1788-11-20 (static/transcriptions/1788/11/078.jpg)

Swears that which is true, and if any [ill] elected sheriff, and proclaimed in the Hustings, should not come at the next court of aldermen to be held in the inner chamber of the Guildhall, and there declare, that he would accept the said office, and become bound in a bond of 1000 L to appear in the [blank space] at the vigil of St. Michael next ensuing, and accept it, not having reasonable cause to be allowed by the Lord mayor and court of aldermen, not being discharged, &c that then he should forfeit 400 L, one hundred pounds to be paid to the subsequent Sheriff, the other three hundred pounds to the use of the mayor and commonalty of the city of London, the which 400 L should be recoverable in the court of the mayor, &c then they shew, that the defendant was elected sheriff, and proclaimed, &c and that he did not come, &c by which he forfeited the 400 L for which a plaint was levied, &c.

Hold Ch Justice pronounced the opinion of the Cot that the Bye-law was good, and in doing so he stated and answered 4 objections that had been made to it. The third of which was that the mayor and aldermen are Judges of the reasonableness of the excuse, and so judges in their own cause, since the words of the by law are, such reasonable [ill] [ill] as the mayor and aldermen shall judge proper, and
not