These officers had Constables in the several divisions of the Borough, termed Allotments, sometimes Constablewicks. The men selected for the office appear to have been men of substance, standing, and integrity; and upon them devolved the duties of maintaining the laws, of collecting monies for the king &c. Here, for instance, are the “Articles which the constables” of Madeley and Little Wenlock were called upon “to present upon oath.” 1.—What felonies have been committed and what default . and by and in-whom. 2.—What vagrant p’sns. and sturdy beggars have passed through yo’r. limitts unpunished, and whether the same and impotent poor of yo’r. p’ share provided for, and poor children bound apprentices according to Law. 3.—What Recusants of about the age of sixteen are in yo:e limitts, and who absent themselves from church on ye Lord’s Day, and how many sabbaths. 4.—Who have profaned the Sabbath by swearing, labouring or otherwise. 5.—What Ingrossers, forestalled, or . . . of the market, of cow or cattle, or other dead victuals are within yo’r limitts, or any Badgers or Drovers of cow or cattle. 6.—Who make mault to sell of corn or grain or tythe or tylth not being their own . and are not licensed thereunto. 7.—What Masters or Servants give or take greater wages than is appointed by Justices of the Peace according to Law. 8.—What cottagers or inmates are evicted, removed or maintained, and by whom, and how long. 9.—What unlawful games, drunkenness, tipling other evil rule or disorder hath been in Inns, ale houses &c. and by whom. 10.—What Servants have departed from their masters, and what masters have put away their servants within the compass of their time. 11.—Who use gunns, or take or destroy hawks or hawk’s eggs, of pheasants, partridges, younge deer, hares, snipes, fish, or fowl, with snares or other engines whatsoever for that purpose against the Law. 12.—Who use unlawful weights or measures or buy by a greater and sell by a lesser weight or measure. 13.—Whether watch and ward be duly observed and kept according to ye statute; that is to say, between Ascension Day and Michaelmas in convenient places, and who has made default therein. 14.—What highways have been repaired and what have been neglected. 15.—Who have sold beer, or syder, or perry, &c. unlicensed, or who hath evaded ye assize of bread and drink unlawfully, either the bakers or assizers. 16.—What butchers have killed or sold meate on the Lord’s Day, or sold any unwholesome flesh at any other time. 17.—Who have any assault, battery, or bloodshed. 18.—Who have profanely sworn or cursed, and how often. 19.—What common brawlers, drunkards, scoulds, eavesdroppers, talebearers, and such disordered p’sns are within y’re limits.