May, 1645
[9 May, 1645.]
Whereas the Houses of Parliament are informed, that divers
lewd Persons do go up and down the City of London, and elsewhere and in a most barbarous and wicked Manner steal away
many little Children: It is Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That all Officers and Ministers of
Justice be hereby streightly charged and required, to be very
diligent in apprehending all such Persons as are faulty in this
Kind, either in stealing, selling, buying, inveigling, purloining,
conveying, or receiving Children so stolen, and to keep them in
safe Imprisonment until they may be brought to severe and
exemplary Punishment.
It is further Ordered, That the Marshals of the Admiralty and
the Cinque Ports do immediately make strict and diligent
Search, in all Ships and Vessels upon the River, and at The
Downes, for all such children; according to such Directions as
they have or shall receive from the Committee of the Admiralty
and Cinque Ports.
It is further Ordered, That this Ordinance be forthwith
published in Print, and proclaimed, in the usual Manner as
other Proclamations, in all Parts of the City of London within
the Lines of Communication, and in all Parishes within the Bills
of Mortality presently; and in all Churches and Chapels, by the
Ministers, within the Lines of Communication and Bills of
Mortality, on the next Lords-day; and in all other Churches
and Chapels elsewhere respectively, the next Lords-day after the
Receipt hereof; that it may appear to the World how careful the
Parliament is to prevent such Mischiefs, and how far they do
detest a Crime of so much Villany: Mr. Spurstoe, Mr. Vassall,
and Colonel Venne, Members of the House of Commons, are
desired to go to My Lord Mayor, and to acquaint him with this
Order, and to take Care that it may be proclaimed presently,
and published, according to the Directions, on the next Lordsday.