Vagabonds, etc. Act 1572
(14 Eliz. 1) C A P. V.
A Repealof the Statute of 22 H. 8. c. 12. and 3 & 4 Ed. 6. c. 16. and 5 & 6 Ed. 6. c. 2. provided for the Reliefof the Poor, and Punishment of Vagadonds. A Vagabond above the Age of fourteen Years shall be adjudged to be grievously whipped, and burned through the Gristle of the right Ear with a hot Iron of the Compass of an Inch, unless some credible Person will take him into Service for a Year. And if being of the Age of eighteen Years, he after do fall again into a roguish Life, he shall suffer Death as a Felon, unless some credible Person will take him into Service for two Years. And if he fall a third Time into a roguish Life, he shall be adjudged a Felon. Who shall be adjudged Vagabonds? The Penalty for the Relief of them. Who may make Passports and Licences, and to whom? Assessments shall be made of the Parishioners of every Parish for the Relief of the Poor of the same Parish. Every Bishop shall visit and reform Hospitals within his Diocese. No Person shall bring any Rogue out ofIreland or the Isle of Man into England . E X P.
XXXVII A Provision for the Relief of the Prisoners in the common Gaol.
XXXVII. It shall and may be lawful for the Justices of Peace of every Shire within this Realm, at their General Quarter-Sessions of the Peace to be holden within the same Shires, or the most Part of the said Justices being then present, to rate and tax every Parish within the said Shires, at such reasonable Sums of Money,for and towards the Relief of the said Prisoners as they shall think convenient by their Discretions; so that the said Taxation and Rate doth not exceed above six Pence or eight Pence by the Week out of every Parish; and that the Churchwardens of every Parish within this Realm for the Time being shall everySunday levy the same, and once every Quarter in the Year pay to the High Constables or Head Officers of every Town, Parish, Hundred, Riding or Wapentake within this Realm, all such Sums of Moneyas their Parish shall be rated and taxed, for and towards the Relief of the said Prisoners within their said several Parishes: And that the said High Constables and Head Officers, and every of them, shall pay all such Sums of Money so to them paid by the said Churchwardens, at every General Quarter-Sessions to be holden within...
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