THE City of London's PLEA TO THE Quo Warranto An Information brought against their CHARTER In Michaelmas Term 1681. WHEREIN It will Appear That the Liberties Priviledges and Customs of the said City cannot be Forfeited or Lost by the Misdemeanor of any Officer or Magistrate thereof Nor their CHARTER be Seized into the King's Hands for any Mis-usage or Abusage of their Liberties and Priviledges they being Confirmed by divers Ancient Records and Acts of Parliament made before and since MAGNA CHARTA ALSO How far the Commons of the said City have Power of Chusing and Removing their SHERIFFS Published Both in English and Latin London Printed in the Year 1682. And Published by Randal Taylor Per Informat ' Mich. xxxiii Car. Secund. Reg. Lond. ss MEmorandum quod Robertus Sawyer Miles Attorn Dom. Regis nunc Generalis qui pro codem Dom. Rege in hac parte sequitur in propria persona sua von hic in Cur. dict Dom. Regis coram ipso Rege apud Westm die Lunae prox post quinden ' S. Martini isto codem term ' pro eodem Dom. Rege dat Cur. hic Intelligi Informari quod Major Communitas ac Cives Civitat Lond. praed per spacium unius Mensis jam ult elaps amplius usi fuerunt adhuc utuntur ac clamant habere uti absque aliquo Warranto sive Regali Concessione infra Civitat Lond. praed Libertat Praecinct ejusdem Civitat diversis Libertat Privileg Franches sequen videl Fore de seipsis unum Corpus Corporat Politicum in nomine Majoris Civitat ac Civium Civitat London ac per idem nomen placitare implacitari respondere responderi ac etiam habere Vicecomit Civitat Comitat. Civitat Lond. nominare eligere ex seipsis duas personas fore Vicecomit Civitat praed Com. ejusdem Civitat Ac ill sic nominat elect praesicere constituere Vic. Civit. praed Com. ejusdem Civitat ad Execution Retorn omnium Brevium Billarum Praeceptorum Dom. Regis pro Administratione Executione Justic infra Civit. praed Com. ejusdem Civit. exequend faciend ac ad faciend exequend omnia singula al. infra Civit. praed Com. ejusdem Civit. quae ad Officium Vic. faciend pertinent Ac etiam habere Vic. Com. Middlesex nominare eligere constituere exseipsis Vic. Com. Middlesex pro eodem Com. ut Vicecomes inde deservitur ac omnia Brevia Billas praecepta Dom. Regis infra Com. Middlesex praed pro Administratione Executione Justic ibid. exequend retorn inde faciend absque aliqua Commissione sive aliquibus Literis Patentibus à Dom. Rege inde obtent sive obtinend Ac etiam quod Major Aldermanni ejusdem Civit. fucrunt Justic Dom. Regis ad pacem infra Civit. praed conservand ac ad Sessiones pacis placita Coronae infra eandem Civit. tenend ac ad omnes Felon Riot Conventic illicit infra Civit. praed inquirend audiend terminand Authoritate ipsorum propria absque aliqua Commissione sive al. Authoritate à Dom. Rege in ea parte concess sive obtent De quibus quidem omnibus singulis Libertat Privileg Franches iidem Major Communitas ac Cives Civit. London praed per totum tempus supradictum supra dictum Dom. Regem nunc usurpaverunt adhuc usurpant in dict Dom. Regis nunc Contempt Praerogativae suae Regiae grave dampnum praejudicium Vnde idem Attornat dict Dom. Regis nunc General pro eodem Dom. Rege pet Advisament Cur. hic in praemiss debit Legis Proces versus Praefat. Major Communitat ac Cives Civit. Lond. praed in hac parte fieri ad respondend dict Dom. Regi Quo Warranto clamant habere uti gaudere Libertat Privileg Franches supradict c. In English thus The Information in Michaelmas Term in the Thirty Third Year of Car. II. King of England c. Lond. ss MEmorand ' That Robert Sawyer Knight our Lord the Kings Attorney General who on this behalf prosecutes for our said Lord the King appears here in his own person in the Court of our said Lord the King before the King himself at Westminster on Munday next after the Quindene of St. Martin viz. Nov. 27. in the same Term and for our said Lord the King gives this Court to understand and be informed That the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London aforesaid for the space of one month last past and longer have used and do yet use and claim to have and use without any Warrant or Royal Grant within the City of London aforesaid and the Liberties and Precincts of the said City divers Liberties Priviledges and Franchises following to wit To be of themselves one Body Corporate and Politick in the Name of the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and by the same Name to implead and be impleaded to answer and be answered And also to have a Sheriff of the City and County of the City of London and to Nominate and Elect out of themselves two persons One to be the Sheriff of the City aforesaid and of the County of the same City and him so nominated and elected to prefer and constitute Sheriff of the City aforesaid and of the County of the said City for the Execution and Return of all Breve's Bills and Precepts of our Lord the King for the administration and execution of the Justice within the City aforesaid and County of the same City to be executed and done and to do and execute all and every the other things within the City aforesaid and County of the same that belong to the Office of a Sheriff And also to Nominate Elect and Constitute Another person out of themselves for the Sheriff of the County of Middlesex for the said County to serve as Sheriff for the same and to execute there and make return of all Breve's Bills and Precepts of our Lord the King within the County of Middlesex aforesaid for the administration and execution of Justice without any Commission or Letters Patents obtained or to be obtained from our Lord the King on that behalf And also that the Mayor and Aldermen of the said City have been Justices of our Lord the King to keep the Peace within the said City and to hold Sessions of the Peace and Pleas of the Crown within the said City and all the Felonies Riots and unlawful Conventicles within the said City to enquire into hear and determine by their own proper authority without any Commismission or other Authority from our Lord the King granted or obtained on that behalf All and every of which Liberties Priviledges and Franchises the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London aforesaid for all the said time have usurped and do still usurp over our said Lord the King to the
