which otherwise may fall vpon their persons or estates by their neglect thereof Wee haue thought it fit hereby to giue notice thereof to all Our louing Subiects to the end that none may pretend ignorance for an excuse in matters of so great importance And wee doe hereby declare that whosoeuer shall be found remisse or negligent in the execution of any part of the Premisses shall receiue such condigne punishment for their offence as by the Lawes of this Realme or by Our Prerogatiue Royall can or may be iustly inflicted vpon them Giuen at our Court at White-hall the three and twentieth day of April in the sixt yeere of Our Reigne of England Scotland France and Ireland God saue the King Anno xliii Reginae Elizebethae ¶ An Act for the reliefe of the poore BE it enacted by the authoritie of this present Parliament that the Churchwardens of euery parish and foure three or two substantiall housholders there as shall be thought meet hauing respect to the proportion and greatnes of the same Parish and Parishes to be nominated yeerely in Easter weeke or within one moneth after Easter vnder the hand and Seale of two or more Iustices of the peace in the same Countie whereof one to be of the Quorum dwelling in or neere the same Parish or diuision where the same Parish doeth lie shall be called Ouerseers of the poore 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 Iustices of Peace as is aforesaid for setting to worke of the children of all such whose parents shall not by the said Churchwardens and Ouerseers or the greater part of them bee thought able to keepe and maintaine their children And also for setting to worke all such persons married or vnmarried hauing no means to maintaine them vse no ordinary and dayly trade of life to get their liuing by and also to raise weekly or otherwise by taxation of euery inhabitant Parson Vicar and other and of euery occupier of Lands Houses Tithes impropriate or Propriations of tithes Cole-mines or saleable vnderwoods in the said Parish in such competent summe and summes of money as they shall thinke fit a conuenient stocke of flaxe hemp wooll threed yron and other necessary ware and stuffe to set the poore on worke and also competent sums of money for and towards the necessary reliefe of the lame impotent old blind and such other among them being poore not able to worke also for the putting out of such children to bee apprentices to be gathered out of the same Parish according to the ability of the same Parish and to doe and execute all other things aswell for the disposing of the said storke as otherwise concerning the premisses as to them shall seeme conuenient Which said Churchwardens and Ouerseers so to be nominated or such of them as shall not be let by sicknesse or other iust excuse to be allowed by two such Iustices of Peace or more as is aforesaid shall meete together at the least once euery moneth in the Church of the said Parish vpon the Sunday in the afternoone after diuine Seruice there to consider of some good course to be taken and of some meet order to be set downe in the premisses and shal within foure daies after the end of their yere and after other Ouerseers nominated as aforesaid make and yeeld vp to such two Iustices of Peace as is aforesaid a true and perfect account of all summes of money by them receiued or rated and sessed and not receiued and also of such stocke as shall bee in their hands or in the hands of any of the poore to worke and of all other things concerning their said office and such summe or summes of money as shall he in their hands shal pay and deliuer ouer to the said Churchwardens and Ouerseers newly nominated and appointed as is aforesaid vpon paine that euery one of them absenting themselues without lawful cause as aforefaid from such monethly 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 Iustices of Peace or any two of them before mentioned to forfeit for euery such default of absence or negligence twenty shillings And be it also enacted that if the said Iustices of Peace doe perceiue that the Inhabitants of any Parish are not able to leuie among themselues sufficient summes of money for the purposes aforesaid that then the said two Iustices shall and may taxe rate and assesse 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 Church-wardens and Ouerseers of the said poore parish for the said purposes as the said Iustices shall thinke fit according to the intent of this Law And if the said Hundred shall not be thought to the said Iustices able and fit to relieue the said seuerall Parishes not able to prouide for themselues as aforesaid Then the Iustices of Peace at their generall quarter Sessions or the greater number of them shall rate and assesse 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 seeme fit And that it shall be lawfull aswell for the present as subsequent Churchwardens and Ouerseers or any of them by warrant from any two such Iustices of peace as is aforesaid to leuie aswell the said sums of money and all arrerages of euery one that shall refuse to contribute according as they shall be assessed by distresse and sale of the offendors goods as the summes of money or stock which shall be behinde vpon any account to be made as aforesaid rendring to the parties the ouerplus and in defect of such distresse it shall be lawfull for any such two Iustices of the Peace to commit him or them to the common Goale of the Countie there to remaine without baile or mainprise vntill paiment of the said sum arrerages and stocke And the said Iustices of Peace or any of them to send to the house of correction or common Goale such as shall not employ themselues to worke being appointed thereunto as aforesaid And also any two such Iustices of Peace to commit to the said prison euery one of the said Churchwardens and Ouerseers which shall refuse to accompt there to remaine without baile or maineprise untill he haue made a true accompt and satisfied and paid so much as vpon the said accompt shall be remaining in his hands And be it further enacted that it shall be lawfull for the said Churchwardens and Ouerseers or the greater part of them by the assent of any two Iustices of the Peace aforesaid to bind any such children as aforesaid to be apprentices where they shall
