To the right Hole: the Lords and others of his Maties most Hole privy Councell.
The certificate of the Maior, Aldermen and Justice of the peace wthin the Towne of Cambridge and the lib(er)ties thereof concerninge his Maties orders and direccons sent unto us in printed bookes together wth letters from yor Honors for the due puttinge in execucon such Lawes as tend to the releivinge of impotent poore people, settinge to worke those that be able, and punishinge those that be idle, and reformeinge of divers abuses and disorders therein menconed.
Humbly sheweth,
1. That accordinge to the said orders and letters, we presentlie uppon receipt thereof did assemble orselues together and calld before us the High Constables, petty Constables, Churchwardens, and overseers of the poore of or said Towne and gave them strictlie in charge for the performance of the service therein required accordinge to the said orders and direccons.
2. That we have ever since kept and continewed or weekely meetings and there caused the said Constables dulie to make theire presentmts and from tyme to tyme have strictly called them to particular accompt concerninge the apprehendinge and punishinge of rogues and vagabonds for disorderly tiplinge, useinge unlawfull games and other misdemeanors in alehouses.
3. That we have caused the said Constables to see the watches and wardes duly kept accordinge to lawe and to restrayne wandringe and goeing aboute of beggers and alsoe for safety and good order.
4. That we have taken divers presentments of the said officers and inflicted punishment accordinge to lawe of the offenders both for drunknes for inordinate hauntinge of alehouses, for profanacon of the Saboth by Carriers travellinge with packhorses and carts, with butchers sellinge of meate, for profane swearinge and other misdemeanors and have caused the penalties to be duly taken and distributed accordinge to the lawe.
5. That we beinge exceedingly oppressed wth poore since or last heavy visitacon have taken order at or weekely meetings for the competent releife of the impotent, by raiseinge and increasinge the monthly rates in all or parishes to a treble and quadruple proportion through or towne for to keepe them from begginge and wandringe aboute.
6. That we have caused the churchwardens and overseers of or severall parishes to sett to worke all such poore as are able to worke beinge of seaven yeares of age and upwards or to bynde them forth apprentises. And for the better performance of theire duties therein and whatt ells belongs to theire office we doe take of them a iust and exact accompt the ffirst weeke in every month howe they dispose of there monthly colleccon and other monies comeinge to there hands and alsoe howe the impotent poore are provided for and releived and the rest imployed and sett to worke and for punishment of such as are idle or refuse to worke.
7. And as touchinge the Assize of bread and beare, as alsoe for punishinge of bakers, bruers, ingrosers, forestallers and the like (wch the governors of the universitie clayme to belonge to them) we leave to the vicechancelor and governers thereof accordinge to there Charter of priviledge wch they challendge.