❧ A Collection of the substance of certain necessary statutes, to be by the justices of Peace diligently executed, within every shear of the Realm. The Collection, i. Of Alehouses. two. Of Apparel. iii. Of Apprentyces iiii. Of Archerye. v. Of plays and games. vi. Of Rebellion. seven. Of Regrtors and forestallets. viii. Of tillage. ix. Of Vyttels and Wood. x. Of wines. xi. Of Woods. xii. Against vagabonds. xiii. Against reteyners & givers of liveries xiiii. For Robberies and Watches. xv. Against reports of slanderous tales & news Of Alehouses. Anno. 5. Edw. 6. cap: 25. IVstices of peace, shall remove comen alehouses, & tiplinghouses where they shall think meet. None shall be suffered to keep any common alehouse or, tiplinghouse, but such as shallbe admitted in the sessions of the peace, or by two justices of peace, and they shallbe bound by recognisance, against the using of unlawful games, and for maintenance of good rule. ¶ The justices of peace shall certify the recognisance at the next quarter sessions. ¶ justices of peace in their quarter sessions shall inquire and determine of them that be too admitted and bound. ¶ If any not admitted shall keep a comen alehouse or tiplingbouse, the justices of peace shall commit him to the common jail, for iii days, and before his deliverance shall take recognisance with two sureties that he shall not keep any alehouse or typlinghouse. ¶ The justices shall certify those recognisances and offences, at the next quarter sessions, which certificate shall be of conviction of the offence, and twenty s. shall in the sessions be assessed for the sign. ¶ Fairs be accepted. Of apparel. Anno. 1 &. 2. Phil. and Mar. cap. 2. NO english man, other than the son and beyre apparent of a kuight, or he that hath yearly revenues of, xx li or be worth in goods .cc. li. shall were silk, in or upon his hat, cap, nyghtcappe, girdles, scabarde, hose, shoes, or spurreleathers, upon forfeiture of x. li. for every day, and imprisonment by three months. ¶ justices of Assize, and of the peace, Sheriffs, Stewards in letes, head officers of towns corporate, shall inquire and determine the offences, and commit the offender to prison, till he have paid the forfeiture. ¶ If any knowing his servant to offend, do not put him out of his service, within xiiii days, or so put out, retain him again within a year after such offence, he shall forfeit. C. li, ¶ Any above the degree of a knights son or daughter, or wife to any of them, or Mayor or head-officer in any town corporate, or the wife of any of them, or the kings or the Queen's servants in ordinary wages attendant, wearing ordinary liveries, may wear as they might before. ¶ None shallbe compelled to put away his apprentice, or hired servant, before th'end of term. ¶ Women may were in their hats, caps, girdles, and hoods, as they might before. Of Apprentices. Anno. 7. Henri. 4. cap 17 APprentice where his father and mother can not dispend xx. s. by year, his covenant shallbe void, & he shallbe put to, such labour, as his father and mother useth, or to some other, as his estate requireth, upon pain of a years imprisonment, and to make fine and ransom, to the king, and he that retaineth him shall pay. C. s. to the king if the yearly value of his fathers and mother's land he not syrst testified under the Seal of the two justices of peace, of his country. ¶ And he that wylsue for the king shall have th'one half. And in every let the that be out of services, shallbe sworn to serve or else put in sureties until they will serve. ¶ And this suit shallbe taken as well before the justices of peace, as other justices. ¶ By Anno. 8. Henri, 6. cap. two. London is except, And by. Anno xi Hen. 7. cap. two. Norwich is except. Of Archerye. Anno. 33. Henri. 8. cap. 9 every subject under xl years of age, not haninge impediment, (except spiritual men, justices and barons of thexchequer) shall use shooting. in long bows, and have a bow and arrows ready. The fathers and rulers of menchildren shall bring them up in shooting and have in his house for every man child of seven. year old till he come to xvii. abowe and two shafts, and to abate the money for them of their wages, upon forfeiture vi. s. viii. d. for every month lacking. Every man after his age of xvii, years shall have a bow & four arrows and occupy the same upon forfeiture of six shillings eight pence, for every month lacking. None under xxiiii, years shall shoot at pricks upon forfeiture of four d. for every shoot. None above xxiiii. years shall shoot at a mark of xi. score or under, with any prickeshafte. under pain of six shillings eight pence for every shoot. None under sevetene years except he his father or mother have ten pound Lands, or be worth forty marks in goods, shall shoot in any bow of ewe bought for him uponn forfeiture of vi. s.viii. d. Butes shallbe made and continued in every place by thinhabitants upon forfeiture twenty s. for every three months lacking. The inhabitants shall excertise shooting in holy days and times convenient. Bowyers' out of London for every bow that he maketh of Ewe, shall make four of Elm, which, or other apt wood, upon forfeiture three s.iiii. d. for every bow lacking, and in London for every bow of ewe. shall make ii of ash elm or other wood mete. No bowyers shall sell any bow of ewe for any under fourteen years, above twelve pence. And shall have bows of ewe for them fro six pence to twelve pence. And for them under one and twenty years at reasonable prices, and shall sell no bow of ewe of the tax called olk above three shillings four pence upon forfeiture of twenty shillings. Bowstaves of ewe shallbe sold open, and not in bundelles. Fletcher's of London may sell timber to other, and ordinances, made by their wardens or otherwyle to the contrary to be void. Bowers, fletchers, stringers, Arrohedmakers in London, not free shall by th'appointment of one of the Council. inhabit in other Towns upon forfeiture of xl.s. No alien nor