»••»/. •' 
 
 
 
 ^H 
 
 ■ 
 ■ 
 
 
 ■ ■ 
 
 ^HH 'fc H 
 
J J 
 
 
 
 
 *5 
 
 
 
 § 
 
 
 
 »gc 
 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 , J *►! 
 
 "% 
 
 o3 
 
 c 
 
 *5 
 
 3 
 2 
 
 S 1-3 
 
 <5 
 
 
 U fc 
 
 
 
 to 
 
 
 
 « s 
 
 £ 
 
 -*- 1 
 
 
 -ck> O 
 
 " iZ 
 
 
 ** s 
 
 Z3 
 
 
 2S H 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 c 
 
 
 j& « 
 
 o 
 
 •S •§ 1 
 
 -*•* ft 
 
 o 
 
 .t5> > ^ 
 
 
 0) 
 
 <5 % % 
 
 \** 
 
 "o 
 
 
 o 
 
 CJ 
 
 
 & 
 
 
 
 >i 
 
 
 
 *i 
 
 
 
 V* 
 
 
 
 g> 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 
 s^ 
 
 is 
 
 ///Hf 
 
A FLEA 
 
 For the Commonalty of 
 
 , L JA(JD 3^ 
 
 OR, 
 
 A Vindication of their Rights(which 
 
 hath been long with-holden f romthem) 
 in the choice of fundry City Officers. 
 
 AS ALSO, 
 
 A Juftification ofthe power ofthc Court 
 
 Of Common- Councell, in the making of Ads, ' 
 
 or By-Laws, for the good and profit ofthc 
 
 Citizens, notwithftanding the Negative 
 
 votes ofthe Lord Major and Aldermen. 
 
 Being fullly proved by feverall Charters granted 
 
 to this City, by fundry Rojsll Kings ©£ England, con- 
 firmed by Ad of Parliament, and by Records 
 witnefiing the particulars in the pra&ifc of them. 
 
 In a Speech delivered in Cornrhon^counccll, on 
 Munday the 24 th of February, 1644. 
 
 By John B e l l a m 1 e . 
 
 Thefecond Edition 
 
 LONDON, 
 Printed by geirge MUUr^ and arc to be fold at 
 bis Houfc in BlackcFrjers. 1 64 ?% , 
 
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 The Lord Major, 
 
 AND TO 
 
 The Right Worfhipf till the Aldermen, 
 
 and the reft of the Common-ccunceU of 
 
 the City of LONDON. 
 
 BJght Honourable, 
 Kigbt JVorJh ; pfuti f 
 
 Hat which lately I prefented 
 in a Speech unto your eares, 
 I now prefume in this little 
 Manuall to put into your 
 hands •, It neither then was, 
 nor now is, any conceit I had 5 or have, of 
 jmy own abilities (for I know my felfe the 
 unmeeteft, becaufe the unableft, of many 
 others,) that put me upon this taske-, But 
 chat duty and fervice, which I owe unto 
 
 A 3 
 
 this 
 

 The Ef title Vedicatorie. 
 
 this Court 5 and in it unto all the Commonal- 
 ty of this City, made me to adventure my 
 felfe (in the prefence of your Lordfhip, and 
 the worthy Aldermen) to enter the lifts^and 
 to put in this^i, for the defence of our Z/- I 
 her ties, and vindicating of our rights and J? 
 dues. 
 
 And as fometiraes it falls out in a cafe of 
 danger, when the loffe of all lies at flake, 
 that the forwardneflfe of a young and unex- 
 perienced Souldier, who perhaps is alfo 
 more hardie then warie, yet loving his 
 Countries liberty, adventures to begin the 
 onfet,and thereby provokes and ftirs up 
 Courage in the more grave and able Com- 
 manders, to follow on in hope of victory - 7 
 So if now by my example, I may but en- 
 courage fome of you,who are alfo with me 
 members of this CcuncelMjk. which I know 
 arefarre more able then my felfe) to im- 
 prove your Parts and Abilities for the 
 Common good, in ufing your beft endea- 
 vours in this Courts for the pleading of our 
 Caufe, and thereby the regaining of thofe 
 Rights and Liberties, which by the Charters 
 of our Gfty$ doe belong unto us 5 1 fhall 
 
 then 
 
The EfiHle Dedicatorie. 
 
 then be in good hope, that by the evidence 
 of Truth and Reafon, all our Triviledgts and 
 Immunities will be, as freely,fbalfb loving- 
 ly, and confentingly granted to us 5 Which 
 island ever fhallbe, the earneft defire and 
 endeavourof him, who is and ever will be, 
 
 Tour Lordfhips, and this Cities fervant, 
 for the publike welfare of it. 
 
 Iohn Bellamie, 
 
 A 4 The 
 
The Froeme. 
 
 IP on the 1 6 th of January lafi , 
 made an humble Motion in the 
 Common-ccuncell to the Lord 
 Major and Aldermen, that one 
 Jpeeiall meanes which I had oft ob 
 fervedto obftrufl: the good procee* 
 dings of that Court, might be removed, viz. Bis 
 Lordfhips cauflng the SVcord to be taken up , and 
 then going away , and fb dijfolving the Court, with- 
 out the confent,yea againft the defres of the Major 
 fart. The remedy I propofedfor theredrefe of this 
 grievance, ^as this, that by the power of this Coun- 
 celljhere might be a Law eflabli(hed,that the Court 
 might not at any time be dij]olved 3 or ad)ourned,mth - 
 out the confent of the Major part both ^/Aldermen 
 and Commons in Common-cunfell affemble.d ; 
 The ground upon which Itocke the humble boldneffe 
 to make thatfo necejfary a motion, was from the ex- 
 ample of that never too much to be admired wifdome 
 andprudence of ;hofe Noble Peeres and Sages of 
 this Kino dome, the Lords and Commons novo af- 
 jembled in this present Parliament, who fee- 
 ing the fade ffefts { almof to the ruine of this Natu 
 m) that fell out by reafon of the fudien breakirig up 
 ^Parliaments, did thereupon addre ft thswfelves, 
 
The Proeme. 
 
