THis Court having received a Narative from the Corporation for the Poore, of their intended Method for setting the Poore at work on the severall Manufactures hereafter mentioned, Whereby the Poore may be kept from idlenesse, and enabled to earn a proportionable lively­hood for themselves, which as it will tend much to the honour of God, the good of the Na­tion, So unto the speciall Weal of this City, in that the Poor shall be kept from extream want, the streets cleared from Vagarants, the Unlearned taught, and the Idle kept from such temp­tations as attend that kind of life.

Hereupon this Court have thought fit, for the better carrying on the said work, and encouraging of all well minded persons to a free and liberall contribution, For the advancement of so pious and charitable a work, have thought fit to acquaint all persons with the Intentions of the said Corporation, when they shall bee enabled thereunto by a Stock, viz.

1. To clear the streets of all Vagarants and sturdy Beggers.

2. To imploy the Poore who are any wayes able to work, and have not wherewithall to imploy them­selves.

3. To take care that such Children that lye under stalls, and wander about streets be set to work, and earn their bread, and also receive fitting Education.

4. That such poore housekeepers, which are in great necessity for want of work, shall have materials home to their own houses, so as they procure persons of credit to engage for the return of the same when its wrought.

The way and means (among others) proposed by them to effect the aforegoing particulars, are as followeth.

1. To imploy these Poore in the making of all sorts of necessaries belonging to the Fishing trade, which will accommodate both young and old with fitting imployment.

2. In making Canvas, Pouldavis, Sack cloth, and other Linnen cloth.

3. In picking, sorting, carding and spinning of Cotten Wooll, for the making of Fustians, and all other Manufactures which they are capable of, and the Stock will enable thereunto.

In consideration of these preparations to so good a work, this Court earnestly desire you in your severall places to stir up your Hearers with the most Religious and pressing arguments to so pious and charitable a Work, That so this City might not be found guilty of such a neglect as not to provide for the Poore, whom our Saviour hath told us, Wee shall have alwayes with us; knowing that what wee have is received from the riches of his Grace, that respects our thankfulnesse by giving to them that want, we being but Stewards, and shall shortly give an account of our Stewardship.

And what God shall move the hearts of his people to give, This Court hath desired that every respective Alderman, Deputy and Common councel-man in their severall Wards and Precincts, shall upon Munday and VVednesday next, meet in their severall VVards; and subscribe themselves, and take the subscription of all and every person that shall willingly Contribute, and appoint Receivers of the same, and return an account of their proceedings therein, unto this Court, who are resolved to their uttermost both in Care and Councell, that the charity received might be wel improved.