Certain speeches made upon the day of the yearly election of officers in the city of Gloucester ... by John Dorney, Esq. ...

III. Lucâ Nourse Armig' Majore.

GEntlemen, By the revolution of time, the year * 1.1 according to our City computation is at an end, although according to other computations it doth continue for divers moneths. For as the Roman Annals, were described and distinguish∣ed by Consulships, so are ours by the Maioralties and Shreivalties of such and such; so that our years do expire with our Officers authority. As they have their Commencements, so they have their periods together. Looking back upon the year past, I see it chequered with various passages of providence, the particulars thereof being so ob∣vious, I passe over with a silent admiration; and at present rather chuse to acquaint you, that our City Officers are wearied with their long atten∣dance upon their severall imployments, and there∣fore now expect to be relieved: they have long born the burthens of publike services, and now are desirous to take their ease, and lay them upon o∣ther shoulders, such shoulders as are deemed well able to bear them, and therefore it is hoped the persons will readily and cheerfully undertake them. To facilitate the work, I shall with your leave, and I hope good liking, prescribe some rules and directions for their carriage: to which you will finde the actions of the present Offi∣cers in many things to correspond and agree, and therein I shall propose them for examples to their successors: In some things perhaps you may finde them, or some of them, somewhat deficient, but therein I hope your pardon will be easie, be∣cause

their services have been difficult; where the businesse is great you know endeavours are acce∣pted. There is a dignity I must acknowledge in bearing publike Offices, yet there is a difficulty also in the right performance of duties, especially concerning government; which is called an art of arts, as hard as excellent.

The duties of our Officers are comprised in their oaths they are to take, which do all spring from the same fountain, which is the Kings Charter, where I finde them expressed in the same termes: i. e. To execute the Office in all things touching the Office rightly, well and faithfully, and though they are to run in severall channels, yet they are to be guided by the streight line of integrity, into the ocean of one common end, which is the publike weale of this City and County: which end I hope the severall Officers elected will aym at, and therein I wish they may all meet together in the execution of their Offi∣ces. The ayde that I shall at present contribute thereunto, is by glossing upon the severall oaths, to give some brief character of the severall Offi∣cers, which each of the Gentlemen elect may be pleased to accept as their respective directory, by way of an additionall, or appendix to that sea∣sonable, wholsom and grave covncell given this morning, by him whose person and pains do de∣serve * 1.2 estimation. I wish more had heard his do∣ctrine, such of us as did I wish may maka a good use of it. I shall take them according to their ranks, and begin first with the Maior. The Maior is the Kings Lieutenant, and therefore to serve his lawfull power; I do not, I may not say his un∣just will. He is to keep the City to the behoof of

the King, alwaies remembring that he is also entrusted with the keeping of the gates by the Parliament, where his power refides, though his person is absent; he is to keep the right of the King, and do the profit of the King; whose Of∣fice is also to protect his people, and maintain their just Rights and Liberties. He is in his place to administer Justice; the rule thereof is the Laws, the life of the Laws is execution of them, Justice is by him to be administred to all indiffe∣rently and seasonably, with wisdom, courage and sincerity. He is the Head of the Corporation, set above others, not to insult over them, as if he were above the Laws, but to take care of them by watching for their good, to discover dangers, and prevent them; abuses, and reform them; advan∣tages, and procure them. He is the City Praetor, and therefore to go before others, and to be ex∣emplary unto others in all Offices of Piety, Ju∣stice and humanity. He is Escheator of this City and County, and therein to be subservient to the Court of Wards in the true finding of Offices; the grievances of which Court do much impor∣tune the Parliament to finde out a true remedy for their redresse. He is Steward and Marshall of the Kings houshold within this City and Liber∣ties; but (as things now stand) what he is to do in that respect more then bearing of the title, I know not. He is Clerk of the Market, and there∣fore to look that the weights and measures be just, the assises of bread and beer moderate; the flesh and fish wholsome. To conclude, He is (in an emi∣nent respect) to indeavour to preserve and pro∣mote the true Religion, together with the peace, the profit, the honour, and health of this City.

