The North Riding Records begin in 1605 and disclose a somewhat similar state of things. The system of compulsory poor relief is evidently more generally in operation. Vigilance in enforcing laws designed to prevent the growth of a poor population is one of the signs that the poor rates in a district are high, and in the North Riding much care was taken to prevent the building of cottages without four acres of land, and to punish landlords who took in lodgers[385]. Moreover, maimed soldiers received pensions, the county hospitals were supported and many orders were made for the relief of particular poor people[386]. A House of Correction was also built, though not until 1619, after many resolutions had been passed on the subject[387]. On the other hand, there is also evidence that the organisation did not yet work smoothly. Overseers are constantly presented for neglecting their duties, ratepayers for not paying their rates; sometimes even all the overseers of a parish are presented for not making "cessments," or for not relieving the poor[388], and in one case not only did the overseer neglect to obey the justices' order for the relief of a particular poor man, but the constable refused to obey the warrant for the apprehension of the overseer[389]. If the justices' difficulties in Yorkshire are typical of their difficulties elsewhere, it is not surprising that some of them were negligent. [385] Thus on April 14, 1607, Rob. Thompson was presented for building a cottage or habitation for John Joye of Alne, labourer, now occupied by the same, without assigning to it four acres of land &c., contrary to the statute 31 Eliz. _North Riding Sessions Rolls_, Vol. I. p. 68. Several cases of the same kind were presented at Richmond Oct. 8, 1607, and they occur frequently throughout the North Riding Sessions Rolls of our period until 1672, except from the period 1634 to 1647. _North Riding Sessions Rolls_, vol. VI. 177, Oct. 8, 1672. See also pp. 28, 94, 99, 112 &c. Like presentments were made for harbouring inmates or undersettles (i.e. lodgers) until 1675, VI. p. 232, e.g. Oct. 8, 1607. Leon. Marshall of Ravensworth "for keeping of an undersettle for the space of a moneth &c. and also John Ramshawe, James Foster and Richard Dunn all of the same: they were fined 10_s._ each." _Ib._ vol. I. p. 95. [386] Thus there was a disputed liability with regard to Margery Pearson, and she was to be relieved in accordance with the decision of Sir Richard Etherington and Tho. Dearle, Esq., _Ib._ vol. I. p. 12. Elizabeth Scotson of Melmerby is to be provided for by the High Constable and the churchwardens and overseers of the parish, _Ib._ p. 97. See also pp. 115, 117, 124, 125 &c. The Treasurer for the hospitals appears all through these records. In 1608 the payments made by Mr Brigges, Treasurer for the Langbaurgh district, were as follows:--