Ad generalem Sessionem pacis pro Comitatu praedicto tent. apud Chelmisford in dicto Comitatu die Martis Quinto die Octobris Anno Regni Domini nostri Caroli Deigratia, Angliae, Scotia, Franeiae, & Hiberniae Regis fidei defensor is, etc. Sexto. Coram Roberto Comite Warr. Gulielmo Domino Maynard, Harbottello Grimston milite & Baronetto, Thoma Cheek mil. Henrico Mildmay de Moulsham mil. Nicholas Coote mil. Thoma Wiseman mil. Henrico Mildmay de Graces mil. Arthuro Herris mil. Gulielmo Maxey mil. Humfreydo Mildmay mil. Thoma Fanshaw mil. Drugone Deane mil. Gulielmo Touse johanne Darcy, johanne Brampston servientibus ad legem, Roberto Aylet juris Civilis Doctore, Henrico Gent, Martino Lumley, johanne Wright, johanne Argall, Roberto Wiseman, jacobo Heron, & socijs suis justiciarijs dicti Domini Regis ad pacem in dicto Com. conservand. Nec non ad diversas felonias, etc. audiend. & terminand. assignat. inter alia ordinat. est ut sequitur.  
WHEREAS the Lords of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council by his Highness' express direction have by their several Letters commended unto us several instructions tending to the prevention of the scarcity and dearth of Corn, and other Victual, and to the abatement of the price thereof, already grown to very great and high rates, with special charge to put the said instructions in execution within all the parts of this County. It is thereupon, and for the reformation of some other abuses tending to the general and public prejudice and grievance of this County, ordered.  
FIrst, that the justices of peace of every division within this County do with all convenient speed before the next Quarter Sessions meet together, and do so meet and assemble themselves once at the least between every Quarter Sessions, to inquire, and take care, and course for the due execution of the several Articles hereafter following, and of all such other directions as we shall hereafter receive from his Majesty, or from the Lords of his Privy Council.  
SEcondly, that the said justices of peace at their first meeting do suppress the third part at the least of the Alehouses within every several division: It being conceived both by his Majesty and the Lords of his Council, and so intimated to us by the said Letters, that the great number of Alehouses is a very great waist and consumption of Malt, already grown to an extreme price.  
THirdly, that no Innkeepers, or Alehousekeepers do permit or suffer any the Inhabitants, in, or near unto the Parishes where the said Inns or Alehouses are situate, to sit drinking or tippling in their houses contrary to the laws in that case made, and provided: the true use of Inns and Alehouses being to entertain passengers and travellers, and not for the maintenance of riot and drunkenness.  
FOurthly, that no Innkeepers, Alehousekeepers, or Victuallers be permitted to sell less than one full Ale-quart of the best Ale, or Beer, and two quarts of the second sort for a penny upon penalty of twenty shillings for every default, which defaults are diligently to be enquired after, and carefully to be levied and disposed to the use and relief of the poor of the Parish where such defaults shall be made according to the Law in that behalf established. And for the better observation thereof it is further ordered that no Brewer, Innkeeper, Ale-house-keeper, or Victualler be permitted to brew any Beer or Ale of greater strength than according to two bushels of Malt to one hogshead at the most.  
FIfthly, that all such as shall keep unlicenced Alehouses, or shall use their Inns as Alehouses to the maintenance of excess and riot in drinking, be from time to time complained of unto the justices of peace next adjoining, and that such justices of peace upon such complaint, and due proof thereof, do forthwith execute the penalty of the Law upon such offenders, and that in default of such complaint all such offenders be presented to the said justices at their meetings aforesaid by the high and petty Constables of the several Parishes within every such division, who are likewise to present at the said meetings at the furthest all and every the offences against any of these Articles, and condign punishment to be inflicted upon them for neglecting their duties in making such presentments.  
SIxthly, that the said justices of peace take special care for suppressing the unnecessary number of Malsters within this County, and confine the residue to such a proportion, as that as much Barley (as with conveniency may) be preserved for bread corn in this time of scarcity of corn, and the penalties to be duly levied upon all such Malsters as shall not conform themselves therein according to the laws in that behalf provided.  
