| Description | Mr. Henry Lloyd, draper, was elected Councilman in place of William Ball, deceased. He took the oaths, subscribed the declaration and took the oath of a Councilman. The Mayor declared that complaint had been made to him that the Bakers of the City had made an order amongst themselves not to bake any 'boulted bread' for some inhabitants, especially innholders, which combination was supposed to be contrary to the custom of the City. It was ordered that the Aldermen and Steward of the company bring their charter before the Mayor and Aldermen in the Inner Pentice and that they shall bake 'boulted' and all sorts of bread that shall be brought to their bake houses to be baked for all inhabitants, according to ancient custom, until further order. Richard Leivinge, Esq., Recorder of the City, and William Crompton, Aldermen, reported on their proceedings on an order of Assembly of 1st April. They had obtained the confirmation of the Charter, with the desired additions, and it had passed the Privy Signet and Privy Seal. They had committed the further business to an approved solicitor, who is to be supplied with monies for that purpose. They had already disbursed eightscore pounds. At least a further £40 will be required, which in the whole will amount to £200. The House thanked them and ordered that all sums outstanding from the former assessment be paid or the persons disfranchised. £50 was to be levied according to the direction of the former order of 1st April, with a further £50 to be paid by the Treasurers, and paid to Alderman Crompton. Any money remaining was then to be repaid to the Treasurers. Upon reading a Bill of complaint exhibited in the Court of Exchequer at Chester by Jonathan Ridge, draper, for stay of a suit in the Pentice Court, commenced against him by Robert Taylor, one of the Sheriffs' officers, in which the Mayor and Citizens and Murengers were involved, it was ordered that Robert Taylor should cease his suit and should be paid his just demands by the Treasurers so that Mr. Ridge should cease further proceeding. If he fail to do so, Robert Taylor is to have liberty to prosecute his suit and the suit in the Exchequer shall then be a City cause to be defended at the City's charge. On serious consideration that many inconveniences might arise by neglecting to take and audit the accounts of the Treasurers and others accountable to the City, it was ordered that the Treasurers and the others, upon notice should appear before the Auditors and produce their accounts fairly written upon parchment or otherwise, according to the custom of the City. For auditing the accounts of Alderman Arthur Walley, late Treasurer, Thomas Throppe, Alderman (although employed as one of the Murengers) would be present and assist in auditing the same. William Crompton, Alderman, Richard Bird and Richard Minshull, Aldermen and Justices of the peace, William Street, Alderman, John Hulton, William Warrington and Richard Brett were appointed Auditors, any three of whom, two being Justices of the peace, were to meet in the Inner Pentice on Thursday 'seaven night', after next Midsummer day and then every Tuesday weekly at nine o'clock until all accounts had been audited. |