Citt. Why I know 'tis laid in our dish, that when we had set the whole Kingdome agogg upon Petitioning, our hearts would not serve us to go through stitch, and so we drew our own necks out of the Collar, and left the Countries in the Lurch.
Bum. Nay that's the Truth on't, Citt; We stood all gaping for London to lead the way.
Citt. The great work that we look't upon was the gaining of a well-affected Common-Council; which we secur'd upon the Election, with all the skill, and watchfullness imaginable.
Bum. And that was a huge point Citt; but how were ye able to compasse it?
Tricks to defeat Elections.
Citt. Why we had no more to do, then to mark those that we knew were not for our turns, either as Courtiers, or Loose-livers, or half-Protestants, and their business was done.
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.