THE Laws and Statutes of Geneva, as well concerning ecclesiastical Discipline, as civil regiment, with certain Proclamations duly executed, whereby God's religion is most purely maintained, and their common wealth quietli governed: Translated out of French into English by Robert Fills.  Except the Lord keep the City, the keeper watcheth in vain. PSAL. 127. 
AFTER DARKNESS, LIGHT.  
POST TENEBRAS lux  
PRINTED AT LONdon by Roland Hall, dwelling in Gutter Lane, at the sign of the half Egle and the Key. 1562.   

To the right honourable, the Lord ROBERT DUDDELEY Master of the Queen's majesties horse, and knight of the noble order of the Garter, Robert Fills wisheth long life, with the increase of godly honour.  
YOur good zeal (right honourable lord) to the advancement of god's glory in this realm, and the singular gentleness and favour that you usually show to the furtherers thereof, hath moved and encouraged me to fly to the protection of your name, partly to procure thereby some defence and commendation to this good work, which I have translated into the English tongue, and partly so much as in me lieth, to do you that honour which of right I think to to appertain unto you: that is to acknowledge you by the dedication of this work (as you are in deed to your great praise & renown) a worthy patron of good & godly meanings. But there is nothing so well minded, or so godly devised, but that it may, & commonly is, by evil taking misconstrued, and by sinister talking depraved: such is the nature and property of the malicious and slanderous tongue, that being but a little member, yet it is ever busy and babeling, never quiet, barking always biting sometime, finding great matter where none is, making of nothing some thing, of some thing a great thing, of a Mouse a Mountain, of a Gnat an Elephant, of a small spark, enkindling a fire of much discord and dissension. Therefore albeit the Greek Poet Aristophanes truly sayeth, that there is no remedy against the biting of a Sichophant or slanderer: yet somewhat to stop the rage of this running & ranging tongue, and to prevent and cure as much as may be this pestilent poison, I have not only thought good to use the said mean, of your honourable name, but also to express in this my preface, both the purport & substance of the book, and the mind & meaning of myself the translator, that if the malicious man will carp or cavil at either of them, your honour and other that by your example, shall judge well of things well intended, may have at hand a true apology and defence. The book containeth laws and statutes, without which a common weal can no more be ruled, than the body live without the soul, or a great ship in the boisterous sea, be governed without a wise and skilful lodesman, and they are the statutes of Geneva, a City counted of all godly men singularly well ordered, as well for good policy, as also for the government of the Church in all estates, orders, and vocations, where sincere religion is wonderfully advanced, error mightily beaten down, virtue exceedingly maintained, vice severely repressed: such is the execution of those laws, such strait discipline is practised, that not only gross crimes are punished, but common (faults as men take them) are narrowly seen unto, as blasphemy, heresy, strange and pestiferous doctrine, fornication spiritual and corporal, swearing, slandering and such like, so that in deed that place may be a lantern to many other, both of sincerity in judgement, and of honesty in conversation, as this book presently doth witness, & the practice and example doth much more lively declare. Now, the intent & mind of the translator is faithfully to communicate to English men, this treasure taken out of the French tongue, (obtaining the copy out of the register book of the foresaid City) that thereby they may behold as in a glass, a christian reformation, and employ themselves to the imitation as far forth as they see best for them, as shallbe most convenient. Hereby may not be gathered that the Translator is a new law maker, or author of any innovation, or that his industry and diligence is in any wise prejudicial to the laws of this our realm, which are laudable, good, and godly: but as the knowledge of all histories is to all such as desire to hear, see, and know, things profitable and pleasant, and necessary, so beside the observation of the common laws positive, the reading of this fruitful work, shall bring to the private man godly instruction. If we have a pleasure to read josephus, Xenophon, plutarch, Aristotle, Livye, and such other, and wish them to be turned into known and familiar languages: that thereby we may peruse and understand the laws, fashions and ordinances of the jews, Grecians, Romans, and others, how much more ought men to suffer and take in good part this fact of him that bringeth home to us out of a strange and far country, and foreign tongue, a form & patron, not only of a well instituted common weal but of a well reformed church, not for Heathen to gaze on, but for Christians to follow, not so much for delectation as for edification. Which fruit of my labour, God grant may turn to his glory, and to the increase of good nurture and discipline in Christ's school, that true repentance and amendment of life may ensue, that by our works our heavenly father may be glorified, and his people by the example of our faith and mutual charity edified. And further, this work may serve for matter of answer to those that inveighing against the lives of men of our profession, do more falsely speak evil of us, than they can truly speak well of their own faction. They charge us with liberty and licentiousness most unjustly, reporting that we departed out of this realm in the late time of banishment of Goods church, only to this end, to enjoy more unchastised freedom of sensual life: But when they shall behold these laws, & shall not be able to prove, but that the same are as virtuously followed, and as severely executed in those places where we lived, as in this book they be here expressed: which shall appear how small licence is in our reformed churches left to sin, in comparison of the realms drowned in their superstition, where their trust in man's pardon hath quenched the fear of god's displeasure, and where horrible sins are dispensable for money, I trust these slaunderours shall have their mouths stopped, till they be able to show a common weal of their own, where so good laws both of sincere religion and civil justice and honesty, are so duly put in practice, so reverently obeyed, and so precisely kept, yea & by those that willingly for the love of god, and tender care of their own salvation, do forsake the lands of greater liberty of life, to thrall themselves to such severity. For the manner of translating I shall beseech your honour, and all good readers to bear with the plain and simple rudeness thereof, and for mine excuse to understand, that I considered these to be laws and rules of life and religion, in expressing whereof, I had rather be to curiously faithful, than any thing negligently or untrue fine, I have given it word: for word rather following sometime the French phrase to much, then at any time venturing to presume or take to myself a judgement that I attained the sense of the work, if I should serve from the words. My labour I beseech your honour to accept in good part, as I will not fail to continue in prayer to God for the continuance and increase of your godly zeal and Christian affection.  
Your honours most humble to command Robert Fills.   

A table to find the principal points in this present book.  

THE order of the offices instituted by god for the government of his church. fol. 1.  
To whom the institution pertaineth. 2.  
The form of the oath of the ministers. 3.  
The number, places, and time of the sermons. 6.  
The office of the preachers. 7.  
The office of the elders appointed by the signory in the consistory. 8.  
Of the deacons and their offices. 9  
Of Sacraments. 11.  
Of the Supper. 12.  
Of Marriages. 12. Of burying. 13.  
Of the visitation of the sick. 13.  
The orders which ought to be kept towards little children. 14.  
Of the visitation of the prisoners. 15.  
The order toward the aged. 15.  
The parsons which the officers or Commissioners in consistory ought to admonish. 16.  
The visitation of the ministers in parishes or villages pertaining to the city of Geneva. 17.  
The manner of their visitation. 18.  
Of the election of seniors or lords called Sendicques, and of the oath of the lower counsel. 19  
Of the election of the small counsel. 21.  
The form of their oath. 22.  
The election of the Treasurer. 23.  
The election of the Secretaries. 23.  
The form of their oath. 23.  
The counsel of the two hundred. 24.  
The auditors of the accounts. 24.  
The form of their oath. 24.  
The controller, the master of the money, & the master of the ordinance. 25  
Of the procurer general. 25.  
The form of his oath. 25.  
Of the Captain general. 26.  
Of particulars. 26.  
Of Banderettes. 26.  
Of their lieutenants. 26.  
Of Dizeners. 26.  
Of their oath. 26.  
Of the geolyer & form of his oath. 27.  
Of the Saoultier. 27.  
Of the harold. 27.  
Of the waiters. 28.  
Of the keepers of towers and the Porters. 28.  
Of the Notaries. 28.  
The form of their oath. 28.  
The office, charge, and authority of the lords Sendicques. 30.  
The office of the first in especial. 31.  
The office of the three other Sendicques, that which two of them may do. 31.  
That which one of them alone may do. 32.  
Of matters criminals 32.  
The office, charge, and duty, of the counsel. 33.  
For what cause they ought to call the counsel. 35.  
The office of the Treasurer. 35.  
The office of the Secretaries. 36.  
The office of the Captains, Band retts, and Dizeners. 38.  
The Auditors of accounts. 39  
The office of the controller. 40.  
The office of the master of the artillery. 41.  
Of the office of the procurer general. 42.  
Of the office of the Saoultier. 44.  
Of the office of the Porters and keepers of the towers. 45.  
The watches of the two steeples. 46.  
The court of the Signior lieutenant and adjutors. 46.  
The form of their oath. 48.  
The place of the Assistance. 48.  
Of the two Secretaries of the lieutenant's court. 48.  
The form of their oath. 49.  
The office of the Lieutenant, and the order of the court. 49.  
Of the penalty of them that be absent. 50.  
Of the summoning for appearance in civil causes. 50.  
For default of appearance. 50.  
The summoning of the witnesses. 52.  
Of pleding. 52.  
Of the proceedings and terms of delay. 53.  
Of causes above a crown. 53.  
In causes of exceptions. 54.  
Of terms appointed to hear the right. 55.  
Of the longest term that the process ought to endure. 55.  
Of the two Feries. 55.  
Of causes extraordinary. 56  
Of relation of the judges in the proceeding, as in sentence definitive. 57  
The causes excusable. 57  
The tax of the reward of the Lieutenant and his assistance. 57  
The taxes for the Secretaries. 59  
The taxes for the sergeants. 60.  
How the Lieutenant ought to govern himself in matters of imprisonment. 60.  
The order which he ought to keep in process criminal. 61.  
Of emoluments and exactions of seals, the usance, & government, and guard of the same. 62.  
The tax & emoluments which they ought to take of the three seals. 62.  
The seal to seal pupil goods. 66.  
five proclamations containing most necessary ordinances and statutes. 67.  
The first proclamation. 67.  
The second proclamation. 69.  
The third proclamation. 74.  
The fourth proclamation. 76.  
The fift proclamation. 79.  
The valuation of their coin. 87.   
FINIS.   

Here followeth the ACTS AND statutes OF the City of Geneva.  
IN the name of the most mighty God, we Syndicques, with the great and small counsel of Geneva, with our people assembled by the sound of trumpet and the great bell, following our ancient customs, having considered that it is a thing worthy of commendation above all other that the doctrine of the holy gospel of our lord god be conserved well in purity, and the christian church maintained accordingly, also that youth in time to come be well and faithfully instructed, and the hospital ordered in good estate for the sustentation of the poor, the which cannot be except there be established a certain rule & manner to live, by the which every state may understand the duty of his office. For this cause it seemed good to us that the spiritual government such as god hath showed unto us, and instituted by his word be brought in to good form, to have place and to be observed among us, and we have ordained and established to follow and keep in our town and territory, the ecclesiastical policy following, which is taken out of the gospel of jesus Christ.  
First of all there are four orders of officers which our lord hath instituted for the government of his church, that is to say pastors, doctors, elders, other wise named commissioners for the signory, and four Deacons.  
If we will have a church well ordered, and kept in the purity, we must observe this form of government.  
As concerning pastors which the scripture nameth some times watch men, and sometime ministers, their offices are to declare the word of god, to teach, to admonish, to exhort, to reprove as well publicly as privately, to minister Sacraments, & to do brotherly correc●yon with the elders or commissioners.  
Now to the end that nothing be done confusedly in the church, no man ought to thrust himself into this office without lawful calling: in the which there are to be considered three things, that is to say, examination which is principal, afterward, to whom it appertaineth to institute the ministers: thirdly, what ceremony or manner of doing is good to the induction of them to their office.  
The examination containeth two parts, the first is touching the doctrine, that is to say if he which shallbe appointed to the office have good knowledge in the holy scriptures, and more if he be sufficient and meet to communicate it to the people to their edification.  
Also, to put away or eschew all dangers, that he which shallbe received hold no evil opinions, it shallbe good that he do protest to receive and retain the doctrine approved in the church.  
To know if he be meet to teach, they must proceed by interrogatories and to have him treat of some part of the doctrine of our lord god.  
The second part is of life: that is to say, if he have good conditions, & if he have always governed himself without reproach. The rule to proceed by is very well declared by S. Paul, the which ought to be kept & observed.  

❧ Here followeth to whom it pertaineth to institute or appoint ministers.  
IT shallbe good in this point to follow the order of the ancient church for as much as it is but a putting in use of that which is declared unto us in the scripture: that is, that the ministers first choose him which ought to be put in office, giving understanding to the signory, & after present him to the counsel, and if he be found worthy, that the counsel receive and accept him: and after having knowledge of him (as they shall see expedient) give him a testimony that he may be brought forth, and finally presented to the people in the sermon, to the end he may be received by the common consent into the company of the faithful.  
If he be found unworthy, and so declared by lawful proofs, that then they proceed to a new election and chose another.  
Concerning the manner of the induction, because the ceremonies in times past have been turned into many superstitions by reason of the infirmity of the time, it shallbe necessary that one of the ministers make declaration and demonstration of the office, to the which he is chosen, and after that the prayers be made for him, that the lord give him grace well to discharge his office.  
When he shallbe chosen, it is necessary that he be sworn before the Seniorye with such an oath as shallbe convenient for a minister, as here followeth.   

❧ The manner and form of the oath and promise which the evangelical ministers admit and receive in the city of Geneva, done before the Syndicques and Counsel.  
I Promise and swear that in the ministry to the which I am called, I shall serve faithfully before God: using his word purely to edify this church to the which I am bound, & that I shall not abuse his word to serve my carnal affection, to please any man living, but that I shall use it with a pure conscience to serve to his glory and the profit of his people, to the which I am bound.  
Also I promise and swear to keep the ecclesiastical ordinances which are passed and ordained by the small great, & general Counsels of this City, as is given to me in charge, to admonish them which have failed, to execute my duty lawfully, not giving place to hatred, favour vengeane cor other fleshly desire, & in general to do that which appertaineth to a good and faithful minister.  
Thirdly I swear and promise to keep and maintain the honour and profit of the Seniorye and the City, to endeavour myself with all possybilitye that the people be kept and conserved in good peace and unity, under the government of the signory, and not to consent in any case to any thing against the same, but to follow my said vocation as well in time of adversity as in prosperity, be it peace, war pestilence or other wise.  
Finally I promise and swear to be subject to the policy and Statutes of this city, ministering good example of obedience to all other, yielding myself for my part subject and obedient to the laws and magistrates as much as my office doth bear, that is to say without prejudice to the liberty which we ought to have, and teach according as god commandeth us, and to do all things which appertain to our office. Also I promise in such sort to serve the Seniorye & the people, that I be thereby in no case letted to render unto god the service which I own to him in my vocation.  
Now even as it is required diligently to examine the ministers when they shallbe chosen, so it is necessary to have good policy to hold & keep them in their vocation: for the which first it shallbe expedient that all the ministers gather themselves together one certain day in the week, to conserve and keep the purity & concord of doctrine, to have conference of the Scriptures, and that none exempt themselves without a lawful excuse: if any be negligent, that he be admonnished.  
For those which preach in the villadges pertaining to the signory, it is necessary that the ministers of the city shall exhort them to come as often as may be: and moreover if they be lacking one month together, the same to be esteemed to great a negligence, except it be by sickness or other lawful let.  
And if there happen to spring any difference in doctrine, the ministers shall treat of it together to hear the matter. After, if that need shall require, they shall call the elders or commissioners appointed by the signory to help to appease the contention. finally, if they cannot come to any amiable concord, by the obstinacy of any of the parties, let the cause be referred to the magistrates, to set order therein.  
For the avoiding of slanderous offences of living, it shallbe needful that there be a form of correction upon the ministers as shallbe declared here after, to the which all they without exception shall submit themselves: which shallbe also the means to conserve the ministery in reverence, and that the word of god be not by the evil report of the ministers dishonoured or despised. For as correction is to be done upon him which hath failed, so it shall be needful to reprove the slanders and false reports which may be injustly made against Innocentes.  
But first it is to be noted that there be crimes which utterly be intolerable in a minister, and also there be vices which some what may be borne with all, so that there be given brotherly admonitions.  

The first be.  
Heresy.  
Schism.  
Rebellion against the ecclesiastical order.  
Manifest blasphemy and punishable by civil pain,  
Simony and all corruption of gifts.  
Bribes to ocupie the place of an other.  
To forsake his church without lawful cause and just calling.  
Falsehood.  
Perjury.  
Whoredom.  
Theft.  
Drunkenness.  
Fight worthy to be punished by the laws.  
usury.  
Plays or Games forbidden by the laws and which be offensive.  
Dancing and such disolutenesses.  
Crimes importing evil infamy.  
Crimes which deserve in another to be separated from the church.   