denisen shall convey out of the kings obeisance any long bows, or arrows upon forfeiture thereof, or the value, and to have imprisonment till he have made a fine before the justices of peace, or find surety for the fine. nor use shot ing without licence upon forfeiture of their bows and arrows to them that will seize. justices of assize jail delivery, and of the peace, and Stewards of letes to inquire an determine the premises. Of plays and games. Anno 33. Hen. 8. cap. 9 NOne for gain shall keep any common place of bowling, tennis, dylinge, or cardinge, or unlawful game, upon forfeiture of forty shillings every day. Every person haunting the same to forfeit for every time six shillings eight pence. Every placard for a common gaming house, shall contain what game shallbe there used, and who shall play thereat or else to be void, and the party opteining such placard, to be bound in the Chauncetye to use the placard not otherwise. justices of peace and head officers, to resort to suspected places and to imprison the keepers and players until they have found surety to leave it. The head officers to make search monthly in suspect places upon forfeiture of forty shillings. No artificer husbandman apprentyse nor servant, shall play at tables, tennis, dice, cards, bowls, or other unlawful game out of christmas, upon forfeiture of twenty shillings. And in christmas in their master houses or presence. None shall bowl in open place without his garden or Orchard, upon forfeiture of vi. s.viii. d. justices of peace, and head officers, shall commit to award such as shall use unlawful games till they be bound to the contrary. All suits upon the Statute to be comensyd within the year. The Lord of the let to have th'one Moyte and he that will sue to have the other and out of franchises the king to have the one moyte. Proclamation to be made by the justices and head officers, four times in the year, in every market and sessions. Against Rebellion. Anno. 1. Ma. cap. 12. IF xii or above assembled together, intend or practise with force, and of their own authority, to change any laws made for religion by parliament, or any statutes, or to overthrow, cut, break, or dig up the pales, hedges, dyches, or other enclosiers of any park or ground enclosed, or the banks of any fish pond or pole, or any conduit, conduyt heads, or pipes, having course of water, to the intent that the same should remain not enclosed or void, or unlawfully to have common, or way in the said park or ground, or to destroy the dear in any park, or any warren of connyes, or any dovehouses, or any fish in any pond or pole, or to pull or cut down any houses, barns, mills, or bays, or to burn any stack of corn, or to abate the rent of any lands. or the price of any victual, they being commanded (by the sheriff, or any justice of peace, Mayor or Bailiff of any town corporate, where such assemble, shallbe) by proclamation in the queens name, to retire to their houses, and shall remain together by an hour after the proclamation, or after shall inforcible manner attempt any thing abovesaid, this is felony. It is felony in any person, that without authority by ringing any bell, sounding any trumpet, drum, horn, or other instrument, fyring any beacon, malictous speaking any words, making any outcry, setting up. or casting any writing, or by any act shall repse or cause to be raised twelve persons or above, to th'intent that the same persons should do any thing above mentioned, which persons so raised, after commandment as is aforesaid, do continue together, or unlawfully do any thing abovesaid. It is felony in any wife or servant, or any other that without compulsion shall send deliver or convey any money, harness, artillery weapon, or vyctual to any so assembled, which do not departed to their houses after commandment as is aforesaid. If above ii and under xii. assembled together, intend or practise with force of their own authority, to kill any subject, or to overthrow cut, break, or dig up the pales, hedges, ditches, or other closure of any park or ground enclosed or the bank of any fish pond or pole to th'intent that the same should rem ayne open or void, or to have common or way there, or to destroy any park, fish pond or pole, or any warren of coneyes, or any donehouse, or to pull or cut down any house, barn, mill, or to burn any stacks of corn, or altar or abate the rents of any lands of any subject, or the price of any vyctuall, or any other thing usual for the sustenance or apparel of men, and being commanded as aforesaid, to retire to their houses, and shall not so do, but after shall in forcible manner attempt or put in ure any of the things last mentioned, they shall suffer imprisonment by a year. If any shallbe damnifyed by the doing or putting in ure of any thing above mentioned, he shall recover against the offenders, damages with the costs of the suit trebled. If above two unlawfully assemble to th'intent with force to do or put in ure, any of the things abovesaid, it shallbe lawful to every justice of peace, sheriff, Maire, bailiff, or head officer of any town corporate, or any other having the queens commission or letters, aswell to raise the subicetes in manner of war in such numbered as he shall think meet, to th'intent by strengeth to supprese and take the persons so assembled, and that if those persons so assembled, after such commandment by proclamation shall continue together, and not endeavour themselves to return towards their habitations, in such short time as they may conveniently, than it shallbe lawful to them. Having authority, as is aforesaid, to suppress and take them so unlawfully assembled, and that if any of them shall fortune to be killed or hurt about the suppressing or taking of them, every person having authority as is aforesaid shallbe unpunishable of such killing or hurting. Every copyholder, and fermer being yeoman, artificer, husbandman, or labourer of xviii. years old or under ix. not