SEventhly, that the said justices of peace within their several divisions do take special care and order from time to time to have the Markets well supplied with Corn, and other Victual, and to use the best endeavour they lawfully may for the abating of the price thereof, especially that the poorer sort of people may have grain and other victual at as easy rates and prices as can lawfully be procured. And that they with all ●are and diligence prevent and hinder all transportation, forestall, engrossing, and regrating of Corn, and other victual, and to punish all offenders therein, by inflicting upon them the uttermost penalties which by law they can.  
EIghtly, that there be special care had that Millers do not take excessive toll, but that the offenders therein be carefully enquired after, and duly presented to the justices at their meetings aforesaid for such course to be taken for reformation of that abuse as shall be agreeable to law and justice.  
NInthly, that no Rogues, Vagabonds, or other lose, idle or dissolute persons, either English or Irish, be suffered to beg, or wander, within any part of this County, but that as well the laws for punishing them, as for inflicting penalties upon such as shall relieve them, or upon the Constables for not punishing them, be duly observed and put in execution. And that the petty Constables do whip and send away by passes with guides to the place of their birth or last settling according to the laws, the ordinary sort of the said Rogues, lose, idle, and dissolute wand'ring persons, and such as are Irish, to punish and send them away by guides and passes as aforesaid unto the next Port for their transportation into Ireland according to his Majesty's late Proclamation in that behalf. And that the said Constables do apprehend & carry all such of them as wander under the name of soldiers or mariners, or shall appear to be fearful or dangerous to the inferior sort of people, before some, or one of the next justices of the peace to be further proceeded against according to the Law: And because the remissness and negligence of the said petty Constables is generally observed to be a special cause of the swarming of Rogues in all parts of this County, the high Constables are specially required within their several divisions to take care thereof, and from time to time to inquire of such defaults of the said petty Constables, and of such as shall relieve the said Rogues contrary to the Law, and to inform the next justices of peace thereof, and to present the same at the furthest to the justices at their said six week's meetings. And that the said justices of peace do at their said meetings exact a strict account thereof from the said high Constables of their care and proceed therein, the rather for that those Rogues and wandering persons do now in this time of scarcity eat up the bread of the true poor Inhabitants by preventing them of that charity which otherwise would be afforded to them.  
TEnthly, for the better execution of the Laws against the said Rogues, and other wandering persons, the high Constables within every division are to appoint watches in the night, and wardings in the day for the apprehension of the said Rogues, and other wandering persons; this to be done at such times and places as the said high Constables shall think fittest for the apprehension of them. And the said high Constables are also once every month at least to cause privy searches to be made in every Parish within their several divisions for apprehension and punishment of the said offenders.  
ELeventhly, the high and petty Constables are to present to said justices of peace at their said fix weeks meetings, and to cause then to be brought before them all such young men and women being unmarried as live at their own hands out of service, and others though married, and householders that live idly, or will not work for reasonable wages, or that waist, and consume in riot, drinking or play, what they get by their work, suffering their wives and children in the mean time to be pinched with want of food, and other necessaries, and when sickness, age or death cometh, then leave their wives and children to the charge of the Parish.  
LAstly, because the high ways within this County are in great decay, occasioned principally by the neglect of the works appointed by the Law both with labourers and Carts, and by not scouring the ditches adjoining to the said high ways, and the watercourses for conveying the water out of the said ditches, and by not lopping and cutting the trees, and bushes adjoining to the same high ways. It is ordered, that the justices of peace within every division do take special care for the cleansing and scouring of all the said ditches, and watercourses, especially such as adjoin unto the great and high Roads: and for the speedy carrying away of all such earth as shall be thrown into the high ways out of any such ditches or watercourses. And because many are this year behind with their works, some with labourers, and others with carts, whereof some have been presented at this Quarter Sessions. It is now ordered, that all the Surveyors of the high ways within this County which have not already presented the defaults in the said works, do at the next Quarter Sessions of the peace to be holden for this County, make a just and true presentment of all such defaults within their several precincts, and in default of such presentment the penalty of forty shillings to be inflicted upon every such Surveyour for not presenting such defaults unto the next justice of the peace according to the Law in that behalf provided. And that the justices of peace within their several divisions do by their own view inform themselves before the said next Quarter Sessions of all defaults in not scouring the said ditches and watercourses, in not carrying away the earth thrown out of the said ditches into the highways, and in not lopping and cutting the trees and bushes in or adjoining unto the same: and that the justices do at the said next Quarter Sessions present all such offences (as upon their own view) that the offenders may be punished according to the Law.  
Per Richardum Dove Clericum pacis.