The manner of the ELECTION Of the Honourable and Approved Patriots, Sir HARBOTTLE GRIMSTON, Master of the ROLLS, AND Capt. REYNOLDS, To Serve in PARLIAMENT, FOR BURGESSES for the Town of COLCHESTER IN ESSEX; Upon Tuesday the 15th of February, 1680.  
THe Competitors were, the Master of the Rolls, and Sir Walter Clarges( Son of Sir Thomas Clarges) who were former Burgesses; and Samuel Reynolds Esquire,( a Gentleman lately put out of the Commission of the Peace, and of the Place of Captain of Horse in the Militia.) Before the Election there was great Confidence that Sir Walter would carry it against Mr. Reynolds: but it being discovered, that Sir Walter had Voted for the D. of Y. they generally declined him; notwithstanding, he being Kinsman to the Duke of Albemarle, was accompanied by His Grace, who is our Lord Lieutenant and Recorder; and had also the Assistance of almost all our Magistrates. The Numbers, upon casting up the Books, were thus: For the Master of the Rolls, 418. For Mr. Reynolds, 308. and for Sir Walter, 218. And it is the more observable that the Election was thus carried, when Mr. Reynolds, though he was a Justice of the Peace at the Election of the last Parliament, did then, in a Contest with Sir Walter, poll but about 130, when Sir Walter polled about 290. Our Mayor manifested himself in the whole Proceeding inclinable to Sir Walter, by encouraging those that were for him, and calling for the Officers of the Town that he knew were against Mr. Reynolds to come to Poll, and did frequently treat those that offered themselves for Mr. Reynolds with reproachful Language, and put Queries upon several of the Electors; and however after it appeared that Mr. Reynolds had carried it by 56 undoubted Voices, upon whom and had put no Queries, he refused to proclaim the Election of the Master of the Rolls and Mr. Reynolds, and said he would consider of it till Monday next; when we doubt not but he will remember his Duty, and seal the Indentures of the Election, in hopes to prevent sergeant Topham's conducting him to Oxford.  
In the time of the Poll there was this pleasant Passage: A Person coming to Vote, declared himself for Mr. Reynolds, and acknowledged that he had been engaged three Weeks before for Sir Walter, but said that he was better informed; and though he was but a cobbler, he would not trust Sir Walter to give away his All.  
After the Election made, the Free Burgesses agreed upon the following Address.  

To the Honourable Sir Harbottle Grimston Baronet, and Samuel Reynolds Esquire, now chosen Burgesses for our Corporation of Colchester, in the Country of Essex.  
WE, the Free Burgesses of the said Corporation, being deeply sensible of the unspeakable danger threatening His Majesty's Life, and the Protestant Religion, and the well established Government of this Kingdom, from the Hellish Designs of the Papists, and their wicked Adherents: And that our Religion and Liberties can only, under God, be secured to us, and our Posterity, by wholesome Advice in Parliament; have now chosen you to represent us there, in confidence of your Integrity and Courage to discharge so great a Trust in this time of Imminent Danger. And we do desire you to allow us to speak our steadfast Resolution( with utmost hazard of our Lives and Fortunes) to show our Approbation of what shall be resolved in Parliament, for the maintaining the Protestant Religion, and our Liberties, against Popery and Arbitrary Government. And we hope you will endeavour, to the utmost of your Power, to disable James Duke of York, and all other Popish Pretenders, from inheriting the Imperial Crown of this Realm. And we shall pray for your good Success.   
And so the Day was ended, to the general Satisfaction of the Town.   
FINIS.  

LONDON, Printed for Rich. Janeway. 1681.