WHereas by a Decree made in this Honourable Court, the twentieth day of October, in the fourtieth yeare of the Reigne of our late Souereigne Lady Queene ELIZABETH, vpon the information of Her Maieſties then Attourney general, againſt Rice Griffith, and Iohn Scrips, (who contrary to the Proclamation publiſhed and ſet out the ſeuenth day of Iuly, in the two and twentieth yeare of Her Maieſties Reigne, had erected and built Tenements, and diuided them into ſeuerall Roomes, wherein diuers poore Tenants dwelt, that liued and were maintained by the reliefe of the Pariſh, and begged abroad in other place) the ſaid offenders were ſentenced. And as for the pulling down or reforming of any Houſe new built or diuided contrary to the ſaid Proclamation within the Citie of London, or the compaſſe of three miles thereof, (in which any poore or impotent perſons then did, or thereafter ſhould dwell or abide) for that if the ſame houſes ſhould bee pulled downe, deſtroyed or reformed, other habitations muſt bee prouided for them at the charge of the Pariſhes where they were or ſhould be dwelling; The Court did thinke fit to forbeare and reſpite the doing therof, but did order and adiudge, that all and euery ſuch poore and impotent perſons, which did or ſhould dwell and inhabite in any new buildings or diuided tenements, erected and diuided contrary to the effect and intent of her Highnes ſaid Proclamation, and were or ſhould in any wiſe be driuen to liue by begging, or to bee releeued by almes within the Citie of London, or any other place within the compaſſe of three miles thereof, ſhould, and might, during the time of his or their life or liues, abide and dwell in the ſame, without giuing or paying any manner of rent, ſervice, or other recompence vnto the Landlords or any other, for, or in reſpect of the ſame, and not bee thence remooued, vnleſſe they ſhould after become able to liue of themſelues; and that the ſaid Landlord, Owner, or any other that claimed intereſt, to, or for any rent or rents, growing, ariſing, or payable for any of the ſaid new buildings, or diuided Tenements ſo inhabited, or to be inhabited with poore people as aforeſaid, ſhould be enioyned, and vpon that ſentence and Decree take ſufficient notice and warning, that he or they ſhould not implead, incumber, diſquiet, or moleſt any of the ſaid poore Tenants, for any Rents, Couenants, Conditions, Promiſes, or Agreements, touching, or in any wiſe concerning the ſaid Tenements, new buildings, or any of them, for the leuying, or recouering of any rent, ſeruice, or other conſideration in liew of any rent.

And for that the new buildings and diuiſions of ſundry houſes within the Citie of London and three miles compaſſe thereof, contrary to the tenour of the ſaid Proclamation, had beene, and was occaſion of great charges vnto the Pariſhes of the ſaid Citie and Precinct aforeſaid, whereby the ſaid Pariſhes were ſtill ouermuch burdened with poore and impotent perfons; It was therefore ordered and decreed, that all ſuch Landlords, or Owners of ſuch buildings or diuiſions, whereſoeuer they ſhould dwell, ſhould contribute and giue ſuch like ratable and reaſonable allowance with the ſaid Pariſhioners, where ſuch buildings and diuiſions were, towards the finding and maintaining of the poore of the Pariſh, in which ſuch buildings were, or ſhould bee erected or diuided, contrary to the ſaid Proclamation, as ſhould bee apportioned and allotted him of them to pay, if hee or they were dwelling in the ſaid pariſh.

And it was further ordered and decreed, that after the death or departure of ſuch poore people, as did, or ſhould inhabit the ſame houſes or diuided Tenements aforeſaid, the houſes thereby being become voide; Then the Lord Maior, and Iuſtices of Peace neere unto the Citie adioyning, thereby were commanded to reform the ſaid diuided Tenements, and to proſtrate, pull downe, and deface the ſaid new buildings in ſuch ſort as the ſame ſhould be no more fit for habitation, and the timber and wood thereof to be conuerted and diſpoſed in ſuch manner, as by the ſaid Proclamation is required, as alſo to take order in all other the premiſes, That the ſaid Decree ſhould bee duely obſerued and kept, and if any ſhould be obſtinate, then to binde ſuch Landlords as ſhould obſtinately and wilfully diſobey the ſaid Decree, to appeare in this Honourable Court, to anſwer their contempt therein.

