Rules and Qualifications, to be observed in the Admission of CHILDREN into CHRIST-HOSPITAL this Year, 1683/4.  
I. THAT no Child be taken in, but such as are the Children of Freemen of this City.  
II. That no Child be taken in, under the Age of Seven Years.  
III. That no Children be taken in, but such as are Orphans, wanting either Father, or Mother, or both.  
IV. That none be taken in that are Foundlings, or that are maintained at the Parish Charge.  
V. That none be taken in that are Lame, Crooked, or Deformed, nor that have any Infectious Disease, as the Leprosy, Scald-head, Itch, Scab, or that have the Evil or Rupture.  
VI That none be admitted, but such as are without any probable means of being provided for other ways, nor without a due Certificate from the Minister, Churchwardens, and three or four of the principal Inhabitants of the Parish from whence such Children came, certifying of the Poverty and Inability of the Parent living, (if any be living) to maintain and provide for such Children, and the true Age of the said Child: And engaging to discharge the Hospital of them before or after the Age of Fifteen Years, if a Boy; and before and after the Age of Fourteen Years, if a Girl; which shall be left to the Governors' pleasure to do, both by the Parent if any, and Minister and Churchwardens aforesaid; so that it shall be wholly in the Power of the Hospital, to dispose of such Children, or to return them to the Parent or Parish, as aforesaid, as to the Hospital shall seem good.  
VII. That no Children be taken in that hath a Brother or Sister admitted into the Charge of the Hospital.  
Lastly, To the end, no Children may be admitted contrary to the rules abovesaid, when the General Court shall direct the taking in of any Children; before such Children be admitted, they shall be presented to a Committee, consisting of the Precedent, Treasurer, the Almoners, Renters, Scruitenors', and Auditors, and all other Governors to be Summoned at the first time, and so to Adjourn from time to time; and that they or any Thirteen or more of them, whereof the Precedent or Treasurer, for the time being, to be one, who shall strictly examine, touching the Age, Birth, and Quality of such Children, and of the Truth of such Certificate; and when the Committee shall find cause, they shall forbid or suspend the taking in of any Child or Children presented, until they receive full satisfaction, that such Child or Children is duly qualified, according to the Rules abovementioned.  
That such Child or Children as shall be presented to be admitted, in pursuance of the Will of any Benefactor, shall be examined by the said Committee, who are to take care, that such Child or Children be qualified according to the Wills of the Donors or Benefactors, (as near as may consist with such Wills) agreeing to the Qualifications above.