The second.  
Strange manner of handling the scriptures, which may turn to offence.  
Curiosity to search vain questions.  
Setting forth of any doctrine or manner of doing not received in the church.  
Negligence in studing, and principally in reading the holy scriptures.  
Negligence in reproving their neighbour's vices to flatter them.  
Negligence in doing all things belonging to their office.  
Scurrulitye.  
Lying.  
Detraction.  
Dissolute in words,  
Reproachful words.  
Rashness.  
Evil deceits.  
Avarice and to much nygardnes.  
Disordinate angrynesse.  
Chiding and scolding.  
Dissollutnesse unseemly for a minister both in apparel and gesture, and other fashions of living.   
Concerning Crimes they ought in no case to be borne with, if they be civil Crimes, that is to say, if they ought to be punished by the laws. And if any of the ministers do fail, than the Seniorye ought to put to their hands, and over and beside the ordinary punishment with which they be accustomed to punish other offenders, to take him, punish him, & depose him, from his office.  
As touching other crimes of the which the first inquisition pertaineth to the consistory ecclesiastical, let the commissioners or elders with the ministers take heed thereto: and if any be convicted let them make their report to the counsel with their advise and judgement, so that the last judgement for the correction be always reserved to the signory.  
As concerning the offences which ought to be corrected by simple admonitions, let them therein proceed according to the order of our saviour christ, so that the cause may be ended in the ecclesiastical judgement.  
To maintain this discipline in his estate, every three months let the ministers specially enquiere if there be any thing to be talked of among themselves, and remedy it according to reason.   

❧ Of the number▪ place and, time of the Sermons.  
Upon the Sundays there shallbe morning sermons at the churches of saint Peter and S. Gerueis, also at the hour accustomed, sermons through all the perishes.  
At noon the catechism, that is to say instructions for the small children, in three churches, and at three of the clock likewise Sermons in all the churches.  
Upon the week days over and beside a sermon in every perish, also there shallbe sermons at the head churches monday, Wedinsdaye, and friday at four of the clock in the morning. so that the sermon may be ended a good space before the ordinary sermon be begun.  
If there be made any extraordinary prayer in time of necessity, that the order for the sunday be observed.  
To bear these and other burdens of the ministery, it shallbe needful to have v. ministers and three conductors which shall also be ministers, to aid and help according as need shall require.   

❧ Here followeth the second order which we call doctors.  
THe proper office of doctors is to teach the faithful with sound doctrine, to the end that the purity of the gospel be not corrupted by ignorance or wicked opinions: nevertheless according as things be disposed in these days, we do comprehend them under this title, to be aids and Instruments to conserve the doctrine of god, so that the church be not desolate for fault of pastors and ministers, but to use a word more intelligible, we shall call them the order of scholars.  
The next degree unto the ministers and next conjoined to the government of the church, is reading of divinity: which reading shallbe out of the new or old testament.  
But because they cannot profit in such lessons except they be first instructed in the tongues and human sciences, also it is needful to raise up seed for the time to come, to the end that the church be not left destitute to our children, therefore it is needful to erect A college to instruct children, to prepare them aswell to the ministry as to civil government.  
For the first there must be a place assigned aswell for the lectures as for the teaching of children and others which will profit in learning, also to have a man learned and expert for to dispose aswell the house as the lectours, which can himself teach & instruct others: and that there be under his charge readers as well in tongues as in Logic if it may be: also for bachelars to teach young children, the which we will and ordain to be done: and that all those which be there shall be subjects to the ecclesiastical discipline, as well as the ministers.  
That there be no other school in the town for children, but we will that there be a school a part for maiden children, as hath been accustomed.  
That none shallbe received into this office except he be approved by the ministers, and first let him be known to the Seniors, and then again be presented to the counsel with his witnesses, for fear of inconveniences. And always examinations ought to be made before two of the Seniors.   

Here followeth the third order, which be elders otherwise called commissioners or deputes for the Seniors in the consistory.  
THeir office is to take heed and to watch of the demeanour and behaviour of all and every of the people, to admonish lovingly those which they see fall or lead a dissolute life, or if it be needful to make the report, or to do brotherly correction, and that shallbe commonly done by the company that shallbe thereto appointed.  
For the disposition and government of this church, it shallbe good to choose two of the small council, four of the council of the three score, and two of the council of the two hundred men of honesty and of good life, without reproof, and void of all suspection, and above all having the fear of god, learning, and spiritual wisdom: and so they ought always to be chosen that there be of them in every quarter of the town, that their eyes may be over all that is ordained or done.  
Likewise we have determined that the manner of the election be on this wise: that the small council shall deliberate to name the most meet that can be found, and the most sufficient, and so to do, it is necessary to call the ministers to communicate with them, and after to present them which they have named to the council of the two hundred: which approving them if they be found worthy, a particular oath to be made in form following.   

The form of the oath.  
I Promise and swear following the charge that is given to me, to hinder all Idolatries, blasphemies, dissolutions and other things against the honour of god and the reformation of the gospel, and to admonish those to whom it appertaineth as occasion shallbe given me.  
Item, when I shall know any things worthy to be brought before the consistory, that I shall do my duty faithfully without favour or hate, only to that end that the town be maintained in good order and in the fear of god.  
Item as touching all things concerning the office to be discharged with a good conscience, to observe the ordinances which be decreed by the small, great, and general council of Geneva.  
IN the end of the year after they have chosen the council, these men shall be presented to the signory to know if they be worthy to continue in their office or to be changed for as much as it is not expedient that they be changed without a cause.   

❧ The fourth order of the ecclesiastical government called deacons.  
THere hath been always two sundry kinds or sorts of officers in the ancient church, the one were deputes to receive, to deliver, and conserve the goods of the poor, as well daily Almeses, as possessions Stipends, and pensions.  
The other to feed and oversee the sick, and to minister the portion of the poor. The which custom we do observe yet to this present, for we have procurators and masters of the hospital: and to avoid confusion, one of the procurators of the hospital shallbe receiver of all the goods of the same, the which shall have sufficient wages the better to execute his office.  
Also the number of the four procurators shall continue as hath been said. Whereof one to have the charge to the end that the provisions may be the better made in time convenient.  
Also that those which do show any charity upon the poor, be the more ascertained that the goods shallbe no otherwise employed but according to their intention: and if the revenues or gifts be not sufficient and that there happen any extraordinary necessity, than the signory shall determine to furnish according as necessity shall require.  
Concerning the election of the procurators and masters of hospitals, it shallbe like the order of the elders or commissioners in the consistory: and in choosing them to follow the rule of Saint Paul touching deacons in the first to Tymothie the third chapter, & to Titus the first chapter.  
Touching the office and authority of procurators, we shall keep the articles which be all ready by us ordained but specially in things urgent & where there shallbe danger to differre the time, but when there is no great difficulty nor matters of great charge, that then they be not constrained to assemble daily, but that one or two may ordain in the absence of the other that which shallbe reasonable.  
Item it shallbe necessary to take diligent heed that the common hospital be well preserved and meet to receive the sick, also for aged persons which cannot work, men or women, for widows, children, orf●lyns, and the poor, always the sick to be kept and separated a part in a several lodging from the other.  
Item the alms for the poor which be distributed throughout the town, shallbe brought to the hospital according as the procurators shall determine.  
Item that besides the hospital it is necessary that strangers and way faring men be relieved, and holpen: & that there be an hospital apart for them as shallbe convenient, and according to the especially order and rule of charity, and therefore we ordain & determine that there shallbe chambers appointed to receive such as shallbe directed thither by the procurators, and that such shallbe received accordingly.  
Item above all this it be remembered, that the families of the hospitallours be honestly governed according to the rule of god's word, considering that they have the governance of the house of god.  
Also that the ministers and the commissioners or elders with one of the Sendiques shall of their part be diligent to inquire if in the aforesaid administration for the poor, there be any lack or necessity, to the end to desire and admonish the signory to set order, & so to do that every three months some of their companion's with the procurators shall make visitation in the hospital to know if all things be well ruled.  
It is necessary both for the poor of the hospital and other of the town which have not wherewith to help themselves, that there be a Phisision and a surgeon meet for the same, maintained by the wages of the town, yet nevertheless they may practise through the town, and notwithstanding to be bound to have care over the hospital, and to viset other that have need.  
Concerning the pestilence in the hospital, the such be separated a part, and principally if it happen that the town be scourged of god by any such rod. Moreover to eschew begging in the town which is contrary to all good policy, it is necessary and also we do ordain that the Seniori shall appoint certain of their officers at their coming out of the churches from the sermons, to take away and avoid from the place before the same churches, those that be loyterors or those that be dissemblers & obstinate beggars, and that they be brought before one of the lords Sendiques, and likewise at all other times that the dysenars be diligent and take heed the this law for beggars be well observed and kept. 
They use but one surety be it man or woman child be side the father being present.    

❧ Of sacraments.  
THat baptism be not ministered but incontinent after the sermon and only ministered by the ministers or coadiutours: and that they do register the names of the children with their parents: and if their be found any bastard, the justice to be advertised thereof, and therein to proceed according to reason.  
Item that no stranger be received as godfather, but those that be faithful people and of ●ure communion, considering that others be not meet to make promise unto the church to instruct the infants as it is required.   

Of the supper.  
FOr as much as the supper hath been instituted by our Saviour jesus Christ to be frequented and used and also it hath been observed in the primative christian church, until such time as the devil turned all upside down, setting up the Mass in stead thereof which fault ought to be corrected, and also the rare celebrating thereof we have determined and ordained that it shallbe ministered four times in the year that is to say. At Christmas, Easter, Penticoste, and the first sunday in the month of September.  
Item that the ministers distribute the bread in good order with reverence and that none other give the cup but only the Commissioners or Deacons with the ministers: and for this cause that there be no great number of cups and vessels.  
Item that the table be near unto the pulpytt, to the end that the minister may more commodiously and plainly declare the use thereof near unto the table.  
Item that it be not celebrated but in the church, except it be in great necessity.  
Item that the sunday before the celebration of the said supper, there be declaration made, to the end that no child come before he have made profession of his faith, according as shallbe declared in the Catechism, and also to exhort all strangers & new comers, to come first and present themselves unto the church, to be instructed if need shallbe, and consequently that none approcheto his condemnation. 
the banes must be pronounced 〈◊〉 sundays solemnly.    

❧ Of Marriage.  
AFter the declaration of the banes accustomed, the Marriages to be made when the party shall require it, as well on the sunday as working days, so that it be done at the beginning of the sermon.  
And as concerning the abstinence of the same, it shallbe good that only upon the day of the celebration of the supper, they abstain for the honour of the same sacrament.  
Item it shallbe good to bring in and use ecclesiastical songs or psalms, the better to stir the people unto prayer and praise god.  
Item first they shall teach their little children, and so in the process of time all the church may follow.  
Touching debate in causes matrimonialls, for that it is not only a spiritual cause, but meddled with the civil order, the same to remain to the signory: nevertheless we are determined to leave to the consistory the charge to hear the parties, and so to make report of their advise unto the counsel, therein to give judgement, so that good ordinances may be from henceforth made and followed accordingly.   

Of burying.  
ITem that they do bury honestly the dead in the place appointed. And as concerning the train or company, we leave it to the discretion of every one.  
Item we have moreover ordained and determined that the porters appointed to bury, eshalbe sworn unto the Seniorye to put away all superstitions that are contrary to the word of god, & not bear them by night, and also if any be dead suddenly, to make report thereof, to the end to avoid all inconueniencyes which may follow thereof.  
Item that after their death not to bear them to their burying before twelve hours, nor to keep them above four and twenty hours.   

Of the visitation of the sick.  
BEcause that many be negligent to comfort themselves in god by his word when they be in extremity of sickness, whereof it happeneth often times that many die without admonition or doctrine, the which at that time is most needful of all times, for this cause we have ordained and determined that none shall tarry three days in their bed or sick, but that it be made known to the ministers, and that every one shallbe advertised to call the ministers, whensoever they will have them at a convenient hover, they not to with draw themselves from their office in the which they serve in common to the church: and to put away all excuses, we have determined that the same shallbe published, & moreover to be given commandment by proclamation that the parents' friends and keepers shall not tarry until the person be ready to yield up the spirit, for in such extremity the consolation serveth to small purpose for the most part.   

The order which ought to be kept for little children.  
THat all citizens and inhabitants shall bring or send their children on the sunday at twelve of the clock, to the catechism, which hath been spoken of here before.  
Item there shallbe a certain form or manner composed in the which they shallbe instructed, and they shallbe demanded and opposed in the same doctrine which they have before learned, to see if they have well understanded and kept it.  
When a child shallbe sufficiently instructed and have passed his catechism, than he shall recite solemnly the sum of that which is therein contained, and also shall make as it wear a confession of his christianity in the presence of the church.  
Item before this be done, that no child be suffered to receive the supper of the lord, and that the parents be advertised not to bring them before that time: for it is a thing most perilous as well for the children as the parents, to enter into it without good and sufficient instruction, for that which it is necessari to use this order.  
To the end that there be no default, it is ordained that the children which go to school shall come together before none, & that the masters do bring them in good order in every parish.  
The others, that their parents do bring or send them.  
And to the end to avoid all confusion, they shall observe as much as may be, the distinction of the parishes in the case as hath been said before of the sacraments.  
Item that those which shallbe by force constrained to come, shallbe called before the Seniors, elders, or commissioners, and if they will not be persuaded by good counsel, the report shallbe made to the Seniorye. Also to take heed to such whether they do their duty or not, and that the commissioners have an eye unto them to take order accordingly.   

Of the visitation of the prisoners.  
Moreover we have ordained a certain day in the week, in the which shallbe made certain consolations to the prisoners, for to admonish and exhort them: & that there be one of the Seniors of the counsel deputed to be there assistant, to the end there be no fraud committed, and if there be any appointed to die by the determination of the counsel, it shallbe necessary to call some certain minister to comfort the person, as need shall require, for when they tarry until such time as they lead them to the death, they be often times so occupied with horror, that they be not apt to receive or understand any consolation, and this day is ordained the saturday after dinner.   

❧ Of the order which ought to be kept towards the grown persons for to observe good order in the church.  
THe commissioners aforesaid shall gather themselves together once a week with the ministers, which shallbe on the thursday, to see if there be any disorder in the church, and to talk together for the remedy thereof when & how as shallbe most convenient.  
Because they have no authority or jurisdiction to compel or to constrain any, we have advised to give them one of our officers to call any of those persons before them unto whom they will give admonition. If any by contempt refuse to appear, their office shallbe to advertise the counsel thereof, to the end to give order therein.   

❧ Here followeth the persons whom the elders or commissioners ought to admonish, and how they ought to proceed.  
IF there be any which teacheth strange or false opinions against the doctrine received, that he be called to confer with them. And if he be conformable they shall suffer him to depart without defame or slander, & if he be obstinate, yet they shall admonish him certain times until they see that greater severiite be needful: and then to forbid him the communion letting it be known to the magistrate.  
If any be negligent in coming to church, so that there be perceived in him a notable contempt of the communion of the faithful, or if any show himself a contemner of the order ecclesiastical, that they admonish him. And if he render himself obedient, that they send him away gently. But if he do persever from evil to worse, after they have advertised him three times, that then they shall separate him from the church and declare him to the Seniorye.  
As concerning the lives & the correction of their faults which shall happen, it is necessary to proceed according to the order which Christ commanded.  
That is to say for secret faults they shall reprove secretly. Also that none bring his neighbour before the church for to accuse him of any fault the which is not notorious or slanderous, except he find him stubborn and contempteouse.  
Moreover those that be contemners of particular admonytyons of their neighbours, shallbe warned by the church, and if they will in no ways come to reformation nor acknowledge their fault when they shallbe convinced, that then they command them to abstain from the communion until the time they be better disposed.  
As concerning notorious and public offences, the church may in no case wink at them or pass them over, but if they be faults which deserve only admonition, the office of the commissioners or elders shallbe to call them before them which be culpable, exhorting them amiably that they may amend: and if they see amendment, no further to molest them, but if they persever further in their evil, again to be admonished: & at length if they profit not, then to denounce them as contemners of god, and so to abstain from the communion until they see in them a change of life.  
As concerning crimes which deserve not only declaration and advertisement by words but correction with chastisement: if any be faulen, according as the case shall require, they shall denounce that he abstain from the communion for a certain time, humbling himself before god, & better to know his fault.  
If any by contumacy or rebellion will presume or press in contrary to that is commanded, and for bidden him, the office of the minister shallbe to put him back, for it is not lawful to receive such a one to the communion: and nevertheless that it be so moderated that there appear no rigour, by the which any person should be grieved or offended, namely such corrections be but medicines to bring the sinners unto god.  
Item that all this be done in such sort that the ministers take not upon them any Civil jurisdiction, and that this consistory be in no case any derogation to the authority of the signory, nor to ordinary justice: but that the Civil power continue in his full efficacy, and namely where it shallbe need of punishment or compulsion of the parties, but the ministers with the consistory having heard the parties and declared with such admonitions, as shallbe needful, then to judge therein according to the weightiness of the case.  
Item that this policy be not only for the town, but also for the villages pertaining to the signory.   

