ABSTRACT
It would appear, however, that hitherto the gentle askings of the collectors, and the exhortations of the clergy and the churchwardens, and the charitable "ways and means " of the bishop, had all alike failed to induce the people to contribute " according to their means" ; and the time seems to have arrived when, voluntary charity having failed, compulsion of some kind must be resorted to, in order to provide means of relief for " the impotent, feeble, and lame, which are the poor in very deed." Accordingly this statute ( 5 Elizabeth, cap. 3) enacts, that after due exhortation and persuasion, first by the parson and churchwardens of the parish, and next by the bishop, "if any person of his froward or wilful mind shall obstinately refuse to give weekly to the relief of the poor, according to his ability," the bishop shall have authority to bind him under a penalty of £10 to appear at the next sessions, when the justices are again to " charitably and gently persuade and move the said obstinate person to extend his charity towards the relief of the poor" ; and if he will not be persuaded therein by the said justices, " they may sesse, tax, and limit upon every such obstinate person so refusing, according to their good discretion, what sum the said obstinate person shall
Perso.ns pay "; and if he refuse to pay the sum so limited, refusmg to d d · d h · · 1 · f h contribute taxe , an appomte , t e JUStices, on comp amt 0 t e ::~s~eed collectors and churchwardens of the parish, may commit ih~ ~~~~~of the said obstinate person to prison until he pay the
same, "together with the arrearages thereof, if any such shall fortune to be."
