ALthough I have no particular knowledge of the several Parishes in this County, yet as 'tis true, that the Charge to the Poor in many Parishes doth exceed W. in a proportionable rate; and that every Parish is, or may be equally burthened with W. So 'tis as true, that the general increase of such Charge (which is near double what it was Thirty Years since, and like to double again in a shorter time) is not occasioned by any Dearth or Scarcity of Necessaries, there being never a greater Plenty. Nor for want of Employments, there being never more; nor through the smalness of Wages, that being never so great: But by Idleness, profuse Ex­pences, the ill bringing up of Children, and the younger sort. Now, how all those inconveniences may with ease, and without the help of any new Law, or breach of an old, be so far remedied, as to be of 9000 l. per Annum clear Advantage to this County, I shall briefly de­monstrate.

First, That 40 l. per Annum in the Parish of W. is some­what more than 1000 l. in the Subdivision and 1000 l. per Annum in the Subdivision is somewhat more [Page 2]than 9000 l. per Annum in the County. (The dispropor­tion between the South and the other two grand Divisions being considered) consequently that which may be done elsewhere as well as in Winckley, as what is hereby pro­posed may, and is 40 l. per Annum clear Advantage to the Parish of W. may, and will be 9000 l. per Annum and upwards Advantage to this County. This being granted, nothing more remains than to shew how an Overseer of the Poor of W. hath, and still may benefit that Parish not only 40 l. per Annum, but a far greater Sum beyond what hath been done by any other.

Each private Person being considered as a Member of the Publick, nothing is more plain than this; That he that spends an hour idly, or in Begging, Cheating, or Stealing, either in that time gets nothing at all, or no­thing to the Publick, some one o [...] other receiving damage equal to his gains: Whereas he that spends that short time in any Lawful Labour, and thereby earns a penny, earns that small sum without any damage to any Person, (Sic parvis componere magna.) And therefore lay this as a Foundation, That whatsoever is Lawfully earned by the procurement of an Overseer of the Poor by such Per­sons, and in such time, who would otherwise spend the same time in idleness, unprofitable or ill Employments, is clear gain, no one receiving any damage thereby.

This being granted, the bringing common Beggers to Work, as also common Bayliffs and Apparators, who perchance serve a Process or two in a Month, and live [Page 3]idly die rest of their time. The keepers of small Tip­pling-houses, and such-like loose Persons, they being with their whole Retinue brought constantly to Labour in an honest Employent, the product of their Labour is clear gain.

It has been almost a Proverbial saying, That 'tis a great trouble to bring Beggers to Stocks, but to bring Beg­gers, &c. to Work, to leave a habit of Idleness, and the Advantages of Stealing being the perquisites of their Trade; to bring them, and such as are before mentioned, constantly to Labour, some will say, here's a Task in­deed, hic labor hoc opus est. But when the slenderness of their Power to resist such or the like easie Method for reforming them as is herein set down (which may re­ceive the better encouragement tending to their own and the Publick good) and the plainness of those Laws which require it, and the easiness of putting them in execution are seriously considered; 'twill soon appear that their not demeaning themselves as useful Members of the Com­mon-wealth, rather ariseth from the neglect of those that should regulate them, than from any Power in them­selves to avoid being regulated by such or the like Method as is herein mentioned, according to the Act of Parlia­ment in that case made and provided, whereby the Church-wardens and Overseers of the Poor are positively required by raising a convenient Stock or otherwise, to Employ and set on Work all such Poor of their Parishes, married or unmarried, as have no Estates to maintain [Page 4]them, and use no ordinary and daily Trade of Life to get their Living by. So that such as have no Estates suf­ficient to maintain them, and such as have no Trade in which they are ordinarily and daily Employed, are by the plain words of the Law to be employed and set on work by the Church-wardens and Overseers of the Poor, who are to meet once in every Month at the least, to consider of fit ways for setting and keeping such Poor on Work, upon pain of forfeiting 20 s. a piece for each month they neglect so to do. And such Poor as shall refuse to Work according to such appointment, are by the same Law to be sent to the House of Correction.

