XXVIII. PRECEPT TO PROVIDE A WATCH, 1571.
October 20th, 1571.
A PRECEPT TO WATCH AT EV'RY GATE AND POSTERNE IN
THE CITY.
Ffirste at this daye, a Precepte directed from the Mayo' to
the Maister and his Wardens, conserninge the appoyntinge and
nominatinge of some sufficient, hable, and discreete men to
joyne with the Company of Veynteners, who are likewyse
appoynted to set forthe other and hable and discreete men to
joyn with this Company in watche, on Monday nexte, beinge
the 22nd daie of this instante monthe of Octob', at ev'ry gate
and posterne, as in the said Precepte hereafter wrytten menc[i]oned, was openlie redd, the tenor whereof followeth:—
"Wee straightlie charge and commande you that you
immediatelye upon the receipt hereof, do call and assemble
togeder so many of your Companie as you shall think mete and
expediente, and that ye take such order forthwithe among
yourselfs that ye appointe tenne sufficient, able, and dyscrete
p'sones to joyne wth the Companie of Vynten's, who are likewise appoynted to sett forthe tenne able men to joyne with
you to watch at every gate and posterne hereafter named, that
is to say: at Newgate two, at Ludgate two, at the Bridge two,
at Billingsgate two, at Moregate two, at Cripplegate two, at
the posterne beside the Tower two, at Aldgate two, at Bishoppsgate two, at Aldersgate two; and that they be ready uppon
Munday nexte, being the 21st daie of this instante monthe, by
sixe of the clocke in the morninge, and they theire continuallie
to remayne from the said houre of six until five of the clocke at
night, watchyng and havinge continuallie duringe the sayde
tyme a vigillant eye to all and ev'ry suche suspect and idle
p'sones as shall passe and returne in, at, and by the same gate,
and upon suspicion to staie and examine them, and so manye
as they shall fynde suspecte and faultie to commit to warde
under safe custodie untill o' pleasure shall be knowne therein
for their deliv'rance, and that ye certifie me, the said Maior, of
the names and surnames of such as ye shall comyt, and in what
prison they shall remayne, and the cause ye comyt them for, to
th'ende I maye take order for theire further examinac[i]on, and
forasmuche as other Companies of this Cittie are by us appoynted
to followe you in the like watche, so as your turne cometh
agayne to watche the tenthe daie from yo' saide firste daie of
watchinge.
These are therefore also to commande you to observe the
saide order of watchinge ev'ry tenthe daie as y' turne comethe
untill you shall have otherwise from us in commandement.
Ffayle ye not hereof as you will answere for the contrarie to
yo' p'rill."