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Feast of Easter, and a Court Baron from three weeks to three weeks, to be holden by the Steward of the said Baron in the presence of the Alderman of the said town, at which Leet there had been yearly chosen to execute their offices for the following year, one Alderman, two Constables, two Bailiffs, and two Ale-tasters, by the Steward, with the assent of the Alderman from certain persons named by the Jury. That the Alderman had the Government of the town, and that the Bailiffs were to see to all manner of vyttalinge and measures within the town, except the 'assisting of drink, which is the Ale-taster's duty to perform.'

"That the courts had holden plea of debt and damages under forty shillings. That there was a weekly market on Tuesdays, and two fairs yearly, one upon St. Barnaby's day and the other on All Souls' day.

"And that there had been appointed by the Alderman, 'one sufficient person for the gathering of the toll, clean keeping of the market and other necessary matters there, which most commonly is some one as hath deserved well of the commonwealth and is fallen into decay, which person hath always had the keeping of one house in the market place of the said town, called the Clock-house, the benefit of which toll and clock-house have been always employed by the Alderman in reparation of the said clock-house and other necessary uses of the said town, and that the freeholders of the said town are and have been suters always to the said three weeks' court, there to assist the said Alderman and Steward in matters appertaining to the town, and also according to the law to judge in matter of plea depending there in the said court.'

"That the Bailiffs had always gathered the profits of the said court and were accountable for them to the Crown, and the Alderman had always been reputed to be Clerk of the Market.

"The Queen then by this charter confirmed 'unto the Alderman, Men, Inhabitants, and her Tenants, of the said town of Wokingham,' all the before mentioned liberties, privileges, &c."

Grant of Arms and Crest unto Thomas Albery, of Wokingham, in Com. Berks, by Robert Clarenceux, dat. 10 Nov. A.D. 1590. 136. Harl. M.S. No. 1532,

"To all and singuler as well nobles and gentils as others, to whome these presents shall come, to be seen, heard, read, or understood. Robert Cooke, Esq., alias Clarencieulx, Kinge of Armes and principall herald of the east, west, and southe portes of this realme of England, sendethe greetinge in our Lord God everlastinge; whereas aunciently from the beginninge the vertuous acts of worthey persons have beene comended to the world with sondrey monumentes and remembrances of their good deseartes, amongst the which the chiefest and most vsuall hathe bene the berings of signes and tokens in shieldes called armes, being evident demonstrations and testimonies of prowes and vallior diversly distributed according to the qualities and deseartes of the persons meritinge the same, which order as it was prudently devised to stirre up and enflame the hartes of men to the imitation of vertue, even soe hathe the same bene continued from tyme to tyme and yet is continually observed to the entent

that such as have don commendable service to their Prince or countrye, either in ware or peace, may therefore receve due honour in their lyves, and also derive the same successively to their posteritye for ever, that whereas Thomas Albery of Wokinghome, in the county of Barkeshier, gentilman, is lineally and lawfully desended by the surname of Albery of an auncient howse, who of long continuance hathe borne armes as appeereth by divers ancient evidences sealed with this shield of armes, to wit, a crosse ingrayled betwene foure byrds, and he not knowing certenly of the trew collers of the said shields of armes, hath required me the said Clarencieulx King of Armes, to sett forth vnder my hand and seales of office the said auncient armes as he may lawfully beare them without offence of any other person or persons, whereupon I have made searche in the registers and records of my said office and do finde that he may lawfully beare the saide auntient armes in these collers hereafter folowing; that is to saye, the field silver a cross ingrayled betwene foure stokedoves azure, and for that I finde noe crest to the same armes, as comonly to the most auntient armes there is none, I have thought good to asigne vnto these his auntient arms, this crest as cognoysance hereafter folowing, to wyt, uppon the healme on a wreathe silver and azure a stokedove azure, houlding in his beake a branche of, hawes vert, the beryes gules, mantled gules doubled silver as more planyley appereth depicted in this margent: which armes and crest or cognoysance, I the said Clarencieulx King of Armes, by power and athorytye to me commytted by Letters Patentes vnder the great seale of England, doe ratifie, confirme, give, graunt, and alowe vnto the said Thomas Albery, gentilman, and to his posteryty for ever: and he and they the same to vse, beare, and shew forth at all tymes and in all plases hereafter accordinge to the auntient lawes of armes, without impediment, lett or interruption of any person or persons, in witnes whereof I the said Clarencieulx Kinge of Armes, have hearevnto subscribed my name, and lykewise put the seale of my office, tenth day of Novembere, in the yeare of oure Lorde God 1590, and in the 32th yeare of the reigne off our most Gratious Sovvereigne Lady Qveene Elizabeth.

