and suppressinge of Roags, Vacabonds; idle,
loyteringe, and lewde persons; which doe, or shall hereafter wander and
goe aboute, within the hundreths of Thingo cum Bury, Blackborne,
Thedwardstree, Cosford, Babings, Risbridge, Lackford, and the half
hundreth of Exninge, in the said countie of Suffolk, contrary to the law,
in that case made and provided.

"Whereas, at the Parliement beganne and holden at Westminster, the 8th
daie of Maye, in the 14th yeare of the raigne of the Queen's Majestie,
that nowe is, one Acte was made, intytuled, "An Acte for punishment of
Vacabonds, and for releife of the Pooere, and Impotent." And whereas, at
a Session of the Parliament, holden by prorogacon, at Westminster, the
eight daie of February, in the 28th yeare of her Majestie's raigne, one
other Acte was made and intytuled, "An Acte for settinge of the Poore to
work, and for the avoydinge of idleness." By vertue of which, severall
Acts, certeyne provisions and remedies been ordeyned, and established, as
well for the suppressinge, and punishinge of all roags, vacabonds, sturdy
roags, idle and loyteringe persons; as also for the releife, and setting
on worke of the aged and impotente persons within this realm; and
authoritie gyven to Justices of Peace, in their several charges and
commission, to see that the said Acts and Statuts be putte in due
execution, to the glorie of Allmightie God, and the benefite of the
common welth.

"And whereas also yt appeareth by dayly experience, that the number of
idle, vagraunte, loyteringe, sturdy roags, masterles men, lewde and yll
disposed persons are exceedingly encreased, and multiplied, committinge
many grevious and outeragious disorders and offences, tendinge to the
great . . . of Allmightie God, the contempte of her Majestie's laws, and
to the great charge, troble, and disquiet of the common welth.--We the
Justices of Peace, above speciefied, assembled and mett together at our
general sessions above named, for remedie of theis and such lyke
enormities which hereafter shall happen to arise or growe within the
hundreths and lymits aforesaid, doe by theis presents, order, decree and
ordeyne, That there shall be builded or provided one convenient house,
which shall be called the House of Correction; and that the same be
established within the towne of Bury, within the hundreth of Thingoe
aforesaid. And that all persons offendinge or lyvinge contrary to the
tenor of the said twoe Acts, within the