their Beadles and Watchmen and often choosing Victuallers
and other improper persons for those employments There has
arisen upon many private Searches lately made just cause
to Suspect that Some of their Beadles and Watchmen do
conceal and protect Severall Night houses and other disorderly
houses for their owne private lucre, many of them having
been found very backward and unwilling to give evidence
against tho' upon their Oaths, and Strongly prest by the Justices,
and tho' it appeared they could not be ignorant of the
matters they were examined to, From whence the Said
Justices did (in the Judgment of the Committee) very rightly
inferr that it is not in the power of the Magistrates to
remedy those inconveniencys whilst for the reasons above
the Beadles and Watchmen are wholly under the influence
of the Constables, which must make them rather choose to
act by the direccon and for the interest of their Masters than
for the publick Safety.

And the Committee conceiving that the keeping a Strong
and regular watch in the Night time is of the greatest
importance for the preservacon of the persons and propertys
of the People and will be a most likely means to prevent
Murthers, burglarys, robberys, felonys, and other
outrageous misdemeanors which are comitted in the Night
time, now more frequently than hath been known
heretofore, and also further considering that the Statute of
Winchester appoints the watch to be kept only from
ascension day to Mickmas day, and that there is noe Law
now in force which appoints a Watch to be kept in the
Winter part of the year when a Watch is most necessary
And also that the method for keeping the Watch, as the
Laws now are, is, for every Inhabitant within any
parish or place to watch in his turn which would
certainly be a very good means to obtain the before