The Kings most Excellent Majesty being watchful for the publick good
of his loving Subjects, and taking notice of the great and unusual
resort of Rogues, Vagabonds, Beggers, and other idle Persons of all
Ages and Sexes, from all parts of the Nation to the Cities of London
and Westminster and the Suburbs of the same, where they make it their
trade to beg and live idlely, and to get their living by Begging,
Stealing, and other wicked and lewd practises, to the great offence of
Almighty God, and to the dishonour of His Majesties Royal Government;
And his Majesty taking it into His Princely consideration, that this
Realm is furnished with excellent Laws and Orders for redress of such
Enormities, yet through negligence of Officers, and presumption of
the Offenders, the same nevertheless do rather grow then abate. His
Majesty hath therefore thought fit at this present by advice of his
Privy Councel, to cause some necessary Laws formerly made for the
reforming the Abuses aforesaid, to be duely executed and observed. And
for that end, whereas by the Laws of this Land all Vagabonds, Beggers,
and idle persons are to be sent to the place of their Birth, or of
their last abode, there to be relieved and kept if they be impotent,
or otherwise made to labour: His Majestie doth by this Proclamation
publish and declare His Royal Pleasure and Commands, that all such
Vagabonds, Beggers and Idle persons within the Cities of London and
Westminster and the Suburbs of the same, which by Law are not there to
be provided for (to the wrong of the native poor, and a burden to the
several Parishes where now they are) but that they forthwith at their
Perils depart from the same and speedily resort to the place of their
Birth or last abode, that they may be there provided for as they ought
to be. And if any such Vagabonds, Beggers, or idle persons shall or
may be found within the Cities of London and Westminster, or in any of
the Suburbs or Precincts of the same, or in the Borough of Southwark,
or in any Town near adjoyning, upon the four and twentieth day of this
moneth of May, His Majesty streightly chargeth and commandeth, as well
the Lord Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and Sheriffs of the said City of
London, and all other Officers of the said City, and all other His
Majesties Justices of the Peace, Magistrates and Officers whatsoever
within the City of Westminster, Borough of Southwark, or within the
County of Middlesex, to cause all such persons to be apprehended, and
openly whipped, and sent away (except such as are willing to go to the
English Plantations) And that in all things they do speedily execute,
and cause to be put in execution the Statute made in the Thirty ninth
yeare of Queene Elizabeth Chap. the 4^{th} concerning the punishment
of Rogues and Vagabonds: And to the end that all such persons may not
only be setled and kept from wandring, but also made to labour and so
kept from idleness, his Majesty doth streightly charge and command
all and singular Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace, and other Officers
and Ministers in the several Counties of this Realm, and all Mayors,
Sheriffs, Bayliffs, Aldermen and other Magistrates, Officers and
Ministers of all other Cities and Towns Corporate, that they and every
of them within their several Limits and Jurisdictions respectively
do carefully and diligently put in due and speedy Execution the same
Statute of the Thirty ninth of Elizabeth, Chapter the Fourth, both
for erecting houses of Correction, and for punishing such Vagabonds
and idle persons; as also the Statutes of the I. Jacob. Chap. 7. made
for the explanation of the said Statute made in the Seventh year of
King James Chapter Fourth, for the ordering such houses of Correction.
And to the end that not onely sturdy Rogues and Vagabonds may be
duely kept from wandering and idleness, and held to labour, but that
also poor and Fatherless Children and Widows, the Aged and Impotent
may be also carefully provided for and relieved, and not permitted
to wander and be in the Streets begging from door to door; It is
His Majesties express Charge and Command to all Mayors, Sheriffs,
Bayliffs, Justices of the Peace, Magistrates, Officers and Ministers
in the several Counties of this Realm, and in all Cities and Towns
Corporate, that they diligently and carefully put in execution that
excellent Statute made in the Fourty third Year of Elizabeth, Chapter
the second, concerning the Overseers of the Poor, and their duty for
raising a Stock for maintenance of the Poor, and for binding forth
Children Apprentices, which His Majesty commends in an especial manner
to their Care: Their neglecting this so great a work, in not carefully
providing for poor Fatherless Children and Infants for their teaching
and instructing them, and for fitting them for Trades and Services, and
in not binding them forth Apprentices; all which neglect is a great
cause of poor childrens idleness, wandring, and wickedness in the whole
course of their lives; And to the end that convenient Stocks may be
raised in all Parishes, especially for the ends aforesaid, His Majesty
requireth the several Overseers of the Poor to be diligent in raising
such Stocks according to the Power given them, And also His Majesty
requireth all Mayors, Bayliffs, Justices of the Peace, Magistrates
and other Officers aforesaid, to be careful in putting in speedy and
due Execution all the Statutes concerning Tipling and Drunkenness,
and concerning unlawful or irregular Inns or Alehouses, and all other
Statutes, the penalties whereof are disposed to the use of the Poor of
the several Parishes; and to cause the said several penalties to be
delivered to the Overseers of the Poor respectively for the increase
of the said Stock, to buy materials to imploy the said Poor, and also
to be careful in diligent calling to account the said Overseers, and
to see the said sums so raised may be carefully imployed for the good
education and instruction and binding out of such poor Infants and
Fatherless Children, and providing for relief of the Poor aforesaid,
which may in probability encourage some charitable and well disposed
Persons voluntarily to contribute and add to such Stocks by their free
and weekly contributions (which they dayly bestowed on idle begging
Poor) or otherwise. His Majesty therefore expects all Mayors, Justices,
Magistrates and other His Officers to whom the Execution of the Law
aforesaid is particularly concerned, that they be very careful in the
due and speedy execution of every one of them, as they will avoid
His Majesties just indignation for their neglect of their duties in
hindring this so great a National work, and for the Contempt of His
Royal Commandments: His Majesty being resolved to have an account,
both from the said Justices, and the several Judges of Assizes in their
several Circuits, of the due observation hereof, until His Majesty
shall take a further Course by the advice of His Parliament, which he
determines to do, that no poor shall be permitted to be Vagrant or
Begging, but all such as are Impotent and not able to work, may be
provided for, so as to live comfortably, and yet be kept from profess'd
idleness, and such as are able may have means provided to set them on
work.
Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the Ninth day of May, One thousand
six hundred sixty one, and in the Thirteenth year of His Majesties
Reign.