Chaos: or, A discourse wherein is presented to the view of the magistrate, and all others who shall peruse the same, a frame of government by way of a republique, wherein is little or no danger of miscarriage, if prudently attempted, and thoroughly prosecuted by authority.: Wherein is no difficulty in the practice, nor obscurity in the method; but all things plain and easie to the meanest capacity. Here's no hard or strange names, nor unknown titles (to amaze the hearers) used, and yet here's a full and absolute power derivative insensibly from the whole, and yet practically conveyed to the best men: wherein if any shall endeavour a breach, he shall break himself: and it must be so, that cats shall provide supper, here they shall do it suitable to the best palats, and easie to digest. By a well-willer to the publique weale.

The Fifth Days Work.

Its Publique aids must bear the charge, Our Priviledges to enlarge. Wherefore let Contributions be In exigencies frank and free.

1. LEt Assesments be imposed by Parliament yearly, ac∣cording to the requisition of the time, on each particular real and personal Estate, according to the an∣nual values thereof, and Rents received; each paying for his stock in Husbandry or Trade, and each Usurer for his Money lent at a certain rate, as rent of Land or interest of Money at the same rate, and stock in Trade or Husbandry at half the rate; the Land-Assess to be paid by the Land∣lord, and the Money-Assess by the Lender, to be defalked out of Rent or Interest, according to the proportions, by the Tenant or Borrower, who shall deposite the same, as occasion shall require, to the monthly Collectors thereof.

2. Let one great Assesment be forthwith made for re∣lief of all the Poor in the Nation; and let a stock be e∣rected in every Parochial Town, and a Trade set up for imploying and providing for all the poorer sort of men, women and children: let a Master or Governour thereof, be appointed by the Registerial Court in every Parish, and such a one as his Estate may be responsible for the stock with him intrusted, for which (together with the pro∣fits thereof, to be imployed according to the Rules to be given therefore) he shall give security; and this to be yearly taken care for, chiefly by the Church-wardens of each respective Parish. Let all charitable Contributions

be imployed to the same purpose: Whereby if vigilancy and industry be used, a small stock will in short time in∣crease to a great inheritance, whereby the poor shall be equally provided for, to the best and richest in every Parish: so there shall be no crying out, nor complaining in our streets.

3. Let the Customs be annually regulated by the Parli∣ament at the time of changing of Representees; only let the Representees for the first six months, continue their sittings so long after their time, together with the Re∣presentees for the latter six months, as to settle that, and the Excise and Assesments for the next succeeding year; and to be done within twelve days. Let the Cu∣stoms be collected by such Commissioners as have responsi∣ble Estates; and where any fraud or covin shall be disco∣vered, let care be taken therein for the prevention for the future.

4. Let the Excise be collected by the Constables, and responded for to the Sheriff, as other Assesments, and also all other Rents and Revenues payable to the Common∣wealth, for which no salary shall be allowed.

In all Enclosures of Wasts, and Commons not stinted, one fourth part shall be alotted for provision for the Poor of the Parish where the same shall lie, to be committed to the care of the Master of the Work-house for the time be∣ing, and by him imployed to the best advantage according to his trusts. One other fourth to the Lord for his Seg∣niory, and half to the Commons: this rule in all cases to be the same.

5. Where the Lords and Tenants, Owners and Pro∣prietors of two full third parts of the Inclosures, Field-Land and stinted Commons in any Mannor, Town or Lord∣ship, shall agree to inclose all or any part of the open Wasts or Common grounds of the same Town, no third party opposing shall hinder the same, so as provision be made for the poor to one half the alotment as aforesaid; and the proportions alotted for the refusers according to

their several estates, quantity and quality to be consider∣ed: but if any shall endeavour to hinder a common good, he shall be severely punished therefore, either by the Judges in the next superiour Court, or by the Justices of Peace at the next Quarter-Sessions to be held for that Li∣berty, or by the Judges Itinerant in their Circuits.

