An Act of Common Council, concerning the Preservation and cleansing of the River of Thames, made the eight and twentith day of September, in the thirtieth year of our Sovereign Lord King Henry the eight.  
WHere by the Statute made in the seven and twentith year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King Henry the eight, among other for reformation of the misordering of the River of Thames, by casting in Dung, or other filth, many great shelves and other rise have been of late grown and made within the same River: By reason whereof, many great breaches have ensued by occasion thereof: which of like shall be the occasion of the utter destruction of the said River, unless that the same Law, be put in due execution, according to the true intent and meaning thereof.  
Wherefore, for a further reformation of the same, and to the intent that the said good and wholesome Statute may be put in more execution, and better knowledge of the people: It is enacted by the authority of this Common Council, that Proclamation may be made within this said City, and the same to be put in writing, and Tables thereof made and set up in diverse places of this City, That it shall be lawful to every person or persons, to dig, carry away, and take away Sand, Gravel, or any Rubbish, Earth, or any thing lying, or being in any shelue or shelves within the said River of Thames, without let or interruption of any person or persons, and without any thing paying for the same: and after that, to sell the same away, or otherwise occupy or dispose the said Gravel, Sand, or other thing, at their free liberty and pleasure. And that all Paviers, Bricklayers, Tilers, Masons, and all other that shall occupy Sand, or Gravel, shall endeavour themselves, with all their diligence, to occupy the said Sand or Gravel, and none other, paying for the same reasonably, as they should and ought to pay for other Sand or Gravel, digged out of other men's grounds about the said City, which after is filled again with much filthy things, to the great infection of the Inhabitants of the said City, and all other repairing to the same. And that further, humble suit may be made to the King's Highness, That all persons having Lands or Tenements along the Riverside, upon certain pain by his Highness, and the Lords of his most Honourable Council, to be limited, shall well and sufficiently repair and maintain, all the Walls and Banks adjoining to their said Lands, so that the water may not, nor shall break in upon the same. And the same to be continued, until the time the said noble River be brought again to his old course and former estate. And that strong grates of Iron along the said water side, and also by the street side, where any watercourse is had into the said Thames, be made by the Inhabitants of every Ward, so along the said Water, as of old time hath been accustomed. And that every grate be in height, four and twenty inches at the least: or more, as the place shall need: and in breadth one from another, one inch. And the same to be done with all expedition and speed. And if the Occupiers of the said Lands and Tenements make default contrary to the ordinance aforesaid: or else if any person or persons, in great raines or other times, sweep their soylage or filth of their houses into the Channel and the same after is conveyed into the Thames, every person so offending, shall forfeit for every such default twenty pence: and that upon complaint to be made to any Constable next adjoining to the said place, where any such default shall be found, it shall be lawful for the said Constable or his sufficient Deputy for the time being, from time to time to distrain for the same offence. And to retain the same irreplegiable, and like law to be observed, and kept, and like penalty to be paid for every person, that burn rushes and straw in their houses, or wash in the common streets or Lanes, and to be recovered as aforesaid: and the one moiety thereof to be to the Mayor and Commonalty: and the other moiety to be divided between the said Constable that taketh pain, and the party finder of the said fault. And if the Constable or his Deputy for the time being refuse to do his duty according to the true meaning of this Act, That then the Constable or his Deputy, which shall so refuse to do his duty, as aforesaid, shall forfeit and pay for every time offending, three shillings and four pence. And the same penalty of the said Constable to be recovered and obtained by distress irreplegiable, to be taken by any of the Officers of the Chamber of London, to the use of the Mayor and Commonalty of London.  
And further, that no person or persons, having any Wharfe or house by the said waterside, make not their Laystals nigh to the river aforesaid, except only the common Laystalles, where the common Rakers of this City use to repose, and lay all their soylage, to be carried away by them with their Dung-boates. And that the said Rakers shall lay their said dung, carried in their dung-boats to such convenient place or places, as shall be appointed by the Lord Mayor of London for the time being, with the advice of his brethren the Aldermen of the same, and to none other place or places, upon pain to forfeit for every such default, five pound to be recovered in any of the King's Courts within the City of London, by Bill, Plaint, moiety of debt, or information by any person, that will or shall pursue for the same: the one moiety thereof to be to the Mayor and Commonalty of London, and the other moiety to him or them that will or shall pursue for the same: in which actions or suits, no wager of Law nor Essoile shall be allowed.  
God save the King.   

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