And whereas the nine and twentieth of Nouember, in the ſeuenth yeare of the Reigne of King IAMES of bleſſed memorie, this honourable Court did decree and order; That the ſaid Decree taken the twentieth day of October in the ſaid fourtieth yeare of the ſaid late Queene, ſhould be preſently, and from time to time thereafter more ſeuerely looked into, and put inexecution; And his Maieſties learned Counſel, and alſo the Lord Maior and Aldermen of London, together with all Iuſtices of Peace, and other his Maieſties Officers whatſoeuer, which the ſame may any way concerne, were ſtraitly charged and required, that they, and euery of them, ſhould from time to time thereafter diligently and ſtrictly cauſe, and ſee the ſaid Decree to be in all points duely obſerued and put in execution, and termely to make certificate to this honourable Court of their proceedings therein, and of ſuch perſons as they ſhould finde to offend in that behalfe, whereupon on this Court did purpoſe to proceed againſt them for their contempts with very ſeuere puniſhment. Since which time ſundry other Proclamations, as well in the time of the ſaid late King IAMES, as of His Maieſtie that now is, haue been publiſhed and ſet out againſt the ſaid offences, and many exemplarie ſentences in this honourable Court haue been pronounced againſt offenders in that behalfe, and many houſes and buildings erected againſt the ſaid Proclamation haue beene demoliſhed and pulled down. And yet neuertheleſſe, ſuch hath been the diſobedience and contempt of great multitudes, aiming onely at their own gain, whatſoeuer perill or inconuenience might happen to the Publique, that the new buildings and diuiding of Tenements haue dayly more and more increaſed, and ſuch numbers of poore diſſolute and lewd perſons are therin harboured, that in many pariſhes within the limits and precincts aforeſaid, there are farre more houſholds and families that liue by begging, and other vnlawfull wayes, and by reliefe and almes of the pariſh, then are in the ſame pariſh to liue by their own meanes and vocation; So as the burthen is growen ſo heauy to many of the ſaid pariſhes, that the wealthy are not able to relieue the poore in time of health, much leſſe in time of ſickneſſe or Infection, as hath appeared in the late viſitation of the plague, wherein ſuch multitudes of thoſe poore & miſerable houſholds haue beene infected, and their neceſsities growne to that extremity, that the officers of the pariſh haue not been able to keepe them within their houſes, but the ſicke and infected haue gone among the whole, and great ſwarmes of indigent and poore people, and many of them infected with the ſickneſſe, haue, maugre all authoritie and command of the officers, flocked in troupes in the principall ſtreets of the citie and ſuburbs of London, whereby the Infection of the plague hath been much the more diſperſed, not only in the ſaid citie and places adiacent; but into many other parts of the kingdome: Beſides, it is apparantly found out, that thoſe multitudes of new buildings and diuided Tenements, doe draw into the ſaid citie, and parts adioyning, from all parts of the kingdome, great numbers (idle, looſe and diſſolute perſons) who are harboured in thoſe obſcure and meane houſes, and hauing no lawfull trade or vocation, doe begge, and alſo commit Pilferies, Coſenages, and infinite diſorders to enable them to pay their Landlords rents: And many of the Owners and Landlords or ſuch Tenements, of purpoſe for raiſing of exceſsiue rents to themſelues out of their houſes and Tenements, doe let, and parcell them out to ſuch idle, looſe, and ill diſpoſed perſons, though they know them to bee of that condition, in regard they will give greater rents then a poore labouring man is able to doe and vſe all ſhifts and vnlawfull meanes to pay it. All which enormities and many more, hauing, vpon Suruey lately taken, more euidently appeared then in former time.