 i With one eonfent unto his Ma jcfty , that he would be 
 if leafed to pajfe an jttt, that this Parliament might 
 not be dijfolved, prorogued or adjourned, without 
 the eonfent of both Houfes of Parliament,/*^ had 
 andobtainedthereunto : As Ico'tidnot in myjudg- 
 f) went find out a fairer" Copie to write after in this 
 my motion for the Citks fafety, then that nnpara- 
 . Icldprattife ofthofe Lords and Cotnmom for the 
 U Kingdomes fecurity : fo neither could I prefent a 
 j better patterns then our Roy all Soveraigne, nor in 
 j all his aBionSyfnce the diadem of this Kingdoms 
 [ij adorned his Kingly head, could I find out one, 
 U W/?/V£ in after ages mil beffeake him more truly 
 J Royall, fl&*n f lw fo\r/i rafc&Y/ granting that their 
 i fojufl a defirei lalfo upon the 24 of January,/*™- 
 fecuted this my motion With fame prejfive argu- 
 \ ments, hoping thereby to prevaile ; and they Were 
 j /i^ ^ I found made ready to my handy by the mofi 
 j folidfi and able ft judgements that this Nation hath, 
 j riz. f/tf arguments which the Lords d»^ Com- 
 j mons in Parliament, laid down before his Ma jefty 
 ; (and Which Wrought his Royall content) you may 
 j find them in the preface before the Atlfor the conm 
 tinuance of this prefent Farliatnent, *U that wa* 
 mine therein, W as only theparalelling of the (fondi- 
 j tion of the Kingdom?, for Which they Were made, 
 \ With the condition of the City, to Which I brought 
 them, and applied them to the prefent cafe in hand ; 
 and let m but change the tearmes of the Kingdome 
 into City, W^arhamenvVtf* Common-conn- 
 ed!, 
 
The Proemc. 
 
 cell (Which is as it Were a City- Par liamentj and 
 then the j Will almofl in every things a fully agree 
 With our condition, as With the condition of the 
 Kingdomc/ir Which they Were framed; the parti- 
 culars I principally infixed upon Were thefe three; 
 I. The raifing of monies for the \%$? ms \occafiom % 
 a. The repayment of thofe monies fo raijid by the 
 1S£SS^h.| 3. Theredrejfe of the puMke grie- 
 vances of the |ciTv s . dom ' I Now as the Parliament 
 could not,fo the Comoion-counccll, cannot fo ful- 
 ly With power and credit, either raife, or pay fuck 
 monies as they (hall have occafion to ufe for thefcr- 
 viceofthe |§§f*.| nor re ™ v ' the publike grie- 
 vances of the \^ ofa >\ Without the power of conti- 
 nuing together, and of not being dijfolved, t til they 
 have fully effected that Which in thefe or any the lt{e 
 particulars Jhallcome under their debate or confidt- 
 ration, but feeing that neither fo faire aprefident, 
 nor fo firceable arguments could then prevaile as 
 Was defredj thereupon endeavoured ; Firft, by the 
 Charters of our City, Secondly, by Records Wit- 
 neffing our power in the praBiee of it ; and thirdly, 
 by equity and reafon, to prove our Rights and dues, 
 as in this following Plea, I have laid them down^and 
 therein h<tve made our claimc, 
 
4 Tlea for the Commonalty of 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 jR, 
 
 A Speech delivered ib Common- 
 
 Councell, on Mupday the 24th- of 
 February >* 1 644, 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 After Recorder having fully and 
 faithfully reported the truth, in 
 fliewing the little fuccefle, or 
 good, that after three dayes de- 
 bate hath beene done, in that 
 Committee, which was appointed to ftate the 
 queftion in controverfie, between the &4lder- 
 men 'and Commoners, Members of this Court 
 of Common-councell , and I being by this 
 Court added to that Committee, thought it 
 therfore my duty ( according to the beft of my 
 abilities ) tp give an accompt to this Court, 
 whom it chiefely concernes, how in my judge- 
 ment I conceive the right and truth therein 
 I . doth 
 
2 A Plea for the 
 
 doth ftand ; and for methods fake, I ftiall de- 
 liver, what in this I have to fpcake, under thefe i 
 three heads. 
 
 Firft , That this City ( by thofe favours 
 and bounties, which Vve and our predecejfours 
 have received from fundry Royall Kings cf 
 England) is now invented Vvith many excellent I 
 immunities, fanchifes andpriviledges. 
 
 Secondly, Who are the proper recipients of ] 
 thofe favours, or to Vohom the power of ufing 
 and maintaining thofe favours andpriviledges I 
 granted to us by our Roy all Kings of EngLmd,is 
 committed. 
 
 Thirdly {The reafins or arguments, ftherfire 
 thofe per (ons unto Whom this power is commit- 
 ted, Jhould ear 'e filly and confcion ably maintain 
 and ufe thofe priviledges, with which they are 
 entrufied. 
 
 For the proofe of the firft, I have a large and 
 a pleafant field to walk in ; and truly I want 
 both time to recount them all, they are fo ma- 
 ny j and words to fet forth the worth of them 
 they are fo excellent. 
 
 When I throughly view them, I know not 
 well whether J ihould more magnifie the grace 
 and favour of thofe Royall Princes, in giving us 
 fo many priviledges, or admire our own happi- 
 neffe in the enjoyment of them. 
 
 But J muft only doe in thefe, as men ufually 
 doe in a curious Garden, pluck here a flower 
 
 and 
 
Commomlty of London. $ 
 
 tnd there an herb, which are moft pleafing to 
 :heir fences, and moft ufefull for their fervice ; 
 and when I have done the beft I can, I muft 
 cave many behind me, for want of time and 
 >kill rocolleftand improve them for thecom- 
 non good : But my hope and defire is, that 
 bme more able and skilful! hand, willfhortly 
 it them forth in their ufe and luftre, before 
 tour Lordjhip and this Court. 
 
 I can no way caft my eye, but it beholds ma- 
 iy witneffes of this truth ; for that we are here, 
 ic this time in the capacity of a City counfeU, 
 :ocon(ultupon, debate about, and determine 
 >f, fuch things which doe or may concerne the 
 :ommon good, this pleades, this proves our 
 >riviledge: That Emblem of Authority, which 
 re while was borne before jour Lor dfbip, and 
 iow prefents it felfe within your view, isano- 
 her argument to prove your power,and irrk the 
 xnverof this Citj,whok head (uftder his Ma« 
 efiy) your Lord/hip is. 
 
 Very much hath been anciently written by 
 nany Authors, in the praife and commenda- 
 ion of London, but it hath been lately, as truly, 
 jb fully fummed up together, by that learned 
 -awyer S* Edward Cook^, fometime Recor- 
 der of London, and after Lord Chiefi fnfiice of 
 \Zngland,'m his fiurthpart oflnftirutes, p. 247. 
 in thefe three expreffions • 1. Camera Re- 
 |& a, ReUPublk*- Cor. 3% 'Tonus Regni 
 
 Epitome^ 
 
4 A Plea for thts 
 
 Epitome. The Chamber of the King, the heart 
 of the Common-wealth, the Epitome of the 
 Whole Kingdome. 
 
