The Orphans Cry We perish We Die depiction of beggars As We you see So may yours Be for the lords sak● For God's Sake For Crist Sake O Somm Comfort Pity me in misery O I am Sick Lay not this Sinn to their Charge Dead in the Street THE Poor Orphan's Court, OR Orphans Cry. By M. S. Being a wellwisher for a speedy help of their misery, and an eyewitness of their present calamity. blazon or coat of arms LONDON, Printed by A. G. for M. S. junior. 1636. The Preface. HE that shall undertake at all times to speak truth in this age (freely from his heart) shall be accounted a meddling fellow, not worthy to live in any society, but to be sequestered from men. We all know some be in feriour, and those men ought not to be so little respected, as not to be called men, because they have no authority: For there is as well the common Sailer as the Pilot, and he sees the storm before it comes, and gives notice to the Pilot how to steer his course for their best safeguard. So I living this many years, and observing this wel-governed City, have seen as in most things something which I thought amiss, and might be rectified, which is the great neglect of the poor of this City. I meddle no further, for by my frequent going in all parts early and late, I have these many years observed the misery of the poor but most of all of children, young boys and girls, which for many years I beheld, hoping ever God would open some honest Citizen's heart that died rich, that they would do something to begin to raise a stock. And seeing S. Paul's remembered, though not sufffciently, as also morefield's, Aldersgate, Allgate, Newgate, and other good deeds done and performed, yet this neglecte●, I caused a Book to be printed some 16. years ago, called, Grievons groans for the Poor. But I being then in the country the book (whether at the Book sellers or at the Printers I know not) lost the life, and reason how the poor should be provided for, by which means it lost all respect, and I my good intention; not many years after this, there was a collection for employment for the poor, but which way that stock went I have nothing to do to examine; Not many years after that, that worthy Sir T. M. his project came forth, which no doubt had it been seconded, it had taken good effect, for I am persuaded he aimed at the general good of all, but this vanished as a shadow; since which I have observed and find the last remedy is for the children used in the weekly Bills, Dead in the Street, or starved. And this is all the remedy I find for these poor silly witless creatures. Those that be able to help themselves, I speak not for, but for these poor Orphans, whose Court is kept in a Cage, or under a Stall, or in S. Paul's amongst the forms, the more is the pity. We have an Orphan's Court well guided and governed (God be thanked for it) long may it continue, and what trudging and going is there if the rich die and leave wealth to their children, but the poor die and no Orphan's Court can be found. Outinam, thereit is, and not else to be found or seen. But these few lines it may be will be laughed at, I care not though they be; I give myself content, and wish but that may be done here, as is at this present in Dorchester, Norwich, not one seen to beg: let us learn of them or of the Dutch, as in the University of LEYDEN: where 800. Orphans are daily fed and set at work, and well provided for, how do the Dutch or French parishioners in LONDON; can they do so, and not we? It is nothing but our hard hearts; for me thinks I hear some say, I have but 500 pounds in my estate, I would give one to it, nay I am persuaded there be 500 of this mind in this City, but either cowardice, or fear of being accounted a vainglorious person makes them desist, nay, me thinks I hear some Companies say, We will keep all our poor and well some may, if all things were looked into; but these Orphans with good looking to would keep themselves, witness the willingness of some, who you shall have of the bigger sort in Fleet-steet in the evenings, with links ready to earn a penny to light men, nay, in Smithfield standing by day to sweep clean the ways, how ready are many of them? but the weakest go to the wall, as we see by woeful experience, many whose Toes and Legs are ready to rot off, and worse miseries, which make many a man blush to see that they are no better provided for. It may be I am deceived, would I were. I am verily persuaded, that many spend more in the Tavern idly than they give the poor willingly. Will not many a Lady spend ordinarily day by day five shillings to see an idle play, or five pounds at a Rear Banquet rather tha● give five shillings, I believe five tokens, to help these poor miserable children. If they hear of a new Play, on goes all the best clothes, the Coach-horses must be fetched, and that they may hurry from the poor, the Coachman shall have his charge, to drive away when he cometh amongst them; and what's the word? Away with these Stinking-beggers, but when they come home, they will call to the servants to see the dog have his dinner, but the poor shall go supperless to bed under a stall, or in a Porch, dying with misery, or starving with cold, and hunger. These are reasons able to draw a man into a serious consideration for a speedy remedy, and I leave them to those in authority, and rest ever wishing, but not obtaining my desire, that there were a Court for the poor Orphans as well as the rich. A wellwisher of the poor. M. S. The Orphans Court. The poor I thus distinguish into three sorts: 1 Sturdy Rogues and Whores. 