AN ACT OF Common Council, For the better Regulation of HACKNEY-COACHES.   coat of arms of the City of London 
LONDON, Printed by Samuel Roycroft, Printer to this Honourable City, 1683.   

Pritchard Mayor.  
Commune Concilium tent' in Camera Guild-hall Civitatis LAND ', Die Martis Decimo Tertio die Martii, Anno Regni Regis CAROLI Secundi, Angl', etc. Tricesimo Quinto. Annoque Dom. 1682.  
IT is Ordered by this Court, That the Act for Regulating the Hackney-Coachmen, this Day passed, shall be forthwith Printed and Published.  
Wagstaffe.   

 coat of arms of the City of London  
Commune Concil' tent' in Camera Guildhall Civitatis LAND ', Die Martis Decimo tertio die Martii, Anno Regni Domini nostri CAROLI Secundi, Dei gratia Angl', Scotiae, Franciae, & Hiberniae Regis, Fidei Defensor', etc. Tricesimo quinto, Annoque Dom ' 1682. Coram Willielmo Pritchard Mil', Major' Civ ' Lond', Willielmo Turner Mil ', Jacobo Edward's Mil ', Johanne Moor Mil ', Jacobo Smith Mil ', Roberto Geoffrey Mil ', Johanne Peake Mil ', Thoma Beckford Mil ', Johanne Chapman Mil ', Simone Lewis Mil ', Jonathano Raymond ' Mil ', Richardo How Mil ', Petro Daniel Armig ' Ald'ris, & Dudleo North Mil' Alder', ac un' Vicecom' dicte Civitatis; Necnon Majore parte Communiar' dicte Civitatis, in Communi Concilio tunc & ibidem assemblat'.  
WHEREAS by the Ancient Charters, Customs, Franchises and Liberties of this City, the Lord MAYOR and aldermans of the same City, with the Assent of the Commonalty thereof, are to make By-Laws and Orders, for the preventing and hindering of all Things which may from time to time happen, arise, or grow within the same City, tending to the Hurt or Prejudice of the Citizens and Inhabitants thereof, or of the People resorting thereunto, or of the Trade of the same City.  
And whereas, EDWARD (sometime King of England, of Famous Memory) the Third of that Name, by His Charter made and granted to this City in the Fifteenth Year of his Reign (confirmed also by Parliament) amongst other things granted, That if any the Customs in this City before that Time obtained and used, were in any part hard or defective, or any thing within the same City arising (where Remedy before that time was not Ordained) should need Amendment, The Mayor and Aldermen of this City and their Successors, with the Assent of the Commonalty of the same City, might put and ordain thereunto fit Remedies, as often as it should seem Expedient unto them, So that such Ordinances should be profitable to the King, for the profit of the Citizens and other People repairing to this City, and agreeable to Reason.  
And whereas the Number of Hackney-Coaches, Driving, Standing, and Waiting within this City, are now of late time so greatly Increased, and become so many, that the Streets and Common Passages thereof are (by the Driving and Standing of such Hackney-Coaches) so filled and pestered, That the Citizens and Inhabitants of this City, and the People repairing thereunto, are greatly hindered in their Affairs, and the Passages of Carts and other Carriages, necessary for the conveying of Goods greatly obstructed, and the Trade of this City thereby much prejudiced, and the Charges of the Repairs of the Streets of this City much increased, And great Damages, Mischiefs, and Inconveniences are daily occasioned thereby, and likely to be Increased to the Citizens and Inhabitants of this City, and other Persons resorting thereunto. For prevention therefore of all Inconveniences and Mischiefs which for the future may arise and grow to this City by such great Numbers of Hackney-Coaches, and to the end, That Hackney-Coaches to be used and employed within this City and the Liberties thereof, may be reduced to a Convenient Number; and that the Persons Keeping and Driving such Hackney-Coaches for Hire, within this City and the Liberties thereof, may be under some good Regulation and Government, agreeable to what hath been already provided concerning Cars, Carts, and Car-men.  
Be it Enacted and Ordained by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, the Right Worshipful the Aldermen his Brethren, and the Commons in Common Council Assembled; by Force of the Customs, Franchises, and Liberties aforesaid, and Charter , confirmed by Parliament, as aforesaid, and by Authority thereof; That from and after the First Day of MAY next coming, the Number of Hackney-Coaches to be used and employed within this City and the Liberties thereof, shall not exceed Four Hundred.  
