To the Inhabitants of Marlbrough in the County of Wilts, and Countrey near adjoyning.

FRiends and Neighbours, it is more ſhame to be negligent and idle, then to be poor, but to ſtrive who ſhall be firſt in a good work is honourable: There is ſome reaſon why this particular way of ſhew­ing mercy towards the poor ſhould be firſt in practice, where it was firſt in queſtion, though the number of poor be many, the work great, and means ſmall, yet nothing is hard to God: when his hand hath done it where it is ſo hard, it may encourage others; where it is more eaſie, none can object the charge, becauſe it will be leſs, nor injuſtice, becauſe it is more equal, and for the pains, what can be done without: if the work be hard, it is not im­poſſible, for all things are poſſible to God, and to him that believeth: Let us go on with courage, diligence and conſtancy for the glory of God, the good of the poor, and the peace of our conſciences, for it is our duty, T.L.

T: L. his propoſitions to the inhabitants of Malbrough, he having formerly im­ployed the poor of that town 24 years, hath ſeen much the ground of their miſe­ry, & ſomething of the remedy, & being deeply ſenſible of their ſad condition, and greatneſs and daily encreaſe of their numbers that beg, their manner of living, and not like to be otherwiſe, in diſcharge of his conſcience towards God and man, doth offer as followeth, That if he ſhall receive an order and authority from the Governoure of Marlbrough, with conſent of the Inhabitants, and aſ­ſiſtance of the keeper of the workhouſe, with whom Tho: Laurence, or whom2 he ſhall appoint, may uſe means the poor may be provided for: That there be not a beggar in the ſtreets. As firſt to take notice how many houſholders, ſo­journers and inmates there be in Marlbrough, and of what calling. 2. How many perſons beg about the ſtreets and Inns. 3. How many of them are able to work. 4. How many old, impotent, and young children. 5. How many work to the Workhouſe. 6. How many labourers that are not in conſtant work, and ſettle them as much as may be. 7. To take notice out of the former numbers, of ſuch as are fit to work, and of them that ſhould bring them into work ac­cording to order. 8. To enquire in any houſe, whether any beg, how many per­ſons in that family, and how employed 9. To meet the Officers that collect and bring in the money, and the keeper of the workhouſe, every ſixt day at the middle of the day, to ſet in order the work. 10. To uſe ſome diligence about ſettling a poor mans office, firſt where labourers and handicrafts men that want work, and ſuch as want workmen may enquire. 2. Where ſome boys that would or are fit to be Apprentices, may be informed of maſters, and ſome that wants ſervants in City or Countrey, or whom they have ſpoken to may en­quire. 3 Where maids that would or a fit to be Apprentices or Covenant ſer­vants, or ſome as want ſuch, may enquire, but none to be put to ſervice until they be firſt taught to knit, ſpin, ſow, learn ſome trade or way of livelihood, leſt in after times they can do nothing for themſelves. 4. Where any poor people that may have work, and are known to live idly, may be informed of, and courſe taken with. 5. Where tradeſmen who at ſome times have more work for cuſtomers then they can do, and others of that trade want, way be in­formed and adviſed to help one another, and ſo improve their trades, and not encreaſe poor families. 6. Where any in diſtreſs, having juſt cauſe to com­plain, may make their ſeveral conditions known, that courſe may be taken to ſupply their wants, as money can be had. 7. Where any well affected may in­form of work, or adviſe in whatſoever may be for a general good, that poor people having work conſtant, may yearn more at a lower rate, then they that work onely three or four days in a week at a higher rate; and until this work be effected, Tho: Laurence doth agree to act all on his part at his own charge, if the Governours and inhabitants of Malbrough ſhall on their part conſent and agree firſt, that all that have paid one peny a week adde one half peny a week more, and all others accordingly to help children that are to be taught, and to diſpoſe of them when they can work well. 2. To require the keeper of the workhouſe that he provide wool to ſet on work from time to time ſixty perſons of the Town, if more want work, then they to have work provided alſo, and the keeper of the workhouſe to be paid for that as can be agreed, and to pay wages as others pay for the like work, being as well done, and to have money allowed him to buy working inſtruments, to teach ſuch to work at the work­houſe who cannot work non have friends to teach them, and every one to pay for their tools and teaching, and when they can work well, to be diſpo­ſed of, and others put in their places. 