 But, mj Lord, I muft come to the proofe of 
 thefe proofes, for it is not fufficient to (hew 
 that we are thus, and that your Lordjbip is pof- 
 feft of fuch a power, for this and more then 
 this may be by ufurpation, and without war- 
 rant ; But that which is my part to prove, is, 
 .That your Lordjbip and this City, is inverted 
 with a juft and a full power thus to be, and thus 
 to doe> and that by the free and cleare grants 
 of (undry rojaU Kings of England, manifefted 
 in their feverall and refpe&ive Charters, which 
 by their grace and favour they have granted 
 to us. 
 
 Thofe pleafant flowers and ufefull herbs, 
 which I (hall now endeavour to prefent you 
 with, are luch as will chiefely make a flouri- 
 shing and a populous City to be truly happy. 
 They are thefe two: 
 
 Firft, To have the power to choofe our own 
 chiefe Governowr, and fubordinate Officers a- 
 mongft our felves. 
 
 Secondly, To have alfo the power to make 
 fuchLaws, which are or (hall be for our own 
 wdfare,and beft accommodation, 
 
 London was anciently governed, both be- 
 fore theconqueft, in the time, of the conqueft, 
 and for about iaoyeares after the conqueft, 
 
 Which 
 
Commdnalty of London. 5 
 
 which was, un till the firft y care of -Richard the 
 firft, by Port-graves,or Port-Gretves: Richard 
 the firft, appointed the filfi Major cf London, 
 which continued for about 24yeares, untiilthe 
 14 th yeare oi'King John ; And King John Wats 
 the firft King of 'England ,that gave us the pow- 
 er to choofe our chief G over nour, vi$5i the Ma- 
 jor amongft our felves,as the words of the Char- 
 ter in the x 6 yeare of his raigne,makes it plaine. 
 The words are thefe. 
 
 Know je that We have granted to our Ba- 
 rons of our City of London, that they may 
 choofe unto them/ "elves a Major ofthemfelves. 
 
 And that Charter of Henry the third, in the 
 37 yeare of his raigne, gives us the like power,in 
 theie words ; 
 
 We grant alfo unto the faid Citizens, that 
 thejmaj jearelj prefentto our Barons of the 
 Exchequer, We or our Heires not beingat Weft- 
 minfler, every Major which they Jhall choofe in 
 the City of London, to the end they maybe by 
 them admitted,as Major. 
 
 And that Charter of Edward the fecond, in 
 the 12 th of his raigne, confirmeth to us the 
 fame power of choofing the Major, with this 
 addition alfo, of choofing both the Sheriffs, I 
 fay, of choofing not only one, but both the S 'he- 
 riffs>znd that in thefe words j 
 
 That the Major and Sheriffs of the City a- 
 firefiid, may be chofen by the Citizens of the 
 
 (arxe 
 
6 A plea for thc^> 
 
 (aipe City, according to the tenour of the Char* 
 ters of our ^Progenitors, fometimes Kings of 
 Bngland,to that end made j Et nullo alio rnodo. 
 
 Which Charter, hath reference to the Char« 
 ter of: King John, in the firft yeare of his raigne, 
 in thefe words ; 
 
 *s4nd further , We have granted to the Citi- 
 zens of Lond&n, that they may make of them- 
 [elves, Sheriffs, Vvhomfiever they will, and may 
 remove themjtohen they ^toilL 
 
 And the fame Charter of Edward the fe- 
 cond,givesus(viz,. the Commonalty )thefowtr 
 of choofing the Chamber laine, Common Clarke 
 and common Serjeant > in thefe words; 
 
 And that the Chamber lain, Common Clarke 
 and Common Serjeant of the City afore -(aid, be 
 chofen by the Commonalty of the fame City, and 
 amoved at the plea fiire of the fame £ommonalty . 
 
 The fame Charter, gives^ the choice of the 
 M afters of the Way-honfe, to the Commonalty, 
 in thefe words ; 
 
 And that the Weights and Beames fir Weigh- 
 ing of Merchandises betwixt Merchant and 
 Merchant, Whereof the iff &es growing, and 
 the knowledge oftiem, per mine to the Common 
 nalty oftheCity afire-fatdremaine to be Itfpt at 
 the Will of the fame Commonalty, in the cnftody 
 of two good andjufficient men of iioefame City, 
 expert in that office, to be hereunto chofen by the 
 Commonalty afire-faid ; and that they be not in 
 
 anj\\ 
 
Commonalty of London. 7 
 
 hny othermfe committed to any others, but to fuck 
 tu {hallbefocbofen. 
 
 And in the 22t h of Henry the eighth, this is 
 granted to the Major .Commonalty and £iti**eni 
 of London conjunftirrLj. 
 
 . I might tire out my felfe, and wearc out 
 Jrour patience, if I fhould readc all the feverall 
 Charters, which gives the choke of many o- 
 ther City Officers unto the Commonalty, as 
 the Serjeants of the Chamber , the Offices of 
 Tacking , garbling of Spices , Q augers and 
 Meafurers, with many others,, but I will at 
 prcfent forbeare, and goe on to the next, which 
 is this : 
 
 That this Citj is invefledWith poweP, to make 
 fitch Lawes, Which are, or /hall be far our own WeU 
 fare andbefi accommodation. 
 
 That Charter of Edw. 3. in the 1 5 th yeare of 
 his raigne, fully ckeres it in thefc words, 
 
 We have granted further > for Vs and our 
 Heires, and by this our prefent Charter confr* 
 4 med to the Major and Aldermen of the City a« 
 <fercfaid; That if any cufiomes in the faid City T 
 ^ hitherto obtained and ufed % be in any part difficult 
 \or defective, or any thing in the fame newly hap* 
 \ning^ Where before there Was no remedy ordained, 
 { and have need of amending ; the fame Major and 
 Aldermen and their Succefors, With thcaffentof 
 "the Commonalty of the fame City, maydddt and 
 ^td&nea Remedy, meet ,faithfull andcwfoHant u 
 
 S Tea^n 
 
X *>*** I vr frfyw 
 
 reafon<for the commonprofit of the Citizens of the 
 fame pty, as oft, and at fuch time, as to themJhaU 
 be thought expedient. 
 
