Severall watchmen of the aforesaid parishes and
places, and examinacon of the Said Constables that
Such collections are not competent to answer the
charge of Setting a more Sufficient and able watch
than is at present Thereby (in Some great measure) to
prevent the frequent robberys Etc that are committed,
And the rather because it appeares that greatd
deficiencys usually attend Such colleccons which must
be cheifly attributed to the want of a legal authority
whereby to compell the Inhabitants to pay the Same,
There being in that Division one halfe atleast who
peremptorily refuse paying towards the watch,
And the Committee found by another Report from the
Justices acting in the large parish of St. Giles in the fields
That with respect to the greatness thereof the watch
is very defective & insufficient in Number and (what is
Yet more inconvenient) very backward & unwilling to
comply with the directions of the Justices of the peace as
to the hours of watching, complaining of the Small
pay they receive from the Constables as no ways
equall to their pains and labour especially now they
are obliged to watch two hours longer than usuall
without any increase in their pay Notwithstanding
the great Sumes of money annually collected by the
Constables under pretence of providing Sufficient
watch, which there is reason to beleive amounts to
near one third more than they pay to them, But as
the Constables constantly refuse to give any account
thereof, and there not appearing any Law to oblige
them thereunto no certain or particular account can
be had what the Surphis Sunk by the Constables
amounts to,

and the Justices of that Division further observe that
from the Constables placeing displaceing and paying