THat Your Majestie would be pleased, that an Act may be prepared, to Incorporate all Hundreds in England and Wales as a body Corporate, onely for the pre­paring of Work-houses in every Hundred for the set­ting of the Poor on work; and Work-houses in every Parish for all Poor people and Idle persons to be set on work in eve­ry Parish and such Work-houses in every Parish and Hundred to be erected and built in such convenient places on every Lords wast, or other places, as two Justices of the Peace, one to be of the Quorum, together with the assistance of the Ma­sters and Wardens of every Work-house in every Hundred, and of the High Constables, Constables, Church-wardens, and [Page 2] Headboroughs, in every Parish, in every Hundred, or the ma­jor part of them shall think fit and convenient.

That all Parish stocks, and other gifts, and levies, and other gifts for the maintenance of the Poor, may be laid out and im­ploied in buying of Hemp, Flax, Timber to be hewed for boards, and Vessells and old Ropes for making of Occom for Ships, Wheeles, and other necessaries for Spinning of Yarn, for Nets, and Cloath for Sailes, Cords, Ropes fit for Cables, and other small Ropes, and other Tackle for ships, and boards and Hoops for Vessels, and other Commodities for Fishing, and for Mer­chants; and that every week or moneth (as occasion shall re­quire) the same to be conveyed to the grand Work houses in every hundred, there to be made into small Ropes fit for Ca­bles, and other Ropes, Nets, Sails, Boards for Vessels, and o­ther Tackle for ships, Busses for Fishing; with power for the bodies Corporate in every Hundred to see the Work-house and Poor in every Parish to be set on work, and provided for with necessaries.

That the Timber fitted for Busses, Small Ropes, Yarn for Nets, Cloth for Sails, and other Cloth for your Majesties ser­vice, for Soldiers, Poor people, and other necessaries, except the Cloth for the Poor, be sent to London, and other Seaport Towns into the Work-houses prepared for your Majesties ser­vice, for the making and fitting of Busses, Ropes, Sails, Cables, Nets, and other Tackle for Ships, and there to be made fit to be sold and delivered for the use of your Majestie, and the Merchants at such rates and prices, as shall be thought fitting, (to buy them) and the money or Commodities to be returned to every grand Work-house from whence they come; And that true and speedy return may be made to every Work-house in every Hundred, from whence they shall be sent, and to be paid to the Poor of every Parish and Work-house.

That in every grand Work-house in every Hundred there be provided necessary Lodgings for all such persons as shall be [Page 3] found idle & a begging; and for such persons as shall be there sent: and that no single person be suffered to live out of service without ability to maintain themselves, or their parents or friends maintain them.

That if any person so sent to such Work houses depart without Licence, such persons to be apprehended, and there to remain and work for one whole year without Bail or Main­prize, or to be immediately transported to your Majesties Gar­risons and Plantations beyond the Seas: and that if any person whatsoever knowingly shall harbour such persons, or give re­lief to such persons, such persons so harbouring or relieving, to pay 40 s. for every night so harbouring, or giving relief to such persons, to the Treasurer of every Work-house within the Hundred, where such offence is committed for the use of the Poor.

That there be all manner of Trades-men provided in the grand Work house in every Hundred and Corporation, as shall be thought meet, as Hewers of Timber for Busses, Rope­makers, Smiths, Knitters of Nets, Weavers of Cloth for Sailes, and other cloth and Commodities, and other Trades, as well for Ships and Busses for Fishing, as for other things.

That no Commodities or Merchandises whatsoever con­cerning any handecraft Trade which can be made in England, (except Silk and Linnen Cloth) be brought over under penal­ty of Fellony, and forfeiture of Ship and Goods, and all prohi­bited goods, which are to be transported, be also under the same penalty; and that no Forraigner or Alien be suffered to work as Master upon any pretence in any Trade whatsoever out of the grand Work-houses in every Hundred, under penal­tie of one whole years working in every grand Work-house in every Hundred, or Corporation where they so work.

That all young Children, whose parents and friends are not able to maintain them without relief, be brought up in e­very [Page 4] Parish in the Work-house, and taught to read English; and after they attain the age of 8, or 9. years be bound to Trades in every grand Work-house in every hundred, where they shall be born, and there to serve in the serveral grand Work-houses, as they are Capable for: and when they attain to age, to be capable to bear Armes, may be disciplined there­in; and after they attain to be capable (may be sent) some to be brought up & sent into Busses for Fishing, others into your Majesties Ships, others into Merchant-men, as occasion shall require; and others to continue in their several Trades in the several grand Work-houses in every hundred, as shall be thought meet; so that there be constantly able work-men in every grand Work-house, & them to have such maintenance as sh [...]ll be thought meet, untill they are capable to work and live of themselves.