 When I fcrioufly confider, what Privu 
 ledges by theft Charters we arc inverted with, 
 I know not well what further in this kind, 
 couH be defired to make us a happy people, 
 were we not wanting in our fdves towards our 
 own happineflc. I have now done with the 
 firft, which I think makes fully good the thing 
 pzopo{cd,viz,That this fity {by thofe favours and 
 bountiesVebichVve and our Predectjfours have re- 
 ceived, from fundry \ Roy all Kings of E no land) 
 is now invefled Vrith many excellent Immunities, 
 Franchifes and Priviledges ; and I pray God 
 give us grace, wifely and humbly to make a 
 right ufe of them. 
 
 The fecord thing Ipropofed to fpeake to, 
 was this, viz, Who are the proper Recipients of 
 thofe Priviledges, or to Whom the power of ufing 
 and maintaining thofe Priviledges and favours, 
 granted lo usbjour Royall Kings of England % is 
 committed? 
 
 I have only in this, thefc two things to 
 fpcakcto; 
 
 Firfr, Toftiew to whom thefe Priviledges 
 have been granted. 
 
 Secondly ,Tb prove by whom theft Priviled- 
 ges have been praElifed. 
 
 Thefe two things being once well cleared, 
 
 Will 
 
Cwriionahy cf London, g 
 
 Will fully prove the thing propofecf. 
 
 Tor the firft take a furvey of all the Charters 
 which have been granted To this City, fince the 
 date of that 7 grant of King John to this day, 
 which are Vety many, and they all runne thus, 
 ortothiseffoft. 
 
 To the Major > Aldermen and Commonalty of 
 the fit j of London, or to the Major and Commo- 
 nalty of oar £Uy of London. Akrd here I cannot 
 but remind yon of thofe Charters of Edward 
 1 the third, in the 1 5 th yeare of his raigne, where 
 Hie Major and ^Aldermen, with the sflfent of 
 1 the Commonalty, ha\ethe powfr. as to expLme, 
 \ fb to amend the old, or to rhake new Laws, for 
 'the common profit of the Citizens. And of that 
 of Kingfofoiyin the ftrft yeare oifhis raigne, and 
 of Sdward the fecond , and in the 12 th yeare 
 of his raigne, where the foie p ower both to elect 
 and to amove -the Sheriffes>\\\$ Chamber I'm, ths 
 Common Clarke, and the Cothmon Serjeant, is 
 wholly left to the yleafure of the Commonalty , 
 without any reference to ttc Major and Ald*r- 
 nun. 
 
 Thus it is cleare, that the Commonalty have 
 I by the Charters, an equall lhare with the Ma* 
 for and *Aldtrmen in the Priviledgts granted to 
 this City; and if there be any difference's there 
 is,in the choice of feme City Officers^ the advan- 
 tage is unto the Commons. 
 
 The fecond particular in this fecond h&d/ \i 
 this 5 B % B/ 
 
io A Plea \*r the 
 
 By whom thefc Vriviledges have been ^5*- 
 fed, I fhall endeavour to make this as cleerc as 
 the former ; For as the power in the aforefaid 
 Charter of Sdward the third, doth inablc the 
 Major and Aldermen, with the affent of the 
 Commonalty, to amend the old, or to make new 
 Lawesy (6 iuitable thereunto are all our AEls of 
 fimmon-councetl 9 wh\ch are our City L awes ;they 
 are made as in the joynt names, fo by the joy nt 
 power of the Mapr, Aldermen t and Commons in 
 Common- councell affembled. 
 
 Give me leave I pray, to inftance in a few 
 particulars,which have been done by the power 
 of this Court, fince I have had the happinetfe to 
 fit as a Scholler in this Schoole, 
 
 As upon the 4 th of CMarch,i6^i. The re- 
 moving ofDepntj Alden from being a member 
 of this Court. 
 
 Upon the 5 th of Septemb. 1 642. The putting 
 a Way of M r John Wild, from being Town Clarke 
 cf this Citj. 
 
 Upon the 1 8* h ofFcbr. 1 642. The expelling 
 tXThomat Wifeman, the City Remembrancer out 
 of his Office. 
 
 Upon the 28 th of April, 1 £43 . The amoving 
 of divers ssildermens Deputies, from their pla- 
 ces cPDeputj-Jbip; And all this by the joynt and 
 concurrent power and authority oftheL d Major, 
 ^Aldermen and Commons in this Common- coun- 
 ted sff:iiibled. 
 
 And 
 
Commonalty of London. 1 1 
 
 And that all the determinative, binding And 
 concluding power of this Court, is in the plura- 
 lity of the votes of the Lord Major, aldermen, 
 and Commons conjuntlim ; And that the Lord 
 Major and Aldermen, have in this C ourt no 
 more power of a negative voice, then as (ingle 
 perfons, which every member of this Court 
 hath as fully as they, if their judgements in the 
 debate fway them to the negative ; And that 
 the fiAldermen alone and by tbemfelves, cannot 
 hold the negative agzinii the Commons affirma- 
 tive • I prove thefc three wayes. 
 
 Firft by pra&ice % Secondly by argument, 
 Thirdly by equity and juftice. 
 
 Firft, / Veilljhew by practice that it hath not 
 teenfo. 
 
 Secondly, / Vtill prove by argument that it 
 cannot befo. 
 
 Thirdly, I^illmakg it appear e, that in equity 
 ! and juftice it ought not to be Jo. 
 
 Firft,That it hath not been fo,I thus prove by 
 pra&ice. 
 
 Upon the 17 th of Tebr. 1641. A ^Petition 
 was brought into this C 0Hrt > directed only to 
 the Lord Major and Aldermen^ and becaufe it 
 Was not dire&ed to the Lord Major \ Alderm 
 men and Commons in C ommon ' CGUnce & affem* 
 bled, this Court refufed to take any cogni- 
 zance of it; But the then Lord Major , Sir 
 Richard Cjumej, with the major part of the 
 B 3 A Id* men 
 
12 A Pleafer the 
 
 Aldermen then prcfent, in that C om ** ** 
 councell, would have the Court to admit ot 
 that ^Petition ; and the Court refufing, for the 
 reafbn sforefaid, the Lord Major and Aldermen 
 (conceiving, as I fuppofe, that they (hould car- 
 ry it by plurality of votes) would have the 
 Court divided and numbred by the Pole, and 
 {q it was done ; there was for the Petition, 
 the Lord MaUr , 7 Aldermen, and 6 1 Com- 
 womrs^ and againlt the "Petition y 5 Alder- 
 wen , and 8 5 Qommoners , and thus the mem* 
 bers of this Court, both Attermen and £W- 
 tnoners being reckoned together by the Pole on 
 both (ides, as members of this Court, the que- 
 fiion was determined, the Petition reje&ed,and 
 the power and authority of this Common- councell \ 
 maintained. 
 
