coat of arms of the City of London By the Mayor. To the Alderman of the Ward of WHEREAS divers good Laws have formerly been made, and are still in force against several wicked and disorderly Practices, which through the omission of the Magistrate and Officers concerned to put the same in Execution, are openly and notoriously violated and broken within this City, to the great Offence of Almighty God, Dishonour of the Christian Religion, and Scandal and Reproach of the Citizens and Inhabitants of this City, and not without a just Imputation upon the Government thereof. And whereas it is Incumbent upon me to Correct, Suppress, and Prevent (as much as in me lies) all kinds of Enormities and Disorders within this City, and to Invite and Engage all my Brethren the Aldermen to concur and join with me in that Performance; Wherein having communicated to them my Intentions at a Court of Aldermen, they have readily and hearty promised and undertaken in their Stations to further and promote the same. Wherefore, by Advice of my said Brethren the Aldermen, These are to desire, and in His Majesty's Name to charge you from time to time to exert your Care and your Authority (in all Parts of this City, as you shall have Opportunity, and especially within your Ward) for the Punishment and Extirpation, as much as is possible, of all Lewd, Enormous, and Disorderly Practices; Some Instances of which kind, being most notorious and scandalous, I have thought fit more particularly to recommend to your Care (not to lessen it in reference to other Enormities, but to engage you more immediately to the Prosecution of such as follow, namely) The Profanation of the Lord's Day by People's Exercise of their ordinary Callings on that Day, and Tippling or using other vain Employment, and neglecting the Worship and Service of God. The Sin of Drunkenness. And profane Cursing and Swearing. Which being very heinous, and yet grown very common, require the more vigorous Endeavour of all Persons in Authority to suppress them. And then Vagabonds and Beggars (which though of less Consequence than any of the former, yet) exceedingly pestering and annoying the Streets and Public Places within this City, and being given me strictly in Charge by my Lord Chief Baron when I took my Oath at the Exchequer, I recommend likewise particularly to your Care the clearing of the Streets from that living Nuisance. In all which Cases, in regard sufficient Provision hath been made by Acts of Parliament, I have caused such Acts as provide against the said Enormities to be Abbreviated and added hereunto, for your better knowledge of the Laws in that behalf, and the better Execution thereof. And you are required frequently to Charge and Admonish all Constables and other Officers within your Ward, That they omit not to do their parts diligently and carefully for putting the said Laws respectively in Execution against all Offenders thereof: And on the Lord's Days particularly that they be careful to search for all Persons that shall continue Tippling in Taverns Alehouses, or Coffeehouses, and both them, and the Masters of the said Houses, and all other Offenders against any of the said Laws, that they cause them to undergo the Penalties thereby respectively inflicted. And you are also desired to call all the Constables, and other Officers of your Ward, frequently to Account, and Inform yourself how they shall have performed their Duties in all the aforesaid Particulars; and such of them as you shall at any time find remiss or negligent therein, That you cause the Forfeitures imposed by the said Laws in that behalf to be daily levied upon them accordingly; or otherwise that they be bound over to the Sessions of the Peace, there to answer the same. Hereof fail not as you tender the Honour and Service of Almighty God, and the Public Weal of this City. Given this Eighth Day of November 1687. and in the Third Year of his Majesty's Reign. Wagstaffe. A BREVIATE OF THE ACTS of PARLIAMENT. The Lord's Day. STat. 1 Jac. cap. 22. (continued 3 Car. 1. cap. 4. & 17 Car. 1. cap. 4.) No Shoemaker shall show (for Sale) any Shoes, Boots, Slippers, etc. on the Sunday, on pain of forfeiting Three shillings four pence for every pair made, sold, or put to sale, and the value of them besides. The Offender to be bound over to answer the same at the Sessions of Peace. Stat. 1 Car. 1. cap. 1. Reciting, That the holy keeping the Lord's Day is a principal part of the true Service of God, Enacts That there shall be no Meetings or Concourse of People on that Day out of their own Parishes for any Sports or Pastimes whatsoever; Nor any Bear-beating, Interludes, or other unlawful Exercises and Pastimes used by any within their own Parishes. The Offender to forfeit Three shillings four pence to the Poor of the Parish where the said Offence is committed. A justice of Peace upon view, or the Parties confession, or proof upon Oath, shall grant a Warrant to the Constables or Churchwardens to levy the said Penalty by Distress and Sale of the Offenders Goods. In default of Distress, he is to sit Three hours in the Stocks. The Offender must be questioned within a Month. 3 Car. 1. cap. 1. No Carrier with Horses or Wagons, nor Carman with Carts, nor Drover with , shall travel on the Lord's Day on forfeiture of Twenty shillings. No Butcher by himself, or other, to kill or sell Victual, on forfeiture of Six shillings eight pence; being done in view of a justice of Peace, or proved by two Witnesses upon Oath, or the Parties confession; The said Penalties to be levied by the Constable or Churchwarden by Warrant from the said justice, by Distress and Sale of the Offenders Goods, rendering the Overplus, and to go to the Poor of the Parish where the Offence is committed, Except what the said justice shall give (not exceeding a third part) for a Reward to the Informer or Prosecutor. The Offender must be questioned within Six Months. Both those Acts continued per Stat. 17 Car. 1. cap. 4. 