for touching or concerning any liberty preheminence authority iurisdiction or inheritance which the said Iohn Dutton now lawfully vseth or hath or lawfully may or ought to vse within the County Palatine of Chester and the County of the City of Chester or either of them by reason of any ancient Charters of any Kings of this land or by reason of any prescription vsage or title whatsoeuer And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That all fines and forfeitures appointed or to grow by this present Act except such as are otherwise limited and appointed by this present Act shall wholly goe and be unployed to the vse of the reparations and maintenance of the said houses of Correction and stocke and store thereof or reliefe of the poore where the offence shall be committed at the discretion of the Iustices of the Peace of the same limit City Borough or Towne Corporate And that all fines and forfeitures appointed or to grow by conuiction of any person according to this present Act shall by warrant vnder the hands and seales of any two or more of the Iustices of the Peace of the same County City Borough or Towne Corporate belâ—ied by distresse and sale of the goods and chattels of the offender which sale shall be good in the Law against such offender And that if any of the said offences shal be confessed by the offender or that the same shall be proued by two sufficient and lawfull witnesses before such two or more Iustices of the Peace That then euery such person shall forthwith stand and be in the Law conuicted thereof And bee it also further enacted by the authority aforesaid that any two or more Iustices of the Peace within all the said seueral Shires Cities Boroughes or Townes corporate whereof one to be of the Quorum shal haue full power by authority of this present Act to heare and determine all causes that shall grow or come in question by reason of this Act. And bee it also further enacted by the authority aforesaid that the Lord Chancellor or Keeper of the great Seale of England for the time being shall and may at all times hereafter by vertue of this present Act without further warrant make and direct Commission or Commissions vnder the great Seale of England to any person or persons giuing them or some of them thereby authority as well by the oaths of good lawfull men as of witnesses or examination of parties or by any other lawfull wayes or meanes whatsoeuer to enquire what summes of money or other things haue been or shall bee collected or gathered for or towards the erection of any houses of Correction or any Stockes or other things to set poore on work or for the maintenance thereof at any time after the seuenteenth day of Nouember in the eighteenth yeere of the Reigne of the Queenes most excellent Maiesty and by whom the same were or shall be collected or gathered and to whose hands commen and to what vse and by whose direction the same was or shall bee employed And to call all euery such person persons and their sureties and euery of their executors or administrators to an accompt And to compell them and euery of them by attachment of their goods or bodies to appeare before them for the same and to heare determine the same and to leuie such money and things as they shal find not to haue been duly employed vpon the said houses of Correction or stockes or vpon other like vses hauing in such other like vses respect of things past by the said Commissioners to be allowed of either by distresse sale of the goods and chattels of such persons as they shall thinke fit to bee chargeable or answerable for the same or by imprisonment of their bodies at their discretion And that the said Commissioners shall haue full power and authority to execute the same Commission according to the tenor and purport thereof And that all their proceedings doings iudgements and executions by force and authority thereof shall be and remaine good and auaileable in the Law which said money so leuied by the said Commissioners shall bee deliuered and employed for the erecting or maintenance of the same Prouided alwayes neuerthelesse That euery Sea-faring man suffering shipwracke not hauing wherewith to relieue himselfe in his trauailes home wards but hauing a Testimoniall vnder the hand of some one Iustice of the Peace of or neere the place where he landed setting downe therein the place and time where and when he landed and the place of the parties dwelling or birth vnto which he is to passe and a conuenient time therein to be limited for his passage shall and may without incurring the danger and penalty of this Act in the vsuall wayes directly to the place vnto which he is directed to passe and within the time in such his testimoniall limited for his passage aske and receiue such reliefe as shall be necessary in and for his passage Prouided also that this Statute nor any thing therein contained shall extend to any children vnder the age of seuen yeares nor to any such Glassemen as shall be of good behauiour and doe trauaile in or through any Country without begging hauing licence for their trauailing vnder the hands and seales of three Iustices of the Peace of the same County where they trauaile whereof one to be of the Quorum And bee it also further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that