❧ Order for the visitation of the ministers and parishes pertaining to Geneva  
first of all to conserve unity & good policy especially in doctrine through the whole body of the church of Geneva, aswell in the town as the villages belonging thereto, the magistrates shall choose two of the council, and likewise the ministers shall choose two of the congregation, which shall have the charge to go and inquire in every parish once in the year if the minister have set forth any new doctrine repugnant to the purity of the gospel.  
secondly they shall inquire if the minister hath preached to edification, or if he use any slanderous manner of living, if he be not able to teach the people, or if he be obscure, or use superfluous questions, or be over rigorous in life and doctrine.  
Thirdly to exhort the people to haunt the sermons diligently, to hear them, and do there after, and live christianly also to declare what is the office of a minister, that he may be instructed the better to serve.  
Fourthly to know if the minister be diligent both to preach and visit the sick, and to minister particularly to those which have need, and to stay that nothing be done contrary to god's glory: also if he lead an honest life showing it by his good example, if he use any dyssolutnesse or lightness either in himself or in his household, if he be disdainful or agree well with his parishioners.   

¶ The manner of the visitation.  
THat the minister being appointed to this office after he hath preached and admonished the people as is aforesaid, shall inquire of the wards and procurators of the parish both concerning the doctrine, and life of the minister, and likewise concerning his diligence and manner of teaching, desiring them in the name of god not to suffer nor dissemble any thing which may hinder the honour of god, the advancement of his word, or the wealth of the commons.  
Item according as he hath found, that he make report to the congregation, to the end that if there be any fault which deserveth no greater correction then by words, he shallbe admonished according to the custom.  
Item if he have offended more grievously than aught to be suffered, let them proceed according to the form of the articles afore mensioned, that is to say, the foresaid four deputes shall make the report unto the signory, therein to proceed according to reason.  
Item visitation shall not import any determination of causes or kind of jurisdiction, but shallbe only a remedy to avoid all offences. And above all, the ministers shall not serve from their duty nor be corrupted.  
Item this shall in no case be any let to the course of Civil justice, nor to exempt the ministers from the common subjection: but that they answer in civil causes as others do before the ordinary justice. And also for crimes not to spare them but to punish them when they have offended and in sum, that their state may continue as it is at this present.  
This hath been the order in the primitive church in the time of the Apostles, and at this day is observed in the churches well reform, according to the pure doctrine of the gospel.   

❧ Ordinances concerning election of offices and officers, and first of the election of the lords Sendicques.  
EVery year the tewsdaye before the sunday after candlemas day, the counsel shallbe holden expressly to choose the Sendicques: and before they begin, the first Sendicque shall make some good exhortation, exhorting them to choose men of good conscience, regarding the honour of god, loving equetie and truth, and the profit of the town, men of a good life & good name.  
Moreover they shall make their prayers unto god, 
They begin with prayer in all their election & counsels.  and after that every counsellor shallbe sworn to choose those which they shall think to be most meet & sufficient in form following.   

¶ The oath of the small counsel.  
WE promise and swear before god between the hands of the Seniory, to choose and name into the office of Sendiques, those which we know to be meet and sufficient, for the maintenance of the honour of god and the christian religion, in this town to guide & govern the people in good order and policy, to conserve the liberties of the town, and in choosing them we shall have our respect to the public wealth, and not to particular affections, neither for favour nor hate, as god is our witness of this promise, and shallbe judge therein if we do the contrary.  
After that done, every one by order shall name four citizens before the Sendiques, and the Secretaires shallbe there present to write those that shallbe named.  
The friday following they shall hold the counsel of the two hundred, and after exhortation & prayer made, the form of their oath shallbe recited all presently holding up their hands.  
Also they shall declare eight of those which have been named in the election of the small counsel, that is to say those which had the most voices, and upon the same let them make the election of eight, or of the number which have been proposed, or of other if it shall seem good, nameli that they be all citizens, in such manner that the election of the small counsel, be as an advertisement without prejudice to the liberty of the two hundred.  
The sunday following the general counsel shallbe assembled, & there they shall pronounce unto the people the election made by the two hundred so that out of eight which shallbe presented to the people, they shall choose four, if so be that they shall like them: but always when it shall seem good unto them they shall have liberty to refuse as well all as any party.  
And if it happen that out of that present number their shall not be found four whom the people shall like, that is to say by the most voices, that then they proceed to a new election, for the number which hath been refused: first by the small counsel, and afterward by the two hundred, so that none be received but such as shallbe approved by the people.  
Item this order shallbe observed to take two to the lower part of the town and two of the upper.  
This election made and confirmed by the people, the four new elected shall come into the town house to make their oath between the hands of the four ancients, & so be put in possession of their office.   

¶ The form of their oath.  
WE promise and swear to acquit us faithfully in the duty of our office, and first to maintain and defend as much as in us lieth the liberties and rights of the town, well and truly to minister the which we shall have in our hands, to execute good and right justice, rendering to every man that which shall appertain to him, sustaining the good and punyshinge the evil, without favour or hate, moreover we promise to do and observe that which is contained in the office of the counsellors, god bearing us witness in all the same to punnyshe us if we do the contrary.  
touching the place for to know who shallbe the first or second, if those which they chose have been before in the office, let them see who hath been the first, and let him go before the other, and so every one consequently and after his order.  
If they have taken any which have not been before in office, then to see how they were in the counsel before the other, and according to their ancienty they shallbe placed: by the counsel, we understand as well the threasorers and secretaries as counsellors, and he which hath ended his year shall not be chosen until he have rested three year.  
If it happen that any of the Sendicques die during his office, and that there rest yet four month of his time, let there be another chosen as soon as may be: but if the time be shorter, to let the year pass without substituting of any other.   

¶ The election of the petty or small counsel.  
THe monday following, the four new elected Sendiques with the old, and the treasurer, shall assemble together with the two hundred, and after they have made exhortation and prayer, and the oath, they shall recite the roll of the year past: and whom they will have to continue in their office: the other to be put of. Nevertheless the four ancient Sendiques shall continue without controversy, except they have committed faults worthy of reprehension in the time of their government.  
If that any be put of by the most voices, there shallbe no other put in their places suddenly, but the small counsel which shallbe chosen, shall name in number double, that is to say two for one, to take which shall seem good to them, or to choose by their judgement, as hath been said of the Sendicques.  
If it happen that any counsellor die, there shall none succeed him in place until the next year, except it be by pestilence, or by other inconveniences, that the number be so sore diminished that the counsel shallbe unfurnished.  
The election done, all shall come and make their oath before they set down, principally the new elected as the other hath done before.   

¶ The form of their oath.  
WE promise and swear faithfully to apply and to do all that pertaineth to our office, and first of all to do our diligence to conserve and maintain the wealth honour and profit of the town, and to come together as often and as many times as need shallbe, to give good and faithful counsel touching that which shallbe required of us.  
Item to advertise those to whom it shall aperteine, of all that we shall think to be to the profit of the town.  
Item to keep secret all that which hath been said and determined in the counsel, except it be a public matter which ought to be published.  
Item in no case to be preiudiciouse unto the honour or profit of the town for favour, or amity, or hate, or any other carnal consideration, whatsoever it be.  
Item not to be moved with bribes or any such practise whatsoever it be, from justice, or rightly to do our duty, but contrarily to break & let with all our power such enterprises.  
Item not to take presents or bribes for favour of any, in that which concerneth our office, nor in general, all that may be presented unto us in the respect of our estate, for to make us decline from the fidelity which we own to the town, & the right which we be bound to render to all.  
Item in all causes that which we shallbe required of, to pronounce with all right & equity that which shall seem good unto us, without fraud or hate to any of the parties, & above all to procure that the christian religion be puerlye observed, and god honoured & served as well in the town as in the teritoris of the same, god being witness unto us in all these promises to be judge therein if we do the contrary.  
Touching the appointment of all their places, the four ancient Sendicques shallbe the first, and so orderly the other according to the time that they have been counsellors, or in higher offices.   

The election of the Treasurer.  
ITem from three year, to three year, he shallbe chosen with the Sendicques in like order and fashion, moreover when he shallbe chosen that he make like oath with the counsellors, adjoining thereto this promise: to minister faithfully to the profit of the town, the common money which shallbe delivered into his hands, and in general to procure for the common wealth as his own proper, as well in recovering as in keeping and distributing.   

¶ The election of the Secretaries.  
ITem their shallbe two Secreataries the one superior & the other inferior, whose office shallbe for no prefixed term, but every year when the Sendicques shallbe elected, the counsel shall consider if it be good that they continue in their office. And if it shall seem good unto them upon good consideration, to put them of, that then they place other in their stead, referring it always to the judgement of the two hundred, the which may do as seemeth good unto them: & that there be overseeing or surveying every year over this office, to make election when need shall require.   

The form of their oath.  
WE promise and swear to put in writing faithfully and diligently all that shallbe needful as our office shall require, and also to travail that by our default or negligence there come no damage neither to the town nor to the people.  
Item not to reveal any of the Seacreates of the counsel, nor declare them to any person except it be by the ordinary commandment of the counsel.  
Item to make expedition in all that shallbe committed to our charge, as well for the town as for private parties, and in general to observe with a good conscience all that appertaineth to the duty of our offices.   

¶ Of the counsel of the two hundred.  
ITem the small counsel shall the next day after the election, peruse the roll of the year past, to the end to choose the counsel of three score and consequently the two hundred, continuing those which they shall think to be meet, putting of those which shall seem good to be put of, placing other in their stead, to fulfil the number: moreover to command to swear or renew their oath, the form thereof shallbe the same which they of the small council do make.   

¶ For the auditors of the accounts.  
ITem that every year the petty counsel shall choose four, whereof one shallbe one of the Sendicques for to continue (if it shall seem good unto them) of those which were the year before, or others: & that done they shall make their report to the counsel of the two hundred, the which have such liberty to ratify them or put them of as hath been said.   

¶ The form of their oath.  
WE promise and swear to do in our office that which appertaineth to good and faithful procurers of the public wealth, and to have such care thereof as of our own proper family.  
And principally in hearing the accounts which shallbe made unto us, neither to over pass nor allow any thing, but that which seemeth unto us just and reasonable.  
Item to conserve and keep all the rights and privileges of the town well and faithfully▪ bringing all into good order as shallbe needful.  
Item if their be any thing amiss or out of the way, to make good and diligent inquisision to bring again and recover it.  
Item that all which shallbe pertaining to the town be it rend, priest, fines, confiscation, or other things whatsoever they be, to make good & diligent inquisition and pursuit without respect of person.  
Finally to do our diligence that nothing perish or be alienated in manner of wise by our fault negligence or dissimulation.   

❧ For the Controller, the master of the money, the keeper of the town house called the Saoulter and the master of the ordinance.  
Item that every three year after the counsel is chosen, the petty counsel shall choose these officers always upon this condition y● the election shallbe referred to the two hundred, to be ratified by them: and if they do not approve them, the petty counsel shall choose new, nevertheless the old may continue if they shall see it good.  
Touching the form of their oath it shallbe sufficient that it be general, to procure the wealth and honour of the town as much as lieth in their power, and with all pain and diligence without fraud or guile to exercise their office, as well towards every particular man as the whole public state.   

❧ For the procurer general.  
ITem that this shallbe a yearly office for as much as it shallbe lawful to continue him which hath served if it shall seem good, & namely it shallbe most expedient if he be a man meet and one that serveth in his office diligently, moreover the manner of his election shallbe like unto the last above said.  
Item being chosen he shallbe sworn between the hands of the Seniorye as followeth.   

❧ The form of his oath.  
I Promise and swear to maintain and defend with all my power the honour and profit of the commons, & diligently to watch for the conservation of the rights of the city, as if they were mine own proper: and to pursue those to whom it shall appertain, & likewise to recover without supporting y● one or greving that other.  
Item to have an eye that no particular person do encroach upon the commonalty, & if any happen so do do, to reveal him or pursue him according as mine office importeth.  
Item to make no bargain covenant or agreement in any wise for to dyminyshe the profit of the town, nor to receive presents nor bribes, for to dissemble, nor to hold my peace when my duty shallbe to speak.   

❧ For the captain general  
THis shallbe an office perpetual, yet nevertheless there shallbe a diligent view had every three year, to provide for the town a new, if he which is therein be faulen into age, or long sickness, or other wise occupied that he cannot tend to his office: and the election to be by the counsel and also approved by the two hundred as is afore said.   

¶ For the particular captains.  
THis shallbe an office for term of life, and in every quarter of the town he shall choose his particular captain in the presence of the captain general, and two of the counsel deputed for the same, and after the election shallbe reported to the counsel, which shall have authority is ratify him.   

¶ For the banderettes.  
ITem the banderettes general shallbe elected as the captain and in such sort. Touching the other banderettes they shallbe chosen as the particular captains, except in stead of two counsellors it shallbe sufficient that the captain of the quarter be there with their dizoners.   

¶ Of their lieutenants.  
EVery one may choose him his lieutenant so that it be by the consent of all their bands in general, except in the time of danger this shall not be done without the knowledge and express permission of the counsel.   

¶ Of the dizeners.  
ITem the petty counsel hath full power to choose them, and to continue them so long as they do their duty, or other wise to dispose them.  
All shallbe sworn between the hands of the Sendicques in this form, and to renew it in time of necessity.   

¶ The form of the oath.  
I Promise & swear to endeavour myself faithfully for the defence of the town, & in no case to forsake it in the time of necessity.  
Item to be continually ready and priest to bear arms against the enemies, whensoever I shallbe appointed by my superiors.  
Item to maintain and keep peace and tranquillity among the burge●es and habitantes of the town: and to stay and let with all my power all sedition, strife, fight, or chiding.  
Item to make no evil conspiracy or enterprise, but the contrary, resisting all those which do it, and to reveal them to my superiors.  
Item to stoup all dissolutions and outrages, and in general all which shallbe contrary to the order and policy of the town.   

❧ For the geolyer or soldan.  
THis office shallbe for no certain time, nevertheless it shallbe overseen and viewed every three year, to see if he do well his duty: the election shallbe by the counsel, the confirmation by the two hundred, as is aforesaid.   

¶ The form of the oath which they use shallbe thus.  
I Promise and swear to keep faithfully all that which shallbe committed to me, and to render account thereof without fraud.  
Item to keep every prisoner committed to my charge chained or at large, as shallbe commanded me.  
Item in such cases as shallbe forbidden and not permitted that any do speak with a prisoner, I shall take such diligent heed that none come at them to talk with them.  
Item not to permit the prisoners to use any bancketts, outrages, playing, dissollutnesse, gaming, or such other unmeet things.  
Item not to exact or take above the which shallbe due according to the tax.   

¶ For the Saoultier.  
THis shallbe an office perpetual, 
he holdeth the bible open before the judges at the time of judgement.  if he which be once chosen do truly discharge his office, nevertheless he shallbe oversen every three year, to see if he be meet or convenient to continue or be deposed.  
Item this election shallbe made by the petty counsel, and confirmed by the two hundred.   

¶ For the heroldes.  
THis shallbe an office likewise perpetual as of the Saoultier, the one shallbe a horse man, the other a foot man, the election shallbe as is aforesaid.   

¶ The waiters or officers for the counsel, and the lieutenant.  
THis shallbe an office perpetual except there happen any notable fault, also the petty counsel have full power to make them or depose them if need shallbe.  
The number of the officers for the City shallbe fourteen, and for the lieutenant tower.  
Touching their oath it shallbe sufficient beside the oath of common burgesses, they shall promise to be diligent assisting at all times, ready to wait upon the commandment of the Sendicques and counsel, serving them in their office.  
Item to come incontinent when they shallbe commanded, to execute all that shallbe given them in charge.  
Item to bear themselves faithfully in all that appertaineth to their office without fault or delay, and to keep secret all that shallbe done and spoken in the counsel, and diligently to watch and keep well the town house, and all that is therein.  
Item to make faithful report of all messages or visitations which shall be committed to them.   

¶ The guards of the towers and the porters.  
ITem this office shallbe perpetual so long as they shall do their duty, the counsel shall over see them, and in their power to continue or dispose them.  
Item it shall not be needful to set any especial form of oath, for it requireth not but fidelity and diligence to keep the place, in the which they be constituted, which may be briefly done by words.   

¶ For the notaires.  
THe power to make them or depose them, shallbe in the petty counsel, nevertheless none shallbe received without the report and witness of the notaires of the town, concerning their sufficiency, wisdom, and learning.   

¶ The form of their oath.  
I Promise and swear to receive no act nor Instrument which shallbe to the dishonour or damage of the town, or against the policy of the same.  
Item to couch faithfully and set down by writing all such acts & Instruments as I shallbe required, without adding or diminishing to the purity thereof.  
Item to deliver to every one all such rights as appertain to him, & shallbe in my hands.  
Item not to Conceal or keep back any instrument to the prejudice of the one or favour of the other, and also not to deliver into the hands of the party contrary, any documents to defraud him which I ought to help: but to conserve and keep faithfully all acts which shallbe committed to my charge.  
Item to make expedition to all men of that which may serve them according to equity and reason.  
The counsel have full power to ordain all these offices, to constitute & set in those which they will.  
Now it is to be noted that to exercise these offices aforesaid, from the petty counsel unto the Sendicques, and so down ward unto the Saoultier, it is required that he be a cittezen.  
Item to be the lieutenant or one of the assistance.  
Item for all the Captains & banderettes general.  
Item the controuler, Auditor of the counsel, master of the money, procurer general master of thartillery, & geoler, it shallbe required that he be a citizen: for the rest it is sufficient if he be a Burges.  
As concerning that which hath been said of term and space of time, it is to be understand in this sort, that if it happen any fault worthy to be punished by deposition it shall always be lawful to depose the offender as he hath deserved.  
Moreover the burgesses or citizens which shall refuse to take the dignity of office or estate unto the which he shallbe called or ordained by the signory, and will in no case condissende and agree to take it, that he shall then be set to pay xxv Crowns for fine for his contumacy, and constrained to absent the town for a year except he have a lawful excuse well known to the counsel.   

