[707] Monnier, p. 308. Brittany was not thoroughly incorporated with the rest of France. Several other edicts between this and 1551 concern the poor, chiefly the Parisian poor. Public works were established to employ them, and efforts were made to succour the impotent poor in hospitals. In 1544 a governing body for the poor was established by Letters Patent, and the right of levying a tax or poor rate was given to this new authority[708]. But the new taxation met with much opposition, and in 1551 an ordinance was issued which bears a very close resemblance to the English statute of 1563. All the inhabitants of Paris and the suburbs were to state how much they were willing to contribute to the support of the poor. Their answers were to be laid before the Parliament, which was then to assess everyone according to his wealth. The object of the edict was to make the taxation voluntary if possible without surrendering the right of imposing compulsory payment. Even at the Revolution this contribution had not altogether disappeared, although it was too small an amount to have much[709] practical effect. [708] _Ib._, p. 313 seq. [709] _Ib._, pp. 314 and 317. In 1566 it was again ordered that throughout France every town and every village was to care for its own poor[710]. In particular towns a good deal was done: not only were public workshops opened in Paris[711], but in 1612 new hospitals were established, and in Lyons and in certain other towns the same kind of relief was given. [710] C. Chamborant, _Du Paupérisme_, p. 92. [711] _Ib._, p. 95. But, as in England in the sixteenth century, relief was only administered in particular districts and for a short time. In France as in Scotland the history of the seventeenth century was like that of the sixteenth. Edict succeeded edict; they had some result but not much; no general system was ever established, nor were the poor ever effectually relieved. Perhaps it was impossible that laws of this kind should be executed in France because the French did not possess any county officials like the English justices of the peace. The Council might be willing to enforce the law, but the necessary machinery was wanting, and consequently in France as in Scotland poor laws were only made; they were not thoroughly administered. [Sidenote: 9. Comparison between history of poor relief in England and that in France and Scotland.]