arms  arms By the Mayor.  
To the Alderman of the Ward of _____  
WHereas according to the directions of a late Ordinance made, amongst other things, for reforming the great defects in streets and pavements, Scavengers have been lately chosen within the several Parishes of your Ward, and accordingly sworn to execute that office: To the end therefore that the said several Scavingers within your Ward may diligently apply themselves to the execution of their office, and that none may pretend ignorance of their duty; These are to desire you that you cause speedy notice to be given by sending of copies of this Precept to the several Scavengers of the Parishes within your Ward, that they forthwith under the penalties mentioned in the said Ordinance speedily take an exact view of all the streets and lanes within their respective Parishes, and thereupon consider what defects are within their respective Parishes by defective Pavements, or by the Channels and Watercourses not having a good current, and what nuisances are committed by suffering Laystals, heaps of dirt and filth to lie in any Streets or Allies, and whether the said Mischiefs are occasioned by the neglect of any particular persons, and by them proper to be remedied, or whether the same abuses or any of them be fit for the whole Parish to contribute to the amendment of; and in that case what reparations will be needful to be made, and what sum of money will be necessary to be raised for amending the same. And that the said Scavengers do after such view give public notice (if the same have not been already done) to the Parishioners to meet for the making of an Assessment (if need require) by a pound rate upon all occupiers of Houses, Lands, or other hereditaments according to the true yearly value thereof, and upon dead goods, commodities, or stock in Trade, of every Parishoner rated to the poor; rating twenty shillings goods to twenty pounds per Ann. land, so as all the rates together exceed not in one year 12. d. per pound, according to the directions of the said Ordinance. Which rate being so from time to time made and collected, is to be laid out for the public charge of cleansing and carrying away the soil and filth, and for making the watercourses and channels so that the current may freely pass, and not to make any rate or disburse any money for the reforming of defective pavements, but that the same are expected to be duly, and from time to time repaired by particular persons, who according to the Law and custom of this City are to repair the same upon pain of incurring such fines and penalties as by Law are to be inflicted upon the offenders. And that the said several Scavengers do take notice that at the time aforesaid, or at some other convenient time before the next public Sessions to be kept for this City, they do not fail to summon the Inhabitants of their several Parishes to meet together, who according to the fourteenth Article of the said Ordinance, are to make and set down such Rules and Orders as the said Parishioners so met shall think meet for the particulars aforementioned, or in any thing tending to the reformation of the premises; which Orders together with the Rates aforementioned are to be by the respective Scavengers delivered to me in writing before the first day of August next, to the intent the same may be presented at the next public Sessions for the Peace to be holden for this City, that thereupon such proceed may be had as shall be just. And hereof fail you not.  
Dated the eight and twentieth day of June 1654. Sadler.   

Printed by James Flesher, Printer to the Honourable City of LONDON.