¶ The office charge and power of the lords Sendicques.  
THe four Sendicques shallbe continually resident in the town, during the year of their Sendicate, not so much as any of them to depart out of the town, to lodge out of the town, not for one night, except he let it be known to the others: & that none of them do enterprise any far journey, to be six or eight days absent, without the leave of the counsel.  
Item that every day they shall gather themselves together after dinner, that is to say at one of the clock, to consult upon that which shallbe to do, and to put order their in, and also to put those things in execution which hath been concluded by the counsel.  
Item upon the ordinary days that the counsel is holden, the Sendicques shallbe the first in the town house▪ as well to show good enspanle unto other as to deliberate together of those things which they will do.  
Item if any thing happen which requireth the assembly of the counsel, they shall gather themselves together to do those things which shallbe needful.  
Item in things which shall require their presence in divers places at one time, they shall divide themselves in such sort as each of them may be where it shallbe expedient.  
Item if it happen any public noise as fire, tumult, or other like, that the first Sendicque shall come incontinent into the town house, and shall continued there, waiting for the news which shallbe brought him, to the end to assemble the counsel from hour to hour if need shallbe, or otherwise to dispose according as necessity shall require: and that the other three shall run hastily unto the place where the danger shallbe, and moreover having seen the thing, two shall dissever, one on the one side of the town and the other on the other side, to visit and keep the streets, corners and the gates if need shallbe, and the third shall continue upon the danger, until it shallbe appeased, or otherwise.   

¶ The office of the first and chief Sendicques.  
THat every day when there shallbe no counsel, he shall come into the town house that is to say at the coming from the sermon, to see if there rest any conclusion of the counsel to execute, or hear those plaintiffs which shall come.  
Item that he receive the letters that shallbe addressed to the counsel, but he shall not open them but in the presence of one of his fellows, or at the lest two counsellors: but if it be a matter of hast he shall call his other companions to consult at the hour, or otherwise to tarry until they shallbe assembled: and generally that in all matters which are worthy to have consultation at the hour he shall assemble his compagnyons.  
Item on the days of the counsel incontinent after the sermon, he shallbe in the town house to hear those which shall require audience.  
Item at his coming forth he shall make answer upon those things that be heard, and that the same day he shall provide to put in execution that which hath been ordained, if they be things which may be executed so readily.  
Item that he shall sign the marriages before they be pronounced in the church, enquiring diligently if the marriage may be made according to the ordinances of god.  
Item that he shall have the town seal in his hands, & the charge for to seal.  
Item he shallbe precedent over the second appellations or supreme.   

¶ The office of the three other Sendicques.  
ITem the one shall set in the consistory, the other in the chamber of accounts, and the third over the first appellations.  
Item there shallbe one deputed or appointed to vilet the prisoners once a week, and this charge shallbe given him in the beginning of the year by the advise of the counsel.   

¶ What some of them may do.  
ITem two may sign the commandments ordinary, to make paiementes for the charges passed by the counsel.  
Item to open the letters that be addressed to the counsel as is said.   

¶ That which one alone may do.  
ITem that whatsoever complaint shall come, each one of the Sendicques hath full power to command those to whom it apperteneth to be examined, and to examine them, and to imprison them if need shallbe.  
Item that all dissolutions, arrogansye, insolences, drunkenness, and such other like, every one hath power to imprison such, and after make report to the counsel, but he hath no power to deliver the prisoner before he hath made report.   

¶ Of matters criminals.  
IF they take a Criminal or a malifactour, that within xxiiii. hours they shall command the lieutenant to make him answer upon those points of the which he shallbe accused.  
Afterward he shallbe committed to the lieutenant, if the case be that the matter may be easily proved, or namely if he be already proved, and that there be no difficulty, as of murder, theft, or such like, that incontinent they shall do justice, and at the most they shall not keep him above x. days.  
Item if it be a matter dyffycill to prove as concerning the act, or that it require consultation concerning the sentence, that then a competent term shallbe given unto the lieutenant to bring forth his witnesses, according to the place where they be: nevertheless he shall not have above one month to do it at the most, although he seek his witness in other places.  
Item if they be in the town or within two leagues, he shall have but fifteen days.  
Item if the criminal or malefactor demand to be admitted to his justification, that the counsel shall have respect if it be convenient & according to reason or not.  
Item if the counsel shall perceive that he aught to be admitted, they shall give him respite for xxx days.  
Item the proof known and the examinations & defences heard, in case that they he admitted, the Sendicques ought to order the matter so that the prisoner have sentence within xii days, at the farthest, albeit that the matter require consultation, otherwise that they do it the first day.  
Item the Sendicques shallbe judges of all criminal causes being accompanied with the counsel, and each of the four in his order shall pronounce the sentences, nevertheless if there be many sentences to be given in one sitting, there shallbe but one to pronounce it, but if there be one or more absent, that those which be the first set after them in counsel that they take the place with the staff, e but yet they shall not pronounce the sentence.   

❧ The office, charge, and duty, of the counsel.  
ITem that three days in the week that is to say Monday Tuesday and Friday, e they shall come together at the sound of the bell without any other calling: moreover if it shall happen any extraordynarye matters, that they shall appear at the hour assigned by the commandment of the Sendicques, by night or by day.  
Item in the ordinary days from Easter, to Michaelmas, they shall assemble at seven of the clock. And from Michaelmas to Easter at eight of the clock which is at the end of the ●ermon: and he that appeareth not to be assistant shall pay.  
Item in matters of great importance and which require the presence of the whole counsel, the Sendicques shall command to seek the counsel by the oath which they own to the town, but this shall not be done but by good discretion.  
Item whosoever shallbe called upon his oath & appeareth not, he shall pay a fine of five florence, except he have a lawful excuse, for the which he shallbe sworn if he will have his excuse received, & moreover that he do signify in his own person or his wife.  
Item the none shall departed before that the counsel be ended without ask leave.  
Item whosoever shall departed without the leave of the counsel, and being called again by the Saoultier, at the commandment of the first Sendicque, if he come not, he shall be put to a fine five florins, and three days imprisonment.  
Item after the praie● be made none shall speak but in his order, 
All their counsels begin with prayer  and if many speak at once, the first Sendicque shall impose Silence, the silence imposed if their be any that ceaseth not, he shallbe put to a fine of v. shil.  
Item that every one shall keep his place to avoid confusion.  
Item the Noah man be so hardy to propose any thing of his own head but he shall reveal the same to the first Sendicque before the counsel be set, that the Sendicque may propose it, nevertheless if it seem good unto him, he may command the other to declare it more at large the better to inform the counsel.  
Item if it happen that any have advertisement after the counsel be set, of any thing pertaining to the common wealth, that then being entered into the house he shall advertise the first Sendicque a part.  
Item that none shall reveal that which is entreated of or decreed in secret in their counsel upon pain to be deposed, and for ever to be unable for that estate: moreover according to the weight of the case, to be punished by the advise of the counsel either by a fine of mover or open penance, or else by corporal punishment, but if it appear that he hath done it to stop the course of justice it shallbe open penance, if it have been to grieve the common wealth it shallbe pain corporal.  
Item if any of them have aught to propose of his own case he shall let it be written, or otherwise he shall tarry until they have dispatched the present things.  
Item that none swear or curse as to name the devil within the counsel upon the pain of v. shil. and if he continue after he hath been corrected sundry times then to be deposed.  
Item that none shall blaspheme god up on the pain to cry god mercy solemynly, that is with a torch burning in his hand, and to be put in prison, & if he do it often times to be deposed and punished more rigorously.  
Item that none reproach or mysname any other, nor to enter into any contenssion or chiding, or brawling, that they speak no contumelious words or dishonesty, but that each one telling his opinion shall speak with all modesty without charging the other or speaking against their honour, upon the pain of v. shill. & if he be accustomed so to do, after certain admonitions, and no amendment had, to be deposed from the counsel.  
Item if any do charge another with a crime, he shallbe bound to prove it otherwise to cry him mercy: and to be deposed from the counsel the rest of the year, and he which hath been charged shall have his action.  
Item this order shallbe kept as well for the counsel of sixty as in general of the two hundred, for the avoiding of confusion, & the all things may be the better observed, they shall read that which is passed every year as well in the first counsel held after the election, as also of the two hundred, & then all shall swear to keep it.  
Item the nothing shallbe set forth among the two hundred before it hath been treated of by the petty counsel, neither in the general counsel before it hath been treated of before, as well of the two hundred as of the petty counsel.   

❧ For what causes the counsellors ought to retire themselves.  
ITem that every one in his own proper cause shall retire himself before he be commanded, and if he do it not they shall compel him to do it.  
Item in that which appertaineth to his, and not to his own person, as in civil causes, the father shall not be present when the cause of his son shallbe denounced, neither brother nor uncle: moreover if any will not retire himself of his own good will, to be admonished by the counsel.  
Item in Criminal causes none shall tarry in the affairs of his parent or of his Coosyn issued from his cousin german, but shallbe excluded.  
Item in all causes which shall seem good to the counsel to exclude any, immediately they shall departed.   

¶ The office of the treasurer.  
THe treasurer shallbe present every day in the counsel upon pain aforesaid, and have his voice as the other.  
Item that he shall keep secret the which shallbe said or done in the counsel, upon the same pain that is set upon the counsellors.  
Item to receive all the common money as well of the ordinary revenue, as the pains of fines or other extraordinary sums.  
Item that he shall demand and receive in due time and also yield account of that which shallbe due, either by farmers, particular receivers, or pains fines or revenues, as of all ather things, so that the town have no lack by negligence.  
Item if he cannot be paid with a good will, he shall constrain the debtors by imprisonment without any further delay.  
Item he shall deliver no money to any person but by commandment, and having received commandment he shall not delay the time, so that there come any complaint against him.  
Item he shall render accounts every sixth month in the chamber of accounts, & not to differ the time above six weeks over his term.  
Item in rendering of his accounts he shall show how he received it, with what modiation, Act, or Ordinance, or by what virtue he hath received it.  
Item concerning the things received or paid, he shall show forth the commandments with the quittances upon every article.  
Item that the accounts may appear more clear, he shall set them down in form of a register.  
When he shallbe deposed from his office he shall render the accounts with in three months: and if he be found debitour, he shall render the remainder within six weeks, or otherwise he shallbe kept in prison unto the last end of the payment.   

❧ The office of the Secreataries.  
ITem they both shallbe continually in the counsel, except he have a lawful excuse: also they shall keep secret that which shallbe done in the counsel.  
Item they shall not make out or deliver to any person the copy of any act which ought to be kept secret, nor to reveal any thing without the knowledge of the Seniors: he that doth the contrary shallbe punished as is aforesaid.  
Item he shall have two Registers, the one for the public affairs, or in any point touching the commonalty, the other for particular men, which appertain not to the town.  
Item, the first Secreatarye shall write the first Register of those things holden in the counsel, the other shall have that which appertaineth to particular affairs.  
Not withstanding the one shall write if need be, & read the letters, instruments and acts, that the other shall make, to the end that there be no delay.  
Item, that each of them in his office shall make dispatch of the matters which his Register importeth, nevertheless, the first only shall have the charge to sign all things when they shallbe present.  
Of the other part, when there shall be public matters to dispatch of great importance, as instructions, and such like, the first shall communicate with his companion, the one to use the others counsel.  
But in the absence of the one, the other shall have the whole charge, & the second shall do the office of the first.  
Item, there shallbe a Register apart for the letters missives, and shall continue in the Secretary's place or closet, the which shallbe common to them both according to the necessity.  
Item, a Register apart for causes criminals.  
Item, a Register for causes of marriages.  
Item, a Register wherein shallbe enrouled the officers from the first day of their office to the last.  
Item, another to keep in order the statutes & proclamations, which shallbe made according to the necessity of time.  
Item, a Register of the commandments with shallbe made for the disbursing of any money, to the end that the rendering of the accounts may appear more clear, and be better verified.  
Item, another Register, wherein shallbe drawn all the acts which import the recovering of money for the commonalty, as of fines, and other profits.  
Item, that all informations shall be locked in a chest or closet, of the which the first Secretarye shall have the kaye, and in his absence the second, of the which they shall render account: and that they may be found when need shallbe, each of them shall have a mark by number, and in another coffer there shallbe an Inventory marked, all the process concluded & finished, shallbe brought into another place.  
Item, they shall make diligent dispatch aswell for the particular matters as common, and that nothing shall be left undone, they both shall come together after dinner, at the same hour that the Sindicques assemble, also at six of the clock in the morning.  
Item, they shall distribute equally together all the profits.   

¶ Of the office of Captains, Banderetts and Dyzners.  
THE captain general shallbe diligent and vigilant over all the town, he shall gather no assembly suspect, nor make any conventicle, which may be a preparative to sedition, tumult, or mutinetie, and the particular Captains, Banderettes and Dizners, shall do the like, every one in his office and quarter.  
Item, if any such like thing happen, or that there be beginnings of trouble, the Captain general shall take heed to it betimes and advertise the counsel.  
Item, if the particular Captaitnes shall first perceive it, they shall do the like, informing the Seniors, or their General to make their report as shall seem good to them.  
Item, they shall watch every one in his office that there be no disorder or insolence, and that the burgesses and Inhabitants govern them selves honestly in their households, without noise, trouble, or brawling, and if any do the contrary, they shall admonish him, and if that admonission profit not, they shall make their report to the Captain or Seniors.  
Item, if there happen any danger or inconvenience in the town, they shallbe always ready for defence of the same, when commandment shallbe given them.  
Nevertheless, it shall not be lawful to the captain or Banderet to assemble men, or to arm any, without express commandment of the counsel, except there happen some sudden assault without, in the which case they shall do their office, while in the mean time, the counsel may provide more largely.  
Item, to the end that the town shall not be unprovided, the Captain general shall not enterprise any far voyage, as to be above eight days absent without special license.  
Item, that each of them and especially the Dizners, shall be diligent that the Proclamations and Ordinances of the counsel, as well for the reformation of the church, as for the civil estate, that they may be well observed: & if any do the contrary, they shall advertise the signory.  
Item that every Dizener shall make every half year a roll of all the burgesses and inhabitants within his diznarie comprehended, with all the households making fire apart, & to present the said roll to the counsel.  
Item, that once a year the captain general accompanied with the captains particulars and Dizners, each in his quarter, shall make visitation from house to house, to know if the burgesses and Inhabitants be furnished with armour as it appertaineth for the defence of the town.   

¶ The Auditors of accounts.  
ITEM, that three days in the week that is to say Tuesday, Thursday and saturday, they shall assemble themselves together both morning and evening, to do that their office requireth.  
Item, they shall put in writing all manner of Instruments, and obligations in order, and set them down in Inventory, to the end that nothing be lost but be found easily.  
Item, they shall have an officer convenient appointed to seek parties when need shallbe.  
Item, that without exception of person, they shall do their duty to all men, to cause them to pay their duty.  
Item, when any refuseth to pay, or denieth the debt, or allegeth any excuse, which seemeth to them insufficient, they shall make report thereof to the counsel within eight days following.  
Item, if by favour or friendship they spare any man, they shallbe punished upon their wages, for that which is paste, and to be bound for the debt and charged therewith.  
Item, to declare that they do truly discharge this office, every iii months they shall present a roll of inventory of debts and obligations, which they shall find, to cause the parties to appear with diligence, and those with dilyveraunce of their Register to confer with the same if need shall require.  
Also concerning the profits of the town, they shall not concelethe particulars of their rights, but when the Registers of the town may serve, they shall communicate with them to make out copies, when need shall require.  
Item, they shall note all the rights appertaining to the town, as rents, revenues, or causes, which be not paid, and after shall make report to the counsel to the end to join them to the ordinary inventory, and that upon pain aforesaid.  
Item they shall revisit the compte of the Treasurour incontinent after they shallbe presented to them, & close them up without delay, but if they do not bring them in by the time appointed, that to is say at the end of six months, they shall procure them, and not suffer them to pass the time appointed.   

¶ The office of the controller.  
HE shall not pass one year without visiting all the buildings appertaining to the town, but when he shallbe advertised by the inhabitants that there is necessity of reparation, that without long delay of time he shall come upon the place to see what lacketh, and to set order therein: but if it happen any inconvenience by his negligence after he hath been advertised, that then he shall answer.  
Item in all buildings where as is no habitation, as temples bridges, & other like, he shallbe diligent to oversee them without advertisement of other.  
Item he shall provide and take order that nothing perish or decay for fault of reparations.  
Item he shall have a register convenient to note all the day works of massons, and carpenters, and that he fail not but to assign the acquittance of the treasurer when he shallbe thereof certified.  
Item wheresoever there shallbe massons carpenters or other workmen, he shall not fail to have an eye to them, to know if they do their duty faithfully.   