Citizens of the City of London or by the Name of the Mayor and Commonalty of the City of London or by the Name of the Citizens of the City of London or by the Name of Barons of London or by the Name of Barons of the City of London or by any other Name whatsoever by reason or force of any Letters Patents Charters or Consirmations of any the Progenitors Predecessors or Ancestors of the said late King James in any time or times have been had or reasonably been used or exercised or have been adjudged for themselves and their Heirs and Successors did accept and approve and all and singular to the said Mayor and Commonalty and to the Citizens of the City of London aforesaid and their Successors by the said Letters Patents did ratifie and confirm to have hold enjoy and exercise all and singular the Premisses to the said Mayor and Commonalty and to the Citizens of the City of London aforesaid and their Successors for ever so fully freely and wholly as in as large manner and form as if every several single Name and Name by Name in those said Letters Patents have been expressed named declared recited and manifested as by the said Letters Patents among other things more fully appears And that the said late King Charles the First by his Letters Patents under his Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster aforesaid the Eighteenth day of October in the Fourteenth Year of his Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court all and singular Priviledges Liberties Franchizes Freedoms Immunities and free Customs whatsoever which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London aforesaid or their Predecessors by the Name of the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London or by the Name of the Mayor and Aldermen Citizens and Commonalty of London or by the Name of Mayor and Citizens of the City of London or by the Name of Mayor and Commonalty of the City of London or by the Name of the Citizens of the City of London or by the Name of the Barons of London or by the Name of the Barons of the City of London or by any other Name whatsoever by reason or force of the said Letters Patents Charters or Confirmations in the said Letters Patents of the said late King Charles the First mentioned or in use or by prescription or in any other lawful manner in any time or in any time or times before that time have had or have been reasonably used or exercised declared and adjudged for themselves their Heirs and Successors did accept and approve and all and singular to the aforesaid Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors by their said Letters Patents have ratified and confirmed as by those said Letters Patents among other things it doth and may appear And that our Lord the King that now is by his Letters Patents under his Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster the Twenty fourth day of June in the Fifteenth Year of his Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court for the said King himself his Heirs and Successors did ratifie and confirm to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London their Successors all and singular the Jurisdictions Authorities Priviledges Liberties Franchizes Freedoms Immunities and Customs whatsoever which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London or their Predecessors by the Name of Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London or by the Name of Mayor Aldermen Citizens and Commonalty of London or by the Name of Mayor and Citizens of the City of London or by the Name of Mayor and Commonalty of the City of London or by the Name of the Citizens of the City of London or by the Name of the Barons of London or by the Name of the Barons of the City of London or by any other Name whatsoever by reason or force of the Letters Patents Charters or Confirmations in the said Letters Patents of our said now Lord the King before mention'd or of any or any use or uses prescription or prescriptions or in any other Legal way whatsoever in any time or times before then have been had or reasonably have been used or exercised to have hold enjoy and exercise all and singular the said Premises to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London aforesaid and their Successors for ever so fully freely and wholly as in as ample manner and form as by the said Letters Patents above mentioned to be given or granted or any other use prescription or any other Legal manner or Right whatsoever before then respectively have been had obtain'd or enjoy'd as if separately singly and name by name in and by the said Letters Patents of our said King that now is were or have been expressed nominated declared granted and manifested as by the said Letters Patents among other things more fully it doth and may appear And by that Authority the said Major and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London by the time in the Information aforesaid above specified have been used and hitherto do use and claim to have and use the Liberties Priviledges and Franchizes to be of themselves one Body Corporate and Politick in Matter Deed and Name by the Name of May or and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and by that Name to Plead and be Impleaded to Answer and be Answered