Vagabonds Act 1597
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
(39 Eliz. 1) C A P. XVII.
'WHEREAS divers lewd and licentious Persons, contemning both Laws, Magistrates and Religion, have of late Days wandred up and down in all Parts of the Realm, under the Name of Soldiers and Mariners, abusing the Title of that honourable Profession to countenance their wicked Behaviours, and do continually assemble themselves weaponed in the Highways and elsewhere, in Troops, to the great Terror and Astonishment of her Majesty's true Subjects, the Impeachment of her Laws, and the Disturbance of the Peace and Tranquillity of this Realm: (2) And whereas many heinous Outrages, Robberies and horrible Murders are daily committed by these dissolute Persons; and unless some speedy Remedybe had, many Damages are like by these Means to ensue and grow towards the Commonwealth.'
II Inst. 85.
II. Be it therefore enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament, That all idle and wandring Soldiers or Mariners, or idle Persons, which now are, or hereafter shall be wandring as Soldiers and Mariners, shall settle themselves in some Service, Labour or other lawful Course of Life, without wandring, or otherwise repair to the Places where they were born, or to their Dwelling-places, if they have any, and there remain, be taking themselves to some lawful Trade or Course of Life, as aforesaid; (2) upon Pain that all Persons offending contrary to this Act to be reputed as Felons, and to suffer as in Case of Felony, without any Benefit of Clergy to be allowed.
III Wandering Soldiers and Mariners shall have Testimonials.
III. And be it further enacted, That every idle and wandring Soldier or Mariner which coming from his Captain from the Seas, or from beyond the Seas, shall not have a Testimonial under the Hand of some one Justice of the Peace of or near the Place where he landed, setting down therein the Place and Time when and where he landed, and the Place of his Dwelling or Birth, unto which he is to pass, as aforesaid, and a convenient Time therein limited for his Passage, or having such Testimonial shall wilfully exceed the Time therein limited, above fourteen Days: (2)And also as well every such idle and wandring Soldier or Mariner, as every other idle Person wandring as Soldier or Mariner, which shall at any Time hereafter forge or...
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