29 Car. 2. Entitled for Observation of the Lord's Day. All Persons on that Day to apply themselves to the Observation thereof, by Exercising themselves thereon in the Duties of Piety and true Religion publicly and privately. And that no Tradesman or other, Exercise worldly Labour, or Work of their ordinary Callings (Works of Necessity and Charity excepted) Offenders (being of the Age of Fouriéen) to forfeit Five shillings. None publicly to cry or show Wares, Fruit, etc. on pain to forfeit the Goods. No Drover, Horse-courser, Waggoner, Butcher, Higler, or their Servants, to travel or come to their Inn, on pain to forfeit Twenty shillings. Boats not to be used on that Day unless on extraordinary Occasions to be allowed by a justice of the Peace, on forfeiture of Five shillings. Upon conviction by view of a justice of Peace, or confession, or a Witnesses Oath, the justice shall give a Warrant to the Constable or Churchwardens where the Offence is committed, to seize and sell the Goods cried or put to sale, and levy the other Forfeitures by Distress. In default of Distress, or the Offenders Ability to pay, to set them in the Stocks for Two hours. A third of the Forfeitures the justice may give to the Informer, and the Residue given to the Poor of the Parish where the Offence is committed. Dressing and selling Meat in Inns, Victualling Houses, etc. for such as cannot otherwise be provided, and crying of Milk before Nine in the Morning and after Four, Excepted. Prosecution must be within Ten days after the Offence. If any Travelling on the Lord's Day be rob, the Hundred not liable; yet nevertheless shall make fresh Suit upon Hue and Cry. No Writ, Process, Order, Warrant, etc. except for Breach of the Peach, shall be served on that Day. Tippling. 1 Jac. 9 IF any Inn-kéeper, victualler, or Alehouse-kéeper permit any Person dwelling in the same City or Town, to continue drinking or Tippling in his House, (unless invited by a Traveller, and accompanying him only during his necessary abode there, and except labouring and handicraftsmen upon the usual working days for an hour at dinner time, and except Labourers, who for following their Work in any Town, shall sojourn or victual there, and except for necessary occasions to be allowed by Two justices of the Peace) he shall for every Offence forfeit Ten shillings for the Poor of the Parish; the same being seen by a justice of the Peace, or proved before him by Two Witnesses. The said Penalty to be levied by the Constable or Churchwardens of the Parish where the Offence is committed, by Distress, to be apprized and sold, if the Penalty be not paid within Six days, and the Surplus returned to the owner. For want of sufficient Distress, the justice may commit the Offender to the Common Goal, to remain till the Penalty paid. Constables and Churchwardens neglecting to levy the Penalties, or to certify to a justice within Twenty days if no Distress, shall forfeit Forty shillings for the Poor of the Parish, to be levied by Distress by Warrant from a justice of Peace, the same, if payment be not made in Six days, to be apprized and sold as before. Drunkenness. 4 Jac. cap. 5. EVery Person that shall be drunk, and thereof lawfully convicted, shall forfeit Five shillings, to be paid within one Wèek after his Conviction to the Churchwardens of the Parish where the Offence shall be committed, to the use of the Poor. Upon refusal or neglect then to pay it, to be levied upon his Goods by Warrant from the Court, judge, or justices before whom the Conviction shall be. If he be not able to pay, then to be committed to the Stocks for Six hours. Constable or other Officer, to whom it shall be given in Charge by Precept of the Mayor or justices of the Peace within their Limits, neglecting to Correct the Offender, or Levy the Penalty, to forfeit Ten shillings to the Poor of that Parish, to be levied by Distress upon Warrant from such Mayor, or justices, or Court where the Conviction shall be. Tippling. IF any Person continue drinking or tippling in any jun, Victualing-house or Alehouse, in the same City or Town where he dwells, and the same being viewed by a justice of Peace, or proved as is directed by the aforesaid Statute of 1 Jac. (unless in Cases excepted in the said Act) he shall forfeit for every Offence Three shillings four pence to the use of the Poor of the Parish where the Offence is committed, to be levied by Distress in like manner as is before appointed for being drunk. If the Offender, being lawfully convicted, be not able to pay, any justice of Peace, or the Court where the Conviction shall be, may set the Offender in the Stocks for Four hours. Drunkenness. ANy Person once lawfully convicted of Drunkenness, and after that lawfully convicted again of the like Oftence, shall be bound with Two Sureties in a Recognizance, or Bond of Ten pounds, to be of the Good Behaviour. Persons to be presented, indicted, or convicted within Six Months after the Offence, upon this Statute. Stat. 21 Jac. cap. 7. The aforesaid Statutes of 1 & 4 Jac. made perpetual. Where proof of Two Witnesses is required by the said Two Statutes, One shall be sufficient. Voluntary Confession of the Party (before such Persons as by the said Acts are to minister the Oath) shall suffice to convict him. After his Confession, his Oath shall be proof against another Offender. Tippling. IF