THE OBSERVATOR IN A DILEMMA, that while he justifies the LORD MAYOR and his Aldermen, he reflects on Mr. Box, and while he Vindicates Mr. Box, he pleads the Protesters cause against the Lord Mayor and his Aldermen.  
WHereas the Guide to the Inferior Clergy, in his Observator, Number 206, does insinuate as if the print on the back side of the Citizens just Protestation, did reflect on my Lord Mayor's Aldermen as Perjured, which nothing can be more Malicious, there being not one word that does in the least sound like it, but 'tis like him; Now Mr. Observator, if I am not mistaken, I have found you in some of your Prints, if not expressly, yet implicitly declare, that any Subject (though he pretends never so much Loyalty, and faithful performance of his Oath of Allegiance) that shall refuse when Legally qualified, to serve his Majesty in any Legal Office, when Legally called thereunto, doth not only forfeit his Loyalty, but break his Oath of Allegiance too; now Mr. Ralph Box having of late been by you in Print declared to be one most eminent for Loyalty and Allegiance, which is so great a Truth, that I affirm that none but the most malicious dare think to the contrary; he hath also been declared by my Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen (that is his Party) to be Legally and duly Elected one of the Sheriffs for the Year ensuing, according to the Ancient Laws, Customs and Usages of the City; and on Tuesday last the aforesaid Legality of his Election was Confirmed by a hundred and odd Petitioners; now that Mr. Box after the missing the Office of Sheriff for two years' last passed, is this year declared Legally Chosen, and that Confirmed too by a Cloud of Loyal Witnesses, should after all refuse to hold, has put multitudes of People to inquire into the Cause.  
For to question his Loyalty and faithfulness to his Oath of Allegiance, is to murder his Reputation, to question his Willingness is to give himself the Lie, to question his Estate is to prejudice his Credit, and to question his Judgement and Understanding, his natural and acquired qualifications for such an Office, is to deny the experience of all that know him; Wherefore the most Judicious do conclude, that the true reason why he refused to hold, is from his being so faithful to his Oath as a Citizen, and from his so much Understanding and Experience of the Laws and Customs of the City, than to hold upon such an Election, which if true, as most certain it is, for I challenge you or any other to show any reason for his not holding besides the Ilegallity of his Election, and then what is become of your reflection on the back side of the Protestation? for 'tis not the declaration of great men, nor a great number of men (without the greatest number) that can make a Legal thing Illegal, nor an Illegal Act Legal.   

Printed for A. Green. 1682.