By the King. A proclamation for quickning the lawes made for the reliefe of the poore, and the suppressing, punishing, and setling of the sturdie rogues, and vagabonds.

royal blazon or coat of arms C R HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT ❧ By the KING . ¶ A Proclamation for quickning the Lawes made for the reliefe of the Poore , and the suppressing , punishing , and setling of the sturdie Rogues and Vagabonds .

WHereas many excellent Lawes and Statutes with great iudgement and prouidence haue been made in the times of Our late deare and Royall Father , and of the late Queene Elizabeth , for the reliefe of the impotent , and indigent Poore , and for the punishing , suppressing , and setling of the sturdy Rogues , and Vagabonds , which Lawes and Statutes , if they were duely obserued would be of exceeding great vse for the peace & plenty of this Realme , but the neglect thereof is the occasion of much disorder , and many insufferable abuses . And whereas it is fit at all times , to put in execution those Lawes which are of so necessarie , and so continuall vse : yet the apparant and visible danger of the Pestilence , ( vnlesse the same by Gods gracious mercie , and Our prouident endeuours be preuented ) doth much more require the same at this present .

We haue therefore thought it fit , by the aduice of Our Priuie Councell , by this Our publike Proclamation , straightly to charge and command , that all our louing Subiects in their seueral places , doe vse all possible care and diligence as a principall meanes to preuent the spreading , and dispersing of that contagious sicknesse , to obserue and put in due execution , all the said Lawes made and prouided against Rogues and Vagabonds , and for the reliefe of the truely poore and impotent people . And in the first place , Wee strictly charge and command , that in Our Cities of London , and Westminster , and Suburbs thereof , and places adiacent thereunto , and generally throughout the whole Kingdome , that there bee carefull Watch , and Ward , kept for the apprehending and punishing of al Rogues and Vagabonds , who either in the streets or high wayes , vnder the names of Souldiers , or Mariners , Glasse-men , Pot-men , Pedlars , or Petty-Chapmen , or of poore or impotent people , shall bee found either wandring , or begging .

And Wee doe further strictly charge and command , that all Constables , Head-boroughs , and other Officers , doe vse all diligence , to punish , and passe away according to the Law , all such Wanderers , or Beggars , as shall be apprehended , either in the Cities , or places aforesaid , or in any other Cities , Towns , Parishes , or places within this Realme , and take great care that none passe vnder the colour of counterfeit Passes . And that all Irish Rogues , and Vagabonds be forthwith apprehended , wheresoeuer they shall bee found and punished , and sent home according to a former Proclamation , heretofore published in that behalfe . That all Householders of whose persons , or at whose houses , any such Vagrants shall bee taken begging , doe apprehend , or cause them to be apprehended , and caryed to the next Constable , or other Officer to bee punished , according to the Lawes . And that they forbeare to relieue them , thereby to giue them incouragement to continue in their wicked course of life .

That the Iustices of Peace in their seuerall places throughout this Kingdome be carefull either by Prouost Marshals , or by the high Constables , or otherwise by their good discretions effectually to prouide , that all Rogues and Vagabonds of all sorts bee searched for , apprehended punished and suppressed according to the Law . And that once euery moneth at the least , a conuenient number of the Iustices of Peace in euery seuerall Countie and Diuision , shall meete together in some conuenient place in that Diuision , and take account of the High Constables , petty Constables , and other Officers within that Diuision , how they haue obserued the Lawes and Our commandement touching the Premisses .

And that they seuerely punish all such as shall bee found remisse or negligent in that behalfe . And We doe hereby strictly charge and command as well all and singular Iustices of Peace , Constables , Headboroughs , and other Our Officers and Ministers , as also all Our louing Subiects of what estate or degree soeuer to vse all diligence , that all and euery houses or places which are or shall bee visited or infected with the sicknesse , bee carefully shut vp , and Watch and Ward kept ouer them that no person or persons within those places doe goe abroad , or depart from thence , during the time of such Visitation . And We doe hereby command all and singular our Iudges of Assize in their seuerall Circuits to giue speciall charge , and make speciall inquiry of the defaults of all and euery the Iustices of Peace who shall not obserue their meetings in the seuerall Counties and Diuisions aforesaid , or shall not punish such Constables or other Officers as being informed either by their owne view and knowledge , or otherwise are or shal be found remisse or negligent in the Premisses , or in leauying such penalties & forfeitures as the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme require against the parties offending herein . And thereof to informe vs or Our Priuy Councell , to the end that such due course may be taken either by remouing out of the Commission such negligent Iustices of the Peace , or otherwise by inflicting such punishment vpon them as shal be due to such as neglect their owne duties , and Our Royall command published vpon so important an occasion .

And We doe hereby will require and command all and euery Our Iudges of Assize , Maiors , Sheriffes , Iustices of Peace , Constables , Headboroughs and other Our Officers , Ministers and Subiects whom it may concerne , that they carefully and effectually obserue and performe all and euery the Premisses , as they will answere the neglect thereof at their vttermost perils .

And whereas Wee haue lately commanded a Booke to be printed and published containing certaine Statutes made and enacted heretofore for the reliefe of the Poore , and of Souldiers and Mariners , and for punishment of Rogues and Vagabonds , and for the reliefe and ordering of persons infected with the Plague , and also containing certaine Orders heretofore , and now lately conceiued and made concerning health : All which are necessarie to be knowen and obserued by Our louing Subiects , that thereby they may the better auoid those dangers which otherwise may fall vpon their persons or estates by their neglect thereof . Wee haue thought it fit hereby to giue notice thereof to all Our louing Subiects , to the end that none may pretend ignorance for an excuse , in matters of so great importance . And Wee doe hereby declare , that whosoeuer shall bee found remisse or negligent in the execution of any part of the Premisses , shall receiue such condigne punishment for their offence , as by the Lawes of this Realme , or by Our Prerogatiue Royall can or may be iustly inflicted vpon them .

Giuen at Our Court at Whitehal the three and twentieth day of April , in the sixt yeere of Our Reigne of England , Scotland , France and Ireland . God saue the King .