But the Law that says they shall set their Poor on work, cannot be understood otherwise, than that such Officers shall set them on work, in such Employments, in such manner, and by sud [...] ways and means as may best suit with the Capacities of Persons employing, and to be em­ployed; and the occasions and circumstances of time and place, conceive, that the setting down a method is no ad­ding unto, or a digressing from the Law, but rather a sub­missive compliance therewith. But before I mention such Method as I presume to propose, shall in pursuance of what I before said, viz. that 40 l. per Annum, or rather a far greater sum hath, and still may by such method be gotten in W. and proportionably be of Advantage to this County beyond 9000 l. per Annum, if the same or like means were used. For Instance,

G.B. a common Begger in adjacent and remote Parishes, complaining of extraordinary swellings in one of his Legs (which with Plaisters, Binders, &c. seemed near as great as his waste) pretending to have a sick Wife and young Children (all false) made Begging his ordinary and daily Trade; and having for near Twenty Years so complained, was generally believed therein: But the me­thod herein to be proposed for bringing idle and counterfeit Beggers, and other idle Persons to work, brought him in a few days time to throw off his burthen of Clouts from his feigned griefs, and to follow his work day by day; so that by his Threshall, Mattock, and the like, he now gains his Meat and Drink, and 5 d. per Day; and in like­lihood hath forgotten which was the lame Leg. 5 d. per Day is 2 s. 6 d. per Week, in one Year, abating two Weeks for Holy-days, comes to — 6 l. — 5 s. — 0 d.

His Diet being part of his Wages, cannot be less than 5 d. a Day more, and in the like time comes to — 6 l. 5 s. — 0 d.

His Wife a lusty Woman, and formerly a common Vagabond, can well by her labour earn her Diet, which may be valued at 18 d. a week, and 6 d. a week Wages, and will scorn to work at that rate; yet so, comes to per Annum — 5 l. — 0 s. — 0 d.

L. B. another common Begger, would sometimes be on his Range without once returning home in a quarter of a Year, and at last return as lousie, pennyless, and ragged as he went out; now constantly keeps his Church, having formerly no Cloaths to come there, earns his Meat and [Page 6]Drink, which cannot be valued less than 2 s. 6 d. in a Week, consequently in a Year, abating as before, comes to — 6 l. — 5 s. — 0 d.

He likewise receives 2 s. per week Wages in the Sum­mer, and 1 s. 6 d. per week Wages in the Winter, and hath his constant work at one place, which Yearly comes to — 4 l. — 7 s. — 6 d.

His Wife, a lusty Woman, and formerly a common Vagabond, can well earn her Diet, and 6 d. per week, and I conceive would scarce accept of 12 d. per week and Diet, if offered; yet at 6 d. per week and Diet comes yearly to as before — 5 l. — 0 s. — 0 d.

W. P. a strong Person, but of weak Capacity, ha­ving a lusty Woman, and a common Vagrant to his Wife, who could by her begging Trade gain his and her own Diet, and the Parish provided him Cloaths; yet in a short time after, he had Necessaries in order, could well earn his Diet, and 2 s. per week Wages; his Diet per Annum valued at — 6 l. — 5 s. — 0 d.

And his Wages at 2 s. per week, comes to per An­num — 5 l. — 0 s. — 0 d.

His Wife can well earn as each of the other two per Annum, as before — 5 l. — 0 s. — 0 d.

I have hinted at only but a small part of this one sort of Idlers that the Parish of W. could lately afford, there being many others, some that can get Wages beyond their Diet; others that can earn their Diet, which singly in a years time is considerable; some continue reformed, [Page 7]and all would with a little care; and I cannot believe but that any that can walk some miles to beg, can earn their Bread at home, but forbear particularizing them, the la­bour of those already mentioned, and who formerly spent their time idly, or unprofitably as to the Publick; amounting yearly to more than I before pretended to de­monstrate: And know not where there are two Parishes together, in one of which may not be found of idle and loose Persons a number answerable to 6 in W. or rather more.

And now having by an usual and demonstrative way set down the experienced effects of our Method, shall next mention the cause or manner thereof.

First, How to find and provide Employments for all sorts.

Secondly, How to compel both Men and Women constantly to follow their Employments, who receive Relief of the Parish, and can wander abroad; for such can labour at home.

Thirdly, How to compel the Poor of each Sex, who receive no such Relief, constantly to follow their Labour.

First, For providing Work for men in Husbandry, this was our Method; we gave them Lists (taken out of a Book, wherein all our Lists of this sort were entred, sub­scribed by the Officers, and allowed by two Justices of the Peace) in this manner.