3. That the Governours appoint the Wardſman, or ſome other Officer, to ſend in every morning ſuch as are appointed that none fail of their days work, and to allow as formerly, all ſuch to take alms as are in neceſſity, until ſome good courſe can be taken for their relief,3 and whatſoever things or perſons are not rated being rateable, be equally rated and paid to the poor, and that all extraordinary charges, as by peſtilence, or the like, be not paid out of the collection money; and that there be a poor mans box in the Office, to put in what money any one ſhall freely give for his informati­on and advice, or any other charitable perſon for the uſe of the poor. 4. That the Officers that collect and bring in the money, the keeper of the workhouſe, and Tho. Laurence, meet at the poor mans Office every ſixt day, at the mid­dle of the day, to diſpoſe of the money collected for children, and ſuch as juſtly complain of want, and to ſettle labourers and handicrafts men as much as may be in conſtant work, and the old and impotent in moſt convenient places, and that the Officers of every ward deſire work of them that have it, for la­bourers and handicrafts men, being required by them that want work, and that there be a proviſion of firing at the beſt rate in ſeveral places of the Town, for poor people to have at hand for their money as they have occaſion. 5. If any one concerned in this Covenant, through any occaſion whatſoever, ſhall fail of his duty for the publike good, then Tho. Laurence is to chuſe another in his place, or act himſelf by the ſame power. 6. That not onely Governors, but all inhabitants alſo joyn in one to advance the publike good, by ſetting aſide work for times of want, as wood cleaving, threſhing, hedging, gardening, digging, weeding, gathering hearbs, or any work, and inform at the Office what work they have, and how long they can ſtay. 7. Not onely the rich, but poor alſo be provident to get work for themſelves, and not live idly and diſorderly, cauſing their own miſery, but labour and eat their own bread, this is that the Apoſtle warned, 1 Theſſ. 3.10. If any man would not work, he ſhould not eat: The drunkard and the glutton ſhall come to poverty, and drouſineſs ſhall cloath a man with rags, Prov. 23. and ſtripes are for the back of fools, Prov. 19, 20. and a deceitful perſon ſhall be famiſhed, Prov. 19.15. 8. If not onely the Town, but the Countrey neer adjoyning ſhall ſay, they ſuffer much by the poor of Marlbrough, if they will contribute, then their doors, woods, hedges, and other goods may be more free: and if any perſon ſhall be found to have ſtollen any thing from them that contribute, that then reſtitution be made by them that ſtole it, according to the Law; but if the Countrey ſhall take no notice, neither may the Town. 9. When the ſtreets are cleanſed of all beggars that are able to work, then they who paid three half pence a week, pay one half peny a week more, and all others accordingly, to maintain the old, impotent, and young children, theſe are ſome pointings, but the knowledge is in practice 10. That all houſholders in Marlbrough meet at the Town Hall to give their conſent. If ſome will ſay. They will give their charity themſelves; ſo they may, for this publike collection is paid, not given, neither doth this hinder any to give money, food, raiment, or ſend gifts to the poor, according to Scripture. 11. That whatſoever things are juſt, and for the good of the Town, though not mentioned in this form, be performed by every particular inhabitant. 12. That ſix of the Governours, and ſix of the inhabitants in the behalf of the whole Town, ſet their hands and ſeals to this agreement, and that this work begin at the end of harveſt, which is the beſt time, and until that time it may be conſidered of, and then if the Governours and inhabitants of4 Marlbrough will enter into this Covenant, Tho. Laurence doth agree to act all on his part till the work be effected, at his own charge. At the firſt he judged it might deſerve 100 l. for his pains and charge, but his conſcience bearing him witneſs, that gain was not the mover, and fearing the Inhabitants would ſtumble at the ſame, T. L. is free to act without money. 13. After conſide­ration of the numbers at preſent charge, and there may be many more, be­ſides others in danger, and the moſt are old, impotent, and families of chil­dren that are very ſmall, and of them that are well able to work, but a very little number: If therefore the Governors and inhabitants of Marlbrough ſhall conſent and agree, that after tryal the former rates are found too little to main­tain the poor, that then every one who pay one peny a week, pay one far­thing a week more, and all others accordingly, and when the poor can be maintained with leſs, and children are grown, the Town may by conſent take their rates lower.

