SEXt "PARLIAMENT. XX. of O&ober. 1579. %o 9 vyiththeperfonehavandtitillortakkcofhisfaidisteindes, and making na impediment to the winding and leading theirof in hie wayes , or upon ony ground that is fchorne. 74. For pmi/bment of ftrang and Idle Beggars , and rthefe of the pure and impotent. FORSAMEIKLE as there is findrie lovabill Ads of Parliament maid be our Soveraine Lords maift nobill Progenitours , for the Handling of maifterfull and idle Beggers , away putting of fornares , and provifion for the pure : Bearing, that nane fall be dioiled to beg, nouther to Burgh nor to land , betwixt 14. and 70. zeires. That fik as makes themfelves Fules and ar Bairdes , or uthers fiklike runners about, being apprehended , fall be put in the Kingis Waird or irones , fa lang as they have ony gudes ottheir awin to live on. And fra they have not quhairupon to live of their awin , that their cares bee nayled to the Trone , or to an uther tree , and their eares cutted off, and baniihed the countrie , and gif thereafter they be found againe, that they be hanged. ITEM, That nane bee thoiled to begge in ane Parochin , that ar borne in ane uther. That the headef- men of ilk Parochin , make takinnes , and give to the Beggares theirof, that they may bee fufteined within the boundes of that Parochin. And that nane uther bee lerved with almes , within that Parochin , but they that bearis that takinne allanerlie , as in the Actes of Parliament maid theiranent , at mair length is conteined. Quhilkes in time bygane , hes not bene put to dewe execution , throw the iniquitie and troubles of die rime by-paft, and be reafloun that diere was not heirtofoir ane ordour of punifchment, fa fpecialiic devifed , as need required , bot the faidis Beggares, befides the uthers in convenientes, quhilks theydaylie produce in the commounwealth , procures the wrath and difpleafure of GOD, for the wicked and ungodlie forme of living , ufed amangs them , without manage or baptizing of a great number of their bairnes. THERE- F O I R now , for avoyding of the inconvenients , and elchewing of the confufion of findrie Lawes & Aftes, concerning their punifchment, Handing in effect: And that fumcertaine execution, and gude ordour may follow theranent , tothegreatpleafureofAlmichtie GOD, and commoun weill of the Realmc : IT IS thoclit expedient , ftatute and ordained , alfweill for the utter fupprefling of the faidis ftrang and idle beggers, fa contageous enimies to the commoun weill : As for the charitabill releevins of aged and impotent pure peopil, that the ordour and forme following bee obferved : That is to lay, that all perfones , beina above die aige of fourteene and within the aige of threefcoir and ten zeires , that heirafrer ar declared and fet foorth r "£«4W, be this Act and ordour, to be vagaboundes, ftrang and idle beggars , quhilkes fall happen atony time heir- c * , " / ' f * f .?- after, after the firft day of Januar nixt-to-cum , to bee taken wandering and mifordering themfelves , con- fuiijied, ' trade to the effect and meaning of tliir prefentes, fall be apprehended , and upon their apprehenfion be brocht befoir the Proveft and Baillies within the Burgh , and in everie Parochin to Landwart , befoir him that fall be coiiftitutejuftice be the Kingis Commiffion, or be the Lords of Regalitie, within the famin to this effect: And be them, to bee committed in waird , in the commoun prifon , ftokkes or irons , within their' jurifdidion , there to be keiped , unlatten to libertie , oruponbandeorfovertie, quhill they be put to the knawledge of ane Ailife , quhilk fall be done within fexdayes thereafter. And gif they happen to be con- victed, to bee adjudged to be fcourged and burnt dirow the eare, with ane hote iron : Theproceffequhair- of fall be regiftrate in the Court buikes. Except fum honeft and refponfall man , will of his charitie , bee contented then preienthe, to Act himfelfe before die Judge , to take and keip die offender in his fervice, for anehdillzeimixt following, under the paine of twentie pound , to theufe of the pure of the Toun or Pa- rochin. And to bring the offendour to the head Court of the jurifdiction at the zeires end , or then gude pruife of his death , the Clerke taking for the faid Acte , twelve pennies onely : And gif the offender depart and leave the fervice widiin die zcir , againft his will that receivis him in fervice i Then being apprehended , he °f *'"»' fail be of new prefented to the Judge , and be his command , fcourged and burnt throw the eare , as is fore- fralffmi. faid. Quhilk punifchment, being anis received , he fall not fuffer againe the like, for the fpace of three- /&»*/«■■-• fcoir dayes thereafter , bot gif at the ende of die faidis lx. dayes , hee be founden to be fallen againe in his idle viee ' and vagabound trade of life: Then being apprehended of new, he fall be adjudged, and fuffer die painesaf death as a thief. Andthatitmaybeknawen, quhat maner of perfones ar mcaned to bee idle and ftrang beggares , and vaga- t, y bounds, and worthie of the punifchment before fpecified. IT Is declared , diat all idle perfones, ganging terfemtf about in ony Countrie of this Realme, ufingfubtill, craftie, and unlauchfull playes, asjuglarie , Faft- ********* and-lous , and fik uthers. The idle peopill calling themfelves (^/Egyptians ; or any uther , that feinzies diem te^f' to have knawledge of Charming, Prophecie, or uthers abufed fcicnces , quhairby they perfwade the peo- pill that they can tell dieir weirdes , deathes and fortunes, and fik uther phantafticall imaginations: and all perfones being haill and itarke in bodie , and abill to woorke , alledging them to have bene herried or burnt, infumfarpairtof the Realme, or alledging them to be banifhed for flauchter, and uthers wicked deides j and uthers nouther havand land nor Maifters , nor ufing ony lauchfull merchandice , craft or occupation , quhairby they may win their livings , and can give na reckoning how they lauchfullie get their living : & all Minftrellcs, Sangfters, and Tale-tellers , not avowed in fpeciall fervice , be fum of die Lords of Parlia- ment or great Burrowes , or be the head Burrowes and Cities , for their commoun Minftrelles : all com- moun labourers, being perfonnes abill in bodie, living idle, and fleeing labour : all counterfaicters of licen- HIt 3 ce«
