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prove_v your_o power_n and_o in_o it_o the_o power_n of_o this_o city_n who_o head_n under_o his_o majesty_n your_o lordship_n be_v very_o much_o have_v be_v ancient_o write_v by_o many_o author_n in_o the_o praise_n and_o commendation_n of_o london_n but_o it_o have_v be_v late_o as_o true_o so_o full_o sum_v up_o together_o by_o that_o learned_a lawyer_n sr_n edward_n cook_n sometime_o recorder_n of_o london_n and_o after_o lord_n chief_a justice_n of_o england_n in_o his_o four_o part_n of_o institutes_n p._n 247._o in_o these_o three_o expression_n 1._o camera_fw-la regis_fw-la 2._o rei_fw-la publicae_fw-la cor._n 3._o totius_fw-la regni_fw-la epitome_n the_o chamber_n of_o the_o king_n the_o heart_n of_o the_o commonwealth_n the_o epitome_n of_o the_o whole_a kingdom_n but_o my_o lord_n i_o must_v come_v to_o the_o proof_n of_o these_o proof_n for_o it_o be_v not_o sufficient_a to_o show_v that_o we_o be_v thus_o and_o that_o your_o lordship_n be_v possess_v of_o such_o a_o 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shall_v be_v for_o our_o own_o welfare_n and_o best_a accommodation_n london_n be_v ancient_o govern_v both_o before_o the_o conquest_n in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o conquest_n and_o for_o about_o 120_o year_n after_o the_o conquest_n which_o be_v until_o the_o first_o year_n of_o richard_n the_o first_o by_o port_n grave_n or_o portgreeves_a richard_n the_o first_o appoint_v the_o first_o major_n of_o london_n which_o continue_v for_o about_o 24_o year_n until_o the_o 14_o year_n of_o king_n john_n and_o king_n john_n be_v the_o first_o king_n of_o england_n that_o give_v we_o the_o power_n to_o choose_v our_o chief_a governor_n viz._n the_o major_a among_o ourselves_o as_o the_o word_n of_o the_o charter_n in_o the_o 16_o year_n of_o his_o reign_n make_v it_o plain_a the_o word_n be_v these_o know_v you_o that_o we_o have_v grant_v to_o our_o baron_n of_o our_o city_n of_o london_n that_o they_o may_v choose_v unto_o themselves_o a_o major_a of_o themselves_o and_o that_o charter_n 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patience_n if_o i_o shall_v read_v all_o the_o several_a charter_n which_o give_v the_o choice_n of_o many_o other_o city_n officer_n unto_o the_o commonalty_n as_o the_o sergeant_n of_o the_o chamber_n the_o office_n of_o pack_v garble_a of_o spice_n gauger_n and_o measurer_n with_o many_o other_o but_o i_o will_v at_o present_a forbear_n and_o go_v on_o to_o the_o next_o which_o be_v this_o that_o this_o city_n be_v invest_v with_o power_n to_o make_v such_o law_n which_o be_v or_o shall_v be_v for_o our_o own_o welfare_n and_o best_a accommodation_n that_o charter_n of_o edw._n 3._o in_o the_o 15_o year_n of_o his_o reign_n full_o clear_v it_o in_o these_o word_n we_o have_v grant_v further_o for_o we_o and_o our_o heir_n and_o by_o this_o our_o present_a charter_n confirm_v to_o the_o major_a and_o alderman_n of_o the_o city_n aforesaid_a that_o if_o any_o custom_n in_o the_o say_a city_n hitherto_o obtain_v and_o use_v be_v in_o any_o part_n difficult_a or_o defective_a or_o any_o 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this_o city_n since_o the_o date_n of_o that_o grant_n of_o king_n john_n to_o this_o day_n which_o be_v very_o many_o and_o they_o all_o run_v thus_o or_o to_o this_o effect_n to_o the_o major_n alderman_n and_o commonalty_n of_o the_o city_n of_o london_n or_o to_o the_o major_a and_o commonalty_n of_o our_o city_n of_o london_n and_o here_o i_o can_v but_o remind_n you_o of_o those_o charter_n of_o edward_n the_o three_o in_o the_o 15_o year_n of_o his_o