APPENDIX I.
Extracts from the Journals of the Common Council of London.
These Journals begin with the entries for the year 1416 and are still continued. They are contained in large folio volumes and are written on paper in French, Latin and English. The entries made in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries are generally in English. The resolutions of the Common Council and the chief letters, precepts and proclamations concerning the government of the City were copied within a few days of the time they were made by one of the officials under the Town Clerk[731].
The following two extracts illustrate the fact that the organisation for the poor in London was municipal, both before and after the statute of 1572[732], and show the methods by which the City authorities enforced their orders.
A. Copy in the Journals of a precept for a collection for the poor issued in 1563. Journals, XVIII. f. 145 b.
By the Maior.
To thalderman of the warde of Cheape. A precept for to make a collection for the pore.
Whear as there was a precept dated the VIIth of this present September directed to all and every parsone, vicar, curate and churchwarden of every parishe churche wthin yor saide warde com(m)aunding them that they and euery of them should cause the Inhabitants of there saide parishe to assemble them selues together and make a colleccion and provysyon for the pore, sick and nedye of there saide parishe and, if there saide parishe were not afflicted and had no nede of any suche provysion, that then they shoulde bestowe the same vpon other pore paryshes wthin the saide Cittye where they shoulde think it moste nedefull. Forasmuche as the execucon of suche diligence therin towardes the poores releif hath taken no suche good successe as was hoped for, And understanding, the great visytacon of god to continew and sicknes to encrease and perceyving also by complaynt of the nedye there miserable estate, These are therefore to requyer and in the Quenes Mats name to charge and comaunde you that you cale before you the saide parsone, vicar and churchwardens of euery parishe churche wthin yor saide warde, once every weke, and that you see or saide precept putt in execucon according to the Tenor therof and the charytye collected to be bestowed accordingly. Requyring ye to take suche order wth them as either refuse orells be found negligent in doing there dutyes therin (if by gentyll monytion to them geven) they will not be reformed as yor discression shall seme good. Fayle ye not hereof As ye will answere for the contrarye at yor perill, yeoven at the Guildhall of the saide Cittye the last of this present moneth of September 1563.
Blackwell J.C.