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London Lives 1690 to 1800
Crime, Poverty and Social Policy in the Metropolis
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ABStract of an Act of Parliament made in the
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Twelfth Year of Her Majesty's Reign,
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Intitled, An Act for reducing the Laws
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relating to Rogues, Vagabonds, Sturdy
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Beggars and Vagrants, into One Act of
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Parliament: And for the more effectual
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Punishing such Rogues, Vagabonds, Stur
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dy Beggars and Vagrants, and Sending
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them whither they ought to be Sent.
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I. THAT all Persons pretending themselves to be Patent-Gatherers, or Collectors
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for Prisons, Goals, or Hospitals, and wandring abroad for that Purpose; all
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Fencers, Bear-wards, Common-Players of Interludes, Minstrels, Juglers; all
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Persons pretending to be Gypsies, or wandring in the Habit or Form of counter-
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feit Egyptians, or pretending to have Skill in Physiognomy, Palmistry, or like
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crafty Science, or pretending to tell Fortunes, or like phantastical Imaginations,
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or using any Subtle Craft, or unlawful Games or Plays; all Persons able in Body,
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who run away, and leave their Wives or Children to the Parish, and, not having where with otherwise
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to maintain themselves, use Loytering, and refuse to work for the usual and common Wages; and
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all other idle Persons wandring Abroad and begging (except Soldiers, Mariners or Sea-faring Men
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licenced under the Hand and Seal of some Justice of Peace, fetting down the Time and Place of
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Landing, the Place to which, and the Time within which, they are to pass, while they continue
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in the direct Way and during the Time so limited) Shall be deem'd Rogues and Vagabonds.
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2. That if, after the
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1st of August 1714
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, any such Rogue or Vagabond shall be found in any Parish
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or Place, wandering, begging or misordering him or herself as aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the
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Rogue or Vagabound, and convey him or her before some Justices of Peace in or near such Parish or
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Place. In Case the Constable or other Officer neglect to use his best Endeavour to apprehend such
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Rogue or Vagabond, it shall be deem'd a Neglect of his Duty. If any other Inhabitant of such Parish,
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being charged by a Justice of Peace or other lawful Authority, shall refuse or neglect to use his best
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Endeavour to apprehend and deliver to the Constable, or carry before a Justices of the Peace where
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no Constable or other Officer can be found, any such Rogue or Vagabond who shall be seen or known
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to refort to any House to beg or gather Alms, and found guilty, by Oath of one or more credible
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Witnesses, before any one Justices of Peace, forfeits 10s. to the Poor of the same Place, to be levied
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by Distress. In case any Person apprehend such Rogue or Vagabond and bring him before a Justice
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of Peace, the Justice may reward such Person by ordering, under his Hand and Seal, the Constable
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or other Officer where such Rogue was found begging and pass'd unapprehended, to pay 2s. to the
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Person to apprehending. If the Constable, or other Officer, refuse Payment on Demand, the Ju-
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stice by Warrant may levy 20s, on the Constable's Goods, and allow to the Person apprehending 2s.
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and other Recompence for his Trouble, Loss of Time and Expences, as he shall think fit.
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3. The Justices of Peace of every County, City, Etc. or any Two of them, some Time be-
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fore the Quarter-Sessions, or after, shall meet and command the Constable in their several Divisions
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(who shall be assisted with sufficient Men of the same Place) to make a general Privy-search in One
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Night, for Rogues, Vagabonds and Sturdy Beggars, and bring them before any Justice, or Justices of
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Peace of the same County, City, Etc.
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4. Where any Person apprehended in any Manner aforesaid is brought before a Justice of Peace,
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he is to examin and inform himself as well by the Oath and Examination of the Party, as of any
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other Person, or by other Ways and Means, of the Condition and Circumstances of the Person ap-
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preheeded, Place of Abode, or Birth, the Substance of which to be put in Writing, and subscrib'd
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or sign'd by the Party, and transmitted to the Quarter-Sessions, to be kept on Record; If it appear
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such Person hath obtained any legal Settlement, then to be sent to the Place of last legal Settlement,
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in such Manner as other Persons, likely to be chargeable to the Parish, are to be sent; if it cannot be
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found such Person hath gain'd any legal Settlement since Birth, then the Justice, or Justices, are by
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a Pass, under Hand and Seal (directed to the Constable of the Parish, or Place where such Rogue
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or
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Description
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of a Rogus
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and Vaga-
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bond.
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Duty of
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Constables
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and Inha-
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bitants.
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Privy
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Search for
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Rogues.
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Method of
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Proceeding
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against
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Rogues.
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