blazon of the Old Bailey  blazon of the City of London  
London ss. Ad deliberationem Gaolae Domini Regis de Newgate tentam pro Civitate London, apud justice-hall in le Old Bailie, in parochia Sancti Sepulchri in Warda de Faringdon extra London, die Mercurii, scilicet decimo sexto die Aprilis, Anno Regni Domini nostri Caroli, dei gratia Angliae, Scotiae, Franciae, & Hiberniae Regis, fidei defensoris, etc. vicesimo primo; Coram Thoma Atkin Majore Civitatis London, Nicholas Raynton milite, Isaaco Pennington locum-tenen. Turris London uno Aldermanorum dicte Civitatis, johanne Wollaston milite, johanne Glynne Recordatore dicte Civitatis London, johanne Cordell milite, uno Aldermannorum dicte Civitatis London, Thoma Soame milite altero Aldermannorum dicte Civitatis London, johanne Gayer, milite altero Aldermannorum dicte Civitatis London, & aliis sociis suis justiciariis dicti domini Regis ad Gaolam suam de Newgate de prisonibus in eadem existentibus dliberand. assignatis.  
FOr the better ordering, establishment and service of the Watches, to be from henceforth duly observed and kept within the City of London and Liberties thereof: It is Ordered and declared by this Court as followeth, viz.  
1. That the number of men to watch every night in every Ward throughout this City and liberties shall be as hereafter is expressed, viz.  
Algate 34 Dukes place 10 Aldersgate 44 Martin le Grand 12 Bishopsgate 80 Broadstreete 30 Billingsgate 30 Bridge within 25 Bassingshaw 12 Breadstreete 26 Cornhill 16 Candlewicke 24 cordwainer 24 Cheap 25 Colemanstreete 32 Cripplegate within 40 Cripplegate without 90 Castle Baynard 40 Dowgate 36 Farringdon within 50 Muckwellstreete 4 Blackefryers 14 Farringdon without 130 White friars 8 Bridewell Precinct 8 Bartholomew the Great 10 Bartholomew the Less 4 Limestreete 11 Langborne 34 Portsoken 60 Queenehithe 40 Towerstreete 40 Vintrey 34 Walbrooke 20  
2. That the Alderman, Deputy, and common-councel-men of every Ward, or the mayor part of them, shall appoint a certain place within the Ward where the Inhabitants that are so appointed to watch shall first meet, and shall also appoint to what places they shall afterwards go unto, to watch in the said Ward, and that the Beadles, the day preceding every watch, shall give to all the Constables of each Precinct in the Ward, a list of the names of every Inhabitant that is to watch each night in the several divisions of the said Ward, that every Constable may know what persons he is to warn to watch every several night, and that the Constable do the day before his watch night warn them accordingly. And this Court doth declare, that every Watchman of any of the Wards aforesaid, is to do his service in watching throughout the whole ward without limitation or confinement to any particular place or Precinct of that Ward. And the Inhabitants of every Ward are from henceforth to take notice hereof, and are Ordered and requested to do accordingly, notwithstanding any pretence of privilege to the contrary.  
3. That the Watches shall be set, and continued for the times by the Law appointed.  
4. That two, or more, honest able men shall be nominated in every Ward, by the Alderman, Deputy, and Common-council men or the mayor part of them for the time being, to take care, and oversee that the Watches appointed in every Ward, be from henceforth duly kept, and that the Constables, Beadle, and Watchmen, perform their duties, and therefore for that purpose a list shall be delivered unto the said Supervisors in writing under the hands of the Alderman, Deputy, and common-councel-men of the names and Surnames of the men so appointed to watch; and of the several places where they are assigned unto, to watch every night: Which said Supervisor shall take notice of the said Inhabitants that absent themselves at any time from watching. And likewise of such Constables, and Beadle as shall at any time be remiss or negligent in performance of their duties; and from time to time shall present the names of such defaulters to the Lord Mayor for the time being, or to some other of his Majesty's justices of the Peace, that punishment may be inflicted upon the said defaulters, according to law: And that the said Supervisors respectively (if occasion shall be) shall prosecute, and give in evidence against every such Delinquent where occasion shall require.  
5. That the Beadle shall in the presence of the Constable and one of the Supervisors so to be appointed, call over the names of those whose course shall be to watch each night respectively, as well at the hours appointed for their meeting in the evening, as also at the time appointed for the breaking up of the Watch in the morning. And that they the Beadle and Constables, or one of them in case the Supervisors be absent, at any of the said times shall take a note in writing of the names of such of the Inhabitants then appointed to watch, as shall be absent from their Watch at the hours appointed evening or morning, or any part of the night, and shall deliver the laid note the next day to the Supervisor, or Supervisors, that they may prosecute against them as afore is directed.   

Printed by Richard Cotes, Printer to the Honourable City of LONDON. 16. April 1645.