¶ The office of the master of the Artyllerye.  
HE shall keep warily the keys and not to deliver them into the hands of any other, nor put any in trust without express commandment of the counsel, and if there happen any default, he shall answer thereto.  
Item he shallbe diligent to keep neat and clean and in good point the artillery, ready for to serve at the hour if need shall require.  
Item he shallbe diligent and take heed in making clean, that nothing be put out of order.  
Item, he shall take heed that there be no disobeyed, for the which cause he shallbe continually present, and after he shall revisyte and see that there be no inconveniency.  
Item, he shall neither charge nor discharge any peace but in necessity, except it be by express commandment from the Seniors, and that this be observed in all the bulwarks.  
Item he shall keep the powder well locked, so that no inconvenience happen, upon pain to answer it, if it be his fault.  
Item when need shallbe to set abroad the artillery, his office is to do it by the commandment of the Seniors.   

¶ For the proctor general.  
HE shallbe assistant in the court of the lieutenant in the time of pleading, to know & understand if there be any cause or interest for the town, and there after to form his conclusions, & this to be done, audience shallbe given him, and the lieutenant shall demand if there be any thing to be said which seemeth to be meddled with the common interest, before he end his causes.  
Item, in all causes which pertain to the wealth or profit of the town, & to the conservation of the comen weal, he shall instantly pursue it as a good proctor of the common wealth, & namely in criminal causes he shallbe joined with the lieutenant.  
Item, in the fault of parents & friends he shall solicit & pursue to make gardens, or overseers for pupils & orfelings, or to depose those which be if need shall require.  
Item he shallbe a party to demand & call upon all fines in the name of the town, of all those with offended: nevertheless he shall receive none, nor it shall not be lawful for him to make any pacte, or appoint any man his payment, and those which be condemned in any payment he shall signify to the treasurer every week, that he may recover it.  
Item he shall spare no manner of person in such cases upon pain to pay the sum himself, nevertheless he shall not molest any man to bring him before the justice except he be well furnished with proofs.  
Item he shall take pain & do his diligence to know those which hold aught of the town, as lands, possessions, meadows, houses, or which with any thing from the town, to advertise the audytors of the accounts therein.  
Item when there shallbe any building in the town he shall have respect that they enterprise not nor encroach upon the street, but he shall endeavour himself to let it, until it be determined by justice.  
Item if any house be ruinate or faulen down, so that the town be thereby deformed, he shall pursue him which oweth the place until they have builded or forsaken the same.  
Likewise if there be danger of any house to decay or faulen in ruin with the common altie hath interest in, he shall make pacte with the owner to shore it or repair it..  
Item, he shall suffer no house to be shorde upon the street to let the common passage, except it be for a time meet to repair the same, but howsoever it be it shall not pass eight months, but if he be negligent and by favour of any, dissemble the time he shallbe put to fine.  
Item, he shall have the oversight of the bread, which the bakers put to sale, whether it be of just weight or not, and this shall he do every week. And where he findeth default, he shall proceed inform as followeth, that is to say if he find bread which hath not his just mark and weight according to the price of the corn, that was the saturday before, he shall levy v. shil. for fine: of the which the half shall be given to the town, and the treasurer to receive it, the other to the said proctor: & moreover the bread shallbe confiscate to the profit of the hospital, & this for the first time.  
For the second time twenty shil. for a fine, and confiscation of the bread to be applied as is aforesaid.  
For the third time lx shill. for a fine, and confiscation of the bread as is aforesaid.  
For the fourth time ten florence to be distributed as is said, and the offender to be deprived of his occupation, and his oven razed.  
Item, he shall make an Inventory of all the movables, confiscations, & goods, where the justice hath laid hand upon, to the profit of the town and make report to the counsel.  
Item, he shall take heed of the houses appertaining to the town the none usurp upon them by any particular. Also he shall let them to the profit of the commonalty, nevertheless he shall let none: but by his advertisement, the treasurer shall see if it be under x florins, & for the space of one year, or whether it be longer term, or higher price, that he do according to the custom of the town.   

¶ For the Saultier.  
HE shall have the charge of the town house, that upon the days of the counsel he shall open the great door of the counsel in the morning: and not shut it before the counsel be departed  
Likewise when the counsel shallbe holden extaordinarily, or the two hundred assembled.  
Item, at such time as the first Sendicque shallbe there to hear complaints or dispatch causes, or when the four shallbe gathered together after dinner.  
Item, when the court of the lieutenant shallbe holden above where the appellations be, all that day long he shall not open but the little door.  
Upon the evening he shall shut the doors betimes, & keep it shut▪ all the night: but before he lock it, he shall search & view the their be none within, nevertheless when any of the Sendicques come he shall open to him, at what hour of the night it be.  
Item, the he shall keep the house net & in good order, & if there be any thing to be repaired incontinent he shall advertise the controller.  
Item, he shall make a fire betimes in the morning to heat the hall, and the chamber a certain time before the first Sendicque and the Secreataries do come.  
Item, he shall not fail to be first when the counsel shallbe holden for to keep the door.  
Item, he shall keep secret all which shallbe said and done there within, upon the same pain which hath been said of the counsellors.  
Item, he shall accompany the Seniors Sendicques in all acts of justice.  
Item he shall accompany the lieutenant in the execution of all Acts Criminalles.  
Item, he shall present the wine which the Seniors shall send to the Imbassiadores, or others.  
Item, he shall visit the houses ruinated with those that be sworn when it shallbe required, and make report to the counsel.  
Item, to limit and measure the fields, and possessions, with in the franchises.  
Item he shall have a closet to lock and shut in the goods which appertain to the knowledge of the justice, tarrying till the Inventory be made, that is to say when the town shall take any interest, or when there be no heirs, or when the heirs shall not agree, or when it is requisite that the justice seize any thing.  
Item, to take and keep the notaries chests when any of them do die, to conserve the rights which are passed by their hands.  
Item, when any watch man dieth or is deposed he shall receive again his halberte and his harness and other secret things which he hath of the signory, for to deliver them to their successors.  
Item, when the watch shall take any by night in the streets, they shall bring them to him, and he shall take and keep them until the next day.  
Item, if their be brought any thing to him to be delivered into his hands, he shall receive it and keep it faithfully, nevertheless he shall have a register to write as well the prisoners which be brought him as all other things, and that he writ it immediately in the presence of him which bringeth it to him, and in the morning he shall sign it by the Secreatarie.   

¶ The office of the porters, keepers of gate● and guards of the towers.  
ITEM, every porter shall shut his gate at the sound of the bell, & shall not open it before the hour appointed, be it morning or evening.  
Item if any desire to come in, after the gate be shut he shall not open unto him without licence, except the passage for the posts, and yet they shall not open unto them except the watch be there present for fear of danger.  
Item in special necessity as in time of pestilence, the porter shall let out the sick or dead as he shall have commandment, to open to him which shallbe admitted for the purpose.  
Item that every one shallbe diligent to keep his keys, so that there happen no inconveniences by his negligence, but that he shall answer it.  
Item none shall commit any other in his place without ask leave of the first Sendicque, or in his absence one of his companions.  
Item in the time of uproar▪ fire, or such accidents, they shall abide by their gates, and not to departed thence except he have express commandment.  
Item, in suspicious times the porter with the guards shall shut the gate incontinent after the watch hath given them a sign, such as hath been before declared unto them.  
Item, the guards of the towers shall not fail but to lie each of them in his tower, and he shall not bring in any multitude of people without leave or commandment.  
Item in their absence they shall put none other in, except they have licence.  
Item he that keepeth the bulwark of the market place shall have the key of the chain of the lake, to shut up the passage of the boats, and open it in the morning.   

¶ The watches of the two steeples.  
ITEM, the watch men shallbe night and day in the steeples, of saint Peter and Sayncte jarueis, and shallbe diligent to espy within and without.  
Item, if it happen any fire in the town, that he which is nearest shall cry with a loud voice to the next houses without sounding his bell.  
Item, in suspect times each shall have a bell and a banner, and if he see any great troop of men he shall sound his bell and and put his banner that way that they be, to the end that the porters may be upon their guards, and if need shallbe to shoot the gates.   

¶ The court of the lord lieutenant and Adiuters of right, and the somnarye of the justice of Geneva. And first the election of the Lieutenant and of his four Assystantes.  
THE teusdaie before the sunday after S. Martyne, the petty counsel shall assemble to make the election of the Lieutenant &: to have a good beginning, the first Sendicque shall exhort the company to pray unto god, that he will direct their ways and hearts, o chose men of a good conscience, loving equity, & truth, men of prudence, and knowledge, to judge rightfully, and after the prayer made they all shallbe sworn in order, in form following.  
We promise and swear before god to choose & name into this office those which we think to be meet and sufficient for the maintenance of the honour of god in this town, and to render right to all without accepting of person, and in choosing we shall have respect unto the common wealth and tonoe particular affection, neither for favour nor hate as god beareth us witness in this promise, therein to be judged if we do the contrary.  
After this each shall name before the Sendicques, the Secreataries being present, to write their voices: the friday following in the counsel of the two hundred after prayer made, the declaration and the oath, they shall propose those two which have been chosen by the greatest part, & upon that the two hundred shall proceed in their election, taking if it seem good to them one of the two, or else another third, so that the first election be as an advertisement without prejudice to the liberty of the second.  
The sunday following, the general counsel shallbe assembled, there they shall pronounce to the people the election made by the two hundred, to know if the people be agreeable to have him, if the people accept him which is chosen, than the election is firm, and shall continue, but if they refuse him they shall proceed to a new election, first by the petty counsel, after by the two hundred, so that none be in the office except he be confirmed & approved by the people or by the greatest voice.   

¶ For the assistance  
TOUCHING the Assistance two shall continue in their office the second year, so that every year they shall make but two new in the place of those two which have served two year, nevertheless the last election shallbe by the two hundred, without coming to the people: and the same day the lieutenant with his four adjutors (as well the ancients which were of the year past as the new elected) shall come into the town house to be sworn before the Sendicques & the council, and to be put in possession.   

¶ The form of their oath.  
WE promise and swear to execute our office in the fear of god & with a pure conscience, and rightly to judge & pronounce those things which shall come before us in all equity & justice, without exception of person, rendering right to each one without bearing favour to those which have an evil cause.  
Item, not to receive presents, gifts nor corruption to decline from our duty  
Item, with all pain and diligence to make expedition of causes which shall come before us, to ease the parties from troublesome charges.  
Item, not to burdeine any person with any costs and charges more than reason will bear, and namely to follow the tax which is made unto us.  
Item, to be diligent to reprove & correct all insolences & dissoluteness contrary to good policy, & to cause that the ordinances of the town may be well observed, as much as lieth in us, calling god to witness therein, to be judged if we do contrary.  
Moreover if it happen any lieutenant to die before his year, if there rest yet four months, they shall substitute another in form aforesaid: but if he have less time, the most ancient of the Adjutors shall take his place.   

¶ The place of the Assistance.  
THE two ancients shall go before the other, but as well the ancients as the new among themselves, shall go according to their degree and dignity of office in the which they have been.   

❧ For the two Secreataries of the lieutenant's court.  
THE petty counsel shall choose them, to present them to the two hundred which have authority to ratify the election or to make another without prolonging the time: and the office shallbe three year at the least except there happen death or a notable fault, enot withstanding in the term of three year there shallbe made a survey, & the office perused if they ought to continue therein: before they shall enter into the possession they shall make an oath before the counsel in manner following.   

❧ The oath of the Secretaries.  
WE promise and swear to receive no act nor instrument to the dishonour or damage of the town, or against the policy of the same.  
Item, to couch faithfully by writing and to register all such acts and instruments, as pertain unto our office, and to conserve that we have made, to distribute in time and place, according to the order of justice.  
Item, not to reveal aught to any party to the prejudice of another, or stop the course of the right.  
Item, not to defraud any either of Act or instrument which may help them or further them by reason.  
Item, to make expedition of all acts and copies, which we be bound to deliver, without delaying the one to further the other.  
Item, not to eracte or take greater wages than to us is due by the order of the tax.   

¶ The office of the Lieutenant, and of his Assistaunts, and the order of their court.  
THE Lieutenant & his Assistants be bound to hold their court, for to render right three days in the week: the is to say Monday after dinner, from twelve of the clock tarrying till four, likewise wednesday and Friday.  
Moreover, every day from eight of the clock until ten, the Lieutenant or one of his assistants one after another, through out, shallbe resident in the bench, to hear the plaintyves, and set order among them, until they may do justice: the Saturday they shall do the like, both in the morning and after dinner, because of the strangers and multitude which come to the market.  
Item, in matters of sudden provision the Lieutenant shall call the adiutours, and assemble them extraordinarily, according to the necessity of the case, and that there be no default, the Lieutenant shall not enterprise any long voyage, to be absent one court day without leave of the counsel.   

¶ For the pain of those that be absent.  
HE that faileth to be there in the time aforesaid, shallbe deprived from such profits as shall fall or chance that day, and if he have not a lawful excuse, to pay two shillings for amend, and if it be one of the assistants to pay double, and the Secretarye shall note their faults faithfully, to render the role to the receiver of the fines.   

¶ For the adjournment or summonning for civil causes.  
WHO so ever will adjourn or summon his adverse party, may do it what day he will, yea at the present hour, and this adjournment shallbe available as well by any of his household, or his wife, as of himself: moreover, if he be absent or sick, and have any other lawful let, his wife or any of his, as his nieghbour, or his friend, may appear to the Assignation, and excuse him, but before the excuse be received, they shall be sworn that the excuse is lawful which they allege.   

¶ For defaults.  
IF there be no excuse brought forth, and the action be ordinary, for debt, or other cause, none reserved, as shallbe said here after, and if between two burgesses: the demander shall make assignation thrice before he obtain the default.  
If then he do not appear, & there be no excuse brought forth, letters shallbe given out to levy upon his goods, unto the furniture of the sum which the cause amounteth: but if he do not deliver gage into the hands of the Sergeant, or if he have not sufficient in his house for to gauge the said sum, then for default of goods they shall take his person, and make him prisoner, neverthesse's in case that he suffer his house to be searched and they take such as they find, they shall not take him out to put him in prison, but if he absent himself willingly, incontinent there shallbe execution against him: but if he have withstand the officer, the Sergeant shall bring him the next day before the lieutenant there to pay all e●epences, assignations, letters, and execusions of the same, other wise he shall proceed, whatsoever matter to the contrary notwithstanding.  
But if the defendant after he hath been put back again, do not appear to the first assignation, than letters shall be granted to the demandant, to adjourn him peaceably, to the which if he obey not, there shallbe granted process against him to take his body, and put him in prison, to the end of the pa●ment.  
If it be a stranger which assigneth a Burgese, then to proceed more speedily, he shall demand if it seemeth him good, and shall have a iournement from the lieutenant: but if the Burgese will not appear upon the day in which he is assigned, than default shallbe decreed against him, and immediately letters of execution to gauge it in his goods, or to take his person for fault of goods, but if he have lawful excuse, either by absence or by sickness, it must be declared in the first assignation.  
contrariwise if the demander appear not, the defender shall obtain against him default, and shallbe freely at liberty from his assignation.  
Item, none shall be relieved from his fault, except he come before the court be risen, so that he come in time to answer to his assignation, & present himself before the judge, and that before he be risen, unto the end that this be no occasion to prolong the causes: before they be up, he shall swear that he doth it not to delay or to make frustrate his demander, but that he is come as soon as he could.  
But in such case if the time will serve, he shall be called again, nevertheless if the demander be not there present in his own person or Proctor for him, that this calling shall not turn to be prejudicial to put him to default, but only for a let, that he shall not levy lets of execution against his party: moreover, none shall be received twice to plead such excuse, but such a relief shallbe only for one tyme.   

¶ For the adiornement of witnesses.  
INcontinent after that the term for the probation shallbe given, the party which ought to bring forth witness, shall do his diligence to call them, that the examination may be made in time and that the adiornement be made with express denomination that it is in case of witness.  
If it happen, that he which they demand for witness, be absent or sick, that his wife or one of his shall come and excuse him with an oath, as hath been said.  
If he appear not, or there be no excuse at the first assignation, he shall be assigned the second time, and if yet he make default, than letters of compulsion shall be granted to the party, to constrain him to come before the time be expired, up on the pain of gage or imprisonment: and if he suffer to be gauged, they shall take as much of his goods as the principal of the cause may amount.  
But if he be sick, there shallbe deputed one of the assistance, to go and examine him in his house, & the adverse party shallbe called thither to see him sworn, as if he were in the court.   

¶ For the pleding.  
ITEM, following our ancient custom, the pleding shallbe holden in the common language of the country, and not in Latin: but for to avoid all excess of expenses, as prolonging and troubling of the parties, following our ancient custom, that all causes which amount not above five Florence shall be dispatched with the greatest expedition that may be, without writing, but only by words, as well the propositions, and answers of the parties, as the proves and witnesses.  
Item, to avoid all vain delays that in causes which exceed not above ten Florence, the principal sentence that is given by the lieutenant and his assistants shall stand for the last, without appellation: but for the other of higher sums, it shallbe lawful to appeal, that is to be understand only for debt, & not for cause of rents.  
Item, that all sentences not passing ten Florence's, shallbe given by mouth only, and in general, all sentences interlocutoris shallbe unwritten but the Secretary to put them in his register.   