And to the end the Number of them may be ascertained, and not exceed Four Hundred, as aforesaid, Be it further Enacted and Ordained, That no Person or Persons, after the said First Day of MAY next coming, other than such Persons as shall be Licenced according to this Act; (Except Stage-Coaches to and from their Inns, and Coaches which shall take up a Fare out of the City, to be carried to any Place within or beyond this City or the Liberties thereof, whilst they shall be without Covin or Delay driving to such Place or Places, within or beyond this City or the Liberties thereof only;) shall by Himself or his Servants, Drive for Hire any Hackney-Coach, or Stand therewith to be Hired within this City of London, or the Liberties thereof. And, that if any Person or Persons not so Licenced, (except as is before Excepted) shall presume by Himself, or his Servants, to Drive for Hire any Coach within this City or the Liberties thereof, as aforesaid; or to Stand with any Unlicenced Coach in order to be Hired, within the said City and Liberties thereof, That then the Person or Persons so Offending, shall Forfeit for every Time wherein he or they shall Offend in the Premises, the Sum of Forty Shillings, to be Levied by Distress of the Coach and Horses, so to be Driven or Standing contrary to the true intent and meaning of this Act, or of One of them; or to be recovered by Action of Debt, to be brought and prosecuted in the Name of the Chamberlain of this City, now and for the Time being, in any His MAJESTY'S Courts of Record within this City, where Actions of Debt may be brought.  
And be it further Enacted and Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That in granting such Licences (as aforesaid) regard in the First place be had to such Person and Persons as were last Licenced, by virtue of a Late Act of Parliament, made in the Fourteenth Year of His now MAJESTY'S Reign, for Regulating and licensing of Hackney-Coaches, that shall desire Licences in pursuance of this Act; and to the Widow and Widows of every of them that now have Coaches and Horses, or whose Livelihood is depending thereon.  
And be it further Enacted and Ordained, That upon the Death, Forfeiture, or Surrender of any of the Person and Persons first to be Licenced, as aforesaid, and their respective Widows, nor at any time thereafter, New Licences for the keeping Hackney-Coaches within this City and the Liberties thereof, as aforesaid, shall not be granted to any Person or Persons that useth any other Trade or Occupation, or that shall vend Beer or Ale by Retail; nor to any One, to keep more than Two Hackney-Coaches, for the ends and purposes aforesaid.  
And be it further Enacted and Ordained, That all and every the Person and Persons that shall be Licenced, as aforesaid, shall observe and conform Him and Themselves to the Rules and Provisions herein after set down, That is to say, That every Coachman Licenced shall have a Mark of Distinction upon his Coach by Figure, or otherwise, as the Court of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen shall think fit; To the end They may be known, in case they shall Misbehave themselves: And also to distinguish them from Coachmen Vnlicenced; and that none shall put the same Mark or Distinction upon his Coach, that is appointed for any other Coach; nor shall for Hire, Drive or Use any Coach (Except as aforesaid) that is not so Marked or Distinguished.  
And further, That no Hackney-Coachman so to be Licenced, as aforesaid, shall take for his Hire above the Rates following; That is to say, Ten Shillings for one Day, reckoning Twelve Hours to the Day; and by the Hour not above Eighteen Pence for the First Hour, and Twelve Pence for every Hour after. And from the Inns of Court, or thereabouts, within this City, to any part of St. James' or City of Westminster, (Except beyond Tuttle-Street) above Twelve Pence; and the same Prices from the same Places to the said Inns of Court, or Places thereabouts within this City: And from any of the Inns of Court, or Places thereabouts within this City, to the Royal Exchange, or Places of the like Distance, Twelve Pence; and so from the said Places to the said Inns of Court, as aforesaid; and the like Rates from and to any Place at the like Distance with the Places , upon pain that every Coachman refusing to go for the said Rates, or exacting more for his Hire than the several Rates herein before Appointed, or Offending in any of the particulars aforementioned, shall Forfeit and pay for every such Offence the Sum of Ten Shillings of good English Money, to be levied by Distress, or Action of Debt, as aforesaid. And, that the Persons so to be Licenced, and Every of them, shall conform Him and Themselves to such other Rules and Provisions for their good Government, as shall from time to time be Set down by this Court.  
And be it further Enacted, That no Person shall be Licenced, by Force of this Act, to Drive any Hackney-Coach, that shall be under the Age of One and Twenty years; or that is not of Sober and Honest Conversation, and decently Apparelled. And Further, That none of the said Persons to be Licenced by virtue of this Act, shall take any Apprentice, to employ him in the Driving any Hackney-Coaches within this City, or the Liberties thereof. And Further, That their Hackney-Coaches shall stand to Take up Passengers in no other Places, or in greater Numbers, than are herein after Expressed; That is to say,  

From the Barrs without Aldgate to the Gate, Twelve Coaches.  
Near the Pump within Aldgate, Three.   

