England Now had I the honour of a Vote amongst you fall as it would I should be careful neither to place it upon any of these Men nor where they place theirs but going against them should certainly conclude my self to be in the right I should most surely vote for Men of undoubted Loyalty to the present Government and who gave Demonstration thereof by a constant adherence to the Principles upon which it is founded and by opposition to those wicked Designs upon our Religion Laws and Liberties from which his most Gracious Majesty came most generously and seasonably to save us But to hold you no longer in Generals I shall proceed to discourse you a little particularly about your ensuing Election and shall observe this method in doing it 1. I shall with an impartial regard to Truth speak a few words of Sir Jonathan Raymond and Sir Peter Daniel who are recommended to your Choice 2. I shall observe who they are that stickle for their Election And 3. I shall consider the plausible Pretence which by your Letter you tell me is made use of on their behalf viz. Their being next the Chair 1. To begin with Sir Jonathan if that may recommend him to your Choice I am at a certainty that upon the day when my Lord Russell was tried and after the murdering Jury had brought him in guilty he came to the King's-head Tavern in Leaden-hall Street and there rejoiced that his Lordship was convicted and highly commended the Jury-men that found him guilty and in his great Wisdom declared them to be very honest Men. 2. The then Lord-Mayor Sir Patient Ward the Aldermen and Common-Council of the City having after the astonishing Dissolution of the Oxford Parliament upon the 13th of May 1681 drawn up a Petition and Address to the King setting forth the imminent danger of Popery and its Encouragement from the hopes of a Popish Successor and praying that the King would call a Parliament to provide against the Mischiefs threatning the City and Kingdom This Petition was carried to Windsor by my Lord Mayor Sir Robert Clayton and Sir George Treby the Recorder but they were disgracefully rejected and denied Access to the King when at the same time Sir William Turner and Sir John Moore who carried a TORY ADDRESS thanking the King for his Declaration lately emitted to disgrace and vilify the two last Parliaments and promising to stand by him in the Violation of the Laws with their Lives and Fortunes were received and highly caressed The Petition of the Lord-Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council being afterwards upon the next Council-day the 19th of May carried to Hampton-Court and there presented Sir Jonathan Raymond with Sir William Prichard Sir George Jefferies and others of the Commissioners of the Lieutenancy came in Person and in opposition to the City-Petition presented a Petition setting forth that they were infinitely satisfied with the King's Declaration which in truth was a Libel upon the two last Parliaments and that they were manimously resolved to venture their Lives and Fortunes for him in opposition to and defiance of all Enemies and Opposers of what Sect or sort soever Now these Gentlemen appearing in direct opposition to and defiance of the City-Petition I leave it to the World to judg who are the Enemies and Opposers to whom they here bid Defiance and whether this very Petition which assured the King of the Sword of the City was not an Invitation to the bringing the fatal Quo Warranto against the City Charter 3. 'T is notoriously known what Endeavours were used in the Mayoralty of Sir William Prichard to have Tories only in the Government of the City and it being found that in Bishopsgate-Ward the Inhabitants had better sense than to choose Common-Council-Men of their stamp it was projected to divide the Ward and to have only four of the fourteen Common-Council-Men which that Ward sends chosen without and the rest within the Gate where they knew that excluding the Inhabitants without the Gate they had a Strength to carry it to their Minds and in particular to bring in that splenetick bloody Tory Langham one of Alderman Cornish 's Jury and Sir Jonathan Raymond 's Deputy and Director For the accomplishing this Design Sir Jonathan being Alderman of that Ward refused to go to an Election upon St. Thomas's Day according to the Usage of the City but adjourned the Ward-Mote for several days and so kept that Ward without Representatives in the Common-Council till an Act of Common-Council was passed to divide the Ward 4. Sir Jonathan Raymond was for the Surrender of the Charter and was found according to the best of his Capacity and Understanding