You A. B. when not otherwise constantly Employed, are to work for C. D. four days, E. F. three days, &c. the Payers to the Poor successively as herein named, to re­ceive [Page 8]for your work your Diet, and 3 d. per Day in the Summer, and 2 d. per Day in the Winter, and to give each Person three days notice before you apply to them for their work, and to give us an account of your due ob­servance hereof at — on S. seven night next, between the hours of — and to give the like account at the same place on every S. seven night for three months then next follow­ing, between the hours of —

Note, That such as receive Relief from the Parish, were to give such account as above, before they received their Pay.

And for Employ to Women, this was our Method: We agreed with one Person, who usually Employed se­veral Spinsters; the substance of which Agreement was, That Was to Employ in Spinning, Carding, &c. all such Women as by direction of the Overseers should apply to him for Work, to pay them such Wages as they should deserve; and accordingly Order them where to go for Work: And in case any of them should detain or im­bezzle any Wool to them delivered, the Owner to prove the delivery thereof before two Justices of the Peace; and thereupon the Overseers to pay him the value thereof; and they in recompence thereof, to receive such satisfaction from the imbezler as the Justices should order. By this means both sorts had sufficient Employents provided for them: And such as afterwards should refuse to Work, came directly within the reach of that Law, that such shall be sent to the Bridewell.

Note, The like may be done for Employing of Combers and Weavers, where such are.

Secondly, How to compell such as receive Relief of the Parish, to follow their Labour, &c.

They having fit Employments provided for them in man­ner before mentioned as they ought, so they can easily make out that they have constantly and diligently been Employed therein, or in some other Lawful Employments (if they have been so Employed) either by procuring their Employers, or some of their Families to come at the Pay-Board, or elsewhere, to certifie how they have been Em­ployed, and what they have done since last Pay-Day: Or else they may bring a Certificate thereof in Writing from those who Employ them; and until they give a good ac­count of their diligence, and in such manner attest the same, to receive no Relief.

Thirdly, How to compel such Poor as receive no Relief from the Parish, to follow their Labour.

Both Men and Women had Employments provided for them in manner before mentioned: But their Necessi­ties not bringing them to the Pay-board, used these seve­ral ways.

First, Knowing that those who received Relief, would account it no small Punishment to be at once deprived of their pleasant old Trade of walking and begging, and be compelled daily to Labour. And likewise in manner afore­said to prove the same, would be apt to envy their old Companions and other Idlers. And therefore to make [Page 10]them the forwarder in complaining, promised them a Re­ward of 1 s. for each Person they should discover and complain of for Begging; and the like Reward for dis­covering and complaining of any of the lustier or stronger sort of Poor that should spend any working day idly, or in loose disorderly Employments (tho they did not beg) and the like Reward to any other complainer: By this means they had store of Overseers or Spies, and were afraid one of another.

And tho this (like setting one Thief to catch another) may be a good way, yet lest the Knaves should agree, it is a sure way for the Overseers, or one of them, or rather some Person to be continually employed for that purpose once in a week or fortnight, till there be a full Reforma­tion, to call all such to an account, whom they shall any way suspect to have neglected their work, whether they have wrought according to the Order they lately received; if not, that they make out by good circumstances how else they have been Employed, and what they have done since last examined: And in case they cannot, or will not give a good account (to wit) that they have done so much work in that time, as Persons of their strength and capacity might conveniently do; then their not giving such account is a just inducement to suspect they have been idle or ill Employed: And therefore 'twill be both proper and easie to have than before two Justices of the Peace: And in case they do then prove they have constantly followed their Lawful Employments, yet for their [Page 11]refusing to give an account at home, their Journey will be a just Punishment. But if they cannot then prove that they have constantly followed their Lawful Employments, it will be a just cause for the Justices to send them to the Bridewell, as the foresaid43. Eliz. cap. 2. Sta­tute in this case directs.

And now having, as I conceive, briefly mentioned a plain Method, I shall withal observe those Objections that have been by some, and may again be made by others.

First, That those who are by Lists to work round a Pa­rish, live at so great distance from some places, that they cannot return home at Night, and are, for the most part, unfit to be Lodged.

This Exception may be thus salved: They may have a Bed, viz. a Sheer or Blanket provided for them by the Over­seers, the charge thereof deducted out of their own Wages, which they may carry with them as often as they change Houses (as soon as they have been at such places in order according to their Lists, whence they may return home at Night) which will not only be a Lodging fit for such Per­sons, who may well be supposed not to be of the better sort of Workmen, but equal with the Scotchmen, the most genteel sort of Runabouts.

