A METHOD OF GOVERNMENT FOR SUCH Public Working ALMSHOUSES As may be Erected in every County for bringing all idle hands to Industry.  
AS The best known Expedient for restoring and advancing the Woollen Manufacture.  
HUMBLY Offered to the KING'S most Excellent MAJESTY and both Houses of PARLIAMENT.  
BY R. Haines  
With Allowance.  
LONDON, Printed for Langley Curtis on Ludgate-hill, 1679.   

A Method of Government for Public Working Almshouses, etc.  
THE Scope or End aimed at, and promised by my former Proposals, is, That all the Wool of England, and what Scotland and Ireland have to spare, may be Manufactured in England, as fast as it grows and arises, on such Terms as that all the Cloth we have to spare, being exported, may find quick Markets as fast as 'tis made.  
The Expedients or means to Effect All this; are, 

First in General, To bring all poor People and idle hands to Industry.  
Secondly, in particular, as the only effectual Way or Method, to do this to the best advantage it is proposed, 

That two or three, or more, Public Work-houses be Erected in every County, where all such poor people and idle hands may under good Government he constantly employed in that Manufacture,      
Which having been perused and considered by several Public Spirited Persons, known Promoters of the Nations wealth and safety, they have generally very much approved and encouraged the said Expedient, as most certain, feasible, and effectual to accomplish the great and good ends aforesaid; If I could but propose such a Method of Government in these Work-houses as the Nation may be secured of these four things, viz. The Country from being cheated of their Money raised for erecting and furnishing such Houses; the Poor from being abused; unfit Persons kept from being Officers and bearing Rule in them; and Justice from being wrested so as not to redress Grievances and punish Offenders.  
Wherefore (with all submission to better Judgements) I humbly offer such a Method of Government, as far as concerns the preservation of the Stock raised, and prevention of Frauds and Corruptions in Officers, as will, I conceive, remove all Apprehensions of any the before mentioned mischiefs, that so all judicious persons may be entirely satisfied: As thus,  
Since all Parishes are to contribute to this Work, and every Parishoner is concerned in the Charge, and may reap Benefit by it, if honestly managed, Therefore, because it cannot be imagined that any people will cheat or injure themselves, let each person in every Parish be concerned in or about the Government or Inspection thereof; as follows.  

