Skirmish talks with Sir Oliver Muckhill and Sir Andrew Tipstaff. Sir Andrew Tipstaff (suitor to Francis) and Sir John Pennydub (suitor to Moll) enter. The Tipstaff was commissioned for municipal police affairs. The office of the Tipstaff is thought to have been created in the 14th century. In Australia, a tipstaff is roughly equivalent to a law clerk in the United States. Prior to 1884, each Tipstaff had their own staff, which they retained when they retired.