impotent, nor having reasonable excuse, being required by them having authority as is aforesaid (they declaring their authority) or being required by the Lord immediate of their copiholde or by the landelorde of the farm to serve the Queen for any cause abovesaid and refuse so to do, shall during his life lose to his lord all their copyholdes, and to his landlord his farm, and they to enter into the same, and to retain the same during the life of the offendor. If any which shallbe moved to make commotion or unlawful assembly for any of the intents abovesaid, do not within xxiiii. hours (whiles he have reasonable excuse) declare the same to a justice of peace, or sheriff, Mayor, Bailiff, or other head officer of town corporate, where such motion is, he shallbe imprisoned by three months, unless he be discharged by three justices of peace, of that Shire (whereof one to be of the Quoum). ¶ If any above xviii. years old and under ix. able to serve, which shallbe required by any justice of peace, or the Sheriff there, or by the Mayor, Bailiff or other head officer of any Town Corporate, or by any, of their commandments, to go with him to suppress the persons unlawfully assembled, do willingly and obstinately refuse so to do, he shallbe imprisoned by a year. If the Queen by letters patents make any lieutenant in any Shire for the Suppression of any commotion, than the justices of peace, Sheriffs, head officers, and all subicetes there, (except they have reasonable excuse) shall upon declaration of the letters patentes & request made be bound to give attendance upon the lieutenant to suppress the commotion upon pain of imprisonment of a year. If any do let hinder or hurt any that shall proclaim or go to proclaim the proclamation, whereby the proclamation, shall not be made, he so offending, having knowledge of his message, shall incur such pain and forfeiture as the persons assembled should have incurred for not obeying the proclamation, if it had been made. And every person assembled to the numbered aforesaid to attempt or do any thing aforesaid, to whom proclamation should or ought to have been made (if the same had not been let as is aforesaid) if they do afterward commit any thing aforesaid, having knowledge of the let so made or procuring the same let, shall incur like pain and forfeitures aforesaid, as though the proclamation had been made. Theffect of this act shallbe declared at every quarter sessions, and at every let. The heir of every offender aforesaid, and all other, except such persons as shallbe attainted convicted or outlawed of any felony aforesaid, shall enjoy all such right and interest, as they have or shall, or aught to have, as if such attainder had never been made. Saving to all persons their liberties and franchises. If any do procure any to do any of the offences aforesaid, he shall suffer such imprisonment as is before expressed against conceiloures, of such offences. If forty or more assembled in forcible manner, and of their own authority, to th'intent to do any of the things abovesaid, or other feloneous or rebellious act, and so shall continue together three hours, after proclamation made, at or nigh the place of the assemble or in some market town next, and after notice thereof to the given, every of them shallbe adjudged a fellow. No lieutenant, shall make any deputy, nor shall convent before him by authority of lieutenanncie any, for any cause, save only for causes expressed in this act. None shallbe put to any loss or punishment as accessary to any of the offenders aforesaid, for receiving, comforting or aiding any such offendor after such act committed or done. None attainder or conviction for any offence aforesaid, shallbe corruption of blood, between the offender and any of his Ancestors, or such as should be heir unto him if no such atteinder or conviction had been. Of Regrators, Forstallers, and ingrocers. Anno. 5. Edw. 6. cap. 14. HE that shall buy any thing coming to ward any market or fair, to be sold, or coming toward any place from beyond the sea to be sold, or make any bargayve or promise for having the same before it shallbe in the market fair or place to be sold, or make any motion, for inhauncinge of the price, or dysswade any coming to the market or fair, to abstain to bring any thing thither to be sold, shallbe adindged a forstallor. He that shall regrate or get into his hands in any fair or market any victual and do sell the same again, there or in any other fair or market within four miles there of, shallbe taken a regrator. He that shall engross and getre into his hand by buying or promise (other then by demise or lease of land or tithe) any deed victuals to sell again, shallbe taken an ingrocer. The offenders aforesaid shall for the first offence be imprisoned by two months, and forfeit the value of the thing bought. And for the second offence shall have imprisonment by halfa 〈◊〉 year and forfeit the double value of the thing bought, and for the third offence be on the pillory and forfeit all his goods, and be imprisoned at the kings pleasure. Buying of barley big or oats to make malt, or buying of any thing by an inholder or victualler as concerning his faculty to sell again by retail upon reasonable price, or taking of victual reserved upon a lease, or buying of victual by any bager or carrier or drover that shallbe allowed or common provision made for any town, ship, or fort without forstallinge, shall not be judged any offence. Buying of sold corn, and having sufficient before for his own provision, not bringing so much to the market shall forfeit the double value. buying of quick cattle and selling of the same within .v. weeks shall lose the double value. justices of peace shall inquire and determine the offences aforesaid. Of tillage and increase of Corn Anno. 5. Edw. 6. AS much Land shallbe put in tillage and so continue in every Town, as was in tillage by four years since. Anno. 1. Hen. 8. upon forfeiture