this present Act shall bee proclaimed in the next quarter Session or Sessions in euery County and in such other market Townes or places as by the more part of the Iustices of the Peace in the said Sessions shal be agreed and appointed This Act to endure to the end of the first Session of the next Parliament ¶ Certaine branches of the Statute made in the first yeere of the Reigne of King IAMES concerning Rogues Vagabonds and sturdy Beggars FOrasmuch as sithence the making of the Act of 39. Eliz. diuers doubts and questions haue been mooued and growen by diuersitie of opinions taken in and vpon the letter of the said Act For a plaine declaration whereof Be it declared and enacted That from henceforth no Authoritie to bee giuen or made by any Baron of this Realme or any other honourable Personage of greater degree vnto any other person or persons shall be auaileable to free and discharge the said persons or any of them from the paines and punishments in the said Statute mentioned but that they shall be taken within the offence and punishment of the same Statute And whereas in the said Statute there is a Prouiso conteined that the said Statute nor any thing therein conteined shall extend to any such Glassemen as shall be of good behauiour and shall trauell in or thorow any Countie without begging hauing Licence for their trauelling vnder the hands and Seales of three Iustices of the Peace of the same County
in defect thereof it shall be lawfull for any two such Iustices of Peace and the said Aldermen and head Officers within their seuerall limits to commit the offendor to the said prison there to remaine without baile or maineprise till the said forfeitures shal be satisfied and payed And bee it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that the Iustices of Peace of euery County or place corporate or the more part of them in their generall Sessions to be holden next after the feast of Easter next and so yeerely as often as they shall thinke meet shall rate euery Parish to such a weekely summe of money as they shall thinke conuenient so as no Parish bee rated aboue the summe of sixe pence nor vnder the summe of a halfepeny weekely to be payed and so as the totall summe of such taxation of the Parishes in euery County amount not aboue the rate of two pence for euery Parish within the said County Which summes so taxed shall bee yeerely assessed by the agreement of the Parishioners within themselues or in default thereof by the Churchwardens and petie Constables of the same Parish or the more part of them or in default of their agreement by the order of such Iustice or Iustices of Peace as shall dwell in the same Parish or if none bee there dwelling in the parts next adioyning And if any person shal refuse or neglect to pay any such portion of money so taxed it shal be lawfull for the said Churchwardens and Constables or any of them or in their default for any Iustice of Peace of the said limite to leuie the same by distresse and sale of the goods of the party so refusing or neglecting rendring to the party the ouerplus and in default of such distresse it shal be lawful to any Iustice of that limit to commit such person to the said prison there to abide without baile or maine prise till he haue payed the same And be it also enacted That the said Iustices of the Peace at their generall quarter Sessions to bee holden at the time of such taxation shall set downe what competent sums of money shall be sent quarterly out of euery County or place corporate for the releife of the poore prisoners of the Kings Bench Marshalsey and also of such Hospitals and almes houses as shal be in the said County what sums of money shal be sent to euery one of the said Hospitals and almes houses so as there be sent out of euery Countie yeerely xx s. at the least to each of the said prisons of the Kings Bench and Marshalsey which summes ratably to be assessed vpon euery parish the Churchwardens of euery Parish shall truely collect pay ouer to the high Constables in whose diuision such Parish shall bee situate from time to time quarterly ten dayes before the end of euery quarter and euery such Constable at euery such quarter Sessions in such County shall pay ouer the same to such two Treasurers or to one of them as shall by the more part of the Iustices of Peace of the County be elected to be the said Treasurers to be chosen by the Iustices of Peace of the said County Citie or towne or place corporate or of others which were sessed and taxed at fiue pound lands or ten pound goods at the least at the taxe of Subsidie 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 yere in their office and then to giue vp 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 euery yeere to such others as shall from yeere to yeere in forme aforesaid successiuely be elected Treasurers for the said County Citie Towne or place corporate which said Treasurers or one of them shall pay ouer the same to the Lord chiefe Iustice of England and Knight Marshal for the time being equally to be diuided to the vse aforesaid taking their acquittance for the same or in default of the said chiefe Iustice to the next ancientest Iustice of the Kings Bench as aforesaid And if any Churchwarden or high Constable or his executors or administrators shall faile to make payment in forme aboue specified then euery Churchwarden his executors or administrators so offending shall forfeit for euery time the summe of ten shillings and euerp high Constable his executors or administrators shall forfeit for euery time the sum of xx s. the same forfeitures together with the summes behinde to be leuied by the said Treasurer and Treasurers by way of distresse and sale of the goods as aforesaid in forme aforesaid and by them to bee imployed towards