That care may be taken to set reasonable prices upon all manner of Works for the Hewing of Timber for Busses, ma­king of Nets, Cords, Ropes, Cables, Sails, Guns, Muskets, and other Armes, Boards for Vessels, and Vessels fit for Fishing, and other Commodities so made both for Fishing, and the use of your Majesties service, and of the Merchants: and that every Work-house in every Parish, and Work-house in every Hundred, be every week duly paid, for their work for the bet­ter maintenance of the Poor, and their encouragement in working, out of the grand Stock of the Pariishes and hun­dreds, and out of such their work and other assessements in the said Parishes.

That all monies already raised, or hereafter shall be raised for the setting forth and preparing for the trade of Fishing, be paid into the several Treasurers to be appointed over every Work-house and Store-house in every Port Town, there to be imployed for the making of Busses for Fishing, Cables, Ropes, Nets, Vessels, Boards hewed for barrels, and other Vessels and Commodities, and Tackle for Ships, belonging to your Ma­jestie, and the Trade of Fishing, and Merchants, or others which shall buy them.

That the Constables, Headborough, and Over-seers of eve­ry Parish and Tithings, take care to send twice every week, or oftner to every Nobleman, Gentleman, and Farmers house for their broaken meat, and other their benevolence, towards the better maintenance of the poor people so set on work, and which are sick, and not able to do any manner of work.

That if there be any poor people abuse each other in words or otherwise, so that it cause a disturbance, that such persons be apprehended, and the Fact tryed by witnesses before two Justices of the Peace, and the Masters and Wardens appointed over every Work house in every Hundred where every such offence is committed, and that what punishment they decree or order the same to be put in execution.

That an Act be made and passed, that after a time no English Merchant, or others, may bring over or buy any Cables, Nets, Sails, Cords, or other Tackle for Ships, or other Commodities made in the several Work-houses, except for their necessaries in their Voiages, but out of your Majesties warehouses, and that your Majesties Officers afford them to the Merchants and other Trades-men at some convenient cheaper rate then they can bring them over from beyond the Seas into England.

That if there be any want of Hemp and Flax, and not suffi­cient brought over for the supply of the work of the Poor, and other Trades-men, that then every Farmer which holdeth a­ny Farm of the Rent of 20 l. per. an. and so for every bigger or lesser Farm, according to the rate, be enjoined to sow two a­cres of Hemp and Flax every year; to the end there be no want of Hemp and Flax: this to be performed upon some penaltie, or otherwise, according to the old Statutes and Laws to sow Hemp and Flax.

That all Seaport Towns, and other Towns and Parishes within forty miles distant from them, be compelled to set forth Busses and other Vessels (according to the Abilities of them) for Fishing; and that for the better accomplishing of it, that [Page 6] your Majestie be pleased to give order that the Survey of your Majesties Seas taken in the Reign of King Richard the Second, and other Surveys of your Majesties Seas, be look'd into.

That no idle person, or Almes people or beggers be suffered to be idle, or goe out of his, her, or their Parish or abode, without a sufficient Certificate from the Minister, Constable, or Church wardens, for their good behaviour; nor be suffered to begge in the streets, or Parish, or at any mans house; and that no Pedler, Tinker, or other persons, be suffered to wan­der or travell out of their Parish, except such as be sent unto, without licence from two Justices of the peace, and the Ma­sters and Wardens of every grand Work-house in every Hun­dred, upon pain of 3. months working in every grand Work-house in the Hundred where they shall be so taken; and that every grand Work-house have their Seal belonging to their Corporation, that so it may be known to be the Seal of such a grand Work-house.

That care be taken that there be sufficient Fish brought into England for the supply of your Majesties Subjects before any be transported beyond the Seas; and that your Majesties Store­house for your Majesties Navy be alwaies furnished for your Majesties service, and that Lent and all Fish-dayes, and Fasting-dayes be duely kept, and that if any Cook or Victualling house presume to dresse any Flesh on either of the said dayes except for sick persons by the Doctors and Apothecaries approba­tions, or for sick persons which cannot subsist without, be for every such offence sent to the grand Work-house, there to work one whole week for such their offence, by which means all Fishermen will be encouraged to Fish; your Maje­sties Seas will be alwaies strengthened; and your Kingdomes kept in safety; and Corn will be sowed more then it is.