as to them it hath or may be Lawful Without that that the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London of these Liberties Priviledges and Franchizes upon our now Soveraign Lord the King by the time aforesaid in the Information above specified have been Usurped or do Usurp as by that Information for our said Lord the King above it is supposed Which all and singular the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London are ready to verifie from whence they pray Judgment And that the Liberties Priviledges and Franchizes to them and their Successors for ever should be allowed and adjudged and that they may be dismissed as also the Premises from this Court c. And the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London so as their Liberties Priviledges and Franchizes following viz. Them to have Sheriffs of the City and County of the City of London and Sheriff of the County of Middlesex and to Name and Elect of themselves their Persons to be Sheriffs of the City aforesaid and County of the said City and Sheriff of Middlesex and those so Named and Elected to be made and constituted Sheriffs of the said City and County of the said City and Sheriff of the said County of Middlesex and as Sheriff of the said City in the County of the said City to execut Retorne all Writs Bills and Precepts of our said Lord the King for the Administration and Execution of Justice within
the said City and County of the said City to perform and do what shall appertain or belong to the Office of Sheriff and also to do and perform and all and singular others within the said City and County of the same which shall appertain to or belong to the Office of Sheriff also to serve as Sheriff for the County of Middlesex and all Writs Bills and Precepts of our Lord the King within the said County of Middlesex for the Administration and Execution of Justice there to perform and make return thereof which belongs or appertains to the Office of Sheriff Say our said Lord the King ought not to impeach or hinder them the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London by occasion thereof because they say that the City of London is and time out of mind hath been an ancient City and County of themselves And that the said County of Middlesex by the time aforesaid hath been and is an ancient County And that the Citizens of the said City are and from which time beyond the memory of Man hath been one Body Corporate and Politick not only by the Name of Mayor and Commonalty of the Citizens of the City of London but also by the Names of the Citizens of London And that King John some time King of England by his Letters Patents under his Great Seal of England bearing date at his good Town upon Tokam the fifth day of July in the First Year of his Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court did grant to the Citizens of London aforesaid Sheriffs of London and Middlesex with all things and Customs which did appertain and belong to the said Sheriffs within the City and without by Land and by Water to have and to hold to them for Ever And besides that the said King John by his said Letters Patents did grant to the said Citizens of London that they of themselves should make Sheriffs whomsoever they would and amove them when they pleased as by the said Letters Patents among other things more fully appears And that in the Great Charter of the Liberties of England in the Parliament of our Lord Henry the Third sometime King of England at Westminster in the County of Middlesex in the Ninth Year of his Reign held made and provided it is contained that the City of London should have all their ancient Liberties and Customs And the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London further say that the said King Henry the Third by his Letters Patents under his Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster aforesaid the Eighteenth day of February in the Eleventh Year of his Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court did confirm to the Citizens of London Sheriffs of London and Middlesex with all things and Customs that did belong to the said Sheriffs within the City and without by Land and by Water as by the said Letters Patents among other things more fully appears And that King Edward the Third in his Parliament at Westminster held in the County of Middlesex in the First Year of his Reign by his Charter with the assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and the whole Commonalty of this Realm in his said Parliament at Westminster being assembled and by Authority of the said Parliament did then confirm to the Citizens of the City of London the said Liberties following among other things to have to themselves and Successors for Ever First in reciting that whereas in the Great Charter of the Liberties of England it is contained that the City of London should have all their ancient Liberties and Customs And that the said Citizens at the time of making the said Charter and in the times of King Edward the Confessor and William the Conqueror and other the Progenitors of the said King Edward the Third divers Liberties and Customs not only by the Charters of their Progenitors but also without Charters of ancient Customs have had the said King Edward the Third did will and grant for himself and his Heirs by the authority of those Charters that the said Citizens should have their Liberties according to the Form of the Great Charter above-mentioned And that for any Personal Offence or Personal Judgment of any Officer of the said City their Liberties should not be taken into the hands of the said King Edward the Third or his Heirs but of such Officer the like Offence should be required of and punished as by the said Charters bearing date at Westminster