302 History of the English Landed Interest. 



thus conveniently construed by their recipients — a state of 

 affairs which once more called for legislative interference. For 

 a time such certificates were only held valid as long as their 

 holders kept free from parochial assistance. This measure was 

 soon found to be too sweeping, and was modified so as to ex- 

 clude those certificate-holders who, by having taken the lease 

 of a tenement of £10 a year, or executed some annual office 

 under legal appointment, had substantiated a legitimate claim 

 to residence.^ But this alteration in the law was found to admit 

 to rights of settlement the servant of the certificate-holder or 

 his apprentice bound by indenture, which of course had not 

 been intended, and further legislation became necessary.^ 



The distinctions between the vagrant, the rogue, and the 

 pauper were so small that the poor-rate was often devoted to 

 unworthy objects. The State therefore enacted that those en- 

 titled to relief must henceforth wear a uniform, and carry on 

 their right shoulder-sleeve a badge of their poverty, and the 

 initial letter of their parish. Even then it was not uncommon 

 for individuals, who were unable to obtain relief from the usual 

 sources, to apply to a justice, and by some frivolous pretence 

 to obtain from him that assistance which the overseers of the 

 public poor-rates, more accurately informed of their characters, 

 had thought fit to refuse. The legislature again set to work 

 and formulated a scheme since known as " The Workhouse 

 Test," which forbade the justices to administer relief unless 

 an applicant could not only prove that he had been improperly 

 denied it elsewhere, but produce sworn evidence of the reason- 

 able nature of his claims.^ Also the overseers were empowered 

 to register in the parish book every case of relief, faihng which 

 they rendered themselves liable to fines. * 



The tendency of the executive was at first to enlarge the 

 powers of parish overseers, who were even allowed to purchase 

 or hire houses in their own parishes, and contract with persons 

 for the lodging, maintenance, and employment of their poor ; 



to the Profession of the Law, than any other point in English juris- 

 prudence.— i?cZe?i on the State of the Foot, vol. i., 1797. 



1 9 and 10 Will. c. 11. ^ ;12 An. st. i. c. 18. 



' 9 Geo. I. c. 7. " Id. Ibid. 



