And that provision shall
be made for such labouring persons according to their labour, so as
such provision doth not exceed three-fourth parts as much as any
other person would have paid for such labour. And in case they are
not employed and set to work, then such persons shall, until
materials or labour be provided for them, be maintained as impotent
poor; but so as such persons who shall hereafter enter themselves on
the poor's book, being able to labour, shall not quit the service of
the corporation, without leave, for the space of six months.
The Corporation are to provide materials and labour for all that can
work, and to make provision for them not exceeding three-fourth
parts as much as any other person would give for such labour. For
example, if another person would give one of these a shilling, the
Corporation ought to give but ninepence. And the reason is plain,
first, because the Corporation will be obliged to maintain them and
their families in all exigences, which others are not obliged to do,
and consequently they ought not to allow so much as others.
Secondly, in case any persons able to labour, shall come to the
Corporation, when their agents are not prepared with materials to
employ them, by this proposal they are to allow them full provision
as impotent poor, until they find them work, which is entirely in
favour of the poor. Thirdly, it is neither reasonable nor possible
for the Corporation to provide materials upon every occasion, for
such persons as shall be entered with them, unless they can be
secure of such persons to work up those materials; besides, without
this provision, all the labouring people of England will play fast
and loose between their employers and the Corporation, for as they
are disobliged by one, they will run to the other, and so neither
shall be sure of them.
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