for every acre. for every year .v. s. The king may direct commissions and the Commissioners shall search by the oath of twelve men, what lands in every Town have since. Anno. 1. Hen. 8. been converted from tillage to pasture, and so continueth. And the twelve men shall present the names of thoccupiers thereof, and then presentment shallbe estreted into thexchequer. The commissioners shall take an oath to execute the statute and shall direct their precept to the sheriff, to warn men to inquire and present the premises, and to set fines issues, and amerciaments, and estrete the same into the escheker. Certain grounds be excepted. justices of assize, of oyer, and determiner, and of the peace shall and inquire and certify the presentmentes, and the party grieved may tend his travers. Sheriffs shall not enter into any liberties for th'execution of this Act. He that is sued by force of this act shall not be sued by any statute before made for reformation of this matter. Of Vycteles and wood. Anno. 1. & 2. Philip. and Nari. NOne shall carry out of England, any corn or malt, bear, butter, Cheese, hearing or wood, except to Calais, Hames, Gines and Berwick, upon forfeiture of the ship or vessel, and the double value of the thing carried, and the master and mariners of the Ship, to forfeit all their goods, and to be in prison by a year. And if any convey any things, aforesaid, to any vessel on the Sea or within any place of the border of this realm, to be carried out, the forfeitures to be as is aforesaid. If any obtaining any licence, to the contrary, or his assigns do carry any more than shallbe in the licence, he shall forfeit triple value of the thing, and suffer imprisonment by a year. None having a licence shallade at sundry places upon forfeiture of the thing, and all his goods. justices of peace shall inquire and examine all offenders of this act and determine the offences. When corn is at certain prices, it may be carried over. Vytayling of ships is excepted. The admiral may execute his iurisoiction. Of Wines. Anno. 7. Edw. 6. cap 5. NOne shall retail any Gascoigne or french wines but at viii. d. the gallon, and rochell wine, but at iiii. d. the gallon, upon for feature of five pound for every offence. None except he have of yearly profits certain. C. marks, or be worth in goods a thousand marks, or the son of a Duke, marquis, Earl, Viscount, or baron, shall have in his house to spend any piece of Gascoigne, French or rochel wine, above ten Gallons upon forfeiture of x. li. None shall keep any cavern or sell by retail any wines, except certain places appointed in the statute, & except such as have the kings and queens letters, upon forfeiture for every day. xx.li. None shall keep any tavern nor retail any wine but such as shallbe assigned thereunto by writing upon forfeiture of five pound for every day. There shallbe assigned, but two taverns in every town (except certain towns) Forty taverns shallbe in London, and certain numbered is appointed for divers cities, and towns.) None shall sell by retail any wines to be spent in his house, upon forfeiture of ten pound. March aunts adventuring for wines may spend in his house such wines as he bringeth into England, not selling it. sheriffs and head officers of town corporate, and keepers of forts, may have wine in their houses, to spend there without selling. justices of peace, Stewards of letes, sheriffs, and escheators, may inquire by xii. men of these offences, the moiety of the forfcytures there found to the king, & tother to the poor people of that place. This Act shall not take away the priviteges of the universities. Of Woods. Anno. 35. Hen. 8. cap. 17. Upon woods, Copies, or under woods, there shallbe left unfelled for every acre felled twelve standelles like to prove timber, which shallbe preserved till they be of ten inches square, within shre fots of the ground upon forfeiture for every standell so not left iii s. iiii. d. ¶ All copies and underwoddes at th'age of fourteen years, during four years shallbe enclosed or the springs thereof preserved upon forfeiture for every road three s.iiii. d. for every month. ¶ All copies and underwoddes felled above the age of xiiii. years during six years shallbe enclosed or the spring preserved upon forfeiture of three s.iiii. d. for every month. ¶ None shall return into pasture or tillage any copies or under woods containing two acres now preserved for th'increase of wood, upon forfeiture for every acre. xl.s. ¶ Every person having any several woods, or copies with great trees above iiii. and twenty years growth, shall at the felling leave for every acre twelve trees to be preserved during twenty years. ¶ And during seven years enclose them, or preserve the springs upon forfeiture for every of those trees felled six shillings eight pence, and for every road three s.iiii. d. Saving those trees may be cut down for buildings and reparations. ¶ None having woods, wherein any hath common shall sell those woods but to his own occupation, till the forth part be by the owner enclosed as is declared in this act. ¶ And at every felling it shallbe enclosed and preserved vii years, and no beasts during those seven years, shallbe suffered to feed in the part, and the commons to have their common in the residue, & the lord is excluded to put any cattle there or to take any profit of the pasture there during those seven. years, and after the seven. years all to lie in common for the lord and the commons. ¶ And if that part enclosed be not filled within iiii. month, than the commons to use their comen, and the owner to leave open places, whereby the common beasts may come in as long as it shall stand unfelled. Certain places and former bergaynes be excepted. Breakers of fences shall forfeit. x.s. If any suffer his swine to go in any common or woods, not ringyd or pygged the owner shall forfeit for every swine four d. Where woods shallbe felled in any ground enclosed where dear shallbe