 Secondly, That it cannot be fo, I thus prove 
 by Argumennt. 
 
 That Court which hath the power to make: 
 a Law, and by that Law to conferre a power 
 upon the Lord Major and Aldermen, whtth as 
 Lord Major and Alderntn they bad not be- j 
 fore, muft needs be quo ad hoc, as unto the ma- 
 king of a Law above the Lord Major and Al-\ 
 dermen: But this Court of Common-c*unceU\ 
 hath the power to make a Law, and by that 
 Law to conferre a power upon the Lord Major 
 and Aldermen^ which as Lord Maior and Al- 
 iermn they had not before. Therefore this 
 
 Coure 
 
wmmonauy oj Mnaon. 13 
 
 Court of Common-comcell, fofarrcas unto the 
 making of a Law, muft needs be above the Lord 
 JMaior and Aldermen. 
 
 That this Court hath the power to make a 
 Law, and by that Law to conferre a power 
 Upon the Lord Motor and Aldermen, which 
 as Lord Maior and Aldermen they had not be- 
 fore, I prove de fatlo, as appcares by an **4tt 
 of Common-councell, made in the 6 th of Hen- 
 ry the feventh , upon rhe i5 tl * of April 1 by 
 .WJiich this Court conferred a power upon 
 the Lord Maior and Aldermen, that at the 
 ; eledion of the Chamberlain, the Lord Maior 
 ,and Aldermen (hould prefent two men to 
 the Commonalty , and the Commonalty to 
 choofe one of them to be Chamberlain. And 
 in the fame Aft ot Common-councell, this 
 j CWf conferred a power upon- the Lord Mai or 
 and Aldermen, that at the ele&ion of the Bridge 
 i mafiers, the Lord -^/^r and Aldermen fhould 
 prefent foure men to the Commonalty, and the 
 j Commonalty to choofe two of them to be 
 j Brittg-mdJtersJWhich power of prefenting two 
 j men for the choice of Chamberlain^ and fbure 
 j men for the choice of Bridg-mafters by the Lord 
 ) Maior and Aldermen, they as Lord Maior and 
 lAldermenhzd not before, jErgi, The Court of 
 j Common-councell quo ad hoc, as unto the making 
 j of a Law, muft needs be above the Lord Major 
 : and Aldermen. 
 
 B 4 2. Argu- 
 
14 A Fled fir the 
 
 2. Argument. 
 
 That Court which hath the power to make 
 a Latv y and by that Law to take from the Lord 
 Major and Aldermen, that power which be- 
 fore was by a Law conferred upon them ,as 
 Lord Maior and Aldermen , muft needs be, 
 quo ad hoc, as unto the making of a Law above 
 the Lord Maior and Aldermen ; But this Court 
 cffimmon-ccuncett hath the power to make a 
 Law, and by that Law to take from the Lord 
 tJMaior and Aldermen that power, which by a 
 Z^o* was formerly conferred upon them as 
 Lord Maior and Aldermen^Xhzx^oxz this Court 
 of Common-councellmyxQi needs be quo ad hoc > as 
 unto the making of a Law above the Lord 
 Maior and Aldermen. 
 
 That this Court of Common- counceU hath 
 the power tp make a£<n*>, and by that Z<*wto 
 take from the Lord Maior and Aldermen that 
 power which formerly was by a Law conferr'd 
 upon this m as Lord Maior and Aldermen. I 
 prove as before defatlo, as appeares by an Aft 
 of Common* conncell , made the 21 th of £«**» 
 I £4 j* by which this Court repealed the for- 
 mer A<5ief Comtnon-counceil or Henry the fe- 
 ven *>, atod fo took away that power from the 
 Lord ji/4*<5r and Aldermen, which before was 
 by that Z*» conferred upon them , as Lord 
 Maior and Aldermen, and fofctled the choice 
 j^i Chamber lain and e Bridge~mafters in /?**$ 
 
quo friut ; Therefore this Court of Common* 
 { coumced, quo ad hoc, as unto the making of a 
 i Z**,muft needs be above the Lord UMaior and 
 :« Aldermen. 
 
 3. Argument. 
 ', If the Court of £0«jwtf-c0#0r*#fo farre as 
 
 unto the making of Lawes be above the Lord 
 t Motor and Aldermen, then the Lord UWaior 
 3 and Aldermen can have no negative voice -, 
 i as Lord CMaior and Aldermen, fo as to hin- 
 
 1 der the Court of Common- counce/l from ma- 
 king of a Law, but the Court of Common* 
 councell, fo farre as unto the making of Lawes, 
 
 1 is above the Lord Maior and Aldermen ; there- 
 
 ' fore the Lord Maior and Aldermen, as Lord 
 
 Maior and Aldermen can have no negative voice \ 
 
 fo as to hinder the Court of Common-cotmccll 
 
 from making of a Law. 
 
 That the Court of Common- councell fb farre 
 ! as unto the making of Lawes, is above the Lord 
 Maior and Aldermen, the two former argu- 
 ments fully prove, therefore the conclusion 
 ftands firme upon its true foundation, viz, That 
 the Lord Maior and Aldermen, as Lord Maior 
 and Aldermen, can have no negative voice, fo as 
 to hinder the Court of C* mmon - com cfH from 
 £iakingofaZ*w % 
 
 Thirdly, That it ought not to be fo, I prove 
 by equity and juftice. The ^Aldermen are but 
 in number ?6. the Qomrfiontrs in this Court 
 
 about 
 
i$ 'Afkdfir the 
 
 about a 30. in perfon, and in reprefentation ma- 
 ny thoufands. Now if there ftiould be a power 
 of a Negative voice, in 26. fingle perfons, Mm* 
 hers of this Court j and they thereby have the 
 power to hinder the pafling of a Law> which up* 
 on ferioas and folemne debate, hath been upon 
 good grounds affirmed unto , and deiircd by fo 
 great a number (and that for the common 
 good and welfare of the Citizen* of this C il j) 
 every one of which greater number, being as 
 fully interefled in the good or eviil that may 
 come by the pafling or not pafilog of the Law 
 in qucftion, as any of the 26. aAldcrmen are 5 
 O then how many, and how great advanta- 
 ges may we fee before us, which being by the 
 pafling of a Law obtained might make x\%hap- 
 pie. And on the other fide, how many pref- 
 fiveandunfupportable evils may we fee ready 
 to fwallow us up ; and for want of power to 
 paifi a Law to prevent them, will make us ir- 
 recoverably miferable ; and yet we muft all 
 fit ftill and figb, with our fingers in our eyes, 
 and mourn and die for the meere will and plea- 
 fur e fake of 26. fingle perfons, nay of feven per- 
 fons, for thirteen Aldermen make a Court, 
 and feven ofthem being the greater number of 
 thirteen have the power of the C onrt * an( * ^° 
 the power of a negative vote, to hinder the 
 pafling of an *A& in Common* Comcell} 
 If this be granted j into what a remedileiTe 
 
 way 
 
commomiue of London. 17 
 
 tvay of mine may we fall, as in the cafe of 
 S r Richard Gourney, in (landing out againft 
 the juft defires , yea commands of Parlia- 
 ment* 
 
