a Act for the reformation OF diverse abuse use in the WARDMOTE inquest whereas  the wardmote inquest within the several ware of this city for the maintenance  of honesty virtue and good live and for the abolishment exciling and suppress  of all kind of vice evil rule and iniquity accord to the ancient laudable law  and custom of the say city be yearly several charge and swear upon the day of  saint Thomas the apostle before the alderman of the say ware chief and  principal to the end and intent that they with all diligence shall true and  duly inquire and present all such enormity nuisance misorder and offence as be  or at any timle within the space of one whole year then next ensue shall be  several use commit or do within the say ware and have day yearly to make their  say presentment until the Monday next after the Feast of the Epiphany the say  inquest heretofore little or nothing at all regard as it be very manifest and  not unknown the more be the pity their say oath or yet the great commodity  utility quietness honour and worship that may or shall grow and ensue to the  say city and inhabitant of the same through their good industrious and  indifferent proceed for the advancement of virtue and repress of vice have  draw it in a manner into a very ordinary course and common customer to consume  and spend a great part of their say time that they have yearly give unto they  when they receive their say charge partly in set up among themselves a certain  commons and make and keep many costly and sumptuous dinner supper and banquet  invite and call to the same at sundry time in a manner all the inhabitant of  the say several ware to the no little charge of the same inhabitant and partly  in pass and occupy much part of the same time in play at dice table card and  such other unlawful game both to the great cost charge and expense of the say  inquest whereof the great part most common be but poor man and also to the  very lewd pernicious and evil example of all such as have any access or  recourse unto the same inquest and where also the say inquest have of late  usurp to dispense with such person as they by their search and otherwise have  find to offend and transgress the law in use and occupy of unlawful weight and  measure take of the say offender certain fine as it be say the say inquest  have common use to employ towards the maintenance of their say feast and  banquet direct against the due order of our sovereign Lord the kii g law and  the public wealth of all his highness subject within the say city and much to  the reproach and dishonour of the same city for remedy apd reformation thereof  be it ordain enact and establish by the lord mayor alderman and commons in  this present common Council assemble and by authority of the same that all and  every the wardmote inquest of the say city from henceforth to be yearly charge  and swear within the several ware at the time before rehearse shall at all  time and place meet and convenient for the due execution of their say charge  meet and assemble themselves together and that they and every of they after  their say meeting inquisition and treat of their say necessary matter shall go  home to their own several house to breakfast dinner and supper during all the  say accustom time of their charge and session abovesaid and that none of the  say inquest shall from henceforward set up any manner of commons or keep or  maintain any manner of dinner supper or bhnquets among themselves or use at  their say assembly and session any of the game above mention or any other  whatsoever unlawful game or play at any time before the give up of the say  presentment at the time above remember or shall take or receive any manner of  fine or fine for the concealment and discharge of any of the offence afore  recite but true present the same offence and every of they accord to their  oath upon pain of imprisonment by the discretion of the lord mayor and  alderman of the say city for the time be provide always and be it enact by the  authority aforesaid that it shall be lawful for all and every of the say  inquest to take and receive towards the charge of their fire and candle and  other necessary during the time of their say session all and every such sum of  money as any honest person or person of their free will calthrop er p and  benevolent mind will give and offer unto they and when they have make their  say presentment to go and assemble themselves together for their recreation  and solace where they shall think it good and there not only to bestow and  spend the twenty shilling which every alderman within his ware accord to a  certain order late take shall yearly give unto they at the time of the  delivery of their say presentment towards their say charge in this behalf but  also the residue of the say money receive and gather as it be aforesaid of the  benevolence of their say love friend if any such residue shall fortune to  remain any clause or article in this present Act contain to the contrary  notwithstanding not fail hereof as the tender the common weal of this city and  advancement of good justice and as the will answer for the contrary at your  uttermost peril