The history of the poor laws: with observations / By Richard Burn.

  • Richard Burn
Date:
1764
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the poor laws: with observations / By Richard Burn. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    chains or beating as aforefaid; and on convic¬ tion of fuch offence before two juftices, they fhall caufe him to be marked on the forehead, or the ball of the cheek, with an hot iron, with the letter S, and adjudge him to be the faid mailer’s Have for ever. And if he fhall again run away; he fhall be taken as a felon, and fuffer pains of death as other felons ought to do. And if any will take the child of a vagabond, above the age of five years and under fourteen ; the juftices fhall adjudge fuch child to be fervant or apprentice to the faid perfon, till the age of 24 of the male, and 20 of the female. And if fuch child fhall run away ; he or fhe fhall be ad¬ judged to be a Have in all refpects as aforefaid. And the faid flaves may be fold, or devifed by will, as other goods and chattels. And if any fuch flaves fhall wound their mafter, in refilling their corre&don ^ or when they be manumitted and fet again free, or other- wife in the time of their fervice, fhall confpire with any other, or by themfelves fhall go about to kill, maim, wound, or beat their faid mafter, or to burn his houfe, barn, or corn, lb that their intent come to an act tending to the effect, as lying in wait with weapon, or any fuch like j they fhall be adjudged felons, and fuffer pains of death as in cafe of felony. If no perfon will take fuch vagabond 5 yet the juftice fhall caufe him to be fo marked on the breaft with the letter V, and fhall inquire of him the town, city, or village where he was born * and then give him a writing in parchment, fealed with his leal, of the form which here enfueth : D A. Hr
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