¶ For terms and delays.  
TOUCHING the causes which ought to be dispatched without writing as is said, that the demandant by himself, or by his Proctor, shall make readily at the first his true demand, at the first assignation, namely that the adverse party be there to answer like wise, & the defender shall answer readily & directly, either affirming or denying, protesting the cause if it be his own proper act, if it be the cause of another (for the which nevertheless he is bound) he shall have delay for two days only, to give information, if the other be in the town: but if he be without, he shall have competent term, according to the place where he is.  
If it be needful to be proved, and the he will prove his intention by instrument or by writing, he shall bring it out incontinent, & thus doing he shall not come without furniture: if it be for witnesses, he shall have term competent, having respect to the place where they be.   

¶ Of cause's exceeding five Florence.  
TOUCHING other causes that exceed five Florence, if the demand be certain, as a debt proved by obligation, bill, or such other debt, where it is not need to have a bill in writing, the demand shall be made by word, with the proof of the obligation, bill, or other instrument, to end the cause briefly, in such form as hath been said.  
If the cause be such, that it require the demand to be put in writing, as when there be many reasons to allege, and that the deduction be● long and difficile, than the demander the first day of his assignation shall bring forth his demand by writing, and shall have a copy of the same ready to communicate with his adverse party, and the to be done at the costs of the demander according to the tax of charges.  
For to answer, the defender shall not have above eight days respite, and then to answer, denying or affirming the declaration of the cause: after the defender hath answered, & the cause declared, if the plaintyve will set his cause by articles, to come to probation, as the day of his contestation, he shall have eight days to do the same, and then if he have right either by writing or instrument for to serve his purpose, he shall bring them forth, and declare them with his articles.  
This done, the Defender shall have eight days to answer upon the articles and no more.  
If the probation lie in witness, after the Defender have answered, the demander shall have yet eight days term to bring forth his witnesses, if they be in the town, if they be without, he shall have a competent term to bring them, or examine them upon the place, by the virtue requisitorie, so that eight days after the term given, the witnesses shallbe published, so that ordinarily they shall have but fifteen days.  
This ought so to be understand, that after the beginning of the term, the said party shall one certain day cause his witnesses to be sworn against the day of his publication exclusively, nevertheless calling his adverse party as right and reason requireth.  
Item, in the day of the publication if the parties pretend to propose any obligation or schedule to declare their fact or right, they shall have eight days delay to do it.   

¶ In case of exception.  
IN case that the Defender in his answer use exception, the which requireth proof, as if he alegeth payment, or such like thing, that the same term shall be given him, as hath been said of the demander.  
Item, upon the exceptions which shallbe made, there shallbe one replication, and it shall not be permittted to the defender to rejoin against him, nor the Plaintyve to surrejoinder, nevertheless, it shallbe lawful as the matter shall require, to oppose divers exceptions in one cause, according to the diversity of the proves, or demands, so that one of the exceptions let not another.   

¶ For terms to here the right.  
IN causes which mount not above five Florence the principal, and all other which be easy, and need no long consultation, as if judgement may be given upon an obligation or other certain proofs: the Lieutenant and his Assistaunts shall not take above eight days term at the most.  
Item, in causes of great importance, which requireth further repecte, and specially require consultation, they shall take such term, as they think by their judgement to be necessary, nevertheless so standing continually for briefness, as much as in them is possible, so that for the most highest term, they shall not pass above a month.   

❧ For the longest time that process ought to continue.  
THAT this order shall serve to dispatch all processes in the briefest manner that may be, to avoid all prolong and delays, so that in causes of great importance the which shallbe brought by writings, although there be acception of the party Defender, a process shall not continue above four months and an half, but shallbe always ended and finished in the said term, namely that they be constrained to seek their witnesses out of the town, for in such case they must join to it such times as is ordained to call them as hath been said, and so the term shallbe so many days prolonged.   

¶ Of the two Feries or vacations.  
THERE shallbe two Feries in the year, in the which the causes and suit shall seize: that is to say, in corn harvest and wine harvest, the which shall dure each one a month.  
For the beginning there is no certain time to continue, but they shall ordain it according as the year and season will bear, so in the end of the month of May, the Lieutenant with his assistants, shall consult when corn may be ripe, and there after the day shall be appointed, the which shallbe published in the court the week before, and in the wine harvest the like to be done.  
The rest of the year, there shallbe no nother vacations to stop the course of the audientes, except there happen some necessity extraordinary in the town, for the which the counsel shall ordain according to reason.  
Moreover, concerning the examination of the witnesses, as hath been said, they may change the days, as the Sunday ought to be exempt, and likewise other acts judicial, as to adjourn, to levy goods, & such like.  
Now, also because the feries may come often before one process may be ended, as hath been said of times and delays in the term, while the causes shall dure, that is to be understand by this exception, that the feries shall not be comprised in the same time of delay.   

¶ Of cause's extraordinary.  
TOUCHING causes, which may not suffer delay, as matters of provision of fruits hanging or standing on the ground, & such like, because it is needful to provide more briefly, it shallbe said in the place and order of each one.   

❧ Of exception against judges in the process & sentence definitive.  
THAT no judge shallbe holden suspect except he be refused of one of the parties, but in case the parties consent both to have him, he shall not refuse to do his office.  
Item, it shall not be lawful to refuse without allegation of the cause, and to be known to the rest of the bench, and he that will refuse shallbe heard upon his reasons.   

❧ The causes to refuse, be such as followeth.  
THAT is to say to have been proctor or counsellor or first judge in the cause. Also parentage, as father to son, brother to brother, or Uncle to nephew, or cousin german, likewise affiniti unto the degree of uncle or nephew, and so to the contrary.  
Item, when the cause toucheth him which is refused, as if the process were touching merchandise, in the which he was a peartener in, or if he were surety or in any, case have had to do in the same.  
Item, if he bear manifest favour to the one party, or hate to the other, which may be known or perceived by vehement presumption, it shall not be needful to prove the same thoroughly.   

¶ Here followeth the taxes of fees or stipends, in which it shall not be lawful to exceed or pass.  
first the lieutenant or assystantes shall not exact nor take of the parties above this which followeth.  

In the first audience when the demand shallbe form. 
Note that in shill▪ is a groat or 4. d. English money or there about.  i. shil.  
ITEM, in the examinations of the witness, briefly without setting down in writing, where every witness shallbe examined. i. shil.  
Item, if it ought to be written, and yet briefly without articles, then shall he take for every witness. two. shil.  
Item, if it be by articles, that for every leaf of articles which the proctor shall present, for every witness. 3 shil.  
Item, for the oath. three shil.  
Item, if the sentence difinityve of the sum be less than .5. florins. i. shil.  
Item if it be a higher sum, & yet under a hundred florins. three shil.  
Item, above a hundred, unto five hundred. vi. shil.  
Item from five hundred florins, to the highest sum. 
Note a storens is xii. sous.  i floren  
Item they shall take nothing in short processes, where there is no production of the case, and generally in all processes which requireth no consultation, but in such matters when there needeth consultation, they shall take no more than they disbource, reserving nothing to their own profit.  
Item, in commission where there needeth a long information, the lieutenant for himself, & for one office which he shall content, shall not take above. iiii. florins  
Item for the tax of expenses in brief causes. i. shil.  
Item in causes of greater importance. two. shil.  
Item for every decree made upon the sales, as upon goods of gardenships' or governances. three shil.  
Item for a plaintiff. i. shil.  
Item all these profits shallbe divided among them, except any be deprived by his own negligence, as hath been said, they shall make six porsions whereof the lieutenant shall take two, & each Assistante one.  
Item if there ought to be view taken of a place in processes of heritage, or other wise, if it be in the town, that those that shallbe deputed for the same, each one of them shall not take above. two. shil  
Item if it be without the town in the fields. v. shil.  
Item for the estimation or prising of goods if their be movables which mount not above ten florins. two. shil.  
Item, from ten unto five and twenty iiii. shil.  
Item, from xxv unto fifty. vi. shil.  
Item from fifty to a hundred. viii. shil.  
Item, from a hundred to the uttermost. i florin.  
Item if they be unmovable which ought to be cried three Saterdays, he shall not take above. vi. shil.  
Item the lieutenant or his Assistants which shallbe present at the making of an Inventory, shall have for the first leaf. three shil.  
Item, 
Note that a denier is the twelve part of a shil.  for every leaf beside. 6. deniers   
Upon this condition that every leaf shall contain four and twenty lines, and that every Item shall contain or comprehend the things of one sort together.   

❧ In cause's criminals.  

THE Lieutenant for every examination which he shall make before he shall bring forth the malefactor, shall have. three shil.   
Afterwards the journey shallbe taxed by the proctor, and levied upon the goods confiscate of the malefactor.   

¶ Here followeth the tax of the Secretaries.  

IN every audience they shall take of the plaintiff for the register. three deniers  
In commission for joureneys. two. Floren.  
For to enregister the constitution of the proctor. i. shil.  
Item, for every parcel of letters. i. shilling  
Item for brief examination upon the writing of each witness. three Deniers  
Item, for examination by writing and yet brief and without articles, for every witness. i. shil.  
Item, for examination upon Articles for every leaf presented by the proctor. iiii. shil.  
Item, for every relation of execution of letters. vi. Deniers  
Item for the journeys taken out at the request of any party, for each. vi. deniers  
Item for every leaf of copy, the side containing. xxv. lines. x. d.  
Item for sentence difinityve without copy. three shil.  
Item for copying of the request of any party. v. shil.  
Item for the tax of expenses in short causes. i. shil.  
Item in long causes. three shil.  
Item for instruments of tuteles & guardians. x. shil.  
Item, for to register a plaintiff. i. shil.  
Item, to Register a seisoure or a rest. i. shil.  
Item to register Relasions of damages or other small things. i. shil.  
Item the register of submissions which be made in case of rest. i. shil.  
Item for all fyances made by justice. i. shil.  
Item for praising of movables, the deputy shall have as much as the Assistante, as well for the presence as for the instrument.  
Item for unmovables where there is need to levy instruments of decree, if the sum do not exceed a hundred florins. x. shil.  
Item, from a hundred florence upward. xx. shil.  
Item for inventories, for the first leaf as hath been said. three shil.  
Item, for every other leaf following. i. shil.  
Item, for informations, as well upon the plantives, as others, in causes criminals, for every witness. three shil.  
Item for every answer, in criminal causes, until the malefactor be dispatched. three shil.   
Nevertheless they shall take nothing until the end, then if the party be found culpable, or have wherewith to satisfy, it shallbe disboursed.  
For other instruments, which be also made by the notaries, it shallbe said in the tax common.   

¶ The tax or fees of the sergeants.  

ITEM for every citation, as well of the party as of the witnesses, if it be in the town. three d.  
Item if it be without the town with in the franchises. i. shil.  
Item for a rest of barrage and to make the relation. i. shil.  
Item for execution of letters if it be in seizure of unmovable goods. 3. shil.  
Item if it be to levy movables under ten florins. i. shil.  
Item if it be above. three shil.  
Item, for taking the arrest of a man's body. iiii. shil.  
Item, for praising of movable goods, of every florin. three d.  
Item, for visitation upon any place. i. shil.  
Item, to be assistant at any question. i. shil.  
Item, to accompany the justice to the execution of a malefactor. two. shil.  
More over there is a common profit to be divided among them, that is to say of every difinityve sentence in brief causes. three d.  
Item, in those of greater Importance. vi. d.    

¶ How the lieutenant ought to govern in matters of imprisonment.  
FOR the execution of his letters & for default or contumasye as hath been said, he hath authority to imprison.  
Item for the transgression of cries or proclamations, in case that the offender deserve punishment, for the lieutenant is the executor of proclamations.  
Item at the request of any which willbe party accuser against another he shall set him prisoner with him.  
Item in matters of crimes, be it strife, fight or violence, if the plaintiff come to him and the person whom he complaineth of be suspect of flying, except it be a man resident in the town having goods and houses, he shall not lay hand upon him before he have notified it to one of the Sendicques, and hath had his permission.  
Moreover he hath no power to deliver or set at liberty a prisoner which hath been taken for other causes then civil, and appertaining to his tribunal, but incontinent as he hath shut up any in case as hath been said, that he notyfie it.   

¶ The order which ought to be holden in process criminalles.  
WHEN he hath put in prison any man complained on, or that the Sendicques notify to him that they have taken any: that within xxiiii. hours he shall examine them, & deliver the examination to the Sendicques  
If the offender be found faulty, without any dificultye, or that he render himself so, that there be sufficient cause against him, he shall make expedition of his process.  
Item if the first answers be not found sufficient by the Sendicques, he shall continue his examinations, until such time as he may render unto the Sendicques such answer, as reason requireth: but how so ever it be, he shall not deferrre the time for to render it above two days.  
Nevertheless, this shall not be holden for his last conclusion, but after that he hath rendered himself, and submitted his cause unto the proctor general, unto such time as sentence be given, and as shallbe found in the deduction of his processes, he shall make up and finish his conclusions.  
The sentence pronounced to him, shallbe committed to the charge of the executioner, and he shall go into the place being accompanied with the Saultier and the sergeants, and there shall remain till the execution be done.  
Item for lack of the Lieutenant, whether he be absent or sick, the first Assystaunte shall take his part, and supply all that shall appertain to his office.   

¶ Ordinances upon the emoluments and exactions of seals of Geneva, those, government and keeping of the same.  

¶ The keeping of the Seals.  
IT hath been ordained and determined that the lord first Sendicque (which every year according to the custom shallbe elected) ought and is bound to have the keeping and government of three seals, and those surely to keep, and with the same to seal and use truly & faithefullye all things reasonably as followeth.   

¶ The use of the seals ¶ And first of the common seal.  
ALL manner of Instruments with what name soever they be named, being long or short received in judgement or without, all sales compacts, barganings, acquittances, releases, ratifications, Bargains, testaments, Causes, Promises, Accords, exchanges, confessions, Tutels, Curatels, Abridgementes, Commyssions, Ordinance paste by counsel, Marriages, Gifts, Attestations of proctor's, proof of notaries, Suppreme sentences, executions upon the same, safeguards, Commandments to levy, Instruments, Requisitories, burgesses, Attestasions, licence by writings past by the counsel, saufecondite, ordinances for marriages.   

¶ The seals of right.  
ALL patents as the levying of possessions, citation, brief, attestations, commissions to examine the witnesses, requisitories, Contumacies, presice letters, ordinances of sentences, as well interlocutories, as difynityves, declared in the ordinary and brief court of the justice of Geneva, Executoriables of the same prising or estimation, in the said ordinary court, submissions, letters or sentence for money, Appellations, or other like, all these aught to be sealed with the small seal.   

¶ For the Casshett or privy seal.  
ALL instructions and charges which shallbe given to ambassadors, namely that his charge is not passed by general counsel, that then they shall use the great seal, all letters missive reserved, that be afore said ought to be sealed with the seal called casshet, and they shall apply the to none other, except instructions & missives, as well in favour of the signory as for particulars.   

¶ The manner and tax which ought to be levied upon the three seals respectively of every one of them.  

¶ first for the great seal.  
FOR sales not exceeding i hundred Florins. three shil.  
Item, from one hundred to v C, florins ten shil.  
Item, from five hundred to a thousand, so that it doth not comprehend the just sum of a thousand twenty shil.  
Item from one thousand florins, to a number of thousands for every thousand. i florin.   

¶ Transactions.  
ITEM for all transactions so the instrument be made in favour of both the parties, & of the goods in which both the parties have right, namely that the goods do not a mount to M. florins. v. shil.   

¶ Quittaunces  
FOR all quittaunces and sums of money, and other things amounting to a C. florins. i. shil.  
From a hundred to a thousand florins. v. shil.  
From one thousand upward ten shil.  
For all quyttances in matters of controversy or others. three shil.   

¶ Releases.  
FOR all resignations and releases to be paid after the form of sales, according to the sum of money.   

¶ Ratifications.  
FOR all Ratifications. three shil   

¶ Bargeynes.  
FOR all bargains for time. three shil  
For all bargeines perpetual. v. shil   

¶ Testaments.  
FOR all testaments amountinge to v. C. florins. v. shil.  
Item from five hundred, to a M. Florence ten shil.  
Item, from one thousand upward. v. florins  
Item, for all clauses of testaments according to the valuer and tore as the sum amounteth, to be paid as the Testament.   

¶ Compromises.  
ITEM, for all compromises. three shil   

¶ Accords.  
ACCORDS pronounced and brought by writing briefly. three shil.   

¶ exchanges.  
FOR all exchanges. v. shil.   

¶ Confessing of bands.  
WHEN any will seal a bond or obligation, for all such obligations or bonds to the sum of a hundred Florins, so that it do not comprehend the whole sum of the hundred in paper or perchement. i. shil.  
From a hundred to a thousand. v shil.  
Item, from a thousand upward. x. shil.   