aforesaid the Sixth day of March in the First Year of the Reign of the said King Edward the Third under his Great Seal of England here brought into Court among other things more fully may appear And the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London further say that at the instance and request of the Commons of England in the Parliament of King Richard the Second after the Conquest at Westminster aforesaid in the Seventh Year of his Reign held and assembled for the greater quiet and peace of his Subjects to maintain and for the publick good all Customs Liberties Priviledges and Franchises of the said City then to the Citizens of that City and their Successors although they have not been used or abused was ratified and confirmed by the Authority of the said Parliament And that the late King Henry the Sixth by His Letters Patents under his Great Seal of England bearing Date at Westminster aforesaid the 26th day of October in the 23 d. Year of his Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court for themselves their Heirs and Successors did confirm to the Mayor and Commonalty and to the Citizens of the City of London and their Successors all and singular their Liberties Franchizes and Free Customs so intire and unmolested like as in any time of the Progenitors of the said King Henry the Sixth they evermore quietly and freely have had and held as by the said Letters Patents among other things more fully may appear And that King Edward the 4th by his Letters Patents under his Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster aforesaid the Ninth day of November in the Second Year of his Reign which the Major and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court for themselves and their Heirs did confirm to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors for Ever all and singular their Liberties Franchizes and Free Customs so intire and untouched like as in any time of the Progenitors of the said King Edward the 4th more quietly and freely they ever had and held And further the said King Edward the Fourth by his Letters
and Comminalty and Citizens of the City of London or by the name of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London or by the Name of Mayor Cityzens and Commonalty of the City of London or by the name of Mayor and Cityzens of the City of London or by the name of Citizens of the City of London Or by the name of Barons of London or by the name Barons of the City of London or by any other name whatsoever by reason or force of any Letters Patents Charters or Confirmation of any the Progenitors Predecessors Ansecessors of the said King James in any time or times have had or reasonably have been used or exercised hath ratified and confirmed and for himself his Heirs and Successors did accept and approve and all and singular to the said Mayor and Commonalty and to the Cityzens of the City of London and their Successors by the said Letters Patents did ratifie and confirm to have hold enjoy and exercise all and singular the said premisses to the said Mayor and Commonalty and to the Cityzens of the City of London aforesaid and to their Successors for Ever so fully clearly and wholy in as ample manner and forme as if seperately singly and name by name those said Letters Patents were expressed named declared recited and manifested as by the said Letters Patents among other things more fully appear And that our late Soveraign Ld. King Charles the first by his Letters Patents under his Great Seale of England bearing date at West the 18th day of October in the 14th year of his Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Cityzens of the City of London brings here in Courts all and singular Priviledges Liberties Franchises Freedoms Immunities and free-Customs whatsoever which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Cityzens of the City of London or their Predecessors by the name of the Mayor and Commonalty and Cityzens of the City of London Or by the name of Mayor and Aldermen Cityzens and Commonalty of London Or by the name of Mayor and Cittizens of the City of London or by the name of Mayor and Commonalty of London Or by the name of the Cityzens of the City London or by the name of Barons of London or by the name of Barons of the City of London or by any other name whatsoever by reason or force of the said Letters Patents of the said King John or of any other Letters Patents Charters or Confirmations in the said Letters Patent of the said late King Charles the first mentioned or in use or by prescription or by any other lawful manner in any time or times before that they have had or reasonablely have used or exercised hath adjudged and conformed the same for himself his Heirs and Successors and accepted and approved them all and singular to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Cityzens of the City of London and their Successors by his said Letters Patents hath ratified and confirmed as by the said Letters Patents among other things more fully appears And that our now said Soveraign Lord the King by his Letters Patents under his Great Seale of England bearing date at Westm the 24th day of June in the 15th year of his Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Cityzens of the City of London brings here in Court for himself his Heris and Successors hath ratified and confirmed to the Mayor and Commonalty and to the Cityzens of the City of London and their Successors all and singular the Jurisdictions Authorities Priviledges Liberties Franchises Feeedoms Immunities and Customs whatsoever which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Cityzens of the City of London or their Prepecessors by the name of Mayor and Commonalty and Cityzens of the City of London or by the name of the