take it, and to rob others of relief that want it, to wrong those
of their Money that pay it, and to condemn them of oversight which dispose
it. |
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And yet if any of these last happen to prove impotent,
' then according
' to the Statute 11 H. 7. cap. 2. it seemeth, they are
to be relieved with Bread
' and Water without other sustenance: And so a Reverend Judge delivered
' it in his Charge at Cambridge Assizes. But yet Charity wills
us in cases
' of manifest extremity, it seemeth that they are to be relieved by the
Town. But I leave that to better consideration. |
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§. 36.
Apprentices. |
Where any sums of Money (at any time within three
years before the
making of the Statute 7 Jac. cap. 3.) hath been given, or hereafter
shall be
continually imployed for the binding out of Apprentices unto Trades and
Occupations, the Parson, or Vicar, Constables, Churchwardens, and Overseers
for the Poor, in Towns not Incorporate, or the most part of them,
are by the Statute appointed to have the disposing of such stocks and
sums of Money: Which persons shall once every year, within one
month after Easter day, make a true and perfect account before two
or
more Justices of the Peace (dwelling in or next to every the said Towns
or Parishes) of all such sums as they have so imployed, and of all Bonds
taken for the payment thereof, and of all sums remaining in their hands,
and not imployed. |
7 Jac. 3. |
§. 37.
Licensed to
travel. |
Two Justices of Peace may license the poor Diseased
persons to travel to
the Baths for remedy of their griefs, so as they be provided of necessary
relief (scil. With Money in their Purses, &c.) for their travel,
and beg
not. See hereof postea tit Rogues, cap. 47. |
9 Eliz. 4.
1 Jac. 25. |
| Testimonial. |
The Justices of Peace dwelling near where any person
suffering shipwreck
shall land, or where any poor Souldier, or Mariner shall land, may
and ought to make a Testimonial under his hand to such persons, of their
landing, &c. and thereby to license them to pass the next direct way
to |
35 Eliz. 4.
39 El. 17. |
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