[643] The following are instances in which work for the poor was provided in some district in every other eastern county:
Sussex. Rape of Bramber. Ib., Vol. 189, 16. April, 1631. The justices "haue compelled some that misspent their tyme to fall to labor and haue provided worke for them and others that alleaged they wanted worke."
Bedford. See above.
Bucks. Boro' of Buckingham. Vol. 201, 13. 3rd Oct., 1631. "Our poore are kept to work and or stock is still going, wee have noe poore that begg." Oct. 3rd, 1631. See above also.
Essex. Vol. 188, 92. April, 1631. Great want of work; the justices "haue not only delt wth the able men of parishes to prouide and laie in corne for prouision of the poore at under-rates but did cause them to raise stockes and meanes to sett their poore on worke."
Hunts. Hundred of Hurstington. Vol. 329, 83. 1636. Signed by Sir Oliver Cromwell, H. Cromwell and Robert Audeley. The justices called before them the overseers of the poor and caused them "to render vs an accompt what stocks of money haue beene raysed for settinge the poore on worke and howe the poore haue beene releiued. Whoe haue made it appear before vs that the statute in this case hath beene duely obserued throughout the said hundred."
Leicester. West Goscote. Vol. 349, 35. March, 1636/7. The justices relieve and set to work poor people, punish rogues, and put all instructions of the Book of orders into execution, "wch course wee finde very beneficiall and much conducinge to the generall quiett and goode of the countrey and wee therefore wth more cheerefullnes addresse ourselues thereunto."
Lincolnshire. Horncastle Sessions. Vol. 349, 113. 14th March, 1636/7. The justices "haue taken speciall care ... that the abler sorte bee constantly sett on worke by the stocke of the parishe."
Rutland. Vol. 185, 55. Feb., 1630/1. The justices state that "order is taken (according to lawe) for reliefe and setting to worke of poore and impotent people."
[644] The Collectors responsible to Parliament for the gathering of the subsidies for the war were the overseers and petty constables in each parish.