THe vnsufferable swarmes of Rogues and Vagabonds in euery street, highway, and place, within all the Counties, Cities, and Townes of this Realme, especially in, and about Our Cities of London, and Westminster, and Suburbs thereof, and Counties adiacent thereunto, and the many insolen­cies and mischiefes daily committed by them, drawes vs backe to the re­membrance of the many good Lawes, made and established with great care and prouidence, both for the suppressing and punishing of this sort of lewd and incorrigible people, and for the reliefe of the indigent, aged, and impotent poore, to which good Lawes, nothing can bee added, but the due and care­full execution thereof, Wee therefore by the aduice of Our Priuie Councell, haue thought fit and doe hereby publish Our Royall pleasure and command accordingly, that all Maiors, Sheriffes, Iustices of Peace, Constables, headboroughs, and all other Our Officers, and louing Subjects, whom it may any may concerne, do from henceforth take speciall care, That all those Lawes at any time made heretofore against Rogues and Vagabonds, and for the reliefe and maintenance of the true indigent, and impotent poore, be put in due execution; and We will and command all per­sons whosoeuer, in their seuerall places, to vse their best diligence, to see the same performed accor­dingly. And to the end We may haue a good account of this Our command, which so much concerneth the peaceable & happy gouernment of this Kingdome; We doe further straitly charge and command, That all Our Iustices of Peace, of the seuerall Counties of this Realme respec­tiuely, doe once in euery moneth, giue a Certificate in writing, vnto the Lord Lieutenant of the said Countie, of their proceedings herein: And that the Lord Lieutenant of euery Country, doe demand such monethly Certificate, as aforesaid, and hauing receiued and account thereof, do from time to time, once in euery two moneths, returne his Certificate vnto Our Councell-board, that so We may truely vnderstand, what reformation doth follow vpon this Our Admonition: And We doe hereby giue assurance to all, whom it may any wayes concerne, That wheresoeuer, and in whomsoeuer Wee shall finde any negligence in this behalfe, We shall not onely hold them vn­worthy to beare any Office or Authoritie vnder Vs, but shall also proceed against the offenders with seueritie, as contemners of Our Lawes, and of our royall Commandement.

Giuen at Our Court at Whitehall, the sixteenth day of February, in the third yeere of Our Reigne of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland.

God saue the King.