during your said office, at and by the appointment and orders of his worship the mayor, and the rest of his brethren, or the major part of them, disburse and lay down all and every kind of needful and regular charges and other disbursements, as to the worshipful the mayor, and his brethren, or the major part of them, as shall be thought right, just, lawful, and proper for the public weal of this town, and the franchises thereof. And also maintain, repair, uphold, perform, and do all matters and things, which the bailiffs of this town, and their predecessors in office, have usually been wont to do, and which may tend, in every degree, to the public benefit and welfare of this our borough of Preston, its franchises and liberties thereof. You shall expose, and inform his worshipful the mayor, of all faults and misdemeanours which shall come to your knowledge, and known to have been committed within this borough, or the franchises or liberties thereof, during the whole time of your servitude, in this your aforesaid office. You shall also maintain, uphold, and set forth, all laudable rites and customs, as have been originally used and practised within this town, . by the bailiffs of the said town, your predecessors in office, for the welfare and honour of this borough, and the franchises and liberties thereof: and according to such

orders and regulations as have been originally agreed upon by the worshipful the mayor, and the rest of his brethren in office, the common councilmen of the town. You shall also gather all monies, and discharge all debts, as by virtue of this your office, you ought, and shall collect, within this town, or which during the time of your said office, you or either of you shall be indebted or shall owe unto his worship the mayor, bailiff, or burgesses of the town, by reason of your said office, before the feast day of the purification of our blessed lady the Virgin Mary, next ensuing the day of your accounts.

"So help you God."

The town sergeant's oath. But observe, the very same oath which precedeth the oath of the mayor and bailiffs, is also administered to the sub-bailiff, or town's sergeant, who likewise takes this oath, which is as follows, viz.

"You are duly elected, and chosen to the office of town's sergeant for the next ensuing year, and shall therefore well and truly execute and exercise the aforesaid office, known by the name of the town's sergeant, within this our borough of Preston, in Amounderness, in the county of Lancaster, together with its franchises and liberties thereof, from the feast day of St. Wilfrid, the archbishop, next forthcoming, until the feast day of St.

Wilfrid, the archbishop, then forthcoming, (that is to say) for one whole year, if you live till then, and so long continue in office, and from that day, until another person to your office is duly and lawfully sworn and elected, you shall obey your said worshipful the mayor, and him duly serve and revere, as pertaineth; and to the extent of your power, maintain the peace of the king's majesty, within this ancient borough, its franchises and liberties thereof. You shall also carry the toll-box, every market day, and during the times of fairs, following after the bailiffs of this town, and duly wait upon them, as becometh your situation, and give due assistance to them in the collecting and gathering of tolls, and other customs, belonging to his worship the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses of this ancient and loyal town of Preston, during the time of your servitude in this aforesaid office. You shall likewise be ready to come to his worship the mayor, to ring the ordinary bell, every market day, and at all other times when his worship the mayor telleth you to do so; and at all other due and convenient times, during this your said office, you shall hold yourself in readiness to give assistance to the sergeant at mace, commonly called the mayor's sergeant, for all executions served by the said sergeant, within this our said borough of Preston, and the

franchises and liberties thereof. And moreover, such person or persons' goods and chattels, as are held in bondage, by arrest or execution, you shall take into your custody, and the same safely keep, and deliver over, with all possible speed, unto the bailiffs of this town, for the time during the existence of this your said office. You shall not exact or extort from any person or persons, for or concerning the execution of this your office, any money, gift, reward, or any other thing whatsoever, than such lawful, just, and equitable fees, as originally have been allowed, and usually taken, by your predecessors the sergeants of the town, except it shall be otherwise ordained by the worshipful the mayor, and his brethren. You shall not take any money, gift, or reward, of any gamester or gamesters, which you shall find, or take any material belonging to any kind of play, or game, within this borough, during the time of your office, to the intent to bear or agree with, or with a view to oversee this their offence against the public morals of the inhabitants of this town. But all persons as you shall find so offending within this borough, its franchises and liberties, shall be brought before his worship the mayor, and supreme magistrate, or in certain cases, the same shall be made known to him without delay. And if you shall find, or know of any

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lewd, bad, or suspected person or persons, to be relieved, harboured, or kept at any house or houses, within this borough, the franchises or liberties thereof, you shall use your best endeavours to apprehend them personally, all and every one of them, or otherwise take them, or give information of them and their respective residence to your worshipful master, the mayor of this ancient and loyal borough, in order that they may be apprehended, and duly taken and put into custody, keeping this knowledge of the case to yourself, nor letting any other person or persons into the knowledge thereof, so that these villainous persons may betake themselves to flight, and thereby make their total escape out of the franchises and liberties of the borough. And further, you shall truly present to your master, his worship the mayor of the town, the names of all and every respective householder, as shall in any wise relieve, keep, or harbour all such lewd persons, known to your personal knowledge.

The oath of the mayor's sergeant is administered as follows:

"You are chosen to the office of sergeant, for the year ensuing you shall therefore well and truly use and exercise the said office of sergeant at mace, commonly known by the