SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 



branded for that offence. 128 Four years later the Privy Council ordered 

 the City authorities to confer with the Middlesex justices as to the adop- 

 tion of joint action for the repression of vagrancy, 127 and about 1600 the 

 Lord Chief Justice at the queen's request called a meeting of the justices 

 of Middlesex and Surrey and of representatives of the City Wa to consider 

 what joint measures should be adopted. The best method of dealing 

 with the vagrants was considered to be the institution of a house of 

 correction in each of the two counties at a capital expenditure of 4,000 

 and a yearly allowance of i 50 each, and as it was 'very apparent ' that 

 London really was the main source of this concourse of beggars, the 

 representatives of the City consented that they ought to make some 

 contribution to charges which exceeded the county resources. Con- 

 fiding in this agreement the counties leased suitable premises and 

 entered into agreements with ' undertakers ' to take charge of and 

 employ at suitable trades the vagrants committed to them. Amongst 

 the Caesar papers in the British Museum 128 there is a scheme submitted 

 to the justices of Middlesex in 1602 by the undertakers of the poor for 

 employing pauper children from the age of seven at pin-making. The 

 undertakers ask for a ' convenient stock of money ' to take and 

 furnish a house and clothe and provide for the children, who at first, 

 of course, will be able to earn nothing, and they suggest a quarterly 

 levy for this purpose at the rate of 4^. for every one rated at 10, 

 and id. weekly contribution to the poor's rate. Apparently adult 

 vagrants were to be taken in as well and employed as servants to the 

 children, and in spinning and weaving linen and wool, making clothes, 

 and knitting stockings for the house. The house is to be ' ordered like 

 a college or hospital, whereby the whole nomber may learne exsample 

 of religion and civilitie.' The children were to wear ' a clean shirt or 

 smock fyttinge their age,' they are to rise at 5 a.m. and work till 9 p.m., 

 and if they misdemean themselves to have 'reasonable correction according 

 to discretion.' When they have served their time each is to receive 

 1 double apparrell, and each man a new broad cloth cloke and each 

 mayde a new gown,' and, it was hoped, be sent out into the world with 

 the excellent prospect of soon being ' liable themselves to three or four 

 servants.' 



Meanwhile the promised contributions from the City were con- 

 spicuous by their absence, the undertakers were unpaid and petitioned 

 the king for the reimbursement of money expended by them, and in 

 1603 James I appointed a commission of four the earl of Shrewsbury, 

 Sir John Fortescue, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Sir John 

 Popham, the chief justice, and Sir John Stanhope, the vice-chamberlain, 

 to inquire into the matter. Their report emphasized the greatness of 

 the evil and the necessity for the co-operation of the City, which the 

 latter obstinately continued to refuse. The king himself addressed a letter 

 to the City urging on them their obligations, and in June, 1605, the 



m Jeaffreson, Sets. R. i, 190. '" Leonard, op. cit. 93 ; Everall, Analytical Index to Remembranda, 358. 

 1171 B.M. MS. 12503, fol. 278-84 (Caesar papers). " 8 B.M. MS. 12497, fol. 187. 



93 



