HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon (of the House of Stuart)  
 blazon of the City of London  
Commune Concilium tentum in Camera Guildhall, Civitatis London, tricesimo primo die Augusti, anno Regni Domini nostri, JACOBI nunc Regis, Angliae, Franciae, & Hibern. Fidei Defensor. etc. decimo nono. Coram Francisco Jones milite, Majore Civitat. London, Heanagio Finch Armigero, Recordatore ejusdem Civitat Thoma Bennet milite, Thoma Low milite Johanne Leman 〈◊〉 Alexandro, Prescot, Martino Lumley, Willielmo Gore, Willielmo Holliday, Hugone Hamarsly, Jacobo Cambel, & Nicholas Aldermannis, ac Edwardo Allen, & Roberto Ducy Aldermannis, & Vicecomit● 〈…〉 Civitatis 〈◊〉 majori parte Commun … 〈◊〉 Civitatis existent. assemblant. etc.  
FOrasmuch as the due execution of the place and Office of Constable hath of late been more neglected then heretofore, aswell for that by reason that men of ability and the better sort, are for small fines discharged of that service: as also for that such as are Constables are not ready to be found, and many times turn the services which themselves ought to perform, to inferior ministers.  
For reformation whereof, and for the better direction and ordering of the election of Constables within this City and Liberties, and Suburbs thereof, It is ordained and enacted by the right Honourable the Lord Maior, and the right Worshipful the Aldermen his Brethren, and the Commons in this common Council assembled, and by the authority of the same, That no person shall be from henceforth freed or exempted from bearing the Office of Constable within any the precincts of this City, or the Liberties thereof, if he be thereunto duly elected (except Strangers born, and such as by the Laws of this Land ought to be exempted bu● shall undergo and serve the same Office in his own person, and shall be sworn for the due execution thereof. Nevertheless, if any person hereafter to be chosen Constable, shall after such Oath taken, make known to the Alderman of the Ward, within which precinct he shall be chosen Constable for the time being, or to the Deputy or Deputies, and common Council of the same Ward, That he is not able to execute the same, in regard of age, or weakness of body, or by reason of some necessary affairs beyond the Seas, or other occasion: and that they, or the greater number of them, shall allow of such cause: If then such person so elected shall procure a fit person, such as shall be allowed and approved of by such Alderman, Deputy or Deputies, and common Council of such Ward, or the greater number of them, to serve him, and as his deputy in the Office of Constable, than such person so to be procured, shall be admitted and sworn to serve the same place and Office.  
And it is further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Constable or his deputy to be allowed and sworn as aforesaid, shall watch in his own person as his turn or watch night cometh about, and shall not put in his place the Beadle of the Ward, or some one of the watchmen, as hath too commonly been accustomed, except such Constable or deputy shall be then sick, or hindered or letted by any reasonable or lawful cause.  
And for that the Ward of Faringdon without is very spacious, and many dangerous & suspected persons inhabit, lodge, and resort thither, It is therefore ordained and enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the sixteen Constables of the said Ward, shall by two in a night (within their precincts) watch in several places of the said ward, viz: One on S. Sepulchers side, and the other on Fleetstreet side. And that the several Deputies of the several wards may have, from the Chamber of London, printed Passports to be delivered to the several Constables or their deputies, as cause shall require, to pass and send away such rogues and vagrants as appear not to be incorrigible, from Constable to Constable, to the proper place of their abode, according to the Statute in that behalf made.  
And forasmuch as the City generally is more full of able and sufficient men to bear the Office of Constable, then hath been heretofore, It is therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any Constable hereafter be chosen and sworn, and shall have served one year in precincts where they have formerly been chosen two years before, and that there be sufficient choice of men in the precincts, Then the Inhabitants within the several precincts may have liberty at their pleasure, to excuse and dispense with that Constable for his second years service: provided, That he pay towards the necessary charges and service of the ward, in any extraordinary accidents or occasions, such sum of money, and not exceeding five pounds, as by the Alderman, his Deputy, and common Council men or the greater part of them shall be appointed, the same to be paid to to the Churchwardens of the Parish wherein the said precinct is, to the use of the ward, and to be called for by the Alderman, or his Deputy or Deputies, when occasion shall require.  
And it is further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That such persons as now serve, or hereafter shall be chosen to the place of common Council men, in the several wards of this City and Liberties thereof, if they shall alter their habitations from the ward wherein they were so chosen to another ward, that then they shall not be chosen in that second Ward, to inferior place of Scavenger or Constable, nor be returned by the Wardmote Inquest, to be of the grand or petty juries, if there shall be other able and sufficient men to serve and supply those places and services; any thing heretofore used to the contrary notwithstanding.  
G●●●a●● the King   

Printed by Robert Young, Printer to the Honourable City of LONDON, Anno Dom. 1640.