any person, wherever his dwelling is, shall be found upon view, or his own confession, or proof of one Witness, to be tippling in any Inn, Alehouse or Victualing-house, he shall incur the like Penalty, and to be levied and disposed as in the said former A●t is expressed concerning such as there inhabit. The Offenders confession (before such as by the former Statutes are to minister the Oath) shall convict himself, and his Oath afterwards shall be proof against another. Any justice of Peace, upon his view, the Parties confession, or Oath of one Witness, may convict any person of drunkenness, whereby he shall incur the forfeiture of Five shillings, to be levied, or the Offender punished, as in the former Statutes appointed. And for the second Offence he shall be bound to the Good Behaviour. If an Alehouse-kéeper be lawfully convict of an Offence against this or the two former Statutes, he shall for Three pears after be disabled to keep such Alehouse. 1 Car. 1. cap. 4. Every Inn-kéeper, Alehouse-kéeper, and other victualler permitting any person, not inhabiting in the City where the Inn or Victualing-house is, to tipple therein, contrary to the intent of the Statutes of 1 Jac. 9 & 4 Jac. 5. he shall incur the Penalty appointed by the said Statute of 1 Jac. for permitting such to tipple as dwell in the City. Keepers of Caverns, and such as sell Wine in their Houses, and also keep Inns or Victualling in their Houses, shall be taken to be within this and the said two former Statutes. Swearing. 21 Jac. cap. 20. IF any person shall profanely Swear or Curse either in the hearing of a justice of the Peace, or be convicted thereof before him by the Oaths of Two Witnesses, or the party's confession, he shall for every time offending forfeit and pay Twelve pence to the use of the Poor of the Parish where the Offence is committed. The Constable, Churchwardens, or Overséers of the Poor of that Parish, to levy the same by Warrant from such justice of the Peace by Distress and Sale of the Offenders Goods, rendering him the Overplus. In default of Distress, the Offender (if above Twelve years old) shall by Warrant from such justice be set in the Stocks Three hours; if under Twelve, be whipped by the Constable, Parent, or Mastec, by Warrant of such justice in his presence. This continued 17 Car. 1. cap. 4. Beggars. 39 Eliz. cap. 4. ALL Rogues, Vagabonds, or sturdy Beggars (which all idle persons going about to beg arse by the said Statute declared to be) taken begging, vagrant, wand'ring, or misordering themselves, shall upon their Apprehension, by the appointment of a justice of Peace, or Constable, of the County or Parish where such person shall be taken, be stripped naked from the middle upward, and be openly whipped tilt his or her Body be bloody; and shall be forthwith sent from Parish to Parish the next straight way to the Parish where he was born, if the same may be known by the party's confession, or otherwise: And if the same be not known, then to the Parish where he or she last dwelled, before the same Punishment, by the space of one whole year, there to put him or herself to labour; Or not being known where he or she was born or last dwelled, then to the Parish through which they last passed without punishment. After which whipping the same person shall have a Testimonial under the Hand and Seal of the justice of Peace and Constable, testifying the time and place of his or her punishment, and the place whether they are limited to go, and by what time they are to pass thither: And if the said person, through his or her default, do dot accomplish the order given in the said Testimonial, then to be taken again and whipped, and so as oft as there shall be such default. The party so whipped, and not known where he or she was born or last dwelled by the space of a year, shall by the Officer of the place where he or she last passed through without punishment, be conveyed to the House of Correction, there to be employed in work till he or she shall be placed in some Service, and so to continue for a year, or (if not able of Body) till placed in some Almshouse. If the Constable do not his best endeavour for apprehending every such Vagabond, Rogue, or sturdy Beggar, and cause them to be punished and conveyed according to this Act, he shall forfeit Ten shillings. If any person disturb or let the Execution hereof, he shall forfeit Five pounds, and be bound to the Good Behaviour. The said Forfeitures to be employed for Maintenance of the House of Correction, or Relief of the Poor where the Offence shall be committed, at the discretion of the justices of the Peace, and be levied by Warrant of Two justices by Distress and Sale of the Offenders Goods upon the party's confession, or proof by Two Witnesses before Two justices. This not to extend to Children under Seven years, nor to Seafaring-men suffering Shipwreck, having a Pass from a justice of Peace near the place where he landed, but that they may beg in their Passage. 1 Jac. cap. 7. All persons shall apprehend such Rogues, Vagabonds, and sturdy Beggars, as they shall see resort to their Houses to beg, and cause them to be carried to the next Constable, on pain to forfeit Ten shillings, to be levied and employed, and upon like proof and conviction as is appointed by the said former Act. The Constable not causing the said Rogues, Vegabonds, or sturdy Beggars to be punished and conveyed (as above directed) shall forfeit Twenty shillings for every default, to be levied and employed, as before. Both these Statutes are continued 21 Jac. cap. 28. 3 Car. 1. cap. 4. & 17 Car. 1. cap. 4. LONDON, Printed by S. Roycroft, Printer to the Honourable City. 1687.