Note 634 — Chapter XII
Reading edition
This question is so much one of detail that it is perhaps worth while to refer to one justice's report from almost every western county, some from towns, and some from the country:
1. Berks. June 1631. Abingdon. Ib., Vol. 195, 7. "We haue erected in our borough a workehouse to sett poore people to worke."
2. Cheshire. Edisbury, June 29th, 1631. Vol. 195, 21. The justices order "stockes of money and wares" to be raised, but find the people averse to find money for any such purpose.
3. Derby. Appletree. 185, 41. Feb. 1630/1. See below.
4. Dorset. Shaftesbury. 188, 67. April 1631. "Haue made provision and taken orders for settinge to worke of such idle persons and poore people as are of able bodies and strength to bee ymployed in trades and labor."
5. Gloucester. June 1631. Vol. 194, No. 11, I. Gloucester. "For those that are of abillitie to worke we haue provided them meanes to sett them on w(orke) soe they may lyve by their labor wthout beinge further chargable to others."
6. Hants. Kingclere. Nov. 1633. Vol. 250, 11, IV. "The justices" have taken order that such as are able to worke are imployed in their several parishes."
7. Hereford. Leominster. June 1631. Vol. 194, 41, III. "Item the poore are provided for and such kept at work that are able to work."
8. Monmouth. Ragland. July 3rd, 1634. Vol. 271, 17. The justices since the commission have levied sums of money in every parish and township to buy "woole, flaxe and other necessaries towards the setting of poore to woorke."
9. Oxford. J. Ps. for co. Oxford, Vol. 188, 96. April 19, 1630. Have not omitted to provide "stockes" to "sett able poore on worke."
10. Shropshire. Bishop's Castle. Vol. 223, 39. 3rd Oct. 1632. "Here is herin but one church wherin are churchwardens, ouerseers of the poore duely elected and nominated; and monthly now we meete and we take order for mayntenance of the poore by setting the able to work and relief of the impotent."
11. Somerset. Frome, Kilmerston, Wellow and the adjoining districts. Vol. 185, 40. Feb. 1630/1. The justices have seen to the relief of the poor and setting them to work.
12. Warwick. Knightlow. Vol. 199, 65. 13 Sept. 1631. "The Constables, Churchwardens and Ouerseers for the poore in the rest of the townes in theis two divisions doe certfie vs that all ys well ... the poore are sett on worke and releiued and wee heare noe complaints to the contrarie."