A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE Irregular Proceedings At GVILDHALL, About the Swearing the TWO Pretended SHERIFFS Mr. NORTH and Mr. RICH. September 28. 1682  
THE last Night my Lord Mayor issued out Tickets to the Aldermen in these Words:  Sir; Your Worship is desired to be at a Court of Aldermen at Guild-Hall on Thursday next at nine of the Clock in the forenoon, in your violet Gown and Cloak, being the twenty eighth of September. 
Accordingly several Aldermen appeared at Guildhall, and it being the day appointed for the Swearing of Sheriffs, they attended Thomas Papillon and John Dubois Esquires into the Guild-Hall at the hour appointed by the Lord Mayor, which they found guarded by Foot-Companies of the Trained-Bands (a thing expressly contrary to the English Constitutions, which hath been jealous of nothing more than the preserving Elections free from force or terror;) Some whereof were posted at the Doors and presented their Muskets: But yet there was no refusal of entrance, but rather an opening of the Files, and some respect shown. So all the aforesaid Aldermen passed into the Council-Chamber, where having stayed a little while, and supposing my Lord Mayor might go up to the Hustings directly, they went down into the Hall towards the Hustings-door, and there abode some time, attending his Lordship's coming, the Soldiers with respect giving way. But Lieutenant Colonel Quiney who was absent at their entry, came up to them very much concerned, and made several turns without speaking to them, but commanded the Soldiers several times to stand to their Arms, and so withdrew. But after a quarter of an hour he came back again and commanded the Soldiers to face about (and so altered their Figure) and to advance so as to encompass or imprison the Aldermen, for there was not six foot square left them to stand upon. Whereupon Quiney said to the Aldermen, I have a command from the Lieutenancy to keep the Hall clear, and suffer none to be here till my Lord Mayor comes. Upon this, several aldermans demanded to see the Order, being ready to obey all▪ Legal commands; and asked him, whether he did not know that they were Magistrates of the City; and could believe it reached them? To which he answered, I have none, but it is with the Major of the Regiment, and I do know you, and you must remove. Further, the Aldermen declared, they were summoned to wait on my Lord Mayor at the Guild-Hall, and there attended in all peaceableness. Whereupon he withdrew again for some time, but returning, said, gentlemans You must withdraw, I have a command to require it. But being again demanded to show his Warrant or Order, he answered in a great heat, That he would show none, nor to none such as they. Then laying hands first on Sir P. W's. shoulder who stood next to him, he said, Sir You must remove; and called on his Soldiers to advance close to the Bar, so as to thrust them away; Sir P. W. only replied to him, We are in a lawful place, and on our Duty, desiring the other Aldermen that were present, and the Soldiers, to take notice of the violence offered. And surely it was such as is scarcely to be Paralleled, especially in a well-governed City; that their Civil Magistrates should be so affronted in their own Room. But Quiney answered, he cared not for Witness, he would justify what he did, having Orders from the Lieutenancy so to do. Then he took hold on Sir J. L. who was leaning on the Bar, and with very great and repeated violence pulled him from off the step, and had like to have thrown him down; who demanded still by what Order he did it? and that he would show the same. But he replied again, he would show none: Then he took hold of Sir J. S. and Sir T. G. and Ald. C. who likewise demanding to see his Orders, were answered to the same purpose as aforesaid. Hereupon all the Aldermen desiring the Soldiers who were present to take notice of the Assaults and Misdemeanours of the said Quiney, they withdrew into the West part of the Hall, where divers persons were walking, viz. Withers, Wiseman, Nicols, Steventon, etc. some of them being of the Lieutenancy, and others not. To whom it was said, Did not you see the Misdemeanours of Quiney? But they instead of resenting the indignities offered to those worthy Aldermen, who had served the City to so great a degree that the mouth of malice itself may be stopped, answered, He followed but the Orders of the Lieutenancy. Then it was asked them (being Acquaintance) How they came by that Freedom in the Hall, when the Aldermen were so ill treated there? Whereunto they answered, they were of the Lieutenancy, and attended the coming of my Lord Mayor: The which the Aldermen told them they also did, but had not the same civil treatment.  
Not long after came my Lord Mayor, to whom these Aldermen joined themselves, and went up out of the Great Hall into the Council-Chamber, and Mr. Papillon and Mr. Dubois with them: where being entered, the first words my Lord Mayor said, were these, viz: Gentlemen, here are fine doings, to go and Swear Sheriffs, and I not present! Whereunto Sir J. L. answered, Whoever told your Lordship so, misinformed your Lordship; we came very peaceably to the Hall to perform our duty, and know well what it is to administer an Oath, and had not the least intention of such a thing, but to lay our claim by presenting Sheriffs.  
Sir R. C. also told his Lordship, he ought to be angry with those that had given him false Information, rather than with those he was misinformed of; and that nothing was intended or designed contrary to his Lordship's frequent and public Declaration, which was, that the matter should be determined by Law; and it was advised that could not be done, unless Mr. Papillon and Mr. Dubois did present themselves to be sworn.  
Whereupon his Lordship seemed to rest satisfied; and immediately the rest of the Aldermen with the other Sheriffs coming in, Mr. Papillon and Mr. Dubois presented themselves to his Lordship, and Mr. Papillon read a Paper the contents whereof were as follows.  