That all poor Travellers and Souldiers that are to trave into their own Countries, may be relieved at the grand Work houses in every Hundred, or Work-houses in every Parish, to [Page 7] the end that their necessities may be relieved, and the avoid­ance of pilphering: and that if any offer to begge, or goe out of their way, then to be set on work in the grand Work-house in every Hundred for some convenient time, and then to have correction, and be sent from Parish to Parish to the place of their birth or last inhabitant, and there be set on work; and if any person refuse to yield obedience, then such persons to be transported.

That Alehouse-keepers, and all other house keepers in eve­ry Parish or Corporation that shall have any Lodger, or other persons that shall lodge in his or her house, be enjoined to give from time to time the names and places from whence they came, of all his and her Lodgers, and other persons that shall lie or inhabite in their houses, to the Constable or other Officers in every Parish, and such persons be enjoined to give an ac­count how, and which wayes he, she, or they live; or in de­fault thereof such house keepers to forfeit the summe of [...] to the poor, for every such default; & if such Lodger refuse to give an account of his life & Con­versation, then such Lodger to be sent to the grand Work-house, there to remain at work till he, she, or they find suffi­cient sureties for his or her behaviour; and that every Consta­ble, Church warden Tithing-men, and other Officers, be en­joined under some penalty to see all things performed within his Parish, and the High Constable in every Hundred under a­nother penalty, to see the petty Constables and other Officers perform their Duties.

That it would please your Majestie, according to the ancient Laws of this Kingdome to put down all Gaming Ordinaries, and that all bonds and other securities whatsoever for any mo­ney lost at play be void; & that if any man under & which have not the yearly value of 100 l. per ann. play for above 5 s. at one time, that such persons forfeit to the use of the poor treble the value of such summe as he so playes for.

That there be reasonable Salaries for the said Treasurers and other officers of trust for their better care in their severall of­fices.

That care be taken also that a true and exact accompt be quarterly or oftner given to the Lord Treasurer of England, or such other Commissioner as your Majesty shall from time to time appoint, to be presented to your Majesty of all the work and stock of every Parish, and every workhouse in every Cor­poration and Hundred, and of every stock in every of your Majesties storehouses.

That care also be taken that the Iustices of Peace in every Division in any County, or such other Commissioners as Your Majesty shall appoint, doe take care to see the poor people so set to work be provided for, and to see the Masters and Wardens perform their duty, to the end the poor be not overprest and abused: So that there be not any Deceit or Fal­city in any of the Masters and Wardens of euery Hundred and Corporation, and of every officer within every Parish; and that a true accompt be given by the severall persons afore named upon a good penalty by Fine and imprisonment as shall be thought meet.

That it please your Majesty to consider the Cry of the poor in the streets, which comes through Idleness and for want of work, and neglect and want of Maintenance for them and their poor children; by all which means aforesaid being prepared, there is neither blinde nor lame, nor aged nor idle person, but may be put on work and imployed, and your Ma­jesties subjects provided for, and your Majesties Navies and Armies furnished both with provisions for themselves and with faithfull subjects, souldiers and seamen.

That it will be more ease for your Majesties subjects to maintain the poor at work then to maintain them in idlenesse, and the avoidance of the poor attending at Assizes and Ses­sions, for there are more poor people und one thereby, [Page 9] then peace preserved. And by work it is more for the glory of God, the honor and safety of your Majesties royall person and Kingdomes, for it is observed that through gaming and idle­nesse comes nothing but swearing, imbesling estates, blasphe­ming, destruction of young Gentlemen, Apprentices and o­thers, and all manner of Rebellion, Robbery, Murther,, Lu­xuriousnesse, poverty both to people and kingdomes, and all manner of vices and sins let in thereby.

To prevent all pilphering, sheep stealing, robbing of Hen­roosts, and breaking up of houses, and such like fellows.

That an Act be made that in every Parish there be kept one or more Bloud-hounds that will draw dry-foot at the charge of the Parish.

It is also observed, in reading of some ancient Authours, as The Diall of Princes, and other Books, where there were grave Sages that caused Laws to avoid Idlenesse, and that caused all people to be set on work, that the Emperours and other States and Kingdomes were able to defend themselves, and the Kings and People blest: but when Idlenesse crept in, and work laid aside, all mannet of sins sprang amongst them, and Rebellion followed, and what comes of Rebellion and Idlenesse I hum­bly submit.