coat of arms of the City of London  
come Concil' tent' in Camera Guihald ' Civitat' LONDON, die Veneris Vicesimo primo die Junii, Anno Regni Domini WILLIELMI Tertii, nunc Regis Angliae, etc. Septimo: Coram Thoma Lane Mil', Major' dictae Civitat'; Thoma Stamp, Mil' & Alderman'; Salathiel Lovel, Mil', Servien' add Legem ac Recordat' Civitat' praedict'; Edwardo Clarke, Mil'; Richardo Levit, Mil'; & Thoma Abney, Mil', Alderman'; Necnon major' part Communiar' dictae Civitat' in eodem come Concil' tunc & ibidem Assemblat'.  
An ACT of Common Council for Settling the Methods of Calling Adjourning and Dissolving the Common-Halls, upon the several Elections of the Mayor, Sheriffs, Chamberlain, and other Officers usually there Chosen.  
WHERE AS by reason of some Disputes concerning the Right and Power of Calling and Adjourning of Common-Halls, for Election of Mayor, Sheriffs, Chamberlain, and other Officers and Persons at such Halls usually Chosen, several Disorders have arisen amongst the Citizens of this City, to the great Disquiet thereof.  
Now for the preventing the like Mischiefs for the future, and that a certain and undoubted Method may be observed therein for the time to come, Be it declared by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, aldermans and Commons in Common-Council Assembled, and by the Authority thereof, That the Right of Assembling Common-Halls, for the Election of the Lord MAYOR, SHERIFFS, and other Public Officers of this City, and the Power to dissolve the same, after such Elections made and finished, and not otherwise, is, and of Right aught to be in the Lord Mayor of this City for the time being.  
And it is Enacted and Ordained for the future, That if after any Common-Hall is assembled, for any of the Elections, as aforesaid, a Poll and Scrutiny, or either of them shall be lawfully demanded, or any other Difficulty shall arise, which may require the Adjournment of the said Hall, That then the Right of granting and taking the Poll and Scrutiny, or either of them, and Adjourning the said Hall from time to time, till such Poll and Scrutiny are concluded, and the several Elections finished, shall be in the Sheriffs of the said City for the time being, and no other; Any Law, Usage or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding.  
But if it shall at any time happen, That any Dispute or Difference shall arise at such Elections between the Sheriffs for the time being, touching any Matter relating to Adjournments, Polls or Scrutinies, that may impead or hinder the completing and finishing thereof within the Times hereafter for that purpose limited and appointed; That then and in such Case, all such Differences between them the said Sheriffs shall be determined by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor for the time being; and such Orders and Directions as his Lordship shall therein make, shall be observed by the said Sheriffs accordingly; And in default of an immediate Compliance with such Orders and Directions, That then it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Lord Mayor for the time being, to proceed in granting and taking the Poll and Scrutiny, or either of them; and in Adjourning the said Hall from time to time till such Poll or Scrutiny are concluded, and the several Elections finished; in like manner as the said Sheriffs should or might have done, in case no such Difference had happened.  
And it is hereby further Enacted and Ordained, That where any Poll or Scrutiny, or either of them, for determining the Elections of the Officers and Persons aforesaid shall be granted, that the Sheriffs for the time being shall finish such Poll within Three days next and immediately ensuing the First meeting and assembling of the Common-Hall; And that the said Sheriffs shall and are hereby required to finish the Scrutiny, and to make return of such Officers and Persons as shall be so Chosen within Seven days next and immediately ensuing the finishing of such Poll: And in case of Difference between the said Sheriffs, as aforesaid, That then the Lord Mayor for the time being, shall and is hereby required to finish such Poll within Three days next and immediately ensuing such Difference, and to finish the Scrutiny, and to make return of such Officers and Persons as shall be so Chosen, within Seven days next and immediately ensuing the finishing of such Poll, in like manner as the Sheriffs should have done, in case no such Difference, as aforesaid, had happened.  
And it is hereby further Enacted and Ordained, That no person or persons that shall be hereafter duly Elected and Chosen Sheriff or Sheriffs for the City of London and County of Middlesex, by the Livery-Men of this City, in Common-Hall assembled, shall be discharged from Serving the said Office, after the 30th day of August in any year, without the Consent and Approbation of the Lord Mayor, aldermans and Commons in Common Council assembled, first had and obtained; Any Law, Usage or Custom to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding.  
And whereas by a Clause in an ACT of Common-Council made the 6th day of June, 1683, it was amongst other things Enacted, That an Act made the 21th day of June, 1643, Repealing Two former Acts of Common-Council, whereby the Court of Aldermen were to Nominate Two Persons to the Common-Hall for their Election of a Chamberlain, and Four for their Election of the Bridgemasters, and the Commoners to Ghoose out of them and no others, should be Abrogated and Repealed: Now this COURT taking the said several Acts into their Consideration, do hereby Enact and Ordain, And be it Enacted and Ordained by the Authority of the same, That the said Clause of Repeal in the said Act, made the 6th day of June, 1683, and every thing therein contained, relating to or concerning such Repeals, be from henceforth Abrogated and Repealed; and the said Clause is hereby Abrogated and Repealed accordingly: And the said Act made the 21th day of June, 1643, (so far as concerns the Repeal of the said former Acts of Common-Council) is hereby Revived, and Declared to be in force and virtue. And the said Acts of Common-Council, Directing and Enacting such Nomination, as aforesaid, are hereby declared to be and stand Repealed and Annulled to all intents and purposes whatsoever.  
And it is hereby further Declared, Enacted and Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That for the future the Nomination of all and every Person and Persons for Chamberlain and Bridgemasters, and also the Election and Choice of them, shall be made by the Livery of the several Companies of this City (lawfully Entitled to have such Livery, according to the Laws and Customs of this City) in Common Hall assembled, and not otherwise; Any Law or Usage to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.  
Goodfellow.   

Printed by Samuel Roycroft, Printer to the Honourable City of London. 1695.