WHereas His Majesty having commanded His Justi­ces of the Peace of the County of Middlesex, to attend him in Counsel, on Friday the 25th day of February last, did by himself, and the Lord President, acquaint the said Justices, that he was in a short time to remove his Court to Oxford, and did Require and Command them to use their utmost endeavour, with care and industry, to preserve the Peace of this Important County of Middlesex, during His Majesties absence. His Maje­sty was likewise pleased to declare, That he would keep the Laws himself, and did expect his Subjects should likewise keep them; and in particular, the Statute made in the 13th year of his now Majesties Reign, for the Preservation of His Majesties Sacred Person, (whom God preserve with a long Life) was re­commended to the said Justies to be put in due execution. His Majesty farther declaring, it was his firm resolution to stick to the Church of England, and to all honest men, such, as he said, he knew the Justices to be, knowing most of them by face. And the said Justices being Saturday following Assembled in Sessions at Hicks-hall, having taken into consideration His Majesties Gracious Speech made unto them, and his Command laid upon them; and being likewise sensible that it is not only their Duty, [Page 2]but their Interest to use all possible ways and means for the pre­servation of the Peace of this County; did therefore Order, that the said Justices of the Peace should during His Majesties ab­sence from London, in their several and respective Divisions, keep Petty Sessions one day in every week, (viz.) on Tuesday, or any other day they should think fit and convenient. And that the said Justices within their respective Divisions, do from time to time, issue forth their Warrants to the several High Constables within their Divisions, thereby commanding them, That they do with their utmost diligence and endeavour, Apprehend and Se­cure all persons offending against the said Statute, (the said Justi­ces being hereby desired to insert into their Warrants so much of the said Statute, as to them shall seem meet.) And the said per­sons so offending, before them the said Justices at their next Pet­ty Sessions to bring, to the intent they may be proceeded against according to Law and Justice. And the said Justices are hereby likewise desired to Charge and Command the said High Consta­bles, that they do within their respective Divisions, survey the Watches that are kept by their Petty Constables, in their several Divisions, and Order that the said Watches be kept for the fu­ture, from Nine of the clock at Night, until Six in the Morning, to the intent the Kings Peace may be better secured. And the said Justices are hereby farther desired, that they in their War­rants Command the said High Constables to Issue forth their War­rants to the Petty Constables within their several Divisions, there­by Commanding them, that they do for the future take an ac­count in Writing of all the Names of those persons they Summon to be upon the Watch. And that they take particular notice of all and every person, that shall after such Summons given make de­fault, and not appear himself, or send some fit person to Watch in his stead; which said Account, the said Petty Constables are hereby required to present fairly Written, to the Justices which shall Assemble at the said Petty Sessions, to the intent all such persons that shall refuse to Watch, may be proceeded against according to Law. And it is farther Ordered by the said Court, that the said Justices be, and they are hereby desired to put this Order in execution forthwith.