Yet this is an Objection that will seldom or never need this or any other like remedy; for such loose Persons once finding that they must constantly follow some Lawful Employment either out of, or in Bridewell, will get them­selves into constant Work, or take Tasks, yea, and work at half Price, rather than so wander from place to place, and [Page 12]as 'twere, beg Work, which the worst Workmen scorn to do, especially of such who desire their room rather than their company.

The next Objection is the Obstinacy of those that should Employ them according to their Lists; some pretending they have no Employments other than for those whom by compact they are to employ, and so will not employ such as shall be sent unto them by the Overseers.

This Objection seldom or never needs an answer; for the resolution that may be expected from those that are so ap­pointed to work, not to work according to such appoint­ment as hath been observed, will prevent the grounds of such clamour: Yet if any shall apply to such, who either cannot, or will not Employ them; for instance, should one that hath 20 l. per Annum, he appointed to Employ one of the Poor two days, and for his work to give him Diet, and 2 d. or 3 d. per day. If such Master will pay the Wages, which for two days may be 4 d. or 6 d. that should excuse him for his turn, and the Workman to the next on his Lists, and the money so to be paid, not to be paid to the Workmen, for if it should, they will get half a dozen Ma­sters in a day to put them off, but paid to the Overseers, and accounted for by them, as for and with the races to the Poor. And if any refuse to pay such small sum, which will not cost the owner of 20 l. per Annum 1 s. in a Year, con­sidering that few or none will go round according to such Lists, I conceive so much may be added to their rates to the Poor beyond their usual proportion; or charged on them by a rate made for the purpose, to be entituled, Arate made [Page 13]by the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor, for setting on Work, and better Relief of the Poor, &c. And all to be char­ged as by other rates, and those to be excused from Pay­ment that Employ them according to the Lists.

A Third Exception is, The trouble or difficulty in the over­sight or managery hereof.

But in one Year this Method will prevent abundance of trouble; for loose, idle Persons being always at leisure, do often clamour for Relief when they need none: And if their demands be not satisfied, they complain to the Justices, who never do, nor can do less than order the Of­ficers to come before them, to answer, and shew cause, if any, for not providing for them according to their need, or else to relieve them according to their necessity without appearing. And such Officers as live far from the place where the Justices meet, will often give the Complainers far more than they need, meerly to lave themselves such a Journey, especially when they have the wit to complain in a busie time. Whereas few or none will be willing to accept of Relief from the Parish upon such terms, as once in a week or fortnight publickly to give an account of their demeanor unto him to whom they will soon give die Title of Bridewell-keeper. And many will maintain a de­crepid Husband, Wife, or Child, rather than come under such weekly Examination, whose maintenance otherwise would not only lie on the Parish, but make all the rest of such a Family idle.

For men in Husbandry, it will be a very small trouble to procure them Employments; 'tis only writing and [Page 14]delivering them Lists, where and at what rates to work: And the Wages should be the less, for that the Masters may be the willinger to Employ them, and that they may the rather get work themselves.

And for Employing Women in Spinning, Carding, &c. that trouble will be less to the Overseers than writing and delivering Notes, for Men in Husbandry; for one Per­son that usually Employs Spinsters, may Employ them all without 1 d. damage, there being enough of such in or near most Parishes in Devon, and scarce a Parish wherein some Weaver, Comber, or other doth not Employ a good part of the Spinsters therein. And it can be no damage to the Employer of them; for 'tis certain he will pay them no more Wages than they deserve: And he is sure in case they spoil his Goods, to be satisfied for the same by the Officers, he proving the delivery thereof. And the Officers need not fear of being at any great charge in making such satisfacti­on, for the Poor that receive the Wool, will make satis­faction themselves, rather than be publickly Whipt, as the7. Jac. 7. Law directs.

And as to the calling them to an account, that trouble scarce requires an hours time in a fortnight; for if they work according to the appointment of the Officers, those that Employ them will soon give an account thereof. If elsewhere, they must satisfie the Officers thereof, or such as they shall appoint to examine them at some time and place, once in a week or fortnight to be limited unto them: And in case of neglect, or refusal, to be punished as is before mentioned in the clause for setting such Poor [Page 15]on Work as receive no Relief. And there is scarce a great Pa­rish wherein there is not a Person or two, who for 40 or 50 s. per Annum will undertake the setting up, and continu­al managery thereof, which will be more than so many pounds gains to the Parish: And in small Parishes it will be little or no trouble, and in a short time little or none in a great one.

