title of mayor's sergeant, within this town of Preston, and the franchises and liberties thereof, from the feast day of St. Wilfrid, forthcoming, until the feast day of St. Wilfrid then next following; (that is to say) for one whole year, if you live thereunto, and so long continue in the said office. You shall obey his worship the mayor, and attend upon him, at all convenient times, during the time of this your said office, and in as much as in you lieth, cause the king's majesty and peace to be preserved and fully maintained, within this town, its franchises and liberties thereof. You shall, in your proper person, make all arrests, and proclamations, and serve all manner of processes, and executions, between party and party, and all other things which shall in all manner appertain and belong to your office, to be done and executed within this town, and the franchises and liberties thereof, in such manner and form, as the sergeant at mace of the city of London do execute and perform, whether it be upon body or chattels, according to the warrant or warrants, which shall be directed unto you, for the due execution and performance thereof, without any demur or delay whatsoever, during the servitude of this your said office. And all such persons' goods and chattels, as you shall arrest or take into execution, you shall immediately deliver unto the bailiffs of

this town, or one of them, or in case of their absence, to the sub-bailiff. You shall also keep his majesty the king's standard, both for weights and measures, during the time of your office, and all such weights and measures as shall be brought to you, to be made perfect and sealed, you shall justly and truly make and seal, without any deceit or corruption whatsoever, according to the ancient weights and measures now used, except you shall be otherwise ordered by the worshipful the mayor of the town, and his brethren. You shall see no tolls, or customs belonging to this town, during your office, to be withdrawn or taken away, during the bailiffs' absence, but you shall take, if found wanting, and deliver them up to the bailiffs of this town. You shall not exact or extort from any person or persons, for or in the execution of your said. office, any money, gift, reward, or other thing whatsoever, than such regular and lawful fees, as originally have been granted and allowed, and taken by your predecessors the sergeants of this town. You shall not take any money, gift, or reward, from any common gamester, which you shall find at any unlawful play or game, within this town, its franchises and liberties, during the time of your said office, with an intent to overlook or bear in any degree, with these their unlawful offences, calculated to injure the

public morals of the inhabitants of this borough of Preston. But all persons, so found by you, so offending in these cases, shall be immediately brought before your said worshipful the mayor, or you shall otherwise make the same known to him without delay. And moreover, if you shall find any loose, lewd, bad, or suspected persons, who are relieved, kept, or harboured within this town, its franchises and liberties thereof, you shall use your best endeavours to apprehend them, or otherwise without delay, shall bring them before your worshipful the mayor, to the end that they may be committed. You are not to give knowledge or warning, either by yourself, or by any other indirect means, to any persons, or to themselves, in anywise, lest they betake themselves to flight, and thereby escape without the franchise and liberties of the borough. And furthermore, you shall truly represent to your mayor, the names of all and every householder as shall anywise relieve, keep, or harbour, any such aforesaid lewd persons, to the best of your knowledge.

"So help you God."

When the mayor, bailiffs, and sergeants are duly sworn, the mayor shall dissolve the court; and he, with all present, consisting of gentlemen and burgesses, shall give due and proper attendance to the elect mayor, to his respective

residence, and he in return shall give them a sumptuous banquet or noble treat, and afterwards another banquet, or grand entertainment, shall be given to the various ladies of the town, and wives of all the capital burgesses, in the same manner. There shall be prepared against the feast day of St. Wilfrid, the archbishop, entire new gowns, and other decent attire, as becometh the ancient costume of the borough, and livery cloaks for the sergeants; one at the bailiffs' charge, and the other at the new elect's charge.

And when the aforesaid day is come, viz. St. Wilfrid's day, all the capital burgesses, with the gentlemen of the town, and others who are specially invited upon this occasion, with the four bailiffs and sergeants shall attend the mayor, and new elect, to the parish church, in due procession, preceded by all the regalia, in due and proper form; at which time, and on the Sunday following, the former mayor, and the new elected mayor, shall sit together, upon an elevated throne, belonging to the supreme magistracy of this ancient and loyal borough; where divine service shall be peformed, and an inauguration sermon shall be preached upon this occasion; after which the former mayor leads down the aisle of the church, and when arrived at the transcept makes a sudden stop,

and instantly turning round to the mayor elect, makes a speech applicable to the situation he is about to hold; afterwards he invests him, by delivering the ensigns of magisterial authority, viz. the staff and maces, and then retires into the regular situation assigned for him in the procession. The bailiffs and sergeants, in like manner deliver up their authority to those appointed to succeed them in office. On this ceremony ending, the bells of the church ring a merry peal, welcoming in the joyful solemnity, of inaugurating a new magistrate for the succeeding year. They all give attendance to the new mayor, at his residence, where he entertains them nobly, with a splendid feast, composed of all kinds of dainties, such as wine, sack, and ale, in abundance. During the course of the evening, he entertains the ladies of the town with a sumptuous supper. Let it be remembered that the mayor elect, previous to setting out in full procession to the parish church, that the keys of the Moot-hall and prison, the massive guild book, maces, mayor's staves, halberds, the book of orders, and other books, records, &c. the standard measures, and every other thing belonging to the corporate body is presented to him by indenture.

The oath of the standers for tollage, is couched in the following words :