anciently, were fraudulent persons, who went from place to place buying and selling bras, pewter, and other merchandize, which ought to be uttered in open market. In this sense the word is mentioned anno 25 Hen. VIII. cap. 6. and 33 ejusdem cap. Hawkers, cap. 4. The appellation hawkers seems to have arisen from their uncertain wandering, like those who, with hawks, seek their game where they can find it.

The term is now used as synonymous with pedlar; a person who travels about the country selling wares. Every hawker must take out an annual licence, for which he must pay 4l. and if he travels with a horse, ass, or mule, for every one of them 8l. If he travels without a licence, or contrary to it, he forfeits for every offence to the informer, and the poor of the parish where discovered, 10l. The acts relating to hawkers do not extend to makers of goods or their agents; or to those who sell goods in fairs or markets; to the sellers of fish, fruit, or other victuals; nor to the vendors of books and newspapers, 9 and 10 W. cap. 27. 3 and 4 Anne, cap. 4. But hawkers shall not, by virtue of such licence, sell or offer to sale any tea or spirituous liquors, though with a permit, under the penalty of having the same seized, and imprisonment and prosecution of the offender, 9 Geo. II, cap. 35.

Hawkers who were licensed on June 23, 1785, may set up any business in the place where they are resident inhabitants, though not brought up thereto, and may employ therein persons who have not been apprentices.

Hawkers, is a term also applied to those who go up and down London streets and country towns, selling newspapers, pamphlets, &c.