Anno quinto reginæ Elizabethe. At the parliament holden at Wesmynster the .xii. of Ianuary, in the fyfth yere of the raigne of our soueraigne lady, Elizabeth by the grace of god, of England, Fraunce, and Irelande, quene, defendour of the the fayth. [et]c. To the hygh pleasure of almyghtye God, and the weale publique of this realme, were enacted as foloweth

An Act for the punyshement of Vagaboundes, callyng them selues Egiptians. ¶ The .xx. Chapter. (Book 20)

WHere as sithens the Acte made in the first and seconde yeres of the late Kyng & Quene, kyng Phillip and Quene Mary, for the punyshement of that false and subtyle companye of vagaboundes callyng them selues Egiptians, there is a scruple and doubt rysen, whether such persons as beyng borne within this Realme of England, or other the Quenes high∣nes dominions, and are or shall become of the felowshyp or com∣pany of the sayde vagaboundes, by transforming or disguysyng them selues in theyr apparell, or in a certayne counterfait speache or behauour, are punyshable by the sayde Acte, in lyke maner as others of that sort are being straungers borne, and transported in∣to this Realme of England.

Therefore for thaduoydyng of all doubtes and ambiguities in that behalfe, and to thintent that all suche sturdye and false vaga∣boundes of that sort, lyuyng onely vpon the spoyle of the simple people, may be condignely met withall and punyshed: Be it enac∣ted by the Quene our soueraigne Lady, the Lordes spirituall and temporal, and the Cōmons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the aucthoritie of the same, that the saide Statute made in the first and seconde yeres of the sayd late kyng and Quene, concer∣nyng those bagaboundes callyng them selues Egiptians, shal con∣tinue, remayne, and be in full force, strength, and effect.

And yet moreouer, be it enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayde, that all and euery person and persons, whiche from and after the fyrst day of Maye nowe next ensuyng, shalbe sene or founde with∣in this Realme of Englande or Wales, in any company or felow∣ship of vagaboundes, cōmonly called or callyng them selues Egip∣tians, or counterfaityng, transformyng, or disguising them selues by theyr apparell, speache, or other behauour, lyke vnto suche va∣gaboundes cōmonly called or callyng them selues Egiptians, and so shall or do continue and remayne in the same, eyther at one time or at seuerall tymes, by the space of one moneth: That then the same person or persons, shall by vertue of this Acte, be demed and iudged a felon and felons, and shal therfore suffer paynes of death, losse of landes and goodes, as in cases of felony by the order of the common lawes of this Realme, and shall vpon the tryall of them or of any of them therin, be tryed in the countie and by the inhabi∣tauntes

of the countie or place where they or he shalbe apprehen∣ded or taken, and not per medietatem lingue, and shall lose the priuiledge and benefite of Sanctuary and Clergie.

Prouided alwayes and be it enacted by thaucthoritie aforesaid, that this Acte shall not in any wyse extende to any chylde or chyl∣dren being within the age of .xiiii. yeres, nor to any of the sayd per∣sons being in prison the last day of this present parliament, so that he or they so beyng in pryson, do within .xiiii. dayes next after his or theyr deliuery out of pryson, eyther depart out of this Realme of Englande and Wales, or put hym or them selues to some honest seruice, or exercyse some lawful worke, trade, or occupation, and vtterly forsake the sayde ydle and false trade, conuersation, and be∣hauour, of the sayde counterfait or disguysed vagaboundes, com∣monly called or callyng them selues Egiptians.

Prouided also, and be it enacted by thaucthoritie aforesayde, that the said Act made in the first and seconde yeres of the said late kyng and Quene, shall not extende to compell any person or per∣sons, borne within any the Quenes Maiesties dominions, to de∣part out of this Realme of Englande or Wales, but onely to con∣strayne and bynde them & euery of them to leaue theyr said naugh∣tie, ydle, and vngodly lyfe and company, and to place them selues in some honest seruice, or to exercyse them selues at home with theyr parentes, or els where honestly, in some lawfull worke, trade, or occupation: Any thyng mentioned in the sayde former Act to the contrary hereof in any wyse notwithstandyng.