6. In all provisions for the Poor, each whole Parish to be one entire Corporation, and take care to dispose of all Wanderers and Vagabonds, according to the directions of the Statutes in use, or else imploy them in work as afore∣said. Let a large house be provided in each Parish-Town for a publike Work-house, where in some Manual occupa∣tion all the poor of the same Parish may be set on work, and provided for necessaries by the Master thereof, to be appointed as aforesaid; to which purpose, let some Trade, whereof the Master of the Work-house to be a Freeman, be used in every Parish; and the children of all such as shall not by their Parents be better provided for, to be imployed in the same after seven years old, as in all Towns where is conveniency of water for building Mills, and have Cole, let several sorts of Smiths be, as for making of Knives, Swords, Scymiters; Guns, Sythes, Shears, Scissers; also for all manner of Work-tools and harness; and all such who shall have use for wheels for grinding: also, Lock-smiths, Naylors and such others, where no wa∣ter is, nor wheels shall not be requisite; and where con∣veniency is, let Clothyers be: and to the end the Trade of Clothing may be the better managed, and with less con∣fusion, let those Towns where much growth of Wool shall be, and want the conveniency of fire and water, be im∣ployed to the sorting, breaking, mixing and spinning of Wool, in one Town for making of Jerseys, Serges, and o∣ther Stuffs of the like nature, in other Towns in spinning Wool for making cloath according to the several sorts thereof, the finest by its self, and the coursest by its self, and the middle sort by it self; and a certain rate allowed to each person for the work they shall do, not exceeding

four parts of five of the real value of the work; one fifth being still to be allowed to the common stock.

7. That in all cases where any persons imployed at work upon the common stock, shall be desired to assist the Husband-man, at any out-work in the Fields, there shall a fourth part of the wages be imployed to the common stock; which wages shall be paid to the Master of the Work-house, who shall have the command of all under the age of twenty one as Apprentices, and all above as Journey-men; without whose license none shall go to work abroad: which shall not be denied in Seed-time, Hay-time or Harvest, upon reasonable rates.

8. In those Towns where shall be store of Hemp or Flax, let some Towns be imployed in dressing and fitting the same for spinning, according to the several sorts thereof; another in spinning fine Linen, another the middle, and another the courser sort, and another weaving the same; others also in making Cordage and Ropes.

9. In Towns where wood shall be plentiful, let one be imployed by Coopers, another by Carpenters, another by Tanners, another by makers of Waines, Waggons, Carts, Plows, Sledges, & other Utensils for Husbandry; & in every Parochial-Town let there be in the common Work-house, a Smith, a Shooe-maker and a Taylor, with their several servants subservient to the publique Master: and in those Towns which shall be imployed in making of wire Pins, Needles or Bonelace, the Master of the work shall once a week pay off all the Workers of the same Trade, and shall furnish them with stuff for making thereof; and when they are made, sell them for the advantage of the common stock: and so in all other Trades.

10. In the common Work-houses provision shall be made for all persons of all ages, sexes and conditions, whe∣ther young or old, which are not able to help themselves, and be therein imployed in such works as their strengths, genius's and abilities are fittest to manage and undergo; & let the females be imployed in several works by them∣selves,

and have Mistresses for their Tutresses and Gardi∣ans; where they may be imployed in spinning, carding, sowing, weaving lace, ribband, tape, and other things; in setting of Cushions, Carpets, Hangings, and other things fit for the work of women.

By which means the poor of the Nation shall not only be provided for, but the Nation shall be thereby enriched; and for every penyworth of stuff that the Nation now affords of vendible Commodity in other Countries, it shall in few years afford three, four, five or six times the quanti∣ty; which shall much enrich the Merchants thereof also.

11. Let the Representees annually chosen for members in Parliament, be the Justices of Peace for the same year; and those which shall be resident in the Country to un∣dergo that service, and in all things observe the directions of Parliament, for levying of Souldiers, regulating of As∣sesments, and all other things whatsoever.

12. Every person or persons, who shall at any time make any new Enclosures upon any Wasts, Commons, Town-fields or commonable grounds, shall within every Pole set or plant at least one plant or set of Ash, Ok, Elm or Beech, and preserve the same for growth; and in those Countries where fruit-trees will grow and bear fruit, the like may be enjoyned also, upon forfeiture of 2 s. for eve∣ry defect, to be collected by the Constable by warrant from the Register, upon information to be made thereof to the Court by the Church-wardens, or any one or more of them in any Parish for the time being: which forfei∣tures the one half to be imployed to the common stock of the same Town, the other half to the Informer or Informers.

Notes

• Assesments.
• Assesments to be impo∣sed by Par∣ment.
• Great Asses∣ment for the poor.
• Customs, Excise and Assesments.
• Publique Collectors.
• Enclosures of Wasts.
• Enclosures of stinted Wasts and Towns-fields.
• Parochial provisions for the poor.
• Publique Work-houses
• Husband-men to have the help of labourers in the common Work-house.
• Trades to be erected in Flax and Hemp.
• In Wood.
• Proviston in the common Work-houses
• Justices e∣lected.
• Planting.