What a wardmoot is, etc.

It is called a wardmoot on the grounds that it is an assembly by summons of the whole populace of one ward, there being present its headman, the alderman or his lieutenant, for the purpose of correcting faults, or removing nuisances, and for furthering the benefit of that ward. What we call a "wardmoot" the Romans called a "plebiscite"; it was anciently called a "folkmoot" among the Saxons. The aldermen have been accustomed to hold their wardmoots at least once, or twice, or many times a year, by virtue of a warrant sent to them by the mayor then in office. Through which it has been the practice to enquire into the degree of peace and tranquillity within each ward, and for the alderman to correct faults presented.

The customary process for holding a wardmoot in London is as follows. After receiving the warrant, the alderman is to order his beadle to summon all male householders and rent-payers in his ward to appear before him at a certain date and time – that is, the day following such a summons – at a certain location within the ward, so that a wardmoot may be held. The names of whom, once they have been summoned, the beadle shall have written down on a certain roll; that is, the freemen of the city living in the ward listed together, and the rent-payers who are not freemen listed together. When they have gathered together at the hour assigned, the alderman with the more prominent men of the ward having seated themselves in their places, the alderman's clerk is to order the beadle to call for quiet, on the alderman's behalf. That being done, the clerk should read out publicly the warrant, and then he should read out to the beadle the names written in the roll, with the beadle calling them out again in a loud voice, so that anyone not responding to his name (because of failure to be present) is to be noted down and amerced at least 4d. Then the beadle is to present to the alderman a panel, put together by the ward constables, of reputable men of the ward by whom the inquest ought to be made; which selection the alderman has the power to alter, if he thinks it expedient. Once that is done, all the articles concerning the wardmoot, which have been recorded on folio 30 of Part Two of Book Three of this volume, are to be read out to the jurors. And then the alderman is to assign the jurors a specific date on which to make their presentments [of offences]. On which [day] the jurors are to present their findings in the form of an indenture, of which one part is to remain with the alderman and the other part with the ward [jury?]. The alderman ought to report what is on his part to the mayor at his next General Court, so that, by seeing and picking out those things that fall to the mayor and city to punish, the indenture can be handed back to him for the other matters to be dealt with.

At the wardmoot the alderman and the reputable men of the ward, as well as the jurors, ought to elect constables, scavagers, ale-conners, a beadle, and other officers – who, at the General Court already mentioned, shall take their respective oaths of office, as recorded on folio 26 of Part Two of Book Three of this volume. It has also been the custom for the alderman to have the beadle draw up a special inventory of hostellers, brewers, bakers, cooks, victuallers, and hucksters residing in the ward. Bakers may also obtain their marks there, of which markings there are examples among the aldermannic records; in relation to which transaction, each baker is to pay the alderman 4d., unless it happens that he has – before the alderman, within the ward (and not elsewhere) – previously paid for an exemplification of his mark. It has also been the custom for the aldermen to seal the measures and weights [used] within their wards, and condemn those that are not sealed; taking for the sealing [a fee] for their own use, such as the Chamber of the city now takes. For indeed their measures made of bronze must in each ward accord with the royal standards of the city. And at the wardmoot those who are not freemen of the city and who have not been previously sworn to it should be placed in frankpledge, notwithstanding that they may have been received into it elsewhere, in some other ward. They shall swear the oath, etc., which is required for admittance into frankpledge [as in] folio 26 of Part Two of Book Three of this volume. Each person so received shall give a penny to the clerk for his admission. If anyone to whom this applies stays away from the wardmoot, that person is to pay 4d. to the alderman, unless the person is a knight, esquire, woman, apprentice in the law, or cleric, or someone who does not reside in the city.

The alderman ought personally to preside over and pass sentence on all faults and nuisances in the ward, as presented by the jurors; except perhaps any problematic matters that arise or those falling under the jurisdiction of the Chamber – with such matters the mayor and the chamberlain, in conjunction with the sheriffs and other officers, will concern themselves. If the alderman finds the officers under him to be remiss or negligent, he is to warn them to mend their ways; if they are unwilling to do so, he may within reason reprimand or punish them, or refer the matter to the mayor, who should rectify the problem appropriately.