Several Propositions tendered by the Corporation for the employing the Poor of the City of London, and Liberties.  
FOrasmuch as it is not simply the present suppression and setting to work of idle Vagrants and beggars of all sorts, wherewith the Streets, Lanes, and several parts of this City, have of late so much abounded, to the great scandal and dishonour thereof, that can throughly accomplish that hopeful Reformation in this kind that is desired and intended, except some effectual course be taken for the prevention thereof for the future. And whereas also, that through the general neglect of most places, poor children maintained by their respective parishes, and others are bred up like Atheists, after a sordid loose, and undisciplined manner, care being had only for their present bodily provision; by means whereof, so much dissoluteness, idleness, thefts, whoredoms, profane cursing, swearing, and almost all kinds of wickedness do generally abound in that sort of people, being indeed the most probable, if not certain consequences of such an education. And furthermore, whereas many Pensioners and others do eat the bread of idleness; some through an accustomed ocitansy, who can, but will not work; and others through an unavoidable necessity, who would, but cannot procure work: For the hopeful prevention of the inconveniencies aforesaid, the Corporation for the employing of the Poor of the City of London, do tender to the respective Parishes of the said City as followeth.  
1. That the poor Children of this City, and Liberties thereof, from 〈◊〉 years old and upward, who now are at home at the Parishes charge, be duly sent to the Worke-houses belonging to the Corporation, with provision for their Dinners with them, where they shall have means to learn as well to read and write, as to be instructed in such manufacturies as they shall be capable of; Provided, they bring with them the Certificate of the churchwardens or Overseers of the poor of their several Parishes respectively.  
2. That to this end they shall have two hours in every day allowed them to learn to read and write, with one hour at noon for their repast, and the rest of the day, from seven or eight of the clock in the morning, till five or six at night, to be spent in getting knowledge how to work in some manufacture that may be useful to this commonwealth.  
3. That for the first quarter of the year (except the Children be grown up, or are more expert than ordinary) it cannot be expected that any thing should be given them but their Learning, in respect of that unavoidable loss which will be sustained in the teaching them any manufacture whatsoever, through the waste that they will make. But after the first quarter, twelve pence per week shall be allowed to each Child for their work, and shall be increased as they shall deserve, which together with what is allowed by the parish for their keeping and clothes, will be a competent maintenance for each respective Child.  
4. That the Pensioners in the several wards, that are best able, may by turns weekly accompany the children to the Work-houses, one Pensioner to have the oversight of ten children, or their abouts, so as to bring them in the morning, and to return with them home at night; and the said Pensioners may likewise work upon such manufacturies as they are best skilled in, and be paid according to their earnings.  
5. That the Children who shall be employed by this Corporation, may each of them have a badge of the Corporation upon their sleeves.  
6. That such Pensioners, or other poor as are aged, or that cannot come to the said work-houses, may have materials to work upon home to their own houses, some of the Overseers of the Parish engaging for the faithful return of them when they are converted into manufacture, according to the tickets printed by order of the Corporation, and they likewise to be paid according to their earnings.  
7. That for the straggling poor, if they belong to any parish within this City, and the Liberties thereof, then from thence they must have allowance, and there have habitation, and be regulated as is before expressed concerning the Parish Children.  
8. That when any of these children so regulated, and educated, shall become fit, through ripeness of age, or otherwise, they may be placed out apprentices in some useful trades for their future livelihoods.  
Towards the effectual accomplishment of which work aforesaid, the said Corporation doubt not of the most ready concurrence and help of all pious and charitable hearts.  

18 September, 1650.  
ORdered at a Court held by the Corporation for the Poor of the City of London and Liberties, That these Propositions with the Preamble now read and voted, shall be forthwith Printed, and dispersed to the Parishes of LONDON.  
Signed by the appointment of the Corporation. Per Jo. Marsh, Cler.    

London, Printed by Richard Cotes, 1650.