WHere by the Statute made in the ſeven and twentith yeere of the Reigne of our Soueraigne Lord King Henrie the eight, among other for reformation of the miſordering of the Riuer of Thames, by caſting in Dung, or other filth, many great ſhelues and other riſings haue beene of late growne and made within the ſame Riuer: By reaſon whereof, many great breaches haue enſued by occaſion thereof: which of like ſhall be the occaſion of the vtter deſtruction of the ſaid Riuer, vnleſſe that the ſame Law, be put in due execution, according to the true intent and meaning thereof.

Wherefore, for a further reformation of the ſame, and to the intent that the ſaid good and wholſome Statute may be put in more execution, and better knowledge of the people: It is enacted by the authority of this Common Councell, that Proclamation may be made within this ſaide Citie, and the ſame to bee put in writing, and Tables thereof made and ſet vp in diuers places of this Citie, That it ſhall bee lawfull to euery perſon or perſons, to digge, carry away, and take away Sand, Grauell, or any Rubbiſh, Earth, or any thing lying, or being in any ſhelue or ſhelues within the ſaide Riuer of Thames, without let or interruption of any perſon or perſons, and without any thing paying for the ſame: and after that, to ſell the ſame away, or otherwiſe occupie or diſpoſe the ſaid Grauell, Sand, or other thing, at their free liberty and pleaſure. And that all Pauiers, Bricklayers, Tilers, Maſons, and all other that ſhall occupie Sand, or Grauell, ſhall endeauour themſelues, with all their diligence, to occupie the ſaid Sand or Grauell, and none other, paying for the ſame reaſonably, as they ſhould and ought to pay for other Sand or Grauell, digged out of other mens grounds about the ſaide Citie, which after is filled againe with much filthy things, to the great infection of the Inhabitants of the ſaide Citie, and all other repayring to the ſame. And that further, humble ſuite may be made to the Kings Highneſſe, That all perſons hauing Lands or Tenements along the Riuerſide, vpon certaine paine by his Highneſſe, and the Lords of his moſt Honourable Councell, to be limited, ſhall well and ſufficiently repayre and maintaine, all the Walles and Bankes adioyning to their ſaid Lands, ſo that the water may not, nor ſhall breake in vpon the ſame. And the ſame to be continued, vntill the time the ſaide noble Riuer be brought againe to his old courſe and former eſtate. And that ſtrong grates of Iron along the ſaid water ſide, and alſo by the ſtreete ſide, where any water-courſe is had into the ſaide Thames, bee made by the Inhabitants of euery Ward, ſo along the ſaid Water, as of old time hath beene accuſtomed. And that euery grate be in height, foure and twenty inches at the leaſt: or more, as the place ſhall neede: and in bredth one from another, one inch. And the ſame to be done with all expedition and ſpeede. And if the Occupiers of the ſaide Lands and Tenements make default contrary to the ordinance aforeſaide: or elſe if any perſon or perſons, in great raines or other times, ſweepe their ſoylage or filth of their houſes into the Chanell and the ſame after is conueyed into the Thames, euery perſon ſo offending, ſhall forfeite for euery ſuch default twenty pence: and that vpon complaint to be made to any Conſtable next adioyning to the ſaide place, where any ſuch default ſhall be found, it ſhall be lawfull for the ſaid Conſtable or his ſufficient Deputie for the time being, from time to time to diſtraine for the ſame offence. And to retaine the ſame irreplegiable, and like law to be obſerued, and kept, and like penalty to be paide for euery perſon, that burne ruſhes and ſtraw in their houſes, or waſh in the common ſtreets or Lanes, and to be recouered as aforeſaid: and the one moity thereof to be to the Maior and Commonaltie: and the other moity to bee diuided betweene the ſaid Conſtable that taketh paine, and the party finder of the ſaide fault. And if the Conſtable or his Deputie for the time being refuſe to doe his dutie according to the true meaning of this Act, That then the Conſtable or his Deputie, which ſhall ſo refuſe to do his dutie, as aforeſaid, ſhall forfeit and pay for euery time offending, three ſhillings and foure pence. And the ſame penalty of the ſaide Conſtable to bee recouered and obtained by diſtreſſe irreplegiable, to be taken by any of the Officers of the Chamber of London, to the vſe of the Mayor and Commonalty of London.

And further, that no perſon or perſons, hauing any Wharfe or houſe by the ſaid waterſide, make not their Layſtals nigh to the riuer aforeſaide, except onely the common Layſtalles, where the common Rakers of this Citie vſe to repoſe, and lay all their ſoylage, to be carried away by them with their Dung-boates. And that the ſaide Rakers ſhall lay their ſaid dung, carried in their dung-boats to ſuch conuenient place or places, as ſhall be appointed by the Lord Mayor of London for the time being, with the aduice of his brethren the Aldermen of the ſame, and to none other place or places, vpon paine to forfeit for euery ſuch default, fiue pound to be recouered in any of the Kings Courts within the Citie of London, by Bill, Plaint, moytie of debt, or information by any perſon, that will or ſhall purſue for the ſame: the one moytie thereof to bee to the Mayor and Commonalty of London, and the other moytie to him or them that will or ſhall purſue for the ſame: in which actions or ſuites, no wager of Law nor Eſſoile ſhall be allowed.