2 Blind and Lame. 3 Aged and Young. FIrst I begin with the sturdy Rogue and Whore, and here for these there be * 23. Eliza. 3▪ cap. 7.34. E, c, 1.7. R. 2. c. 5.12. R. 2. c. 7.11. H. 7. c. 2.19. H. 7. c. 12.22. H. 8, c. 12.27. H. 8. c. 25. 1 E. 6. c. 3.3. E. 6. c. 5. E. 6. c. 2.2. & 3. this and many, c. 5, 5. El. c. 3. all which are expired or repealed: & 14. El. c. 5.18. El. c. 3.39. El. c. 4. & 1. lac. cap. 7 vet in force. many good laws enacted, but few put in execution; and for these are appointed Marshals, and Beadels. But when a Marshals eyes be not in all places, or his men will scarce look to any, than these vermin increase; and where these are sturdy, that an old creeping Beadel must entreat for fear of knocks, than no Constable being so bold as he ought, for fear he be counted a busy fellow, than they get mastery and domineer, and I know no remedy for these but two, the one a labouring prison, or house of correction the other the Gallows, and there I think it fittest to leave them, being people not worth the speaking of. The second sort I come to, be the blind and lame, these are suffered to beg, and good reason, * 18 El. c 3 and the other fore quoted natures inhibit any to beg but there ought to be no beggar but if any be privileged, then well may these, but none may be privileged, Ergo, therefore it were more fit for the blind, to be otherwise provided for, and for the lame, those that have lost the use of their hands to be provided for, those that have lost their feet, their hands may be made to supply that defect, by diverse kinds of works: as Net-making, Saile-making, and such like for men. The women may Card and Spin, but that is out of fashion, a bawdy Ballad, or an idle Song are these idle people's greatest pains, where they make many more idle than themselves, and there I leave these idle people, who might be better employed, if they were better looked unto. The third sort be those, which of purpose this Tract was written for, these be those that I desire you in office, and in whose power it lies, to look with their eyes, and pity with their hearts these poor wretched miserable wretches, those who have neither father nor mother, no, nor any friends, those that want wit, reason, and are not come to understanding, those whose years speak not discretion, nor have wit to help themselves, and those be they that make blood drop from my heart, whilst my pen cannot express their misery, those of whom Cheapside stalls, and doors, and porches, and S. Bartholomew's benches, with Smith field, and other corners be witnesses, to their griefs whose eyes if they stir abroad do not see these poor younglings, lame, lousy, ragged, and almost starved, whilst each hair of their heads stand staring in the viewers face, as amazed to see so many not once moved with pity to care for them. These swarm in Summer at the Brick-hills and Playhouse doors, which houses are the Nurses of many of these miserable wretches, these being many are cast off by wicked parents, or being placed out to apprentize by the Parish, or put to Masters, are cast off from one to another, so if the Parish never hear of them again, but be rid of them they are safe; and if the Nunses get but a piece of money, they are safe, and glad they can so be rid of them; this might be redressed by the Masters of the Parish, if they would every three month have the children brought to a Vestry, to see how they were provided for, but because there is no better provision for them, I could wish there were some course taken, as these few I will propound, viz. The Parish might take such course, as to call all the poor children, and take a view and number of all, and as they come to ability, to set out, as namely, by these, or such like means. Every Ship being of burden 200. Tuns, should employ two or three boys. Every Coale-ship trading to London from Newcastle to take one. Every Parish might raise out of the Parish a stock so to employ them, until they grow to some stature, then to be sent to the Plantations, to some careful Master there, and they to give a true account of the children, how, and in what estate they be with them. Every ship that goes to Virginia to carry six boys and six girls, every one to carry the like to New England, and so to our other plantations, and the Parish to pay their passage, and at their arrival there, he that takes them into custody or service, give bond to pay the charge of their fraught and costs thither to the Parish here at twelve months end back, which they would do with thankes, so they might have them but six years apprentize; now some demand, where shall money be raised to send them away? for that I answer, the money at the Inquest yearly, may be better so employed then to banqueting, and the great feast money may be better spared this ways than worse spent. For this many more and better, courses may be taken, which I leave to better judgements, for this I know were there but a Stock, raised to transport them thither, the Stock would be kept whole by those that take them to be their servants, by return of commodities for them, for our Laws they be good in this kind, if they were but well executed: as for example, the 22. of Henry the 8. 