"the late Act of Parliament for reversing the Judgment in the Quo Warranto against the City would have restored it to its ancient Rights and Privileges. But that the contrary happened. For notwithstanding the said Act, several Aldermen made, or elected by vertue of Commissions or Charters from the late King James under the Great Seal, acted as Aldermen by that Authority; under pretence, that by some doubtful Expressions in the said Act, they were continued as well as ministerial Officers. That by colour of the assumed Authority and illegal Proceedings, Sir Tho. Pilkington was by them on the Day of Elelction appointed by the said Act, declared and made Maior; though not duly returned by the Common Hall, according to the Usage of the City. That by the contrivance of the said Maior, Leonard Robinson was imposed upon the Citizens as Chamberlain of the City, notwithstanding another Person was duly elected into that Office, and declared so to be by the Sheriffs, and the Hall thereupon dissolved. That divers Members of the Common Council were illegally excluded, and others, duly elected, were refused Admittance. That the Place of Town Clerk having been vacant three Months and upwards, and only eligible by and in Common Council, the Maior and Aldermen had of their own Authority appointed several Persons to the Execution thereof, without the Consent of the Common Council, against their constant known Rights. That the Petitioners had not been suffered to meet and consult about the necessary Affairs of the City, according to their ancient Rights and Customs. That a Common Council being summoned, and assembled about the 3d of October, many Debates arising concerning the Premisses, and several Motions being made, and the Majority of the Common Council agreeing that for settling the Rights of the City, an humble Address should be made to that Honourable House, to explain the said Act; and the Question being thereupon desired to be put, the Maior refused it, and to prevent any Application, immediately dissolved the Court, and went away." The Petitioners subscribed their Names to the number of about 117. The first Names were, William Dodson, Ralph Box, Robert Alye, William Withers, Richard Holder, Robert Bedingfield, John Midgely, John Alexander, John Wright, John Genew, Thomas Blackmore, Robert Bearcroft, Thomas Gardiner, Benjamin Aloff, John Johnson, Francis Brerewood, William Lewen, Peter Floyer, Robert Littlebury, Samuel Gerard, Richard Hoare, Samuel Ongley, Thomas Short, &c.

And here let me subjoin the vast Sums of Money that have been paid to the Crown by the City, for their several Grants and Confirmations, as the are taken out of the Rolls and other authentic Records. Some of these Sums were parted with to gain their Privileges again, when seised upon by some of the Kings of England, for some Displeasure taken against them.

In the 9th of Richard I. the Citizens gave 1500 Marks, for the preserving of their Liberties.

The Citizens of London gave 3000 Marks for the Confirmation of their Liberties granted them by King John in the first of his Reign; as appears by the Oblata Roll, which ran thus: Cives London' Domino Regi tria Millia Marcar' pro habend' Confirmatione Domini Regis de Libertatibus suis. Et liberabitur Galdfrido Filio-Petri, &c. i.e. The Citizens of London give to the Lord the King 3000 Marks for having the King's Confirmation of their Liberties. And it shall be deliverd to Geffery Fitz-Peter on these Terms, that if they will give those 3000 Marks, they shall have the Charter; but if not, they shall not have it.

In the second of Henry III. they paid the fifteenth part of their moveable Goods, that the City might have all its ancient Liberties and free Customs.

In the ninth of Henry III. thay paid another Fifteenth of their Moveables, that London might have all the old Liberties and Customs, which it had been used to have.

In the 36th of Henry III. the King granted to all the Citizens of London, all their Liberties, Laws, and Customs; and which they also had in the time of King Henry I. used and not used. And the King granted the Sheriffs 7l. yearly for certain Privileges or Ground belongong to St. Paul's Church. Which was long after allowed by the Barons of the Exchequer to every Sheriff, when he made up his Accounts in the Office of the Pipe. And they then paid the King 500 Marks for having that Charter.

In the 38th or 39th of King Henry III. An. 1254. the King seised the Liberties of the City, because the Maior had not done Execution upon the Bakers, for lacking of their Assizes; but restoring it soon again, that is, within four Days following the Feast of Edmund the Bishop, or by the 19th of November; the Citizens agreeing with the Earl of Cornwall, and giving him 600 Marks.

Again, Anno 1255 (but a Year after) the King seised the Liberties again. And the Cause pretended was, for certain Monies which the Queen claimed as her Right. And now for a time the King made his Under-Treasurer Custos of the City. But giving the King 400 Marks, they were restored to their Liberties, and the King's Under-Treasurer discharged.

Yet it is remarkable what a Regard King Henry the Third had to the Citizens of London in the Barons Discontents; when he was jealous of the City's joining with them; being minded to call a Parliament there without him. There is extant in the Records of the Tower, a common Letter of that King, writ in the 44th of his Reign, from St. Audoens in France, to the Barons of the Five Ports, to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and to the Maiors and Commonalty of London and York, concerning this rising of his Subjects and their meeting in London; exhorting them to Obedience, and to obey H. de Bygod, his Justiciary, till his coming into England. He observed to them, how they of his Kingdom did accompany together with Horses and Arms, in disturbance of his Peace, and against his Command, as unmindful of their Fealty; and so intended to rush into a Parliament to be called in his City of London: Whence, he added, any one might clearly see, that this Meeting sounded more to draw the Sword, than to further Peace. And were it granted, that the Intention of each of them were good, yet the Manner was very bad, and the Example pernicious to all Kings and Kingdoms of the Earth, &c. And thus by the Address of a Letter, and Arguments used therein, did that King think it worth his Time to secure the City's Loyalty.

But yet in the 50th of the same King were 20000 Marks paid, for a further Confirmation of their Liberties.

King Edward I. in the 26th of his Reign, restored the City their Liberties and Franchises that had been kept from twelve Years and more. But these were not redeemed, saith Fabian, without great Sums of Money. And some say, the Citizens paid 3000 Marks.

The City in the 6th of Edward II. to defer his laying a Tallage upon their Rents and Chattels, on pretence the City was the King's Demesnes, and to forbear it till next Parliament; lent him 1000l. and two Years after, 400l. more on the same Account.