kept, their enclosure shall be kept for four years. If the inclousures be broken against the wills of the owner, the penalties to be extended upon those by whom the spring shallbe hurted. After the woods preserved by two years, Colts and Calves under a year old may be put there. Against vagabonds. Anno. 22. Hen. 8. cap. 12. THe justices of peace, Majors, Sheriffs, bailiffs, & other officers within their limits shall divide themself, and so divided shall make diligent search and inquiry of all aged poor and impotent persons which of necessity be compelled to live of alms that shallbe abiding within the limits of their division, and thereupon shall have power by their discretions to enable to beg, within their limits, such impotent persons, which they shall think convenient within the limits of their division to live of alms, and to command them not to beg without the limits to them so appointed, and shall write the names of every such beggar, in a rol indented whereof th'one part to remain with themselves, and tother to be certified at the next sessions of the peace, and they so divided, shall have power to make seals with the names of the hundreds, rapes, wapentakes, cities, boroughs, towns, or places, within which they shall limit every such beggar & shall deliver to every such beggar a letter sealed with the said Seal, and subscribed, with the name of one of the said justices, or officers, containing his name & witnessing that he is authorized to beg, and his limits, and if he beg out of his limits, the justice of peace, & all other the kings officers, shall imprison him in the stocks by two days and two nights, giving him only bread, and water, and after shall cause him to be sworn to return without delay to the place where he is authorized to beg in. ¶ No impotent person shall beg except he be authorized by writing under seal as is above said, and if any impotent person go a begging having no such letter, the constable and other inhabitants there, shall cause them to be brought to the next justice of peace or high constable of the hundredth, who shall cause the bringers to strip him naked from the middle upward, and cause him to be whipped, where the said justice or high constable shall appoint, or else command him to be set in stocks where he was taken, by three days and three nights, there to have only bread and water, and thereupon the said justice or high constable shall limit to him a place to beg in, and give him a letter under seal as is aforesaid, and swear him to repair thither immediately. If any being whole and able to labour, be taken in begging, or having no land, master, nor using any lawful merchandise or craft to get his living, be vagaraunt and can give no reckoning how he doth get his living, than it shallbe lawful to the constables and subjects of every place, to arrest him and bring him to any justice of peace, or to the high constable of that place, and if he be taken in any town corporate, then to be brought to the mayor, Sheriffs, or bailiffs there, and they to cause him to be had to the next place where they shall think convenient, and there to be tied to th'end of a cart naked, and to be beaten with whips through out that place till his body be bloody, and then he by them to be enjoined by his oath, to return forthwith the next way to the place where he was borne, or where he last dwelled by three years, and there to put himself to labour, and he to have a letter sealed with the seal of the place wherein he shallbe punished, witnessing that he hath been punished according to this statute, and containing the day and place of his punishment, and the place whereunto he is lymitted to go, and by what time he is limited to come thither, within which time he may lawfully beg by the way. And if he do not accomplish that letter, then to be eft 'zounds whipped, and so often as any default shallbe in him, in every place to be whipped till he be repaired where he was borne, or where he last dwelled by three years, and there to labour for his living. And if any so whipped be an idle person and no common beggar, then after such whyppinge he shallbe kept in stocks till he have found surety to go to service or labour, or else to be sworn to repair where he was borne, or where he last dwelled by three years, and to have like letter and punishment if he eftsoons offend, as is above appointed for the common strong beggar, and so from time to time till he get his living. justices of peace shall have power to inquire of all Majors and other officers, & persons, that shallbe negligent in executing this act. If the Constables and inhabitants where any such in potente persons or strong beggars do beg, be negligent and do not punish him as is above limited, the to wneshyppe for every such impotent beggar shall forfeit. iii.s.iiii. d. and for every strong beggar six shillings eight pence the moyte. etc. All justices of peace shall have power to determine every such default and to make process by distress against the inhabitants there, by which distress the sheriff shall detain the good of such one or two, of the said inhabitants, as he may have knowledge were most negligent in the execution of this act, & the said distress retain till he find surety to appear at the sessions limited in the said distress. & if he appear & confess the default, or transgress the presentment, and it be tried agayust him, or deny the information & it is proved against him, than the justices of peace in their Sessions shall assess their fine if it grow by presentment the levying of the same by distress, of the inhabitants of the town, the fines and to make process for to the king, and if it grow by information, than the moyte to him that sueth. etc. If any person distreyned, appear not, then upon the return he shall lose at the first. iii.s.iiii. d. and at the second. vi.s.viii. d. and so to be doubled for every distress. scholars of universities that go a begging not being authorized