secondaries and keepers of the prisons; and the names of the
respective prisoners in each gaol being read over, the keepers
acknowledged them one by one, to be in their custody; and then
tendered us the keys, which we delivered back to them again, and after
having executed the indentures, whereby we covenanted and undertook
the charge of our office, we were invited according to custom, to an
adjoining tavern; and there partook of an entertainment of sack and
walnuts, provided by the aforesaid keepers of the prisons.

"Monday, September 29th. This being Michaelmas-day, my brother sheriff
and I set out for the first time in our new equipages and scarlet
gowns, attended by our beadles, and the several officers of our
Counters, and waited on the Lord Mayor, at Merchant Taylors' Hall, at
which he kept his mayoralty, and proceeded with him from thence, as
is customary, to Guildhall, where the livery-men of the city were
summoned to attend at the Court of Hustings for the election of a new
lord mayor for the year ensuing. The recorder made a speech to the
livery-men, 'apprising them of the custom and manner of choosing a
lord mayor; which, he observed, was for the Common Hall to nominate
two of the aldermen who had served sheriffs, to the Court of Aldermen,
who had then a right to elect either of them into that great office,
and which ever that the court so fixed on, the Common Hall was bound
to accept.' When he had ended, the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen
retired into the Council Chamber, and left us to preside at the
election, attended by the Common Sergeant and other officers. The
method of voting is, by each alderman going up to the recorder and
town clerk, who sit at a separate part of the room, and telling the
person he would choose, a scratch is made under each respective name."

On the day following, the two sheriffs again went to Guildhall, with