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
Some efforts were made to provide against some of the difficulties
which were likely to hinder the execution of these commands. In order
to lessen the charges as much as possible the governors were to try
to persuade the masters of ships to engage their men from Bridewell;
they also adopted the very modern expedient of registering the names of
employers who were willing to give work to the poor who were sent to
them[218]. The old regulation was reaffirmed that the goods made by the
poor should be sent to the Companies and paid for by them so as far as
possible to prevent competition between the pauper-made goods and those
of the free citizens.
[218] Order 52. "Also a note shall be kept in Bridewell of places and
persons where and of whome worke may be had, that poore in parishes
sent thether to require worke may be the better releved."
The funds necessary for carrying out this organisation were to be
provided by a tax of two-fifteenths and by revising "the bookes of
taxations for the poore[219]." Besides "for helpe of the Hospitals and
Parishes in this charge all churchwardens and collectors for the poore
be strayghtly charged to execute the lawe against such as come not to
church, against al persons without exception, and specially against
such as while they ought to be at divine service, doo spend their time
and their money lewdly in haunting of plaies and other idle and wycked
pastimes and exercises."
[219] Orders 57 and 59.
Some steps were taken to put these orders in execution and twenty-five
occupations were practised in Bridewell. Amongst these were such trades
as the making of gloves, silk lace, pins, bays, felts and tennis balls,
so that some of the workers must have required considerable skill[220].
But on the whole the new rules suggest the comment "Easier said than
done," and so apparently the City authorities found. The Lord Mayor
complains of the difficulty of keeping order in the City in consequence
of the increase in the number of the poor owing to the erection of
many small houses in Kentish Street just across the boundary of the
City[221]. Even in 1594 begging was not entirely abolished. In that
year a new set of orders was drawn up with the object of repressing
vagrants, and it is provided that "no suche poor people as by reason
of age and other infirmitie have been allowed heretofore to aske and
take almes of well-disposed persons be henceforth so permitted to doe
any more but that the wardes whear they inhabit be forced to maintain
them in some convenient sort without begging or straying[222]."
[220] Order 61 in the printed edition of the Orders, a copy of which is
in the Guildhall Library. _Journals_, XX. 2 f. 502.
[221] _Remembrancia_, II. 74.
[222] _Remembrancia_, II. 76.
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