 And thus, I have, I hope fully and clearly 
 proved, both by Charters andbypra£life,that 
 the Lord Major, ^Aldermen and Commonal- 
 ty c on j tin Him, and not either alone, as fepara- 
 ted or disjunct from the other,are the proper re- 
 cipients of thofe£r<w.r and priviledges, which 
 our Roy all Kings have in their bounty and fa- 
 vour inverted this City with. 
 
 Therefore my Lord, we honour your Lord* 
 ^'{hlp, and all thofe worthy Senatonr s your Af- 
 (0 dates, and we cannot but acknowledge your 
 Lordjhip, to be under his Ma]efty,ththeado£ 
 out City, yea a head of our own choofing ; if 
 therefore we fhould goe about in the leaft mea- 
 fore to ecclipfe your Honour, or to diminish 
 yo\xv)uA power, we fhould info doing wound 
 i our felves, whofe Head you are. 
 
 But as' we give you the honour of 'a head- 
 ship, O take not from us, I befeech you the 
 right of Member 'jhip, but acknowledge us as 
 Members of your body , though we be ( as 
 truly we confeffe our felves to be ) with refe- 
 rence to your Lord/hip, and the ^Aldermen, 
 but inf eriour Members ; as fuppofe the hands 
 and'fiet of this great body, whereof your Lord* 
 fmp is the head j yet as in the Naturall body y the 
 
 foul 
 
iS J Plea for the 
 
 fouLe, difFufeth it felfeinto all the Members o$ 
 the body, to make them fit for a&ion, as into 
 the feet to walke, into the hands to worke. O 
 fuffer us, I pray you to doe that, which God, 
 Which nature, and which all our Roy all Kings, 
 in ail their Charters, have granted to us, and 
 doth require of us, that is, that in our pla- 
 ces we may a& our parts ; And then you will 
 eafily fee, thaus in the Naturall body, the head 
 cannot walke without thejS** , nor work with- 
 out the hands, nor can your Lor dfbip, and thofe 
 Worthy Aldermen,tho\igh the head and chief of 
 this great Councell,yttaEl nothing without the 
 concurrent power of us your hands mdfiet, for 
 to aflift you. 
 
 The founded: and beft of bodies are fub/ed to 
 
 difeafes, and thofe maladies in the moft noble 
 
 parts, are ever moft dangerous j if therefore 
 
 there breeds an nicer, or tumour in the head, 
 
 andcaufeitfotofwell, as it hinders the necef- 
 
 fary and naturall motion of the reft of the 
 
 Members, and thereby endangereth the life 
 
 of all. Oh then,blame not ! I beieech you blame 
 
 not, thzfiet, if they run forth to feek a remedy, 
 
 nor yet the bands, if they apply it ; for every 
 
 Member, as it tenders it's owne Well-being, 
 
 ought to feeke the welfare of the whole 
 
 body. 
 
 And if the diftemper be in the head,&$ fad ex- 
 perience daily proyech, no member of the body 
 
 esq 
 
Commonalty of London. t$ 
 
 1 ;an then be well at eafe. But I fore-fee an Obje* 
 ^ion that may kerebe made, againft a part of 
 •what I have before fpoken, which is this. 
 
 That the choice or elettion of fome Citj-of* 
 Hcers, have been time out of mind in the power 
 i of others, and not in the Commonalty, as one 
 if the Shrieves to be chofen by my Lord 
 Majors Prerogative, and th^ common Clarke 
 and common Serjeant by the Court of e/#- 
 iermen. 
 
 I (hall give to this Obje&ion a two-fold an- 
 fwer. * • 
 
 Firft, That which our Saviour Chrift gave 
 to the Pharifees in the cafe of divorce, they 
 then pleading (as thefe now) prefcription 
 for it, and faying, that time out of mind, even 
 ever fince Mofes daies, it had been fo ^ True, 
 (kith our Lord Chrifi, Mofes for the hardneffe 
 of their hearts, fuffered them to give a bill of 
 divorce, and to put away their wives , but 
 from the beginning it was not fo. The fame 
 fay I, 'tis confeft, that a great while the choice 
 of thefe and fome other Citj-officers , have 
 been fuffered to run along in thefe Channels of 
 pretended Prerogative and unwarranted ctt- 
 (tome, but from the beginning it was not fo; 
 therefore, as our Saviour Chrift laid in that 
 cafe, What God hath joyned together, let no 
 man put afonder j So fay I in this, what God 
 and what the Charters of our City hath joy- 
 
*<d A Plea for thcs 
 
 ned together, let not man , let not yomt 
 Lord/hips pretended Prerogative, let not un 
 warranted cufiome > either put or keepe a«| 
 funder. 
 
 The fecond Anfwer I give to this Objeftion 
 is this. 
 
 That this fowe r hath either been given from 
 the Commonalty by their own conien r , or els 
 taken away from them by usurpation : it by u- 
 furpation, then it behoves this Court, the only 
 representative body of this Citj> to ufe all good 
 means to regain what hath been fo long unjuftly 
 taken from them. 
 
 Butifgivenawayby confent, as I will not 
 deny , but our fore-fathers in their times^i 
 might be perlwaded upon fpecious (hews and ! 
 Faire pretences, and peradventu.e in their flfti 
 fteeme upon folid reafons, to make over a part 
 of their power, into the hands of the Lord 
 Major and Aldermen y who knew better fot 
 their own advantage, how to ufe it, then they 
 to keepe it, yet I hope, if reafon and full 
 caufe require , the power of this CounceU 
 mayre-affume it againe into the hands of the 
 Commonalty, as it did m the like cafe npoir 
 the 2i.of 70*1,1643. re-aflumetheiole power- 
 of cboojing the Chamber laine "and Bridge* <\ 
 makers into the hands of the faid Common 
 naltie. 
 