This Court for reformation thereof, doth now againe order and decree, that the ſaid ſeuerall Decrees made in the fortieth yeere of the ſaid late Queene ELIZABETH, and the ſeauenth yeare of the ſaid late King IAMES, with ſuch additions and alterations as hereafter enſue, be ſeuerely and ſtrictly executed. And foraſmuch as it appeareth not onely by the ſaid Decrees, but by the generall reſolution of all the Reuerend Iudges of the Realme (whom His Maieſtie out of His great care of the Publique, hath lately commanded to aſſemble) that the erecting of new buildings within the limits before mentioned, and the diuiding of greater houſes into pety tenements and habitations, and peſtering and filling the ſame with Inmates, or with Inhabitants of ſuch euill condition as aforeſaid, is a moſt vnſufferable annoyance againſt the Publique, and conſequently is againſt the Common law of the Realme; And that not only the ſaid euill conditioned Inhabitants, but ſuch by whom, or by whoſe meanes they are placed there, or who receiue the rents of ſuch Inhabitants, are guiltie of a Common Nuſance; and alſo that ſuch Landlords or Owners of ſuch houſes or tenements, which haue or do receiue the rents of ſuch poore Inhabitants, may by law be taxed towards the reliefe of the poore of the ſaid Pariſh, though they dwell out of the pariſh. This Court holdeth it meet, that ſince the offendors haue not taken warning by two ſuch ſolemne Decrees made in this Court, they ſhould now be proceeded againſt with more rigor and ſeuerity, and not bee ſuffered any longer to make vnreaſonable gain and profit to themſelues by ſo great a wrong and generall grieuance. And therefore this Court doth order and decree, aſwell in execution of the ſaid former Decrees, and purſuance of the ſaid reſolution of the Iudges, that where any houſes formerly built within the limits aforeſaid haue been diuided into ſeuerall habitations or dwellings, within the ſpace of ſeuen yeares now laſt paſt, contrary to any former Proclamation or Decree in that behalfe, the ſame within the ſpace of one yeare next enſuing ſhall be reſtored into their former eſtate, ſo as there ſhall be no more habitations or dwellings then were before the ſaid diuiſions. And that all and euery perſon and perſons eſtated or intereſſed in the ſame, either of inheritance or of any leſſer eſtate, ſhall before the Feaſt of the Aſcenſion of our Lord now next enſuing, vpon order or command of the Lord Maior, or ſome Iuſtice of peace of the Citie of London, or of the Alderman of the Ward, or his Deputie, (if the ſaid Tenements be within the ſaid City or the liberties thereof) or of ſome Iuſtice of peace neere to the place (if the ſaid houſes be out of the liberties of the Citie) enter into bond of a competent penalty, to obſerue and performe this order in that behalfe; the ſaid Bond to be taken in the names of ſome honeſt and ſufficient perſons of the pariſh where ſuch Tenements are, to the vſe of the ſaid pariſh.

And it is further ordered and decreed, that where any houſes, within the limits aforeſaid, haue been erected or built within the ſaid ſpace of ſeven yeares, or being formerly erected or built, haue within the ſaid ſpace of ſeuen yeares beene diuided, and are imployed for the habitation of indigent and poore people, chargeable to the Pariſh wherin the ſaid houſes are, that in every ſuch Caſe, all and every perſon and perſons eſtated, or intereſſed in the ſaid houſes or Tenements of eſtate of inheritance, or any leſſer eſtate, and which haue receiued the rents, iſſues, and profits thereof, of, and from ſuch poore Inhabitants, ſhall by vertue of this Order and Decree, be bound each of them reſpectiuely for their time, to reſtore and repay to the Ouerſeers of the poore of the Pariſh, wherein the ſaid houſes be, all ſuch ſummes of money as haue beene disburſed by the Pariſh, for the reliefe of the Inhabitants in the ſaid houſes in ſickneſſe or health, or for any other charge, wherewith ſuch Pariſhes haue been burthened, ſince the feaſt of Pentecoſt laſt paſt, by reaſon of ſuch Inhabitants; And ſhall alſo before the feaſt of the Aſcenſion of our Lord now next enſuing, vpon order or command of the Lord Maior or ſome Iuſtice of Peace of the Citie, or the Alderman of the ward, or his Deputie (if the Tenements bee within the Citie, or Liberties thereof) or of ſome Iuſtice of Peace neere the place (if the ſaid houſes bee out of the Liberties of the Citie) enter into bond of a competent penaltie, to bee taken in the name of ſome honeſt and ſufficient men of the pariſh, where ſuch Tenements bee, to the vſe of the ſaid pariſh; to ſaue and keepe harmeleſſe the pariſhes wherein the ſaid houſes be, for, & during ſuch their ſeuerall eſtates or intereſts, reſpectiuely, from all charges and expences, any way touching or concerning the maintaining, keeping, of releeuing of the Inhabitants, which by, or vnder them, or any of them haue beene, of ſhall be placed in the ſaid houſes, habitations, or dwellings.

