The Hartlib Papers

         The Provisions for the poore by the Statute of 43 Eliz: Cap. 2^o are as Followeth.

1.   That the Churchwardens of every parrish by the Consent of two Iustices of the peace are to sett to worke the Children of all such whose parents shall not be able to maintaine them./

2.   To sett on worke all such persons married and vnmarried haveing noe meanes to maintaine them and vse noe Ordinary and dayly trade to live by.

3.   To raise weekely or otherwise by Taxacion of every Inhabitant such Competent summe of money as they shall thinke fitt to provide a Convenient stock for setting the poore on worke.

4.   To raise Competent summes of money for and towards the Releife of some impotent, aged, blind and such others being poore and not able to worke.

5.   To raise Competent summes of money for putting out such Children to be Apprentices to be gathered out of the same parrish according to the ability thereof.

Forasmuch as in these times the poore are more in number then the rich and the Charge of every parrish greater then can be borne and vndergon by the abler sort of Inhabitants of the respective parrishes to provide according to this and other Lawes for the same purpose.

                Itt is proposed as Followeth

          That such poore as be able may be sent over to the Plantacion of [blank] in the West Indies being one of the Charibbee Islands belonging to this Commonwealth of England vnder the termes and Condicions Following vizt.

1.   That every poore Child that any parrish will place out as an Apprentice to the Vndertaker being of the age of Fourteene, and pay the passage and provide Cloathing for such Apprentice such Apprentice when he hath served 7 yeares shall haue to him and his heires for ever the Giuft of the quantitie of 25 acres of the soyle and land of the said Island, And if such poore be of the age of 17 yeares when he shalbe sent over att the Charge of the parrish after 4 yeares service with his master shall haue the like quantity to him and his heires for ever And soe for every person that every parrish shall or will soe place out, That for every person that any parrish shall place out as aforesayd there shalbe given to every such parrish for every such person one acre of the soyle of the sayd Island or land for a present Inheritance of such parrish for ever to be imployed for the good & vse of the said parrish and for the present and future maintenance yearely of the [lame?], impotent, blind and others not able to worke in succession for ever of the said parrish This kind of imploying such poore of every parrish who are able to worke and not here sett on worke according to the Lawes and placing them out Apprentices will for the Charge that every parrish is att, att the first placeing them out free the said parrish for ever of such persons and alsoe provide a Competent mainteynance for ever for them living or dying./

4.   And as att the first soe from time to time ever after the poore of every parrish as they doe encrease may be sent over to such a Plantacion and may be provided for and the Plantacion supplyed and the parrishes by such meanes eased of their poore And by imploying these acres given to every parrish for the vse of the poore a Continuall stock for the Impotent blind &c will ever be for their Releife successiuely.

          The Consequences of this Vndertaking

1. Itt will bring Honour to the Patrons and Protestors of it.

2. Itt will encrease Industrie and give Encouragment to Navigacion

3. Itt will enlarge the Dominions of this Common wealth

4. Itt will advance Trade and Commerce

5. Itt will be a meanes of Planting the Gospel in those parts and of Converting Infidells to Christianitie

6. Itt will imploy shipping &c.

7. Itt will be an Honorable Imployment for younger brethren of the Gentrie of this Common Wealth to adventure vpon in their persons as Mr Vndertakers to the enriching themselves and their posterity. &c

8. Itt will be a worke of piety Charity proffitt and Honour to all that shall Countenance and vouchsafe the Patronage thereof.

          This being thought fitt by Authoritie to be putt in Execution the Proposer humbly desires leaue and assistance of your Honours and the State to put the same in [Practice? altered]./

                                   Iohn Lloyd: