The Early History of English Poor ReliefLeonard, E. M., of Girton College
History
The Early History of English Poor Relief
Leonard, E. M., of Girton College
Poor laws -- Great Britain -- History
There is a double basis for the administration of these regulations:
the vagrants were dealt with by the municipal system working through
the hospitals; the impotent by the parochial officials. Children
and the able-bodied poor came under the jurisdiction of both. The
vagrants were to be brought to Bridewell and there divided into three
classes. Those who were not diseased and did not belong to the City
were to be "dealt with according to the lawe," that is, they were to
be whipped and sent to their settlement. Those who were ill were to
go to St Thomas's or St Bartholomew's and when cured to return to
Bridewell and be treated in the same manner. But the "sturdy beggars"
whom "the Cittie by law is charged to provide for" were to be received
into Bridewell: they were to be "there kept with thin diet onely
sufficing to sustaine them in health" and were to be made to work at
the occupation for which they were most fitted[217]. If any vagrant
was skilful in any of these occupations and a citizen were willing to
employ him, the governors were to try to make arrangements for him
to be taken into service. Over the rest of the London poor also the
parochial officials were commanded to keep a strict watch. In each
parish the constable, churchwardens, collectors and six parishioners
were to make a general survey of all their needy neighbours. The name,
age and sex of each was to be noted and pensions were to be given to
those who were disabled. Children were to go to Christ's Hospital if
there was room, and if not were to be provided for by the parish. The
able-bodied poor were told to make "their mone" to the churchwardens or
collectors and were to obtain a "Bill" signed by two of them and then
to be provided with work at Bridewell or elsewhere.
[217] Orders 3 to 8, printed edition.
It is even suggested both that all the poor should be visited "daily if
it may be ... to see how they apply theyr work" and that "Such youth,
and other as are able to labour and may have worke and shal be found
idle shall have some maner of correction by the parents, or otherwise
as shalbe thought good in the parish. And if they wyll not amend they
shalbe sent to Bridewell to be reasonably corrected there." Thus the
two main features of these orders were first, that the parochial
officers were to exercise a very strict surveillance over all the poor
of their district and were to provide the impotent poor with outdoor
relief, and secondly, that the City officers were to punish vagrants
and find work for the unemployed. No one was to be allowed to settle
his own affairs; fellow citizens and fellow parishioners were to
provide work and see it done, and were also to see that the youth of
the City were well trained.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account