Sheriffs of London for the time being, are the proper managers and legal judges of the election of sheriffs for the year ensuing..

BBBBBf 'THE
Sheriffs of London
• ' ' P MS?:
For the time being, are the proper
M A NAG E R S an^ Legal JUDGES
O F THE
Election of Sheriffs
For the year enfuing.
b ■ E Right of Electing Sheriffs being already dertionftrated td
b long by LaWjCharterjandCuftortJjto the Free-menor Barons
of London 5 and this being acknowledged by my Lord
and the Court of Aldermen on Saturday in their granting
and allowing to the Common* Hall the Nomination of both
the Sheriffs: All that comes udder debate at prefent, is concerning the nature
of the Court that is held for the Ele&ion of theie Officers, and who are
the Proper Managers, and as it were Judges thereof. It is certain, That
before the Statute of Lincoln, all the Sheriffs of the Kingdom were choien
in their feveral and relpe&ive County-Courts, where the Sheriffs for the.
time being, did, by putting the Queftions, cbllecting the Suffrages, and
declaring upon whom the choice, through the Majority of Votes, had fallen,
.conftantly precide and govern the Elections. And as to this day, the EledHpii
of Coroners remains vefted in the County-Courts, where the feveral Sui¬
ters in the refpe&ive Courts have the Right and Priviledg of Chufing thofe
Officers 3 fb the managing the {aid Elections is by all men.confeffed to ap¬
pertain to the Sheriffs then and there in Office, when and where fuch Ele&L
ons are to be tranfatted. Now, forafmuch as the Statute of Lincoln doth
no Vays extend to the City of London, and County of Middlesex, becaufe
they hold, claim, and enjoy the Election of annual Sheriffs of^the faid
City by Charter, and the Eleftion of the yearly Sheriffs of Middlefex
by the Charters, Patents, and Grants of the Kings of England at the Fee-
Farm Rent of Three Hundred Pound per annum $ it undeniably follows, That
the Court wherein the Choice of the faid Officers is tranfaded and mana¬
ged by the Barons and Free-men, is in the Nature of a County-Court;
and that the Sheriffs for the time being, are tocondudj rule, and declare
the Eledibn?
And feeing the Common- Halts for the chdihe of Parliament-then for the
City ot London, and I may add, for the Ele&ion of Mayors, are of the
fjme nature with thefe which are held for the Eledioti of Sheriffs $ it na¬
turally and demonftfatively enffies ^that the Sheriffs being granted to be
the proper Officers for the putting the CLieftions^ taking the Suffrages, and
dedaring upon whom the Majority of Hands or Votes have fa-llen in the
Eledion of Members for Parliament,and in the choice of Mayors,(bit likdwife
appertains and belongs-to them to guide andm&nage the Eledion of the Ofpt
cers now under debate, and to publifh and proclaim upon whom the Cither*
do devolve that truft. * Ana
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