reign_n where_o the_o major_a and_o alderman_n with_o the_o assent_n of_o the_o commonalty_n have_v the_o power_n as_o to_o explain_v so_o to_o amend_v the_o old_a or_o to_o make_v new_a law_n for_o the_o common_a profit_n of_o the_o citizen_n and_o of_o that_o of_o king_n john_n in_o the_o first_o year_n of_o his_o reign_n and_o of_o edward_n the_o second_o and_o in_o the_o 12_o year_n of_o his_o reign_n where_o the_o sole_a power_n both_o to_o elect_v and_o to_o amove_v the_o sheriff_n the_o chamberlain_n the_o common_a clerk_n 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common-council_n which_o be_v our_o city_n law_n they_o be_v make_v as_o in_o the_o joint_a name_n so_o by_o the_o joint_a power_n of_o the_o major_n alderman_n and_o commons_o in_o common-council_n assemble_v give_v i_o leave_v i_o pray_v to_o instance_n in_o a_o few_o particular_n which_o have_v be_v do_v by_o the_o power_n of_o this_o court_n since_o i_o have_v have_v the_o happiness_n to_o sit_v as_o a_o scholar_n in_o this_o school_n as_o upon_o the_o 4_o of_o march_n 1641._o the_o remove_n of_o duputy_n alden_n from_o be_v a_o member_n of_o this_o court_n upon_o the_o 5_o of_o septemb_n 1642._o the_o put_v away_o of_o mr_n john_n wild_n from_o be_v town_n clarke_n of_o this_o city_n upon_o the_o 18_o of_o febr._n 1642._o the_o expelling_a of_o thomas_n wiseman_n the_o city_n remembrancer_n out_o of_o his_o office_n upon_o the_o 28_o of_o april_n 1643._o the_o amove_a of_o divers_a alderman_n deputy_n from_o their_o place_n of_o deputyship_n and_o all_o this_o by_o the_o joint_n and_o concurrent_a power_n and_o authority_n of_o the_o ld_n major_n alderman_n and_o commons_o in_o this_o common-council_n assemble_v and_o that_o all_o the_o determinative_a bind_v and_o conclude_v power_n of_o this_o court_n be_v in_o the_o plurality_n of_o the_o vote_n of_o the_o lord_n major_n alderman_n and_o commons_o conjunctim_fw-la and_o that_o the_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n have_v in_o this_o court_n no_o more_o power_n of_o a_o negative_a voice_n then_o as_o single_a person_n which_o every_o member_n of_o this_o court_n have_v as_o full_o as_o they_o if_o their_o judgement_n in_o the_o debate_n sway_v they_o to_o the_o negative_a and_o that_o the_o alderman_n alone_o and_o by_o themselves_o can_v hold_v the_o negative_a against_o the_o commons_o affirmative_a i_o prove_v these_o three_o way_n first_o by_o practice_n second_o by_o argument_n three_o by_o equity_n and_o justice_n first_o i_o will_v show_v by_o practice_n that_o it_o have_v not_o be_v so_o second_o i_o will_v prove_v by_o argument_n that_o it_o can_v be_v so_o three_o i_o will_v make_v it_o appear_v that_o in_o equity_n and_o justice_n it_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v so_o first_o that_o it_o have_v not_o be_v so_o i_o thus_o prove_v by_o practice_n upon_o the_o 17_o of_o febr._n 1641._o a_o petition_n be_v bring_v into_o this_o court_n direct_v only_o to_o the_o lord_n mayor_n and_o alderman_n and_o because_o it_o be_v not_o direct_v to_o the_o lord_n major_n alderman_n and_o commons_o in_o common-council_n assemble_v this_o court_n refuse_v to_o take_v any_o cognizance_n of_o it_o but_o the_o than_o lord_n major_n sir_n richard_n gurney_n with_o the_o major_a part_n of_o the_o alderman_n then_o present_a in_o that_o common-council_n will_v have_v the_o court_n to_o admit_v of_o that_o petition_n and_o the_o court_n refuse_v for_o the_o reason_n aforesaid_a the_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n conceive_v as_o i_o suppose_v that_o they_o shall_v carry_v it_o by_o plurality_n of_o vote_n will_v have_v the_o court_n divide_v