PLYMOUTH MEMOIRS. 
555 
Mayor & in y e Mayor's name, to require all freemen to be then 
present at nine of y e clock in the morning. 
2. On s* Lamberts day, being the 17 th Sep 1 all the freemen are 
first to be called, & y n our Mayor is chosen, by 36. persons sworn 
for that purpose, or the major part of y™ viz. all y e 24 tye and y e 
residue of y* number to be chosen of y e comons, and nothing else 
done that day — and those 36 are to be chosen, by 4. viz. two of 
y e Bench, to be nominated by m r Mayor, and two others of the 
24 tie to be nominated by the major part of the comons, and they 
4 to be sworn to elect 36 persons, y* shall choose y e Mayor.* 
3. On Michaelmas day the Mayor is sworn, and y n taketh his 
place of Mayor, and not befor, at w ch tyme y e Eeceiver taketh his 
oath, and the serjeant yeild up theire maces, to y e Mayor, and j n 
they or others are by y e Mayor chosen, and sworn and theire maces 
delivered y 1 ? 
4. Immediatly aftar y e Mayor is sworn, a Eentall is to be made 
containing all Conventionary rents, high rents and rents due for 
theyre privat Cocks, of watar in their severall houses, as also the 
allowancis w ch are given and allowed, are in y* book to be Inserted. 
w ch is to be delivered to such new collectors thereof, as it shall 
please y e Mayor to appoint, viz. two of 24 t ! e and also one other 
Eentall to be made, of the freedome rents, viz 6d of every freeman, 
w ch is likewise to be delivered to such collectors as it shall please 
y e Mayor to choose viz. two of y e pewneys freemen. 
5. the 30 th of September m r whites Audit is kept, and tenn bonds 
received for the assuring of 25 0£ given by him, and a warrant 5 
dayes befor to be signed, by the Mayor and Justice and directed to 
y e Sarjeants, for the warning of all such as are borrowers of s d 
mony, to be then there. 
Octb r 
6. That y e next Law-court: w ch is y e munday next after Michael- 
mas day, y e Mayor doth sweare such Constables, as he thinketh 
are fitting newly to be chosen, and he (sweareth) sealeth, the 
* Those who chose the jury were called alfurers ; and this singular style 
of election was current for some three centuries. A contest arising at the 
mayor choosing in 1802, the validity of such mode of proceeding was brought 
to trial before Mr. Baron Thompson, at the Exeter Lent Assizes, in 1803. It 
was then declared to be an infringement upon the rights of the commonalty, 
and therefore illegal, and the elective franchise was restored to the freemen 
at large. This memorable victory of the freemen over the old corporation 
is commemorated by a gold medal suspended to the mayor's chain of office. 
