raging the poor in habits of indolence and beggary was quickly felt throughout the kingdom: and abundance of ſtatutes were made in the reign of king Henry the eighth, for providing for the poor and impotent; which, the preambles to ſome of them recite, had of late years ſtrangely increaſed. Theſe poor were principally of two ſorts: ſick and impotent, and therefore unable to work; idle and ſturdy, and therefore able, but not willing, to exerciſe any honeſt employment. To provide in ſome meaſure for both of theſe, in and about the metropolis, his ſon Edward the ſixth founded three royal hoſpitals; Chriſt's, and St. Thomas's for the relief of the impotent through infancy or ſickneſs; and Bridewell for the puniſhment and employment of the vigorous and idle. But theſe were far from being ſufficient for the care of the poor throughout the kingdom at large; and therefore, after many other fruitleſs experiments, by ſtatute 43 Eliz. c. 2. overſeers of the poor were appointed in every pariſh.
By virtue of the ſtatute laſt mentioned, theſe overſeers are to be nominated yearly in Eaſter-week, or within one month after, (though a ſubſequent nomination will be valid[1]) by two juſtices dwelling near the pariſh. They muſt be ſubſtantial houſholders, and ſo expreſſed to be in the appointment of the juſtices[2].
Their office and duty, according to the ſame ſtatute, are principally theſe: firſt, to raiſe competent ſums for the neceſſary relief of the poor, impotent, old, blind, and ſuch other, being poor and not able to work: and, ſecondly, to provide work for ſuch as are able, and cannot otherwiſe get employment: but this latter part of their duty, which, according to the wiſe regulations of that ſalutary ſtatute, ſhould go hand in hand with the other, is now moſt ſhamefully neglected. However, for theſe joint purpoſes, they are empowered to make and levy rates upon the ſeveral inhabitants of the pariſh, by the ſame act of parliament; which has been farther explained and enforced by ſeveral ſubſequent ſtatutes.
