arms  arms Commune Concilium tentum in Camera Guild-Hall, Civitatis London, septimo die Aprilis, Anno Regni Domini nostri, jacobi Regis Angliae, Franciae, & Hiberniae, fidei defensor. etc. nineteen. et Scotiae quinquagesimo quarto: Coram Francisco jones milite, Maiore Civitatis London, Heanagio Finch Armigero, Recordatore eiusdem Civit. Thoma Bennet milite, Thoma Low milite, johanne Leman milite, Edwardo Barkham, Alexandro Prescot, Petro Proby, Willielmo Gore, Alano Cotton, Cutberto Hacket, Willielmo Holliday, Richardo Herne, Hugone Hamersly, & Richardo Deane, Aldermannis; ac Edwardo Allen, & Roberto Ducy eiusdem Civitatis Vicecomitibus: Nec non maiori parte Communiariorum dictae Civitat. existent. assemblat. etc.  
An Act for Reformation of the negligences of Constables, and of the Abuses and misdemeanours of Apprentices, Carmen, and others, of and for the better apprehension of the Offenders.  
WHereas many times heretofore Complaints have been made by diverse the Nobles and great Persons of the Realm, and others, that have occasion to pass the streets, of many rude behaviours used towards them by Apprentices, Carmen, and others: And now lately, an audacious and insolent affront hath been offered to the person of the Lord Ambassador to the King of Spain, & some of his servants and followers to the great dishonour & scandal of the public Government of the City, & at which the Kings most excellent Majesty (as he hath just cause) is highly offended: which disorders are conceived to arise and grow, partly through the neglect of Constables, who are not ready to be found when complaint is made: & partly through the default of the Inhabitants, who are not ready to aid and assist the Constables and Officers in the apprehension of Offenders: much less to apprehend the Offenders themselves, and bring them to some Officer or minister of justice; and partly for want of good instruction and admonition given by Masters of Families, to their Children, Servants, and Apprentices.  
For remedy whereof, and for prevention of like abuses hereafter, Be it enacted by the right Honourable the Lord Mayor of this City, the right Worshipful the Aldermen his Brethren, and the Commons in this Common Council assembled, and by Authority of the same, That every Constable within the City of London, and the Liberties thereof, shall have his Constable-staffe (during all the time that he shallbe Constable) stand at his door, openly to be seen, to the end that every man that hath occasion to use the aid or assistance of a Constable, may know where to find him. And also that every Constable, shall either by himself (or if he have just occasion to be absent) by some fit and sufficient person deputed by him be ready to perform the duty of his place, in apprehending of Felons, Vagrants, and other Offenders, and conveying them to prisons fit for them: And in repressing of Riots, rescues of Prisoners, or persons led to punishment, and other disorders: and in the executing all other things pertaining to the Office of a Constable, upon pain to forfeit twenty shillings for every default, the same to be employed to the use of the poor of the Parish, where the Offence is committed.  
And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any just Complaint be hereafter made of any violence or misdemeanour that shall be done or offered to any Ambassador, Noble person, Ladies, Gentlewomen, or others, passing through the streets. And that any Housholder or Inhabitant shall be required either by the Constable, his deputy, or the party grieved, to apprehend such Offender or Offenders, and detain them until they may be brought before a justice of the peace, That then every person and persons so required, shall accordingly aid and assist upon pain of such fine as to the Court of Lord Maior and Aldermen, upon examination of the nature of the offence shall seem reasonable.  
And for the better prevention of such disorders and abuses hereafter, & that all Offenders in this kind hereafter may be without excuse, It is hereby further enacted and enjoined, that all the Aldermen within their several Wards respectively, or their deputies, shall forthwith give personal warning and admonition to every Housholder and Master of a Family, within the City and Liberties thereof, that they themselves take knowledge, and do strictly charge and admonish all and every their Children, Servants, and Apprentices, that both they, their Children, Servants, and Apprentices, do from henceforth carry and demean themselves well and orderly towards all Ambassadors, Noble persons, Ladies, Gentlewomen, and others whatsoever, that shall have occasion to pass through the streets, and do neither throw, nor shoot any thing at them, nor mis-behave themselves towards them, either in gesture, words, or action: nor shall use upon the Exchange, nor in any street or lane of the City, any uncivil sport, as Trap, Squibs, Football, or the like, upon pain of severe punishment to be inflicted upon them, according to the quality of the offence.  
And to repress the rude and unmannerly behaviour of Carmen, Carters, Draymen and others, using or working any Car, Cart or Dray whatsoever, It is also enacted and declared by the Authority aforesaid, that not only all and every the Acts of Common Council and Orders of this City heretofore made for the Government of them, be put in due execution, but also that the Master and Wardens of the Woodmongers of this City, do admonish them particularly, not to commit any such disorders hereafter that may give just cause of offence. And that the said Master and Wardens do perform in all points, the Act of Common Council made in that behalf in the time of the Mayoralty of Sir john Leman knight, late Lord Mayor of this City, concerning Cars and Carmen. Assuring them that a strict account shallbe taken thereof, and severe punishments inflicted upon any of them that shall offend in that behalf, according to the quality of their offences. And all Householders & Inhabitants are hereby likewise enjoined to be aiding and assisting to the Constable or other Officer that shall apprehend such Offenders, and themselves likewise in default of an Officer to apprehend and detain such an Offender, till he may be brought before some justice of the Peace, upon peine of such Fine as to the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen, upon examination of the offence shall seem reasonable.  
❧ God save the King. ❧   

Printed at London, by William jaggard, Printer to the Honourable City of London.