[649] "An Order for putting in execution the laws against vagabonds made by the Lords in Parliament assembled." _King's Pamphlets_, 669, f. 9, No. 81, Mar. 5th, 1646/7. See also an Act of the Commons of England in Parliament assembled for the relief and employment of the poor and the punishing of vagrants, 1650. Numerous resolutions tell us that the state of the London streets had become almost unbearable. The vagrants hung on coaches and begged clamorously at the doors of churches and private houses[650]: moreover not only did men gather in tumultuous assemblies "by playing at football or otherwise," but many "loose and vagrant persons" also had been found to wander, who, "under colour of begging in the day time," did pilfer and steal, and in the night time "did break into houses and shops to the scandall of the governmente of this City[651]." [650] Order issued "By the Mayor," 1655. _King's Pamphlets_, 669, f. 20, No. 21. "Whereas by neglect of executing the good lawes and statutes against rogues, vagabonds and sturdy beggars, that vermine of the Commonwealth doth now swarme in and about this City and Liberties disturbing and annoying the inhabitants and passengers, by hanging upon Coaches, and clamorous begging at the doores of Churches and private Houses and in the streets and Common Wayes; beguiling the modest laborious and honest poore (the proper objects of charity) of much reliefe and alms etc." 23rd Jan., 1655/6. [651] "By the Mayor." Lord Mayor's Proclamations, No. 18. In 1652 several resolutions were passed by Parliament on the matter, and a committee was appointed to consider how the poor might be employed, to revive the laws concerning the poor and setting them to work, and "to consider by what means or default the same are become ineffectual or are not put in execution[652]." [652] _Votes of Parliament, Tuesday the seven and twentieth of April, 1652_, "For setting the Poor on work and for preventing of Common Begging." _King's Pamphlets_, 669, f. 16, No. 49. These resolutions and these complaints at once show that the administration had become lax, and that there had formerly been a time in which these laws had "not become ineffectual," and were put in execution. [Sidenote: 1 _c_. Instances of corrupt practices.]