Mayor and Alderman Cityzens and Commonalty of London or by the name of Mayor and Cityzens of the City of London or by the name of Mayor and Commonalty of the City of London or by the name of the Cityzens of the City of London or by the name of the Barons of London or by the name of the Barons of the City of London or by any other name whatsoever by reason or force of the said Letters Patents of the said King John or of any other Letters Patents Charters or Confirmations in the said Letters Patents of our now said Soveragin Lord the King before mentioned or of any or any use or uses Prescription or Prescriptions or in any other lawful manner whatsoever in any time or times before that or reasonably have used or exercised to have hold enjoy and exercise all singular the Premises aforesaid to the said Mayor and Commonalty to the Citizens of the City of London their Successors for ever so fully freely intire in as ample manner and form as in the said Letters Patents above is mentioned to be given or granted or any other use prescription or in any other lawful manner or right whatsoever before that respectively had been obtained or enjoyed as if severally singly and name by name in and by the said Letters Patents of his now present Majesty were named declar'd granted and manifested as by the said Letters Patents among other things morefully appears And the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London further say That from the time of granting the said Letters Patents of the said King John hitherto they the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London have Sheriff of the City and County of the City of London and Sheriff for the County of Middlesex and in every year have named and elected of themselves two Persons Citizens of the City to be Sheriffs of the said City and County of the said City and Sheriff for the County of Middlesex and those so named and elected have constituted and made Sheriffs of the said City and County of the said City and Sheriff of the County of Middlesex And as Sheriffs of the said City and County of the said City to execute and return all Writs Bills and Precepts of our Sovereign Lord the King for the Administration and Execution of Justice within the said City and County of the said City to be done and performed which belongs to the Office of Sheriff And to do and exercise all and singular other things within the said City and County of the said City which belongs to the Office of Sheriff And as Sheriff of Middlesex for the said County to serve and all Writs Bills and Precepts of our said Sovereign Lord the King within the said County of Middlesex for the Administration and Execution of Justice there to exercise and make return thereof which belongs to the Office of Sheriff And by that Authority the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London during the time in the said Information above-specified have used and hitherto do use and claim to have and use the Liberties Privileges and Franchises to have Sheriffs of the
City and County of the City of London and Sheriffs for the County of Middlesex and to name and chuse of themselves two Persons to be Sheriffs of the said City and County of the said City and Sheriff of the County of Middlesex and those so named and elected to make and constitute Sheriffs of the said City and County of the said City and Sheriff of the County of Middlesex and as Sheriffs of the said City and County of the said City to execute and return all Letters Bills and Precepts of our said Lord the King for the Administration and Execution of Justice within the said City and County of the said City to be done and performed as to the Office of Sheriff belongs and also to do and perform all and singular other things within the said City and County of the said City which belongs to the Office of Sheriff and as Sheriff of the County of Middlesex to serve for that County and all Writs Bills and Precepts of our said Lord the King within the said County of Middlesex for the Administration and Execution of Justice there to be performed and to make return thereof which belongs to the Office of Sheriff as to them it shall and may be lawful to do Without that That they the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London of their Liberties Privileges and Franchises upon our said Lord the King for the time in the said Information specified have usurped and do usurp as by the said Imformation for our said Sovereign Lord the King it is supposed and all and singular they the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London are ready to verifie whereof they require Judgment and that their Liberties Privileges and Franchises to them and their Successors henceforth for ever may be allowed and adjudged and that they may be dismissed as also the Premisses from this Court c. And they the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London so as the Liberties Privileges and Franchises following to wit the Mayor of the said City and such Aldermen who have executed the Office of Mayor and thereof be dismissed and that three Senior Aldermen of the said City who have stood longest in the Office of Aldermen thereof and have not underwent the Burden and Office of Mayor of the said City to be Justices of the Peace within the said City and at the Sessions of the Peace and Pleas of the Crown to wit such Pleas of the Crown as the Justices of our said Lord the King lawfully assigned to hold within the said City and all Felonies Riots Routs and unlawful Conventicles in the said City to inquire hear and determine in the said Information mentioned say That our said Lord the King them the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London ought not by occasion thereof to impeach or hinder because