[634] This question is so much one of detail that it is perhaps worth while to refer to one justice's report from almost every western county, some from towns, and some from the country:
1. Berks. June 1631. Abingdon. Ib., Vol. 195, 7. "We haue erected in our borough a workehouse to sett poore people to worke."
2. Cheshire. Edisbury, June 29th, 1631. Vol. 195, 21. The justices order "stockes of money and wares" to be raised, but find the people averse to find money for any such purpose.
3. Derby. Appletree. 185, 41. Feb. 1630/1. See below.
4. Dorset. Shaftesbury. 188, 67. April 1631. "Haue made provision and taken orders for settinge to worke of such idle persons and poore people as are of able bodies and strength to bee ymployed in trades and labor."
5. Gloucester. June 1631. Vol. 194, No. 11, I. Gloucester. "For those that are of abillitie to worke we haue provided them meanes to sett them on w(orke) soe they may lyve by their labor wthout beinge further chargable to others."
6. Hants. Kingclere. Nov. 1633. Vol. 250, 11, IV. "The justices" have taken order that such as are able to worke are imployed in their several parishes."
7. Hereford. Leominster. June 1631. Vol. 194, 41, III. "Item the poore are provided for and such kept at work that are able to work."
8. Monmouth. Ragland. July 3rd, 1634. Vol. 271, 17. The justices since the commission have levied sums of money in every parish and township to buy "woole, flaxe and other necessaries towards the setting of poore to woorke."
9. Oxford. J. Ps. for co. Oxford, Vol. 188, 96. April 19, 1630. Have not omitted to provide "stockes" to "sett able poore on worke."