blazon or coat of arms of the City of London By the Mayor.  
THE Right Honourable the Lord Maior deeply weighing and resenting the many Outrages and Disorders of late too too frequently committed in the Streets and Public Passages of this City in the Night time, by rude and disorderly Persons, Instances whereof are most notorious in a Murder lately done upon an innocent Person, in the open Streets, and several other Outrages; which mightily redounds to the Disreputation and Dishonour of His Majesty's Government within this City, heretofore famous for its Discipline, and is a great Violation of the Peace and Security of His Majesty's Subjects within the same: And his Lordship further considering, That by the Laws and Constitutions of this City, the Constables in every Ward with a certain competent number of Watchmen (particularly set down and apportioned for each Ward by several Acts of Common Council) are obliged and ought to keep Watch within their respective Wards, for the preservation of the King's Peace, and prevention of all such Irregularities and Disorders; for which end there was never greater occasion for a strong and sufficient Watch to be duly kept every Night, in the several Wards and Divisions within this City and Liberties. His Lordship therefore, by and with the advice of the Aldermen his Brethren, doth hereby think fit to publish and declare, and in His Majesty's name, straight to charge and command, That the Constables, with the full number of Watchmen appointed to be set in every Ward, do without fail begin their Watch every night, from Michaelmas day to the first day of April, at Nine of the Clock and there continue till Seven of the Clock in the Morning; and from the first day of April to Michaelmas day to begin at Ten of the Clock at Night, and there continue till Five in the Morning, according to an Act of Common Council in that behalf made and provided; and to be very careful and diligent to prevent and suppress all manner of Disorders, and to apprehend all rude and disorderly Persons, or such as cannot render a good account of themselves; and every Night at Ten of the Clock to visit and search all Taverns, Alehouses, and other public houses of receipt, within their respective Wards or Divisions, and such persons as they shall there find disguised with Drink or disorderly, or that cannot give a good account of some lawful occasion of their being there, presently to turn them out from the said houses, and secure them to be proceeded against according to Law. And to the end that this may be duly and constantly performed, His Lordship doth straight require the Deputies and Common Council men of the several Wards within this City, to take care and see to the execution hereof, and immediately to meet together and call before them the several Constables within their respective Wards, and charge them, according to their Duty and their Oaths, faithfully and diligently to observe and perform the same. And that the said Deputies and Common Council men by turns, be present at the first setting of the Watch at night, and again at their rising in the morning, and see that they be punctual at their hours, and have their full number, and perform their duty in all points; wherein his Lordship expects a hearty and ready compliance, as a matter of the greatest concern to the honour, safety and welfare of this City.  
Given at Guild-Hall, this tenth day of March, 1673. and in the Six and Twentieth Year of His Majesty's Reign.  
God save the King.   

Printed by Andrew Clark, Printer to the Honourable City of LONDON.