blazon of the City of London  
Pack Mayor. Tuesday the Second day of January, 1654.  
ORdered, That such of the Rules and By-Laws made by this Court in pursuance of the late Ordinance for Regulation of Hackney Coachmen, and approved by His Highness the Lord Protector and the Council, as are of most concernment to be presently and publicly known, be forthwith Printed, that all persons concerned may take notice thereof, and act according to the same Rules, being now to be put in strict execution without further warning.  
TO the intent there may be no exaction, strife or debate about the hire of Coaches for time to come; It is Ordained, That no person or persons of the Fellowship of Hackney Coachmen shall require, take or have any greater rate or prices then is hereafter set down and expressed; that is to say, for the hire of a Coach, Caroche or Chariot with four Horses, twenty shillings a day; and for a Coach and two Horses, ten shillings a day; And that every Coach with four Horses shall at the Rates aforesaid limited, travel upon the Roads to and from London, from the twenty fifth day of March until the twentieth day of October, thirty miles a day, within sixty mile's compass of London every way (excepting in Sussex Road, which being worst and hardest for journeying, shall be traveled so far only as is reasonable, or as shall be agreed or undertaken by the Coachmen upon hire) And a Coach with two Horses, at the Rates before limited for two Horses, for the same season, shall travel twenty miles a day; And that from and after the twentieth day of October, until the twenty fifth of March, a Coach with four Horses shall travel twenty five miles a day, and a Coach with two Horses shall travel fifteen miles a day, within the like compass of sixty miles from London (excepting upon the said Road of Sussex) But for the time a Coach shall rest or lie still upon any journey, the hire shall be, viz for a Coach and four Horses but ten shillings a day, & for a Coach with two horses but six shillings eight pence a day. And that none of the said Coachmen unless he be hired by the day) shall require, take or have for carrying any person or persons in his Coach, from any parts or places within the places and limits aforesaid, to any other place or places within the same limits (namely, six miles compass of the late Lines of Communication, and back again) above twelve pence a mile forward and backward, that is to say, six pence a mile forward, and six pence backward, if he be not put to above an hours waiting and attendance for carrying back of such person or persons; and then to have twelve pence an hour for every hours attendance, above the space of one hour. And from the Old Exchange in Cornhill London. unto Westminster, or to any other place of like distance of place or thereabouts, not above eighteen pence, but if the persons carried exceed three persons, two shillings; and from the Old Exchange unto Temple Bar, Lincoln's Inn or Gray's Inn or to any other place of like distance of place, or thereabouts, not above twelve pence; also from Guildhall to Temple Bar or any part of Chancery-lane, Grays Inn. or other place of like distance, or thereabouts, not above twelve pence; and from Temple Bar▪ Lincoln's Inn, or Gray's Inn to Westminster, or to any place of like distance, or thereabouts, not above twelve pence; and from Westminster to White-Chappel, or the like distance of place, or thereabouts, two shillings six pence; and from Temple Barr to White-Chappel, or the like distance of place, or thereabouts, eighteen pence; and from the Old Exchange to White Chapel, or the like distance of place, twelve pence: and after the same proportion from place to place within the limits and places aforesaid. And if any person or persons admitted, or that shall be admitted to keep Coach and Horses as aforesaid, shall deny to accept his pay according to the Rates aforesaid, or shall wilfully refuse to be hired, with his Coach and Horses, at the rates aforesaid, and shall excuse himself, or pretend that he is hired before, whereas in truth he is not; or shall misbehave himself by uncivil carriage, or repreachful or railing words, towards any person or persons who shall require or offer to hire his Coach or Horses, and offer to pay unto him for the same after the Rates aforesaid, in such case such person and persons shall for the first offence, being proved before the said Overseers at their Meetings, who are hereby impowered to examine such abuses, forfeit, and pay ten shillings; for the second offence, being proved as aforesaid, twenty shillings and for the third offence, being complained of to the Court of Aldermen of the said City, and the thing there proved, shall by Order of the said Court be dismissed, and put beside his keeping of Coach and Horses to work and hire out, within the limits aforesaid.  
