An Act for the Relief of the Poor, 1601

Be it enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament, That the Churchwardens of every Parish, and four, three or two substantial Householders there, as shall be thought meet, having respect to the Proportion and Greatness of the Same Parish and Parishes,to be nominated yearly in Easter Week,or within one Month after Easter,under the Hand and Seal of two or more Justices of the Peace in the same County,whereof one to be of the Quorum,dwelling in or near the same Parish or Division where the same Parish doth lie, shall be called Overseers of the Poor of the same Parish: And they, or the greater Part of them, shall take order from Time to Time, by, and with the Consent of two or more such Justices of Peace as is aforesaid, for setting to work the Children of all such whose Parents shall not by the said Churchwardens and Overseers, or the greater Part of them. Be thought able to keep and maintain their Children: And also for setting to work all such Persons, married or unmarried, having no Means to maintain them, and use no ordinary and daily Trade of Life to get their Living by: And also to raise weekly or otherwise (by Taxation of every Inhabitant, Parson, Vicar and other, and of every Occupier of Lands, Houses, Tithes impropriate, Propriations of Tithes, Coal-Mines, or saleable Underwoods in the said Parish, in such competent Sum and Sums of Money as they shall think fit) a convenient Stock of Flax, Hemp, Wool, Thread, Iron, and other necessary Ware and Stuff, to set the Poor on Work: And also competent Sums of Money for and towards the necessary Relief of the Lame, Impotent, Old, Blind, and such other among them being Poor, and not able to work, and also for the putting out of such Children to be apprentices, to be gathered out of the same Parish, according to the Ability of the same Parish, and to do and execute all other Things as well for the disposing of the said Stock, as otherwise concerning the Premisses, as to them shall seem convenient:

Ⅱ. Which said Churchwardens and Overseers so to be nominated, or such of them as shall not be let by Sickness or other just Excuse, to be allowed by two such Justices of Peace or more as is aforesaid, shall meet together at the least once every Month in the Church of the said Parish,upon the Sunday in the Afternoon, after Divine Service, there to consider of some good Course to be taken, and of some meet Order to be set down in the Premisses; and shall within four Days after the End of their Year, and after other Overseers nominated as aforesaid, make and yield up to such two Justices of Peace, as is aforesaid, a true and perfect Account of all Sums of Money by them received, or rated and sessed and not received, and also of such Stock as shall be in their Hands, or in the Hands of any of the Poor to work, and of all other Things concerning their said Office, and such Sum or Sums of Money as shall be in their Hands, shall pay and deliver over to the said Churchwardens and Overseers, newly nominated and appointed as aforesaid; upon Pain that everyone of them absenting themselves without lawful Cause as aforesaid from such Monthly Meeting for the Purpose aforesaid, or being negligent in their Office, or in the Execution of the Orders aforesaid, being made by and with the Assent of the said Justices of Peace, or any two of them before-mentioned, to forfeit for every such Default of Absence or Negligence twenty Shillings.

Ⅲ. And be it also enacted, That if the said Justices of Peace do perceive, that the Inhabitants of any Parish are not able to levy among themselves sufficient Sums of Money for the Purposes aforesaid; That then the said two Justices shall and may tax, rate and assess, as aforesaid, any other of other Parishes, or out of any Parish, within the Hundred where the said Parish is, to pay such Sum and Sums of Money to the Churchwardens and Overseers of the said poor Parish, for the said Purposes, as the said Justices shall think fit, according to the Intent of this Law: And if the said Hundred shall not be thought to the said Justices able and fit to relieve the said several Parishes not able to provide for themselves as aforesaid; then the Justices of Peace, at their General Quarter-Sessions, or the greater Number them, shall rate, and assess as aforesaid, any other of other Parishes, or out of any Parish within the said County, for the Purposes aforesaid, as in their Discretion shall seem fit.

