The Articles of the charge of the Wardmote Enquest.  

Peace.  Ye shall swear, that ye shall truly inquire, if the peace of the King our Sovereign Lord be not kept as it ought to be, and in whose default, and by whom it is broken or disturbed.  

Frank pledge.  2 Also if any man be received within this ward, but if he be under free pledge, that is to say, be sworn afore the Alderman at his Court, or else afore the said Alderman between this and the Monday next after the Feast of the Epiphany next coming.  

Outlaws, Traitors, Felons, etc.  3 Also if there dwell any man within the ward, that is outlawed, or indicted of treason or felony, or be any receiver of Traitors or Felons.  

Thames.  4 Also ye shall inquire and truly present all the offences and defaults done by any person or persons within the River of Thames, according to the intent and purport of an Act made by our late Sovereign Lord King Edward the sixth in his high Court of Parliament, and also of diverse other things ordained by Act of common Council of this City, for the redress and amendment of the said River, which as now is in great decay and ruin, and will be in short time past all remedy, if high and substantial provision, and help be not had with all speed and diligence possible, as more plainly appeareth in the said Act of Parliament, and the said Act of common Council of this City.  

Congregations.  5 Also if any manner person make congregation, or be receiver or gatherer of evil companies.  

Ryotor, Barator.  6 Also if any man be a common riotor, or a barator walking by nightertaile without light, against the rule and custom of this City.  

Peace, hue and cry.  7 Also if there be any man within this ward, that will not help, aid, ne secure the Constables, Bedle, and other ministers of this City in keeping of the peace, and arrest the evil doers with rearing of hue and cry.  

Hucksters, receivers of Apprentices, Artificers, etc.  8 Also if there be any Huckster of Ale or Beer, that commonly useth to receive and Apprentices, servants artificers or labourers, that commonly use to play at the dice, cards, or tables, contrary to the form of the Statute in that case ordained and provided.  

Inholder, Taverner, Victualler.  9 Also if there be any Inholder, Taverner, Brewer, Huckster, or other Victualler, that hold open their houses after the hour limited by the Mayor.  

Curfue.  10 Also, if any parish Clerk ring the bell, called the Curfue bell, after Curfue rungen at the Churches of Bow, Barking Church, S. Brides and S. Giles without Cripplegate.  

Bawds, maintainers of quarrels, etc.  11 Also, ye shall inquire if any putour that is to say, man-bawd or woman-bawd, common hazerdours, contectour, maintainer of quarrels, champertours, or embracers of Inquests, or other common misdoers, be dwelling within this ward, and present their names.  

Strumpet, Adulterer, witch, Scold.  12 Also, if any bawd, common strumpet, common adulterer, witch, or common scold be dwelling within this ward.  

Hot-house.  13 Also, if there be any house, wherein is kept and holden any hothouse, or sweating-house, for ease and health of men, to the which be resorting or conversant any strumpets, or women of evil name or fame; or if there be any hothouse or sweeting ordained for women, to the which is any common recourse of young men, or of other persons of evil fame and suspect conditions.  
14 Also, if there be any such persons, that keep or hold any such hothouses, either for men or women, and have found no surety to the Chamberlain for their good and honest behaviour, according to the Laws of this City, and lodge any manner person by night, contrary to the ordinance thereof made, by the which he or they shall forfeit twenty pounds to the Chamber, if they do the contrary.  

Thames, ditches, streets, etc.  15 Also, if any manner of person, cast or lay dung, ordure, rubbish, seacole dust, rushes, or any other thing noyant, in the River of Thames, Walbrooke, Fleet, or other ditches of this City, or in the open streets, ways, or lanes within this City.  

channel.  16 Also, if any person, after a great rain falleth, or at any other time sweep any dung, ordure, rubbish, rushes, seacole dust, or any other thing noyant, down into the channel of any street or lane, whereby the common course there is let, and the same things noyant driven thereby down into the said water of Thames.  

Hogs, Oxen, Kine, Ducks, etc.  17 Also, if any manner person nourish Hogs, Oxen, Kine, Ducks, or any Beasts within this ward, to the grievance and disease of their neighbours.  

Usurer.  18 Also, if any Usurers or false Chevesancers be dwelling within this ward.  

