THE PREROGATIVE OF THE RIGHT honourable The Lord Mayor of LONDON, ASSERTED.  
AN Act of Common council that the Election of Sherift shall be made on St. Matthews day, 
7 R. II.  and when the Commons shall be agreed upon an able Person they shall present him to the Mayor and Aldermen.  
Upon the Kings Writ to the Mayor, Aldermen, 
16 R. II.  and Commons to choose Sheriffs, according to the ancient Custom and Usage the Mayor choose one, and the Commonalty another.  
The Mayor names one Sheriff to be assigned in the name of him and the Aldermen, and then they left the Commons to make their Choice. 
22 H. VI.   
In this Year John Persival the Mayor of London's Carver, 
A.D. 1486. 1 H. VII. Baker's Chron.  waiting at his Table, was CHOSEN one of the Sheriffs of London, ONLY by Sir John Collet's, then Mayor, drinking to him in a Cup of Wine, as the Custom is to drink to him whom he LIST to name Sheriff, and forthwith the said Persival sate down at the Mayors Table, and covered his head, and was afterward Mayor himself.  
One choose by the Commons to join with him that was before name by the Mayor by his Prerogative; 
18 H. VIII.  and also according to the ancient Rules and Ordinances.  
A Letter from the Court of Aldermen, 
21 H. VIII.  acquainting one that he had been Chosen by the Commonalty, to be associate with another before appointed by the Mayor, and by the Citizens Confirmed.  
Lib. Alb. & Dunthan.  
Speaking of the Election of Sheriffs, say, That the Mayor shall first choose one for whom he will answer the Moiety of the Farm, if the person be not sufficient; But if he choose by the Advice of the Aldermen, then they are to answer with him; and the Commons shall choose another, for whom they will answer the other Moiety.  
Alderman Martin having been treated with by the common-council touching the acceptance of the Office of one of the Sheriffs, 
23 Eliz.  declared in common-council, He would if the Lord Mayor choose him thereunto, who did choose him afterwards accordingly.  
The like Act having been made before in the 36 of Eliz. 
7 Car. I.  only with less Penalties. All former Acts touching Election and Confirmation of Sheriffs( the Penalties having been too mildred) made voided: The day as well for Confirmation and Allowance for such person as shall be Chosen and Elected by the Mayor to be Sheriff, as for the choice of such other person, as by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commons shall be Chosen to be Sheriff, shall be the 24. day of June.  
None to be Chosen or Elected shall be discharged, 
Before this Act it was St. Matthew's day.  if worth 10000 l. If any so Chosen or Elected do not become bound before the next Court of Aldermen to hold the Office, he shall forfeit. If any Forfeiture shall be made by him that shall be first Chosen or Elected by the Lord Mayor, part of such Forfeiture shall be to him that first in the same Year accept the Office. And if after such acceptance other Forfeiture shall be made by any choose by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commons, part thereof shall be to him that first after him accept the Office being Elected by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commons; and that no Alderman shall by posteriority of Election be inferior to a Commoner. The Mayor not to choose any Commoner while there is an Alderman Eligible.  

Out of the Book, called, The Book of Habits, Printed time out of mind, an Impression of 1617. now to be seen, the same word for word with Stow's Survey of London.  
My Lord Mayor and the Aldermen, with the Sheriffs, meet at the Guild-Hall at eight of the Clock in the Morning, appareled in their Violet Gowns lined, and their Cloaks of Scarlet lined, without their Horses.  
And when they have been together in the Council-Chamber a certain time, concerning the Nomination of certain persons to be Elected, my Lord and the Aldermen come out, and put on their Cloaks in the Orphans Court, and then go down in order to the Hustings Court, and there being set, Master Recorder standeth up, and maketh his obeisance, first to my Lord, and then unto the Commons, and declareth unto them wherefore they are assembled together, showing unto them that it is for the Election of one of the Sheriffs of London, and the Sheriff of Middlesex for the Year next ensuing, and the CONFIRMATION of the other Sheriff nominated by my Lord Mayor, according to his PREROGATIVE; and also for Master Chamberlain and other Officers.  
But my Lord and the Aldermen go up to my Lords Court, and there remain until the Sheriff be name and chosen, the door shut to them.  
Then Master Sheriffs, Master Chamberlain, Master Common sergeant, Master Town-Clerk, and the Counsellors of the City, and other Officers, remain still in the Hustings Court, to take and receive the Name of HIM that shall seem by their judgments, freely and with one consent to be nominated and elected, and justly tried out, not only by voice, but also by hands, to be Sheriff for the Year following.    

Printed for S. Mearne, 1682.