¶ Gardenships' of orphans and other.  
FOR all tutelles or guardian's ships x. shil.  
for all Tutels governance. v. shil.   

❧ Abridgmentes.  
FOR all abridgementes unto the sum of a hundred florins. three shil.  
Item from a hundred to .v. C. florins. v. shil.  
Item, from five hundred to a M. florins ten shil.  
Item, from a thousand upwards. v. florins  
Item, those which shallbe made by the signory unto the sum of a thousand. v. shil.  
Item, from a thousand upward. x. shil.   

¶ Commission of recognisances.  
Item, for the seal of the said commissions. i. floren   

¶ Ordinances of the counsel of matters both small and great, the supreme sentence reserved.  
FOR all ordinances between party and party. three shil.   

¶ joining of marriages.  
FOR all instruments of marriages, not counting of apparel, or jewels, unto C. Florence's. 3. s.  
Item, from. C. to. D. v. shil.  
Item, from. D. to. M. xx. shil.  
Item, from. M. Florence upward, v. Florence.  
Item, donations to be paid after the form of testaments.  
For all attestations of the probate of Notaries. i. shil.   

❧ Commandments to levy instruments and other contracts.  
ITtem, for such commandments. i. shil.  
Item, for instruments levied by commission. two. shil.  
Item, for placettes upon the requisitories, without the territory. three s.  
Item, for burgeoys. two. shil.  
Item, for atestation upon the birth of cytezins. three shil.  
Item, for licence passed by the counsel. three shil.   

¶ Supreme sentences in appellations.  
FOR all supreme sentences unto five hundred Florence ten shill.  
Item, from. D. to. M. xx. shil.  
Item, from. M. upward. v. Floren.  
Item, for all executions of the same. three s.  
Item, for all protections, xx. shil.  
Item, for all transsumptes in favour of private men. three shill.  
Item, for ordinances in the causes of marriages. three shil.   

¶ consequently for the seal, called the seal of justice ordinary.  
ITEM, for all letters to levy possessions and citations for each, two shillings.  
Item, for every witness in brief atestations, named in the same for the seal one shilling.  
Item, for commission to examine the witnesses, for each. three shil.  
Item, for all citations with requisitories, iii. shil.  
Item, for all letters for contumacy, i. shil.  
Item, for all letters called presice, two shillings.  
Item, for all ordinances interlocutories upon the accessaries, three shillings.  
Item, for all sentences definitive unto five hundred florence, iii. shil.  
Item, from. D. to. M. v. shil.  
Item, from. M. upward. v. florin.  
Item, for all submissions. three shil.  
Item, for citations to appear at the first appellation, two. shil.  
Item, for ordinances upon appellations, iii. shil.  
Item, for sentences upon the same appellations unto. D. florin. v. shil.  
Item, from. D. to. M. x. shil.  
Item, from. M. upward. xx. shil.   

¶ For the Catchet or privy Seal.  
ITEM, for all letters missives granted in the favour of any particular stranger, two. shil.  
Reserved the citizens and burgesses, which ought to pay nothing.   

¶ For the keeping of the seal, to seal the goods of pupils, or other things at the instance of particulars.  
THE keeping of the said seal shall appertain to the first Sendicque, and when he shall happen to seal any thing, the Saultier shall come and demand the seal, and also shall demand of the Lieutenant, one of his assistants, or a Secretary, to keep him company, and whether he hath few, or many he shall not take for the lesser sort above. three shil.  
And if the goods be of great importance. vi. shil.     
Finis.   

Post tenebras lux.  
❧ Here followeth the Proclamations, published by the sound of a trumpet.  

BE it known to you, on the party of our most redoubted senior Sendicques, and counsel of this city of Geneva.  
Where as here tofore on the party of our most redoubted seniors and Superiors, there hath been made many statutes, defences, commandments & cries, published conformed and drawn forth according to the word of God and his holy laws, and yet by the instigation and craft of Satan, and the malice of many wicked people, having the same statutes and form of holy and pure living, have despised, contemned, mocked, and set at nought the Magistrates, the Ministers of the word, and the holy word of God itself, so that the observation of the same laws and commandments be restrained, put back and hindered by certain malignant and wicked persons, and the right course of justice letted and hindered, so that many troubles and great offences be happened, so that vice and sin so increase, that with good right we can not look but for the judgement & wrath of god for such ingratitude. Now, for as much as god by his singular grace, hath so helped in troubles, that the principal authors of such iniquity have been revealed, and put by their purposes and intentes, by the which they have purposed to do hurt, for the which we all ought to render most hearty thanks to god, humbling ourselves before him, preventing his divine vengeance, in amending our lives, haunting the sermons and preachings of his most holy word, reverencing the justices and Magistrates, obeying Gods moste sacred word, laws, and commandments. Wherefore our most redoubted seniors willing from hence forth to employ all their power and industry, that the honour of god may be maintained, the justice to have his right and true course. Now to all officers, justices, citizens, burgesses, inhabitants, and subjects, of what estate or quality that they be, young or old, men or women, lords, masters or servants, rich and poor, do charge and expressly command from henceforth to haunt & come diligently to the sermons of the word of God, according to the proclamations heretofore made, to honour and fear the justice, and Magistrates, to live holily and peaceably, to be obedient according to their duties to Magistrates, Fathers, Mothers, Lords and Masters, defending and inhibiting all blasphemy, despising of god, and his ministers, dishonest words, vain songs, drunkenness, dissollutions, erces, arrogancy, and insolency, plays, or games, idle running from house to house, cut or broidered hosen, chiding, dissension, fighting or brawling, injuring of other, and all other things not lawful & contrary to the holy word of God, & his commandments, & the acts and proclamations heretofore made, the which expressly we the said seniors, will and command to be put in execution, and against the offenders and repugners of the same of what estate, manner, or condition so ever he be, to proceed by punishment, correction, and justice, without savour, aid, or support, whatsoever it be: to the end that the honour of God may be maintained, & advanced, and his wrath turned from us, his justice feared and reverenced, and generally to live as the people of god ought to live, and that the good policy and tranquillity of the common might be observed and maintained, as far as god will give his grace, upon pain to incur the indignation of our most redoubted seniors Sendicques, and counsel, as their affectuous desire willeth, & intent emporteth, of the which every one ought to be advertised.  
Made and passed in the counsel under the common seal of the foresaid seniors.   

¶ Published in Geneva by the sound of trumpet after the accustomed manner, decreed in the counsel, hoping for better god willing.  
LET it be known to you by the commandment of our redoubted seniors Sendicques, & counsel of this city, that every one ought, & is bound to come to hear the word of God, principally upon the Sundays, and the days of prayer, and other days, when they may have time and leisure. Also that every one ought and is bound, to govern and guide himself after the same instructions, upon pain to be reprehended by justice.  
Item, that all men ought and are bound, to send their children to the catechism, for to be instructed, that is to say, those which be of age, and have knowledge to learn, upon pain to lose when they shallbe found lacking. three shil.  
Item, that none shall be so hardy to swear by the name of God, upon pain for the first time to kiss the ground: and for the second to kiss the ground, and three shillings: for the third time three score shillings, and three days in prison with bread and water: for the fourth time to be deprived, and banished the town for a year and a day.  
Item, that none shall blaspheme the name of god, upon pain for the first time to kiss the ground, & four and twenty hours in prison, with bread and water, and. v. shil: for the second, to kiss the ground and two days in prison with bread and water, & x. shil. For the third time, to be put in prison three days with bread and water, and xxiii. shill, and otherwise to be punished, and chastised according to the extremity of the fact.  
Item, that none shall renounce, despite, 
A vile custom among the French nation.  or maugre God, upon pain of amend honourable, with a torch in his hand, and in case that any do rebel or repugn against such good statutes and ordinances, that he shall over and beside the said pain and punishment be put in prison three days.  
Item, that none shall play, or run ydlye in the streets, during the time of the sermons on Sundays, nor days of prayer, nor to open their shops during the sermon time, under pain without any favour. five shillings.  
Item, that none shall play at any manner of game, for gold, silver, or money, under pain of three days imprisonment, and lx. shill.  
Item, that none shall make, nor cause to be made or imprinted, neither to buy, nor sell, cards nor dice, or any papistical things, concerning the art of printing, nor other things, contrary to the holy christian reformation, under pain of the loss of the merchandise, and three score shillings.  
Item, that none be hardy to commit whoredom, or fornication, either to be droken, to run ydlye about, losing their time, nor run away from their masters, or from their occupations, but that every one shall be occupied & travail in his vocation according to his quality, under pain to be punished by justice, according to their demerits, and made an example to all others.  
Item, that none be so hardy in no manner wise to practise or procure secretly or openly, to abolish, stop or hinder, the preaching and service of god and of his holy gospel, nor to advance set forth, or bring in any manner of papistical law or doctrine, under pain to lose his life.  
Item, following the same statute passed in the general counsel, that no manner of person dareth, or be so hardy, to move, speak, practice, or procure, to solicit or use any mean what so ever it be, to alienate, transport or change in any manner of wise, the signory, and principality, and state of Geneva, otherwise than God hath ordained it, and as it is at this present, but that every one according to his power ought and is bound to maintain the liberty and freedom of this city, upon pain to lose body and goods.  
Item, if any do perceive any manner of conspiracy, or practise, against the said principality, or against the word of God and his holy gospel, that he ought and is bound, to come incontinent to the signory, to reveal and declare it under the pain aforesaid.  
Item, that none say, or do, nor contract or put in ure, any thing without the city, which he dareth not do nor speak within the same, concerning the word of God, and his law, and the reformation of his gospel, upon pain to be punished according to his demerit.  
Item, that no man of what estate, quality or condition so ever he be, dareth be so hardy to make, or cause to be made, or to wear, hosen or dooblettes cut, jagged, embroidered, or lined with silk, upon pain to forfeit lx shill.  
Item, that none be so hardy to misname, or report evil of the princes and magistrates, upon pain to be put in prison, and chastised according to equity and justice.  
Item, that none be so hardy to speak evil, or misname, or slander, the ministers of the word of God under the same pain.  
Item, that no manner of person of what estate quality or condition soever he be, shall not take or join unto him any suspect person or of evil life nor vacabounds what soever they be, but such people that have no mean to live shall withdraw themselves within three days next following, upon pain to be chastised according as the case requireth.  
Item, that none shall let any manner of house or chamber to any unknown person, without licence of the signory, and their captain or dyzener, upon pain to forfeit for every time, lx. shil.  
Item, that none be so hardy to walk by night in the town after nine of the clock, with out candle light, and also a lawful cause, except those which be appointed for the watch, upon pain to be put in prison three days and to pay, lx. shil.  
Item, that every one according to his quality & power ought to be furnished with armour & weapon, & to be obedient to his captain, lieutenant and dizener and other officers appointed for the affairs of the wars under pain of three traictes with a cord.  
Item, that none shall forsake 〈◊〉 city, to serve any foreign prince in his wars, without licence of the signory, upon pain of the indignation of the said signory.  
Item, that none of what estate or quality so ever he be, dareth be so hardy to oppropriate to himself that which is common, upon pain to be punished according to the exigent of the case.  
Item, that no stranger shall sell any merchandise, but upon the three market days openly, and in the common places, upon the pain comprised in the text of the franchises.  
Item, that no manner of person transport or carry out of the city any manner of buyllion, except he have first presented it to the master of the mint, upon pain of loss of the said buyllion, and for every time so doing, to forfeit three score shillings.  
Item, that none shall buy nor contract with any of the city, being within the age of xxv years, without the licence of his Tutor or Garden appointed for the same, upon pain to lose the money delivered, and the contract to be void, and to be reproved by justice.  
Item, that no manner of persons, what so ever they be, shall sing any vain, filthy, or dishonest songs, neither dance, or make masks, mummeries, nor any disguysinge in any manner of wise, upon pain to be put three days in prison, with bread and water only, and for evetyme lx shill.  
Item, that none be so hardy, but expressly defend generally the none do outrage, injury or wrong, to another in any manner of wise, nor also to move or raise up, any rumour, chiding, brawling, striving, questions, or debate, in no manner of wise what soever it be, upon pain of lx shill. and to be put in prison & punished according to the demerit and exigent of the case, by the extremity of justice.  
Item that no cittezen burgeoys or inhabitaunt of this city of what estate quality or condition soever he be having house or household resident in this city, dareth be so hardy to go from henceforth to eat, or drink, in any tavern, 
Note.  Cellar, shop, in any manner of wise: and also that no hosts nor Taverners shall give to eat, or drink, any of the aforesaid citizens burgeois or inhabitants, upon pain for every time three score shillings, payable as well for the host as the other.  
Item that every notary sworn to this city ought and is bound to cause to be sealed all and singnler public Instruments, which he shall receive according to the ordinances of the town, and make expedition to the parties upon pain for every time, three score shillings.  
Item that none do product to help himself with any judicial act, ordinance, letters, patents, nor public instruments, made and set forth in this city, except they be first sealed upon pain of lx shil  
Item that all notaries be sworn to this city ought and are bound in receiving the Instruments of any things recovered, diligently to inquire and know of the parties what title, or by what means, they come by those goods of which those instruments be made, and to reveal it, and bring the designations of all such instruments, which by them shallbe received into the hands of the Seniors, committed for the chamber of accounts for this city, every three months, upon pain for every time lx shil.  
Item that every one is bound to reveal unto our most redoubted Seniors, all those persons, which they shall perceive or know, to be offenders against these present ordinances and proclamations, of our most redoubted seniors, in all or in any manner of part, upon pain to be reproved by the oath which they own to the town.  
¶ Made and passed in the ordinary counsel of Geneva.   

WE let you to weet on the party of our most redoubted Seniors Sendicques, and counsel of this City, for as much as here to fore many statutes edicts and laws hath been published, & proclamations made and reiterated, to incite and move all persons the better to frequent the sermons and to pray unto god in the churches and common assembling: nevertheless seeing that this hath not had such effect, as hath been desired, and of the contrary part, that god doth now give us such warning and admonitions as all men may see, therefore let all people of what estate & condition soever they be, have a better respect to do their duty, then hath been here tofore, and from henceforth not to despise the commandment which is given unto them: that is forasmuch as god by the great troubles, seditions, & wars, which is now risen all most over all, doth solicit, move, and stir us, to return unto him, and to humble ourselves before him, for as much as the dangers be not far from us, and on the other part the enemies of the gospel show themselves more vehement and more envenomed and cruel than ever was seen, to exterminate & rote out the true and pure faith, and religion of jesus Christ.  
Therefore to the end that all may be diligent to come to the preachings, to frequent and haunt the prayers, to cause their family to come thereto to be exhorted, to prevent the scourges of god, which be very near unto us as we may see except he have mercy upon us, and that this may be continued until such time as we may perceive that all do obey with a good affection unfeignedly, upon pain to be noted, punished, and chastised, as rebels, contemners of god, and despisers of his commandments, and the Seniorye.  
Item especially upon the wednesday, which is ordained for the day of extraordinary prayer, that all works set apart, as well the heads of households, as their families, shall assemble themselves to hear the word of god, and those which have households shall so part the hours that they may be all, either at the first or second sermon, there to call upon god with one accord, that he would have pity upon us, and take us into his safeguard, and return from us all those dangers, which other wise be near unto us, under the said pain.  
Item generally that they pray unto god, and cause their families and households to pray with them, that he will have pity of his church, and of this common wealth, and that it may please him to fortify us in these dangerous times, and turn away from us those dangers of wars & troubles, which be prepared against us.  
Item that all citizens, burgeois inhabitants, and continuers here that be able to bear armure, ought to be ready furnished & appointed thoroughly with armour and weapon, according to their power, preparing themselves to live and to die for the defence and maintenance of the holy reformation and evangelical doctrine, which god hath given, and also for the liberty of this common wealth.  
Item that all shall be ready & priest incontinent at the sound of the great bell, be it by day or by night to be found in his place and quarter, under their Captain and dizener, or other wise when they shallbe commanded by the signory, under the pain of their indignation and displeasure.  
Item, that all, as well inhabitants as other that be passyngers, which have not made their oath before the signory, and have not licence to inhabit and continue in this city, shall retire themselves and depart within three days upon pain to be put in prison and chastised as rebels.  
Item that from henceforth no hosts nor hostesses, nor other of this City, whatsoever they be, shall not receive unto them any stranger or passanger, nor to keep him above two nights in their houses, nor procure them lodging in any other place, without demanding leave expressly of the Senyorye, under pain of three days impirsonment and to pay three score shillings for amends.  
¶ Made and passed in the ordinary counsel of Geneva.   