Persons indicted in one Ward, flying into another.  19 Also, where afore this time it is ordained and enacted, as hereafter followeth. Item, for to eschew the evils of misgoverned persons, that daily when they be indicted in one ward, fly into another: It is ordained by the Mayor & Aldermen, that as soon as a man or woman suspect, first do come to dwell within any house, in any ward within the City, the Constables, Beadles, or other officers of the same, shallbe charged by their oaths at the general Court, to inquire and espy from whence they come. And if they find by their own confession, or by the record of any of the Books of any Alderman of the City, that they be indicted or cast of evil and noyous life, and will not find surety for their good abearing and honest governance to the Alderman for the time being, that then they shall not dwell there from thenceforth but shall be warned to avoid within three or four days or more or less after, as it shall be seen to the Aldermen of the ward for the said time being; and that the Landlord that letteth the house, or his Attorney, shall be also warned to make them to avoid out of his house aforesaid, within the time limited by the Alderman. And if they be found there after the time, that then not only the said dishonest persons shall have imprisonment of their bodies, after the discretion of the Mayor and Aldermen; but also the said Landlords, letters of the said houses, shall forfeit to the Guildhall, as much as they should have had for jetting of the said house, or should be paid by the year, if the said persons or other had dwelled in the said house.  

Colouring foreign goods.  20 Also, if any Freeman against his oath made, conceal, cover, or colour the goods of Foreigners, by the which the King may in any wise lose, or the Franchises of this City be imblemished.  

Foreign buying and selling.  21 Also, if any Foreign buy or sell with any other Foreign within this City, or Suburbs thereof, any goods or merchandizes, the same goods or merchandizes be forthwith forfeit to the use of the Commonalty of this City.  

Freemen not resident.  22 Also, if every Freeman, which receiveth or taketh the benefit, and enjoyeth the Franchises of this City, be continually dwelling out of this City, and hath not, ne will not (after his oath made) be at scot and lot, nor partner to the charges of this City, for the worship of the same City, when he is duly required.  

Orphans, Wards, Marriages.  23 Also, if any man conceal the goods of Orphans of this City, of whom the ward and marriage of right belongeth to the Mayor and Aldermen of this City.  

Officers.  24 And if any Officer by colour of his office, do extortion to any man, or be maintainer of quarrels against right, or take carriage, or arrest victual unduely.  

Boatmen. Ferriour.  25 Also, if any Boatman or Ferriour be dwelling in the ward, that taketh more for Boat-manage or Ferriage than is ordained.  

Purprestures, Penthouse, jetties, etc.  26 Also, it any man make Purprestures, that is to say, encroach or take of the common ground of this City, by land or by water, as in walls, pales, stales stoops, grieces, or doors of cellars, or in any other like, within the ward, or if any porch, penthouse, or jetty be too low, in letting of men that ride beside, or carts that go thereforth.  

Penthouses, stalls, etc.  27 Also, that pentises and ietties be at the least of the height of nine foot, and that the stales be not but of two foot & an half in breadth, and to be flexible or movable, that is to say, to hang by jemewes' or Garnets', so that they may be taken up and let down.  

Way, watercourse.  28 Also, if any common way, or common course of water be foreclosed or letted, that it may not have his course as it was wont, to the annoyance of the Ward and by whom it is done.  

Pavements.  29 Also, if any pavement be defective, or too high in one place, and too low in another, to the disturbance of riders, and goers thereby, and carts that go thereupon.  

Regrators, Forestallers.  30 Also, if any Regrator or Forestaller of victual, or of any other merchandizes which should come to this City to be sold, be dwelling within this ward. A Regrator is as much as to say, as he that buyeth up all the victual or merchandizes, or the most part thereof when it is come to the City, or the Suburbs of the same, of a low price, and then afterward selleth it at his own pleasure, at a high and excessive price. A Forestaller is he that goeth out of the City, and meeteth with the victual or merchandise by the way, coming to the City to be sold, and there buyeth it, both these be called in the Law, Inimici publici patriae, which is to say, Open enemies to a country.  

Price of victual.  31 Also, if any Butcher, Fishmonger, Poulter, Vintner, Hostler, Look, or seller of victual, do sell victual at unreasonable prices.  

Hay.  32 Also, if any Ostler sell hay, oats, or provender at excessive prices, taking greater gain thereby, than is reasonable and lawful.  

Victuals unwholesome. Price.  33 Also, if any victualler sell any victuals not covenable, or unwholesome for man's body, or else dearer than is proclaimed by the Mayor.  

