❧ A Proclamation agreed upon by the justices of Peace of this County of Bedford, at a general Sessions holden at Bedford, the nineteenth day of April, in the xxvii. year of the Queen's most gracious Reign, For the restraint of Wandering Rogues and Vacabounds.  
WHereas at a general quarter Sessions holden at Bedford the nineteen. day of April, in the xxvii. year of the Queen's majesties reign that now is, for the avoiding of Idleness, and for the reformation of idle evil disposed Rogues, Vacabonds and other lewd persons within the County of Bedford, the number whereof now of late have greatly abounded, and daily more and more do increase, to the great displeasure of Almighty God, breach of the Queen's majesties Laws, trouble of her loving Subjects, and great hindrance to the impotent poor, whose relief thereby is taken away, which thing chiefly groweth for want of a convenient place and means to set the said Rogues and Vacabonds on work, and to correct them for their disorders: whereby they may not only be forced to labour for their own living: but also be kept from their wicked and ungodly course and trade of their wandering licentious and abominable life.  
It was agreed and fully concluded by the right Honourable Henry. Earl of Kent, Henry, Lord Cheney of Tuddington, Thomas Snag, Sericant at the law, jews Dive Csquire, and other the Queen's majesties Justices of Peace of this County of Bedford, then assembled, that according to the intent & meaning of the statutes made in the xiiii. and xviii. years of the Queen's majesties reign a house of Correction and Stocks of Wares to set the Idle on work, and officers and workmen, both to instruct them in work, and to rule and guide them in good order, should with all convenient speed be provided within this County, for which purpose there is appointed three Justices of Peace of this shire, to take upon them the charged and care to provide a convenient house for that purpose, and put the same in order, and to provide stocks of Wares and other things necessary for the correction, instructing, ruling, ordering, and setting on work of all such persons as should be committed into the same house by any of her majesties Justices of Peace in this County. And to that end it was then also agreed, that a taxation should be made within this County, according to the statute in that case provided. Whereupon assessments be made and taxed by the said Justices of Peace thorough all the Hundreds and parts of this shire, upon persons most meet to contribute thereunto, for a convenient sum of money to be levied for the said house, and other the good purposes aforesaid. The said Justices of Peace have thought it good, meet and convenient, aswell for the furtherance of this good purpose aforesaid, as for the better satisfying of them which be contributors to the same, to give notice and knowledge to all the inhabitants of this County, that the said house is at Bedford seen and viewed by three of the said Justices of Peace, to be in all respects apt and fit for the purpose aforesaid, which house is appointed to be (by God's favour) upon the next coming, fully prepared and made ready to receive, correct, order, rule, and set on work all such vagrant Rogues, Vagabonds, and other disordered persons, as shall be sent thither by any Justice of Peace of this County, and that the Constable. Tythingman, Hedburroughs, or other Officer, bringing by the warrant of any Justice of Peace of this County, any such vagabond, Rogue, or other disordered person, shall receive at the said house of correction of the Keeper of the said house, a Penny for every mile between the place where the Justice's warrant is made, and the said house of Correction, as shallbe expressed in the said Warrant, towards his charges and pains in bringing of the same Roge. And the said Justices do also give notice and knowledge hereby, to all such persons, as being assessed to contribute to this good work, and do refuse or delay to pay forthwith to the high Constables or other persons appointed to receive the sums upon them taxed, that then the said Justices will forthwith proceed against such refusers, according to the severity of the laws for such penalties and forfeitures, as by their defaults in that behalf shallbe lost and forfeited, that is to say, for the double value of the sums upon them severally taxed, to be levied upon their Lands by distress or of their goods by sail thereof. And lastly, they also do notify and make it known unto all the inhabitants of this County, that that every Town, Village and Hamlet, through all parts of this County there shall be a strong Watch and Ward kept from Sun setting, until next day at night, and withal a general and diligent search made the said day at night, and the next day following it shallbe made and continued. In which Search, Watch and ward, so many Rogues, vagabonds, beggars, and other suspicious and unknown persons as shallbe found, shall be apprehended and brought before the next Justice of Peace, and upon examination, to be by him committed to her majesties gail, or to the said house of correction at his discretion, as the case shall require. And for the better preserving of this Country after that time, clearly from Rogues and Vagabonds, the said Justices have likewise thought good to admonish all Constables, petty Constables, tithingmen, and other Officers and inhabitants within this County, to whom it appertaineth not only diligently and duly to continue and keep every night their Watches from the said next coming, until the feast of Saint Michael next following, in every Town, Village and Hamlet, according to the statute of Winchester, upon the pain therein limited. But also that there do no Rogue, Vagabond nor Beggar after the said pass by Day or by night through any Town, Village or Hamlet, unarrested or unbrought before a Justice of Peace, upon the pains limited in the statute in that behalf lately provided, that is to say, vi. s. viii. d. for every default, the same to be levied by distress upon their Lands, or by sale of their goods of every Constable, Tithingman or Officer offending in that behalf. And likewise no person being an inhabitant within this County, after the said next, do relieve any Rogue, Vagabond, or wandering beggar unlicensed, upon the pain of xx. s. for every default, to be levied upon his Lands or goods, according to the statute in manner and form aforesaid, which pains and forfeitures certainly shallbe levied upon the goods of every offender in that behalf, without mitigation. And for the avoiding of all excuses touching the reprehension of Rogues, vagabonds and beggars, the said Justices do further give knowledge to all such poor persons, as have licenses to collect the charitable alms of others in any Hundreds or parts of this County, yet unexpired and standing in force (except such as have licenses to beg for their houses burnt with Fire) and such as have licenses under the great Seal of England, that they forthwith severally repair to the Justices of the Limits wherein they do severally dwell, who will make other convenient provision for their relief, without wandering abroad any more.  
God save the Queen.