I was reading a book about the 16th century yesterday and it mentioned the creation of a 'poor' class during this time due to population growth, and I had an idea. Not sure if it would work or not, but any input would be helpful.
Basically, the scenario is an English King in the early 1500's (1510 or so) who wants to replace the Irish in Ireland with the English, who are much more loyal and so on. He comes up with an idea to hopefully get a lot of people there.
Basically, a town/village/geographical area can bunch their money together and pay to move the poor who don't have any land (and are presumably willing) to Ireland where the King has set aside some land for them. The group would have to provide a minimum of settlers, but if the colony is successful half the rents of the colony are paid to the group who raised the money in proportion to how much they put in for the next ten(?) years, after which the land the colony is on becomes owned by the colonists(?).
So the group who raise the money get money (and hopefully a profit) and get to feel good for allowing the poor to make a better life for themselves somewhere else. The colonists themselves have to work for the next ten years, but after that they have their own land. The King gets settlers for Ireland, and if its successful there it can be used to help settle the New World as well.
Would this idea work? Feel free to tell me I'm a complete and utter idiot for even suggesting this

, but I
really couldn't get to sleep last night. Damn this heat

.