Another Scruple hath been made by Overseers of the Poor, and some others, that whilest the Statute by which they are constituted, only requires them to set their Poor on Work, whether such as never received Relief for themselves or Families from the Parish, or are not otherwise apparent­ly Poor, may be compelled constantly to follow some Law­ful Trade or Employment. And because the satisfying of such Officers of their Power and Duty herein, is of vast con­sequence, the labour of such People, when they come to be placed in Alms-houses being small, comparatively to what it might have been when they followed the Ale-houses, &c. I shall transcribe the resolution of the Oracle of the English Laws on another Statute, whose words are these.

By the Stat. of the 7. of K. James, tho they have Law­ful means to live by; yet if they be idle or disorderly Per­sons, the Justices of the Peace have power to commit them to the House of Correction: A general and large Power given unto them, without exception of any Person. And saith further, that their Mittimus may be more safe upon this Statute, Quia otiosa & inordinata persona; for that he is an idle and disorderly Person, Or, that he is an idle Person, Or, that he is a disorderly Person; according to [Page 16]the words of this Act, than on the 39. Eliz. with this Marginal Note here inserted.The words are in the disjunctive.

Besides, this new Method of Catechising will soon get the name of a new Bridewell; and to be so Examined, will be lookt on to be such a disgraceful thing, that the begin­ning with two or three in a Town or Parish will affright the rest into an orderly manner of living.

Another Exception is the obstinacy and neglect of Offi­cers that should Employ them, who will not take this or any other Method for setting their Poor on work, tho the Law, and the Magistrates Order thereupon, positively re­quire it.

The contempt, obstinacy, and neglect of Inferior Offi­cers are in this Age as 'twere Treason-proof against all Au­thority, Publick Interest, common Reason and Civility, the Mare Lethi of all Laws; such swallow Oaths without the least straining, seldom present the most apparent Offences without being set on by some personal Prejudice or Quar­rel of their own; hence Faction and Profaneness have their shelter. Yet tho they look on their Oaths as things of form and insignificant, their own personal Interest is still minded. So as that those who will not present an Offence for their Oaths sake, nor for securing the Publick Peace, nor for sup­pressing Profaneness, will do it to save themselves a shil­ling. And now having observed where they are least For­tified, next follows how to make an attempt there.

If the Justices of the Peace, who are emphatically, or more eminently the Overseers of the Poor of the County, [Page 17](all others being their Substitutes, and acting by their No­mination and Order) shall be fully convinced of the great Advantages of reforming the loose, idle, and leuder sort, and more orderly bringing up the Children of such. If they consider what the charges of maintaining them may other­wise in a short time come to, and what other ill consequen­ces may be expected from their numbers and Levelling Principles, of which they gave some hint by their Muti­neers in the late Frost. As they would be willing, so they would find it an easie matter to cause a general Reforma­tion of such. And although I cannot propose as fit expe­dients as themselves may know, yet presume to propose one, which doubtless will soon make the Officers diligent therein, and consequently effect all the rest.

Informers being never wanting against any sort of Of­fenders whom the Justices of Peace, or others of Worth and Quality desire to punish; whensoever any that is here­in countenanced by them shall see a Person begging, or wandring, or otherwise idly behaving himself, let him procure such Person to be warn'd to appear before the two next Justices to answer for such his loose, idle, or disorder­ly manner of living; and also in like manner procure the Church-wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Pa­rish where such idle Person dwells, to appear before the same Justices at the same time co answer for not providing Work for, and setting on Work such poor Person, as the Law directs. And upon hearing the matter, if it shall appear that such Officers have fully discharged their Duty, in pro­viding Work and fit Employments for such poor Person, [Page 18] [...] the Person so wandring is by the positive words of [...] Law to be sent to the Bridewell for his or her not duly [...]wing the same. But if such Officers cannot prove [...] [...] that they have provided Work, &c. for such poor Person, then they are by the same [...] Eliz. cap. 2. [...] Law to pay 20 s. apiece for each Month [...] have so neglected: And the Punishment of one Offi­ [...] will make an hundred others diligent to do their Duty.

And that Informers may never be wanting, the Anci­ [...] Method of Marshals (which yet in some measure re­ [...]s) may be renewed, their numbers increased, their [...] not Yearly, as now, but proportioned to their [...]igence and numbers of Vagrants they Apprehend, &c.

Having been already tedious, I shall only add, that [...] will be so far from over-stocking the County Bride­ [...] that 'twill soon eradicate the very Roots of Idleness, [...] which so many are now brought up and prepared for [...] place.