"ROBBERT COOKE ALYAS CLARENCIEULX, "ROY DARMES."

KING JAMES THE FIRST'S CHARTER.

By this charter, which is dated the 28th November, in the 10th year of his reign in England, and of Scotland the 46th, and which is on the Patent Roll 10 Jac. part 5, No. 9, his Majesty grants

"That the town of Wokingham in counties of Wilts and Berks shall be a free town and one body Corporate and Politic by the name of the Alderman and Burgesses of the town of Wokingham within the counties of Berks and Wilts ('p. nomen Aldri et Burgens ville de Wokingham in com. Bark. & Wiltes') and that they have a common seal, and at their pleasure break, change, or renew it.

"That there shall be one of the more honest and discreet Burgesses, chosen Alderman,' and 'seven honest and discreet men,' inhabitants, shall be called

Capital Burgesses, and twelve other 'honest and discreet men,' inhabitants, to be called Secondary Burgesses, and the Alderman, Capital and Secondary Burgesses to be the Common Council, to assist the Alderman, and with the Alderman to have power to make Bye Laws; Anthony Bartlett, Esq. to be the first Alderman.

“William Martin, John Whitlock, John Dawson, James Andrews, Thomas Pearson, William Irish, William Barrett, all gentlemen, inhabitants, to be first Capital Burgesses; and Nicholas Ayliffe, Gyles Green, John Planner, the younger, Richard Taylor, Richard Planner, Richard Ayliffe, John Cock otherwise Finge, Thomas Planner, Hugh Butler, Thomas Mills, John Eldridge, and Richard Mylom, inhabitants, were named to be first Secondary Burgesses, and were to continue First and Secondary Burgesses for their lives unless removed from office.

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"That on the Wednesday in Easter week, the Aldermen and Common Council choose one of the head Burgesses to be Alderman for one whole year, and the Alderman be sworn on the day of his election or within one month afterwards before the Steward of the Court Leet in full court.

"That there shall be one very eminent man who shall be and shall be called High Steward of the town of Wokingham ('Vnus preclarus vir qui erit et vocabitur capitalis seneschallus ville de Wokingham in com. Bark. et Wiltes'), and that Sir Henry Neville, Knight, shall be the first High Steward.

"That the Alderman and Burgesses and their successors shall elect one honest and discreet man skilled in the laws of England, to be Recorder. ('Vnum probum et discretum virum in legibus Anglie peritum.')

"The Alderman, High Steward, Recorder, and the predecessor of every Alderman, to be Justices of the Peace.

"That there shall be one honest and discreet man to be Common Clerk of the said town, and that George Willington, gentleman, be the first Common Clerk. "That two officers shall be chosen by the Alderman and Capital Burgesses, or the greater part of them, who are to be called Serjeants at the Mace, who are to execute processes and empannel Juries.

"That there shall be a Court of Record the Friday in every week before the Alderman or Recorder, and the Capital Burgesses or any three of them, of all pleas arising out of whatever causes within the town not exceeding the sum of Ten Pounds.

"That the Alderman, Burgesses of the aforesaid town, and their successors may have a Guildhall in the town aforesaid, and may and shall have within the aforesaid town a Prison or Gaol, to imprison, retain, and keep safe Felons and Trespassers and other malefactors and prisoners.

"That there be a market on every Tuesday, and three fairs; viz. on the Feast of St. Barnaby, on the 2nd November, and on the Thursday before Shrove Sunday, with a Court Pedis Pulverizati (of Pie Pouder'), with all liberties, free customs, tolls, stallages, piccage, &c.: and the King also grants to the Alderman and Burgesses all lands, tenements, wastes, void grounds, commons and hereditaments, which they had held before."

As to the alias not being a mark of illegitimacy but of the person's ancestors having married an heiress, see Mr. Kite's Wilts Brasses, p. 104.

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THE TOWN SEAL.

This is a silver seal fixed on an ivory handle, the end of which nearly fills the palm of the hand. The ivory is much discoloured by age, and it seems highly probable that the seal was made very soon after the granting of the charter of King James the First. The illustration is of the actual size.

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Bye Laws of June 4th, 1625.

Ordinances, orders and contributions made by the Alderman and Burgesses of Wokingham, on the 4th day of June, 1 Car. I., according to the power given by King James the First, by his Letters Patent:

1.-"Every Capital Burgess chosen Alderman who shall not assent thereto, shall forfeit £5, and if offered to every one and declined, then if it come about to another refusal all to forfeit £10 a piece, and so double till some one take the place.