Ⅳ. And that it shall be lawful, as well for the present as subsequent Churchwardens and Overseers or any of them, by Warrant, from any two such Justices of Peace as is aforesaid, to levy as well the said Sums of Money and all Arrearages, of everyone that shall refuse to contribute according as they shall be assessed, by Distress and Sale of the Offenders Goods, as the Sums of Money or Stock which shall be behind on any Account to be made as aforesaid, rendering to the Parties the Overplus, and in Defect of such Distress, it shall be lawful for any such two Justices of the Peace, to commit him or them to the common Gaol of the County, there to remain without Bail or Mainprize, until payment of the said Sum, Arrearages and Stock: and the said Justices of Peace or any of them, to send to the House of Correction or common Gaol, such as shall not employ themselves to work, being appointed thereunto as aforesaid: and also any such two Justices of Peace to commit to the said Prison every one of the said Churchwardens and Overseers, who shall refuse to account, there to remain without Bail or Mainprize, until he have made a true Account, and satisfied and paid so much as upon the said Account shall be remaining in his Hands.

V. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the said Churchwardens and Overseers, or the greater Part of them, by the Assent of any two Justices of the Peace aforesaid, to bind any such Children as aforesaid to be Apprentices, where they shall see convenient, till such Man-child shall come to the Age of four and twenty Years, and such Woman-child to the Age of one and twenty Years, or the Time of her Marriage; the same to be as effectual to all Purposes as if such Child were of full Age, and by Indenture of Covenant bound him or her self. And to the Intent that necessary Places of Habitation may more conveniently be provided for such poor impotent People; Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that it shall and may be lawful for the said Churchwardens and Overseers, or the greater Part of them, by the Leave of the Lord or Lords of the Manor, whereof any Waste or Common within their Parish is or shall be Parcel, and upon Agreement before with him or them made in Writing, under the Hands and Seals of the said Lord or Lords, or otherwise, according to any Order to be set down by the Justices of Peace of the said County at the General Quarter Sessions, or the greater Part of them, by like Leave and Agreement of the said Lord or Lords in Writing under his or their Hands and Seals, to erect, build and set up in fit and convenient Places of Habitation, in such Waste or Common, at the general Charges of the Parish or otherwise of the Hundred or County as aforesaid, to be taxed, rated and gathered in Manner before expressed, convenient Houses of Dwelling for the said impotent Poor; and also to place Inmates or more Families than one in one Cottage or House; one Act made in the one and thirtieth Year of her Majesty's Reign,intituled,An Act against the erecting and maintaining of Cottages, or any Thing therein contained, to the contrary notwithstanding: Which Cottages and Places for Inmates shall not at any Time after be used or employed to or for any other Habitation, but only for Impotent and Poor of the same Parish, that shall be there placed from Time to Time by the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the same Parish, or the most Part of them, upon the Pains and Forfeitures contained in the said former Act made in the said one and thirtieth Year of her Majesty's Reign.

Ⅵ. Provided always, That if any Person or Persons shall find themselves grieved with any Sess or Tax, or other Act done by the said Churchwardens, and other Persons, or by the said Justices of Peace; that then it shall be lawful for the Justices of Peace at their General Quarter Sessions, or the greater Number of them, to take such Order therein as to them shall be thought convenient; and the same to conclude and bind all the said Parties.

Ⅶ. And be it further enacted, That the Father and Grandfather, and the Mother and Grandmother, and the Children of every poor, old, blind, lame, and impotent Person or other poor Person not able to work, being of a sufficient Ability, shall, at their own Charges, relieve and maintain every such poor Person in that Manner, and according to that Rate, as by the Justices of Peace of that County where such sufficient Persons dwell, or the greater Number of them, at their General Quarter Sessions shall be assessed; upon Pain that every one them shall forfeit twenty Shillings for every Month, which they shall fail therein.

Ⅷ. And be it further hereby enacted, That the Mayors, Bailiffs, or other Head Officers of every Town and Place Corporate and City within this Realm, being Justice or Justices of Peace, shall have the same Authority by Virtue of this Act, within the Limits and Precincts of their Jurisdictions, as well out of Sessions, as at their Sessions, if they hold any, as is herein limited, prescribed and appointed to Justices of the Peace of the County, or any two or more of them, or to the Justices of Peace in their Quarter-Sessions, to do and execute for all the Uses and Purposes in this Act prescribed, and no other Justice or Justices of Peace to enter or meddle there:and that every Alderman of the City of London within his Ward, shall and may do and execute in every Respect so much as is appointed and allowed by this Act to be done and executed by one or two Justices of Peace of any County within this Realm.

