DORSET ASSIZES IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. 25 



Indications of this may be found in the considerable number of 

 bills thrown out by the Grand Jury, and in the not infrequent 

 fines inflicted on tithings for suffering the escape of murderers, 

 who were moreover known and named. The fines were 

 collected by distraint, or threat of distraint, on one of the 

 principal inhabitants, who was allowed to recoup himself in 

 part by levying a rate on his neighbours. 



Attention may now be directed to the work carried out at 

 the Assizes in connection with the civil administration in the 

 county, as depicted in the Order Books. The orders refer to 

 disputes between parishes as to the settlement of paupers, 

 refusals to take apprentices appointed by parochial officers, 

 the repair of highways and bridges, the erection of cottages 

 without sufficient land attached, the appointment of coroners 

 and of constables of Hundreds, suppression of alehouses, and 

 some other subjects which can hardly be classified. One 

 of the disputes concerning paupers is perhaps worth a passing 

 notice. Robert Way was born at Wimborne, and eighteen 

 years later went beyond the seas, but returning again to his 

 native place, lived there for some short time, and then moved 

 to Ringwood, where he rented some land, and at Ringwood 

 Way fell on evil days and seemed likely to become a charge 

 on the parish. Under these circumstances, the people of 

 Ringwood drove Way out of their town, and put pressure on 

 his landlord to prevent the (possible) pauper being brought 

 back. The Court decided that Ringwood would have to 

 maintain Way if the necessity arose. Disputes of this kind 

 were exceedingly frequent, and indeed the whole subject of 

 pauperism must have been one of the most pressing problems 

 with which the authorities were confronted. In 1635 a large 

 number of the inhabitants of Sturminster Marshall were 

 turned out of their houses, the result, it may be imagined, of 

 a quarrel about the title to an estate, and were living under 

 hedges, and were " like to perish for want of succour." Two 

 Justices were ordered to make immediate arrangements for 

 their relief. The apprenticing of poor children was also the 

 cause of a good deal of trouble, for employers naturally 