2.-"Every Secondary Burgess or Inhabitant refusing to be Bailiff or Constable. to forfeit 40s.

3.-"All the Burgesses to attend the Alderman when summoned. 4.-"No Artificer to take an apprentice for less than seven years.

5.-"No person to receive any Inmate in his house, or shall remove him within six months after notice.

6.-"No Stranger or unfree man shall use any trade, mistery or maulting, occupation or handicraft, but this is not to extend to the making of mault for any mans own house, or to any who have their own Barley, or corn growing, or tythe or rent corn, nor to any person 'bringing or selling any kind of victual,' or to Carpenters, Masons, or Bricklayers. Foreigners to be hired for wages by the day or otherwise for work in gross.

7.-" Receivers of stolen wood to forfeit 12d. for every burden or stick. 8.-"Accustomed Tolls to be paid.

9.-"]

"Every person refusing to pay Poor Rate or any sum for breach of the ordinances to be distrained on.

10-"Officers misbehaving or neglecting their duty, to be dismissed by the Alderman and Burgesses.

11-"If any citizen of London or other place, not being an inhabitant, shall desire to commerce with any Tradesman of this Town by way of partnership, he shall for obtaining such liberty and privilege pay 50s. to the corporation, and for every month that he shall do so without Licence, he shall forfeit 40s.

12.-"If any Inhabitant or Resident within the said Town, do abuse or misuse

the Alderman in words or deeds, or any other officer or Minister in the said Town in or about the due execution, or exercising of their office, or function, or any of them in derogation of the authority of the said Town: that any such offender shall be committed to the House of Correction by the space of twenty four hours; and further according to the quality and quantity of his offence, and not to be enlarged until he or they pay 10s. for his fine to the use of the corporation. 13.-"Persons not to lay pieces of Timber, Loggs, Blocks, Fish Barrells, Dry Flatts, Dung, Soil, or other Filth in the Streets or Lanes, under Penalties.

14.—" Recites that Whereas many persons inhabiting within this Town, do seem careless to avoid the danger of Fire and do house and lay up their Turf, Peat and Heath, within their Kitchens and other places where they make fire daily;' and orders that they shall be warned to remove the same, and if they do not they shall be fined.

15.-"Item, for the better preventing of the great hurt and danger arising by the great casualty of fire, they do order that the Alderman and Burgesses at the Common Charge of the said Town, shall provide and always have in readiness in their Town Hall or some other convenient place in the said Town, 24 good leather Buckets, three long ladders, two or more sufficient great iron Hooks* to be used when, and so often as occasion shall be by any sudden fire within the said Town. And that every Capital Burgess within this Town shall have in reddiness in his house, two good leather bucketts and one ladder of 18 rounds, and every Secondary Burgess, one leather Bucket in his house, and that every common Baker or Brewer and every Maltmaker and every inhabitant within this Town now or at any time hereafter being rated to pay a penny by the week or more, shall likewise provide and have at his own charges in his house in reddiness, one or more Leather Buckets to be used as aforesaid; and that it shall be lawful for the Alderman for the time being by himself or his deputy to that purpose twice at least to take view and see if the said Ladders and Buckets be provided accordingly; and if any party be found that is not furnished or provided with the said Buckets and Ladder, according to this Order, that then every such person so offending, shall forfeit and pay to the Alderman and Capital Burgesses of this Town to the use of the Corporation for every Bucket or Ladder which shall be wanting, three shillings and four pence.

16. "Every Chimney and conveyance for smoke, to be of brick or stone, or if not a forfeiture of twenty shillings, and five shillings a month.

17.-"Every person whose chimney is on fire through neglect of cleansing or sweeping, shall forfeit three and fourpence.

18.-"Every person suffering swine to run pass or wander in any street of this Town, upon any market or fair days, to forfeit twelvepence for every hog every time.

19. "Any inhabitant who shall receive, to lodge, dwell or work, being travellers or strangers, and keep the same person for one month, without security to the Alderman and Capital Burgesses, to forfeit for that month, twenty shillings and afterwards five shillings a week.

20.-"No person to let any house or room to any stranger or foreigner 'who

• Fire hooks are still hung up in a passage adjoining St. Lawrence's Church at Reading; they are very strong large iron hooks, like those used to reap beans but bigger and fixed on long handles, They are used for tearing down burning thatch.

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