under the seal of the university, and all shipmen pretending losses on the sea, going a begging without authority, shallbe punished like strong beggars. And all proctors and pardoners going without authority, and all other idle persons, some using unlawful games, and some feigning to have knowledge in physic, phisnomy, palmistry, or other crafty sciences: if he before two justices of the peace, whereof one to be of the Quorum, be found guilty, shallbe whipped two days together after the manner before rehearsed, & for the second offence to be scourged two days, and the third day to be put on the pillory from nine of clock unto eleven, and to have one of his ears cut of, and for the third time to have like punishment & to have his other ear cut of. The justices of peace have like authority within their franchises. This act shallbe yearly read in the open sessions. If any give herborow or money to any beggar able to work, he shall make fine to the king by the discretion of the justices of peace at their general sessions. If any let th'execution of this act or make rescues, he shall forfeit C.s. and have imprisonment at the kings will, th'one moyte. etc. This act shall not be prejudicial to the barons and inhabytauntes of the five ports. And the Mayor, bailiff, elects and jurates in any town within the five ports have like authority as the justices of peace have in any sheyre. And the inhabitants within the said five ports shallbe bound to th'execution of this act upon like pain, before remembered, and if any that shall inhabit within the five ports, beg without the five ports he to be punished according to this act, every letter to be made whereby any impotent shallbe authorized to beg shallbe made in this form. Kent. S. Memorandum that A.B. of D. for reasonable considerations is licenced to beg within the hundred of P.K. and L. in the said county, given under the seal of that limit. tali die & anno. And every letter delivered to such beggar or vagabond after he hath been whipped shallbe made in this wise. Kent. S. I. S. whipped for a vagabond strong beggar at Dale in the said county according to the law, the xii. day of july in the xxiii. year of king henry the eight, was assigned to pass, forthwith and directly from thence to Gale in the county of Med. where he saith he was borne, or where he last dwelled by the space of three years, and he is limited to be there within fourteen days next ensuing at his peril, In witness whereof the seal of the limit of the said place of his punishment hereunto is set. And every such letter above reharsed shallbe made at the equal costs of all such justices, Mayors and other officers, above rehearsed, and shallbe subscribed with one of their hands, after this form Per me. A.B. unum justitiariorum pacis, or Maiorem civitatis, or Ballium villae, or Constabularium talis hundredth, or else in like form in English. And they that have the custody of any galoes, shall make a seal granted, with the name of the prison or jail, and they that be delivered out of prison for suspicions of felony and have not wherewith to pay their fees, shall have liberty to beg for their fees by vi. weeks, and then compelled to go where he was borne, or where he last dwelled by three years, and every one so delivered, shall have a letter to him delivered by the clerk of the peace, or by the town clerk where he is delivered, wytnessinge the time and space of his deliverance, and afore whom, and the time appointed him to beg for his fees, and the place whether he is assigned to go, and to every such letter the gaoler shall put to the seal before rehearsed, and every such letter shallbe made in this wise following, Essex. S. The twenty day of july. An. regni regis. H. viii. xxiii. I. S. was delivered for felony out of the jail of D. in the said county at the Sessions holden before. A.B. and his fellows at Gale, the day and year aforesaid, and is allowed to beg for his fees by the space of vi weeks, & in case he can get him no master to work with, within the said term, than he is assigned to pass directly to Dale in the said county of Kent, where he said he was borne, or where he last dwelled by the space of three years; and he is allowed xiiii days next after the said six weeks, for his passage thither. In witness whereof the seal of the said prison is hereunto set. And in such shires where is no jail, the Sheriff shall cause a seal to be engraved with the name of the shire, and shall order and use the same in like form. And every clerk of the peace or town clerk shall make for everysuch person so delivered the said letter without any see therefore taken, and deliver it to the gaoler or the Sheriff of the Shire if there be no gaoler, within one day after the sessions, upon pain of forfeiting for default of every letter xii d. to the king. Nor the gaolers nor sheriffs shall suffer none to departed out of prison except it be to service or labour, without he first deliver him the said letter sealed with the said seal, under like pain for every default. And if any being delivered out of prison, do beg without having such letter, or do beg contrary to the tenor of his letter, then he to be taken and whipped as above is said of the strong beggars, and that to be done upon such pain as is afore limited for none execution of punishment of strong beggars. Every person being bound by any foundation, to give any money in alms, and to every person at common doles used at buryals or obyttes, to give money in alms to all persons coming to such 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 before this time ●●ue ●●ne. Masters of hospitals may lodge any person according to their foundation, and to give money in alms in such wise as they are bound to do. Against vagabonds. Anno. 3. Edwar. vi. Ca 16. If any aged or impotent offend this statute, he shallbe punished as is proved in the statute of two and twenty. H. viii. capi xii Common labourers able in body, using