blazon or coat of arms By the Mayor.  blazon or coat of arms  
To the Alderman of the Ward of  
WHereas oftentimes heretofore, especially towards Winter the Evenings growing dark, many loose and vagrant persons have been found to wander about the streets and lanes and to lurk in corners within this City and Liberties thereof, and under colour of begging in the day time, have practised how to break into Houses, Shops, and other places in the night season, & in the mornings after the Watches are broken up, and thereby divers burglaries, robberies, felonies, and outrages are committed to the breach of the Peace of the commonwealth, & to the slander of the Government of this City; for the avoiding of which inconveniences and many others within this City and Liberties thereof. These are in the name of his highness the Lord Protector of the commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland and the dominions thereunto belonging, straightly to charge and command you, that from henceforth you cause a good and substantial Watch to be kept nightly within your Ward, to begin this winter season at nine of the clock in the Evening, and to continue until six of the clock in the Morning; And that once every week or oftener as shall be needful, and in as private manner as may be, you cause diligent search to be made in all inns, alehouses, Victualling-houses, houses of lodging and all other suspected places wherein your Ward, for any idle, loose, lewd and suspicious persons, and that they be brought before me or some other justice of the Peace within this City to be examined & dealt withal as to justice shall appertain. And that you cause the Beadle of your Ward from henceforth every night during the time appointed in that behalf, to give warning to the Inhabitants within your Ward for lantern and Candle light, to be by them set, and hanged forth in convenient places according to the ancient usage and order in that behalf. And that the same be duly continued until the first day of March next; And that I be certified from time to time, of the name, surnames, and dwelling places of all such as shall take default therein, to the intent that due punishment may be inflicted upon such as shall fail in the doing of what is required. And further that you take order that the lantern and Candle light, which is appointed for every Precinct be duly put forth and continued as by order is directed; And also that your Beadle and the Constables within your Ward make diligent search and inquiry from time to time, and that you certify me in writing of the names and dwelling places of all such Inmates or undersitters as now are or hereafter shall be received or harboured within your Ward; And likewise the names and surnames of such as shall receive or harbour them to the end they may be proceeded against according to Law, And further that you give present order to the Beadle of your Ward, to warn all the Inhabitants of the same to amend their Pavements where they are defective, and that the streets before their doors, shops and houses, be daily from time to time at their perils clean swept, pared and kept clean, and that no persons presume to lay their Sea-coal ashes in the streets, but that they bring the same in Baskets to the Raker, under the penalties in the several Acts of common-council of this City mentioned; And that I may be certified of such Constables, Scavengers, Yeomen of the channel, and other persons as shall make default in the performance of their several duties in the premises; And also that you cause certificate to be made unto me, to 〈◊〉 such persons as shall presume to keep Alehouses without Licence, and of such as shall suffer disorders in their houses being licenced: In all which you are to take especial care, that so thereby such order may be taken for reforming the several abuses within this City, as may be for the well governing and the quiet, peace, and safety of the same. And lastly, that you cause your Wardmote Inquest to meet once in every month, to oversee that all Weights, and Measures used in buying and selling be sealed, and according to the Standard: And that the Bakers, Brewers, and Typlers do keep the assize according to the Law, And that Butchers, and Victuallers do put to sail no other victual but such as shall be good and wholesome for man's body; And that they observe and do all other things, which according to their charge, and the duty of their places they are to do and perform. And that you take an account of your Beadle, and the Constab●es and other Officers within your Ward once every month at the least, or oftener as you see cause how they have performed their several duties herein: And that you take especial care that the orders aforesaid may be observed. And hereof not to fail as you tender the welfare and good government of this City.  
Dated this _____ of November. 1654.