Statute of Cambridge 1388 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Citation | 12 Ric. 2. c. 7 |
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Quick facts for kids Dates |
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| Royal assent | 28 November 1386 |
The Statute of Cambridge 1388 was an important law made in England a long time ago. It was created to control where workers could go and how people who couldn't work were looked after. This law tried to make sure that everyone stayed in their local area unless they had a special reason to leave.
Contents
What Was the Statute of Cambridge?
This law, passed in 1388, set rules for people who worked and for those who were poor or sick. It was one of the first steps in England to deal with poverty. However, it was hard to make everyone follow the rules.
Rules for Workers
The law said that workers, called labourers, could not leave their local area. These areas were called a hundred, rape, wapentake, city, or borough. If a worker wanted to move, they needed a special note. This note was called a testimonial. It had to show a good reason for them to leave. Local officials, called justices of the peace, gave out these notes.
If a worker was found traveling without this letter, they would be put in the stocks. The stocks were a wooden frame used to hold people's feet or hands. They would stay there until they promised to go back to their hometown.
Help for Those in Need
The law also talked about people who couldn't work. These were called "impotent persons." This meant they were too old or too sick to earn money. The law said these people had to stay in their current town.
If a town could not support them, they had to move. They could go to another town nearby. They could also go back to the town where they were born. This part of the law made local areas responsible for helping their own poor.
Why Was This Law Important?
Many people see the Statute of Cambridge as an early form of "poor relief." This means it was one of the first laws to try and help people who were struggling. It made each local area, like a "hundred," responsible for its own poor people. These were people who could not work because of age or illness.
However, this law did not work very well. It was difficult to make sure everyone followed the rules. Because of this, its effects were limited.
See also
- Internal passport