To the Right Honourable, the LORD MAYOR and Court of ALDERMEN: The humble Declaration of Thomas Papillon Mercer, and John Dubois Weaver, Citizens of London.  
OUR Absence in the Country on Midsummer-day last, and for some time before and since, and our being personally Strangers to, and no way appearing or concerning ourselves with any of the Transactions or Proceedings then, or since Used in the Choice of Sheriffs for this Honourable City and County of Middlesex for the ensuing Year, would have Excused our Attendance upon your Lordship and this Honourable Court at this time, and upon this Occasion, had we not been Informed by divers, that by the Suffrages of the Majority of the Citizens in Common-Hall, We were, and stand duly Elected Sheriffs for this City and the County of Middlesex for the Ensuing Year.  
Now though our Personal Vnacquaintance with the Proceedings used in that Affair hath been such, and that we have not received any Intimation or Command concerning the same from your Lordship or this Honourable Court, whereby we might have had an Opportunity of declaring ourselves either ready to Accept, or desirous to be Excused from that Office, as hath been usual in former Cases of the like Nature; yet in regard of the aforesaid Information, and that the time for such Declaration, as well as for any further Election, is now Elapsed, and not knowing of what Consequence it may be to us, nor what Inconveniencies or hazard we might be Obnoxious, or Exposed unto, if we should continue Silent or Passive in that Affair:  
Therefore for the avoiding all Prejudices and Inconveniencies, we have thought it a Duty Incumbent on us, to appear at this time before your Lordship and this Honourable Court, not to Debate or question any the Proceedings or Transactions in this matter, nor Officiously to Court an Office so Chargeable in itself, and so Inconvenient to Us; But as being Citizens of London, and so under Obligation to Serve the King and Country, when duly Called thereto; and desirous to Excuse ourselves from all Imputation of Crime or neglect of Duty that might be Charged upon Us; We do with all Submission hereby Declare unto your Lordship and this Honourable Court, that we are Ready, and do now tender ourselves to take upon us the Office of Sheriffs for the City of London and County of Middlesex for the ensuing Year, and to be Sworn and Admitted into that Office according to our Election; And in Order thereunto, to Attend your Lordship and the Aldermen to the Hustings or elsewhere, and either there, or in any other proper Place and manner to take the Oaths of the said Office, and such other Oaths as the Law requires, and further to do and perform whatsoever the Law, or the Rights and Customs of this City Require of Us concerning the said Office, and We humbly beg your Lordships and the Courts Answer therein.  
Guild-Hall, 28 Septemb. 1682. 

Thomas Papillon,  
John Dubois.     
The which having read, Mr. Papillon Presented it to my Lord Mayor, but he refusing to take it, Mr. Papillon gave it to a Member of the Court, who Accepted it, to prove the Tender of themselves.  
And his Lordship being Pressed to take the matter into Debate, for that the Aldermen had been Summoned to a Court, he Answered, There was no Business: To which it was Replied, We have much to say, for the Citizens seem to be thrown out of Possession of the Sheriffwick, which they have enjoyed so many Azes by Free Election: We desire fairly to tender our Sheriffs, in order to have the Business more fairly determined at Law, according to your Lordship's Promise, and Answer to the many Addresses made, that the Law should determine it; and it is the only way left us, though Troublesome and Chargeable. And we also desire the matter may be Debated, that an Answer may be given to the Sheriffs who have tendered themselves.  
Sir P. W. then moved that the aforesaid Paper, and his Lordship's▪ Refusal of it might be Recorded; then Sir R. C. whispered to his Lordship, and told him, that if he took a Vote of the Court, he would engage them in it, and their averseness to it, aught to alarm him not to take it upon himself, upon which he did Hesitate some time, but yet at length was prevailed with to go to the Hustings without further ado, taking Mr. North, and Calling Mr. Rich to go with him; Mr. Papillon and Mr. Dubois went along with him also, and did prepare themselves to have spoken to his Lordship and the Court on the Hustings, and so did several of the Aldermen, the Lord Mayor and several Aldermen having declared in the Council-Chamber, that they might say what they had to say when they came on the Hustings; But his Lordship would not hear them when they came thither. But the Military Guards after admitting a few Persons, closed again, so that the Liveries attending could not come near; and then his Lordship called Mr. North and Mr. Rich to the Book to be Sworn; Mr. Papillon being on the H●sting●, pressed the Lord Mayor that he might be heard; but my Lord refusing to hear him, Mr. Papillon Presented a Paper Signed by himself and Mr. Dubois as follows, the Substance of which he designed to have spoke.  

To the Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR and aldermans at the Court of Hustings, in the Guild-Hall, London, Assembled for the Admission and Swearing the Sheriffs for the City of London and County of Middlesex for the ensuing Year, this 28th of Septemb. 1682.  
WE do here present ourselves, and are ready to take upon us the Office of Sheriffs of this Honourable City of London and County of Middlesex, for the ensuing Year, to which, as we are Informed, we are Chosen by the Majority of the Citizens, at the Common-Hall of this City; And we are here ready, and do tender ourselves to be Admitted thereunto, and to take the Oath of Office, and such other Oaths as the Law requires, and to do and perform whatsoever the Law, or the Rights and Customs of this City require of us, relating to that Office.   
But this Paper being rejected by his Lordship with great heat, it was delivered to Sir John Laurence as an Evidence of their tender; Upon which Mr. Papillon and Mr. Dubois went to the Book with Mr. North and Rich, and Mr. Papillon laid his Hand on the Book, and continued it there for some time, until the Lord Mayor and some of the Aldermen Commanded them To forbear, and to keep the Peace, and be gone; which they complied with, and retired: Having before earnestly pressed to be heard, for that they had something of Importance to say; and some of the Aldermen said, My Lord, when we came out of the Council-Chamber, you said, what we had to say on this Subject, we might speak on the Hustings, and therefore we claim it of Right to be heard: But he refused all, and Ordered to Proceed in Administering the Oath to North and Rich, whereupon the duly Elected Sheriffs and six Aldermen withdrew, Protesting against all the Irregular and Illegal Proceedings.   

Printed for John Johnson