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Dean, Steward,
Towne Clarke.
without the consent of the Dean of Westmr or the High Steward or his
Deputy Steward or the Towne Clarke according to the statute in that case
provided.
How fines shall
be disposed.
36. Item all the said forfeitures shall be to the use of the poor people of
this Citty or Burrow and that the same shall be levied by the bailiffs of the
liberties of the said Dean & Chapter by way of distress to be taken and
justified to the use aforesd (except those said fines which at any time shall
happen to be due by any of the said burgesses and their assistants) which
said fines shall alwaies be paid to one of the chief burgesses for the time being
to the use of the poor as aforesaid And the said two cheif burgesses shall
keep a book of all their receipts and the said bailiffes shall likewise keep a
book of all his said receipts And the said two cheif burgesses & bayliffe
together shall make their severall accounts before the Dean of Weetmr four
times in the year (that is to say) at the four quarter daies or usuall
days of payment in the year And upon their finishing of their said accounts
the said bailiffe shall thereupon deliver all such money as he shall then
have remaining in his hands of his said colleccon to the said two cheif
burgesses reserving to himself one third part thereof for his paynes &
travell & the rest being delivered unto the said two cheif burgesses by the
bailiffe as aforesaid the said burgesses in convenient time after by the consent
of the said Dean of Westmr shall distribute the same money to &
among the poor people within the said Citty & Burrow of Westminster.
Two additional burgesses were appointed on the creation of
St. James, in 1685, under the Act 1, Jas.II., cap. 22.
The above-mentioned ordinances were varied and extended
in 1719, when provision was made for the appointment of 155
watchmen, of whom 35 were apportioned to the Parish of St.
James. Any of the residents selected as watchmen who
desired not to act were at liberty to pay for a substitute to be
provided by the burgesses. The watchmen were to be armed
and on duty from 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. during the winder, and
from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. during the summer months. They
were to hold themselves at the disposal of the burgesses, who
were to see that the watchmen and constables did their duty.
Additional watchmen were appointed in 1720, the number
for the parish of St. James being increased to 38, and an