The downfal of old common-counsel-men. Being their great repulse at Guild-Hall last Friday by the committee, who extruded the old out of their corrupted offices, and elected new in their places. First, shewing their manifold corruptions, and unequall taxations, which they imposed chiefly on their poor parishioners, and connived on the rich, which hath been too common an abuse used by them. Then exactly describing, how they oftentimes robbed the poore of their due, and detaining the charity of other men from them, have put it up in their own purses. Lastly, shewing the manner of their arreignment at Guild-Hall, with the cause of their downfall, and the others vprising. Composed by Iohn Bond, scribimus, & scriptis consumiter igne libellus.

Author: Bond, John, 1612-1676.1642

THE DOWNFAL OF OLD COMMON-COVNSEL-MEN.

BEING Their great Repulse at GVILD-HALL last Friday by the Committee, who extruded the Old out of their corrupted Offices, and elected New in their Places.

FIRST, Shewing their manifold corruptions, and unequall Taxations, which they imposed chiefly on their poor Parishioners, and connived on the Rich, which hath been too common an Abuse used by them.

THEN Exactly describing, how they have oftentimes robbed the poore of their due, and detaining the Charity of other men from them, have put it up in their owne purses.

LASTLY, Shewing the Manner of their Arreignment at Guild-Hall, with the Cause of their Downfall, and the others Ʋprising.

Composed by IOHN BOND, Scribimus, & scriptis consumitur igne Libellus.

LONDON, Printed for T.H. MDCXLJ.

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THE DOWNFALL OF OLD Common Councel Men.

THere is nothing more plausible, nothing more commendable, and nothing more respected in the publike eye of the world, then the impartiall equity of Justice, embraced by subordinate Officers. But e contra, on the other side, nothing is more exploded, nothing more ignominous, and nothing lastly more despicable in the common detestation, and epidemicall contempt of all men, then the disparity of injustice executed by them. For inferiour Officers are but Vice-gerents from Superiors, and if a blinded error, or temerarious relapse bee committed by the former, it must needs consequently be reflected on the latter. So that their offence is not so great, quo peecaverunt seipsi, sed quo peccata suae in alios injiciunt, is that they have offended themselves, but in that the aspersion of their own offence is cast upon others.

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4 Their abuse of connivance to the rich, exclaims highly against them, and becomes so obstreperous, that it cryes for necessary, and dependent urgency of Justice against them, according to their impious demerits. The rich, able, and sufficient men were excused oftentimes, and poore men were then coactively urged to pay for them.

Thus like fortune, ubi nihil, aut minimum est, arripiunt, ubi omnia, aut saltem maxima sunt, addunt amplius: they take away from those who have nothing, or very little, and adde more to those, who have all things, or at least the greatest. And their offence is so vicious in this regard, that I blush, or at least am ashamed to adde any further a constructive addition to their coniving malignity.

5 In saving themselves from all paiments whatsoever, they were very officious in their Offices; and whether poore or rich, the wealthy, or indigent did pay, they would be sure to pay nothing themselves: yea sometimes they would detaine money too, and putting it up into their own purses, they would oftentimes say (poor honest men) that they were willing to pocket up such wrongs as those. So that the meanest of the Parish did yearly pay more then the chiefest of them. And this was a most shamefull, unbeseeming, and intollerable abuse, and is so basely incongruous to their Offices, that nothing but just execration can be reflected on them, for their so voluntarily blinded equity and injustice. I must retract my deviating pen a while, lest it should digresse in a too distant aberration from those three in that former Propositions. I must therefore recall my self to the [Page] explication of the cause of those numerous varieties of corruptions; The generall and prime cause thereof, seriously conceive from their too licentious liberty in committing those errors without any contradiction, prohibition, or opposition: So that the continuance of their corruptions, and duration therof without interdiction, was the chiefest cause of the varieties that descended from that inhumanity: and a second cause may be deducted from the non annuall election of them.

Wherefore these precedent particulars being maturely, and seriously considered, and revolved by the City: All the old Common-Councell-men were arreigned by the Citisens, and consequently a select Committee was appointed to meet at Guild-Hall, to regulate these abuses, which have bin by them committed. And being accused, they were found so inexcusable delinquent and peccant, they were incontinently excluded from their corrupt Offices, and New Common-Councell-men elected in their Places.

FINIS.

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