Considerations upon the bill for the relief of poor prisoners, humbly submitted to the wisdom of the high court of Parliament now sitting. 1696 Approx. 4 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-IV TIFF page image. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A80371 Wing C5922B ESTC R223162 43663251 ocm 43663251 171997

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 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A80371) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 171997) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2607:1) Considerations upon the bill for the relief of poor prisoners, humbly submitted to the wisdom of the high court of Parliament now sitting. 1 sheet ([1] p.). s.n., [London? : 1696] Date of publication from Wing (2nd ed.). Reproduction of original in: British Library.

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 eng Debt, Imprisonment for -- Great Britain -- Early works to 1800. Broadsides -- London (England) -- 17th century. 2007-10 Assigned for keying and markup 2007-10 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-11 Sampled and proofread 2007-11 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
CONSIDERATIONS UPON THE BILL for the Relief of Poor PRISONERS, Humbly ſubmitted to the Wiſdom of the High COURT of PARLIAMENT Now Sitting.

ONE would think in a Chriſtian State nothing can be urged againſt ſo ſeaſonable, humane, and pious a Deſign, as the Relieving of poor inſolvent Priſoners, having no Sanctuary left but the King and Parliaments to reſcue them from the Oppreſſion of Unreaſonable Men, ſuch as abuſe Law into Tyranny, and Juſtice into Cruelty. Men without Humanity, who to gratify their Tyrannical Temper, crow'd the Jayls of England with inſolvent Priſoners, and there let them ſtarve and periſh, that their Lives may go for their Debts. Men that deſerve to be exploded from humane Society, as the Reproach and Blemiſh of a free Nation, and a Scandal to Chriſtianity. The Conſideration whereof has from time to time induced the Government, to relieve ſuch Priſoners as could ſwear themſelves not worth 5 (or 10) Pounds.

The main Objection made againſt thoſe Gracious Acts, is, That they occaſion Perjury in Men of no Principles, ſuch as will readily purchaſe their Liberty at the price of their own Souls. But, with Submiſſion, That Miſchief may be prevented, if not altogether, at leaſt in a great meaſure, by making Perjury in this Caſe Felony. The Fear of an infamous Death, which alone deters ſo many Men from felonious Acts, would probably make them prefer a confined Life before an airy Death, and a ſociable (tho a nauſeous) Priſon to a ſilent melancholy Grave.

But, unleſs ſuch an Act of Grace do reach inſolvent Abſconders, who to ſhun the Cruelty of their ſevere Creditors confine themſelves out of their Reach, 'tis humbly conceived, 'twill be but half an Act of Grace. For the Condition of Abſconders is little better than that of actual Priſoners; they being both confined, neither of 'em free to act abroad, to provide for themſelves or Families, and all equally a Burden to themſelves, their Friends, and the State it ſelf. Only with this Difference, That actual Priſoners are ſo by force, and Abſconders voluntary; the firſt forced into Priſon by Law, and the laſt before-hand with it.

It ſeems moreover requiſite, That a Courſe were taken for a future Reſtraint of Arreſts. Otherwiſe 'tis to be feared, an Act of Grace will prove but a palliating Cure, and ſuch as will not reach to the Root of the Diſeaſe. In other Nations, no Debtor is Arreſted (but in caſe of Bankrupcy) before he has had three Summons to appear before a Judge, in order to own the Debt, and take care to pay it, for which he is allowed Time. Upon failure of which, he may be either Arreſted, or his Goods Seized. But, if he be thrown into a Jayl, the Creditor muſt allow him a Maintenance ſutable to his Rank; and, when that fails, his Priſoner is of Courſe ſet at Liberty. Which Method, practiſed even in France a Slaviſh Kingdom, and in Holland as trading a People as any, looks like Chriſtian Juſtice.

I conclude with this Obſervation, That many amongſt actual Priſoners and Abſconders have ruined themſelves in the Service oſ the Publick with their utmoſt Induſtry, and others by Misfortunes. Which may prove a further Inducement to bring ſo charitable a Work to Perfection, as an Act of Grace. Whereby all inſolvent Debtors may be enabled to provide For their Families, to ſerve the State, and not be (as they are) a chargeable Excreſcence of it, and to put themſelves in a Condition to do Juſtice to every one.

But, if this Bill proves only a Temporary, and not a Perpetual Act, all Jaylors, Bayliffs, and Sollicitors for 'em will have their aim, who are another great Grievance of this Nation. Men who at this very time uſe their utmoſt Indeavours, and turn every Stone to have it but a Temporary Act, without any Reſtriction for the future, that they may have a freſh Opportunity of grinding the Poor, and cruſhing the Oppreſſed.