loitering and refusing to work for such reasonable wages as is most commonly given where he dwelleth, shallbe for every refusel adjudged a vagabond, and shall be punished as strong and mighty vagabonds, in such form as is declared in the said act of. 22. All mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, constables, or head officers of city Town or village, shall before the purification. Anno. domi. 1549. see all such idle impotent maimed, and aged persons, who can not be taken for vagabonds, which were borne there, or have been there most conversant by three years, and now decayed provided of houses, at the costs of the said Town, there to be relieved and cured by the devotion, of the people there. And that they do not suffer there any other to beg within that precinct, except such as are authorized by this act upon forfeiture for every four days. x.s. to him that will sue. Mayres, Bailiffs, Sheriffs, constables, and other head officers shall every month once, make a view of aged impotent and lame beggars within their precinct, & see all such as were not borne there nor hath been for the most part there conversant by three years, or be not authorized by this statute, conveyed to the next constables and they to convey them to the next constables, and so from constables to constables, till he be brought to the place where he was borne or was most conversant, there to be nourished, of alms, as is aforesaid, upon forfeiture for every default. x.s. the one moiety. etc. If any such aged maimed or impotent person not so impotent but that they may work in some work than such Town shall either in common provide such work for him as he may be occupied in or appoint him such as will find him work for meat and drink which if he refuse to do or tun away and beg than to punish him with stokking, beting, or other wise as shall seem convenient. All lepers and bedderedes may remain in such houses appointed for them as they be now in, and may appoint their proctors, so they be not above two for one house, together alms within four miles. Commissions may be granted to such as hath their houses, or barns burned, or such losses, or to lepers, to gather alms. If any child above five year old or under xiiii go wandering or alone, if any that is able to keep it, will take it from any beggar being the father or mother or other, and bring it before one of the Constables there, and the next quarter sessions, next present it in the presents of the constable before the justices of peace & there promised to bring it up till the woman child be xv. year old, & the man child xvii year old these juistces shall adiudg that child unto those ages, to be servant to him so promising which child shallbe ordered as servants without wages, and that, judgement to be entered by the clerk of the peace. If such child run away, the master to take it, and keep it and punish it, at the liberty of the master, and to have a warrant from a justice of the peace, for the child running away, and thereby the child to be taken and ordered as is provided by the statute labourers, for servants, departing out of their masters service. If any person steel or entice away any such child so adjudged for a servant, the master to take an action upon the statute labourers, against such steler or intiser, or an action of trespass, wherein he shall recover damages and triple costs, of his suit. If the master be unreasonable in ordering such child, then upon complaint made at the quarter sessions, by two honest neighbours, if it shall then appear by honest witness, the complaint to be true the justices of peace shall discharge the child from his master, and appoint him to some other, & that to be written in the book of the clerk of the peace, for which he shall have four pence, and shall have also four pence for the first entry of the child to be servant, this to be paid by the master. If such woman child be married afore fivetene year old, she shallbe discharged of service. Every vacabounde or beggar being alien, shall in form aforesaid and upon the forfeitures aforesaid be conveyed from place to place, to the place next adjoining, to his country, or to the next port if there be sea between this realm, and his country, there to be kept of the inhabitants, of that port, in convenient labour or otherwise, till he may be conveyed over, and than at the costs of those inhabytauntes, (if himself shall not have where with) to be conveyed over to his country. Against retainers and givers of liveries made in Anno octavo Edwardi quarti Capitulo secundo. NOne may give livery or other sign nor retain any but only his manuel servant, officer, or a man of th'one law or of tother, by any writing, oath, or promise. And if he doth contrary, the giver shall lose. C.s. for every month, that there is any with him, so retained, and the receiver. C. s and he that will sue shall have an action by bill of information, against a●●● my offenders, as he will in every of the kings courts, before justices of Peace of assize and jail delivery, or county Palentyne, and in Duresme and in Examshire, thereupon process shallbe as in trespass, except that in county Palentyne, nor in Duresme, no exigent shallbe awarded, and if any of the offenders be present in Court the justices may command him to be brought, to answer, and first the informer shallbe exaamined upon a book that his complaint is true, and after they examine that defendant, and judge him convict by their discretion, aswell as by trial. And the informer shall recover the one half and the king the other half, if it be not in city or town, that hath like forfeiture, by the kings grant and that no essoigne nor protection be allowed. And that the sheriff or coroner may return no less issues at the first day then. x.s. and the second. xxx.ss. and so at every day. x.s. of increase. And if the sheriff or coroner to the contrary he shall forfeit every time. xx.s. And the mayor & governors of cities and