The next Officer is the Coroner. He is also an Officer of trust and authority, of whom the Law takes much notice, as being a very usefull instru∣ment in the Commonwealth in divers respects: chiefly in recording Pleas of the Crown, upon the view of the bodies of such as die unnaturall deaths. Life is one of the greatest favourites of the Law; and therefore upon suspition of un∣timely deaths, this Officer is to make a timely enquiry, using diligence in embracing the oppor∣tunity for his enquiry, and prudence in the ex∣amination of the fact and circumstances. But I must tell you he is an Officer of Peace, and a principall conservator thereof, not an Officer of warre. The bodies of those that lose their lives in this civill, (I may say unnaturall) warre, are not to be viewed by him, he is to take no in∣quest thereupon; but the supream Judge, the God of vengeance, who rides his circuit thorow the world observeth them, and will make inqui∣sition for their blood; which cries aloud against the authors and fomentors of this destructive war.

The Sheriffs are Officers appointed for the conservation of the peace of the County, and the supportation of the state of the City; and there∣fore in the said Charter are termed Bayliffs of the City and Sheriffs of the County. They are to be employed in Acts judiciall and ministeriall; in the one they are to look to the cause more then the person, to avoid partiality; and in the other, to the command more then the reason, to avoid de∣layes: In both, wisedom is requisite to direct, and resolution to act. They are to stand for the fran∣chises, and to uphold the good customs of the City to their power; and therefore to have pub∣like

spirits in their publike places, making their own private estates, in a more then ordinary manner tributary to the publike state of the Cor∣poration.

As for the Stewards and Chamberlaines of this City, they are the City-Receivers, but such as usually pay away more then they receive: They are the City-Pursbearers, whose burthens are most heavy when the common purse is most light. As therefore they are to be diligent in collecting, so they are to be provident in dis∣bursing the publike monies. They are the City-Treasurers, intrusted with the Corporation-Seal, Charters and Evidences, together with many utensils belonging to the Corporation; and therefore to take care that they may be rightly used and safely kept. They are the City Survey∣ors, who by their observation and care are to pre∣vent ruines, and to repair decayes. And at last, of all their service they are to give a fair accompt, whlch may endure a just survey.

There is to be in all these Officers, as well as the Maior, loyalty to their Soveraign, and fidelity to the City, with respect to the Acts of Common councell; they are all to be Auxiliaries in the Government, for the common benefit and credit of the Corporation: for which purpose the Sheriffs and Stewards are specially obliged, to afford the Maior their due observance and attendance.

The representation of these Characters of our City Officers, I hope will have such impression upon the Gentlemen elect, that their practises will be somewhat suitable, and the rather, seeing they are to be fastened upon them with the sa∣cred tye of an oath. And I wish such good service

as M. Maior and the rest of the old Officers have done in their severall places, by their conformity thereunto, may be so imprinted in your memories, that your due respects may be afforded them ac∣cording to their merits. Particulars I need not expresse, being so well known, otherwise I might begin at M. Maiors house, and tell you of his hos∣pitality; and thence go to the Churches and tell you of his devotion, and how he had a chief hand in the inviting and calling to us of a worthy Mi∣nister, * 1.3 to supply the room of the Bishop, Dean and Chapter in the Colledge; thence I might lead you to the Tolsey and Bothall, and tell you of his watchings, justice and equity: thence I might walk to the key and Overs bridge, and tell you of his extraordinary care and industry. And of the rest I might tell you many things praise worthy, but I forbear. And for them all in generall, I present much thanks unto them all, in the name of the Corporation. And now that I may no longer exercise your patience, I come to publish the Names of the new elected Officers, which are as followeth—

These are the Gentlemen that are chosen to bear the publike Offices of the Corporation for the year next following, let them have your helping hands, that their burthens may be the easier born. And before the Gentlemen are sworn, I shall make bold to present my information unto them against two dangerous malignants, that are not to be tolerated in any Parliament Garrison; These are Impiety and iniquity; with my hum∣ble suit unto them, that for the honour of God, their own honour, and the safety of this City, they will according to their Covenant, (as

much as in them lies) discountenance them, and endeavour their removall from amongst us, by a reall Reformation.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Octob. 6. 1645.
• * 1.2

  M. Nelme.
• * 1.3

  M. Jack∣son.