"The c(er)tificate of Sr John Cutts, Sr Edward Hynde, Sr Robert Hatton knights and Martin Peerce Esqr. Justices of the peace wthin the County of Cambridge aforesaid, and assigned to the devisions of the hundreds of Chesterton, Papworth and North Stowe, vnto the high Sheriffe of the said County, by vertue of certayne imprinted orders and direccons sent from his matie, and l(ett)res sent vnto vs by the right honoble the lords of his maties most honoble privy Councell beareinge date the last day of Aprill Anno d(omi)ni 1632.
From or meeteinge at Longe Stanton the thirteenth of May 1632.
Wee, or some of vs whose names are heere subscribed, have mett seu(er)all tymes for the said hund(reds) accordinge to the instruccons sent vnto vs.
Wee have taken a strict accompt of the high Constables, petty Constables, Churwardens and ou(er)seers for the poore of eu(er)y parish wthin theis hundreds howe the impotent poore are releived and their other poore sett on worke in eu(er)y Towne, and we find that they are sufficiently provided for and the Towne stockes we have in most Townes increased wth direccons to have them duly imployed.
Since our first meeteings we find the contry to have bin soe carefull that wee have bin sloe in punishinge, but have rather sought by gentle meanes to incourrage them, where we find the lawe to give vs that liberty.
We have caused a gen(er)all privy Search to be made in all Townes wthin the sayd Hundreds, for the apprehendinge of rogues and vagabons, and have caused them to be punished and conveyed accordinge to the Statute, and we have comanded a strict and diligent ward to be kept in eu(er)y Towne for the apprehendinge, punishinge and conveyinge of all such Rogues and wandringe persons as shall hereafter be found wthin the said lymitts and we shall punish the defaults of such officers as have bin negligent in the due execucon of the premisses.
We have at or seu(er)all meeteings put forth above one hundred and fifty apprentices and have since taken an accompt of all such masters as have heretofore taken apprentices and have putt them away, and we have settled them againe wth their said masters where they remayne quietly.
For the statute of laborers, retayneinge of servants and orderinge of wages, we have taken it into our consideracon, but have perfected nothinge[774], the care of the poore and puttinge forth of apprentices hath imployed soe much of our tyme.
The howes of correccon we have yett had noe tyme or means to alter but we shall carefully and speedyly obey comandemt.
For the highe wayes we have vsed our best diligence, and we have seene the lawes strictly observed, but yt must be a worke of tyme, and we will continewe our care.