[124] More's Utopia, p. 28. Pitt Press edition.
[125] Hist. Man. Com., Rep. XIV., App. VIII. p. 139.
It was also ordered that "every spynster to have (if it may be) vilb of wolle everye weeke, and to bringe the same home every Saterdaie at night, and if any faile so to doe, the clothier to advertise the cunstable thereof for the examynacion of the cause and to punyshe it according to the qualitye of the falte." Moreover no poor person was "to be suffered to kepe their childrene at home able to serve."
[126] Dom. State Papers Queen Eliz., vol. 41, No. 76. See p. 69.
[127] D'Ewes' Journals, pp. 112, 132.
[128] D'Ewes' Journals, p. 165.
[129] I.e. keeper of a public-house.
[130] 14 Eliz. c. 5.
[131] D'Ewes' Journals, p. 220.
[132] This Act of 1572 was at certain times rigorously enforced. Thus at Middlesex Sessions held June, 17 Eliz. Thomas Maynerde, Oswald Thompson and John Barres were brought before the magistrates. On the 18 March in the same year they had been whipped and burnt through the ear at the Old Bailey; they were now accused of "being over 18 years old and fit for labour, but masterless and without any lawful means of livelihood." They pleaded guilty and were sentenced to be hung. Also on the 6 Feb. 18 Eliz. a woman was tried for vagrancy and committed for two years to a surety who was her husband, to be his servant. She was again found wandering, and in October of the same year was sentenced to be hung. In the ten weeks between 6 Oct. 32 Eliz. and 14 Dec. 33 Eliz. seventy-one persons were sentenced at Middlesex Sessions to be whipped and branded for vagrancy. Middlesex Sessions Roll, ed. T. C. Jeaffreson, pp. 94 and 191.