To the Parliament.

THat there may not be a beggar in England, Scotland, nor Ireland, it is deſired, That you would give order that every Pariſh under your Go­vernment provide two able men fearing God, with whom they may agree to act as followeth; (in caſe none ſhall undertake it freely) Firſt to take notice how many families there be in that Pariſh. 2. How many beg. 3, How ma­ny old, impotent, and young children. 4. To take notice how many are able to work, and of ſuch as ſhould ſet them to work according to order. 5. To meet the Officers that collect and bring in the money, one day in every week at the time and place appointed, to ſet in order things concerning the poor.

6. To ſettle a poor mans Office, to ſet down firſt where labourers and handi­crafts men that want work, and ſuch as want workmen, may enquire. 2. Where boys that would or are fit to go Apprentices, may be informed of Maſters, or ſuch as want ſervants in City or Countrey, or whom they have ſpoken to may enquire 3. 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, untill they be firſt taught to knit, ſpin, ſow, learn ſome trade, or way of livelihood, leſt in aftertimes they can do nothing for themſelves. 4. Where any poor people that may have work, and are known to live idly, may be informed of, and courſe taken with. 5. Where any poor that are in diſtreſs,5 having juſt cauſe to complain,, may make their conditions known, that courſe may be taken to ſupply their wants, as money can be had. Sixthly, Where any well-affected may inform and adviſe for the publike good, that poor peo­ple having conſtant work, may earn more at a lower rate, then thoſe that work only three or four days in a week at a higher rate: And as the men entruſted are to act as aforeſaid, ſo the Officers and Inhabitants of the Pariſh to act as fol­loweth.

