VAGRANTS are all persons threaten ing to run away, and leave their wives and children to the parish. All persons unlaw fully returning to the parish or place whence they have been legally removed by order of two justices, without bring ing a certificate from the parish or place whereto they belong. All persons who have not wherewith to maintain them selves, live idle, and refuse to work for the usual wages given to other labourers in the like work, in the parishes or places Where they are. All persons from door to door, or placing themselves in the streets, highways, or passages, to beg or gather alms in the parishes or places where they dwell. All these shall be deemed idle and disorderly persons, and one justice may commit such offenders (being thereof convicted before him, by his own view, confession, or oath of one witness,) to the house of correction, to hard labour, not exceeding one month. And any person may apprehend and car ry before a justice, any such persons go ing from door to door, or placing them selves in the streets, highways, or pas sages, to beg alms in the parishes or places where they dwell ; and if they shall resist, or escape from the person appre. hending them, they shall be punished as rogues and vagabonds. And the said jus
tice, by warrant under his hand and seal, may order any overseer, where such of fender shall be apprehended, to pay five shillings to any person in such parish or place so apprehending them, for every of fender so apprehended ; to be allowed in his accounts, on producing the justice's order and the person's receipt to whom it was paid. 17 George H. c. 5. The same statute also enacts, that such justice shall order the person so apprehended to be publicly whipped by the constable, pe tit-constable, or some other person to be appointed by such constable or petit constable of the place where such °Wen der was apprehended, or shall order him to be sent to the house of correction ; and by 27 George III. c. 11, the common gaol, until the next sessions, or for any less time, as such justice shall think proper. To defray the expellees of apprehending, conveying, and maintaining rogues, va gabonds, and incorrigible rogues, and all other expenses necessary, the justices, in sessions, may cause such sums as shall be necessary to be raised, in the same manner as the general county rate. 17 George Ill. c. 5.