WHEREAS among the many Enormities that are too frequently practised within this City and the Liberties thereof , I have taken particular notice of the Profanation of the Lords day by the so general Resort to Publick houses , where great part of the day is taken up and wasted in idle or unseasonable Discourses , if not worse imployment . Having also heard frequent complaint made of a strange sort of Women ( called Night-walkers ) who go about the Streets in the Evening , tempting and inticeing Apprentices and others to Lewdness ; I have purposed by Gods blessing and the concurrent Endeavours of your Self and the rest of my Brethren the Aldermen , to punish and suppress the same as far as in me lies . And I do earnestly desire and entreat you to take the best care you can for preventing thereof within your Ward : And there being a late Act of Parliament made in the 29th . Year of his Majesties Reign , for better Observation of the Lords day , whereby it is Enacted , That all Persons shall on every Lords day apply themselves to the Observation of the same , by exercising themselves thereon , in the Duties of Piety and true Religion , publickly and privately , and that no Person shall do or exercise any business or work of their ordinary Callings on any part of the same day ( works of Necessity and Charity excepted ) and that every Person of the Age of Fourteen Years or upwards Offending in the Premisses , shall for every such Offence forfeit the Sum of Five shillings to be Levyed by Distress by any Constable or the Church-wardens of the Parish upon a Warrant from a Justice of Peace , after the party shall be Convicted by view of such Justice , or the Parties Confession , or the Oaths of one or more Witnesses , and being Prosecuted for the same within Ten days after the Offence Committed . Notwithstanding which Act , and a Precept lately Issued out for the Observation thereof ; Vintners and Keepers of Ale-houses and Coffee-houses do take liberty to follow their Callings on that day , and entertain Persons in their Houses , contrary to the intention of the said Act ; That the same therefore may be better Observed hereafter , I earnestly desire You , by Your Beadle or otherwise , to cause warning once more to be given to all Vintners , keepers of Ale-houses , Coffee-houses , and other Publick-houses within Your Ward , that they forbear to harbour Guests in their Houses on that day ( other than such Victuallers as Dress and Sell Meat in their Houses for such as cannot otherwise be provided , which is exempted out of the said Act. ) And I earnestly recommend to You , that the Constables and the Church-wardens of the several Parishes within Your Ward may have notice given them , and be directed to Inform Me or some other Iustice of Peace from time to time of all Persons that shall Offend herein , to the end the Penalties aforesaid may be Levyed upon them ; and their Licenses ( if Ale-house or Coffee-house keepers ) be taken from them . And I likewise desire You to give a strict Charge to the said Constables that they Carefully and Diligently Observe and Apprehend both all such Night-walkers as aforesaid , and bring them before Me or some other Iustice of Peace to be dealt withal and punished according to their demerits ; as also to Seize and Apprehend all Vagrants and Common Beggars who are Idle and Vseless , and deserve to be punished as the Law hath directed , by Whipping , and then sending them from Parish to Parish to the place where they were Born , if known , else to the place where they last dwelt for a year , to be set to work , or if that be not known , then to the Parish they last past through without punishment . Which the Constable is to do , and the Law enjoyns upon him on pain of forfeiture of Ten shillings for every failer , or he may be Indicted .

And whereas it was given Me in Charge by the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer , when I took My Oath at Westminster , That due care might be had of the Watches within this City : I do therefore recommend to You , That the said Constables may be further enjoyned to Observe the times prescribed for Setting and Rising of their Watches , and to have constantly their full Numbers of Watchmen , according to the Act of Common Council made in the Mayoralty of Sir John Robinson , on pain to be indicted and prosecuted for every default therein ; And that your Beadle do distribute Copies hereof to the several Persons concerned . In all which particulars aforesaid , I hope you will be very Careful , being matters wherein the Honour of God , and the Publick Weal of this City are so greatly concerned .