ABSTRACT
This chapter concerns the stretching of vagrancy law to furnish a mechanism for coping with poor sick travellers. Vagrancy law from the point of view of parishes thus had significant advantages over the poor law: removal was far quicker and cheaper, requiring only the signature of one justice, and taking immediate effect. In July 1789 the Middlesex bench received a letter from Lord Montagu, president of the Proclamation Society, urging stricter enforcement of the vagrancy laws in all counties. Especially action against the abuse of granting walking or begging passes indiscriminately to any person applying for them. The mayor of Dorchester allowed a bill for 28s 0d presented by William Garrett for taking care of a Vagrant, perishing for want, that was found in the Town of Dorchester, 10DRO Epiphany 1752. The problem of dealing with the grey area cases underlay much of the abuse of vagrancy law complained of throughout the eighteenth century.