to be an officious Witness against the Sheriffs and other Citizens who were indicted for the Riot which Sir John Moore made at the Election of Sheriffs in 1682. Whether he swore Truth or not is best known to Sir Robert Clayton whose Evidence be contradicted 5. He being at Turbridg this time twelve Month his 〈◊〉 was put up to preach before the Nobility and Gentry there who omitting to pray for King William and Queen Mary and not so much as mentioning King and Queen a Person in great Authority reprimanded Sir Jonathan for it and I am assured that he tamely answer'd he could not help it his Wife said he was a good Man 6. His Son Sir Jemmet Raymond keeps one Hart for his Chaplain in Barkshire who is a non-swearing Parson and abdicated a Living at or near Taâ—â—toe-Dean This famous Sir Jemmet is also so … iâ—h consciâ—â—'d that he pays double to the Poll-Bill rather than come in according to the Direction of the Act and take the Oath of Fidelity to their Majesties Sir Peter Daniel as 't is well known was a pragnatical Spy upon the Court of Aldermen and the City in the late Reigns when the Court was carrying on the pernicious Designs whereof you have since felt the sad Effects and he with that doughty Knight Sir William Dodson were the constant Tell-Tales and Intelligencers to that famous Plot-Secretary Sir Leoliâ—e Jenkins 2. King Charles II having by the Aid of a pack of perjured Citizens overturn'd the ancient Government of the City who but our Sir Peter must as a well approved Instrument for carrying on the Tyrannical Designs of that Day be the first Sheriff of the King 's Appointment and so he was under a Commission to execute the Office during Pleasure having just before when Sheriff of Surry approved himself a fit State-Tool in packing a Jury which gave the 800 l. Damages to Bolsworth against Alderman Vilkington 3. This our Sir Peter being one of the Governours of St. Thomas's Hospital in Southwark together with others promoted and presented an Address to the late King James declaring for Liberty of Conscience to those of that King's Perswasion without regard to any others 4. He was one of the Sheriffs which pack'd the Jury for the Murder of Col. Sidney he was for the Surrender of
A LETTER from a Country Gentleman to an Eminent but Easy Citizen who was unhappily misguided in the fatal Election of Sir John Moore for Lord Mayor of London at Michaelmas 1681. My Old Friend I Shall never forget and am confident that you cannot but remember the serious Discourse wherewith you entertained me at your House in the Evening of that Black Day when a packt Jury butcher'd that well-deserving Citizen and Alderman Mr. Cornish within sight of Guildhall you did then with the highest Sorrow lament that Gentleman's Fall and manifested a deep Abhorrence of your own Error in giving your Vote to advance Sir John Moore to the Chair to whose unhappy Promotion you very feelingly and sensibly imputed the many Mischiefs which from that Day had befallen your Famous City and in particular the shedding that Innocent Blood which to this Day cries for Vengeance Our long continued Friendship dear Sir will I question not justify me in presenting to your view at this time some few of those Melancholy Observations which you then made and I do it to the end that so far as in me lies I may prevent your Relapsing into your former Error of misplacing your Vote at the ensuing Election of a Lord Mayor You remembred me with a becoming Detestation of the Fact of Sir John Moore 's notorious and impudent Usurpation upon your Ancient and Undoubted Rights in ravishing from the City the Right of Electing Shariffs this you aggravated by noting that you were with the dread of Pikes and Musquets debarr'd and kept from your Right of Election and that Sir John Moore Sir William Prichard Sir James Smith with others of their Party by their Warrant brought a Body of Souldiers into the Hall and commanded Lieutenant Colonel Quiney who led them to Affront Assault and Thrust not only Commoners but even Six of your Aldermen out of the Hall who as you named them I remember were Sir Robert Clayton Sir John Lawrence Sir Patient Ward Sir Thomas Gold Sir John Shorter and Mr. Cornish You went on minding me how shamefully the Sheriffs North and Rich whom Sir John Moore in an Arbitrary and Hostile manner had imposed upon the City packt Juries to destroy Men and in particular the great and invaluable Lord Russel the loss of whom you said could never be sufficiently lamented You also observed that from that fatal Day of Sir John Moore 's taking the Chair we were to date all the Calamities which