the charitable vses comprised in this Act. And bee it further enacted That all the surplusage of money which shall be remaining in the said Stocke of any County shal by discretion of the more part of the Iustices of Peace in their quarter Sessions be ordered distributed and bestowed for the reliefe of the poore Hospitals of that County and of those that shall sustaine losses by fire water the Sea or other Casualties and to such other charitable purposes for the releife of the poore as to the more part of the said Iustices of Peace shall seeme conuenient And bee it further enacted That if any Treasurer elected shall wilfully refuse to take vpon him the sayd office of Treasurership or refuse to distribute and giue reliefe or to account according to such forme as shall be appointed by the more part of the said Iustices of peace That then it shall be lawfull for the Iustices of Peace in their Qarter Sessions or in their default for the Iustices of Assize at y e Assizes to be holden in the same Countie to fine the same Treasurer by their discretion the same fine not to be vnder three pound and to be leuied by sale of his goods and to be prosecuted by any two of the said Iustices of Peace whom they shall authorize Prouided alwaies that this Act shall not take effect vntill the Feast of Easter next And be it enacted that the Statute made in the nine and thirtieth yere of her Maiesties Reigne entituled An Act for the reliefe of the poore shall continue and stand in force vntill the Feast of Easter next And that all Taxations heretofore imposed not payed nor that shal be payed before the said feast of Easter next And that all Taxes hereafter before the said Feast to be taxed by vertue of the said former Act which shal not be payed before the said Feast of Easter shall and may after the said Feast of Easter be leuied by the Ouerseers and other persons in this Act respectiuely appointed to leuy taxations by distresse by such warrant in euery respect as if they had been taxed imposed by vertue of this Act and were not paid Prouided
computation of all such summes as they leuie and also a Register of the names of euery such person vnto whom they shall haue disbursed any reliefe And shall also preserue or enter euery Certificate by warrant whereof such reliefe hath beene by them disbursed And also that the Mustermaster or Receiuer generall of the Muster Rolles shall keepe a booke wherein shall be entred the names of all such whose Certificates shall bee by him allowed with an abstract of their Certificates And that euery Treasurer returning or not accepting the Certificate brought vnto him from the said Muster-master shall write and subscribe the cause of his not accepting or not allowing thereof vnder the said Certificate or on the back thereof And be it further enacted That if any Treasurer shall wilfully refuse to distribute and giue any reliefe according to the forme of this Act That it shall be lawfull for the Iustices of peace in their quarter Sessions to Fine such Treasurers by their discretions as aforesaid The same Fine to bee leuied by distresse and sale thereof to bee prosecuted by any two of them whom they shall authorize And be it also enacted that euery Souldier or Mariner that shall be taken begging in any place within this Realme after the Feast of Easter next Or any that shall counterfeit any Certificate in this Act expressed shall for euer lose his Annuitie or pension and shall be taken deemed and adiudged as a common Rogue or Vagabond person and shall haue and sustaine the same and the like paines imprisonment and punishment as is appointed and prouided for common Rogues and Vagabond persons Prouided alwayes and be it enacted that all the surplusage of money which shall bee remaining in the Stock of any County shall by the discretion of the more part of the Iustices of Peace in their quarter Sessions bee ordered distributed and bestowed vpon such good and charitable vses and in such forme as are limited and appointed in the Statutes made and now in force concerning reliefe of the poore and punishment of Rogues and Beggars Prouided alwayes that the Iustices of peace within any County of this Realme or Wales shall not intromit or enter into any City Borough Place or Towne corporate where is any Iustice of Peace for any such Citie Borough Place or Towne corporate for the execution of any Article of this Act But that it shall be lawfull to the Iustice and Iustices of the peace Maiors Bailiffes and other head Officers of those Cities Boroughs Places Townes corporate where there is any Iustice of Peace to proceed to the execution of this Act within the precinct and compasse of their liberties in such manner as the Iustice of Peace in any County may doe by vertue of this Act. And that euery Iustice of Peace within euery such Citie Borough Place or Towne corporate for euery offence by him committed contrary to the meaning of this Statute shal be fineable as other Iustices of peace at the large in the Counties are in this Act appointed to be And that the Maior and Iustices of Peace in euery such Borough Place and Towne corporate shall haue authority by this present Act to appoint any person for the receiuing of the said money and paying the same within such Citie Borough Place or Towne corporate which person so appointed shall haue authority to doe all such things and be subiect to all such penalties as high Constables by vertue of this Act should haue or be And be it enacted that all forfeitures to bee forfeited by any Treasurer Collector Constable Church-warden or other person for any cause mentioned in this Act shall be imployed to the reliefe of such Souldiers and Mariners as are by this Act appointed to take and haue reliefe And after that reliefe satisfied then the