Bum. _We went the same way to work too in the_ Country_, at all our_ Elections; _for it is a Lawfull Policy, you know, to lessen the Reputation of an Enemy_. _Citt._ Nay we went further still; and set a _Report_ a foot upon the _Exchange_, and all the _Coffee-houses_ and _Publique Houses_ thereabouts, which held from _Change-time_, till the very _Rising_ of the _Common-Councill_, when the _Petition_ was _laid aside_; that past so currant, that no mortall doubted the Truth on't. Bum. _But you ha' not told me what that_ Report _was yet_. _Citt._ It was this, _that the King had sent a Message to the City to let them understand that he took notice how much they stood affected to the_ Petition; _that he expected they would proceed upon it; and that his Majesty was ready to give them_ a gracious Answer. Bum. _But was this fair dealing, Brother?_ _Citt._ Did not _Abraham_ say of _Sarah, She's my Sister_? Bum. _Well thou'rt a heavenly man_, Citt! _but come to the Miscarriage it self_. The Petition laid aside in the _Common-Council_. _Citt._ After as Hopefull a _Choice_ as ever was made, we procur'd a _Common-Councill_: where the _Petition_ was put to the _Vote_, and it was carry'd in the _Commons_ by _two Voyces_, for the presenting it, and by _Fourteen_, or _Fifteen Votes_ in the _Court of Aldermen_, on the _Negative_. Bum. _So that_ your Damn'd Aldermen_, and_ our Damn'd Justices, _have ruin'd us both in_ City _and_ Country. _Citt._ Hang'um, they are most of them _Church-Papists_; but we should have dealt well enough with _them_, if it had not been for that confounded _Act_ for _Regulating Corporations_. Bum. _Prethee let me understand that, for I know nothing on't._ The Act for Corporations brake the neck on't. _Citt._ Take notice then that this Devillish Statute has provided, that _no man shall serve as a_ Common-Councell man, _but upon condition of taking three_ Oaths, _and subscribing_ one Declaration, _therein mention'd; and having taken the_ Sacrament _of the_ Lords Supper, _according to the Rites of the Church of_ England, _within one year next before his Election_. Now it so fell out, that what with this _Act_, and a _Court-Letter_ for putting it in _Execution_, a matter of _thirty_ of our _Friends_ were put _by_, as not duly qualify'd; And upon this Pinch we lost it. Nay let me tell ye as a friend, there were at least _twenty_ or _thirty_ of the rest too, that would hardly have past Muster. Bum. _But is this certain?_ _Citt._ Why I am now in my Element, _Bumkin_; for thou know'st my Education has been toward the Law. Bum. _This was a Plaguy jobb_, Citt, _but we must look better to our Hitts next bout_. _Citt._ Nay my life for thine we'll have another touch for't yet. But tell me in short; how came you off with your _Petition_ in the _Country_?