1701 EDINBURGH SWAMPED WITH VAGABONDS, BEGGARS AND POUR PERSONS 011. STUART, Ja. [Signatory.] Act against landlords setting houses, etc. to strangers without testificats. Edinburgh, the 28th February, 1701. Edinburgh, Printed by the Heirs and Successors of Andrew Anderson, Printer to the Kings most excellent Majesty, City and Colledge. 1701. Folio broadside. Uncut copy. Small library release stamp on the verso otherwise a fine copy. HANSON 64. L, MAEM, EU; MH-BA only in ESTC. Noting that "The number of Vagabonds, Beggars, Poor and Idle Persons, have of late increased in this place, whose maintenance is a heavy Burden to the Good Town; and who are the very Source and Nurserie of Thieving, Stealing, breaking of Shops and Houses; and other gross Abuses and Immoralities and that the Number of those idle and indigent Persons will still multiply, by reason of their resorting from all quarters of the Kingdom to this Burgh except due care be taken to prevent the seamen, especially by denying them kindly Reception and Harbour: Therefore they strictly prohibit ... all Landlords ... to Set Houses, Chambers, Shops, or Cellars to any strangers coming to this Place in time coming, or who have come to the same since Whitsunday 1698, who are also hereby repute to be Strangers, who have not sufficient Testimonials, to be approved by the Magistrate or Kirk Sessions, of their Honesty and good Behaviour, and bearing, that they have sufficient Means of their own lawful Callings to Maintain them, at least, that they have in the places from whence they came, lived Virtuously, without being Burdensome to others, or making anie unlawful shifts for their Livelyhood." Any landlord letting rooms to strangers without the necessary testimonials were to be liable to a fine of "Ten Pound Scots Money."