WE whose Names are here under-written , having been appointed on the behalf of Sir Thomas Gould and Alderman Cornish , to inspect the Poll lately taken for the Election of a Lord Major for the Year ensuing , between Sir William Prichard , Sir Henry Tulse , and the said Sir Thomas Gould and Alderman Cornish , and to make a Scrutiny whether any person had Polled who had not Legal Right , do hereby certifie that we do find

That the Numbers entred in the Books , amount to for Sir William Prichard , 2233. Sir Henry Tulse , 236. Sir Thomas Gould , 2289. Alderman Cornish . 2259.

And we do farther Certifie , that the Gentlemen appointed to make the Scrutiny on the behalf of Sir William Prichard and Sir Henry Tulse , do make these Objections following , viz.

THat several Persons of the Merchant-Taylors Company are not duly qualified to Poll , for that they have not taken the Livery Mans Oath of that Company , entred amongst the By-Laws , Oaths , and Orders of the same .

Whereunto we have given an Answer to this effect ;

That the Master , Wardens and Assistants of every Company have power to repeal , set aside , or suspend the Execution and using of their By-Laws , Oaths and Orders as often as they shall think convenient at their own Wills and Pleasures .

That the first of October 1680. the then Master , and Wardens , and Assistants of Merchant-Taylors Company did by their Order set aside the Impositions of the Oath before that time usually admitted to such as were Admitted Livery-men of that Company upon their Admission , and that the several Persons last named , were admitted of the Livery of the said Company since the making of the said Order last mentioned , all which we are ready to prove .

They farther make this Objection , That several Persons of the Company of Glovers have polled , and did not take the Livery-Mans Oath entred in their Books , upon their Admission , and therefore have no Legal Vote : Whereunto we have given this Answer :

That this Oath is sometimes imposed , and sometimes omitted , according to the pleasure of the Master , Wardens , and Assistants , this or the like Oath being no ways essential , for making a Livery-man in any Company in London ; And if the Masters , Wardens and Assistants , have omitted to Administer the usual Oath , the Livery-men are not to lose their Priviledges or Franchises for the Omission of others ; and therefore these Livery-men have Legal Votes ; and moreover , We are ready to prove , that all the said Persons but twelve , have taken the said Oath .

They furthermore have made this Objection , that several persons of the Company of Upholders who have Polled , are of other Companies , and were not fairly Translated according to the Custom of the City , from being Members of such Companies at the time of their respective Admissions into the Upholders Company , and therefore were uncapable of being Livery-men of the same .

Whereunto we have given this Answer , that any Citizen is capable to be at the same time a Member , and of the Livery of several Companies ; and that the Use of Translation from one Company to another , is for the ease of such Citizens , he being not liable if once Translated , according to the Custom , to be put in any chargeable Offices by that Company from whence he is so Translated ; and the want of such Translation shall not take away his Right of Polling once , if he was of twenty Companies ; and therefore these Persons have Legal Votes .

They farther object that many Quakers who are Freemen of this City and of the Livery , have not Legal Votes , which Assertion as we apprehend is very strange seeing they have not hitherto been disabled by any Law whatsoever ; which Answers of ours we doubt not , will as well satisfie all indifferent and unconcerned persons , as our Selves , that the Objections abovementioned , are of no weight or moment ; And therefore we do farther Certifie , ( not having any farther regard to the said Objections ) as followeth .

  Sir William Prichard . Sir Thomas Gould . Alderman Cornish . That the Number of the Persons who have Polled twice 7 2 The Names of the Persons who are not of the Livery , or were in the Countrey during the time of the Poll , and yet their Names entred in the Poll-Books . 76 28 The Number of Persons Polled who are not free of the City , are 6 2   Votes . So that Sir William Prichard hath in the whole 2144. Sir Henry Tulse hath in the whole 0236. Sir Thomas Gould hath in the whole 2257. Alderman Cornish hath in the whole 2227.

So that the majority is fallen upon Sir Thomas Gould & Alderman Cornish .