In Fenchurch-Street.  
From the said Pump to Mark-Lane End, Three.  
From Mark-Lane End to Philpot-Lane End, Three.  
Near the Bulwark-Gate at the Tower, Two.   

In Tower-Street.  
At Mincing-Lane End, Two.  
At Mark-Lane End, Two.  
At Seething-Lane End, One.  
Near the Monument on Fish-Street Hill, Two.   

In Gracechurch-Street.  
From East-Cheap End to Lombardstreet End, Two.  
By St. Peter's Church, Two.   

In Leadenhallstreet.  
From Billiter-Lane End to St. Marry Axe, Four.  
From St. Mary Axe to Leaden-Hall Corner, Four.  
In Bishopsgate-Street, within the Gate, Eight.  
From the Barrs without Bishopsgate to the Gate, Eight.  
In Broad-Street, Six.   

In Aldersgate-Street.  
From Long-Lane End to Jewen-Street End, Six.  
From Jewen-Street End to Aldersgate, Six.   

In Redcross-Street.  
From Golding-Lane to Jewen-Street End, Four.  
From Jewen-Street End to Cripplegate Church, Two.  
In Smithfield, Twelve.   

In Cheapside.  
Near the Conduit, Four.  
From Foster-Lane End to Wood-Street End, Three.  
From Wood-Street End to Kingstreet End, Four.  
From Kingstreet End to Bucklersbury End, Two.  
At the West-End of St. Paul's Church, Four; standing Close to the Fence.   

In Cornhill.  
Near the Standard, Three.  
Near St. Michael's Church, Three.  
From Finch-Lane End to Sweethings-Alley, Three.  
From Castle-Alley to the Lower End of Cornhill, Five.  
Against the Stock-market, Two.  
In Great Lombardstreet, Four.  
On Dowgate-Hill near Skinners-Hall, Two.  
In Old Fish-Street, Two.  
In Coleman-Street, Four.  
In Aldermanburic, Two.  
From Guildhall to Cheapside, Six.  
In Great Wood-Street, Two.  
In Milkstreet, Two.  
In Newgate-Street, Two.  
From Newgate to St. Sepulchers Church, Two.  
On Each side of Fleet-Ditch (void of the Great Street) Two; being Eight in all.  
In the Old-Baily, Six.   

In Fleetstreet.  
From Shooe-Lane End to Water-Lane End, Four.  
From Water-Lane End to White-Fryers Stump, Six.  
From White-Fryers Stump to the West-end of St. Dunstan's Church, Six.  
From the East-end of St. Dunstan's Church to Temple-Barr, Six; standing on the North-side of the Street.  
In Chancery-Lane above Sergeants-Inne Six.,   