ouerplus thereof with the ouerplus of the stock remaining in any the said Treasurers hands shall bee imployed as is before mentioned to the charitable vses expressed in the said Statutes concerning the reliefe of poore and for punishment of Rogues and Beggers except the said Iustices or the more part of them shall thinke meet to reserue and keepe the same in stock for the maintenance and reliefe of such Souldiers and Mariners as out of the same County may afterward bee appointed to receiue reliefe and pensions And that the reliefe appointed to bee giuen by this Act shall be giuen to Souldiers and Mariners out of the County or place where they were pressed so far forth as the Taxation limited by this Act will extend And if the whole Taxation there shall be before imployed according to the meaning of this Act or that they shall not be prest men then out of the place where they were borne or last inhabited by the space of three yeeres at his or their election Prouided alwayes and be it enacted that euery pension assigned heretofore to any Souldier or Mariner or that shall be assigned before the said Feast of Easter next notwithstanding the discontinuance of the said two former Acts shall stand in force and shall yeerely from and after the said feast of Easter next be satisfied and payed out of such Taxations and forfeitures as shall be made collected and leuied by force of this Act so long as the said pension shall remaine in force without such reuocation or diminishing as is before in this Act mentioned Which clause of reuocation or diminishing before mentioned shall extend aswell to pensions heretofore assigned as to such as at any time hereafter before or after the said feast of Easter shall bee assigned to any person or persons And bee it also enacted that all arrerages of Taxations heretofore made by vertue of the said former Statutes or any of them which shall be or remaine at the said feast of Easter next vncollected and not receiued or leuied shall and may by authority of this Act be had receiued and leuied by such persons and in such manner and forme as in euery respect Taxations made by vertue of this Act are appointed to bee collected receiued and leuied and shall be imployed to the vses expressed in this Act and no otherwise Prouided alwaies and bee it enacted by the authority aforesaid that if the said rate shall bee thought not to bee sufficient for the reliefe of such Souldiers and Mariners as shall be to be relieued within the City of London That then it shall bee lawfull for the Maior Recorder and Aldermen of London or the more part of them to rate and taxe such reasonable taxe summe and summes of money for the said reliefe as shall be to them thought fit and conuenient So as such summe and summes of money so to be rated doe not exceed three shillings weekely out of any Parish and so as in the totall the summe shall not exceed or bee vnder twelue pence weekely out of euery Parish one with another within the said Citie and the Liberties thereof
holden in that County and then such of the same Rogues so committed as by the Iustices of the Peace then and there present or the most part of them shall be thought fit not to be deliuered shall and may lawfully by the same Iustices or the most part of them bee banished out of this Realme and all other the dominions thereof and at the charges of that Countrey shall bee conueyed vnto such parts beyond the Seas as shall be at any time hereafter for that purpose assigned by the Priuy Councell vnto her Maiesty her heires or successors or by any sixe or more of them whereof the L. Chancellor or L. Keeper of the great Seale or the L. Treasurer for the time being to bee one or otherwise be iudged perpetually to the Gallies of this Realme as by the same Iustices or the most part of them it shall bee thought fit and expedient And if any such Rogue so banished as aforesaid shall returne againe into any part of this Realme or dominion of Wales without lawfull licence or warrant so to doe that in euery such case such offence shall be Felony and the party offending therein suffer death as in case of felony The said felony to bee heard and determined in that County of this Realme or Wales in which the offender shall be apprehended And be it also enacted by the authority aforesaid that if any Towne Parish or Village the Constable Headborough or Tythingman be negligent and doe not his or their best endeauours for the apprehension of such Vagabond Rogue or sturdy Begger which there shall bee found contrary to the forme of this present Act and to cause euery of them to bee punished and conueied according to the true meaning of this present Act that then the said Constable Headborough or Tithingman in whom such default shall be shall lose and forfeit for euery such default ten shillings And also if any person or persons doe in any wise disturbe or let the execution of this Law or any part thereof concerning the punishment or conueying of Rogues Vagabonds sturdy Beggers or the reliefe or setling of poore impotent persons in any maner of wise or make rescous against any Officer or person authorised by this present Act for the due execution of any the premisses the same person so offending shal forfeit lose for euery such offence the summe of fiue pound and shall be bound to the good behauiour And bee it also further enacted by the authority aforesaid That no person or persons hauing charge in any voyage in passing from the Realmes of Ireland or Scotland or from the Isle of Man into this Realme of England doe wittingly or willingly bring or conuey or suffer to be brought or conueyed in any Vessell or Boate from and out of the said Realme of Ireland Scotland or Isle of Man into the Realme of England or Wales or any part thereof any Vagabond Rogue