Ⅸ. And be it also enacted, That if it shall happen any Parish to extend itself into more Counties than one, or Part to lie within the Liberties of any City, Town, or Place Corporate, and Part without, that then, as well the Justices of Peace of every County, as also the Head Officers of such City, Town or Place Corporate, shall deal and intermeddle only in so much of the said Parish, as lieth within their Liberties, and not any further: And every of them respectively within their several Limits, Wards, and Jurisdictions, to execute the Ordinances beforementioned concerning the Nomination of Overseers, the Consent to binding Apprentices, the giving Warrant to levy Taxations unpaid, the taking account of Churchwardens and Overseers, and the committing to Prison such as refuse to account, or deny to pay the Arrearages due upon their Accounts; and yet nevertheless, the said Churchwardens and Overseers, or the most Part of them, of the said Parishes that do extend into such several Limits and Jurisdictions, shall, without dividing themselves, duely execute their Office in all Places within the said Parish, in all Things to them belonging, and shall duly exhibit and make one Account before the said Head Officers of the Town or Place Corporate, and one other before the said Justices of Peace, or any such two of them, as is aforesaid.

X. And further be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if in any Place within this Realm there happen to be hereafter no such Nomination of Overseers yearly, as is before appointed, That then every Justice of Peace of the County, dwelling within the Division where such default of Nomination shall happen, and every Mayor, Alderman and Head Officer of City, Town or Place Corporate, where such Default shall happen, shall lose and forfeit for such default five Pounds, to be employed towards the Relief of the Poor of the said Parish or Place Corporate, and to be levied as aforesaid, of their Goods, by Warrant from the General Sessions of the Peace of the said County, or of the same City, Town, or Place Corporate, if they keep Sessions.

XI. And be it also enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that all Penalties and Forfeitures, before-mentioned in this Act to be forfeited by any Person or Persons, shall go and be employed to the Use of the Poor of the same Parish, and towards a Stock and Habitation for them, and other necessary Uses and Relief, as before in this Act are mentioned and expressed; and shall be levied by the said Churchwardens and Overseers, or one of them, by Warrant from any two such Justices of Peace, or Mayor, Alderman, or Head Officer of City, Town or Place Corporate respectively within their several Limits, by Distress and Sale thereof, as aforesaid; or in Defect thereof it shall be lawful for any two such Justices of Peace, and the said Aldermen and Head Officers within their several Limits, to commit the Offender to the said Prison, there to remain without Bail or Mainprize till the said Forfeitures shall be satisfied and paid.

Ⅻ. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that the Justices of Peace of every County or Place Corporate, or the more Part of them, in their General Sessions to be holden next after the Feast of Easter next,and so yearly as often as they shall think meet, shall rate every Parish to to such a weekly Sum of Money as they shall think convenient; so as no Parish be rated above the Sum of Sixpence, nor under the Sum of a Halfpenny, weekly to be paid, and so as the total Sum of such Taxation of the Parishes in every County amount not above the rate of Two-pence for every Parish within the said County: Which Sums so taxed shall be yearly assessed by the Agreement of the Parishioners within themselves, or in Default thereof, by the Churchwardens and Petty Constables of the same Parish, or the more Part of them: Or in Default of their Agreement, by the Order of such Justice or Justices of Peace as shall dwell in the same Parish, or (if none be there dwelling) in the Parts next adjoining.

XIII. And if any Person shall refuse or neglect to pay any such Portion of Money so taxed, it shall be lawful for the said Churchwardens and Constables, or any of them, or in their Default, for any Justice of Peace of the said Limit, to levy the same by Distress and Sale of the Goods of the Party so refusing or neglecting, rendering to the Party the Overplus: And in Default of such Distress, it shall be lawful to any Justice of that Limit to commit such Person to the said Prison, there to abide without Bail or Mainprize till he have paid the same.

