As one would expect, Brocas’s Charge Book in 1729 – 30 shows a good deal of
continuity of practice from the 1690 s ( Table 2. 2 ). In his mayoral year, he heard
charges of prostitution, drunkenness, and disorderly conduct in the streets al-
leged against men and women brought in by constables and watchmen. He also
continued to commit men and women to the Bridewell charged with ‘pilfering’,
invariably noting that the goods involved were of small value, and naming the
defendants as ‘loose, idle and disorderly’ persons—thus attaching to their war-
rant of commitment a reason that would help to relieve any anxiety that might
have been felt about the legality of this way of treating minor property offend-
ers. There are other similarities between the Charge Books of the 1690 s and that
of Brocas’s mayoralty. There are also differences.
Table 2. 2 .Magisterial business conducted by Lord Mayor Brocas,
November 1729 –October 1730No.
Accused of felony:
Committed to Newgate or a compter for trial 51
Bailed 1
Discharged for want of prosecution, weak evidence,
or other reason 40
Accused of pilfering:
Committed to Bridewell as loose, idle, and disorderly 25
Discharged 4
Accused of frequent pilfering from master:
Committed to trial sessions of the peace 1
Accused of assault:
Committed to trial 32
Charge dismissed 20
Settled 172
Committed to Bridewell 3
On Officer, committed to trial 3
On officer, charge dismissed 1
On officer, settled 3
Fraud/cheating 6
Disorderly conduct/drunk/street disturbance/inmate in bawdy house 46
Prostitution 35
Hawking illegally 8
Neglect of duty, constable or watchman 4
Leaving children in the parish 2
Source: CLRO: Charge Book, 1728 – 33One difference may be more apparent than real. In Brocas’s year as mayor
(or at least in the weeks in which records were kept, about three-quarters of the
104 City Magistrates and the Process of Prosecution