they say the said City of London is and from that time beyond the memory of Man hath been an ancient City or ancient County of themselves and Citizens of the said City are and from that time beyond the memory of Man have been one Body Corporate and Politick in Marter Fact and Name by the Name of Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London And that the said late King Charles the First by His Letters Patents under His Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster the Eighteenth day of October in the Fourteenth Year of His Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court for Himself His Heirs and Successors did grant to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors That the Mayor and Recorder of the said City for the time being and the Mayor and Recorder who for the time shall be and not only those Aldermen who have been before Mayors of the City but also those Aldermen who hereafter shall bear the Office of Mayor of the said City altho from the Mayoralty they should depart or be dismissed but those Aldermen should stand and the three eldest Aldermen for the time being who shall be in the Office of Alderman longest and before that time have not executed the Office of Mayor shall be for ever hereafter Justices of the Peace and every of them shall be a Justice of the Peace for our said Lord the King His Heirs and Successors within the said City and Liberties thereof And the said Mayor Recorder and Aldermen aforesaid to all and singular the Statutes and Ordinances for the good of the Peace of the King His Heirs and Successors and for the Preservation of the same and for the quiet Rule and Government of His People made and provided and in all their Articles not only within the Liberties of the same but also without the said City according to the force form and effect of the same made to be observed and to all those who according to the form and effect of the said Order and Statutes or any of them in the said City and Liberties thereof shall be found Offenders shall be corrected and punished according to the form of the Ordinance and of those Articles to be made And all those who to any of His Majesties Subjects of their Corporation who shall be found out in burning their Houses by Threatning shall find sufficient Security for the Peace or to his Good Behaviour towards our Sovereign Lord the King and all his People and if they shall refuse to find such Security then them to the Goal of Newgate or any other of the King's Prisons within the said City of London untill such Security shall be found shall be kept in safe Custody the Keepers and Justices of our Lord the King and every of them the Keepers and Justices and their Heirs and Successors within the said City and Liberties our late Lord King Charles the First for himself his Heirs and Successors hath Constituted made and Ordained by His Letters Patents aforesaid and to all singular any other to be Executed and Performed which the Justices and Keepers of the Peace their Heirs and Successors within any other County of England they might Lawfully exercise and perform and as they ought by vertue of any other Statute and Ordinance of this Realm or by vertue of any Commission of their Heirs and Successors the Peace in any such County he is willing to preserve Also our said Lord King Charles the First by His said Letters Patents for Himself His Heirs and Successors did grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and to the Citizens of the City of London and their Successors That the Mayor and Recorder of the said City for the time being and such Aldermen as aforesaid for the time being who the Office or Place of Mayor of that City before that have executed and performed the same and such of the three Eldest Aldermen for the time being who the Place
And the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London further say That at the instance and at the request of the Commonalty of the Realm of England in the Parliament of our said Lord Richard the Second late King of England after the Conquest at Westminster aforesaid in the seventh Year of his Reign held and assembled for the greater quiet and peace among the Subjects of the late King and for the publick good all Customs Liberties Priviledges and Franchises of the said City then to the Citizens of that City and their Successors although they have not been used or abused have been ratified and confirmed by the Authority of the said Parliament And that our Lord Henry the Sixth late King of England by his Letters Patents sealed with his Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster aforesaid the sixth day of October in the Twenty third Year of his Reign which the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court for their Heirs and Successors did confirm to the Mayor and Commonalty and to the Citizens of the City of London and their Successors all and singular their Liberties Franchizes and free Customs so whole and untouched in any time of the Progenitors of the late King Henry the Sixth when as more freely and better they had the same as by the said Letters Patents among other things more fully appears And that our Lord Edward the Fourth late King of England by his Letters Patents under his Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster aforesaid the Ninth day of November in the Second Year of his Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court for themselves and their Heirs did confirm to the Mayor and Commonalty and to the Citizens of the City of London and their Successors for ever all and singular their Liberties Franchizes and free Customs so whole and untouched like as to them in any time of the Progenitors of the said late King Edward the Fourth they have had and held more quiet