arms arms By the Mayor. To the Alderman of the Ward of _____ WHereas by a late Act of Parliament, For repairing the Highways and Sewers, and for paving and keeping clean of the Streets in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, etc. it is (amongst other things) enacted and commanded, That all persons within the City of London and Liberties thereof shall sweep and cleanse, or cause to be swept and cleansed, all the Streets, Lanes, Alleys and public places before their respective houses, buildings and walls, twice every week, (that is to say, on Wednesdays and Saturdays) and cause all the Soil, Dirt and other Filth to be taken up into Baskets, Tubs or other Vessels, ready for the Raker or Scavenger to carry away, upon pain to forfeit three shillings four pence for every offence or neglect respectively: And that no person or persons whatsoever shall throw, cast or lay, or cause, permit or suffer to be thrown, cast or laid, any Sea-coal-ashes, Dust, Dirt, or other Filth or Annoyance, in any open Street, Lane or Alley within the said City or Liberties, before or against his, her or their dwelling-houses, buildings or walls, on the penalty of five shillings; nor before the houses, buildings or walls of any of their neighbours or other Inhabitants; or before or against any Church or Church-yard, or any other public houses, buildings, or places whatsoever; nor shall cast, lay or throw, or cause to be cast, laid or thrown into any common or public Sink, Vault, Watercourse, Common sewer or Highway within the said City and Liberties, or any other private Vault or Sink of any of his Neighbours or other Inhabitants, any Ashes, Dust, Filth, Ordure, or other noisome thing whatsoever, but shall keep or cause the same to be kept in their respective houses, backsides or yards, until such time as the Raker or Scavenger do come to carry away the same, and then shall carry or cause the same to be carried out and delivered to the Raker or Scavenger, upon pain to forfeit for every such offence twenty shillings: Also it is enacted, That no person shall hoop, wash or cleanse any Pipes, Barrels, or other Cask or Vessels, in any Street, nor set out any empty Coach to make or mend, or rough Timber or Stones to be sawn or wrought in the Streets, on the penalty of twenty shillings for every offence: And further, that the Rakers and Scavengers every day in the week (except Sundays and other Holidays) shall bring or send their Carts into all the Streets, places, Wards, Parishes and divisions where the same can pass, and at or before their approach, by a Bell, Horn, Clapper, or otherwise, shall give notice of their coming, and give like notice in every Court, Alley or place into which the said Carts cannot pass, and abide, and stay a convenient time for the bringing forth of their Ashes, Dust, Dirt, Filth and Soil to their Carts, upon pain of forty shillings for every offence or neglect respectively: And likewise that every Housholder forthwith sufficiently repair or cause to be repaired or paved the Street, Lane or Alley before his house, wall or building, to the Channel, upon pain to forfeit twenty shillings for every default, and of twenty shillings a week for every week till the same be amended: Now inasmuch as there is an apparent neglect of the said Act throughout this City and Liberties, and to the intent that the same may be henceforth duly executed in all the particulars before recited, and none be surprised through ignorance either of his duty or the penalties of his disobedience, It is thought fit to give you this intimation thereof, hereby requiring you in his Majesty's name to give present notice and warning of the same to all Inhabitants, Scavengers, Rakers & others in any wise concerned within your Ward, strictly charging and commanding them and every of them respectively to be diligently intent in performance of their several duties in and about the premises, upon the utmost penalties of the said Act; for recovery whereof, and the impartial prosecution of all offenders in any the cases above mentioned, effectual care is taken that the Sergeant and Yeoman of the Channels (the proper Officers in this behalf) be vigilant, active and faithful in their duties. You are further to give this special direction, that in sweeping of the Streets the Soil be removed and swept up from the Channels to an heap under the houses, and not left or suffered to lie near the Channel, to be forced by the motion of Carts and Coaches, or washed into the same by showers of Rain. And herein, and in all other means conducible to the performance of this service, so acceptable to his Majesty, and so many ways concerning the honour, health and good government of the City, you are to use your utmost care and endeavours, as you tender his Majesty's pleasure, and the welfare and happiness of this City. Dated the 22 day of July 1662., Weld.