befel the City and Kingdom also to the Day of the late King's Abdication And amongst many others you reckon'd 1. The Dissolution of the Ancient and Well-establish'd Government of the City by the bringing the Quo Warranto against your Charter 2. The making it a Riot in the Livery-Men to appear at Guild-Hall to Elect Sheriffs and then packing a Jury of implacable and imbitter'd Tories who were themselves the only true Rioters to find Mr. Pilkington and Mr. Shute then Sheriffs Sir Thomas Player your Chamberlain Mr. Bethel Mr. Cornish Mr. Deagle and many other eminent Citizens guilty of a Riot in asserting their Right to chuse Sheriffs and also the imprisoning the Sheriffs in the Tower for no other Crime 3. The transcendent Exorbitancy of the wicked Juries then returned many Instances whereof you laid before me and remembred me that besides the Murders which they committed their unrighteous Verdicts drove Sir Patient Ward Mr. Papillon and many other Persons of great Desert into Exile You further added that their mad Zeal for the Interest of their Darling Popish Successor spared no Rank nor Order of Men instancing their giving up that Reverend and highly Deserving Divine Mr. Johnson to be ignominiously and barbarously whipp'd for his honest and seasonable Opposition to the Popish Designs then on foot Their finding that Grave and Pious Divine Mr. Baxter guilty of a High Misdemeanour as they call'd it for no other Offence than writing against the Pope and his Bishops which by an accursed Innuendo they made to intend the Bishops of the Church of England You moreover observed how that they upon every Occasion where it was demanded very prodigally gave 100000 l. Damages against private Persons insomuch that Sir Tho. Pilkington Mr. Colt Dr. Oates Mr. Covert and Mr. Culliford were made Debtors to the Duke of York and his Prisoners in Execution for 500000 l. for only asserting and averring that the Duke was designing to subject us to Popery and Slavery or for Discourses to that effect 4. You did not forget to express your Detestation of the malicious Prosecution and heavy Oppression of Sir Samuel Barnardiston and Mr. Wilmer the Foremen of the two Grand Juries which as you well observed for a time and till Sir John Moore was most unhappily advanc'd to the Chair stem'd the Villanous and Bloody Designs of those who were about to Kidnap the good People of these three glorious Kingdoms to Rome And that by returning Ignoramus upon the Indictments against the Earl of Shaftsbury and Mr. Colledge a Verdict which you said none but Men forsaken of common Sense and Honesty did complain of These Sir with abundance of other foul Facts which have slip'd my Memory you placed to Sir John Moore 's Account and did with no small regret acknowledg that by him the Banks of our Security were broken down and that you with a sad Heart beheld the Torrent of Popery and Arbitrary Power carrying all before it Now as I am assured my good Friend that you will agree that I do not misremember your Discourse on that sad Occasion of Alderman Cornish's Murder so I doubt not but you will bear with me in dealing with you in relation to your next Election of a Lord Mayor with that wonted Freedom and Plainness wherewith you and I have long convers'd I must tell you I plainly see that those Men who carried us to the very brink of Destruction are not only remorsless but make it their business to act the same thing over again How else comes it to pass that they lately assumed the Confidence to struggle for to make one of themselves Alderman in Aldersgate Ward how else happens it that they are now exerting themselves with more than ordinary Industry to bring Sir Jonathan Raymond or Sir Peter Daniel to the Chair It highly concerns you Sir I must tell you to be watchful against the Men who encouraged and triumph'd in the Murders of late committed amongst you and who to this hour go on to palliate and excuse if not to justify them Against the Men who overturn'd the Foundations of your Government Against the Men who were fond of Vassalage and Slavery to that degree that they made Addresses of Thanks to King Charles II. for breaking two Parliaments in the compass of three Months and promised him to venture their Lives and Fortunes to maintain the Violation of the Constitution of the English Government Against the Men who cry'd up a Popish Successor as the only means to preserve the Church of
