Legal Definitions - vagabundus

The term vagabundus refers to an individual who wanders from place to place without a fixed home or regular employment. Historically, this term was used in legal contexts, particularly in laws concerning vagrancy, which often criminalized individuals perceived as idle or without visible means of support.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a vagabundus:

• Example 1: Imagine a person in 18th-century England who is repeatedly found sleeping in different barns or abandoned sheds on the outskirts of various villages. This individual has no known family in the area, no established trade, and no permanent dwelling. Local authorities might identify this person as a vagabundus due to their itinerant lifestyle and lack of a fixed residence or apparent means of support, potentially leading to arrest under vagrancy laws.

  Explanation: This scenario directly illustrates a vagabundus because the individual lacks a permanent home ("fixed dwelling"), moves between different locations ("wanders from place to place"), and has no clear source of income or employment ("no established trade or apparent means of support").

• Example 2: Consider an individual encountered by city watchmen in a medieval European town. When questioned, the person cannot provide a reason for their presence in the town, claims no permanent residence within the city or surrounding areas, and carries no tools or goods indicating a specific trade or livelihood. This person would likely be categorized as a vagabundus, as they appear to be without a fixed abode or legitimate purpose for their wandering.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates the term by highlighting the absence of a fixed residence ("claims no permanent residence") and the lack of a clear, legitimate occupation or reason for being in a particular place ("cannot provide a reason for their presence," "carries no tools or goods indicating a specific trade").

• Example 3: During a period of widespread economic hardship in the 19th century, a former farm laborer, displaced from their land, travels from one county to another, seeking sporadic day labor or relying on charity. This person possesses no property, no fixed address, and is constantly on the move. Legally, they could be considered a vagabundus, as their circumstances align with the definition of someone without a stable home or consistent employment, wandering between locations.

  Explanation: This situation exemplifies a vagabundus through the individual's lack of a permanent home ("possesses no property, no fixed address"), their continuous movement between different regions ("travels from one county to another"), and their reliance on inconsistent work or charity ("seeking sporadic day labor or relying on charity"), indicating a lack of stable employment.