Measures unsealed.  34 Ye shall diligently make search and inquiry, whether there be any Vintner, Inholder, Alehousekeeper, or any other person or persons whatsoever within your ward, that do use or keep in his or their house or houses, any Cans, stone-pots, or other measures which be unsealed, and by law not allowed to sell beer or ale thereby, and whether they do sell any of their best beer or ale, above a penny a quart: or any small ale or beer, above a half penny a quart: and whether any of them do sell by any measure not sealed. If there be any such, you shall seize them, and send them to the Guildhall, to the Chamberlains office, and present their names and faults by Indenture, so oft as there shall be any occasion so to do.  

Weights and Measures.  35 Ye shall also make search in the shops and houses of all the Chandler's and of all others, which sell by weight or measure dwelling within your ward, and see that their scales be not one heavier than the other, & that their weights and measures, as well bushels as lesser measures, as well those that they sell seacoles by (which ought to be heaped) that they be in breadth according to the new standard, sealed as all others: and that all yards and else, that they be their just lengths and sealed, that the poor and other his Majesty's subjects be not deceived. And further if any do buy by one weight or measure, and sell by others. And if in your search, you find any false Weights, Measures, or Scales, ye shall seize them, and send them to the Guildhall to the Chamberlain. And you shall also do the like if you shall find any that do sell any thing by Venice weights, contrary to the law and his Majesty's proclamations, present their names and faults.  

Inholder, Browne-Baker.  36 Also, if any Inholder bake any bread to sell within his house, and if any Baker of sour bread, bake white bread to sell, or mark not his bread or else take more for the baking then three pence for a bushel.  

House, Tyle.  37 Also, ye shall inquire, if any house be covered otherwise than with tile, stone, lead, for peril of fire.  

Leper, Beggar.  38 Also, if any Leper, Faitour, or mighty beggar be dwelling within this ward.  

Bakers, Brewers, Fire.  39 Also, if any Baker or Brewer bake or brew with straw, or any other thing which is perilous for fire.  

Painted visage.  40 Also, if any man go with painted visage.  

Candle-light.  41 Also, if there be any man that hangeth not out a Lantern with a candle therein burning, after the usage, according to the commandment thereupon given.  
42 Also, if any person bring, or cause to be brought to this City, or the Liberties thereof, to be sold, or sell, offer or put to sale, any Tallwood, Billets, Faggots, or other firewood, not being of the full assize which the same aught to hold.  

Wood, Country.  43 Also, if any Freeman of this City, use to resort into the countries near to this City, and there to engross and buy up much Billet, Tallwood, Faggot, Tosard, or other firewood, and convey the same by water unto this City, and there lay it upon their wharfes and other places, and so keep it till they may sell it at high and excessive prices, at their own wills.  
44 Also, if any Woodmonger, or any other, sell any Billets or other firewood, above the price set by the Lord Mayor.  

Cheese, Butter.  45 Also, if any Citizen of this City by himself, or any other person for him, or to his use, use to resort into the country, and there buy and engross great quantity of cheese and butter, as well barrelled as otherwise, and after convey it by water or otherwise to this City to be sold at dear and excessive prices.  

Freemen to ●ew their topics.  46 Also, for as much as it is thought, that diverse and many persons dwelling within the Liberties of this City, daily occupy as Freemen, whereas indeed they be none, nor never were admitted into the Liberties of this City, Ye shall therefore require every such person dwelling within this ward, whom ye shall suspect of the same, to show you the Copy of his Freedom, under the seal of Office of the Chamberlain of the said City, and such as ye shall find without their Copies, or deny to show their Copies, ye shall write and present their names in your Indentures.  

Melting tallow.  47 Also, you shall inquire and truly present all such persons as use melting of tallow, contrary to an Act of common Council, in that case made and provided.  

Fire-presses.  48 Also, you shall truly present all persons which have or use any Fire-presses within the said City, or Liberties of the same, for pressing or dressing of neither stocks, woollen clothes, or other things.  
49 Also, you shall inquire of all Armourers and other Artificers, using to work in Mettle, which have, or use any Reardorses, or any other places, dangerous or perilous for fire.  

Appraisers.  50 Also, if any have appraised any goods of any Freeman deceased, leaving behind him any Orphan or Orphans, and the Appraisers not sworn before the Lord Mayor, or the Aldermen of the ward.  

Beam.  51 Also, if any Freeman buy any wares or merchandizes unweighed, which ought to be weighed at the King's Beam, of any stranger or foreign free of the Liberties of this City, contrary to the Act of common Council in that case made and provided.  