XIV. And be it also enacted, That the said Justices of Peace at their General Quarter-Sessions to be holden at the Time of such Taxation, shall set down what competent Sums of Money shall be sent quarterly out of every County or Place Corporate, for the Relief of the poor Prisoners of the King's Bench and Marshalsea, and also of such Hospitals and Almshouses as shall be in the said County, and what Sums of Money shall be sent to every one of the said Hospitals and Alms-houses, so as there be sent out of every County yearly twenty Shillings at the least, to each of the said Prisons of the King's Bench and Marshalsea; which Sums ratably to be assessed upon every Parish, the Churchwardens of every Parish shall truly collect and pay over to the High Constables, in whose Division such Parish shall be situate, from Time to Time, quarterly, ten Days before the End of every quarter; and every such Constable at every such Quarter-Sessions in such County, shall pay over the same to such two Treasurers, or to one of them, as shall by the more Part of the Justices of Peace of the County be elected to be the said Treasurers, to be chosen by the Justices of Peace of the said County, City or Town, or Place Corporate, or of others which were sessed and taxed at five Pounds Lands, or ten Pounds Goods, at the least, at the Tax of Subsidy next before the Time of the said Election to be made; and the said Treasurers so elected to continue for the Space of one whole Year in their Office, and then to give up their Charge, with a due Account of their Receipts and Disbursements, at the Quarter-Sessions to be holden next after the feast of Easter in every Year,to such others as shall from Year to Year, in Form aforesaid, successively be elected Treasurers for the said County, City, Town or Place Corporate; which said Treasurers, or one of them, shall pay over the same to the Lord Chief Justice of England,and Knight Marshal for the Time being, equally to be divided to the Use aforesaid, taking their Acquittance for the same, or in Default of the said Chief Justice, to the next antientest Justice of the King's Bench, as aforesaid: And if any Churchwarden or High Constable, or his Executors or Administrators, shall fail to make Payment in Form above specified, then every Churchwarden, his Executors or Administrators, so offending shall forfeit for every Time the Sum of Ten Shillings; and every High Constable, his Executors or Administrators, shall forfeit for every Time the Sum of twenty Shillings: the same Forfeitures, together with the Sums behind, to be levied by the said Treasurer and Treasurers by way of Distress and Sale of the Goods as aforesaid, in Form aforesaid, and by them to be employed towards the charitable Uses comprised in this Act.

XV. And be it further enacted, That all the Surplusage of Money which shall be remaining in the said Stock of any County, shall by Discretion of the more Part of the Justices of Peace in their Quarter Sessions, be ordered, distributed and bestowed for the Relief of the Poor Hospitals of that County, and of those that shall sustain Losses by Fire, Water, the Sea, or other Casualties, and to such other charitable Purposes, for the Relief of the Poor, as to the more Part of the said Justices of Peace shall seem convenient.

XVI. And be it further enacted, That if any Treasurer elected shall wilfully refuse to take upon him the said Office of Treasurership, or refuse to distribute and give Relief or to account, according to such Form as shall be appointed by the more Part of the said Justices of Peace, that then it shall be lawful for the Justices of Peace in their Quarter-Sessions, or in their Default, for the Justices of Assize, at the Assizes to be holden in the same County, to fine the same Treasurer by their Discretion; The same Fine not to be under three Pounds, and to be levied by Sale of his Goods, and to be prosecuted by any two of the said Justices of Peace whom they shall authorise. Provided always, That this Act shall not take Effect until the Feast of Easter next.

XVII. And be it enacted, That the Statute made in the nine and thirtieth Year of her Majesty's reign,intituled,An Act for the Relief of the Poor,shall continue and stand in Force until the Feast of Easter next;and that all Taxations heretofore imposed and not paid,nor that shall be paid before the said Feast of Easter next, and that all Taxes hereafter before the said Feast to be taxed by Virtue of the said former Act,which shall not be paid before the said Feast of Easter,shall and may after the said Feast of Easter be levied by the Overseers and other Persons in this Act respectively appointed to levy Taxations, by Distress, and by such Warrant in every Respect, as if they had been taxed and imposed by Virtue of this Act' and were not paid.