1. That it be Enacted, that all contributing Parishioners, or the greatest part of them, meet Quarterly in their own Parish, and elect one, or more, as their Overseer or Delegates for this Inspection; And so every Parish to choose and send their Overseers every Quarter of the Year to inspect the State of that house to which they belong. Each Parish neglecting to choose, to forfeit 5 l. to the Treasury of the said Hospital. Each Overseer to be allowed 2 s. 6 d. a day by his Parish for the time he is out on this Affair on Horseback; and 1 s. 6 d. being out on Foot, provided that none continue out above 6 or 7 days at one time. Or if this seem too burdensome, two, or three, or more, small Parishes may join to this purpose as one.  
2. That these Overseers, being Assembled, may have full Power to elect Governors, prescribe Rules and Orders, choose trusties, appoint Officers, inquire into the Welfare of their respective Poor there, hear and redress their Grievances, see that they be not abused or discouraged, reform all disorders, call each Officer or Trustee to an account, turn them out, and elect new ones as often as they think necessary, etc. To which purpose they may subdivide themselves into several Companies, and dispatch much business in little time.  
3. That all men in this Assembly may be of equal Authority, and no one person overrule the rest, who shall likewise before they are admitted, oblige themselves by Oath, or solemn Promise made before a Magistrate, to do those things that are just and honest, to suffer no wrongs or injuries to pass uncorrected, to do nothing for favour or prejudice, but to perform all that lies in his power for the safety and public good of the Stock and House, and to give a just and true account at his return when called thereunto.  
4. That not known rude or disorderly Person shall be permitted to have any Office there, but that for the encouragement of such as are sent to the House to earn their Living, all inferior Offices or Places of Preferment may be conferred on such of the House as most deserve it, if capable.  
5. That if it be known any Person or Persons, directly or indirectly, hath given or taken any Bribe or Fee, or offered so to do, in order to obtain or confer any Office or Trust, or do improve his Interest to promote or continue any dishonest scandalous person in Office, than every such Person shall thenceforth for ever be incapable of having or holding any Office in the said Work-houses, or giving his Voice concerning the same in any meeting of the Parish or Overseers.  
6. That the Assembly of Overseers, with the Assistance of a Magistrate, have power to enjoin all Officers and trusties of the house, either by Oath or solemn Promise, that they shall act according to such Rules and Orders as shall be agreed on in the said Assembly; that they shall not conceal any ill Practices in any but discover them to the next Quarterly Assembly: That they shall every Quarter give a fair and just Account to that Assembly of all Moneys by them received or disbursed; what Goods they buy or sell, and the quantity and prizes, and what Goods or Money they have in their Custody; And that any one breaking such their Oath or solemn Promise shall be punished as in the Case of Perjury; and besides, the Offender to make satisfaction, for what he hath detained, imbeziled, or defrauded, to the house, or those that entrusted him.  
7. That the Overseers neglecting at the time appointed to use their utmost endeavour to take a true and just account of all persons entrusted, or failing to deliver a true account thereof to their respective Parishes, shall forfeit five pound apiece, to be paid to the Treasury of the Hospital.  
8. That for the building and first stocking such Work-houses, every Parish, or Parishes united, shall (till the same are finished and Government settled) send their Overseers every Fortnight, or Month, who shall carry the proportion of money payable thereunto by such Parishes respectively. And that all Expenditors & trusties employed for carrying on the work, shall be chosen by such Overseers, and be accountable to them till the house be finished and settled.  
9 That if any difference arise between the Overseers of the Parishes, and the trusties of the House, it shall be refered to a meeting of the respective Parishes, concerned in such Workhouse; And in case the like difference arise between the Parishioners and their Overseers, the same be referred to the next quarter Sessions, or if it require speed, then to two Justices, one to be chosen by the Parish, the other by the Overseers; Provided none shall have power to hinder the Parish or Parishes from choosing such Overseers as they shall think most fit to be trusted; or turning out such as they find dishonest.  
10. That every Parish, and Parishes united, do bring a fair account of what Moneys are Collected for the present year, and how disposed of, what remains in hand, and what poor they relieve at home, and in the Hospital, to the Justices at their Easter sitting, after the manner now practised.  
11. That the Parishes united shall be equally Taxed at a pound-rate for the relief of their poor, and that their Taxes and accounts be confirmed by the Justices, and that the Justices may in join the Parishes to contribute what is fit, when otherwise they refuse, and that any poor Inhabitant when abused, and cannot be Redressed, may make his case known to the Justice, when the Governors or Overseers shall refuse to do their Office.   
This Method of Government or Inspection I humbly offer as most safe, because from head to foot the Interest of one Member hath its dependence on the other.  

1. 'Tis the Interest of each Parish to Elect honest Overseers,  
2. 'Tis the Interest of these Overseers to Act righteous things, and Elect honest trusties, not only because, if they betray their Trust, they are in danger of punishment and dishonour, but also, because their own private Interest lies at stake in the Common interest of their Parishes.  
3. 'Tis the Interest of the Officers & trusties, whether Honest men or Knaves, to do honestly, because than they may continue in their places of reasonable profit, But if they do otherwise under so many Eyes, and such frequent inspections, they cannot hope to conceal their misdemeanours, and then must be severely corrected, and pay dearly for it.   
Thus much for the Form of Government, as to the Governors; I shall now add a few words concerning the Persons to be Governed; The rather for that our design is abusively Represented, as if we intended these houses to be places of Slavery, and to keep people per force there all their Lives, whereas we propose only this.  