Clothes.  52 Also, if any buy or sell any cloth or clothes in the house, shop, warehouse, or other place of any Clothworker, or other person, against any ordinance or custom of this City: or if any Clothworker or other do receive or harbour any clothes before the same be brought to Blackwell-hall, contrary to the ordinance made in that behalf.  

Carmen.  53 Also, if any Carman take any money for carriage of any goods, wares, or merchandizes, above the rates ordained.  

Building, divided houses. Inmates.  54 Also, if any make or cause to be made any new building or buildings, or divide or cause to be divided any house or houses, or receive any Inmate or Inmates, contrary to the King's Majesty's Proclamation, or contrary to Law, or any Statute of this Realm.  

Hawkers.  55 Also, if any be dwelling within this ward, which do offer or put to sale any wares or merchandizes in the open streets or lanes of this City, or go from house to house to sell the same, commonly called hawkers, contrary to the Act made in that behalf.  

Freedom.  56 Also, if any have covenously, fraudulently, or unduely obtained the freedom of this City.  

Collectors.  57 Also, if any Collector of Fifteenths or other duties for the public service of the King or of this City, do retain in his hands any part of the money collected to his own use.  

Women receivers of servants.  58 Ye shall also inquire if there be dwelling within your ward any woman-broker, such as resort to men's houses, demanding of their maidservants, if they do like of their services: if not then they tell them they will help them them to a better service, and so allure them to come from their Masters to their houses, where they abide as borders till they be provided for. In which time it falleth out, that by lewd young men that resort to those houses, they be oftentimes made harlots to their utter undoing, and the great hurt of the Commonwealth: wherefore if any such be, you shall present them, that order may be taken for reformation.  

Privies.  59 Also, if any have or use any common Privy, having issue into any common Sewer of the City.  

Vagabonds.  60 And if any Constable, Beadle, or other Officer be negligent or remiss in discharging his duty, touching the execution of the Statute made for punishment of rogues, vagabonds, and sturdy beggars, or otherwise, and wherein the default is.  

Poor.  61 Also, if any to whom the execution of the Statute made for relief of the poor doth appertain, be remiss in discharging his duty touching the execution of the same Statute, and wherein the default is.  

Legacies.  62 Also, if any Executor or other person retain in his hands any Legacy, sum of money, or other thing given to any charitable use.  

Drunkard, Whoremonger, Sabbath, jesuite, Seminary Priest, Secular priest, Popish, Recusant, Conseners, etc.  63 Ye shall inquire whether there be within your ward, any common Drunkard, Whoremonger, Blasphemer of God's holy name profaner of the Sabbath, jesuite, Seminary, or secular Priest, or any receiver, reliever, or maintainer of any of them, or any Popish Recusant, Cozener, or swaggering idle companion, such as cannot give account how they live: if there be any such, you shall present them, and the names of those that lodge them, or aid them.  
64 Ye shall also inquire whether any person or persons do or shall say or sing Mass within your ward, or be present at any Mass.  

Mass, Roman catholic Religion.  65 Also, if any person or persons within your ward being evil affected, do or shall extol the Roman Catholic Religion above the Religion professed and established by the King's Majesty's authority in England, or do, or shall deprave the Religion now professed in this Realm by authority as above, which may breed discord in the City, and dissension in the Commonwealth, ye shall carefully present the same persons, and their offences.  
66 Also, if any person or persons that keepeth horses in their houses, do lay his or their stable dung, or such kind of stinking filth in any streets or lanes of this City to the great annoyance of the people passing that way, & do not lead his dung-cart at his Stable door, as he ought to do.  

Assemble monthly.  67 You shall assemble yourselves once every month, or oftener if need require, so long as you shall continue of this Inquest, and present the defaults which you shall find to be committed concerning any of the articles of your charge, to the end due remedy may be speedily supplied, and the offenders punished, as occasion shall require.  
68 And in making your presentments, your Clerk is carefully to write the Christian name, surname, and Addition or calling of every offender, and the name of the parish wherein the offence was committed, and some certain time how long the offence hath been continued; and in presenting any persons for dividing houses or Inmates, to write the names and addition of the present Landlord receiving the rents, and the names of the Tenants in possession; and of the Inmate in any house; and also to write in the Margin on the side of every presentment the name or names upon whose evidence you make such presentment.  
God save the King.   

London printed by Robert Young, Printer to the Honourable City of London.