[244] W. Somner, _Antiquities of Canterbury_, p. 273.
[245] P. Morant, _Essex_, Vol. I. p. 164.
In St Albans we know more of the details of the experiment and find that there training was provided as well as employment and the funds were furnished by the town. In 1588 the town rulers engaged a Dutchman named Anthony Moner to teach the poor of the town to spin worsted and other yarns[246]. Eight pounds were taken from the town chest in order to pay for the looms, combs and wheels which were to be used. Inquiries were made throughout the town for poor children who could be spared to learn the new trade; they were to be taught in six weeks and then paid for their labour[247]. About the same time terms were arranged for four men to be taught by the Dutchman. When taught they were to be paid through "the Company[248]," so that apparently the custom of St Albans was like that of London; the work of the poor was sold through the Company representing the citizen workers of the same occupation. The corporation paid £10 for the original stock of wool and every two tods were to be paid for when the next were fetched[249]. The undertaking is therefore partly an example of the employment of the poor by municipal capital and partly an early instance of technical education provided by town rulers.
[246] A. Gibbs, _Corporation Records of S. Albans_, p. 28, June 10th, 1588. The spinning of fine worsted and certain light yarns was introduced into England about this time, and was taught mainly by the foreign refugees from France or Holland.
[247] _Corporation Records of S. Albans_, Sept. 2nd, 1588. The next year it was agreed that the children should be paid for their labour when they had been taught six weeks. _Ib._ Jan. 20th, 1588/9.
Something of the same kind was probably done at York. In 1578, £400 was raised for "settyng the poor of this citie on worke," half of which was contributed by the city and half from the money of Sir William Bowes. In the will of Thomas Brafferton money was also left for this purpose and more detailed directions were given as to its use. A stock of wool, flax or hemp was to be bought and "delivered within the parishe of Thornabie to be by them wrought and made into cloth and the poore people for the working thereof to be paid after such rate as nowe or hereafter shallbe used for such lyke work within the said parishe[250]." In 1591 proposals were made for the same kind of undertaking at Lincoln, and a technical school was established at the expense of the corporation[251]. At Leicester also the town contributed money on several occasions to set the poor people to work[252]. In 1597 the Court of Quarter Sessions in Devonshire make an order that means for setting the poor to work should be provided by the local justices as if this were quite a usual practice[253]. There is no reason to suppose that the instances above quoted are exceptional. There is however more evidence on the subject during the next period.