1. That the Children of all poor people, who are Chargeable to the Parish, be without abuse employed in these Houses at six years old and upwards, and all Impotent people who are capable of employment, and do not Earn their live at home, having no Children under the Age of six years to be maintained.  
2. That the Man-children brought up in these Houses have their Liberty to go to Trades, or Husbandry, when they come to the age of 18. years. And the Maiden-childrens liberty at the same age to learn Housewifry.  
3. That all Beggars, Vagrants etc. who have no habitation, nor will earn their Live in any lawful Employment, be placed there.  
4. That all dangerous persons, Criminals, etc. Whom the law condemns to be hanged, etc. (Except in the Case of Murder and Treason) especially such as are guilty of Perjury & Forgery, may be confined to these Houses during Life, or for a certain Term of years, to serve the public, being able by their Labour to maintain as many more as themselves.  
5. That all Debtors in prison, not able to pay their Debts, or maintain themselves (whereof many hundreds there are ready to starve) may remove themselves to this Hospital, where they may live Comfortably and be Instruments for public good.   
These are the persons that may compose & fill up these Houses. As for the Officers way of providing their Diet, , and other circumstances, we need not here particularise, Christ's Hospital, or the like Foundation, may afford a good Precedent for us to imitate.  
As for that Common Objection and Discouragement from the unhappy miscarriage of Clarkenwell Workhouse, and the like, which to prevent the most happy Reformation and Weal of our Nation, remains a Gazingstock to discourage all public Spirits, as the Devil and self-interested people would have it, The same aught to be no plea or obstruction to what we propose. For, 

1. That which rendered that and other Houses unsuccessful, was the ill-government thereof, but such regular method of Government as we have offered, at least with some amendments, will prevent all such inconveniencies.  
2. As for that House, 'tis nothing strange that it did miscarry, rather it would have been strange if it had not; since the persons governing such Houses ought to be inferior to those by whom they are entrusted, that the latter may speedily bring them to account, and if they find any one dishonest, correct and turn him out of doors; whereas the Governors of Clerkenwell-house were great men, and authorized to raise money at pleasure, not to be corrected, but by Act of Parliament, etc. So that their quality, and business, or want of honesty, hindered them from using that inspection over inferior Officers as was necessary, and when money came into their hands, and was diverted who could force them to an account?  
3. If this be a precedent of ill-success, and only for the reason aforesaid, we can show you many precedents in Holland, etc. of such Work-houses erected & managed with good-success; nay there is scarce any thing contributes more to the wealth and strength of that Nation, than their … dence and industry in this respect; but there they are … ged not by Grandees, as Clerkenwell was to be, but by honest laborious men, who if they fail in their duty are forthwith severely corrected. A person entrusted in a Spin-house in Amsterdam, was publicly whipped and turned out of doors for being partial, viz. because by his connivance a young woman, who was sent thither to work for her living, made her escape. Another Officer was whipped and committed to the Rasp-house, for diminishing what was allowed for the comfortable maintenance of the Poor. At Leiden I saw a fellow most severely whipped upon a Scaffold, erected for that very purpose before the Spin-house, in view of many thousands, and after committed to the Rasp-house, for that he under pretence of being zealous to serve the States, enriched himself by abusing and oppressing the Poor. 'Twas for want of such strict Government Clarkenwell, etc. came to naught.  
4. If because that House, merely for want of right method, and persons of fit qualifications to govern it, miscarried, therefore no such Houses must be made use of; may not our Merchants as well conclude, that because some Ships, for want of an honest fit Master or skilful Pilot, have been cast away; therefore though there be men enough whose qualifications and integrity are sufficient, yet they will never venture to send forth any more Ships; If you say the case is different, for though the Houses have failed, yet we know most of our Ships return safe, than I may return you the same answer; In Holland none of these House's 〈◊〉 ●●●refore if we take right method of government, our Houses 〈…〉 often as our ●hips a●● wil● become as profitable to the Kingdom, for if the Houses prosper, to be sure our Shipping will increase, therefore whoever is an enemy to these Houses, is as great an enemy to the increase of our Ships and Seamen, and consequently an enemy to the true, Wealth, Safety and Interest of the English Nation.    
At least since this expedient is no new Project, but daily practised with extraordinary success and advantage by our Neighbours 'Tis humbl● hoped that the same sh●ll not be contemned 〈…〉, before they have first sought out, and demonstrated some more certain, effectual and fea●ble expedients to accomplish the wo●k in hand, and by the Proposer humbly offered, viz. To convert all the Wool of England, and what Scotland and Ireland have to spare, into Cloth, on such terms as to vend the Cloth as fast as 'tis made, whereby 30 or 40 hundred thousand pounds, per annum may be gained to the Nation; and all poor people bred up to such an habit of industry, that for the future a Beggar may not be seen in the Kingdom; but neither they nor their children's children shall ever want a lawful Employment, Food, Raiment, nor Habitation.   
FINIS.