¶ Another proclamation.  
BE it known unto you on the part of our most redoubted Seniors Sendycques, and counsel of this City, that the advertisements, which continually be given by the preaching of the word of god, ought well to suffice and to content all people, as well men as women to use themselves in all modesty, honesty, and temperance, and to walk christianly in deeds, words, and gesture, as the holy scripture teacheth us: nevertheless experience teacheth the contrary, that is to say, many by excess which they do commit in meats, drinks, and apparel giving offence to other, and small appearance of any good reformation, for some there be which so do seek their own pleasure, that it seemeth they are determined to preverte the order of nature, to satisfy their own pleasure and dissolunes, much exceeding the superfluity of the paynims and infidels, which is intolerable among Christianes', for these causes our most redoubted Seniors having here before prevented other excesses, and vices, by statutes and proclamations, for the reformation, profit, and wealth, and the greater advancement of this common wealth, and principally to the honour and glory of god in the same, and being steadfastly purposed and with deliberation, to provide firmly and diligently for the observation of the same, have now once again, advised to provide for the aforesaid excess, to the end that by repentance, and amendment of life, the wrath of god coming upon us which we worthily have provoked, may be foreseen and turned from us. In consideration of their part it is expressly forbidden and defended to all and every one of what estate quality and condition soever they be, that they shall not commit any excess in meats, or drinks, be it at marriages, banquets, feasts, or other wise, whether in apparel or clothing: but every one ought and is bound in these cases to bear himself modestly, and cloth himself honestly, soberly, and simply according to his estate, upon pain of three score shillings for every time when it shallbe known they do the contrary, and moreover those that do persever and continue obstinate and rebellious against this proclamation, to be chastyced according to their demerytt.  
Item, that no manner of person of what estate quality or condition soever they be, men nor women, shall wear any chains of gold or silver, But those with have been accustomed to wear them, shall put them of and wear them no more after this proclamation, upon pain of three score shillings for every time.  
Item that no women of what quality or condition soever she be, shall wear any verdugales, gold upon her head, coifs of gold, billimentes or such like, neither any manner of embroidery upon her sleeves, or other apparel▪ upon pain for every time three score shillings.  
Item, that no manner of person of what estate condition or quality so ever they be, men or women, shall wear above two Rings upon their fingers, saving that upon the day of their marriage, they may wear more, And the day after likewise: upon pain for every time three score shillings.  
Item that no manner of person what soever they be making brydales, banquets, or feasts, shall have above three Course or services to the said feasts. and to every course or service not above four dishes and yet not excessive, upon pain of three score shillings for every time, fruit excepted.  
¶ Made and passed in the ordinary counsel of Geneva.   

❧ Instructions to govern Christian households, and principally Inns, taverns, and victualling houses, in Geneva.  
WHAT so ever he be that shall receive people in to his house, let him govern himself principally according to the word of god, and all other persons which shall resort to him, he shall instruct them to live holily according to the same, and also to instruct his household in the fear of god and his commandments, governing all his affairs reasonably & keeping his house in good order.  
Also that he lodge not within his inn by his knowledge any people of of a wicked life, as whoremongers, herlottes, drounkerdes, murderers, thieves, sorcerers, heretics, nor such like, & suffer not within his presence the name of god to be blasphemed, nor unreverently to dishonour god by naming the devil, nor that the sacred word of god be in no wise slandered or blasphemed: & also not to be forgotten to render graces and thanks to god before meat and after. Also not to do in any case to others that thou wouldst should not be done to thee remembering that thou must make account to god for all things: also lodge thy people well and safely, and call upon god with all thy compaygnye before they go to bed, and make their prayers.  
Sel reasonably, & count faithfully, discharging thy conscience before god suffer no wicked plays, nor unlawful games, but maintain & advance the honour of god, excercising the reading of his holy word, keep no excess in table, meats, and drinks, neither use over late drinking, or banqueting, walk uprightly in verity, and truth, in all thy affairs, following jesus Christ and his holy doctrine, thus doing the lord shall aid thee, and in the time of need shall not fail thee.    

❧ Other proclamations published by the sound of a trumpet, the xxviii day of Februarye, and the xxv day of March, the year of our Lord God. M.D.LX  
BE it known on the behalf of our most redoubted lords Sendicques and counsel of this City, that every person, ought and is bound to come to hear the word of god, 
That is wednsday and friday.  principally upon sunday and the days appointed for prayer, and at other times when they may have laisour, and that every person shall govern and rule themselves according to the same upon pain to be reproved by justice. 
On sondaiss at after none   
Item that every person shall send their children and (such as be of age) to the catechism there to be instructed and taught upon pain of three shillings when they shallbe found lacking.  
Item, that all such as come with the children to baptism, shallbe there assistant and to hear the sermon, upon pain of lx shil.  
Item, that no manner of person do play or run Idly about the streets during the time of the sermon, upon the sundays, nor none to open their shops upon the sundays or days of prayer, during the sermon time, upon pain of five shillings without any pardon.  

¶ For children.  
Item it is commanded to every person of what estate soever they be, to fetch home their children, be it sons or daughters that they have, or may have in the papistical country: and it is expressly commanded and defended that from henceforth they send none thither, nor suffer any to go thither according to the commandments heretofore given in that behalf: upon pain to encur the indignation of our aforesaid lords & counsel.   

¶ For swearing.  
Item that no manner person be so hardy to swear by the name of god, under pain, the first time to kiss the ground, the second to kiss the ground & to pay .3. shil: for the third to pay lx. shil. & .3. days in prison with bread & water, & for the fourth to be banished the town for a year & a day, according to the commandments heretofore given in that behalf.   

For blaspheming.  
Item that no manner of person do blaspheme the name of god upon pain, the first time to kiss the ground & 24. hours in prison with bread & water & to pay five shil: for the second time to kiss that ground & two days in prisonment with bread & water & .10. shil: for that third time to be imprisoned .3. days with bread & water & lx. shil: & further to be punished & chastised according as the case requireth. Item the no manner of person do renounce or dispit god, upon pain of a great fine & to stand with a torch in his hand, & if any do resist these ordinances, that beside the same pain or forfeit to be imprisoned and chastised according as the case requireth   

¶ For playing or gaming.  
Item that no manner person do play at any manner game for money upon pain of lx. shil. & .3. day imprisonment.   

¶ Against printing or making of cards & dies.  
Item the none do make or cause to be made or printed either to buy or sell cards, dies or any other papistical things, the be imprinted contrary to the holy christian reformation, upon pain of lx. shil. & loss of the merchandise.  
Item that no manner of men shall go to the baths or stoufes appointed for women, and also women not to go to those that be appointed for men upon pain of lx shillings for whosoever shallbe so found, and asmuch for the master of the stoufe for suffering it.  
Item that no manner person do sing any vain dishonest or rebaudye songs, neither to dance, nor make masks, or mommeries, or any disguisings in no manner or sort whatsoever it be, upon pain to be put three days in prison with bread and water and lx shillings for every time so offending.   

¶ For reverent using of the magistrates and ministers.  
Item that no manner person do misname or raylle upon the princes or magistrates upon pain of imprisonment, & to be further chastisied according to the facts.  
Item, that no manner person do misname or raylle upon the minister of the word of god under the same pain.  
Item, that no manner of person of what estate soever he be, shall in no manner of wise procure nor practise secretly or openly to abolish, let, or stop, or cause to hinder the word and service of god and his holy evangelly, neither to advance or bring again the papistical law, upon pain of death.   

¶ Against dissolute and wicked behaviour.  
Item that no manner of person be so hardy to use whoring, drunkenness, or run idly by the streets, or to spend his time foolishly, or to withdraw themselves from their occupation or faculty, but that every person shall travail & be occupied in his vocation, upon pain to be punished by justice, according as the case requireth.   

¶ For the preservation and liberty of the city.  
Item that no manner person (according to the act made by the whole counsel) shall or dare be so hardy to speak, practice, move, procure, or use any means whatsoever it be, touching alienation, change or alteration of the signory or government of the state of this City of Geneva, otherwise then god of his goodness hath ordained, and is established at this present, but that every person do his endeavour as he is bound, to maintain the holy evangelical reformation, the liberties and Franchises of the city, upon pain to loss body and goods.  
Item if any do perceive any manner of practise or conspiracy against the principality of this city, or against the word of god, and his holy Gosgelly that he is bunnde to come and reveal it incontinent unto the lords of the council, upon the said pain.  
Item that no masters of crafts, or prentices, of what occupation soever they be, shallbe so hardy to gather or make any unlawful assembly, neither to use from henceforth any manner of ordinances or statutes heretofore made among their companies, but that they shall first present & show them to the lords Sendicques, to be reform by them according to their discretions, upon pain to forfeit for every time offending lx shillings and otherwise to be punished as the case shall require.   

For brawling and scolding.  
Item it is expressly defended, & forbidden, to every person particular, and to all in general, to brawl, scold, misname, slander, or stir up any rumours or false tales, either to quarrel, or do wrong to any person, upon pain of imprisonment and to be further punished according as the case requireth, with the extremity of justice.   

¶ For tavarnes.  
Item that no citizen, burgeoise, nor inhabitant of this City, of what estate or quality soever he be, having a household or residence in the same, shall from henceforth eat nor drink in any manner tavern, seller, nor cabin whatsoever it be, nor any host's hostesses, nor taverners shall give to eat or drink to any of the said citizens, burgeoyses or inhabitants upon pain of lx shillings, for every of them, and for every time to be paid aswell by the hosts as the geestes, as is aforesaid.   

¶ Against danger of fire.  
Item, that no manner person do bear any candle light, into any stable, barn, or grange, or any place where lieth wood, coal, or straw, where is danger of fire, except it be with a lantarn, upon pain of lx shillings for every tyme.  
Item that no manner person do shoot of any handgun, harqueboushe, or dag, within the walls of the city upon the same pain.   

¶ For suspicions and suppressing of sudden tumults.  
Item that all citizens, burgeoises, and inhabitants shall take diligent heed aswell by night as by day (every man for his own part) for all manner of goers or comers, and in this behalf every one hath authority, to examine any suspected person, and to discover and reveal them to the lords.  
Item that no person shall take to them any manner of person suspected of any evell-conuersation, or vagabonds whatsoever they be: but such as have no means to live, shall departed within three days following.  
Item when need shall require either for fire, commotion, or other trouble that every man, shall incontinent repair to his quarter armed with his armour and weapon, under the common officers appointed for that charge by the lords, upon pain of the indignation of the aforesaid lords.  
Item that no strangers which have not given their oaths to the lords, and be not inhabitants in the town when such case shall happen (from the which god defend us) shall not be found in any place abroad in the town, but being abroad shall incontinent retire into their lodging, under the custody of their host, upon pain being found to be imprisoned, punished & chastised corporally, and otherwise at the discretion of the aforesaid lords.   

¶ divers other good ordinances to be observed aswell of inhabitants as passengers.  
Item that all persons aswell inhabitants as passengers and strangers which have not given their oath to the lords, nor have licens to dwell and keep house in the town, shall retire within three days, & departed the town upon pain of imprisonment and to be chastised as rebels.  
Item, that no citizen, burgeoise, or inhabitant of this city, of what estate soever he be, shall lodge nor take into their houses any strangers whatsoever they be, neither let them any house, except first they have given their oath to the lords and be received inhabitants, having to show the letters & seals of our said lords, upon pain of lx shillings for every time that they shallbe found lodging, or receiving or letting houses to any, contrary to these present proclamations, and further to be punished and chastised as the case requireth.  
Item that no manner person shall keep any Inn, tavern, or seller, neither to bake bread to sell, except first they be admitted by the lords, with licence to set up a sign, upon pain to be punished accordingly, and being received they shall sell out their wine to every one for their money.  
Item that from henceforth no host, nor hostesses, or any other of this city, whatsoever they be, shall receive any travailer, or passanger, to keep him longer than two days, neither procure them lodging in any other place, without axing licence of the lords upon pain of three days prisonment, and to pay a fine of lx. shillings according to the former proclamations.  
Item it is commanded to all hosts and hostesses that every day they shall come, and reveal or declare to the lords all such gests as do come into their houses, and declare their names and surnames, and from whence they do come, and this to be done the same time they do come, or incontinent after.  
Item the said hosts and hostesses, shall take all such armours as their gests have, as shirts of Maill, gons or pistoletes, and to keep them until they depart, and to bare them, but only their sword.  
Item, if any such gests show themselves obstinate, that incontinent the host do declare it to the lords, that they may take order therein accordingly.  
Item, that all hosts and hostesses shall advertise their gests and expressly forbid them, not to be out of their lodging, after the trumpet sound to the watch, or ringing of the bell (which is at ix of the clock) upon pain of the indignation of the aforesaid lords.  
Item that no strangers be found upon the town walls, either old or new, neither upon the rampires or town ditches, but shall walk on their way directly, and do that they have to do in the town, upon pain aforesaid, except in those cases the said stranger be licensed by us the lords Sendicques.  
Item that all hosts & others, shall make their prayers to god and give thanks before meat and after upon pain of lx shillings, & for every time being found or provid, and if the hosts or hostesses be found negligent and not doing it, to be punished further▪ as the case requireth.   

¶ For streets and common places.  
Item that no manner person shall enclose or appropriate to himself any part of the common or street, upon pain to be punished as the case requireth.  
Item, that whosoever shall find any thing that is lost, not knowing the owner thereof, to bring it to the common crier, appointed by the lords, who shall bring it incontinent to the said lords, they to keep it until he that oweth it shall have knowledge thereof, and to render it again, upon pain to be punished as it followeth.  
Item that none shall keep within the city nor limits of the same, goats, Hogs, or Gese, upon pain of three shillings for every tyme.  
Item that none shall buy any victuals or merchandise in the street of the city, nor follow those that buy them to any such intent, but shall buy them in the accustomed market places, upon pain of five shillings, and loss of the things so bought.  
Item that no such as do buy victuals to sell again within the City, shall buy any victualies, before xi of the clock, nor in any other place then in the common market places accustomed for the same, upon pain of five shillings, and loss of the things so bought every time.  
Item that no victuallers do bring into the town, any manner of victual, and especially cheese, butter, & fish, that is not lawful or good, neither to unload the same, but in the market places appointed for that purpose, upon pain of five shillings and loss of the goods.  
Item that no person shall enter up on an others bargain, nor come between him and the seller, to defeat him of his bargain, upon pain of five shillings for every time.  
Item that no baker, cook, miller, or any that selleth again, shall buy nor cause to be bought any corn, until it be ten of the clock, the prize being set by the office, as the manner is, upon pain of five shil. for every tyme.  
Item, that all corn that is to be sold, which shallbe brought into this City, shallbe sold at the next market place to the gate, that it cometh in at, and shall not be carried to any other market, nor sold by the way, upon pain of lx. shillings.  
Item, that upon the corn markets, the bier nor seller shall not be arrested for civil matters, nor committed prisoner, from thence.  
Item, that no butcher shall sell any flesh, but upon those market places appointed for the same, upon pain of lx. shillings for every time.  
Item that none do bring any infected or corrupted flesh upon pain of lx shillings & loss of the things.  
Item that no person do sell any flesh, before it be seen and tared by the clerk of the market, appointed by the lords after the accustomed manner, upon pain of lx shillings and loss of the flesh.  
Item the said flesh to be sold by just & true weights upon pain that he that shallbe found with false weights, to pay lx shillings, and to be chastyced for desceyt and falsehood.  
Item, that no butcher sell the heads of any beast by weight, nor yet by peicemele, but wholly and by estimation, upon the pain aforesaid.  
Item that no butcher do disguise his flesh, of oxen, steres, kine, sheep or other bests whatsoever they be, neither to cut in pieces the kine to make them seem to be ox beef, or stir beef, nor to counterfeit any manner of flesh to make it seem other than it is, upon pain to bear a torch in his hand thorough the City with the said pieces upon him, and to be deprived from the exercise of butchery for ever.  
Item that no butcher do choke any best to make the blood to stay in the flesh, neither to sell any blood from May to September.  
Item that every person shall keep just and true weights and measures upon pain to be reproved and chastised for deceit, according as the case requireth, and to pay five shillings to him that revealeth it.  
Item that no manner person shall contract or bargain with any of the town which is under the age of .25. years, without licens of his governor appointed for him, upon pain to lose the money delivered, the bargain to be frustrate, and to be reproved by justice.  
Item that all commissaries having charge, dizeners and other officers of this city shall diligently take heed to the execution and observation of these present proclamations, every one in his quarter, without fail, upon pain to be punished as the case requireth.  
Item that none do enterprise to do, say, nor contract any things out of this City, that he dare not do or say within the same, concerning the law of god and reformation of the Gospel, upon pain to be punished, according as the fault requireth.  
Item that every person is bound to reveal to the Magistrates all such as they do know to be offenders in any of these present statutes either in part or in the whole, upon pain to be reproved upon the oath that they have made unto the City.  
Item that no manner of person do contemn any of these present ordinances or statutes of our aforesaid lords Sendicques, neither do absent themselves, nor depart that town but to appear when they shallbe lawfully called, either in their persons, or by some of there's, or their household, upon the losses and confiscation of their goods, and further punnyshement when they shallbe apprehended.  
FINIS.    

¶ For the knowledge of their coin or money.  
Note that the shilling named here in this book, is but a souse of their money, whereof three make four pence of ours.  
A denier is noted thus (d) ix. of them make but a penny of our money.  
A florin containeth xii souse which make xvi d. of our money.  
A Frank is xxv souse of theirs, which amounteth to two. shillings ix. d farthing of our money   

Printed at London by Roland Hall and Thomas Hacket, the 16. of April, in the year of our lord 1562.