and_o number_v by_o the_o pole_n and_o so_o it_o be_v do_v there_o be_v for_o the_o petition_n the_o lord_n major_n 7_o alderman_n and_o 61_o commoner_n and_o against_o the_o petition_n 5_o alderman_n and_o 85_o commoner_n and_o thus_o the_o member_n of_o this_o court_n both_o alderman_n and_o commoner_n be_v reckon_v together_o by_o the_o pole_n on_o both_o side_n as_o member_n of_o this_o court_n the_o question_n be_v determine_v the_o petition_n reject_v and_o the_o power_n and_o authority_n of_o this_o common_a council_n maintain_v second_o that_o it_o can_v be_v so_o i_o thus_o prove_v by_o argument_n that_o court_n which_o have_v the_o power_n to_o make_v a_o law_n and_o by_o that_o law_n to_o confer_v a_o power_n upon_o the_o
lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n which_o as_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n they_o have_v not_o before_o must_v needs_o be_v quo_fw-la ad_fw-la hoc_fw-la unto_o the_o make_n of_o a_o law_n above_o the_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n but_o this_o court_n of_o common-council_n have_v the_o power_n to_o make_v a_o law_n and_o by_o that_o law_n to_o confer_v a_o power_n upon_o the_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n which_o as_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n they_o have_v not_o before_o therefore_o this_o court_n of_o common-council_n so_o far_o as_o unto_o the_o make_n of_o a_o law_n must_v needs_o be_v above_o the_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n that_o this_o court_n have_v the_o power_n to_o make_v a_o law_n and_o by_o that_o law_n to_o confertre_n a_o power_n upon_o the_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n which_o as_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n they_o have_v not_o before_o i_o prove_v de_fw-fr facto_fw-la as_o appear_v by_o a_o act_n of_o common-council_n make_v in_o the_o 6_o 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a_o law_n above_o the_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n that_o this_o court_n of_o common-council_n have_v the_o power_n to_o make_v a_o law_n and_o by_o that_o law_n to_o take_v from_o the_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n that_o power_n which_o former_o be_v by_o a_o law_n confer_v upon_o they_o as_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n i_o prove_v as_o before_o de_fw-fr facto_fw-la as_o appear_v by_o a_o act_n of_o common-council_n make_v the_o 21_o of_o june_n 1643._o by_o which_o this_o court_n repeal_v the_o former_a act_n of_o common-council_n of_o henry_n the_o 7_o and_o so_o take_v away_o that_o power_n from_o the_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n which_o before_o be_v by_o that_o law_n confer_v upon_o they_o as_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n and_o so_o settle_v the_o choice_n of_o chamberlain_n and_o bridgemaster_n in_o statu_fw-la quo_fw-la prius_fw-la therefore_o this_o court_n of_o common-council_n quo_fw-la ad_fw-la hoc_fw-la as_o unto_o the_o make_n of_o a_o law_n must_v needs_o be_v above_o the_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n 3._o argument_n if_o the_o court_n of_o common-council_n so_o far_o as_o unto_o the_o make_n of_o law_n be_v above_o the_o lord_n maior_n and_o alderman_n than_o the_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n can_v have_v no_o negative_a voice_n as_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n so_o as_o to_o hinder_v the_o court_n of_o common-council_n from_o make_v of_o a_o law_n but_o the_o court_n of_o common-council_n so_o far_o as_o unto_o the_o make_n of_o law_n be_v above_o the_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n