Firſt, To raiſe a ſtock or gather money to provide work for them that are able to work, and to ſupply their old, impotent, and young children by collecti­on, and alſo help thoſe whoſe work will not maintain them, though the money may trouble ſome, yet the charge may be much leſs, and more equal then giving victuals; beſides, conſider the ill breeding, wicked life, and bad end that many come unto by idleneſs. 2. To take the beſt courſe they can for the manner how to ſet them to work on ſilk, wool, hair, cotton, hemp, flax tow, wick, or any other matter; if there be 20 perſons in a village that live by begging, being able to work, then the Pariſh to agree with ſome clothiers, Throwſter, ſtuf, or ſtocking-maker for 5 pound a year; or as the thing is or can be agreed, to furniſh the 20 perſons with as much work conſtantly as they can do, and pay as others pay for the like work being as well done; ſo in great Towns or Places of clothing, one Clothier may take 20. another 20 as before: ſo in great Cities where is much trade on ſilks, wool, hair, cotton winding, weaving, button making, or the like, every Pariſh or Diviſion agree with ſome Tradeſman to provide work for 20, as aforeſaid, and ſo may riſe to hundreds or thouſands by the ſame rule; ſo the poor may have work to do, Tradeſmen their work done, and money alſo; ſo in places where poor are encreaſed, and have no Trade; or where ſome great Trade is wholly decayed, ſome other is to be ſought for with diſcretion; but where Trade at preſent is dead, there ſome perſons only to be ſet to other work, or put to other places for a time, and not hanker after maſters for work, when the Trade is ſo dead, and hurt both. 3. That all Officers in the Pariſh aſſiſt the men entruſted, as need requires, and they that collect and bring in the money, and the men entruſted meet at the poor man's Office one day in every week at the time appointed to ſettle the work, to diſpoſe the collection money to chil­dren that learn to work, and ſuch as are in want, to ſettle labourers and handy­craft men in conſtant work, and old and impotent in convenient places; and whatſoever they can do for the good of the Pariſh, though not mentioned in this form. 4 That not only Officers, but all Inhabitants joyn in one to ad­vance the publique good, by ſetting aſide work for days and times of want, and inform at the Office what work they have, and how long they can ſtay. 5. Not only rich, but the poor alſo in every pariſh be provident to get work for them­ſelves, and not live idle and diſorderly, cauſing their own miſery, but labour, and••t their own bread; this is that the Apoſtle warned 1 Theſſ. 3.10. If any would not work, he ſhould not eat: The drunkard and the glutton ſhall be poor, and drowſineſs ſhall cloath a man with rags, Prov. 23.21. and ſtripes are for the back of fools, Prov. 19.29. and a deceitful perſon ſhall be affamiſhed, Prov. 19.15 6. If the country alſo ſhall contribute to populous Towns, then the•r6 doors, woods, hedges, and other goods may be freed from them, and then pub­like notice be given that none of the Town enter upon the ground of any per­ſon or pariſh that contribute, for they have given ſo much by the year, and who­ſoever ſhall be found to have ſtolen any thing from them that contribute, are to make reſtitution according to the Law; Gods law was, that whom the Judge ſhould condemn, was to pay to his neighbour double, or fourfold. 7. That all houſholders in every pariſh meet in ſome convenient place where this form may be read, and the whole Pariſh with the men in truſt enter into covenant to per­form all that is herein, and all elſe that may be for the general good, and all the Officers of the pariſh, and as many more of the inhabitants in the be half of the whole pariſh, ſet their hands and ſeals to this Agreement. Theſe are ſome point­ings, but the knowledge is in the practiſe: Now that words may come into pra­ctiſe for the publike good, it is deſired that the Parliament would give order that this ſhort form be read by the Miniſter of every Pariſh under their Gover­ment (it may be done as eaſie as to proclaim a Faſt) it will prevent idleneſs, leud­neſs, drunkenneſs, theft, &c. and ſo break the bands of wickedneſs, and let the oppreſſed go free, the true Faſt which God hath choſen, proclaim it abroad, it is honourable) and then to be delivered the Officers for the poor to take notice how many beg in every pariſh, what courſe they have taken to ſupply them with labour and relief, and to give in their accompts to any one who is appoint­ed Juſtice of the Peace for the County, one moneth before the Quarter Seſſi­ons, and the Juſtices of every County to peruſe the accompts, and give them in to the Judge of the Seſſions to be conſidered of as is need; if any Officer fail of his duty, or any of the Pariſh ſhall oppoſe, or not aſſiſt, that then both Officers and others ſo failing, pay at every Seſſions to the uſe of the poor, double their rate for their neglect: and if any have juſt cauſe to complain, he may appeal to the Officers of the poor, or to the Juſtices of the County, or to the Judge of the Seſſions, or to the higher powers, to which every ſoul is to be ſubject.

And what ſhall be laid upon Superiours if they ſhall neglect the truſt com­mitted to them?

When the deceit of ſuch is laid open before the higher powers, I leave to their judgement, knowing that all, both high and low muſt give an accompt to God; nor do I deſire to burden any mans conſcience or eſtate, but to eaſe them rather, and to ſtir up the mindes of wiſe men to act for their own profit, to compleat by practiſe and experience what is briefly pointed at in words: juſt men in truſt a juſt account, and a penalty upon the unjuſt juſtly executed, are as ſinnews to the body of this work; but if there be no man in truſt, no account nor penalty, the work will fail, Gods judgements have been long upon theſe Nations, great differences and diſcontents have been ſeen, great bloodſhed and burthens have been felt, great counſels and undertakings have failed, who knoweth but it hath been much for the cauſe of the poor, there have been of­ten faſtings and long prayers; who ſtop their ears at the cry of the poor, ſhall cry themſelves, and not be heard; that there may not be a beggar in Iſrael: no beggar in England, Scotland, or Ireland, is the deſire and hope of one, who hath no intentions of evil in any, but wiſh the good of all.