XVIII. Provided always,That whereas the Island of Fowlness in the County of Essex, being environed with the Sea, and having a Chapel of Ease for the Inhabitants thereof, and yet the said Island is no Parish, but the Lands in the same are situated within divers Parishes far distant from the said Island; Be it therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Justices of Peace shall nominate and appoint Inhabitants within the said Island, to be Overseers for the poor People dwelling within the said Island, and that both they the said Justices and the said Overseers shall have the same power and authority to all Intents, Considerations and Purposes for the Execution of the Parts and Articles of this Act, and shall be subject to the same Pains and Forfeitures, and likewise that the Inhabitants and Occupiers of Lands there shall be liable and chargeable to the same Payments, Charges, Expences and Orders, in such Manner and Form as if the same Island were a Parish: In Consideration whereof, neither the said Inhabitants, or Occupiers of Land within the said Island, shall not be compelled to contribute to the Relief of the Poor of those Parishes wherein their houses or lands which they occupy within the said Island are situated, for or by Reason of their said Habitations or Occupyings, other than for the Relief of the poor People within the said Island, neither yet shall the other Inhabitants of the Parishes wherein such Houses or Lands are situated, be compelled, by Reason of their Resiancy or Dwelling, to contribute to the Relief of the poor Inhabitants within the said Island.

XIX. And be it further enacted, That if any action of Trespass or other Suit shall happen to be attempted and brought against any Person or Persons, for taking of any Distress, making of any Sale, or any other Thing doing, by Authority of this present Act, the Defendant or Defendants in any such Action or Suit shall and may either plead Not guilty, or otherwise make Avowry, Cognisance or Justification for the Taking of the said Distresses, Making of Sale, or other Things doing by Virtue of this Act, alledging in such Avowry, Cognisance, or Justification, that the said Distress, Sale, Trespass or other Thing, whereof the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs complained, was done by Authority of this Act, and according to the Tenor, Purport and Effect of this Act, without any Expressing or Rehearsal of any other Matter or Circumstance contained in this present Act:To which Avowry, Cognisance or Justification, the Plaintiff shall be admitted to reply, That the Defendant did take the said Distress, made the said Sale, or did any other Act or Trespass supposed in his Declaration, of his own Wrong, without any such Cause alledged by the said Defendant; whereupon the Issue in every such Action shall be joined, to be tried by Verdict of twelve Men, and not otherwise, as is accustomed in other Personal actions: And upon the Trial of that Issue the whole Matter to be given on both parties in Evidence, according to the very truth of the Same; and after such Issue tried for the Defendant, or Nonsuit of the Plaintiff after Appearance, the same Defendant to recover treble Damages, by reason of his wrongful Vexation in that Behalf, with his Costs also in that Part sustained, and that to be assessed by the same Jury, or Writ to enquire of the Damages, as the same shall require.

XX. Provided always, That this Act shall endure no longer than to the End of the next Session of Parliament.

一 文獻(xiàn)出處

Statutes of the Realm,Volume 4:1547-1624,London,1819,pp.962-965.

二 文獻(xiàn)導(dǎo)讀

1601年英國(guó)《濟(jì)貧法》，又稱《伊麗莎白濟(jì)貧法》，是英國(guó)頒布的第一部有關(guān)濟(jì)貧的法律。作為英國(guó)第一部重要的濟(jì)貧法，它不僅是這一類法律制度的發(fā)端，而且為這一類法律制度的發(fā)展確定了基本原則，因此也被看作世界上最早的社會(huì)保障法。