or Begger or any such as shall be forced or very like to liue by begging within the Realme of England or Wales being borne in the same Realmes or Island on paine of euery such person so offending to forfeit and lose for euery such Vagabond Rogue Begger or other person like to liue by begging .xx. s. to the vse of the poore of the said Parish in which they were set on land And if any such Manniske Scottish or Irish Rogue vagabond or begger be already or shall at any time hereafter be set on land or shall come into any part of England or Wales the same after he or she shall be punished as aforesaid shall bee conueyed to the next Port or Parish in or neere which they were landed or first came in such sort as Rogues are appointed to bee by this present Act and from thence to bee transported at the common charge of the County where they were set on land into those parts from whence they came or were brought And that euery Constable Headborough and Tythingman neglecting the due performance thereof shall forfeit for euery such offence ten shillings Be it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that no diseased or impotent poore person shal at any time resort or repaire from their dwelling places to the City of Bath or Towne of Buxton or either of them to the Baths there for the ease of their griefes vnlesse such person doe forbeare to begge and bee licensed to passe thither by two Iustices of the Peace of the County where such person doth or shall then dwell or remaine and prouided for to trauaile with such reliefe for towards his or her maintenance as shal be necessary for the same person for the time of such his or her trauaile abode at the city of Bath and town of Buxton or either of them and returne thence and shall returne home againe as shall be limited by the said licence vpon paine to be reputed punished and vsed as Rogues Vagabonds and sturdy Beggers declared by this present Act. And that the inhabitants of the same City of Bath and Towne of Buxton shall not in any wise be charged by this Act with the finding the reliefe of any such poore people Prouided alwayes That the Iustices of Peace within any County of this Realm or Wales shall not intromit or enter into any City Borough or Towns corporate where be any Iustice or Iustices of the Peace for any such City Borough or Towne Corporate for the execution of any Branch Article or sentence of this Act for or concerning any offence matter or cause growing or arising within the Precincts Liberties or Iurisdiction of such City Borough or Townes Corporate But that it may and shal be lawfull to the Iustice and Iustices of the Peace Maiors Bailiffes and other head Officers of those Cities Boroughes and Townes Corporate where there bee such Iustices of the Peace to proceed to the execution of this Act within the precinct and compasse of their Liberties in such maner and forme as the Iustices of Peace in any County may or ought to doe within the same County by vertue of this Act Any thing in this Act to the contrary thereof notwithstanding Prouided alwayes That this Act or any thing therein contained shall not extend to the poore people for the time being in the Hospitall called Saint Thomas Hospitall otherwise called the Kings Hospitall in the Borough of Southwarke neere adioyning to the City of London but that the Maior Commonalty and Citizens of the said City of London for the time being shall and may haue the rule order and gouernment of the said Hospitall and of the poor people therein for the time being Any thing in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding Prouided alwayes That this Act or any thing therein contained or any authority thereby giuen shall not in any wise extend to dis-inherit preiudice or hinder Iohn Dutton of Dutton in the County of Chester Esquire his heires or assignes
where they trauell whereof one to bee of the Quorum as by the Statute more at large appeareth By reason of which libertie many notorious Rogues and Vagabonds and euill disposed persons haue vndertaken and doe professe the trade of Glassemen and by colour thereof doe trauell vp and downe diuers Counties of this Realme and doe commit many Pickeries petty Felonies and other misdemeanours For the auoding of which inconuenience Bee it established and enacted by the Authoritie of this present Parliament That from and after two moneths next after the end of this present Session of Parliament all such person and persons as shall wander vp and downe the Countrey to sell Glasses shall be adiudged deemed and taken as Rogues and Vagabonds and shall suffer the like paine and punishment in euery degree as is appointed to bee inflicted vpon Rogues Vagabonds and sturdy Beggers by the intent and true meaning of the said Statute made in the nine and thirtieth yeere of the Reigne of the said late Queene Elizabeth and shall be set down limitted and appointed by this present Act Any thing in the said Statute of the nine and thirtieth yeere of her said Reigne to the contrary therof in any wise notwithstanding And forasmuch as one branch of the Statute of 39. Eliz. is taken to bee some what defectiue for that the said Rogues hauing no Marke vpon them to bee knowne by notwithstanding such iudgement of Banishment may returne or retire themselues into some other parts of this Realme where they are not known and so escape the due punishment which the said Statute did intend to inflict vpon them For remedy whereof Be it ordained and enacted That such Rogues as shall after the end of two moneths next after the end of this Session of Parliament be adiudged as aforesaid incorrigible or dangerous shall also by the iudgement of the same Iustices or the more part of them then present in their open Sessions of the Peace bee branded in the left shoulder