'An Act for the Reliefe & Release of poor Distressed Prisoners for Debt' [13 manuscript folios]. See also Z1/1/13/(98-100):

Petition of the ... impoverished persons ... In Marshalsea, Dublin

Reasons for Passing an Act for the Reliefe of Poor Prisoners; Petition of the Insolvent debtors in the City Marshalsea, Dublin

The act refers to both male and female prisoners, to the need to prevent their imprisonment where 'they are totally disabl'd to give any satisfaction to their Creditors and soe become without advantage to any a Charge..'. Provides, however, 'that noe Creditor insisting to have his debitor continued in Prison shall be bound to make any weekly allowance for the Subsistence of the Prisoner when the father mother son or daughter or other person who by the Laws of this Realm are bound to Mainteyne him in Discharge of the Parish..'

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