towns, that have power to here and determine pleas personnels, have power to examine and to determine it as is beforesaid, aswell by examination as by trial. And upon that the king shall have th'one half, the Mayors or governors, the other half, to be employed to the use of the city or town. Item the kings and the queens majesties pleasures are, that all other statutes concerning retainers, and giving liveries now remaining in force shallbe put in execution. The statute of Winton for robbeties hew and cry and for watches to be kept. AFter a robbery or felony done fresh suit shallbe made from town to town. etc. and if need be inquests shallbe made in towns, hundreds, franchises and counties, so that the felones may be attaint and suffer execution, and if they be not taken, than the people where such robbery was done, as in hundred and franchises shall answer therefore. And if it be done between two Shires. etc. Within xl. days if the misdoers be not taken. Also in great towns the gates shallbe closed from the son rising to the son setting, and no man herborowe none in the suburbs, but such as he will answer for, and the bailiffs of Towns shall inquire of such every week. Also watch shall be made and kept from Ascension tied till michaelmas, in every city, by six men at every gate, and in every borrow by twelve men in every hole town, by six men or four after the numbered of thinhabitants continually all the night from the son set, to the son rising. And if any stranger come by them, he shallbe arrested until morning, and if he be suspicious, he shallbe brought to the sheriff to be kept until he be delivered by due order, and every town adjoining shallbe aiding to other. Also the high ways of market towns, shallbe enlarged where there is any woods, hedges, dyches, or bushes, nigh the high way. CC. foot one th'one side. and CC. foot on the otherside, but this statute extendeth not to oaks, nor great fustes, so that they be clear under, and if the Lord will not do thus, if any robveries or murder be done, he shall answer therefore, and make fine at the kings will. Also in the high ways, in the kings wood, or park nigh the high ways, it shallbe done after the same manner, or else that the Lord shall make such wall, diche, or hedge, that the evil doers can not escape, and no fair nor market be holden in no churchyard. Against reports of slanderous tales and news. W. 1. cap. 34. IF any person shall publish or forge false news whereof discord or slander may arise, between the king and his people or the nobles of his Realm, the same shallbe unprisoned until he shall bring forth in court the Author of such news. Anno. 2. R. 2. cap. 5. THe forgers and counterfeictors of false news and horrible false messynges of Prelates, Dukes, Earls, Barons, and other nobles & great personages of the Realm, or of the Chancellor, treasurer, Clerk of the privy Seal, Steward of the kings House, justices of th'one bench or tother or of any other great officers of the Realm, of things which by the same Prelates, Dukes, etc. were never spoken or thought of to their great slander, whereof debates and discord may arise berwene the said Lords and Commons, shall suffer the punishment mentioned in the said Act of W. 1. until they have brought forth in court th'author of the said false news and messinges. Anno. 12. R. 2. cap. 11. ANd if the said forgers and counterfeictors cannot bring forth the Author of the said false news, than they shallbe punished by th'advise of the kings Counsel. Anno 1. et 2. Phi. & Mar. cap. 3. THe justices of peace within the limits of their Commission, may hear and determine all offences committed and done against the form of the said several statutes And further if any person or persons maliciously of his or their own imagination speak any seditious or slanderous news, Rumours, sayings & tails of our Sovereign Lady the queens Majesty, every person so offending for the first offence shall in the market place, near where the words were spoken, be set openly upon the pillory and shall have both his ears cut of, unless he pay C. l. to the queens highness use, within a month next after judgement given against him, and also be imprisoned by the space of three months next after his or their execution. If any such seditious or slanderous news be spoken by any person of the report or saying of any other, than the same person to be set openly upon the pillory as is aforesaid, and to have one of his ears cut of, unless he pay on hundredth marks within the time & to those aforesaid, and also sustain a month imprisonment next after his execution. And if any person maliciously devise, writ, print, or setforth any Book, Rhyme, Ballad, Lettre, or writing, containing false matter clause, or sentence of slander, reproach, and dishonour of the Queen's highness, or the encouraging, sterring, or moving of any insurrection or rebellion, or shall procure any of the said offences to be done (if the same be not punishable by the statute of xxv. E. 3. cap. 2. touching treasons. etc. the said person shall after conviction for his first offence in some market place have his right hand cut of. Item if any person once convict of any of the said offences punishable by loss of ear, ears, or hand do after wards offend in any of the said offences, than he shall suffer imprisonment during his life, and forfeit to the queens highness use all his goods and cattles. The said offences are inquirable and determinable before justices of Oyer & determiner, justices of assize or jail delivery, or justices of peace. If any justice of peace upon vehement suspicion may commit any person suspected to prison, there to remain without bail or maynepryse. The offenders against this act must be accused and convict within three months next after th'offence committed. God save the Queen. Imprinted at London in Paul's Churchyard by Richard jug, and john Cawood, printers to the queens Majesty. Cum Priviligio Regiae Maiestatis.