Vagabonds Act 1572 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act for the Punishment of Vagabonds, and for the Relief of the Poor and .... |
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| Citation | 14 Eliz. 1. c. 5 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repeals/revokes | Poor Act 1562 |
The Vagabonds Act 1572 was a law made in England during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. It was part of a group of laws called the Tudor Poor Laws. These laws aimed to help poor people and deal with those who wandered without work. This act also helped set the stage for later laws known as the Elizabethan Poor Laws.
Contents
What Was the Vagabonds Act?
This law was created to help people who were poor or had no home. It also tried to control people who were called "vagabonds." These were people who wandered from place to place without a job or a home. The government wanted to make sure everyone had a place and a way to live.
Helping the Poor
The act said that local officials, called justices of the peace, would figure out how much money everyone in a local area, called a parish, should give to help the poor. This money would be used to support those who needed it.
Special people called Overseers of the Poor would regularly check on poor people. They would visit homes to see who needed help. If someone refused to give money to help the poor, they could be sent to jail.
Rules for Vagabonds
Sometimes, there were too many poor people for a parish to help. In these cases, the justices of the peace could give special permission, or a "license," to some beggars. This meant they were allowed to ask for help.
However, if someone was a vagabond without this special permission, they faced strict rules. They would be punished and marked so people knew they were vagabonds. The law also said that any extra money collected could be used to help these vagabonds find work and settle down.
A Foundation for Future Laws
The Vagabonds Act of 1572 was very important. When combined with another law, the Poor Act 1575, it created the basic ideas for the later and more famous Elizabethan Poor Laws. These laws were a big step in how England tried to deal with poverty and unemployment.
See also
- Vagabonds Act