In Holborn.  
Near Staple-Inne Gate, Four.  
Near Castle-Yard Gate, Three.  
From Castle-Yard Gate to Fetter-Lane End, Five.  
From Fetter-Lane End to Hatton-Garden End, Five.  
From Hatton-Garden End to Holborn-Bridge, Three.  
Without Mooregate, Three.   
And be it further Enacted, That in all and every the Places aforesaid, where more than One Coach is allowed to Stand, the same Coaches, and Every of them, shall stand Five Yards distant at least one before another.  
And further, That if any of the said Hackney-Coaches shall Stand in order to be Hired in any other Place than are herein , or in greater Numbers, or at less Distances than are herein before specified, That then the Person and Persons Offending in any of the said Cases, shall Forfeit the Sum of Ten Shillings of like Lawful English Money, to be Levied and Recovered by Distress or Action of Debt, in manner .  
And be it further Enacted, That none of the said Coachmen shall Use or Drive Two Coaches at the same time with One Figure, on the Penalty of Forfeiting for every such Offence the Sum of Five Pounds, to be Levied and Recovered in manner aforesaid.  
And be it also further Enacted, That once in every Year a View shall be made by Order of this Court, of the Fitness of the Persons that shall be Licenced by Virtue of this Act, their Servants, Horses and Coaches, for the Service to which they are Licenced. After which View, as aforesaid, Once in every Year the Licences of such of the said Persons as shall then be alive, or their Widows, whose Coach, Servants and Horses, shall upon such View be found fit for that Service; and that shall have reasonably Complied with the Rules and Directions of this Act shall be Renewed.  
And be it further Enacted, That none of the said Persons to be Licenced by Virtue of this Act, shall at any time hereafter Stand, or Ply for Hire, against any part of the Royal Exchange, nor stand in any Street or Common Passage before the Door or Shop of any Citizen or Inhabitant of this City, to his Annoyance or Hindrance; but in the Middle of the Streets and Passages only, Except between St. Dunstan's Church and Temple-Barr, as aforesaid (and at Five Yards Distance, as aforesaid) and so as the Coaches and Carts may pass Free on each Side of the said Street. Nor shall Feed his or their Horses with Hay in any Street or Common Passage (Except such Quantities only as the Coachmen shall hold and deliver with his and their Hands to his and their Horses:) Nor shall refuse to give Way to any Gentlemans-Coach, or other Coach in such Street or Passage, where Need shall require; on Pain that Every Person Offending in any of the said Cases, shall Forfeit and Pay the Sum of Ten Shillings of good English Money for Every such Offence, to be Levied and Recovered in manner aforesaid.  
And be it further Enacted, That to the end the said Coachmen may be the more Effectually kept to their Stand, and other the Rules and Orders of this Act, That Andrew Tomlyn, and such other Person and Persons as this Court shall, for and during so long Time as this Court shall from Time to Time Limit, shall take Care that this Act, and every Thing therein contained, to the utmost of His and Their Power, be duly put in Execution.  
And in case He or They shall find any of the Coachmen to be Licenced in manner aforesaid, or any others Offending in any of the Particulars herein , That then He or They do Distrain the Coaches and Horses of the Person and Persons so Offending, or One of them, for the Penalties and Forfeitures Inflicted on Him or Them by this Act, for such Offence and Offences which such Coachman or Coachmen shall so Commit in Contempt of this Act, or bring the Name of the Offender or Offenders, or the Number or Mark of His or Their Coaches, and the Place of his Abode, to the Chamberlain of this City, now and for the Time being, to the end such Offender and Offenders may be proceeded against according to Law.  
And all Constables, and other His MAJESTY'S Officers within this City and the Liberties thereof, are hereby Impowered and Required to be Aiding and Assisting to the said Andrew Tomlyn, and such other Person and Persons as this Court shall Direct, in all Things tending to the Execution of this Act, in preventing the Mischiefs and Inconveniences intended to be Remedied thereby.  
And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, (for prevention of all Persons, other than such as are to be Licenced by Virtue hereof, to Drive and Stand with Hackney-Coaches for Hire in the Streets of this City,) That the said Four Hundred Persons shall be Licenced, and have a Certificate (Yearly to be Renewed) from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, under the Seal of the Office of Majoralty, and Signed by the Town-Clerk of this City in manner following, viz.  
ORdered by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, and Court of Aldermen of the City of LONDON, That A. B. of, etc. for and during the space of One Year, to be accounted from the First Day of May—— Be, and is hereby Licenced to keep a Hackney-Coach within this City and the Liberties thereof, Pursuant to an Act of Common Council, Made, Enacted and Passed, etc. He the said A. B. Conforming himself to the Rules in the said Act of Common Council set down and prescribed; And that the Number (_____) be the Mark and Figure to be used by the said A. B. upon such his Hackney-Coach. Witness, etc.  
And Lastly, It is hereby further Declared, Ordained and Enacted, That all and every the Sum and Sums of Money to be Forfeited by this Act, and to be Levied and Recovered for the not due Observance of the same, shall be disposed of in Manner following; (That is to say) One Moiety thereof (the Costs of the Suits for Recovery of the same being first deducted and allowed) shall after the Recovery and Receipt thereof, be paid and delivered to the Treasurer of Christs-Hospital, to be employed for and towards the Relief of the Poor Children, to be Brought up and Maintained in the said Hospital: And the other Moiety to be paid to the Chamberlain of this City for the Time being, to be disposed of to such Person and Persons as shall be Employed to see the due Execution of this Act, to the end the Mischiefs thereby intended to be remedied, may be fully prevented, and after to such other Uses as this Court shall think fit and appoint.  
Wagstaffe.   

Printed by Samuel Roycroft, Printer to the Honourable City of LONDON, 1683.