Vagrants (also known as vagabonds, rogues, tramps or drifters) usually live in poverty and support themselves by begging, scavenging, petty theft, temporary work, or welfare (where available).

The Poor Law 1601 sought to consolidate all previous legislative provisions for the relief of ‘the poor’. The Poor Law made it compulsory for parishes to levy a ‘poor rate’ to fund financial support (‘public assistance’) for those who could not work.

The poor laws gave the local government the power to raise taxes as needed and use the funds to build and maintain almshouses; to provide indoor relief (i.e., cash or sustenance) for the aged, handicapped and other worthy poor; and the tools and materials required to put the unemployed to work.

The new Poor Law ensured that the poor were housed in workhouses, clothed and fed. Children who entered the workhouse would receive some schooling. In return for this care, all workhouse paupers would have to work for several hours each day.

The 1601 Act sought to deal with “settled” poor who had found themselves temporarily out of work – it was assumed they would accept indoor relief or outdoor relief. Neither method of relief was at this time in history seen as harsh. The act was supposed to deal with beggars who were considered a threat to civil order.

Act for the Relief of the Poor 1601. The Poor Relief Act 1601 (43 Eliz 1 c 2) was an Act of the Parliament of England. The Act for the Relief of the Poor 1601, popularly known as the Elizabethan Poor Law, “43rd Elizabeth” or the Old Poor Law was passed in 1601 and created a poor law system for England and Wales.

In 1601, another act for the Relief of the Poor was passed. This became known as the Elizabethan Poor Law and remained in effect for over 200 years. It basically put all the previous Poor Laws together into one act, setting up a legal framework to tackle the problem of the poor. It also encouraged the establishment of almshouses.

Boys were to serve a seven year apprenticeship. The aim was to create employment and keep potential beggars off the streets. Harsh penalties were used to deter vagrancy. The death penalty was reintroduced. Local people had to pay a poor rate. Overseers of the Poor were to help JPs administer poor relief.

The system’s administrative unit was the parish. It was not a centralised government policy but a law which made individual parishes responsible for Poor Law legislation. The 1601 act saw a move away from the more obvious forms of punishing paupers under the Tudor system towards methods of “correction”.