with an hot burning Iron of the breadth of an English shilling with a great Romane R vpon the Iron and the branding vpon the shoulder to bee throughly burned and set on vpon the skinne and flesh that the Letter R bee seene and remaine for a perpetuall Marke vpon such Rogue during his or her life and therevpon bee sent by the same Iustices to the place of his dwelling if he haue any if not then to the place where hee last dwelt by the space of a yeere if that can be knowne by his confession or otherwise And if that cannot bee knowne then to the place of his birth there to bee placed in labour as a true Subiect ought to doe And after such punishment of any such Rogue as aforesaid if any Rogue so punished shall offend againe in begging or wandring contrary to the said Statute or this present Act That then in euery such case the party so offending shall bee iudged a Felon and shall suffer as in Cases of Felony without benefit of Clergie the same Felony to be tried in the County where any such offender shall bee taken Anno primo Iacobi Regis ¶ An Act for the charitable reliefe and ordering of persons infected with the Plague FOrasmuch as the Inhabitants of diuers Cities Boroughs Townes corporate and of other Parishes and places being visited with the Plague are found to bee vnable to relieue the poorer sort of such people so infected who of necessity must be by some charitable course prouided for lest they should wander abroad and thereby infect others And forasmuch as diuers persons infected with that disease and others inhabiting in places infected aswell poore people and vnable to relieue themselues that are carefully prouided for as other which of themselues are of abilitie being commanded by the Magistrate or officer of or within the place where the Infection shall be to keepe their houses or otherwise to separate themselues from company for the auoiding of further Infection do notwithstanding very dangerously and disorderly demeane themselues Bee it therefore enacted by the authoritie of this present Parliament That the Maior Bailiffes head Officers and Iustices of the Peace of euery City Borough Town corporate and places Priuiledged where any Maior and Bailiffes head Officers or Iustices of Peace are or shall bee or any two of them shall haue power and authority from time to time to taxe and assesse all and euery Inhabitant and all Houses of habitation Lands Tenements and Hereditaments within the said Citie Borough Towne corporate and places Priuiledged or the liberties or precincts thereof at such reasonable taxes and paiments as they shall thinke fit for the reasonable reliefe of such persons infected or inhabiting in houses and places infected in the same Cities Boroughs and Townes corporate and places priuiledged and from time to time leuie the same Taxes of the goods of euery person refusing or neglecting to pay the said Taxes by Warrant vnder the Hand and Seale of the Maior and Bailiffes and head Officers aforesaid or two such Iustices of Peace to bee directed to any person or persons for the execution thereof And if the party to whom such Warrant is or shall be directed shall not find any Goods to leuy the same and the party taxed shall refuse to pay the same Taxe That then vpon returne thereof the said Maior Bailiffes head Officers or Iustices of Peace or any two of them shall by like Warrant vnder their hands and Seales cause the same person so taxed to bee arrested and committed to the Gaole without Bayle or Maineprise vntill he shall satisfie the same taxation and the Arrerages thereof And if the Inhabitants of any such Citie Borough Towne corporate or place priuiledged shall finde themselues vnable to relieue their said poore infected persons and others as aforesaid That then vpon Certificate thereof by the Maior Bayliffe head Officers and other the said Iustices of Peace or any two of them to the Iustices of Peace of the Countie of or neere to the sayd Citie Borough Towne corporate or priuiledged place so infected or any two of them to be made the said Iustices of or neer the said County or any two of them shall or may taxe and assesse the Inhabitants of the Countie within fiue miles of the sayd place Infected at such reasonable and weekely Taxes and Rates as they shall thinke fit to be leuied by warrant from any such two Iustices of Peace of or neere the Countie by sale of Goods and in default thereof by imprisonment of the body of the party taxed as aforesayd And if any such Infection shall bee in any Borough Towne corporate or piuiledged place where there are or shall be no Iustices of peace or in any Village or Hamlet within any County That then it shall and may bee lawfull for any two Iustices of peace of the said County wherein the said place infected is or shall be to taxe and assesse the inhabitants of
This Act to endure to the end of the next Session of Parliament and no longer Anno xxxix Reginae Elizabethae An Act for punishment of Rogues Vagabonds and sturdy Beggers FOr the suppressing of Rogues Vagabonds sturdie Beggers be it enacted by the authority of this present Parliament that from and after the feast of Easter next comming all Statutes heretofore made for the punishment of Rogues Vagabonds or sturdie Beggers or for the erection or maintenance of houses of correction or touching the same shall for so much as concerneth the same be vtterly repealed and that from and after the said Feast of Easter from time to time it shall and may be lawfull to and for the Iustices of Peace of any County or City in this Realme or the Dominions of Wales assembled at any Quarter Sessions of the Peace within the same County City Borough or Towne corporate or the more part of them to set downe order to erect to cause to be erected one or more houses of Correction