the City-Charters He being a Member of King James's Parliament voted the Militia useless and to keep up a standing Army under the Command of Popish Officers Lastly being a sneaking Prostitute to King James he promised him to comply in taking off the Tests and Penal Laws Sir having thus hinted what sort of Men you are invited to elect I proceed to tell you who are the Sticklers that recommend them to you You will not fail of a Rawlinson a Langham a Bedingfield a Foster a Midglty a Gilburn a Withers a Floyer a Feltham a Coles a Genew a Kemp a Carpenter an Ainge a murdering Jury-man a Charter-Betrayer in every Ward to promote this necessary Work You will find a lying Doctor about Aldgate running up and down under pretence of a Circular Letter and crying out The Church the Church O the Church is betray'd into the hands of false Loons But above and which is more than all you will have trusty Roger with his Disciples engaging might and main in this great Point especially for good Sir Peter for he was not a little proud of him when he was made Hangman to King Charles for Proof whereof I must entreat you to turn to two Observators the first of May 20 1682. Numb 140 which in the Name of the the Tories speaks thus If it should please God to send us SEASONABLE SHERIFFS and fair play for our Money there are set afoot so many Titles in Competition for the Gallows that it would be a hard matter to settle their Claims and say who should go first Now what sort of Men in his Opinion would make these seasonable hanging Sheriffs you will find in his Observator of May 27 1684. where speaking of the poor depressed Whigs he saith Prethee wilt thou set their Cornish and Bethel their Pilkington and Shute against Our NORTH and RICH Our DANIEL and DASHWOOD You here see my Friend this great Man's Opinion of Sir Peter Tell-tale and in what Interest he was 't is Le-Strange's North end Rich Le-Strange's Daniel and Dashwood these were his seasonable Sheriffs to hang Protestants and you Citizens must at your Peril vote to the pleasing this Testy Gentleman lest he at one time or other bring Vengeance upon your Pates for he told you in his Book called Le-Strange's Apology p. 48. That a Citizen's Skull is but a thing to try the Temper of a Souldier's Sword upon I come now to the great Point They are next the Chair 't is their Right What! deny Succession in the right Line No no it may not be To this I say this Argument can weigh only with the Advocates for a Popish Successor we well know how often and how justifiably the direct Succession even of the Crown has been pass'd over without regard But to keep within the City I shall give you a modern Instance or two wherein these very Men I am talking of have pass'd over the Alderman next the Chair In the Year 1670 Sir Richard Ford was next the Chair and according to the present pretence ought to have taken it but the City then pitch'd upon Sir Samuel Starling a junior Alderman and he was elected Mayor And to come nearer home to these Men who now stickle for this Succession was not Sir Peter Daniel as near the Chair this time twelve Month as he now is yes he was and Sir Samuel Dashwood was junior Alderman to him nevertheless without regard to it they then put up and voted for Sir Samuel and yet you are now called upon to vote for Sir Peter because he is next the Chair tho the Charters of the City give you an undoubted Right and full Power to choose those into the Chair whom you think fittest for the Office Now my Good Friend to draw to the Conclusion of a much longer Letter than I intended you Let me tell you these things which you and I formerly discoursed and which I have now brought to your remembrance ought to keep Men from running upon the same Shelves and Sands where formerly they were in danger to have perish'd 't is therefore to be hoped that you and your fellow-Citizens will now exert your selves in this Election as becomes Loyal Subjects and True English-men Blessed be God you have not now the Power of Whitehall against you there 's now no Seâ—â—â—tary Jeâ—kins to tamper in your Elections You will not now be withstood and awed in Guildhall any Military Power There 's now no Thunderbolts of Excommunication from Doctors Commons No Sir Tâ—omas Piâ—â—â—ld No Writs de E … o capiendo to strike a Terror into 〈◊〉 themselves I will therefore hope that N … and Impudence shall 〈…〉 'T was reported of Sir John M … that he should declare that he would 〈…〉 and whether â—e said so or not most sure I am that he verified the Saying and should you be so stupid in the City at this buy as to place Sir Joâ—â—than Raymond in the Chair I will 〈◊〉 that he will be LANGHAM and not Pilkington or Stamp 'T is well known that Sir Tâ—â—â—as Pilkiâ—gtoâ— was found to be a worthy and well-deserving Magistrate and that Sir Tho. Stamp is most deservedly