A. D. 1724: Anno undecimo Georgii Regis. C, 18. 529 Officers of the faid City, and many evil-minded Perfons, having no Right of voting, have unlawfully intruded themfclves into the Affemblies of the Citizens, and preTumed to give their Votes at fuch Elec-
- tions, in manifeft Violation of the Rights and Privileges of the Citizens, and of the Freedom oft!
- Elections, and to the Difturbance of the Puhlick Peace : And whereas great Numbers of wealthy Per-
- fons, not free of the faid City, do inhabit and carry on the Trade of Merchandize and other. Imploy-
- ments, within the faid City, and rcfufe or decline to become Freemen of the fame, by reafon of an an-
' tient Cuftom within the faid City, retraining the Freemen of the fame from difpofing of their Perfona! ' Eftates by their Lift Wills and Tcftamcnts : And whereas great Diflentions have arifen between the ' Aldermen and Commons of the Common Council of London, in or concerning the making or paffng of ' Acts, Orders or Ordinances in Common Council, which if not timely fettled and determined, may oc- ' cafion great Obftructions of the Publick Bufincfs and Concerns of the faid City, and create many ex- ' penfive Controverfies and Suits at Law, and be attended with other dangerous Confluences :' Noi the Intent that fuitable Remedies may be provided for preferving the Privileges of the City of London, and the Freedom of Elections therein, and for fettling the Right of fuch Elections, and putting a Stop to the aforefaid Controverfies and DifTentions, and the ill Confcquences of the fame, and that a conftant Supply may be had of able Officers, capable of fupporting the Dignity of and maintaining good Order and Go- vernment within that antient, populous, and loyal City, which is of the grcatcft Confequence to the whole Kingdom; Be it enacted by the King's moft Excellent Majefty, by and with the Advice and Con- fent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this prcfent Parliament afiembled, and by the Authority of the fame, That at all Times, from and after the firft Day of June in the Year of our ° n a!1 ^ ; ' Lord one thoufand feven hundred and twenty-five, upon every Election of a Citizen or Citizens to ferve ^j cr ' an d at the for the faid City of London in Parliament, and upon all Elections of Mayors, Sheriffs, Chamberlains, Wardmotes, Pre- Bridge-mafters, Auditors of Chamberlains and Bridge-mailers Accounts, and all and every other Officer Tiding Officer to and Officers to be chofen in and for the faid City, by the Liverymen thereof, and upon all Elections of a PP oint aconve- Aldermen and Common Council-Men chofen at the refpective Wardmotes of the faid City, the prefi- ^"'kf, 1 ™^ of ding Officer or Officers at fuch Elections fhall, in cafe a Poll be demanded by any of the Candidates, or the Poll tec any two or more of the Electors, appoint a convenient Number of Clerks to take the fame, which Clerks fhall take the faid Poll in the Prefence of the prefiding Officer or Officers, and be fwom by fuch Officer or Officers truly and indifferently to take the fame, and to let down the Name of each Voter, and his Place of Refidence or Aboad, and for whom he fhall Poll, and to poll no Perfon who fhall not be fworn, or being a Quaker, fhall not affirm according to the Direction of this Act: And every Perfon before he Nonetobepn]:ed is admitted to poll at any Election of any Citizen or Citizens to ferve in Parliament, or of any Officer who is not fwom. or Officers ufually chofen by the Liverymen of the faid City as aforefaid, fhall take the Oath herein after mentioned, or being one of the People called Quakers, fhall folemnly affirm the Effect thereof, that is to fay, ' 'y OD do fwear, That you are a Freeman of London, and a Liveryman of the Company of Liveryman's
- JL and have fo been for the Space of twelve Kalendar, Months; and that the ^ h " c Electl '
' Place of your Abode is at in and that you have not polled at tnis Election.' So help you God. And in cafe of any Election of any Alderman or Common-Council-Man, every Perfon before he is ad- mitted to poll, fhall take the Oath herein after mentioned, or being one of the People called Quakers, fhall folemnly affirm the Effect thereof, that is to fay, c ~%T O U do fwear, That you are a Freeman of London, and an Houfholder in the Ward of Oath at Ward-
- ' jl. and have not polled at this Election.' So help you God. motes.
And if any Perfon or Perfons fhall refufe or neglect to take the Oaths hereby reflectively appointed to On Rcfufal to be taken, or being a Quakef fhall refufe or neglect to make fuch folemn Affirmation as aforefaid, then and fw . ,ear > Po11 10 be in every fuch Cafe the Poll or Vote of fuch Perfon or Perfons fo neglecting or refufing fhall be, and the rl-jecte ' fame is hereby declared to be null and void, and as fuch fhall be rejected and difallowed. II. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That at all Times from and after the faid TheOathiGeo. firft Day of June in the Year of our Lord one thoufand feven hundred and twenty-five, upon every Elcc- i-to be taken, if tion of fuch Citizen or Citizens, Officer or Officers, by the Liverymen of the faid City, and upon every le 1 ulr ' d - Election of fuch Officer or Officers at any Wardmote of the faid City as aforefaid, all and every Perfon and Perfons having a Right to vote or poll at fuch Election or Elections, fhall before he be admitted to vote or poll thereat (if required by any of the Candidates, or any two or more of the Electors) firft take the Oaths in and by an Act made in the firft Year of his Majefty's Reign, intituled, An AS for the fur- i Geo. i. flat. 2. ther Security of his Majefty's Perfon and Government, and the Succeffion of the Crown in the Heirs of the late c - '3« Princefs Sophia, being rrctcjiants, and for cxtinguijlring the Hopes of the pretended Prince of Wales, and his open andfecret Abetters, appointed to be taken, or being one of the People called Qj/akers, fhall if required as aforefaid, folemnly affirm the Effect thereof; and if any Perfon or Perfons fhall, being required there- unto as aforefaid, refufe or neglect to take the faid Oaths by the faid Act appointed to be taken, or to af- firm the Effect thereof as aforefaid, That then the Poll or Vote of fuch Perfon or Perfons fo neglecting or refufing fhall be, and the fame is hereby declared to be null and void, and as fuch fhall be rejected and Prefixing Officer difallowed ; and the prefiding Officers at all and every the refpective Elections aforefaid, and fuch fworn and rw0 ' nC1 " k Clerks as fhall be by them appointed, are hereby reflectively authorized and impowered to adminifter the oath™ 'onlfe- 6 Vol. V. Yyy above naltyof 6oi.