within their seuerall Counties or Cities for the doing and performing whereof and for the prouiding of stocks of money and all other things necessary for the same and for raising and gouerning of the same and for correction and punishment of offenders thither to be committed such orders as the same Iustices or the more part of them shall from time to time take reforme or set down in any their said Quarter Sessions in that behalfe shall be of force and be duely performed and put in execution And bee it also further enacted by the authority aforesaid that all persons calling themselues Schollars going about begging all Sea faring men pretending losses of their ships or goods on the Sea going about the countrey begging all idle persons going about in any countrey either begging or vsing any subtile craft or vnlawfull games and playes or faining themselues to haue knowledge in Physiognomie Palmestry or other like crafty Science or pretending that they can tell Destinies Fortunes or such other like fantasticall imaginations All persons that be or vtter themselues to be Proctors Procurers Patent-gatherers or Collectors for Gaoles prisons or Hospitals All Fencers Bearewards Common Players of Interludes and Minstrels wandering abroad other then Players of Interludes belonging to any Baron of this Realme or any other honourable personage of greater degree to bee authorized to play vnder the hand and Seale of Armes of such Baron or personage all Iuglers Tinkers Pedlars and pety Chapmen wandering abroad all wandering persons and common Labourers being persons able in body vsing loytering and refusing to worke for such reasonable wages as is taxed or commonly giuen in such parts where such persons doe or shall happen to dwell or abide not hauing liuing otherwise to maintaine themselues All persons deliuered out of Gaoles that begge for their Fees or otherwise doe trauaile begging All such persons as shall wander abroad begging pretending losses by fire or otherwise And all such persons not being felons wandering and pretending themselues to bee Egyptians or wandering in the habit forâ—â—â— or 〈…〉 counterfeit Egyptians shall be taken adiudged and deemed Rogues Vagabonds and sturdy beggers and shall susteine such paine and punishments as by this Act is in that behalfe appointed And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid that euery person which is by this present Act declared to be a Rogue Vagabond or sturdy begger which shall be at any time after the said Feast of Easter next comming taken begging vagrant wandring or misordering themselues in any part of this Realme or the Dominion of Wales shall vpon their apprehension by the appointment of any Iustice of the Peace Constable Headborough or Tythingman of the same County Hundred Parish or Tything where such person shall be taken the Tythingman or Headborough being assisted therein with the aduice of the Minister and one other of that parish be stripped naked from the middle vpwards and shall bee openly whipped vntill his or her body be bloody and shall be forthwith sent from parish to parish by the Officers of euery the same the next straight way to the parish where hee was borne if the same may be knowen by the parties confession or otherwise And if the same be not knowen then to the parish where hee or shee last dwelt before the same punishment by the space of one whole yeare there to put him or her selfe to labour as a true subiect ought to doe Or not being knowen where hee or she was borne or last dwelt then to the parish through which he or she last passed without punishment After which whipping the same person shall haue a testimoniall subscribed with the hand sealed with the seale of the same Iustice of the peace Constable Headborough or Tythingman of the Minister of the same parish or of any two of them testifying that the same person hath beene punished according to this act and mentioning the day and place of his or her punishment and the place wherevnto such person is limited to goe and by what time the said person is limited to passe thither at his perill And if the said person through his or her default doe not accomplish the order appointed by the said testimoniall then to be eftsoones taken whipped and so as often as any default shall be found in him or her contrary to the forme of this statute in euery place to be whipped till such person be repaired to the place limited The substance of which testimoniall shall be registred by the minister of that parish in a booke to be prouided for that purpose vpon paine to forfeit 5. shillings for euery default thereof and the party so whipped not knowen where hee or she was borne or last dwelt by the space of a yeare shall by the officers of the said Village where he or she so last past thorow without punishment bee conueied to the house of Correction of the limit wherein the said Village standeth or to the common Gaole of that County or place there to remaine and be imployed in worke vntill hee or she shall be placed in some seruice and so to continue by the space of one yeare or not being able of body vntill he or she shall be placed to remaine in some Almeshouse in the same Countie or place Prouided alwaies and bee it enacted If any of the said Rogues shall appeare to bee dangerous to the inferiour sort of people where they shall be taken or otherwise bee such as will not be reformed of their roguish kinde of life by the former prouision of this Act that in euery such case it shall and may be lawfull to the said Iustices of the limit where any such Rogue shall be taken or any two of them wherof one to be of the Quorum to commit that Rogue to the house of correction or otherwise to the Gaole of the County there to remaine vntill their next quarter Sessions to be