FOraſmuch as it is not ſimply the preſent ſuppreſſion and ſetting to work of idle Vagrants and Beggers of all ſorts, wherewith the Streets, Lanes, and ſeverall parts of this City, have of late ſo much abounded, to the great ſcandall and diſhonor thereof, that can throughly accompliſh that hopefull Reformation in this kind that is deſired and intended, except ſome effectuall courſe be taken for the prevention thereof for the future. And whereas alſo, that through the generall neglect of moſt places, poore children maintained by their reſpective pariſhes, and others are bred up like Atheiſts, after a ſordid looſe, and undiſciplined manner, care being had only for their preſent bodily proviſion; by meanes whereof, ſo much diſſoluteneſſe, idleneſſe, thefts, whoredomes, prophane curſing, ſwearing, and almoſt all kinds of wickedneſſe do generally abound in that ſort of people, being indeed the moſt probable, if not certain conſequences of ſuch an education. And furthermore, whereas many Penſioners and others doe eat the bread of Idleneſſe; ſome through an accuſtomed ocitanſie, who can, but will not work; and others through an unavoidable neceſſity, who would, but cannot procure work: For the hopefull prevention of the inconveniencies aforeſaid, the Corporation for the imploying of the Poor of the City of London, doe tender to the reſpective Pariſhes of the ſaid City as followeth.

1. That the poor Children of this City, and Liberties thereof, from 〈◊〉 yeers old and upward, who now are at home at the Pariſhes charge, be duly ſent to the Worke-houſes belonging to the Corporation, with proviſion for their Dinners with them, where they ſhall have meanes to learn as well to read and write, as to be inſtructed in ſuch manufacturies as they ſhalbe capable of; Provided, they bring with them the Certificate of the Church-wardens or Overſeers of the poore of their ſeverall Pariſhes reſpectively.

2. That to this end they ſhal have two hours in every day allowed them to learn to read and write, with one houre at noon for their repaſt, and the reſt of the day, from ſeven or eight of the clock in the morning, till five or ſix at night, to be ſpent in getting knowledge how to work in ſome manufactury that may be uſefull to this Common-wealth.

3. That for the firſt quarter of the yeer (except the Children be grown up, or are more expert then ordinary) it cannot be expected that any thing ſhould be given them but their Learning, in reſpect of that unavoidable loſſe which will be ſuſtained in the teaching them any manufacture whatſoever, through the waſte that they will make. But after the firſt quarter, twelve pence per week ſhall be allowed to each Child for their work, and ſhalbe increaſed as they ſhall deſerve, which together with what is allowed by the pariſh for their keeping and clothes, will be a competent maintenance for each reſpective Child.

4. That the Penſioners in the ſeverall VVards, that are beſt able, may by turns weekly accompany the children to the Work-houſes, one Penſioner to have the overſight of ten children, or their abouts, ſo as to bring them in the morning, and to return with them home at night; and the ſaid Penſioners may likewiſe work upon ſuch manufacturies as they are beſt skilled in, and bee paid according to their earnings.

5. That the Children who ſhalbe imployed by this Corporation, may each of them have a badg of the Corporation upon their ſleeves.

6. That ſuch Penſioners, or other poore as are aged, or that cannot come to the ſaid VVork-houſes, may have materialls to work upon home to their own houſes, ſome of the Overſeers of the Pariſh ingaging for the faithfull return of them when they are converted into manufactury, according to the tickets printed by order of the Corporation, and they likewiſe to be paid according to their earnings.

7. That for the ſtragling Poore, if they belong to any pariſh within this City, and the Liberties thereof, then from thence they muſt have allowance, and there have habitation, and be regulated as is before expreſſed concerning the Pariſh Children.

8. That when any of theſe children ſo regulated, and educated, ſhall become fit, through ripeneſs of age, or otherwiſe, they may be placed out apprentices in ſome uſeful trades for their future livelyhoods.

Towards the effectuall accompliſhment of which work aforeſaid, the ſaid Corporation doubt not of the moſt ready concurrence and help of all pious and charitable hearts.