And that where any Inmates within the ſaid ſpace of ſeuen yeares laſt paſt haue beene placed in any houſes or tenements, within the limits aforeſaid, and are there continued, the ſame Inmates within the ſpace of one yeare next enſuing, ſhall be remooued by the perſons intereſſed and eſtated in the ſaid houſes or Tenements, hauing power by reaſon of their eſtates, to remooue them ſo, as by the end of one yeare now next enſuing, there ſhall be no more families then one abiding in any of the ſaid houſes.

And that all and euery ſuch perſon and perſons, as are, or ſhall be eſtated, or intereſſed in the ſaid houſes, as aforeſaid, and to whom the rents, iſſues, or profits of the ſaid houſes, are, or ſhall be payable, or anſwerable, ſhall vpon order or command of the Lord Maior, or ſome Iuſtice of Peace of the Citie, or the Alderman of the ward, or his Deputie (if the ſaid Tenements bee within the Citie of London, or Liberties thereof) or of ſome Iuſtice of Peace neere the place (if the ſaid houſes be out of the Liberties) enter into bond of a competent penaltie (with ſufficient ſureties, if it ſhall be required) to performe this part of this preſent Order and Decree; ſuch bond to bee taken in the name of ſome honeſt perſon or perſons for the vſe of the pariſh.

And it is further ordered and decreed, that all ſuch perſons, as are, or ſhall be eſtated, or intereſſed in any houſes diuided aboue ſeuen yeares laſt paſt, Contrary to any Proclamation or Decree of this Honourable Court in that behalfe, of an eſtate of inheritance, or any leſſer eſtate, which haue receiued, or hereafter ſhall receiue the rents, or profits thereof from the inhabitants, ſhall at their perill take a courſe, if they haue power by reaſon of their eſtates ſo to doe, that the ſame houſes bee reſtored to their former condition and number of houſes, and no more then were before the diuiding thereof, witin the ſpace of three yeares now next enſuing; And alſo that all ſuch houſes which haue beene either built or diuided, contrary to any ſuch Proclamation or Decree as aforeſaid, within the limits aforeſaid, before, or aboue ſeuen yeares laſt paſt, and are imployed for the habitation of indigent and poore people, who are chargeable to the pariſh, where thoſe houſes are; That in euery ſuch Caſe all, and euery perſon and perſons eſtated or intereſſed in the ſaid houſes or tenements of eſtate of Inheritance, or any leſſer eſtate, and hauing receiued the rents, iſſues and profits thereof, of, and from the inhabitants, ſhall by vertue of this Order and Decree, euery one for their ſeuerall time, bee bound to reſtore and repay to the ouerſeers of the poore of the pariſh wherein the ſaid houſes be, all ſuch ſummes of money as haue been disburſed by the pariſh, for the reliefe of the Inhabitants of the ſaid houſes in ſickneſſe or health, or for any other charge wherewith ſuch pariſhes haue been burthened, ſince the Feaſt of Pentecoſt laſt paſt, by reaſon of ſuch Inhabitants, and ſhall alſo before the ſaid Feaſt of the Aſcenſion of our Lord God next enſuing, vpon order or command of the Lord Maior, or ſome Iuſtice of peace of the ſaid Citie, or the Alderman of the Ward, or his Deputie (if the ſaid Tenenements be within the Citie of London, or liberties thereof) or of ſome Iuſtice of peace neer the place (if the ſaid houſes be out of the liberties) enter into bond of a competent penaltie, with ſufficient ſureties, if it ſhall be required, to ſaue and keepe harmeleſſe the pariſh from all charges and expences, any way touching or concerning the maintaining, keeping, or relieuing the Inhabitants, which by, or vnder them, or any of them haue been or ſhal be placed in the ſaid houſes, habitations or dwellings; The ſaid Bond to bee taken in the name of ſome honeſt perſon or perſons for the vſe of the pariſh.

