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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A49807 An appeal to the Parliament concerning the poor that there may not be a beggar in England. Lawson, Thomas, 1630-1691. 1660 (1660) Wing L722; ESTC R36243 2,708 4

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AN APPEAL TO THE PARLIAMENT CONCERNING THE POOR That there may not be a Beggar in England IN the midst of many and great Undertakings let not a Settlement for the Poor be forgotten but revive ad and execute all wholsome Lawes and encourage all good Means to Supply Poor People with Labour and Relief and so prevent the ill Breeding wicked Life and bad End that many Thousands have fallen into through Idleness To this End give Order that the ensuing Plat-form may be fully executed Although this thing be warrantable yet if there be not an absolute Necessity laid on them whom it doth concern to Execute their Office this VVork may fail and come to little or nothing notwithstanding the Means may be sufficient but if Carried on as it ought the Cure is certain no Beggar in Israel The Plat-form or Way how Poor People may be Supplyed with Labour and Relief EVery Parish according to the various Places and Employments and as their Poor are encreased agree with some Able Man or Men that rightly understandeth their VVork that may Undertake and by the Parish be Assisted I. To take Notice how many Old Impotent and young Children be in the Parish and Supply them by Collection and also Help such whose Labour is not sufficient to yield them Maintenance But if any in the Parish want Employment that are able to work set them to work according to the wholsome Laws of the Nation II. To take the most Orderly way for the manner of doing according to the variety of Places and kinds of work If there be Twenty Persons in a Country Village that want employment then the Parish agree with some Clothier Stuff or Stockinmaker to furnish them with so much VVork as they can do So in great Towns and places of Cloathing one Clothier take 10 another 20 being brought in by Authority for though there may be work enough yet the Idle will not come for it to have work and want Government is as if they wanted work some Parishes have Means enough and yet the Poor want VVork Food and Government So in great Cities where is much Trading on Silk VVooll Hair VVinding VVeaving Button-making c. every Parish or Division agree with some Trades-man or men to provide for 10 or 20 as aforesaid and so may rise to Hundreds or Thousands by the same Rule So in Parishes where the Poor are much encreased and have no Trade or where some great Trade is wholly decayed there some other is to be sought for with discretion In Parishes where are no Poor their Accompt is soon given and they fit to help others Some near London said They had not a Beggar dwelling in their Parish and yet have had 30 Travelling Beggars in one week III. To settle a Poor mans Office First Where Handy-crafts-men and Labourers that want VVork and such as want Workmen may enquire Secondly Where Boyes that would or are fit to go Apprentice may enquire of Masters and such as want Servants in City or Countrey or whom they have spoken to may enquire Thirdly Where Maids that would or are fit to go Apprentices or Covenant-Servants or some that want such may enquire But none to be put to Service until they be first Taught to Spin Knit Sew learn some Trade or way of livelihood who else are neither fit for Service nor can in after-times do any thing for themselves Fourthly Where all Poor People that are in distress or danger of Perishing may make their Conditions known that Means may be used to Supply their wants IV. That all Persons whatsoever may have free Access and Acceptance without mollestation to give in true Information concerning any neglect of the Poor to any in Authority Justice of the Peace or any in Power as there may be cause and that every one that neglecteth his Duty restore to the Poor so much as they have done them wrong and that Distress be made if they refuse to Pay presently V. That all Judges of Assizes and Sessions lay open the sad condition of the Poor in their Charge and what the Law provides and take Accompt what is done and receive all true Informations concerning any Neglect of the Poor and see the Penalty justly executed The Law is made for the Lawlesse and Disobedient VI. That no Poor People be denied their former Liberty nor strict Course taken against them until some good Means be used to Supply their wants Much might be added concerning the Means how there may be Work enough how to Order things to the best advantage in Cities Towns and Villages how to take a List or the just Numbers in great Cities Out-streets and Alleys Tenants In-Tenants and In-mates where may be many Perish many idle hard to be found and settled in Order how to encounter with the great Charge this may amount unto But honest Labour and good Government may save the Rich from Charge and the Poor from Hunger And to speak to Particulars may be more seasonable when this work is come into practise and more sutable to the divers Places Persons and various kinds of Trading If any Object the Trouble To have such Multitudes of Beggars in this fruitful Kingdom Is not that trouble To hear them cry and not give is not that trouble To hear their cry and give is trouble also not knowing whether it doth good or harm But if every Parish keep to their own the Condition of the Poor may be known I have Considered of Cities Towns and Villages but no Place have I found where this Plat-form may not be suteable with little or no alteration although it be short it concludes enough to effect the work and with little trouble or charge in comparison of some Proposals concerning the Poor and being faithfully executed there may not be a Beggar in England which is the desire and hope of one that hath no intention of evil to any but wisheth the good of all who having been many years exercised among the Poor and much desired their good and through long Experience have seen the ground of their Misery the easinesse of the Remedy and the benefit T. L. POST-SCRIPT THis Work of Charity doth not concern Parliament men and Officers for the Poor only but all other in Authority to exercise their Power in their Respective Places for the General good And all not in authority also Rich men to encourage it every way being best able and the Middle Sort do their endeavour lest they like small Iron Creeppers in a Chimney who bear the burden and heat of the Fire until they be wasted to Sinders and the Poor to avoid Idleness which is oftentimes the Cause of Begging and hearken to the Counsel of the Wise man Ecclesiasticus 40. My Son lead not a Beggars life for better it is to die then to beg verse 28. The life of him that dependeth on another mans Table is not to be accounted a life verse 29. Begging is sweet in the Mouth of the shameless but in their Belly there burns a fire verse 30. That this Plat-form or some other may be put in Practice when the Dayes lengthen is likely because of the Necessity and cannot safely with good Conscience be wholly omitted But that all joyn in the Execution there lieth the stress many good Things have been began but men being selfish careless and unconstant the Work hath failed I have in some measure unloaded my own Conscience in this thing and laid it before others that all might be clear from the Cry of the Poor But he that stoppeth his Ears at the Cry of the Poor he also shall Cry and not be heard T. L. London Printed for Robert Wilson at the Black-spread-Eagle and Windmill in Martins Le Grand 1660.