其實(shí)英國(guó)從15世紀(jì)開(kāi)始就頒布濟(jì)貧法令。歷史學(xué)家把1601年《濟(jì)貧法》及以前頒布的濟(jì)貧法令統(tǒng)稱為“舊濟(jì)貧法”。在舊濟(jì)貧法下，救濟(jì)采取兩種不同的方式：院內(nèi)救濟(jì)(indoor relief)和院外救濟(jì)（outdoor relief），包括直接給窮人錢、食物、衣服。因?yàn)榻ㄖ葷?jì)院的花費(fèi)比較大，所以院外救濟(jì)是最主要的救濟(jì)方式。16世紀(jì)以前英國(guó)就存在貧困這樣的社會(huì)問(wèn)題，但那時(shí)解決窮人的貧困問(wèn)題多是通過(guò)基督教會(huì)、寺院、教會(huì)醫(yī)院、基爾特及個(gè)人慈善捐款等方式，這些都屬于民間或宗教性質(zhì)的救濟(jì)活動(dòng)。國(guó)家并沒(méi)有將救濟(jì)視為自己的責(zé)任，相反，還視貧困為社會(huì)的不安定因素。對(duì)待這些不安定因素的方法在法律上往往是視貧困者為懲處的對(duì)象。由于大規(guī)模開(kāi)展的圈地運(yùn)動(dòng)，16世紀(jì)時(shí)英國(guó)社會(huì)出現(xiàn)大量流民。流民分為正在找工作的與無(wú)論如何也不愿工作的，第一種被稱為“值得同情的窮人”(deserving poor)，第二種被稱為“不值得同情的窮人”（undeserving poor）。另外還有其他造成貧困的原因，比如物價(jià)上漲，無(wú)數(shù)人無(wú)家可歸、無(wú)地可種。面對(duì)如此嚴(yán)重的流民問(wèn)題，民間及宗教救濟(jì)方法遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)不能滿足需要，但政府在16世紀(jì)之前并沒(méi)有承擔(dān)起救濟(jì)窮人的任務(wù)，所采取的往往是一些鎮(zhèn)壓的方法。

16世紀(jì)的最后幾十年英國(guó)社會(huì)充滿了不穩(wěn)定因素，由于貴金屬的流入，食品價(jià)格飛漲，1593~1602年的小麥以及干酪等12種食品的物價(jià)指數(shù)比16世紀(jì)初上漲了近5倍。戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)也使得英格蘭制成品的銷路大受影響，失業(yè)人員大增，貧民問(wèn)題更加嚴(yán)峻。議會(huì)于1597~1598年頒行了一項(xiàng)濟(jì)貧法令，獲得通過(guò)。這項(xiàng)法令規(guī)定：濟(jì)貧稅應(yīng)普遍征收，教會(huì)監(jiān)督之下的貧困兒童都要學(xué)習(xí)一門手藝，女童學(xué)習(xí)到21歲為止，男童學(xué)習(xí)到24歲為止；教區(qū)的救濟(jì)機(jī)構(gòu)交由教會(huì)執(zhí)事和教會(huì)監(jiān)督辦理；因殘疾而不能勞動(dòng)的人，則通過(guò)種種辦法給予贍養(yǎng)；有勞動(dòng)能力的人，則幫助其找到工作。但同時(shí)，針對(duì)“不值得同情的人”政府又制定了關(guān)于鞭打流民和建懲戒所等事宜的規(guī)定。

這項(xiàng)法令原本是作為一種試驗(yàn)而制定的，原定試行三年，但在1601年，政府把所有要點(diǎn)納入一項(xiàng)新法令中，隨后又將施行時(shí)間延長(zhǎng)，形成1601年《伊麗莎白濟(jì)貧法》，又稱“舊濟(jì)貧法”（相對(duì)于1834年“新濟(jì)貧法”而言），同時(shí)還頒布有《牧區(qū)濟(jì)貧稅法》（Parish Poor Rate）。法令中把貧民分為三種：①?gòu)?qiáng)壯有力而不愿工作的；②因老弱殘疾而不能工作的；③因不幸而找不到工作的。第一種貧民不能得到任何救濟(jì)，他們要接受強(qiáng)制勞動(dòng)，拒絕工作的人則要被關(guān)入懲戒所，為酷刑所懲罰甚至被處死。第二種無(wú)勞動(dòng)能力的貧民可以得到救濟(jì)。對(duì)第三種因不幸找不到工作的人，法令規(guī)定濟(jì)貧官有幫助其找到工作的義務(wù)。對(duì)貧民的子弟，要教會(huì)他們工作的技能。法令規(guī)定，貧民監(jiān)理官們必須隨時(shí)取得兩位或兩位以上法官的同意，并設(shè)法為他們認(rèn)為不能保護(hù)和供養(yǎng)自己子女的人，以及那些已婚或未婚的沒(méi)有生活手段而又不能以平常職業(yè)來(lái)維持生計(jì)的人安排工作。同時(shí)，監(jiān)理官們還要向該教區(qū)里每個(gè)居民和每個(gè)土地所有者，每星期或按一定期限，以課稅的辦法征集相當(dāng)數(shù)量（其數(shù)額由他們斟酌）的亞麻、苧麻、羊毛絨、鐵和其他必需用品及材料，以救濟(jì)貧民。在各教區(qū)強(qiáng)制征收固定的濟(jì)貧稅作為救濟(jì)貧民基金的主要來(lái)源，不依法納稅的人要受刑罰。

