Duty of Watchmen.
XVII. And be it further enacted, That the Watchmen to be appointed and employed as aforesaid shall, during the Time of their being upon Duty, use their utmost Endeavours to prevent any Mischief by Fire, and also any Burglaries, Robberies, Affrays, and other Outrages and Disorders, within the Limits of this Act; and it shall be lawful for the said Watchmen, or any of them, and they are hereby respectively authorized and required, during the Time they are on Duty, to apprehend and secure all Malefactors, Rogues, Vagabonds, and other disorderly Persons, within the Limits of this Act, who shall disturb the publick Peace, or whom they shall have Cause to suspect of any evil Design, and to secure and keep in safe Custody every such Person, in order that he or she may be conveyed, as soon as conveniently may be, before some Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, to be examined and dealt with according to Law; and if any Person or Persons shall assault or resist, or shall promote or encourage the assaulting or resisting, any of the said Watchmen in the Execution of their Duty, every such Person shall, for every such Offence, forfeit and pay any Sum not exceeding Five Pounds; and if any Victualler or Keeper of any Publick House shall knowingly harbour or entertain any Watchman employed within the Limits of this Act, or permit or suffer any such Watchman to be and remain in his House during any Part of the Time appointed for his being on Duty, every Victualler or Keeper of such Publick House shall, for every such Offence, forfeit and pay any Sum not exceeding Twenty Shillings.