 I come no\y to the third ar\d laft head L am,: 
 
 to 
 
commonalty oj i^onaon. at 
 
 i to fpcake to, viz.. The reafons or arguments, 
 wherefore thofe perfons unto whom this pow- 
 er is committed, fhould carefully and confcio- 
 nably, maintain and ufe thofe pnviledges with 
 r which they are entrufted : J will infift only up- 
 on two arguments to prefle this. 
 
 Firft, from that dammage and loffe, which 
 
 our Predeccflours have under-gone for mlf- 
 
 siifing and mn-nfage of thofe Friv Hedges and 
 
 ^Immunities, which by the favour and bounty 
 
 ! : of former Princes have beene beftowed on 
 
 them. 
 
 Secondly, from that obligation of a facred 
 , Oath, by which we all as free-men of this City 
 ( ftand bound for to maintain them. 
 
 Theomiilion and mif ufage of Priviledges, 
 ,!, have been exceeding detrimentall to our Pre- 
 deceffours, and may be of as dangerous a con- 
 sequence unco us ; but before I profecute this 
 < Argument, give me leave to acquaint you, 
 how carefull one of the Kings of England was 
 ; to preferve this City from loffeand danger in 
 1 1 this refped. I reade that Edward the third, in 
 the firft yeare of his raigne, made provifion for 
 this City , that our Liberties fhould not be 
 feized into the hands of the .King fox any perfo- 
 inall Trefpafle, of any one minifter of Juftice in 
 Ithis City, but did ordain that fuch a minifter of 
 Juftice (hould be puniftied according as the qua- 
 lity of his Trefpafle (hould require* i 
 
 Bnt 
 
%i A Plea for the 
 
 But if the City it felfe (which is only re 
 prefentedinthis Court ) (hall (b farre under 
 value , or flight the grace and favour of ou, 
 Roy all Princes, as not to ufe or to mifufe fucf 
 Grants and Priviledges, as they are pleafed ir 
 their bounties to inveft us with, then as this 
 negled: , and non-ulage , or mif-ufage of our 
 Priviledgcs,hath made our Predeceffours to pay 
 deare for it : Sc^we may alfo mourne under the 
 loffe of it, and (mart for it : For in the fame 
 Mdrvard the 3.daies,in the 15. year of his raign, 
 itcoft this City 1000. marks, fox not fully ufing 
 thofefree Cuftomes and Liberties, which had 
 been formerly granted to them : where obferve 
 that it is not f urficient to ufe fome of our free | 
 Cuftomes and Liberties, but we muft ufe them 
 all,yea and fully ufe them in that way and man-' 
 ner, as in which they were granted to us by our 
 Charters ,&te as then,fonow, the non-ulage, or 
 mifufageof them, may occafion a muid or fine 
 to be impofed on us. 
 
 For there is no man that is any whit conver- 
 fant inour CVY7 (^barters, but can ealily and 
 truly teftifie* that not once or twice, but 10. 
 if not 20. times, this City hath been forced to 
 tececiveapr^<?» fornon-ufage, andmif-ufage 
 of their priviledges, and for fity-ojficers w 
 be chofen, and not by the perfons appointed by 
 Charter tochoofe them, is a plain mif-ufage of 
 power aad priviledge, 
 
 Therefore 
 
Commonalty of London. * 5 
 
 : Therefore my Lord, if your Lordfiip wiU 
 by your Prerogative ftill choofe one of the 
 Sheriffs, and the Court ef Aldermen will ftill 
 choole the common Clarke and common Ser- 
 geant ; Why I befeech you may you not as 
 iWell fhare the choice of all the City-Officers a- 
 itnongft your felves ? but if you will grant us of 
 it the Commonalty , our rights in the choice of 
 *ibme of them, I pray deny us not our rights in 
 •vail. For doe you not thinke it is much better to 
 .life and keep that we have, then by negled, dif- 
 i»iifage,or mif-ufage to loofe all. 
 
 And is there not ftill fome about the King, 
 : ? which would fain take hold ofanyoccafion to 
 ! fill their own Coffers with our City coyn, if ac- 
 i rcording to the Country Proverbe, they could a- 
 , .ny way find a hole in our Coaj. 
 
 Suffer me I befeech you, to relate unto you, 
 what I have fometimes read to this purpofe. 
 
 In the 1 6. yeare of Richard the 2 d , there was 
 a Commiflion procured from the King to the 
 .then two Dukes of To rk^ and Gloucefter with 
 I others, grounded, as then pretended upon a 
 "Statute of Edward the 3 d , in the 28 yeare of 
 1 ihisraign $ which Statute in King Richard the 
 I i2 d dayes, was by a by-word called, as faith Sir 
 I Henry Colthrop, fometimes Recorder of Lon- 
 don, in his Tract of the liberty, ufages and cu- 
 \ Ukamcs of London, pag.23. Flagellum Civit* 
 Londini, the Vi>hip zndfeourge of the City of 
 
 C London, 
 
24 A ?k* fi r the 
 
 London, GoA keep us from the like whip againei 
 
 kaft it fetch lifers well as bloud from us. 
 
 j t was to enquire ( I will give it you in the 
 words of the Record) of all and ftngular er- 
 rors, defiEls and mijpritions in our City oj 
 London , fir ^cant of good Government of the 
 Majors, Sheriffs and ayfldermen of the fame 
 City. And as there doth not now, fo it feemes 
 there did not then want informers, for the then 
 Major, ^Aldermen and Sheriffs, were convi- 
 cted and adjudged to pay for their firft default 
 a icoo Marks, for the 2 d 2000 Marks, and 
 for the third,tfe liberties of the City were taken 
 into the hands of the King, and did there re- 
 main, untiil by the mediation and interceflion 
 of the Jfyften, a pardon was procured,and their 
 Priviledges reftored. 
 
 My apthor tells me not what this Mediation 
 cf the Queen coft this City, but we may well 
 think the pardon came not oft at a low rate, 
 111 clofe fhis with a good ltffon I long fince 
 learnt, 
 
 Foelix quern faciunt aliena fericuUcautuwu, 
 
 Happy are they whom other mens harms, doe 
 make to beware. 
 
 Thefecond Argument is from the obligation 
 pfafacredO^/?, by which we all as free-men 
 of this City, ftand bound to maintain all the Li? 
 iter ties and Franchises thereof. 
 
 Sacred 
 
' ? Commonalty of London. ** 
 
 Sacred Oaths I conceive may admit of a two- 
 fold diftin&ion. 
 A* I. zAftertorie. 
 N 2. 'Tromifforte. 
 
 1 am only co fpeakeof thefecond, and of it! 
 *t but three things ; and of thofe almolt in as few 
 u - words : As 
 
 & I. The Antiquity of it. 
 ft 2 . The Authority of it. 
 