and free And further the said late King Edward the Fourth by his Letters Patents did grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty and to the Citizens that although they or their Predecessors or the Mayor and Aldermen of the said City or their Predecessors before or succeeding then from thence after any or to any Liberties did quietly grant the Order of Articles or free Customs or of any other in the said Letters Patents of the said late King Edward the Fourth or other his Letters Patents contained or of his Progenitors sometime Kings of England to the Mayor and Commonalty did grant in any Case arising albeit they have not been fully used or abused Notwithstanding the said King Edward the Fourth was unwilling that for this they the Mayor and Commonalty Aldermen and Citizens or their Successors should incur the forfeiture of the Premises but that they and their Successors all and singular the Liberties Freedoms Grants Ordinations in the Articles free-Customs and whatsoever else in the Charters and Letters aforesaid contained the like not used or also abused and every of them from thence of the rest fully and freely may use and enjoy without the Impeachment or Impediment of the said late King or his Heirs of the Justices Escheators Sheriffs any other Bayliff or Officer of the said late King or any other whatsoever as by the said Letters Patents of the said late King Edward the Fourth brought here in Court among other things more fully appeared And that the late King Henry the Seventh by his Letters Patents under his Great Seal of England bearing Date at Westminster aforesaid the 23 d. Day of July in the 20th Year of his Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court for themselves their Heirs and Successors did ratifie and confirm to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors all and singular the Liberties Priviledges Freedoms and Free Customs which they the said Mayor Commonalty and Citizens or their Predecessors have been accustomed to have exercise or enjoy or have been used or accustomed so fully plainly and wholly as if all and singular the several words in the said Letters Patents were and have been expressed declared and manifested as by the said Letters Patents among other things more fully appears And the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London further says That the late King James by his Letters Patents under his Great Seal of England bearing Date at his Honour of Hampton-Court the 24th day of September in the 6th Year of his Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court by reciting that whereas many others of his Predecessors sometime Kings of England of his special Grace for the many acceptable laudable and continued Services by the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Predecessors in times past done and unrewarded also for divers other urgent Causes and considerations them severally moving did give grant and confirm to the Mayor and Commonalty and to the Citizens of the City of London and their Successors divers Liberties Priviledges Franchizes Immunities Authorities Jurisdictions Ordinances Customs and Freedoms as by the several Letters Patents of the Progenitors and Predecessors of the said late Kings of England more fully and manifest it doth and may appear The said King James for and in consideration of the great Fidelity Constancy and very late and laudable Service by the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London aforesaid to the late King of this Realm in his first coming to this Realm and continuing until then manifested and most faithfully done and unrewarded all and singular Letters Patents Charters and Confirmations of his most noble Progenitors and Predecessors to the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London aforesaid and their Successors by what name soever incorporated before that time made granted or confirmed and all and singular Donations Grants Confirmations Restitutions Customs Ordinances Explanations Articles and all other things whatsoever in whatsoever Letters Patents or Charters whatsoever of the Progenitors Predecessors or Ancestors of the said Kings of England also all and singular in the said Letters Patents Charters Concessions Confirmations or any of them contained recited specified confirmed or explained And all and singular Jurisdictions Authorities Priviledges Liberties Franchizes Freedoms Immunities free Customs and Hereditaments whatsoever which the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London or their Predecessors by the Name of the Mayor and Commonalty and of the Citizens of the City of London or by the Name of the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London or by the Name of the Mayor Citizens and Commonalty of the City of London or by the Name of Mayor and
Patents did grant to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of London that although they or their Predecessors or Mayor and Aldermen of the City aforesaid or their Predecessors before that or their Successors from thence after any or to any Liberties Freedoms Concessions Ordinances of Articles or Free Customs or of any other in the said Letters Patents of the said King Edward the Fourth or any other his Letters Patents of his Progenitors Kings of England to the said Mayor and Commonalty granted contain'd in any Case arising that have not been fully used or abused the said King Edward the Fourth is unwilling that the Mayor and Commonalty Aldermen and Citizens or their Successors shall incur the forfeiture of any the Premises but that they and their Successors to all and singular the Liberties Freedoms Grants Ordinances Articles Free Customs and whatsoever else in the said Charters and Letters contained the like not used