Vagabonds Act 1572

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Vagabonds Act 1572
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of England (1558-1603).svg
Parliament of England
Long title An Act for the Punishment of Vagabonds, and for the Relief of the Poor and Impotent.
Citation 14 Eliz. 1. c. 5
Territorial extent  England and Wales
Dates
Royal assent 30 June 1572
Commencement 24 August 1572 [a]
Repealed28 July 1863
Other legislation
Repeals/revokes
Amended by
Repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1863
Relates to
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Vagabonds Act 1572 or the Vagabonds, etc. Act 1572 [1] (14 Eliz. 1. c. 5) was an act of the Parliament of England under Queen Elizabeth I. It is a part of the Tudor Poor Laws and a predecessor to the Elizabethan Poor Laws.

Contents

The act provided that justices of the peace were to register the names of the "aged, decayed, and impotent" poor to determine how much money was required to care for them. The justices of the peace would then assess all inhabitants of the parish for their keep. Overseers of the poor would periodically conduct "views and searches" of the poor. Those refusing to contribute to poor relief would be confined to the gaol. [2]

Justices of the Peace were allowed to license beggars if there were too many for the parish to provide for. Any unlicensed vagabonds were to be whipped and burned through the ear. [3] It further provided that any surplus funds could be used to “place and settle to work the rogues and vagabonds.”

Combined with the Poor Act 1575 (18 Eliz. 1. c. 3), the act formed the basis for the subsequent Elizabethan Poor Laws. [4]

The act was an incentive for itinerant playing companies to find sponsors who could provide them with a permanent play house and thus avoid prosecution as vagabonds. [5]

Legacy

The act was continued until the end of the next session of parliament by the Continuance, etc. of Laws Act 1584 (27 Eliz. 1. c. 11), the Continuance, etc. of Laws Act 1586 (29 Eliz. 1. c. 5), the Continuance, etc. of Laws Act 1588 (31 Eliz. 1. c. 10), the Continuance, etc. of Laws Act 1592 (35 Eliz. 1. c. 7), the Continuance, etc. of Laws Act 1597 (39 Eliz. 1. c. 18) and the Continuance, etc. of Laws Act 1623 (21 Jas. 1. c. 28).

So much of the act "as concerneth the taxing, rating, levying, receiving and employing of gaol money" (section 38) until the end of the next session of parliament" (section 38) was revived and continued until the end of the next session of parliament by the Continuance, etc. of Laws Act 1603 (1 Jas. 1. c. 25).

The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125).

See also

Further reading

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "Vagabonds, etc. Act 1572" . vLex.
  2. ↑ Sidney & Beatrice Webb, English Local Government: English Poor Law History Part 1, pg. 52
  3. ↑ Paul Slack, The English Poor Law 1531-1782, p. 60
  4. ↑ Paul Slack, The English Poor Law 1531-1782 18—19
  5. ↑ Dobson, Michael; Wells, Stanley, eds. (2001). The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare. Oxford University Press. p. 257. ISBN   978-0198117353.
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