Selected quad for the lemma: justice_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A32836
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Sir Josiah Child's proposals for the relief and employment of the poor
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Child, Josiah, Sir, 1630-1699.
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1670
(1670)
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Wing C3863; ESTC R32609
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9,559
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9
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shall authorize may have power to purchase Lands erect and endow Work-houses Hospitals and Houses of Correction and to exercise all other powers relating to the Poor that any number of Iustices of the Peace now may do in their quarter-Quarter-Sessions or otherwise 8. That the said Fathers of the Poor may have power to send such Poor beyond the Seas as they shall think fit into his Majesties Plantations taking Security for their comfortable Maintenance during their service and for their freedom afterwards 9. That the said Fathers of the Poor may have Power to erect petty Banks and Lumbards for the benefit of the Poor if they shall find it convenient and also to receive the one half of what is paid at all the Doors of Play-houses and have the Patent for Farthings and to do whatever else his Majesty and the Parliament shall think fit to recommend to them or leave to their discretion 10. That the Treasure that shall be Collected for this purpose shall be accounted sacred and that it be Felony to misapply conceal lend or convert it to any other use or purpose whatsoever 11. That there be no Oaths or other Tests imposed upon the said Fathers of the Poor at their admission to bar our Nonconformists amongst whom there will be found some excellent Instruments for this good Work and such as will constantly attend it for if they be kept out the People will be cold in their Charity and in their hopes of success 12. That the said Fathers of the Poor may constantly wear some honourable Medal such as the King and Parliament shall devise besides the Green Staff which is now used in London to such like purpose but upon extraordinary days only to denote their Authority and Office at all times and in all places after the manner of the Habits in Spain or rather as have all the Familiars of the Inquisition in most Romish Countries with admirable effect tho' to a wicked purpose the consequence whereof will be that the said Fathers of the Poor being numerous and dispers'd by their Habitations and Business into most parts of their Province will readily see any neglects of Officers and as easily redress them the Medal which they wear about them being a sufficient Warrant to command Obedience from all Parish-Officers wherever they come although their Persons be not known there 13. That the said Fathers of the Poor may have liberty to admit into their Society and all Powers and Priviledges equal with them any persons that are willing to serve God their King and Country in this pious and publick Work the persons desiring to be so admitted paying at their admission 100 l. or more into the Poors Treasury as a demonstration of the sincerity of their Intentions to labour in and cultivate this most Religious Vineyard This I only offer because the number of the said Fathers of the Poor hereafter mentioned may be thought rather too few than too many 14. That the said Fathers of the Poor besides the Authority now exercised by Iustices of the Peace may have some less limited Powers given them in relation to the punishment of their own and Parish Officers by pecuniary mulcts for the poors benefit in case of neglect and otherwise as his Majesty and the Parliament shall think fit 15. That the said Fathers of the Poor may have freedom to set the Poor on work about whatsoever Manufacture they think fit with a Non-obstante to all Patents that have been or shall be granted to any private person or persons for the sole Manufacture of any Commodity the want of which priviledge I have been told was a prejudice to the Work-house at Clerkenwell in their late design of setting their Poor Children about making of Hangings 16. That all Vacancies by reason of Death of any of the said Fathers of the Poor be perpetually supplied by Election of the Survivors Quest. 4. The fourth Question is Who shall be the Persons entrusted with so great a Work and such excess of power This is a Question likewise of some difficulty and the more in regard of our present Differences in Religion but I shall answer it as well as I can In general I say They must be such as the people must have ample satisfaction in or else the whole design will be lost For if the universality of the People be not satisfied with the Persons they will never part with their Money but if they be well satisfied therein they will be miraculously charitable Quest. 5. This begets a fifth Question What sort of men the People will be most satisfied in I Answer I think in none so well as such only as a Common Hall of the Livery-men of London shall make choice of it being evident by the experience of many Ages that the several Corporations in London are the best Administrators of what is left to Chaoitable Vses that have ever been in this Kingdom which is manifest in the regular just and prudent management of the Hospitals of London and was wisely observed by Dr. Collet Dean of St. Paul ' s that prudent Ecclesiastick when he left the Government of that School and other great Revenues assigned by him for charitable Uses unto the disposition of the Mercers Company Object But here it may be Objected That Country Gentlemen who have Power in places of their Residences and pay out of their large Estates considerable summs towards the Maintenance of their Poor within the afore-limited Precincts may be justly offended if they likewise have not a share in the distribution of what shall be raised to that purpose Answ. I answer the force of this Objection may be much taken off if the City be obliged to choose but a certain number out of the City as suppose seventy for London ten out of Southwark for that Burrough twenty for Westminster this would best satisfie the People and I think do the work But if it be thought too much for the City to have the choice of any more than their own seventy the Iustices of Peace in their quarter-Quarter-Sessions may nominate and appoint their own number of Persons to assist for their respective Jurisdictions and so to supply the vacancy in case of Death c. But all must be Conjunctive but one Body Politick or the work will never be done Quest. 6. The sixth Question is What will be the Advantage to the Kingdom in general and to the Poor in particular that will accrue by such a Society of men more than is enjoyned by the Laws at present I answer Innumerable and unspeakable are the Benefits of this Kingdom that will arise from the Consultations and Debates of such a wise and honest Council who being men so elected as aforesaid will certainly conscionably study and labour to discharge their Trust in this service of God their King and Countrey 1st The Poor of what quality soever as soon as they are met with will be immediately relieved or set on Work where they are found