The Early History of English Poor Relief

APPENDIX XIV.

Report of the Four Royal Hospitals, 1644[782] (King's pamphlets, 669, f. 10, No. 2).

A true Report of the great Costs and Charges of the foure Hospitals, in the City of London, in the maintenance of their great number of poore, this present yeare, 1644, as followeth:

Children kept and maintained at this present, at the Charge of Christs Hospitall in the said House, in diverse places of this City and Suburbes, and with sundry Nurses in the Countrey.

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758

The Names of all which are registred in the Bookes kept in Christs Hospitall, there to be seene from what Parishes, and by what meanes they have beene from time to time admitted.

Children put forth Apprentices, discharged and dead this yeare last past

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100

In respect of the troubles of the times, the meanes of the said Hospitall hath very much failed for want of charitable Benevolences which formerly have beene given, and are now ceased and very few Legacies are now given to Hospitals, the Rents and Revenues thereunto belonging being also very ill paid; besides the want of bringing Cloth and other Manufactures to London, which have formerly bin brought to Blackwell-Hall, the Hallage whereof was a great part of the poore Childrens Maintenance, which being decaied, by these and other meanes, the said Hospitall hath not beene able to take in any Children for two yeares past.

There hath bin Cured this yeare last past at the Charge of St. Bartholomewes Hospitall of maymed Souldiers and other diseased Persons, to the number of

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1122

All which have beene relieved with Money and other necessaries at their departure.

Buried this yeare after much Charge in their Sicknesse	}	152
Remaining under Cure at this present, at the charge of the said Hospitall	}	249
There hath bin Cured at the Charge of St. Thomas Hospitall this yeare last past, of diseased persons, wherof a great number have bin Souldiers who have bin relieved with money and other necessaries at their departure	}	1063
Buried this yeare after much charge in the time of their Sicknesse	}	248
Remaining under Cure, upon the charge of the said Hospitall at this present	}	265
There hath beene brought to the Hospitall of Bridewell within the space of one whole yeare last past, of Cavaleers and wandring Souldiers and other vagrant people, to the number of	}	1128

Many whereof have beene very chargeable to the said Hospitall, for Apparrell, sicke dyet and Surgery, besides their ordinary dyet, and other provisions and charges expended about them, which could not be avoyded, by reason of their necessities. And there are now kept and maintained in Arts and Occupations, and other severall workes and labours at the charge of the said Hospitall, to the number of 134 Apprentices and other Persons.

The Hospitall of Bethlem is of great antiquity, use and necessity for keeping and curing distracted persons who are of all other the most miserable, by reason of their wants, both for soule and body and have no sence thereof.

That the charge thereof is very great, there being kept and maintained with Physick, dyet, and other reliefe, 44 distracted persons, constantly at least, and the rents and revenues thereof very small, not amounting to two third parts of the yearely charge and therefore is a fit object of Charity.

The date "Aprill 24^th 1644" is added in a contemporary hand with the note that "this yeare ther was noe psalmes printed as usually."

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