For avoiding all annoyance, and pestering of the streets by the standing of too many Coaches in the same: It is Ordained, That there shall not stand at the Old Exchange, at one time, above ten Coaches, side at the one side of the Conduit there, and five at the other side, thirty foot off and from the said Conduit, near the Channel, and a good distance one from another, and the Drivers not to stir off from his and their Coaches, and be careful not to offend the Inhabitants & Passengers thereabouts; In like manner in G●ildhall yard, not above two Coaches (unless they attend any persons that have hired the same) In Paul's Churchyard not above eight Coaches at one time: In Smithfield not above ten: In Al●ersgate-street not above eight From Fleet Conduit to Dunstan's Church not above ten from thence to Temple Bar not above eight; In Chancery-lane not above six; From the Savoy to the New Exchange or York-house, not above ten; At Charing Cross not above six; At Whitehall not above eight; At Westminster as occasion serves; From the West-end of S. Clement's Church to Exeter-house not above twenty; In Holborn not above twenty; In Long-acre and Covent Garden as occasion serves; In S. Martin's lane not obove twelve; and in Bishopsgate-street not above twelve Coaches at any one time, Upon pain that every one offending therein by a wilful exceeding of the respective Numbers of Coaches , shall for every offence forfeit and pay Two shillings six pence.  
That none of the said Hackney Coachmen shall have his Coach, or any part of it gilded, nor wear the Eschucheon of any person of Honour, or Gentleman thereupon, Upon pain of Five pounds: But, as a Mark of distinction, shall have the City Arms placed or painted on the Shield, upon the cross piece behind of his said Coach.  
That if any person or persons shall after the twenty fifth of December 1654., presume to keep and let to hire any Coach and Horses, not being duly allowed by the Court of Aldermen of London, or having been allowed, and for any cause disabled and dismissed by the said Court, shall yet presume to keep, or let to hire any Coach or Horses; In every such case every person so offending, upon the proof as aforesaid, shall forfeit and pay for the first offence twenty shillings, for the second offence forty shillings, and for every offence afterwards the sum of four pounds, to be had and recovered as is hereafter mentioned.  
And it is Ordained, That every person admitted, or that shall be admitted to keep Hackney Coaches and Horses as aforesaid, shall retain and keep no servant but of honest and civil life and behaviour, and shall for the miscarriages or offences of his or her servants, against any the Orders and Provisions before-going, or that shall hereafter be made in this behalf, undergo and suffer like pains and penalties, as if the same had been done and committed in his or her own person, and the servant so offending shall make reparation to his Master or Mistress, out of his wages by way of abatement or deduction; or otherwise shall be committed to the House of Correction by the said Lord Mayor and Aldermen, there to remain and be whipped, and held to hard labour, as, according to the merit and nature of the offence, shall by the said Court be adjudged fit and reasonable, and not enlarged, but by Warrant from the said Court.  
And further, It is Ordained, that all pains, penalties, forfeitures, and sums of money, by virtue of any of these Ordinances to be forfeited, and not otherwise levied, shall and may be levied by Distress, and sale of the Coach or Coaches, and Horses, or other Goods and Chattels of the party or parties offending and refusing, or neglecting to pay the same; deducting the said forfeiture or sum of money, and reasonable charges of distraining, and restoring the overplus to the owner thereof; or otherwise, such pains, penalties, forfeitures and sums of money, shall and may be recovered by Action of Debt, Bill or Plaint, to be commenced in any Court of Record: And after recovery and levying thereof, and charges deducted, the one moiety thereof to be to the use of the said Fellowship, and the other moiety thereof to the Informer that shall prosecute the same: In which Suits the Prosecutor shall recover ordinary Costs and Charges against the offendor or offenders in that behalf, if the Suit or Action pass for him; and the Defendant shall recover his Costs against the Plaintiff, if the same go for the Defendant.  
Lastly, It is Ordained, That if any person or persons shall hire, or make use of the said Hackney Coachmen, or any of them, or of their Coaches and Horses, for carrying of them from place to place, and shall refuse or neglect to pay, and satisfy him and them their hire or freight as aforesaid, and according to the same proportion, That such person or persons shall and may be carried before any justice of Peace near the place where such refusal or fact shall be committed; and that such justice of Peace shall cause the same to be paid forthwith, with such damages as he shall think fit in his discretion for detaining the same: and for not performance thereof, the said justice of Peace shall hereby have power to deal with such offendor, as fully, amply and largely, to all intents and purposes, as any justice of Peace may do with any Master, who refuseth to pay his Servant his wages contracted for.  
SADLER.   

Printed by James Flesher, Printer to the Honourable City of London.