And it is further ordered, and decreed, that beſides all the paiments, charges and burthens aforeſaid, to bee paide, done or performed by the ſaid Landlords or Owners, in eaſe of the Pariſh, for, or in reſpect of their owne Tenants, They, and euery of them, ſhall contribute and giue ſuch like ratable and reaſonable allowance with the ſaid Pariſhioners, where ſuch buildings or diuiſions are towards the finding and maintaining of the reſt of the poore of the ſaid pariſh, as ſhould bee apportioned, taxed, aſſeſſed, or allotted for him, or them to pay, if he, or they were dwelling in the ſaid pariſh, and were not charged towards the reliefe or maintenance of his, or their owne vnder tenants, as is aforeſaid.

And this Court doth further Order and Decree, that if any perſon or perſons ſhall hereafter new build, diuide any Tenements within the limits aforeſaid, contrary to this Decree, or the ſaid former Decrees, made in this Court, or the ſeuerall Proclamations heretofore publiſhed in that behalfe, or ſhall place any ſuch poore, or indigent people in any ſuch Tenements heretofore built or diuided, or hereafter to be built or diuided, or receiue any Inmates into the ſame, that then the perſon, or perſons ſo offending ſhall bee by order or command of the Lord Maior, or ſome Iuſtice of peace of the ſaid Citie of London, or the Alderman of the Ward, or his Deputy, (if the Tenements ſhall happen to be within the ſaid Citie, or the liberties thereof) or of ſome Iuſtice of peace neere the place (if the Tenements ſhall bee without the liberties) enter into bond of a competent penaltie, with ſureties to ſome honeſt perſon or perſons, to the vſe of the pariſh in which the Tenements ſhall be, within one moneth next after the date of ſuch Bond, to pull downe ſuch new erected Tenements, or to reforme or reſtore ſuch diuided Tenements to their former condition, or to remoue ſuch indigent people and Inmates placed therein, as the caſe ſhall happen to bee. And that all and euery perſon and perſons, that ſhall hereafter receiue any Rents, Iſſues, or profits, of or from any ſuch poore or indigent people inhabiting in any ſuch Tenement heretofore built or diuided, or hereafter to bee built or diuided, ſhall beare, and pay all charges and expences which the Pariſh ſhall ſuſtaine or bee put to, for, or by reaſon of any ſuch poore and indigent people inhabiting within the Pariſh, and ſhall likewiſe bee rated and aſſeſſed to pay, and are hereby alſo ordered and decreed to pay their ratable ſhare and proportion, with the Inhabitants of the pariſh, for and towards the reliefe of the poore of ſuch pariſh, as if the perſon or perſons receiving rents or profits from ſuch poore and indigent Inhabitants were dwelling within the pariſh.

And it is further ordered, that if any perſon or perſons, ſhall refuſe or make default to ſatiſfie or pay any the payments or charges aforeſaid, or to performe any part of this Order, That then proces of Attachment out of this Court ſhall be awarded againſt him or them, with ſuch further proces of contempt, and impriſonment, and are vſuall againſt the breakers or contemners of the Decrees or Orders of this Court, and before his enlargement ſhall giue ſecuritie by bond as aforeſaid, and ſatiſfie and pay all ſuch ſummes of money, as hee or they ſhould or ought to pay, with double coſts to the proſecutor or proſecutors, for all the charges they ſhall ſuſtaine in proſecution of the ſaid contempts.