Page:An Historical Essay on the Livery Companies of London.djvu/23

 advice of the Lords spiritual and temporal, might act as the case should require." The writs to the Mayor on this occasion, as well on behalf of the Goldsmiths as the Cutlers, command—"that in consequence of certain petitions, which had been presented to the King in his present Parliament, by the Goldsmiths and the Cutlers, and which petitions were enclosed, he should, on reading the same, do what was right on behalf of each, and make return thereof, under his seal, to the King in his then Parliament, who would determine thereupon,"

The return of the Mayor specified "that by virtue of two writs of the Lord the King, directed to him, William Ascham, Mayor of London, he had inspected the petitions of the Goldsmiths and Cutlers, and had caused to appear before him, at the Guildhall of the said City, as well the sufficient men of the said Mysteries as several other good and sufficient aged men of each ward of the City, and had had exhibited to him by the said Goldsmiths and Cutlers, their charters, inrolments, and evidences, as well written as not written, concerning the rules, usages, assaying and governments of the said Mysteries; and by which it appeared to him, the Mayor, that the Cutlers had of old times occupied their works of gold and silver within the City as the changes of time and fashion demanded; and that the Wardens of the Mystery of Goldsmiths, for the time being, subject to the oversight of the Mayor and Aldermen of the said City, had from old times been accustomed to have the assay of the gold and silver work of the said Cutlers within the City of London."

The Citizens of London by various Royal Grants obtained the privilege of choosing their own Lord Mayors and Chief Magistrates. They were elected by the Court of Aldermen and a number of Commoners