 3. The Obligatorines or binding power 
 fclbf it. 
 
 d For the Antiquity ok it, I find it as ancient. 
 ft as Abraham, and the Authority of it from C «r 
 MJumfelfe* bochthele in (7*77.32.16,17. By my 
 ^ felfe have I [worn, faith the Lord> that in blef* 
 
 r- The Obligatorines or binding power of it, is 
 
 ^alfofrom GWhimlelfe, Numb. 30.1,2. This is 
 
 % the thing Vvhick the Lord hath commanded ; 
 
 »! If a man fivearcan Oath to bind his (oule with 
 
 ■* a bond, he Jball net break* his Word, hejhall doe 
 
 according to all that proceedeth out of his 
 
 j mouth. And if any maa dare doe ocherwi(e,<7^ 
 
 himfeife will like Wife be afwift rritnejfe against 
 
 i him fir it. 
 
 And chat we are all bound by Oath to main- 
 i tain the City Liberties, this clauie in a Free- 
 ly mans Oath (viz. The franchifes and cuftomrs 
 "of this City you fhatl mtintnine ) dosh fully 
 prove. 
 
 C % I 
 
16 A flu for the 
 
 I have now gone throagh all I propofed to 
 my felfe, and I hope fully proved every parti- 
 cular. 
 
 Give me leave, J befeech ycu,to clofeallas 
 S c Paul did to Philemon in the eafe of Qnefi- 
 ww, .Though I might enjojne thee that ^hich is* 
 convenient , yet for loves fake I rather intreat 
 thee. 
 
 So J, though we might require our rights of 
 your Lordjhip and thofe worthy Aldermen* 
 as that which is our dues, by the City Charm 
 ters\ yet for love fake we rather become filters 
 to your Lordjhip , and all your Affociates, 
 thofe grave Senatours, the worthy Aldermen ; 
 And dee zs for love, fo for pace fake alfo , in- 
 treat you to joync with us, by your confent and 
 afliftancc to fettle them all aright upon their 
 owne2?d/£r, that fo we may be in fuch a con- 
 dition, as upon every emergent occafionto be 
 able, by the blefling of God, to be fafc within 
 our felves , and ferviccable in our places unto 
 King and Parliament. 
 
 I could in this way of fupplication to your 
 Lordfhip even weep out my own eyes, yea let 
 out my owncbowells, could J but thereby pe- 
 netrate into the breads ©f your Lordjhip , and 
 thofe worthy Aldermen , to draw fome com- 
 pafllon from you in this very nick of time to 
 helpe to fave a finking City, if not a dying 
 Kingdome* Is it hot the enemies max : me, Ttu 
 
 vid c 
 
Commonalty of London. 27 
 
 vlde&impera, divide and rule; and hath not 
 Divifion already proved too deUruftive to 
 us ; and is there any mcancs under heaven, fo 
 hopefullfor our help, as Unity and Concord: 
 Hath not that God, who is the Godot Vnity, 
 made us One? Hath not the C haYt€rs °* °ur 
 City made us One? and doth not the Conftitu- 
 tions of this Court make us one entire Corn- 
 ell ? and yet fhall we who are thus made 
 one by this three-fold bond breakc in two, and 
 runne toruine ? O my Lord % J want words to 
 cxpreflc my forrow, we who arc the C omm ^ nS 
 ftani with our ftretched out Armcs, ready to 
 imbrace your Lord/hip, and all thofe worthy 
 Aldermen in the neareft and firmeft bond of 
 Vmtyand Love; looke not upon uslbefeech 
 you with a difpleafing countenance, but afford 
 us the like mutuall imbraces; difdaiae us not 
 (though below you) for we arc as your flefh and 
 your bones, If therefore there be any confola- 
 tion in Christ : , if any comfort of love 9 if any 
 fellovpfiip of the Spirit, if any bowels ef mer- 
 cies, in you, grant our juft defires, and in love 
 and peace fettle and eftatc us in our rights and 
 dues, and be of the fame mind with us, having 
 the fame love to us, for O how good and plea- 
 font it U for bretheren to dwell together in V- 
 nitie. 
 
 I might further preffe this by a threefold ar- 
 gument ; As 
 
 I. Thj$ 
 
aS A Plea for the 
 
 1. That as you are the head and Governors 
 efthisflty. 
 
 2. That as j oh are bound by fever all f acred' 
 Oathes. 
 
 3» That as you tender the welfare and li- 
 bertie of your pofterities, You ought to doc it. 
 But I'll forbeare, hoping that a word to the 
 wife will be Efficient, and (but up all with the 
 relation of a City Hiftone upon Record, which 
 I befeech you fcrioufly to confider of, and make 
 fuch an application of it to your felves, as in 
 your wifdomes (hall feera moft meet unto you. 
 In Anno 1385J. William Vennor Major , and 
 John Walcut and John Lony Sheriffes 9 with 
 the then Aldermen , who all by name in their 
 order Hand blemijht upon Record, That for 
 the Srrours , defetts and mifpritions in their 1 
 (government , they Were fined at 3000, marks, 
 and the City Liberties feizjed on by the King. 
 Can you imagine that every or any water of 
 aquafortis, will wafh of or weare away this 
 their obloquie and reproach, Abundans cautela 
 mnnocct, Very much cautioufnes will no way 
 hurt you. 
 
 Confider on the other fide, that the wifeft 
 of Kings, fpoke very wifely, when he f ad, A 
 oood name is rather to be chofen then great rU 
 ches , and that it is better then a precious oint<* ; 
 went. And wi!l it not be fo to you, when for 
 ycur-Ionglafungfame and glory, itrcay (land 
 
 upcrt 
 
Commonalty of London. lg 
 
 upon Record to aher ages, when we are dead 
 and gone , That in ^Anno 1644. when the 
 Right Honourable Thomas <±Atkin was Lord 
 Ulfajor> the right Worfhipf ull William Gibbs 
 and Richard Chambers were Shrieves, and 
 that learned and able Lawyer and Patriot of hfe 
 Countries liberty John Gljn was Recorder, 
 and fuch and fuch worthy Knights and Gentle- 
 men, reading you all according to your degrees 
 by name, were Aldermen : That then by your 
 afliftance and confenr, London, 1 fay, the C om- 
 monalty of London, wasrellored to their long 
 loft Liberties and Priviledges. 
 
 Confider what I fay, and the Lord give 
 you underftanding in all things. 
 
 4? IN IS. 
 


 »* 
 
 
 HPfffiiluKRnH 
 
 
 *3B 
 
 *£. 
 
 
 ^^H