Vagabonds Act 1597
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1597 c. 4 |
| Year | 1597 |
(39 Eliz. 1) C A P. IV.
'FOR the suppressing of Rogues, Vagabons, and sturdie Beggers:' Bee it enacted by the authoritie of this present Parliament, that from and after the Feast ofEaster next comming, all Statutes heretofore made for the punishment of Rogues, Uagabonds, or sturdie Beggers, or for the erection or maintenaunce of houses of Correction, or touching the same, shall for so much as concerneth the same be vtterly repealed: And that from and after the said Feast of Easter , from time to time it shall and may be lawfull to and for the Iustices of Peace of anie Countie or Citie in this Realme or the Dominions of Wales , assembled at any quarter Sessions of the Peace within the same Countie Citie, Borough, or Towne corporate, or the more part of them, to set downe order to erect, and 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 stockes 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 let downe in any their said quarter Sessions in that behalfe shalbe of force, and be duely perfomed and put in execution.
II. And be it also further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid, That all persons calling themselves Schollers going about begging, all Sea-faring-men pretending losses of their shippes or goods on the Sea going about the countrie begging, All idle persons going about in anie countrie either begging or vsing any subtile craft, or vnlawfull games and playes, or sayning themselues to haue knowledge in Phisiognomie, Palmestrie, or other like craftie science, or pretending that they can tell destenies, fortunes, or such other like fantasticall imaginations: All persons that bee, or vtter themselues to be Proctors, Procurers, Patent gatherers, or Collectors for Gaoles, Prisons, or Hospitalls: All Fencers, Berewards, common Players of Enterludes, and Minstrells, wandering abroad (other then Players of Enterludes belonging to anie Baron of this Realme, or anie other honourable personage of greater degree, to bee authorised to play vnder the hand and Seale of Armes of such Baron or personage) All Iuglers, Tinckers, Pedlers, and pettie 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 do trauel 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 beEgyptians , or wandering in the habite, forme, or attire of counterfeiting Egyptians , shall be taken, adiudged, and deemed Rogues, Vagabonds, and sturdie beggers, and shall sustaine such paine and punishments, as by this Act is in that behalfe appointed.
III. And be it enacted by the authoritie aforesaid, that euery person which is by this present Act declared to be a Rogue, Vagabond, or sturdie begger, which shall be at any time after the sayd Feast ofEaster next comming, taken begging, vagrant, wandering, or misordering themselues in any part of this Realme, or the Dominion of Wales , shall vpon their apprehension by the appoyntment of anie Iustice of the Peace, Constable, Headborough, or Tythingman of the same Countie, Hundred, Parish, or Tything, where such person shall bee taken, the Tythingman or Headborough, being assisted therein with the aduise of the Minister, and one other of that Parish, bee stripped naked from the middle vpwards, and shall be openly whipped vntill his or her bodie be bloudie: and shall bee forthwith sent from Parish to Parish, by the Officers of euerie the same, the next streight way to the Parish where he was borne, if the same may be knowne by the parties confession, or otherwise. And if the same bee not knowne, then to the Parish where he or she 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 subiecrt ought to doe: Or not being knowne where hee or shee was borne or last dwelt, then to the Parish through which hee or shee last passed without punishment. After which whipping the same person shall haue a testimoniall subscribed with the hand, and sealed with the seale of the same Iustice of the Peace, Constable, Headborough, or Tythingman, and of the Minister of the same Parish, or anie two of them, testifying that the same person hath beene...
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