22. Hen. 8. c. 12. and 27. H. 8. c. 25. There were acts made for the relief of aged and impotent persons unable to work, and for Collections to be made for such: which acts prescribe severe punishments against vagabonds and sturdy beggars able to work. 1. Edw. 6. c. 3. There was an Act passed for the punishment of vagabonds, and the relief of the poor and impotent persons; whereby it was enacted that Collections should be made in every Parish, for the impotent poor of that Parish: that those who were aged and lame should be set to such work as they were able to perform, every Town, Parish, or village providing such work for them in common, as they might be occupied in, or appointing them to such as will find them work for meat and drink. And by this Law, it was provided, that all children under years of age, whether Male or Female that wandered abroad by themselves, or with their parents, or others, might be seized upon, and taken away from their parents, by those who would bring them up in some honest labour, or occupation, till they came to twenty years if Females, and four and twenty years of age if Males: And by this Act, the Major of the City of London, and all other Majors, Bailiffs, Sheriffs, Constables, and other head Officers of every City and Town corporate, are enjoined once every month to make a view and examination of all aged, impotent, and lame persons and beggars within the precinct of their jurisdiction, to see those that were lame, and had lain there above the space of three whole years, sufficiently provided for, and to send all others home to the places where they were borne, etc. upon pain of forfeiting 40. shillings for every default. See 5. Edw. 6. c. 2. and 3. Phil. and Mar. c. 5.5. Eliz. c. 3.14. E. c. 5.18, El.c. 3.39. Eliz. c. 4.5 5.43. Eliz. c. 2.3.4. There were diverse good Laws enacted for the relief of poor, impotent, aged, maimed, and decrepit persons; and good provisions made for poor Orphans, and children too, which are to be bound, and placed out to husbandry, or some other honest trade and labour; or to be set on work upon a common stock, or be trained up in Hospitals, till they are fit to be apprentizes, etc. which Laws, if they were as carefully executed, as they were piously made, no Orphans, nor other need complain, I am sure never any should perish in the street for want of looking to, which is only the fault of Officers, not of the Laws, which are no way defective, either in inflicting some condign punishment upon vagrant sturdy beggars, who refuse to work, or in providing for the relief of Orphans, and poor impotent persons who are unable to labour. 1 The Overseers of the poor of every Parish appointed purposely by the Law, to see the impotent, poor, and Orphans duly relieved, ought every week to inquire what poor there are in their parishes, and to allot them a competent allowance according to their necessities. 2 These Overseers should weekly inquire how these Orphans and impotent persons, which they place out to others are provided for, and to examine whether they have food sufficient allowed them, and in case they find them with whom they are placed, negligent in providing for them, or in suffering them to stray abroad, and so to perish, or miscarry, to complain of them to the Magistrates who have power to inflict such punishments on them, as the quality of their offence demerits. 3 Those chidrens that are of age and strength to work, aught to be bound out to some trade or other, or else set to work upon some common parish stock, of which the Overseers of the poor for the time being, or some others deputed by the Parish, should have the managing and government, appointing every child to that work he is fit, and setting some Master workman over them who should instruct them. 4 The Constables, Overseers of the poor, and Beadles, especially if they see any such poor Orphans, or children, or other impotent persons, begging, playing, or loitering in the streets, should presently examine them what they are, and where they live: If in another Parish they should presently convey them thither, and acquaint the Overseers of the poor, or Constables with them, that so it might keep them & provide for them if need be according as our laws prescribe. If their own parish, if they are poor and need relief, they are forthwith to take care for their supply and education, and in case they are fit for any work or employment, to set them to that they are able to perform, and to train them up or place them out to such who will bring them up to some honest labour. 5 When such Orphans and poor children are thus placed out apprentices, the Overseers and such as bind them out apprentices, and their successors, or at leastwise the Overseers of the parishes, or Masters, or Alderman of the several ward, where they are placed, ought, and may monthly inquire, how they are used by their Masters, whether they allow them competent food and raiment, while they keep them to their work, and give them that which is fit for Christians, or persons of their age and quality: whether they keep them in their service, or else turn them away without just cause, (in all or some of which many Masters are often delinquent) And in case they find them pervert, to complain against them for it, that so they may be punished in a just and legal manner. And if all Overseers of the poor, Constales, Beadles and under Officers would be but thus diligent in their places, or if superior Magistrates would but punish them severely, as our laws appoint, where they find them negligent in their duties, we should quickly have no begging, no perishing, nor complaining in our streets. FINIS.