[1531. Extract from An Acte concernyng punysshement of Beggers & Vacabundes (22 Hen. VIII, c. 12), printed in Statutes, iii. 328. The Act was continued and amended in detail in 1536 by 27 Hen. VIII, c. 25 (St. iii. 558), replaced in 1547 by the more severe 1 Edw. VI, c. 3 (St. iv. 5), revived in 1550 by 3 & 4 Edw. VI, c. 16 (St. iv. 115), and continued in 1551-2 by 5 & 6 Edw. VI, c. 2 (St. iv. 131), in 1552-3 by 7 Edw. VI, c. 11 (St. iv. 175), in 1553 by 1 Mary, c. 13 (St. iv. 215), and in 1563 by 5 Eliz. c. 3 (St. iv. 411).]
[§ 3.] And be it farther enacted by the aucthoryte aforsayde that
yf any person or persones beyng hole & myghtie in body & able to
laboure, at any tyme after the sayde feast of Saynt John [24 June
1531] be taken in beggyng in any parte of this Realme, or yf any
Man or Woman beyng hole & myghty in body & able to laboure
havyng no lande [or] maister nor usyng any lawful marchaundyse
crafte or mystery, wherby he myght gette his lyvyng after the same
feast, be vagarant & can gyve none rekenyng howe he doth lefully
gett his lyvyng, that than yt shalbe lefull to the Constables & all
other the Kynges Officers Mynysters & Subjectes of every Towne
Paryshe & Hamlet to arest the sayd Vacaboundes & ydell persons
& them bryng to any of the Justices of Peace of the same Shyre or
Libertie, or els to the Highe Constable of the Hundrede Rape or
Wapentake wythin whyche suche persones shalbe taken; and yf he
be taken wythin any Cyte or Towen Corporate, than to be brought
before the Mayre, Shereffes or Baylyffes of every suche Towne Corporate;
and that every suche Justyce of Peace, Highe Constable,
Mayres, Shereffes and Baylyffes by their dyscretions shall cause every
suche ydell person so to hym brought to be had to the next market
Towne or other place, where the sayde Justices of Peace, Highe
Constable, Mayres, Baylyffes or other Officers shall thynke most
convenyent by his or there discretions & there to be tyed to the end
of a Carte naked and be beten wyth Whyppes thoroughe oute the
same market Towne or other place tyll his Body be blody by reason
of suche whyppyng; and after suche punysshement & whyppyng
had, the person so punysshed by the dyscretion of the Justice of
Peace, Highe Constable, Mayre, Sheryffes, Baylyffes & other Officers,
afore whom suche person shalbe brought, shalbe enyoyned upon his
othe to retourne forthewyth wythout delaye in the next & streyght
waye to the place where he was borne, or where he last dwelled before
the same punysshement by the space of iij yeres & there put hym
selfe to laboure, lyke as a trewe man oweth to doo . . . and yf the
person so whypped be an ydell person & no common begger than
after suche whippyng he shall be kepte in the Stockes till he hath
founde suertie to goo to servyce or elles to laboure after the dyscretion
of the sayde Justice of Peace, Mayres, Shireffes, Baylyffes, Highe
Constables or other suche Offycers afore whome any suche ydell person
beyng no commen begger shalbe brought, yf by the dyscretion of the
same Justice of Peace, Mayer, Shyreff, Bayly, Highe Constable, or
other suche hedde offycer, yt be so thought convenyent & that the
