The 1601 Act for the Relief of the Poor
Although it was in many respects a consolidation and reiteration of earlier legislation, the 1601 Act for the Relief of the Poor has come to be regarded as a milestone in British social legislation. It created the framework for poor relief in England that was to last until the great 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act.
To read the full text of the 1601 Act, just click on the picture of its introductory paragraphs above.
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