SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY 



added that the markets were not so well supplied as formerly, owing to the 

 counties of Northampton and Oxford having ' mad restraynte that none 

 maie bring anie corne oute of theire Countie in to ours, which before 

 were greater reliefe to us, than anie parte of our owne Shyre.' The southern 

 parts of these hundreds at least, contained a greater proportion of pasture 

 land than arable, so that they would have largely depended on corn from 

 other counties. The prices quoted were slightly higher than in Cottesloe 

 Hundred. 



In 1577 the justices 189 were ordered to interfere in the wool trade, and 

 they returned a certificate to the effect that they had bound the ' Broggers 

 and buyers of wooll' in 100 a piece, that neither they nor their heirs would 

 buy any kind of wool that had been grown within the county beyond what 

 they or their apprentices were able to use each in his own house. They 

 were further forbidden to buy any wool in order to sell it again wholesale, 

 but the justices found that even those who had had licence to buy granted 

 them, had obeyed the proclamation of the council. 



The legislation for poor relief of the sixteenth century was brought to 

 its conclusion by the Acts of 1597 and 1601, the latter in all essential points 

 a re-enactment of the previous statute, with certain amendments. 



These Acts formed the basis of poor-law administration until the close of 

 the eighteenth century, and not only were they important in this respect, 

 but they seem to have been far more efficiently carried out than earlier 

 enactments. 



The main clauses provided that the relief of the poor should be in the 

 hands of the churchwardens and four overseers of the poor appointed yearly 

 by the justices of the peace. 



Poor children were to be taught some employment or apprenticed ; 

 adults were to be employed and stock was to be provided for those who could 

 not find work. 



The impotent, the blind, and the aged were to be relieved and hospitals 

 might be built on waste lands for their reception. With regard to the funds 

 necessary to carry out these instructions a rate was levied on ' every in- 

 habitant and occupyer of landes,' and on refusal to pay it might be 

 levied by distress. The assessment was made by the parochial officers with 

 the consent of two justices, but any appeal was to be made at quarter sessions. 

 A county rate was also established for the relief of prisoners and for the 

 support of almshouses, &c., administered by a treasurer of the county 

 appointed by the justices. All beggars and rogues were forbidden to wander 

 about the county, excepting those who begged from fellow parishioners, and 

 licensed soldiers and sailors passing to their place of settlement. 



This statute was supplemented by an Act for the punishment of rogues, 

 vagrants, and sturdy beggars. All old statutes were repealed, and justices 

 were to establish houses of correction to which vagrants were to be sent after 

 having been whipped at the place of arrest. 



The Acts seem to have been well carried out. In the accounts at 

 Wing 190 after 1615 entries are continually made of money paid to travellers 

 with a passport and to ' poor men,' the occasion not always being specified, 

 though often the relief is given on account of losses by fire, shipwreck, or illness. 



"* S.P. Dom. Eliz. vol. 115, No. 8. " Churchwardens' Accts. 



75 