therefore_o the_o major_a and_o alderman_n as_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n can_v have_v no_o negative_a voice_n so_o as_o to_o hinder_v the_o court_n of_o common-council_n from_o make_v of_o a_o law_n that_o the_o court_n of_o common-council_n so_o far_o as_o unto_o the_o make_n of_o law_n be_v above_o the_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n the_o two_o former_a argument_n full_o prove_v therefore_o the_o conclusion_n stand_v firm_a upon_o its_o true_a foundation_n viz._n that_o the_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n as_o lord_n major_n and_o alderman_n can_v have_v no_o negative_a voice_n so_o as_o to_o hinder_v the_o court_n of_o common-council_n from_o make_v of_o a_o law_n three_o that_o it_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v so_o i_o prove_v by_o equity_n and_o justice_n the_o alderman_n be_v but_o in_o number_n 26_o the_o commoner_n in_o this_o court_n about_o 250._o in_o person_n and_o in_o representation_n many_o thousand_o now_o if_o there_o shall_v be_v a_o power_n of_o a_o negative_a voice_n in_o 26._o single_a person_n member_n of_o this_o court_n and_o they_o thereby_o have_v the_o power_n to_o hinder_v the_o pass_n of_o law_n which_o upon_o serious_a and_o solemn_a debate_n have_v be_v upon_o good_a ground_n assent_v unto_o and_o desire_v by_o so_o great_a a_o number_n and_o that_o for_o the_o common_a good_a and_o welfare_n of_o the_o citizen_n of_o this_o city_n every_o one_o of_o which_o great_a 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commonalty_n our_o right_n in_o the_o choice_n of_o some_o of_o they_o i_o pray_v deny_v we_o not_o our_o right_n in_o all_o for_o do_v you_o not_o think_v it_o be_v much_o better_a to_o use_v and_o keep_v that_o we_o have_v then_o by_o neglect_n disusage_n or_o mis-usage_n to_o loose_v all_o and_o be_v there_o not_o still_o some_o about_o the_o king_n which_o will_v fain_o take_v hold_n of_o any_o occasion_n to_o fill_v their_o own_o coffer_n with_o our_o city_n coin_n if_o according_a to_o the_o country_n proverb_n they_o can_v any_o way_n find_v a_o hole_n in_o our_o coat_n suffer_v i_o i_o beseech_v you_o to_o relate_v unto_o you_o what_o i_o have_v sometime_o read_v to_o this_o purpose_n in_o the_o 16._o year_n of_o richard_n the_o 2_o there_o be_v a_o commission_n procure_v from_o the_o king_n to_o the_o then_o two_o duke_n of_o york_n and_o gloucester_n with_o other_o ground_a as_o then_o pretend_v upon_o a_o statute_n of_o edward_n the_o 3_o in_o the_o 28._o year_n of_o his_o 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to_o speak_v of_o the_o second_o and_o of_o it_o but_o three_o thing_n and_o of_o those_o almost_o in_o as_o few_o word_n as_o 1._o the_o antiquity_n of_o it_o 2._o the_o authority_n of_o it_o 3._o the_o obligatorine_n or_o bind_a power_n of_o it_o for_o the_o antiquity_n of_o it_o i_o find_v it_o as_o ancient_a as_o abraham_n and_o the_o authority_n of_o it_o from_o god_n himself_o both_o these_o in_o genes_n 22.16_o 17._o by_o myself_o have_v i_o swear_v say_v the_o lord_n that_o in_o blessing_n i_o will_v bless_v thou_o etc._n etc._n the_o obligatorine_n or_o bind_a power_n of_o it_o be_v also_o from_o god_n himself_o numb_a 30.1_o 2._o this_o be_v the_o thing_n which_o the_o lord_n have_v command_v if_o a_o man_n swear_v a_o oath_n to_o bind_v his_o soul_n with_o a_o bond_n he_o shall_v not_o break_v his_o word_n he_o shall_v do_v according_a to_o all_o that_o proceed_v out_o of_o his_o mouth_n and_o if_o any_o man_n dare_v do_v otherwise_o god_n himself_o will_v likewise_o be_v 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