《伊麗莎白濟(jì)貧法》體現(xiàn)了教區(qū)救濟(jì)的原則，負(fù)責(zé)救濟(jì)工作的是濟(jì)貧監(jiān)察官和治安法官。當(dāng)時(shí)教區(qū)規(guī)模并不大，濟(jì)貧監(jiān)察官（overseer of poor）認(rèn)識(shí)每一位住在教區(qū)的人，也熟悉誰(shuí)應(yīng)該被救濟(jì)，誰(shuí)不值得救濟(jì)，因此那些游手好閑的流浪漢不能申請(qǐng)救濟(jì)，只能去工作。治安法官（Justice of Peace）管理濟(jì)貧事宜、征收濟(jì)貧稅及核發(fā)濟(jì)貧費(fèi)。任何有財(cái)產(chǎn)的人都要交濟(jì)貧稅。法律把貧困的人口分為兩類，即值得救濟(jì)的窮人（deserving poor）和不值得救濟(jì)的窮人（undeserving poor），因此救濟(jì)辦法也因人而異：凡年老及喪失勞動(dòng)力的，在家接受救濟(jì)；貧窮兒童則在指定的人家寄養(yǎng)，長(zhǎng)到一定年齡時(shí)送去做學(xué)徒；流浪者被關(guān)進(jìn)監(jiān)獄或送入教養(yǎng)院。

這一法律遵循的基本原則就是，讓那些沒(méi)有工作能力的人，如孤兒、無(wú)人贍養(yǎng)的老人和身體殘疾的人，得到救濟(jì)或贍養(yǎng)；給那些有勞動(dòng)能力的人一份工作，讓他們能夠以此謀生。這部法律不同于其他都鐸時(shí)期的法律，它不再主要以懲罰為目的，而是更多地采取了規(guī)勸的辦法，并且從這部法律開(kāi)始濟(jì)貧稅的征收從自愿轉(zhuǎn)變?yōu)榱x務(wù)性的。

英國(guó)《濟(jì)貧法》是自羅馬以來(lái)政府采取措施對(duì)窮人進(jìn)行救濟(jì)的第一次努力，政府意識(shí)到國(guó)家有義務(wù)對(duì)窮人進(jìn)行救濟(jì)，這在當(dāng)時(shí)是非常有遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)的。由于英國(guó)《濟(jì)貧法》的頒布，盡管在16世紀(jì)90年代、17世紀(jì)20年代發(fā)生饑荒，但英國(guó)并沒(méi)有像同時(shí)期的法國(guó)那樣發(fā)生大規(guī)模的暴亂。1601年《濟(jì)貧法》的實(shí)施，緩解了貧富之間的矛盾，使得英國(guó)社會(huì)在近代早期一直比較穩(wěn)定，除了內(nèi)戰(zhàn)外，沒(méi)有發(fā)生大的動(dòng)亂。

三 延伸閱讀

Beier,A.L.,Masterless Men:The Vagrancy Problem in England,1560-1640,Methuen,1985.

Beier, A.L., The Problem of the Poor in Tudor and Stuart England, Routledge,1983.

Fellows, N.,Disorder & Rebellion in Tudor England, Hodder Headline, 2002.

Hindle, Steve,The State and Social Change in Early Modern England, Palgrave Macmillan, 2000.

Slack, Paul,From Reformation to Improvement:Public Welfare in Early Modern England,Oxford University Press,1999.

Slack,Paul,Poverty and Policy in Tudor England,Addison-Wesley Pub., 1988.

Pound,John F.,Poverty and Vagrancy in Tudor England,Longman,1971.

Williams,Penry,The Tudor Regime,Oxford University Press,1981.