The porter intimates that an effort is made to discriminate among those daily harboured, but he confesses that they are obliged to receive many unsatisfactory men, and disreputable women so numerous that they are weary of them; but they refuse stubborn knaves who are not ill, for they would have over many. Indeed, the aim of the hospital is to relieve those who cannot work and are friendless—the sick, aged, bedridden, diseased, wayfaring men, maimed soldiers, and honest folk fallen into poverty. (See p. xxiv.) [p014] It is clear, however, that during the sixteenth century there was much genuine distress besides unthrifty beggary and sham sickness. From various economic causes there was a considerable increase of destitution. Legislation entirely failed to solve the problem of an ever-shifting population. The Statute of 1530–1 had recognized the value of charitable foundations by its clause:—“provided also, that it be lawful to all masters and governors of hospitals, to lodge and harbour any person or persons of charity and alms.” Although hospitals had been abused, the neglect of the sick and homeless which their reduction involved was a far worse evil. One writer after another breaks out into descriptions of the increased poverty and pain. Brinklow, in _The Lamentacyon of a Christian agaynst the Cytye of London_ (1545), bewails the condition of the poor:— “London, beyng one of the flowers of the worlde, as touchinge worldlye riches, hath so manye, yea innumerable of poore people forced to go from dore to dore, and to syt openly in the stretes a beggynge, and many . . . lye in their howses in most greuous paynes, and dye for lacke of ayde of the riche. I thinke in my judgement, under heaven is not so lytle prouision made for the pore as in London, of so riche a Cytie.”[12] Again, referring to the old order and the new, _A Supplication of the Poore Commons_ (1546) speaks of poor impotent creatures as “now in more penurye then euer they were.” Once they had scraps, now they have nothing. “Then had they hospitals, and almeshouses to be lodged in, but nowe they lye and storue in the stretes. Then was their number great, but nowe much greater.” [Illustration: _PLATE III._ ST. JOHN’S HOSPITAL, CANTERBURY] FOOTNOTES: [3] There were probably other Saxon hospitals. Leland notes the tradition that St. Giles’, Beverley, and St. Nicholas’, Pontefract, were founded “afore the Conquest.” [4] Dugdale, charter temp. Henry VI. [5] Cott. Tib. A., vii. f. 90. [6] See also J. C. Wall, _Shrines of British Saints_ in this Series. [7] Cal. Pap. Letters, 4, p. 36. [8] Close Rolls 1344, 1353. [9] Chron. and Mem. 63, p. 434. [10] Hist. MSS. 14th R. (8) 249. [11] C. J. Ribton-Turner, _Vagrants and Vagrancy_, 1887. [12] Early Eng. Text Soc. Extra Series 22, p. 90. [p015] CHAPTER II HOMES FOR THE FEEBLE AND DESTITUTE