WHereas by an Act of Parliament, Eutituled, An Act against unlicensed and scanda­lous bookes and Pamphlets, and for better regulating of Printing; It is enacted and Ordained, That no such vagrant persons, of idle conversation, who after the manner of Hawkers, doe cry about the streets, and sell Pamphlets and other bookes; and under colour thereof, disperse all sorts of Lybills, be permitted, but that all such Hawkers, and Ballad-singers, wheresoever they be apprehended, shall forfeit all Books, Pamphlets, Ballads, and Papers by them exposed to sale, and shall be seized upon, and conveyed unto the house of Correction, there to be whipt as common Rogues, and the Constables and Officers who shall neglect their duties concerning the premises, are to be punisht in such manner, as by the said Act is directed: And whereas upon a complaint heretofore made by the Master, Wardens, Assistants, and Commonalty of the Sta­tioners London, against a multitude of vagrant persons, Men, W [...]omen, and Children, which after the manner of Hawkers, doe openly cry about the streets Pamphlets and other bookes, and under colour thereof, are found to disperse all manner of dangerous Lybells, to the intolerable dishonour of the High Court of Parliament, and the whole government of this Common-wealth, and of this City in par­ticular. The Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons in the Common-councell assembled the ninth day of October, 1643. conceiving it very necessary by all due meanes to suppresse the evils then growing by such unlawfull selling of such Pamplets and Lybells, did then thinke fit, and Ordaine, That from thence­forth, The Lawes and Customs of this City, which made a forfeiture of the Goods that are carryed about the streets by way of Hawking to bee sold: And also the statutes made against Rogues and Vagabonds should be strictly put in execution against such vagrant persons selling as aforesaid, being petty Chap-men within the said statutes: And for the more sure execution of the said Custome and Laws; It was by the said Court then further ordained, that the Officers of the Chamber, for the offences against the Custome and law of Hawking, and Marshalls of the City, and the Constables of every Precinct within this City, are thereby straitly charged to doe their uttermost duties in their seve­ral places or offices in apprchending and bringe before some of the Iustices of the peace within this City, all and every such person or persons which shall offend in crying, offering, or putting to sale by way of Hawking, any Pamphlets, Bookes, or Papers whatsoever, as aforesaid, whereby they may receive such punishments, as by the Custome and Laws aforesaid ought to be inflicted upon them: And for neglect of the said Officers, Constables, and Marshalls in their duties and places as aforesaid, informations or indictments as the case shall require, shall be preferred against them, that they may be punished for their neglect according to the Law. And to the end none may pretend ignorance of the premises, but expect the due execution of the Laws in such case: I the said Lord Major, with the advice of the Aldermen my brethren, doe hereby enjoine all persons whatsoever, that they nor any of them doe presume to offend contrary thereunto; and for the better performance thereof, have caused the said Act of Common-councell to be again published in print; and do hereby require all Constables, Marshalls, and other Officers & per­sons within the City of London, & liberties thereof, to whom it shal appertain, to put in execution the same, and that they carefully and diligently in their severall places see done accordingly, aswel what is injoined them by the said Act of Parliament, as in and by any former law, custome and usage whatsoever.