5 
between Sir John Bennet, Knight, Alderman Askwitli and Mr. 
Christopher Brooke. 
Sir John Bennet, L.L.D., was one of the learned council of 
the great court at York, and had represented the city in the 
last parliament of Queen Elizabeth. He had received the 
honour of Knighthood at Whitehall, soon after the King’s 
accession, was made chancellor to the Queen Consort, and 
judge of the prerogative court of Canterbury, and held the 
office of chancellor to the Archbishop of York, Dr. Matthew 
Hutton. His previous services gave him a claim to the favour 
of the citizens, and the high offices to which lie had been pro¬ 
moted would be a strong recommendation. Unfortunately, his 
patron the archbishop thought fit to write a letter to the 
corporation on his chancellor’s behalf, which most probably 
operated against him. The sturdy citizens always resisted 
pressure from without. 
On the day appointed for the election, the sheriffs held a 
county court, and the citizens, both freemen and freeholders, 
having assembled in the Guildhall, the proceedings were con¬ 
ducted in the manner previously arranged and determined upon 
by the governing body of the corporation. 
The court was opened by reading the proclamation and writ 
of election; and the archbishop’s letter was also read. The 
Lord Mayor then stated to the court that first there should be 
one citizen chosen, and after that the other, and that the sheriffs 
and common clerk should take the voices of the commons first, 
and afterwards of the members of the corporation, who then 
retired into the council chamber, the commons remaining in the 
county court. The election was then proceeded with, the 
sheriffs and common-clerk standing at the door of the court, 
took down the votes of the commons as they passed forth, and 
then went into the exchequer chamber and took the voices of 
the Lord Mayor, aldermen, and twenty-four, as well of Mr. 
Becorder as the rest. The result was as follows :— 
For Sir John Bennet, Knight. 14 voices. 
Aid. Bobert Askwitli.61 ,, 
Aid. Sir Bobert Walter, Knight 8 ,, 
Aid. Thomas Mosley ... 13 „ 
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