6(j2 C. 15 — -17. Anno tricefimonohoReginae Elizabeths. A. D. 1597. CAP. XV. An Act, that no Perfon robbing any Houfe in the Day-time, although no Perfon be therein, ihall be admitted to have the Benefit of his Clergy. 3l.1ft.65. ' %J HERE AS of late Years divers lewd and felonious Perfons, underftanding that the Penalty of »5#. 8.,-. 3. ' VY the Robbing of Houfes in the Day-time (no Perfon being in the Houfe at the Time of the Rob-
- x&£!.c.y. ' bery) is not fo penal, as to commit or do a Robbery in any Houfe, any Perfon being therein at the
' Time bi the Robbery ; -which hath and doth embolden divers lewd Perfons to watch their Opportunity ' and Time to commit and do many heinous Robberies, in breaking and entring divers honeft Perfons ' Houfes, and efpecially of the poorer Sort of People, who by reafon of their Poverty are not able to keep '■ any Servant, or otherwife to leave any Body to look to their Houfe; when they go abroad to hear Di- ■ ' vine Service, or from Home to follow their Labour to get their Living, which is to the Hindrance and iKwP.C,, ' Lofs of good Subjects, and the utter Impoverishing of many poor Widows, fole Women,- and other <•"• 33- ' People :,' ' . He fliall not II. Be it therefore enacted by our Sovereign Lady the Queen's moft excellent Majefly, the Lords Spi— have his Clergy ritual and Temporal, and the Commons, of this prefent Parliament affembled, That if any Perfon or thatrobbeth a Perfons after the End of this prefent SefHon of Parliament lhall be found guilty, and convicted by Ver— Day-tim" 0/ the t "' < ^' Confeffion or otherwife, according to the Laws of this Realm,, for the felonious taking away, after Value of five the Feaft of Eafter now next enfuing, in the Day-time, of any Money, Goods or Chattel, being of the Shillings. Value of five Shillings or upwards, in any Dwelling-houfe or Houfes, or any Part thereof, or any Out— Kelyng3i. houfe or Out-houfes, belonging and ufed to and with any Dweliing-houfe or Houfes, although no Per— Cro°Ca°' *° n ^ a " '" >e * n t ' le ^'^ Houfe or Out-houfes at the Time of fuch Telony committed ; then fuch Perfon - io& ii'4/.,' an d Perfons ihall not be admitted to the Benefit of his or their Clergy, but mail be utterly excluded. c.23., ' " thereof. Farther Provijiovs relating hereto, 3 W.fS M. c. 9. lo'&f 11 W. 3. t. 23. e,Aim.c.^i. 12 Am. Stat. I. #. 7, 4 Gee. I. e. 11. ami 6 Geo, 1. c, 23;. C A P. XVI. Repealed by 9 & An Act to reftrain the exceffive Making of Malt. 10 W. 3. C. 12. C A P. XVII. An Aft' againft -lewd and wandring Perfons, pretending themfelves to be Soldiers or Mariners.' Wandering Ma- 4 "1T7HEREA > S divers lewd and licentious Perfons, contemning both Laws, Magiftrates and Religion, rimers and Sol- ' y have of late Days wandred up and down in all Parts of the Realm, under the Name of Soldiers ?•"' and other ' aru { Mariners, abufing the Title of that honourable Profeffion to countenance their wicked Behaviours, ihall rcttk"them- ' anc ^ ^° contmua Hy ailem'ble themfelves weaporied in the Highways and elfevvhere, in Troops, to the ielves to work • .' great Terror and Aftoniihment of her Majefty's true Subjects, the Impeachment of her Laws, and the they (hall have ' Difturbance of the Peace and Tranquillity of this Realm : (2) And whereas many heinous Outrages, Testimonials, c Robberies and horrible Murders are daily committed by thefe diffolute Perfons ; and unlefs fome &c ' „ ' fpeedy Remedy be had, many Damages are like by thefe Means to enfue and grow towards the Com- 13 & 14. Car. 2. c . i.i ) ' ' "° ' ■* 12 * mSnwealth. 3ini>. 85. H. Be it therefore enacted by the Authority of this prefent Parliament, That all idle and wandring Sol- diers or Mariners, or idle Perfons, which now are, or hereafter ihall be wandring as Soldiers and Mari- ners, fliall fettle themfelves in fome Service, Labour or other lawful Courfe of Life, without wandring, or otherwife repair to the Places where they were born, or to their Dwelling-places, if they have any, and there remain, betaking themfelves to fome lawful Trade or Courfe of Life, as aforefaid ; (2) upon Pain that all Perfons offending contrary to this A£t to be reputed as Felons, and to fuffer as in Cafe of Felony, without any Benefit of Clergy to be allowed. Wandring Sol- III. And be it further enacted, That every idle and wandring Soldier or -Mariner which coming from diers and Mari- his Captain from the Seas, or from beyond the Seas, fliall not have a Teftimonhl under the Hand of mrs fliall have f ome one J u {Hce of the Peace of or near the Place where he landed, fetting down therein the Place and Tithe when and where he landed, and the Place of his Dwelling or Birth, unto which he is to pafs, as aforefaid, and a convenient Time therein limited for his Paflage, or having fuch Teftimonial (hall wil- It fliall be Felony fully exceed the Time therein limited, above fourteen Days: [2) And alio as well every liich idle and to counterfeit a wandring Soldier or Mariner, as every other idle Perfon wandring as Soldier or Mariner, which fhall at Teftimonial. an y Time hereafter forge or counterfeit any fuch Teftimonial, or have with him or them any fuch Tefti- monial forged or counterfeited as aforefaid, knowing the fame to be counterfeited or forged, in all thefe Cafes every fuch A£t or Adis to be Felony, and the Offenders to fuller as aforefaid, without any Benefit of Clergy. Jufticesof Affize IV. And be it further ena&ed, That it fhall be lawful for the Juftices of Affizes, Juftices of Gaol- ed Gaol-deli- delivery, and the Juftices of Peace of every County, and for all Juftices of Peace in Towns Corporate,
- erj and Peace having Authority to hear and det( rmine Felonies, to hear and determine all fuch Offences in their Gene-
determ!ne tLfe ra ^ Seffions, (2) and to execute t' e Offenders which fliall be convi<£i-d before them, as in Cafes of Felo- Offen'ws. ' ny is accuftomed ; except fome honeft Perfon valued at the laft Subfidy next before the Time to ten Pounds