intitled to the same Character but he is to leave his Work to the Man that shall be after him and who know whether he shall be a Wise Man or a Fool We are made happy in the present Feign by an Act of Parliament which hath declared That it i◠〈◊〉 with tâ—â— Safâ—tâ— aâ—â— Wâ—â—fare of this Protestant Kingdom to be 〈◊〉 by a Pâ—â—â—â—h Pâ—â—â—ce or aâ—â— King or Queen marrying a Papist And it is the 〈…〉 That eâ—â—â—â— sâ—in Person shall be EXCLVDED and iâ— forâ—â—◠〈…〉 And is it not as inconsistent with the Safetâ— and Welfare of your Loyal Protestant City to be govern'd by a Jaâ—â—bitâ— or by any Man whose Wife is such Let then your Vote â—e t◠〈◊〉 every 〈◊〉 Person and may be be deemed uncapaâ—le of the Chair how â—â—ar sâ— ever he stands to it I remember ' twaâ— the Advice of Sir Roger L'Eâ—â—â—ange about ten Years since to his admiring Hâ—â—rd oâ— T … s not to lay out a Penny with the Whigs I shall not go al out to perswade 〈…〉 to turn this upon that bâ—iâ—d seâ—flâ—ss Crew I see no Harm in buying a pair of Gloves of a Tory no nor in drinking a Glass of Wine in a Tâ—â—â— Tavern but I affirm that it is of the highest import that you Vote not with those disloyal Men your Lives 〈…〉 and Esâ—â—tes and which is more your Religion and the very Being and Support of the present Government is here concerned And who knows what dismal Consequences it may bring with it to lodg the great Trust we are talking of in any one merely because he is â—â—t tâ—â— Chair without considering whether he deserves it or not Tâ—e Magistâ—acy of London will be sure to fall into Good Hands wheâ— evâ—â—y Man shall give his Vote for him he judges best and fittest for the place I therefore entreat you upon this Occasion to consider 1. Which of the Candidates has given earlier larger and opener Proofs of his Zeal to the Government now and to the Priviledges of the City when they were invaded and at last overturn'd some Years ago 2. Consider their Wisdom and Ability fâ—r so great a Trust their Zeal for their Country shewed upon all Occasâ—â—â—â— and their firmness to the present Frame of Government sâ—ttled in Eâ—â—land 3. Consider which of the two is most in Favour with those that are dissatisfied with the Government and to which of them it is they give their Votes and let these Gentlement Votes determine yours â—â—r Male-contents will not give their Votes to him they take for the greatest Friend of the two to a Government they hate That must certainly be the safest Side in this juncture of Time where most of the Friends to the present Settlement rank themselves and of all People in the World I should be least inclinable to follow their Opinion in the choice of a Magistrate that in their Hearts are Enemies to them that fill the Throne Now to conclude I know my dear Friend that your Temper and Moderation will incline you to censure me for the seeming Harshness wherewith I have now and then expresâ—'d my felt in this Letter and for the frequent using the Name of Tory and I am conscious that Names of Discrimination and Reproach are ossensive to the Ears of good Men but the Men I have been talking of â—loried in calling themselves Tories and under that Name they acted all their Villanies I have recounted to you and therefore they ought to have it However would they satisfy the World of their Ingâ—nity and Repentance their Crimes ought to be put into utter Oâ—liviâ—n but seeing they are attempting to play their old Game over again and do full remain Impenitent they are to be lash'd and are like to be told their own whenever they give provocation to it how unkindly soever they take it I am dear Sir Your Affectionate Servant Sept. 17. 92. W. N. The Citizen's Answer My dear Friend I Thank you most heartily for your seasonable Advice in your Letter of thâ— 17th Instant and being now constantly taâ—â—â— up in attendiâ—g the Busiâ—â—â—â— of the Election of a Lord Mayor now at hand I have only time to acknowledâ—… that you have truly remembred tâ—e Discourse that pass'd bâ—tween us upon the Day when Alderman Cornish was barbarously Mâ—rdâ—r'd and I assure you that I shall not only with my utmost Industry atone for my Erroâ— iâ— Voting for Sir John Moore but shall keep your Letter by me as I hâ—pe â—â—ery good Citizeâ— will to which end I put it forth in print till a bâ—tter History of the Villanous Practices which you have recounted doth appear in the World or tilâ— the Repentance of the Criminals shall give oâ—casiâ—â— to hâ—ve it and to put tâ—â—â—â— foul Facts into utter Oblivion You shall have an early Accoâ—â—â— of our Success from Sept. 22. 92. Your Obliged Servant T. F.