or abused and any of them from thence fully and freely shall use and enjoy without the Impeachment or Impediment of the said King or his Heirs Justices Escheators Sheriffs or any Bayliff or Officer of the said King or of any other whatsoever as by the said Letters Patents of the said King Edward the 4th brought here in Court among other things more fully may appear And that the late King Henry the 7th by his Letters Patents under his Great Seal of England bearing Date at Westminster aforesaid the 23d Day of July in the Twentieth Year of his Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court for themselves and their Successors did Ratifie and Confirm to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors all and singular the Liberties Priviledges Freedoms and Free Customs to which they the Mayor Commonalty and Citizens or their Successors have been accustomed to have exercise or enjoy or have or ought to have been used and fully plainly and wholly as if all and singular the several words in the said Letters Patents were expressed declared and manifested as by the said Letters Patents among other things more fully may appear And that the late King Henry the Eighth by his Letters Patents under his Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster aforesaid the Twelfth day of July in the Fifth Year of his Reign which the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court all Grants and others whatsoever in the said Letters Patents of the said King John above specified and contained that he the said King Henry the Eighth and his Successors to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors did ratifie and confirm as by the said Letters Patents of the said King Henry the Eighth among other things more fully appears And that the said late King Edward the Sixth by his Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster aforesaid the Twenty first day of February in the Second Year of his Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court all Grants and others whatsoever in the said Letters Patents of the said King John above-mentioned contained for himself and his Heirs to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors did ratifie and confirm as by the said Letters Patents of the said King Edward the Sixth among other things more fully appears And that the late Queen Mary by her Letters Patents under the great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster aforesaid the first day of March in the first Year of her Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court for her self her Heirs and Successors all Grants and others whatsoever in the said Letters Patents of the said King John above specified contained to the Mayor and Commonalty and to the Citizens of the City of London aforesaid and their Successors did ratifie and confirm as by the said Letters Patents more fully appears And that the late Queen Elizabeth by her Letters Patents under her Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster aforesaid the Ninth day of May in the Fourth Year of her Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court for her self her Heirs and Successors all Grants and others whatsoever in the said Letters Patents of the said King John above specified and contained to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors did ratifie and confirm as by the said Queen Elizabeth's Letters Patents among other things more fully appears And the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London further say that King James by his Letters Patents under his Great Seal of England bearing date at his Honour of Hampton-Court the Twenty fourth day of September in the Sixth Year of his Reign which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London brings here in Court by reciting That whereas the most part of the Progenitors of the late King sometimes Kings of England of their special Grace and for the many grateful laudable and continued Services by the Mayor Commonalty and Cityzens of the City of London and their Predecessors in times past done and unre warded also for divers others urgent Causes and Considerations them severally moving did give grace and confirm to the Mayor and Commonalty and Cityzens or of the City of London and their Successors diverse Libertys Privileges Franchises Immunities Authorityes Iurisdictions Ordinances Customs and Freedoms as by the several Letters Patents of the said Progenitors and Predecessors Kings of England more fully and manifest it doth and may appear the said King James for and in consideration of the most faithful and constant and laudable service by the Mayor and Commonalty and Cityzens of the City of London aforesaid to him in his first coming to this Realm and still continued then manifested and most faithfully done and unrewarded all and singular Letters Patents Charters and confirmations of his most noble Progenitors and Antecessors to to the Mayor and Commonalty and to the Cityzens of the City of London and their Predecessors by whatsoever named Incorporated before that time made granted or confirmed and all and singular Donations Grants Confirmations Restitutions Customs Ordinances Explanations Articles and all other things whatsoever in whatsoever Letters Patents or Charters whatsoever of his Progenitors Predecessors or Antecessors Kings of England And also all and singular in the said Letters Patents Charters Grants Confirmations or any of them contained recited specified confirmed or explained and all and singular Jurisdictions Authorities Priviledges Liberties and Franchises Freedoms Immunities free Customs and Hereditaments whatsoever which the said Mayor and Commonalty and Cityzens of the City of London aforesaid or their Predecessors by the name of Mayor