Vagabonds Act 1572
Act of Parliament of England From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| 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] |
| Repealed | 28 July 1863 |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| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 |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Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |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 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
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