October 1777

Offender has offered reasonable Satisfaction or done all in his power
tour [..] the same and in such Case if the prosecutor has refused to accept such
reasonable Satisfaction the Justices then sitting in Court shall lessen such
fine within the abilities of the defendant or so much as they shall think
proper and the same was carried Nemene Contradiccate in the negative

Whereas divers unlawful assemblies have of late
been frequently held in the fields and places within this County adjoining
to the metropolis for the purpose of deciding pitched Battles and other
unlawful Purposes whence terrible Riots Routs and Affrays have
often happened to the disgrace of good Order in depance of Law and in
breach of the peace

Andit is therefore Recommended and Ordered
that his Majestys Justices of the peace for this County upon information
of any such unlawful meeting or assembly or any attempt thereof within
their respective divisions do Immediately order and direct the High
Constable of the said Division to take the petty Constables and other
a peace Officers within the said Division to any place where such unlawful
Meeting or assembly shall be held or shall be intended to be held there to use
her and their Utmost Endeavours to prevent and Suppress such unlawful
Meeting and Assembly and to apprehead the Offenders so that they may be
bound Over to their good Behaviour or otherwise dealt with according
to Law.

And it is also Recommended to every
Justice to countinance and Encourage by his presence the peace Officers
in the Execution of their duty upon such Occasions And the several
High and Petty Constables and Headboroughs within this County are hereby
Society Charged and Required to pay due Obedience to this Order and
deligently to attend to the prevention and Suppression of such unlawful
Meetings and assemblies as well in General as when they shall be
called out upon Such Occastions by any Justice or Justices within their
Division as they will answer the Neglect thereof at their Peril

And it is further Resolved that this
Order be printed and that the respective High Constables within the
several divisions of this County do take Care to have the same posted up in
such manner within their respective divisions as may best and to
prevent the evil hereby intended to be remerked
Whereas